Review by Jong Chung
Holo and Lawrence continue their journey in the fourth volume of Spice & Wolf. The pair now find themselves heading to the small village of Tereo, in search of a monk at a particular abbey that can hasten their journey to Holo's hometown of Yoitsu. He is said to have a collection of tales about pagan gods, and thus possibly information about Holo's origin. Amidst their inquiry, however, they encounter a roadblock in the form of a sort of an internal dispute between Tereo and the Church. Lawrence also discovers that the villagers seem strangely well off despite their halted labor as soon as the harvest season was over – quite an anomaly in a village the size of Tereo's, being a part of a neighboring town's – Enbarch's – fiefdom. Along with that, Lawrence was given the cold shoulder as soon as he approached the Church and the village elder regarding whereabouts of the Abbey in question. Finally, there's the mystery behind the existence of a Church in Tereo itself, as the village follows strong faith in Paganistic beliefs. Not only will the traveling pair have to get to the bottom of all of this – but they may find themselves in more trouble than they could have imagined (as usual, of course).
Showing posts with label Light Novel Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Light Novel Review. Show all posts
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Personal Review: The Rampage of Haruhi Suzumiya
Review by Jong Chung
The Rampage of Haruhi Suzumiya presents three stories with excellent pacing throughout the volume. By title, they are: Endless Eight, The Day of Sagittarius, and Snowy Mountain Syndrome. More so than any of the other previous volumes of the series, I found myself appreciating the order of the stories to fit well with the series itself. Be it a coincidence or not (as each chapter was published as separate short stories, it seems, going by the afterword by the author at the end of the volume), I found myself happy to think back to how much I enjoyed the ride that is The Rampage of Haruhi Suzumiya.
The Rampage of Haruhi Suzumiya presents three stories with excellent pacing throughout the volume. By title, they are: Endless Eight, The Day of Sagittarius, and Snowy Mountain Syndrome. More so than any of the other previous volumes of the series, I found myself appreciating the order of the stories to fit well with the series itself. Be it a coincidence or not (as each chapter was published as separate short stories, it seems, going by the afterword by the author at the end of the volume), I found myself happy to think back to how much I enjoyed the ride that is The Rampage of Haruhi Suzumiya.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Personal Review: Blood+ Volume 1: 1 First Kiss
Blood+ is an animated series that ran from year 2005 to 2006 in Japan, having established itself as one of the top anime of the genre. It's no coincidence that some readers may find it familiar that the protagonist is a girl named Saya who hunts beings that are “vampires” (though it's rather loosely related to the more modern usage of the term) known in the series as “Chiropterans.” Blood+ has roots in the OVA Blood The Last Vampire, by the same creator. Blood+ is a rather old series, and perhaps some leniency should be given as it as one of the earlier light novel series to be published in English. This will be addressed later, but for now, onto the review.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Personal Review: The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya
Review by Jong Chung
In an effort to catch up to recent volumes, here is another review featuring the Haruhi Suzumiya series! The fourth installment, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya features the stoic Nagato at the center of its events. The universe is turned on its heels when the world Kyon knew it as is no longer. As if the past had been changed, Kyon finds the SOS brigade nonexistent, and even Haruhi to be a stranger to him in this new world. Even more disturbing to Kyon (ironically) is that there are no Aliens, Time Travelers or Espers around! Despite having met up with his past acquaintances of the SOS Brigade, none seem to remember nor recognize him.
In an effort to catch up to recent volumes, here is another review featuring the Haruhi Suzumiya series! The fourth installment, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya features the stoic Nagato at the center of its events. The universe is turned on its heels when the world Kyon knew it as is no longer. As if the past had been changed, Kyon finds the SOS brigade nonexistent, and even Haruhi to be a stranger to him in this new world. Even more disturbing to Kyon (ironically) is that there are no Aliens, Time Travelers or Espers around! Despite having met up with his past acquaintances of the SOS Brigade, none seem to remember nor recognize him.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Personal Review: The Boredom of Haruhi Suzumiya
Review by Jong Chung
The Boredom of Haruhi Suzumiya, the third book in the Haruhi Suzumiya series by Nagaru Tanigawa does something slightly different than what may have been expected. Unlike the previous novels, (or what's expected of typical novel conventions) there isn't just one “arc” to follow in this installment, as this third novel is actually more of a collection of several short stories.
The Boredom of Haruhi Suzumiya, the third book in the Haruhi Suzumiya series by Nagaru Tanigawa does something slightly different than what may have been expected. Unlike the previous novels, (or what's expected of typical novel conventions) there isn't just one “arc” to follow in this installment, as this third novel is actually more of a collection of several short stories.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Personal Review: Spice & Wolf vol.2
Review By Jong Chung
The spicy wolf and merchant return in the second volume of Spice & Wolf. While this review may be dated yet, I hope it provides enough information and incentive to those that still have not invested in the series. I gave myself away there, didn't I? Well, no matter – onwards!
The spicy wolf and merchant return in the second volume of Spice & Wolf. While this review may be dated yet, I hope it provides enough information and incentive to those that still have not invested in the series. I gave myself away there, didn't I? Well, no matter – onwards!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Personal Review: Book Girl and the Scandal Mime
Review by Jong Chung
Book Girl, known as Bungaku Shoujo in Japanese, is a light novel series that merits the read of any light novel fan, and especially so for those who are fans of the mystery genre. Book Girl and the Scandal Mime (effectively volume 1 of the series) written by Mizuki Nomura, details the story of a young boy named Konoha Inoue and his story-munching female upper classman named Tohko Amano. Before the story itself, we learn a bit about our protagonist, Konoha. Through extraordinary circumstances, he was once a world-famous “genius girl writer” by the pen name of Miu. Reading on, it is revealed that this past and responsibility weighed down on him considerably, causing Konoha to suffer a breakdown eventually. After the incident, he returns to a more normal life – no more writing as a “genius girl writer” and back to being a “regular school boy."
Book Girl, known as Bungaku Shoujo in Japanese, is a light novel series that merits the read of any light novel fan, and especially so for those who are fans of the mystery genre. Book Girl and the Scandal Mime (effectively volume 1 of the series) written by Mizuki Nomura, details the story of a young boy named Konoha Inoue and his story-munching female upper classman named Tohko Amano. Before the story itself, we learn a bit about our protagonist, Konoha. Through extraordinary circumstances, he was once a world-famous “genius girl writer” by the pen name of Miu. Reading on, it is revealed that this past and responsibility weighed down on him considerably, causing Konoha to suffer a breakdown eventually. After the incident, he returns to a more normal life – no more writing as a “genius girl writer” and back to being a “regular school boy."
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Personal Review: The Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya
Review By Jong Chung
The Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya– The second volume of the Haruhi Suzumiya series, and one that is usually referred to as “The Sigh” arc by the fans. A bit direct in terms of naming convention, but at least it doesn't spoil the surprise of what the arc entails.
The Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya– The second volume of the Haruhi Suzumiya series, and one that is usually referred to as “The Sigh” arc by the fans. A bit direct in terms of naming convention, but at least it doesn't spoil the surprise of what the arc entails.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Personal Review: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
Review By Jong Chung
The Haruhi Suzumiya series should be familiar to most anime and manga fans. At various anime conventions, one can often see a large group of amateur performers that would bust out a (roughly) 4 minute dance with accompanying music playing in the background somewhere. In cosplay, more often than not. Even if one is not a fan of this particular series, it is hard not to be affected by its very existence, as it has become such a huge name within the anime and manga world.
The Haruhi Suzumiya series should be familiar to most anime and manga fans. At various anime conventions, one can often see a large group of amateur performers that would bust out a (roughly) 4 minute dance with accompanying music playing in the background somewhere. In cosplay, more often than not. Even if one is not a fan of this particular series, it is hard not to be affected by its very existence, as it has become such a huge name within the anime and manga world.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Personal Review: The Guin Saga Book One
Review By Jong Chung
The Guin Saga presents itself in a manner that may not draw the typical anime/manga fan in right away. Many times, we are to judge manga series by cover since the volumes found at bookstores may be shrink wrapped, thus discouraging a short sift through it to judge its worth of purchase. Well... The cover illustration for The Guin Saga Book One: The Leopard Mask may seem “outdated” in the context of anime and manga, but while that is certainly true (as it dates back to 1979) it is still something of merit, which I will cover in a bit.
The Guin Saga presents itself in a manner that may not draw the typical anime/manga fan in right away. Many times, we are to judge manga series by cover since the volumes found at bookstores may be shrink wrapped, thus discouraging a short sift through it to judge its worth of purchase. Well... The cover illustration for The Guin Saga Book One: The Leopard Mask may seem “outdated” in the context of anime and manga, but while that is certainly true (as it dates back to 1979) it is still something of merit, which I will cover in a bit.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Personal Review: Trinity Blood Rage Against the Moon vol.1
Review By Jong Chung
Trinity Blood Vol. 1: From the Empire found a strange niche for me. Due to the recent (as in within the past several years) boom in popularity of the vampire genre in just about everything, I was reluctant when I first began to sift through the opening pages. Suddenly, realization kicked in. It was rather, or actually, very enjoyable! Before I knew it, an hour had passed in no time. The writing wasn't toned down like certain other translated light novels I've read in the past, and the story was just gritty enough without the over exposure of the “romantic vampire” setting that I have assumed the genre was riddled with. No, it actually provided a solid writing and plot (though probably slightly cliché) and characters that have distinct roles and fit them to a tee.
Trinity Blood Vol. 1: From the Empire found a strange niche for me. Due to the recent (as in within the past several years) boom in popularity of the vampire genre in just about everything, I was reluctant when I first began to sift through the opening pages. Suddenly, realization kicked in. It was rather, or actually, very enjoyable! Before I knew it, an hour had passed in no time. The writing wasn't toned down like certain other translated light novels I've read in the past, and the story was just gritty enough without the over exposure of the “romantic vampire” setting that I have assumed the genre was riddled with. No, it actually provided a solid writing and plot (though probably slightly cliché) and characters that have distinct roles and fit them to a tee.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Personal Review: Spice & Wolf vol.1
Review By Jong Chung
Spice & Wolf is Isuna Hasekura's debut work, which was first published by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Bunko imprint in Feb 10, 2006. Since then, there have been a total of 13 volumes in print . We are able to enjoy the Spice & Wolf series in English thanks to Yen Press' ever-impressive efforts.
Spice & Wolf is Isuna Hasekura's debut work, which was first published by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Bunko imprint in Feb 10, 2006. Since then, there have been a total of 13 volumes in print . We are able to enjoy the Spice & Wolf series in English thanks to Yen Press' ever-impressive efforts.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Personal Review: Faust 2
Review By Jong Chung
It was after classes that I had found myself browsing through random manga and light novels at my local Japanese book store. It was then that my eyes met with a book sporting one of the most colorful (and distinctly Japanese) covers that I've seen on the shelves. Of course, curiosity kicked in. Picking the rather small volume up, its caption line drew me in from the get-go: “Fiction and Manga from the cutting edge of Japanese Pop Culture.”
It was after classes that I had found myself browsing through random manga and light novels at my local Japanese book store. It was then that my eyes met with a book sporting one of the most colorful (and distinctly Japanese) covers that I've seen on the shelves. Of course, curiosity kicked in. Picking the rather small volume up, its caption line drew me in from the get-go: “Fiction and Manga from the cutting edge of Japanese Pop Culture.”
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