7 Billion Needles

So today covers the last of my Christmas presents!! Starting next week I'll be looking through your recommendations and also I'll try keep you up to date with some of this seasons anime and stuff!! Look forward to it!!

Hikaru is a reclusive teenager. She doesn't talk to any of her class mates and they don't want to talk to her because she always has her headphones on. But her life is turned upside down when she becomes involved in an intergalactic games of cat and mouse: the 'cat' being the entity known as Horizon and the 'mouse' is the intergalactic murderer Maelstrom. The plot successfully combines sci-fi battles with an emotional teenagers story which is especially good for me because sci-fi isn't a genre I really get excited about. The book starts with the lead character dying. That's right, on the 5th page Hikaru is being blasted to pieces by a meteor! Next thing you know Hikaru is having psychic conversations with Horizon who is currently living in her blood stream. This transition could have been dealt with a lot smoother, nevertheless, there is a certain flair with which this is written.

A Bride's Story

Still going through my Christmas presents! But don't worry, I will get to every one's recommendations eventually!

It is exactly as the name implies: it's a bride's story. Set in Asia, 19th century comes the tale of an old bride who marries a boy from another tribe. The bride is Amir and she is extremely skilled in archery and horse riding but upon reaching the age of 20 her tribe sends her off to 12 year old Karluk of a very different tribe. This book is more educational and informative than a story as instead of any particular plot the book focuses on the daily life of the tribe members portraying many traditions and different ideals. There's a whole chapter about wood carving that's really exciting and points on fashion, medicine and food. There's also lots of marriage traditions throughout. In the afterword the author does say that she done a lot of research of this time period, so we can assume it's accurate. But there is a bit of plot which I assume is going to be carried on in the next book: so basically Amir comes from a semi-nomadic tribe but they need to marry into another tribe in order to claim land for winter (or something like that). But the only woman they have to offer is Amir, since they never got anything Karluk's tribe for their marriage so they insist that Amir be returned. However, Karluk's grandmother lies saying Amir is pregnant and as such can't leave putting a certain amount of strife between the two families. But this is an extremely under-developed plot that's completely overshadowed by all the every day life stories.

Young Miss Holmes

Have you seen the links I've added along the side? As my number of reviews increases I figured I should make it easier to navigate around. Please do have a click around and tell me if you found them helpful! Anyway, it's been a while, but I'm reviewing a manga today!

I'm sure you've already worked out that the manga is connected to Sherlock Holmes, famous Consulting Detective of 221B. The manga is from the point of view of Crystal "Christie" Hope, 10 year old prodigy from a privileged family and Sherlock Holmes' niece. Having being left in the care of her maids while her parents are in India, Christie's curiosity leads her from one dangerous adventure to another. She has deduction skills greater than Watson but diminutive next Sherlock's. So Christie tries to increase her knowledge by trying to solve her Uncles cases and assist him in catching the criminal. It takes much of it's story from the original Doyle books just with added characters and some plot twists. The book starts with Sherlock solving the case of a stolen diamond when Christie comes by for a visit. This gives her a chance to show the readers her deductive powers, courageous personality and kick-ass maids. It was a perfect introduction to the story! But unfortunately  it didn't really go anywhere from there. The addition of new characters has to actually add something positive to the overall book for it to be worthwhile but Christie is just another person with skills in deduction. There is also no added plot, underlying or side! Or, at least for now, no character development. The characters introduced do not really add anything to the original book. So, yes the plot is brilliant, it's essentially Doyle, so I can't give author Kaoru Shintani any credit for it really.

Welcome to the NHK

"N.H.K." the Japanese Broadcasting Corporation. Or the Japanese Hikikomori Coporation. According to Satou's hallucinations it's all the N.H.K's fault that he's become a Hikikimori. Secluded to his room Satou hasn't talked to any one in four years. That's when Misaki comes along, claiming that Satou is perfect for her 'project' they start they're counselling sessions to save Satou from his seclusion. Then things get out of hand, Satou lies to his mum and now he needs a job and girlfriend. Now Satou must take his slow steps into society while trying to make the ultimate ero-game with his friend and neighbour Yamazaki. It does have some serious notes on social anxiety, the difficulties coping in life and how one is supposed to live but mostly we laugh as Satou makes a fool of himself. It also has lots of culture in it, otakus, lolicon, doujinshi writing and moe, you can find out all about these Japanese things. But it still mostly sticks to pretty outlandish humour and horrible coincidences. Unfortunately the one book I have is pretty short, so it's difficult to give my opinions on the plot but it does appear to have some good potential.

Peepo Choo

I have to say a thanks on this post first! My dad request I read the manga almost a month ago, and I tried and I tried, but I could not find it! But my dad, as kind as he is, ordered the manga for me. So now I have one volume of it for my collection. Thank you!!

First off, let me inform you that Peepo Choo is an 18+, so under 18's turn away now! The manga is really funny though, it shows some american kids going through that terrible phase of a weaboo. Sitting down every week to watch an episode of Peepo Choo and in their ignorrant little heads they believe Japan is just like it. A dream land where everyone is kind, everyone cosplays and everyone does the Peepo Dance to make things better, so when Milton gets the oppurtunity to go to Japan for free he immediatly goes to his anime to learn some Japanese. Meanwhile, in Japan, we see the Yakuza get out of control. After Aniki scouted Morimoto for his family he became cocky and uncontrollable, killing business partners in the most crotesque way and losing the family money. We also see what life in a Japanese school is like as Miki, who is not a blonde-haired, tanned-face beuty like the others, gets bullied in the most horrible ways. So, Melton's idea of Japan isn't quite right. He soon finds that walking around in cosplay is still weird and nobody else has learnt the Peepo dance.

Le Portrait de Petit Cossette

This is a short review for a short manga about the beautiful Victorian girl Cossette. Eiri stumbles upon Cossette's half finished portrait while working in an antique shop and from that moment onwards he can see her and communicate with her. He becomes infatuated with her perfect looks and long to help her. Cossette's possessions hold evil intentions and she wishes to recover them all with Eiri's assitance.
The art is really pretty! Cossette is portrayed as ideally as she's supposed to be and her eyes, absolutely stunning. Such a variety of subtle expression, all as beautiful as each other. Of course, to match her Victorian charm she has the most spectacular dresses! All the other people are to boring to mention.
There's a lot of non-natrulistic art as well, for the various illusions and bits, and they are so pretty. Creepy though! The drooping sad shapes and the angry bold lines, it's all very expressive.

MAR (Märchen Awakens Romance)

Oh! Look! I wrote a review that isn't horribly long! Yay!!

I added this manga to my list AGES ago because I got a free poster of it a some convention. I kept putting it off because it looked like one of those really stupid childish animes that lead people to believing anime is for kids. Well, really it probably is aimed for kids..... but I must confess, I like it.
The story is about an useless boy named Ginta. He can't do anything with his life, poor vision, below average grades and dreadful at sport. He spends all his time playing video games or dreaming. Ginta has reccuring dreams about the world of Märchen (fairy tale in German) with fairies and talking trees. His dreams of Märchen become more and more common until one day he is invited into the world of his dreams with fairies and talking trees. In this world Ginta is a completely different person. He can run fast and for longer and is stronger than the average resident of Märchen. But soon Märchen is threatened by the Chess no Korma and Ginta's love for Märchen means he can't just watch it be destroyed, he decides he has to fight! By teaming up with the friends he meets and training vigorously Ginta forms the new group against the Chess no Korma: MAR.

Ningyou Kyuutei Gakudan (Royal Doll Orchestra)

Happy New Year every one!!!!!!!!! Sorry I didn't post last week! I thought I'd take Christmas Day off, but since that upset some of my followers I'll try not to do that again!! ^^

Well, haven't I got a treat for you to day, it's a manga! That's right I still review manga! This manga was recommended to me under the name Royal Doll Orchestra, but you can't find much under that name. Most places use either the Japanese name or the French one. It looks like 19th century France but it's entirely different. In this dimension a dreadful virus has spread the world, like a plague. If you become infected by this plague you transform into something like a zombie doll. 'Cracks' appear on your body, your joints pertrude oddly and you lose all sanity and humane thoughts. The virus is spread if a contaminated 'human', called Guignols, bite you or if their blood enters your body. So it's like a Zombie apocalypse.
Lucille is a an extremely pretty guy, who enjoys using his feminine face to cross-dress and fool others about his gender. He is the conductor and singer of the secret orchestra who will play any melody requested as long as they are paid enough. This includes the forbidden melody's that can cause strange things to happen to the Guignols. Also in the secret orchestra is Gwindel, the silent giant who plays the Cello and Kohaku, the hot-headed one who plays violin.

Akira

The six giant Akira books my dad left for me in my room did originally appear rather intimidating, but I got through them in just a few days so I am now writing a review of it just as my dad requested! But I must warn you, it''s NOT getting the six pie that my dad said it should!

The start is rather uninteresting. Biker gangs and gang rivalry don't really entertain me, I found myself skim reading the boring parts where they're just taking drugs and racing about. But then the crippled children come along and things get really weird. It was all a bit misty, things just happened because they did. Nothing was really explained! Even after six giant books, I didn't really gt why any of it happened!! But maybe that's just me.... Maybe I'm just slow.
For one thing, why did Kaneda get so heavily involved with Kei and all the other strange things? It just didn't make sense to me!
But the action scenes with the bikes and the guns and the lasers were pretty impressive!!
Who cares if the plot made no sense to me and I kept forgetting the characters names? Half of them died in impressive looking fight scenes or some psychic brain crushing! I never really grew attached to any of the characters because I was expecting them to die as soon as I turned the page! Not that that's necessarily a bad thing!
I was impressed with the art! Not for cute eyes and delicate clothing though. In fact, not for the people at all. The people all looked rather average to me with their short black hair and casual clothing! But it was their back grounds and panels that I liked!

Pink Lady

This about a Korean manga, not apples.

Well, I call it a manga, but it's not really. It's called a webtoon (thank wiki for that!), so not only is it in full colour, it's not really manga art-style. It's not westernised enough to bee called a comic, but it's definitely unlike any manga I've read.
The plot is relatively unique aswell! Winter meets David at collage; David and Winter are actually childhood friends; David and Winter love each other and fight all the challenges they encounter together! Okay, I admit, I've read plenty of Romances where that happens, but this one really stands out! For a start, it's not just set in a normal high school, it's very obviously set in an art school. Now that probably sounds rather insignificant, but it actually changes the whole manga because everything has that artistic feel behind it. Everything just works because they're in art school!

Kingyo Used Books

Wow, I had this review done ages ago, just for some reason it hadn't posted! Oh well. You can read it now.

Based around a run-down second-hand manga store this book is surprisingly inspirational.
It's full of tales about why people read manga. It sounds pretty ridiculous, but it is extremely enjoyable. The employers are all pretty eccentric and the customers entirely believable!

The art style is very practical (it fits the genre of the book) but I much prefer shojo art so it's not very visually pleasing. Although some of the detail in the backgrounds is amazing!
In all it's a very good manga, but I think it's for fairly particular tastes. The chapters don't really link as such, there are various story arcs spanning over approximately 2 chapters. Personally, I prefer story's that develop more plot as the volumes go along, so this is not my preferred style. None of the characters are particularly interesting either. But the story's can really hit the spot; it really makes you want to get out there! This book definitely has something, I just can't put my finger on what.