Hello, panda lovers! This is not a training session. Please, don’t’ panic. This is not a scam, this blog hasn’t been hacked. I’m actually writing some reviews after a year and seven days, the legend came back to life! =D
Tag: 2 stars
Mini Reviews: MM Romance #4
Hello, world! Despite lack of recent evidence, I’m still alive and breathing! I’m just having a really hard time to go back to my blogging schedule – I don’t have a good excuse. But today I’m back and with reviews! THE MIRACLE.
On another bunch of mini reviews, I’ll talk about more gay romances that I have read over the year and haven’t reviewed yet =)
Just remembering that the mini reviews deal is a combination of inspirations from Cait, of The Paper Fury, and from Lindsey, of @thepagemistress, and that I do those with books that: a) I really liked, but the book didn’t change my life; b) regardless of my feelings, were too short for a complete review; c) regardless of my feelings, weren’t unforgettable.
In this post, you’ll find mini reviews for:
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Amanda Young – Crushing
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Harper Logan – Groomed to Perfection (The Neeson Boys #2)
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Harper Logan – Baby Daddies (The Neeson Boys #3)
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Hawke Oakley – Love Me, Hate Me (SERIES #)
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Mia Kerick – Scarred
Mini Reviews: YA books #2
Hello, world! I’m back with another edition of the Mini Reviews and, this time, our theme is Young Adult books! YAAAY!
Just remembering that the mini reviews deal is a combination of inspirations from Cait, of The Paper Fury, and from Lindsey, of @thepagemistress, and that I do those with books that: a) were good, but weren’t unforgettable; b) were too short for a complete review; c) I really liked, but the book didn’t change my life.
In this post, you’ll find mini reviews for:
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Madeleine Roux – The Scarlets (The Asylum #1.5)
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Madeleine Roux – Catacomb (The Asylum #3)
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Rainbow Rowell – Kindred Spirits
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Sarah J. Maas – A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1)
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Sara Shepard – The Perfectionists (The Perfectionists #1)
The Doll-Master and Other Tales of Terror, from Joyce Carol Oates
(Alternative title: the book that made me so hot to read it that burned me when I did)
Hi, there, lovelies! Slowly and steadily, I’m putting some order on my missing reviews 🙂 I’m almost done with the sent books, so I’ll start the asked ones, haha! Today I’ll be talking about a book I received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review: The Doll-Master and Other Tales of Terror, from Joyce Carol Oates. While I thank the publisher to the infinity and beyond for approving my review request, I must say that this book wasn’t my kind of terror 😦
For that reason, I won’t be long on my review, as I still think many people out there will love it despite my feelings towards this book 🙂
From one of our most important contemporary writers, The Doll-Master and Other Tales of Terror is a bold, haunting collection of six stories.
In the title story, a young boy becomes obsessed with his cousin’s doll after she tragically passes away from leukemia. As he grows older, he begins to collect “found dolls” from the surrounding neighborhoods and stores his treasures in the abandoned carriage house on his family’s estate. But just what kind of dolls are they?
In “Gun Accident,” a teenage girl is thrilled when her favorite teacher asks her to house-sit, even on short notice. But when an intruder forces his way into the house while the girl is there, the fate of more than one life is changed forever.
In “Equatorial,” set in the exotic Galapagos, an affluent American wife experiences disorienting assaults upon her sense of who her charismatic husband really is, and what his plans may be for her.
In The Doll-Master and Other Tales of Terror, Joyce Carol Oates evokes the “fascination of the abomination” that is at the core of the most profound, the most unsettling, and the most memorable of dark mystery fiction.
Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader 🙂
This book wasn’t for me. I like my terror more terrifying. I enjoyed the first story, but I had it all figured out in the middle. The other stories were just boring for me and I feel awful for that. The writing style was tiresome, the mystery was too obvious and the terror itself didn’t built up on my head 
I was the most wrong target, haha! So, two stars.
What I liked: the first story. I loved the concept and even after understanding it all, it gave me the creeps to keep going. I have a thing for dolls, especially porcelain dolls. I know several people are afraid of them, but I love them to the core – I have four myself, gifts from my grandma ❤
That’s my reaction EVERY TIME I see pretty vintage dolls, be it porcelain or not, haha!
Anyway, I don’t really want to bitch about this book. All I will say is that I was too excited to read the book and got disappointed. If you like light terror, soft mystery, creepy things and don’t open this book with high expectations, you’ll love it 🙂
That’s it! Thanks for reading this review and I honestly hope more people can love this book to compensate my lack of love 🙂
Love you all and see you around,
Falling Light, from Dayana Morency
Hi, there! It’s time for another book review, but a very short and not very pleasant one. I was lucky to receive a copy of Falling Light, from Dayana Morency, from YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, guys! I wish I could say that I was the right audience for it.
This will be the summer of love… and death.
When seventeen-year-old Rosalynn Young pictured her summer vacation, she didn’t think she would be spending it working as a maid at the Millennium Hotel. She imagined painting and gardening. But soon, in spite of her disappointment, she meets Victor Gregoire. Wayward and enigmatic, he sends a chill up her spine. Everything about him feels foreign–unearthly.
Dangerously drawn to Victor, Rosalynn willfully ignores his volatile mood swings. When she impulsively enters Victor’s room, she finds a journal dating back to the 19th Century and a photograph of him from August 14, 1874.
He’s hiding something sinister and she’s desperate to find out what, even if it means risking everything. But Rosalynn fails to realize that her attraction to Victor comes at a price and she soon learns some secrets are better kept hidden.
She’s in for the summer job of a lifetime.
Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader 🙂
This book was so disappointing in so many levels. I felt the risk when I first read the blurb, as it has a strong Twilight appeal, but I decided to give Falling Light a chance. I loved Twilight, I could love this one too, right…? Wrong. Oh, boy, I was so wrong… You see, I first read Twilight when I was 12 or 13 and, as the next books were released, I saw that I only liked the first and decided it was an excellent standalone by itself. I’ve never re-read Twilight since then and I’m not sure I will someday, as life is short and there are tons of wonderful books waiting to be read for the first time. But I digress, sorry. My point is that this book is too Young Adult for me, in a bad way. Everything was too obvious, the main character was insufferable and the hot guy didn’t even gave me butterflies in the stomach. Maybe if I was 12 or 13, I’d have loved this book as much as I loved Twilight. As a 21 year old with the mind of an old lady of 80, this book only annoyed me. The twist in the end was mildly interesting, so I end up giving it two stars.
The narrative is first person styled from Rosalynn’s point of view and we didn’t got along… At all. So my problems started there. I absolutely hate not getting along with first person narrators, it makes the reading so unpleasant. That’s why I generally prefer third person – less chances of the main characters annoying me to death, haha! But I hate to say that Falling Light in third person would still have a bad effect on me.
The plot was exactly the same as Twilight’s, with a different paranormal creature that won’t be mentioned due spoilers. And there is a huge instalove on it and I’m not a fan of instalove. Not even on mating cases, like it happens with werewolves and other shifters, for example. Desire, lust? That is instant. Love? Not. At. All. Anyway, despite a nice twist in the end that had me arching my brows (I wish I could do the cool lifting only one eyebrow thing, but I sadly can’t), everything was predictable and in a very boring way. You know I don’t mind knowing how things will end, but being able to predict it in detail… Oh dear.
The characters weren’t able to hold my attention or even to make me care. Also, did I mentioned the amorous-square? Because you know, triangles are not bad enough, let’s add another end to it!
I really hate to say bad things about a book, so I’ll just wrap up this review earlier by saying that I was the wrong audience for it and that if you like mysterious guys, paranormal creatures, love squares triangles, beautiful covers to adorn your shelves and haven’t read Twilight, you’ll love Falling Light 🙂 And, if you decide to pick it up, I honestly and sincerely hope that you like it. All books deserve to be loved by someone 🙂
Thanks for reading my review and I’m sorry for the shortness, but I regret nothing 🙂
Movie Review: Austenland (2013)
Hi, there! Yes, I’m making a movie review, haha! I’d like to start this post by saying that I’m not Hollywood’s biggest fan. It’s nothing personal, I’m just not really a movie/tv person. I have determinate shows that I like to watch and a small selection of favorite movies that I don’t ever tire of, just like a wide animation collection, but I don’t really crave or care about new movie releases with frequency. It’s easier to sit me on the couch and order me to read a book than order me to watch something – just ask Jenny, she will confirm that to you. My last time at the movies was a forced going to watch Star Wars. And before that, I went to the movies to watch the Minions movie.
Now that you have my whole profile of boredom, you understand that watching a new movie is a big deal to me and that the fact that I chose to review it is a happening. I do intend to review more movies in the future, but for now, it’s new and it’s cool 🙂
And my first movie review is for a book adaptation that I was actually craving to see: Austenland, based on Shannon Hale’s book [review here] and produced by no one less than Stephenie Meyer.
Austenland
2013
Directed by Jerusha Hess
Cast
- Keri Russell as Jane Hayes
- JJ Feild as Mr. Henry Nobley
- Bret McKenzie as Martin
- Jennifer Coolidge as Elizabeth Charming
- James Callis as Colonel Andrews
- Jane Seymour as Mrs. Wattlesbrook
- Georgia King as Lady Amelia Heartwright
- Ricky Whittle as Captain George East
- Rupert Vansittart as Mr. Wattlesbrook
- Richard Reid as Nigel
Obsessed with Pride and Prejudice (1995), a woman travels to a Jane Austen theme park in search for her perfect gentleman.
Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as viewer 🙂
I’d like to start this saying that I had no expectations when I started watching Austenland – it was going to start on one of the endless movie channels at TV and I stopped to watch it. And even so, I was let down. (If you liked the movie, I advise you to stop reading this review here. It’s not my intention to offend anyone, but I don’t have many nice things to say about Austenland =/).
I really enjoyed Keri Russell, the actress that played Jane, the main character, and I loved that Jennifer Coolidge was part of the movie even with the adaptations on her original character. It was the only good humor escape among a very dull and sufferable movie. I hated the overall casting choices, the figurine was poor made and the adaptation itself left a very funny and light book without any emotion or point in existing. I’ll talk more about each subject in detail, but overall, this is a two stars production: it’s so weak that you won’t even have the energy to hate it.
Setting: 5 stars
I have to take my hat off to all the locations shown in the movie. I loved the mansion that held Austenland itself, the way Jane’s apartment was decorated and all the small things that screamed how much she loved Jane Austen. The photography of the movie is also very beautiful and bright – I really love bright movies, I feel like they are getting rare based on all the trailers that I watch, haha!
Figurine: 3 stars
Honestly? They could have pulled off a better figurine for everyone. Sometimes I really am sure that people that put the movie together simple haven’t read the book. Yes, Jane had a third class package for Austenland, but her clothes were simpler, not outright ugly. They were even colorful! On the other hand, I liked the clothes that they designed to Jennifer Coolidge, they really brought the best on her. But I may be being partial here because I really love her. Hmm… Anyway. I really feel that they could have put more effort into this.
Soundtrack: 2 stars
I’m one of those people that think that you don’t have to notice the music in the background of the movie; you have to feel it. Like when you start to watch Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and the main theme starts playing and you shiver in anticipation, you know? If you actually notice the music, two things happened: a) you highly identified yourself with that song, that moment and it was oh-so-special for you; or b) you hated it and are annoyed, hoping that it just stop playing. I fell into the second category watching Austenland. Several times I found myself bothered by the songs in the background.
Casting: 1 star
SERIOUSLY. I was so frustrated with this casting that I actually rolled my eyes every time that Mr. Noble walked into scene. I have always been picky and downward exigent when talking about males to admire, so I know I am a tough audience on this point, BUT COME ON! NEITHER of the guys in Austenland were not even close of enjoyable! FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! There are so many beautiful and talented actors out there! HOW COME AUSTENLAND MANAGED TO PICK ONLY UGLY AND INISPID GUYS FOR ALL MALE ROLES IN THIS MOVIE?! I just can’t. Oh, and Lady Amelia Heartwright also was a disappointment. The book is very clear when highlighting how good she is at that game and how much she prepares herself for her vacations at Austenland. What I saw was a pathetic girl that pretended to know what she was doing and people pretending to be impressed when they actually hated her. Not at all what happened and Lady Amelia Heartwright perfection in this game is a crucial point for the plot and for Jane’s breakthrough. JUST. NO.
For who I thought was well casted: Keri Russell as Jane Hayes, Jennifer Coolidge as Elizabeth Charming, Jane Seymour as Mrs. Wattlesbrook and Rupert Vansittart as Mr. Wattlesbrook.
Script and Adaptation: 2 stars
I know you can’t put the whole book into the movie, but all the cleverness in the dialogues were gone; only a pale shadow of the brilliantism of Shannon Hale’s book remained. Characters were completely distorted and I can barely connect book with movie. So much time was wasted in stupid scenes that the movie became dull. This was supposed to be a comedy, but I didn’t even got to laugh while watching. I only smirked a lot, haha! I feel so bad for it, because it’s not a popular book and I don’t see many people watching Austenland and being willing to give the book a go 😦 Also, the movie failed to show how living the dream really hit Jane; despite my likeness of her, sometimes she really felt like a whining and indecisive bitch to me and it is SO NOT like that! It’s hard to believe that you actually can live in the “perfect” world as it was her case, you have to conceive what is real and what is not and this is so tiring and frustrating! And guess what? You won’t find any of those dilemmas in the movie. Oh, and guess again: THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT OF THE BOOK! You don’t need to give up fantasy, but you have to know when to separate it from reality, to regulate your expectations for the real world. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck inside an imaginary bubble and never be truly happy, once that everything will still be fake in the end of the day.
Seriously: or you are in to do a good job and a great movie or don’t. Bother. With. It.
Overall, I recommend it for fans of Jennifer Coolidge, as she shone as always, and for people that really are curious about book to movie adaptations and about Stephenie Meyer producing a movie. See for yourselves how big this tragedy could be.
Oh, and I would only like to remember that Stephenie Meyer said she hadn’t had the time to do something nicer than Life and Death for Twilight’s 10th birthday her only score in life may I add, but had the time to screw what could have been a lovely and funny movie. I bet we will reach Twilight’s 20th birthday without Midnight Sun and with more screwed movies, if I know my lucky well. And I do.
That’s it, thanks for reading my first movie review and I’m sorry I complained a lot, but I simply had to put it out. It wasn’t my intention to offend anyone, including Stephenie Meyer. I honestly hope you enjoy Austenland more than I did if you ever decide to pick it up.
Next movie review: Into the Woods
Wilder, from G. K. DeRosa (The Guardian #1)
Hi, there! Welcome to a very late review, but life seems to be crazy this past few weeks, ugh! Right now, I’ll be reviewing the first volume of The Guardian series, by G. K. DeRosa: Wilder! I received my ebook copy from Chapter by Chapter in preparation for the Wilder Revelation Book Tour and in exchange for an honest review. Thank you again, guys! Let’s do this 🙂
The Story
(Goodreads Blurb)
All that Celeste Wilder ever wanted was to find someone who would sweep her off her feet like she had seen in countless romantic movies. When she meets the gorgeous and mysterious Constantin brothers her senior year of high school, she gets much more than what she had bargained for. As they introduce her to an exciting supernatural world that she never imagined existed, she makes a startling discovery about her own family legacy and is forced to make a decision that will change her life forever.
The Analysis
Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader 🙂
It was a true blessing that I was participating on the third volume’s book tour. If I had received only Wilder, I probably would drop the series and never think of it again, as I didn’t really hit it off with this book. I even joked with my friends that they could name a paranormal/young adult cliché and you would find it on this book. And I’m sadly right, sorry G. K.! I liked Celeste a lot as a protagonist, I think she was a very well constructed character, as were the boys Nico and Roman. I enjoyed the narrative style and the writing wasn’t so bad. BUT OH THE CLICHÉS! I rolled my eyes so many times during my reads that they were hurting on the next day. All stars were lost due this problem and only two survived 😦
The narrative style was my favorite: third person with switching points of view between several characters, but mostly from Celeste and Roman’s pov. Sometimes the writing style struck me as a bit rough, but it was a fluid book and I managed to finish it pretty quickly. Celeste has a bad ass story to tell and lives on a very singular world 🙂
The plot was good and had some twists that left me with my mouth open, but I was denied the pleasure of this appreciation over the clichés. It is really frustrating to read a book with so much potential and stumbled on something like this…
The characters were the strong point in the series. Celeste is a nice protagonist and managed to not irritate me, which is kind of a big deal, haha! Also, the boys had a beautiful brotherly relationship that I miss seeing in YA books. Usually, the family relationships in YA are dysfunctional or weird or simply non-existent (like when the character is orphan and has no family at all). It was a breath of fresh air to see the love that Nico and Roman have for each other!
And can we please take a moment to appreciate this wonderful cover? I’m in love ❤
Overall, Wilder is a necessary evil in a very nice series. You have to know how it all starts to enjoy the future happiness that the second and third volume brings. If you don’t mind the clichés and are in for a very cool paranormal ya series, take a deep breath and dive in Wilder!
Thank you for reading and thanks to Chapter by Chapter for the review copy 🙂 Also, I’d like to say that is not my intention to offend anyone in my reviews, so I apologize if my words sounded harsh – I totally didn’t mean it! 😦
This review was a preparation for…
Talon, from Sybil Bartel (The Uncompromising Series #1)
Hi, there! Unfortunatelly, today’s review isn’t very promising 😦 You may remember that I received an advanced reader’s copy of Talon, by Sybil Bartel, from Xpresso Book Tours. While I’m very grateful for this wonderful opportunity, I’m also very sorry, as it seems that I’m not the right audience for Talon…
The Story
(Goodreads’ blurb)
I surf.
I fuck.
I pretend to smile.
Two years ago my life was perfect, until it wasn’t. I scattered my wife’s ashes then walked away from the Marines. I didn’t think I had anything left to lose.
I was wrong.
The blonde showed up on my doorstep beaten and stabbed. I did what I was trained to do—I stitched her up. I didn’t have a clue who she was and I told myself I didn’t care. Until they came looking for her.
I swore I’d take my last breath before I let anyone else hurt her, except I didn’t know she was keeping a deadly secret. Now I had two choices, her life or mine.
Marriage and combat taught me the same thing—I was no one’s hero. And I was about to prove it.
The Analysis
Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader 🙂
So, I’m sorry to say that I was the wring audience for Talon. This book had everything that I don’t appreciate in books in general: first person narrative style, forceful males, dependent females, tons of meaningless sex scenes and so many whining on Talon’s part… It wasn’t for me at all, so I rated it two stars and will keep this review short as I don’t believe in bad mouthing books.
As I mentioned, the narrative style in the book is first person, from Talon’s point of view. I didn’t like him, so the book was kind of doomed to me from there.
The plot, in the other hand, was very good and mysterious. I really was pinning hard to know what had happened, if things were going to be all right. It’s the strongest point in the book, along Bartel’s really good writing style, that made the never-ending sex scenes way more bearable.
The characters were very deep and complex, but I couldn’t relate to anyone in the book. I really disliked Talon and his rotten personality – I’m not the kind of girl that appreciates forceful males in any way. In my opinion, Talon was forceful. But of course that it is only my perspective. I think people usually classify his type as dominant and confident. Anyway, I also didn’t like Nicole and the rest is history.
Also, I don’t really like meaningless sex scenes on books. I like when it involves desire and willingness, a deep need from the couple to be around each other. You see, I didn’t say love; but I need something. To have sex only because you can? No, thanks. If I wanted porn, I’d go and watch some online; I wouldn’t read a book. That’s why I like my scenes with purpose and emotion. Needless to say that several of the scenes of Talon lacked my basic requisites.
But I shall insist: if you like hot and sexy romances, dominant and confident males and a WONDERFUL mystery to try to solve during the book, you HAVE TO read Talon!
Once again, thanks so much to Xpresso Book Tours team for the ARC and I hope I can read other books by Sybil sometime. Maybe on other genres, haha!
And, of course, thank you for reading! ❤
Gods of Chaos, from Jen McConnel (Red Magic #2)
Hi, there! I promise, last post for today, haha! But let’s admit, I was owing a review for the second book in the Red Magic series, from Jen McConnel: Gods of Chaos! Also, I’d like to thank Chapter by Chapter again for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review 🙂
The Story
(Goodreads’ blurb)
The gods of chaos cannot be trusted.
Since battling her best friend, Darlena’s grip on Red Magic has been shaky. She heads to Scotland after the Winter Solstice in search of another Red Witch.
On a sightseeing excursion with girls from her hostel, Darlena arrives at The Vaults, a mysterious underground city beneath Edinburgh. But there is something there that make Darlena’s instincts go haywire, as she lets loose a defensive burst of Red Magic, putting everyone around her in danger.
If there was ever a time when Darlena needed the help of another Red witch, it was now. But beware the witch who wields Red Magic.
The Analysis
Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader 🙂
Do you remember when I said that Red Magic had so much potential because Lena had grew up a lot during the story? Well, forget it. As soon as I started reading Gods of Chaos, I saw that all the progress she made on the previous book had flew out of the window and she was back to being a whiny ungrateful child. Also, I hated the destiny of a particular character and that was the decisive point for my final rating. I like to brag that my reviews are as most analytical as I can get, but my ratings are personal and highly subjective, for good and evil. So, for me, this is a two stars book.
I’ll spare your eyes, as the narrative of Gods of Chaos follows the style on Daughter of Chaos: first person styled from Lena’s point of view only. I hated Lena and it didn’t get better on this volume, so there was nothing to do for it.
The plot was very good and even fuller of twists than the previous book. I really liked the scenarios and adventures that Lena had to endure in order to try to become a better Red witch. To be honest, I think the plot is the strongest point in this whole series, as it is what keeps the reader reading [haha] despite Lena’s existence. I was only bothered by a continuation error. On Daughter of Chaos, there is a part in which Lena switch places with a goddess, that shall remain unnamed due to spoilers. In said part, Lena mentions that she uses a Glamour to look like the goddess on an airport bathroom and distinctly says that she uses an invisibility spell right after that, to be able to do what she had to. And then we have a scene further in the series in which Lena wishes she knew how to become invisible to escape her parents. She doesn’t wish for to be able to be invisible at that particular time, she wishes she knew how to do it – and that she clearly knew how to do.
Anyway, the characters. I still think that Gods are portrayed much better than other regular people characters on Red Magic, but I liked human characters more than before. Seriously, everyone seems to evolve but Lena.
But for sure the spotlight in Gods of Chaos all go to Marcus and Izzy. Marcus is another Red and Izzy is a Blue witch. Both of them are wonderful and I loved their addition to the series plot. Marcus even made it to My Bookish Boyfriends list!
I wish I could say more about them, but I can’t think of anything that won’t give huge spoilers away, I’m sorry 😦
To be fair, Gods of Chaos would be a three stars book overall, but I can’t bring myself to put it any higher. I had to put up with Lena’s shit and a beloved characters death. I AM NOT MADE OF STEEL FOR GOD’S SAKE!
Overall, if you started this series, do keep going. Things get better, I promise. If anything, at least you will have the chance of meeting Marcus, a delicious bookish boyfriend with powers beyond any thought 😀
Here, you can see my reviews for the rest of the series:
That’s it, thanks for reading! And once again thank you to Chapter by Chapter for sending me this series!
This post was a preparation for…
Sword Art Online: Fairy Dance, from Reki Kawahara and Tsubasa Haduki
Hi, there! You will never believe this: today’s manga review is NOT a yaoi one! I repeat, this is not a gay manga review!
I know, it is so exciting, right?!
Eh, no, not really, as I really didn’t like today’s title. I’m talking about Sword Art Online – Fairy Dance, from Reki Kawahara and Tsubasa Haduki.
Goodreads’ Blurb
Kazuto Kirigaya (aka Kirito) has survived the death game of Aincrad masterminded by Akihiko Kayaba, programmer of Sword Art Online, and made it back to the real world. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Asuna Yuuki (aka Asuna the Flash), the girl Kirito fell in love with in the game world and who has yet to awaken from her seemingly endless slumber. As his sister, Suguha, sadly looks on, Kazuto continues to visit Asuna in the hospital in the hope of finding answers… But one day, the answers suddenly find him in the form of a man who claims to be Asuna’s fiancé?! With him, the man brings an in-game screenshot of someone who looks a lot like Asuna being held captive! Now Kirito must dive into an all-new VRMMORPG, ALfheim Online, to bring Asuna home!
The Analysis
Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader 🙂
I felt like I was the only person in the world that didn’t know what Sword Art Online (SAO) was, as I blindly bought this volume and read to only later find out how famous this series is. And honestly? I don’t understand why. I had my fair share of manga titles in my life (just take a look at my goodreads list) and I don’t see anything new, exciting or even worth reading on this series. Don’t get me wrong, the art is pleasant and the story will keep you busy until the end of the volume, but that’s it. Nothing memorable, so much fan service (when the characters show a lot their bodies, specially the female ones, and the title is packed with clichés), and a kind of stupid plot. Sorry, but this title wasn’t for me, I’ve seen too much to be impressed. However, it did kept me interested until the end of volume one, so two stars. And I won’t be finishing this series.
I don’t believe on bad mouthing a book or manga (or anything at all) just because I don’t like it, as all of us have a distinct opinion, so I’ll keep my review short and sweet 🙂
The narrative pace is fast, as this series is like a season two for the original SAO series. This doesn’t impact on the reader’s understanding of happenings, which is good. This was my first attempt at reading SAO and worked out almost just fine. We have shared points of view during the volume, shared by Kirito, Asuna and Suguha.
The plot is simple and with a mysterious air, as we don’t know exactly how Asuna’s fiancé plans on conquer the world. Just as many titles before it, SAO is a partial dystopian title, as the world that we know has reached such a level of technology that the online games immerse their players on the virtual world with the help of a helmet and their brains believe that all of they are living inside the game is real. It is nice, but not new. The majority of the series goes on the game SAO’s world (the game names the manga series) and the scenarios are cool, just like the designs of the characters.
I was bored to my bones to see that every character, without exceptions, was a typically archetype of shoujo (a.k.a. sugaed romance) mangas. There is the hero, the heroin, a girl to form the amorous triangle, the guy that always helps the hero, cheesy dialogues, and a soul deep love that no one understands why it is there. Add all that to sword fights and over power characters, plus a damsel in distress. Yeah. Nice.
As I said, the art was pleasant, but also didn’t hold my attention. One thing that did bothered me was the size of Suguha’s boobs, as she is twelve – from what I have gathered. Honestly, teen girls on this age have not those boobs. I wonder if this becomes a hentai (a.k.a. pornographic) title, as the traces are on that style. Or maybe I’m too much of a bore, haha!
Overall, if you like semi-dystopian and adventure mangas, or shoujos, I think you should give SAO a try. Maybe it is your type 😀
Thank you for reading! Tomorrow’s review shall come back to my default style of reading, if you get my drift. Yaoi.
*ps: I do not own the illustration, it was found on Google, belong to Tsubasa Haduki-sensei and were used with illustrative purposes only 🙂
The Book Adventures of Annelise Lestrange 