[DNF] Princess Jellyfish, by Akiko Higashimura | Manga Review

Hello friends! Today I have my DNF Manga Review of Princess Jellyfish (2-in-1 omnibus, volume 01), by Akiko Higashimura. 

STINGING BEAUTY

Tsukimi Kurashita has a strange fascination with jellyfish. She’s loved them from a young age and has carried that love with her to her new life in the big city of Tokyo. There, she resides in Amamizukan, a safe-haven for girl geeks who regularly gush over a range of things from trains to Japanese dolls. However, a chance meeting at a pet shop has Tsukimi crossing paths with one of the things that the residents of Amamizukan have been desperately trying to avoid—a beautiful and fashionable woman! But there’s much more to this woman than her trendy clothes! This odd encounter is only the beginning of a new and unexpected path for Tsukimi and her friends.

Now this review is going to be short AF, and that’s only because I truly didn’t like Princess Jellyfish all that much.

I’ve seen the first season of the anime episodes that were out, because my cousin is a HUGE fan of Princess Jellyfish. She actually lent me 3 of the 2-in1 Omnibus volumes, so I could read them.

However, much like I did with the anime, I didn’t like Princess Jellyfish. Since I’ve watched the anime version, I can say that the anime follows the manga down to a T (from what I’ve read).

Princess Jellyfish is kinda cute. Like, a smidgen. Like maybe 5% cute.. The house is full of geeky females who all seem to have a problem with being around men.

While they’re being kind of cute, the ladies of the house are also super annoying. I literally can’t stand them. Which, as you may know, makes it all the more difficult to read the manga.

I get the sense that this series is like a long letter addressed to the main characters mother, who died while Tsukimi was young.

Overall, I honestly did not enjoy Princess Jellyfish. I’m making the decision now, to not finish the series.

I give Princess Jellyfish, 2 stars.

See you soon, and Happy Reading!
Adele

That Wolf-Boy is Mine! by Yoko Nogiri | Manga Review

Hello friends! Today’s Manga Review post is a little different because I’m not just reviewing one volume of a manga. I’m reviewing the entirety of That Wolf-Boy is Mine! by Yoko Nogiri, in one go. 

Enjoy!

MONSTER MISCHIEF After some traumatic experiences, Komugi Kusunoki transferred from the city to start a new life in rural Hokkaido. But on her first day of school, the school heartthrob Yū Ōgami blurts out, “You smell good!” Despite the hijinks, Komugi tries to adjust to her new school, but it’s not long before she stumbles across Yū dozing off under a tree. When she attempts to wake him up, he transformed…into a wolf?! It turns out that Yū is one of many other eccentric boys in her class year–and she’s the only one who knows their secret…!

I found That Wolf-Boy is Mine on Instagram, and then read the volumes as soon as I could. I had only seen a snippet of the first chapter when I first came across this manga. When I started reading That Wolf-Boy is Mine, I didn’t really know what to expect to be honest.

The one thing that I did not like about this story was that there were the stereotypical girls who thought of the prettiest boys in school as property. This scene is admittedly a small part of the story. Yet that part takes up a huge part of the story, as it is one of Komugi’s insecurities — bullies and standing up to them.

Onto the parts that I liked and loved about That Wolf-Boy is Mine!

I generally enjoyed just about everything else that the story offered to be quite honest with you. I loved how the story progressed, regressed, and then progressed once again! I love the relationships that Komugi gains through friendships between her friends.

I adored the plot of the story, and I love love loved how the ending of That Wolf-Boy is Mine! came to be.

The only part of this story was the side story that was introduced to us. So I hope that if this story is ever re-visited by Nogiri, I hope everyone gets a happy ending.

I give That Wolf-Boy is Mine!, 4 stars.

Have you read That Wolf-Boy is Mine! ?
If so, what did you think?

Thank you for stopping by!

See you soon, and Happy Reading!
— Adele

Waiting for Spring, Vol. 01 by Anashin | Manga Review

Hello! Today I have a manga review. I had quite a bit of fun reading this manga. My review for Waiting for Spring Volume 01 is quite messy. Sorry in advance!

A sweet romantic story of a soft-spoken high school freshman and her quest to make friends, Waiting for Spring will delight fans of earnest, fun, and dramatic shojo like Kimi ni Todoke and Say I Love You.

Mizuki is a shy girl who’s about to enter high school, and vows to open herself up to new friendships. Of course, the four stars of the boys’ basketball team weren’t exactly the friends she had in mind! Yet, when they drop by the café where she works, the five quickly hit it off. Soon she’s been accidentally thrust into the spotlight, targeted by jealous girls. And will she expand her mission to include… love?

I’d like to say that the cover for Waiting for Spring vol. 01 is so cute. Actually, all the covers for this manga series are pretty cute.

Not only is the cover cute but the first chapter is adorable.

Karneval Omnibus Vol. 07 + 08, by Touya Mikanagi | Manga Review #60 + #61

Please Note:
This Manga Review will contain some spoilers.

At Yanari’s party, Nai and the crew deepen their friendships and experience the warmth that comes of supporting and encouraging one another. Upon their return to the 2nd Ship, Gareki is summoned to meet with a stranger, who has come aboard disguised as a tree…?!
But back at Chronomé Academy, Kafka launches an attack, sending a swarm of Varuga to lay siege to the prestigious school. And when Tsubame attempts to protect her friends…she ends up a hostage herself! With Gareki back on board the 2nd Ship, who will come to her rescue?

Karneval Omnibus Vol. 05 + 06, by Touya Mikanagi | Manga Review #58 & #59

This post contains spoilers for KARNEVAL OMNIBUS VOLUMES 05 & 06.

Karneval Omnibus Volume 05, by Touya Mikanagi

When Nai’s bracelet mysteriously reactivates, he and Karoku find themselves transported to the wilds of an unknown land. Worried, Gareki requests a leave of absence from Chronomé Academy to join in the search for Nai, but he is forced to make a difficult decision concerning his future…

I was actually really looking forward to reading the 5th Omnibus after having been left at that CLIFF HANGER in the 4th Omnibus. Aside from that, I didn’t know what to expect so I didn’t have any predictions.

Black Butler Volume 01, by Yana Toboso | Manga Review #54

In the Victorian ages of London The Earl of the Phantomhive house, Ciel Phantomhive, needs to get his revenge on those who had humiliated him and destroyed what he loved. Not being able to do it alone he sells his soul to a demon he names Sebastian Michaelis. Now working as his butler, Sebastian must help the Earl Phantomhive in this suspenseful, exciting, thriller manga.

There was little that I found I did not like about this first volume. For the most part, the story is great. However, there is a part in this volume that has me not wanting to read the rest of the volumes. Or at least, not read any of the volumes that the library has. The reasoning behind that I can give to you in one word: Elizabeth.

To elaborate more on that, simply put, I don’t like Elizabeth’s character at all. A little more detail on why I don’t like her is because she’s….over the top; extra.. I could tell that she’s used to getting her way with everything; AKA a spoiled brat.

I found her character to be annoying,  and I severely dislike how she acts around people. But since I’ve seen portions of the Black Butler anime I know Things are different than what we know as of now. I won’t give spoilers because there are those out there who haven’t read the manga series, and there are people who haven’t watched the anime.

With that said, I’m going to be contradicting myself here, but that’s fine. I’m going to be continuing on with the Black Butler series precisely because there’s so much to this story that I don’t know, and I want to find out what that is from the original story.

Since I’ve watched a few episodes of Black Butler before, I couldn’t help but hear the character’s accents when I read the manga. Which is both frustrating and funny. Frustrating because I can’t imagine the characters original voices come to life from the story. And funny because I can’t picture anyone else’s voices apart from the English Dub voice cast.

The people under Ciel’s employment are simpetons in the best way, and I’m sure there’s a reason for why they were hired. I hope we find out why they were hired later on. They’re just so darn cute though.

I give Black Butler Volume 01, 3 stars.

Happy Reading!
— Adele

Kenka Bancho Otome: Love’s Battle Royal, Vol.01, by Chie Shimada | Manga Review #53

Beautiful boy rebels using their fists to fall in love!

Hinako thought she didn’t have any family, but on the day she starts high school, her twin brother Hikaru suddenly appears and tricks her into taking his place. But the new school Hinako attends in his stead is beyond unusual. Now she must fight her way to the top of Shishiku Academy, an all-boys school of delinquents!

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I’ve seen the anime for this manga, but I’ve never read it. I actually thought that the story was really cute, too. So I’m glad that the library has the first volume in its’ database.

Reading in the first few pages that the story was first produced as a video game, I am not quite sure of what I should think of that little tidbit of information! A congratulations is in order though! To have a game turned into a manga and then turned into an anime?! That’s got to be a wild experience!

Behind the Scenes!! Vol. 01, by Bisco Hatori | Manga Review #52

Ranmaru Kurisu comes from a family of hardy, rough-and-tumble fisher folk, and he sticks out at home like a delicate, artistic sore thumb. It’s given him a raging inferiority complex and a permanently pessimistic outlook. Now that he’s in college, he’s hoping to find a sense of belonging. But after a whole life of being left out, does he even know how to fit in?!

It’s two months into Ranmaru’s college career, and if he’s learned one thing, it’s that he’s really uncomfortable around other people. But when he stumbles into a zombie mob attack, he’s forced out of his comfort zone in the most dramatic way possible! Of course it’s just a movie shoot, but when he wakes up from his ignoble faint, he’s been whisked away behind the scenes with the Art Squad! Could this group of weirdos be what Ranmaru’s been looking for all his life?!

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I don’t know what it was about Behind the Scenes!! that drew me towards reading this manga. Actually, scratch that. What drew me towards Behind the Scenes!! is the fact that this manga is the same creator from that of Ouran High School Host Club. I’ve watched the anime for that series, and it is ridiculous as it is funny. Sometimes it’s a little over the top as well, which is what I hope for in Behind the Scenes!!

Quickly into starting my read through of Behind the Scenes!! I realized that I was actually genuinely enjoying the progress of the story. I also truly love the characters. Even the characters that aren’t necessarily part of the main focus!

The Water Dragon’s Bride Vol. 05, by Rei Toma | Manga Review #51

This review contains spoilers.

A modern-day girl gets whisked away to a strange land where she is sacrificed to a water dragon god!

In the blink of an eye, a modern-day girl named Asahi is whisked away from her warm and happy home and stranded in a strange and mysterious world where she meets a water dragon god!

Asahi is in danger because people want to use her to get the water dragon god’s power. She doesn’t want anyone to be hurt because of her, so she goes with the water dragon god and Subaru to pay a visit to the emperor. However, in exchange for his protection, the emperor makes an unexpected demand!

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In the last (4th) volume we saw that the Water Dragon posed as a human to not only become closer to Asahi, but to keep an eye on her and the people around her as well. That’s what I believe, anyway. It’s been so long since I read the fourth volume, haha.

Karneval Omnibus Vol. 03 + 04, by Touya Mikanagi | Manga Review #49 & #50

Nai and the crew of the 2nd Ship head for the metropolis of Vantonam, with 1st Ship’s Jiki on board under Captain Tsukitachi’s orders. The group takes some time off to enjoy the city, but while browsing the Nyanperona Shop, they are called out by a young boy, and…?! Later, Nai receives a secret communication with a dire message from Karoku as Circus begins planning an attack upon the “Smoky Mansion,” where Karoku says he is being held. After the fierce battle ends and the dust settles, what truth will await Nai and Gareki…?!

One thing that I really like about these Omnibus books is that at the beginning of the volumes, there is colour pages of the characters. Which indeed helps bring these characters to life in the long run.