reading update
May. 4th, 2007 03:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meganbmooreFirst: BAH! Waldenbooks still didn't have any of my manga in. *growls and sulks* Wish Amazon had them in the 4-for-3 sale so I could just get them that way. They did still have a few boxes in back, though, so maybe tomorrow.
Saiyuki Reload Vol 7 by Kazuya Minekura-I'm starting to get bored with this "Worm" story(not the full title, but I can't recall it off the top of my head. The story itself is interesting, but Hazel is a hypocritcal holier-than-thou little prat who doesn't have the decency to to at least be interesting to compensate. The storyline itself and the impact it has on Sanzo's group, especially Sanzo himself and Gojyo's reaction to that, is interesting but too much of it relies on Hazel, and I wanted him to just go away already a couple books ago. Also? No Kougaiji. Not even a cameo. *feels deprived*
Night of the Beasts Vol 3 by Chika Shiomi-Did I mention this is the OTP from hell? Just in case I didn't: OTP. FROM. HELL. Seriously. That said, I like this book more and more each volume. Aria's a VERY strong heroine without falling into the "I'm so badass" cliche-she wants her boyfriend back, the demons gone, and all these whiners to stand up for themselves and quit whining for her to save them from the big bad guy whose death they've been screaming for for years(yeah, I have about as much sympathy for the whiners as she does) who would have left them all alone if they hadn't constantly hounded him and given Kagara a way to take over by forcing him to defend himself. And for all that he's playing the "damsel in distress" role and is essentially dormant in his own body, Sakura still manages to be protective...and pull off a very "EEEE!!!" worthy rescue. And Akiya? Sure, there are plenty of creepy manga villains out there, but he's one of the few who actually gives me a bit of the creeps. *loves it and wishes the series was longer*
The Dark Mirror by Juliet Marillier-The first in Marillier's new series, this one is about the pict, specifically, about the pictish king, Bridei. This is, I think, the first time she's made her main character be a real person, even if little is known about it. It's not based as much on known history and oral tradition as her other books, but that's ok. We don't know as much about the Picts as we do about the Celts, or the vikings and people of the Orkneys. She essentially took what we do know and filled in the holes with similar traditions and beliefs of the time, primarily the Celts. I liked the book quite a bit(but then, I have yet to NOT like one of her books) though I'm curious to see how it'll go...this is the first time she'll be sticking with one lead from book to book, her other series have been generational. Incidentally, one of the things that I like about her books is that her characters-the girls tend to be 14-16 and the guys 17-20~- manage to be very much like they would have been in the time period, and the romantic relationships are very well developed and manage to avoid feeling wrong when the ages are taken into consideration, because it fits.
Saiyuki Reload Vol 7 by Kazuya Minekura-I'm starting to get bored with this "Worm" story(not the full title, but I can't recall it off the top of my head. The story itself is interesting, but Hazel is a hypocritcal holier-than-thou little prat who doesn't have the decency to to at least be interesting to compensate. The storyline itself and the impact it has on Sanzo's group, especially Sanzo himself and Gojyo's reaction to that, is interesting but too much of it relies on Hazel, and I wanted him to just go away already a couple books ago. Also? No Kougaiji. Not even a cameo. *feels deprived*
Night of the Beasts Vol 3 by Chika Shiomi-Did I mention this is the OTP from hell? Just in case I didn't: OTP. FROM. HELL. Seriously. That said, I like this book more and more each volume. Aria's a VERY strong heroine without falling into the "I'm so badass" cliche-she wants her boyfriend back, the demons gone, and all these whiners to stand up for themselves and quit whining for her to save them from the big bad guy whose death they've been screaming for for years(yeah, I have about as much sympathy for the whiners as she does) who would have left them all alone if they hadn't constantly hounded him and given Kagara a way to take over by forcing him to defend himself. And for all that he's playing the "damsel in distress" role and is essentially dormant in his own body, Sakura still manages to be protective...and pull off a very "EEEE!!!" worthy rescue. And Akiya? Sure, there are plenty of creepy manga villains out there, but he's one of the few who actually gives me a bit of the creeps. *loves it and wishes the series was longer*
The Dark Mirror by Juliet Marillier-The first in Marillier's new series, this one is about the pict, specifically, about the pictish king, Bridei. This is, I think, the first time she's made her main character be a real person, even if little is known about it. It's not based as much on known history and oral tradition as her other books, but that's ok. We don't know as much about the Picts as we do about the Celts, or the vikings and people of the Orkneys. She essentially took what we do know and filled in the holes with similar traditions and beliefs of the time, primarily the Celts. I liked the book quite a bit(but then, I have yet to NOT like one of her books) though I'm curious to see how it'll go...this is the first time she'll be sticking with one lead from book to book, her other series have been generational. Incidentally, one of the things that I like about her books is that her characters-the girls tend to be 14-16 and the guys 17-20~- manage to be very much like they would have been in the time period, and the romantic relationships are very well developed and manage to avoid feeling wrong when the ages are taken into consideration, because it fits.
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no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 09:32 pm (UTC)I don't really like Hazel either ... although I think he's starting to feel a little less certain of his position that all youkai are scummy animals after seeing the risks that Hakkai and Gojyo went through for Goku and each other. And did you notice his peculiar little flirtation with Sanzo? It's not just my yaoi tropism kicking in, honestly ... .
Re Kougaiji: that youkai teen girl in the desert town likes him almost as much as you do! ;-)
no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 10:13 pm (UTC)Yes, but I don't think humans look like lunch. Considering that his story is far from over, we'd better get him back soon.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 10:44 pm (UTC)You know, I don't think Kou thinks human looks like lunch either. Or even a little snack. Despite the fact that we've heard youkai talking about eating humans throughout the series, humans seem to be co-conspirators rather than provisions at Gyokumen's place. No one ever seems to be threatening to eat Nii Jianyi and his assistant. (Actually, I just thought of an evil comment about Gyokumen and Nii regarding that ... but we'll leave it unsaid.)
Interesting. I wonder whether youkai fangirl knows that her idol doesn't eat humans.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 10:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-05 03:31 am (UTC)Same goes for The Well of Shades (third in the series); it's focus is again more on Faolan and a new character.
I didn't think I would like it as much after being focused on Bridei and Tuala in The Dark Mirror, but after I got into Faolan's story I think I like books 2 and 3 even more than the first.
Regardless, they're great books!
no subject
Date: 2007-05-05 04:50 am (UTC)I actually found Faolan to be the most interesting character in the series, and what you describe sounds better suited to her style.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-07 02:06 am (UTC)At first I thought it would be hard to beat Dark Mirror, but when it was said and done, Blade of Fortriu did it.
Then I thought Blade would be hard to beat, because I figured the focus was again going to shift to other characters; but then Well of Shades topped it. :D
no subject
Date: 2007-06-02 01:21 am (UTC)The fangirly post: http://silver-677.livejournal.com/758235.html
no subject
Date: 2007-06-02 02:29 am (UTC)I got an "forbidden to view" message when i clicked the link...was it flocked?
no subject
Date: 2007-06-02 11:06 am (UTC)