Shut Up and Book Up!

Manga Review 4 out of 5 stars! Manga by Yo Asami Story by Natsu Hyuuga Character Design by Chiho Shinishi "Once I become an official candidate---I want hazard pay.  . . . And I want that in writing." - Chloe Chloe's a novice cleric by day, but at night while dawning a veil, she's The Sister of Great Fortune. Walking away with several coins and men in tears over their loses with cards. Sounds like a very, peaceful and exciting life. Win-win, literally! Only in this world women who seem to have "unnatural" abilities or are just really good observers are thought to be gifted with a Charism. Chloe has no Charism, but she still lands in the sights of a Erald Bitz who wishes to utilize her powers to solve a murder mystery. She tries to correct him at every turn and even shows her trade secrets, but he isn't convinced. Luckily, he knows how to speak her language and upon the down payment she's in! Though Chloe may not fully understand what she got herself i...

Manga Review 5 out of 5 stars! Manga by Chika Mizube Story by Kanata Hoshi Character Design by Peperon "The young lady who eats monsters. . . The Voracious Villainess."  Melphiera would like nothing more than to continue studying monsters and creating fancy dishes with the meat. But her stepmother gave her an ultimatum she cannot ignore. She must find a match and be betrothed within a year!? Though in "proper" high society Melphiera is shunned and no suitor wishes to approach her. Will she get a proposal of marriage, or will she suffer the consequences of her stepmother? She's just a woman who knows what she wants and has gained the knowledge of how to properly prepare it! And because she is an upstanding lady, she wishes for the finer dishes with gorgeous presentation on the plate! "Really? You're not worried about touching monster blood?" - Duke Aristide "Oh, not at all. You should've seen me last week when I butchered a Backhorn. This i...

Book Review 5 out of 5 stars! "But the thing that’s always been most painful? How gorgeous my jackass stepbrother is. Everyone knows it, including him, which is both part of the reason he’s such an asshole, and part of the reason I still let him get away with what he does. He just looks so pretty doing it." - Val Valentina has been fighting and denying her longtime crush on her stepbrother. If only her father hadn't fallen in love with Banon's minotaur mom! Not really, she's very happy for her dad and the love he shares with Marissa. It just makes things awkward for her, even after the events of HS her heart still wants Banon. Distance and ignoring one another hasn't helped to solve anything between the two. The caps about to blow when the two have to come home for the Holidays and be in close proximity to one another. If Val speaks her truth to Banon will this blowup horribly and ruin their combined family? Could Banon even possibly see her in that way or is ...

Book Review 4 out of 5 stars! "It will be the perfect day--all about you and Isaac and your awe-inspiring love story. And no worries if something goes wrong, Aunt Effie will be there to fix it!" - Lavinia Lavinia's home for her best friend's wedding and to enjoy being in a familiar small town! With all the smells, sights, and that home cooking nothing can replace. It was supposed to be a fun little getaway from the city and a relaxing time of catching up with everyone. But things turn sour when a body turns up! One that sparks a domino effect within the town and the two famous already feuding families. Refusing to just sit on her hands Lavinia decides she will do some amateur sleuthing! Uncovering secrets, fishing out the truths within the rumors, and trying to comfort her best friend. Rediscovering her small towns, she grew up in and understanding the adult version of things. Including the nasty side of a family feud and the not so sweet side of funerals and large su...

Book Review 3.5 out of 5 stars! "She may be terrorized by me, but she' supposed to at least be enjoying the holiday season, dammit!" - Seth Ada used to love the holidays until her anxiety overtook everything. Now she stays wrapped up in blankets and cozy sweaters inside her cabin. Running her business of helping others manage their lives and enjoying the holidays. But Ada has a secret Santa who is refusing to let her ignore the festive time of year. From mysterious packages, text messages, and Christmas lights they won't stop! Unsure if this is an overzealous Christmas lover or a creepy stalker Ada is at a loss. Sleep hasn't been helping to ease her mind because it's full of nightmares. Maybe some of the dreams border on darker desires that she should see a therapist about. Will she get a break or will all this break Ada? "How do I go from being her Krampus to her secret Santa? She's never been anything but good. She deserves presents and candy, not p...

Book Review 5 out of 5 stars! First and foremost! This very, short story can be read as a standalone but there are some minor spoilers. Personally, I think reading  "Minas" first is best before reading this, since you will understand the world and lore around the characters more. However you choose, happy reading! * * * * "I want this barbarian's wine, sweet and honeyed and forbidden." - Daidalos Minas Zakros has decided to make a move in Zakros' best interest. Little does she know that her power move won't go fully the way she intended. Since Daidalos only prefers the company of men. Whether at sea or on land. . . How can he pledge himself to a woman even if his Minas ordered it?! I was excited to get this little tease into Lykos and Daidalos' newly forming relationship! Having read Minas and see the ending I felt like something was missing in regard to Lykos. In walks in a towering man that has Lykos and I grinning ear to ear stating "Bingo...

Manga Review 5 out of 5 stars! "Though seldom seen, there are certain mysterious lower life forms that seem to differ entirely from everyday plants or animals. People have long feared this strange class of creatures, which have come to be known as Mushi." Ginko is a traveling Mushishi who helps out those who are troubled by Mushi. But unlike other Mushishi he doesn't always kill the Mushi, depending on the case. Some are terrifying and shouldn't be taken lightly while others seem to be able to semi exist alongside humans. There's still so much people don't understand about Mushi, and he aims to uncover more. Teaching those along the way. Supernatural phenomena, mysteries, intense forces of nature, parasitic like Mushi, and more. Ginko will investigate all and try to help anyway he can. "His power defies human understanding. That's the sort of thing that rattles people." I've gotten into anime and manga later in life, not having grown up with ...

Book Review 5 out of 5 stars! "But I do believe something is wrong with this forest. It twists and winds in a way that is unnatural, almost as if it were alive." - Ruth An isolated cabin in the woods holds the last flicker of hope within the dark woods. A raging storm that wraps a dark blanket around the entire area so that you cannot see your own hand in front of your face. Six strangers all running from something find their way to the cabin with a kind, old woman inside eager to offer help. But little do any of them know that they may be walking away from their happily ever after's. We all know the different fairy tales whether Disney, fluffy version or the dark, brother Grimm's traditional tales. Only what if all the stories are a little connected and occur on one night? Will any of them figure out the clues and escape in time? Or will this be their final night. . . "Why would you come into these woods?" Being a millennial, I grew up with the Disney class...