Sensate Saturday: Koi-iji by Shimura Takako

This week for Sensate Saturday I have another Quick Review. It’s Koi-iji by Shimura Takako!

Plot Synopsis: The story follows a girl named Mame, whose family runs a public bath. She has held on to feelings of unrequited love for her childhood friend for twenty years.

Plot: The plot is pretty good, it opens up with Mame attending a funeral with her childhood friend, and the person she loves, but the funeral is for his wife. It’s definitely not what I was expecting when I started to read this series, and I have to admit it’s got me hooked. So I’ll be reading this series, eventually.

Characters: Mame is a pretty decent main character, she isn’t hung up on confessing, something which was very refreshing after all the series I’ve read recently. Souta, her love interest, is a pretty dour guy, but I’ll give the guy a break since he’s a widower with a child and he loved his wife dearly. The rest of the cast is pretty good, although I have to say my favorite side character is Yu, Souta’s daughter. She’s a pretty bright kid.

Art: Typical Josei style of artwork, it’s neither amazing nor terrible. Fairly average.

Overall: The plot is a refreshing change of pace compared to most Romance series I’ve read in the past couple years, so I’m giving this the go ahead, thus far it looks to be an interesting series.

For those who like: Slice of Life, Drama, Romance, Josei Manga, Great Plot, Interesting Cast of Characters, Good Artwork.

Not for those who don’t like: Any of the above.

Sensate Saturday: Ane Golem by Horiizumi Inko

This week for Sensate Saturday I’m covering a really short and sweet One-Shot! It’s Ane Golem by Horiizumi Inko!

Plot Synopsis: What happens when your long-deceased older sister decides to pay you a visit because you’re behaving too much like a freeter in high school? And what’s more, she’s become a golem to put you back on track?!

Plot: The plot is very short and sweet, I enjoyed it quite a bit. Frankly I wasn’t expecting it to end that abruptly, but being less than 25 pages long I can’t blame it for that.

Characters: Mari is a kind elder sister, if somewhat klutzy. Sou is a fairly typical male lead, frankly not all that interesting.

Art: The art was good, not super amazing, but not terrible either.

Overall: For a short and sweet read, Ane Golem isn’t a bad choice.

For those who like: One-Shots, Romance, Drama, Slice of Life, Supernatural, Good Artwork.

Not for those who don’t like: Any of the above.

Bookish Wednesday: Mort by Terry Pratchett

This week for Bookish Wednesday I’m covering the fourth book in the Discworld series! It’s Mort by Terry Pratchett!

Plot Synopsis: As a teenager, Mort has a personality and temperament that makes him unsuited to the family farming business. Mort’s father Lezek takes him to a local hiring fair in the hope that Mort will land an apprenticeship; not only would this provide a job for his son, but it would also make his son’s propensity for thinking into someone else’s problem. At the job fair, Mort at first has no luck attracting the interest of an employer, but just before the stroke of midnight, a man wearing a black cloak arrives on a white horse, saying that he is looking for a young man to assist him in his work and selects Mort for the job. The man turns out to be Death.

Plot: The plot is hilarious and awesome, I was constantly laughing, which is a nice break from some of the drama filled stuff I’ve been consuming recently. This is definitely one of the best books I’ve ever read, up there with some things from Brandon Sanderson like Warbreaker.

Characters: Mort is a gangly teen, and while he’s a bit awkward he’s a pretty solid main character, but the real star of the show is Death. Because he’s easily the most hilarious depiction of said concept/myth ever. Ysabelle is an awesome female lead, and the rest of the cast is just as great. We even get to see a brief cameo from everyone’s failure of a Wizard.

Overall: Definitely one of the better books in the series, and the first in the Death sub-plot, it’s definitely a must read.

Bookish Wednesday: The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett

This week for Bookish Wednesday I’m covering the sequel to The Colour of Magic! It’s The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett!

Plot Synopsis: Rincewind has fallen from the edge of the Discworld. Meanwhile, the wizards of Ankh-Morpork discover from Death via a rite that the Discworld will soon be destroyed by a huge red star unless the eight spells of the Octavo are read: the most powerful spells in existence, one of which hides in Rincewind’s head.

Plot: The plot is just as silly as the previous book, and it’s absolutely wonderful. It has plenty of hijinks and adventures for poor Rincewind to muddle through with Twoflower and the Luggage.

Characters: We get introduced to a few new characters, one being Cohen the Barbarian who is a real treasure and probably my favorite of the newcomers. Death also shows back up, and he’s definitely my favorite character. Rincewind and Twoflower are amusing as ever. Ysabelle is another newcomer that amuses me and the rest of the newcomers are funny as well.

Overall: If you weren’t laughing out loud by the end of the first book, you should be by the end of this one.

Bookish Wednesday: The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett

This week I’m covering a book I only recently listened to, and actually watched a movie adaptation of first, for this week’s Bookish Wednesday! It’s The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett!

Plot Synopsis: The main character is an incompetent and cynical wizard named Rincewind. He involuntarily becomes a guide to the rich but naive tourist from the Agatean Empire, Twoflower.

Plot: Yea it’s as ridiculous a plot hook as I’ve ever read, and it’s wonderful. I was constantly chuckling or smiling to myself while listening to the book and it was an absolute blast to listen to from beginning to end. I’ve rarely laughed so much from reading a Western literature book as I listening to the Colour of Magic.

Characters: Rincewind and Twoflower are wonderful, but The Luggage is probably my favorite main character in this book. I do however love Death as my favorite side character, as he’s an absolutely hilarious guy. That all being said the rest of the cast is hilarious too.

Overall: If you’ve never read this, you have to, this is a must read book for every single person, no one should not read this.

For those who like: Comedy, Action, Parodies, Fantasy, Magic, Excellent Plot, Fantastic Cast of Characters.

Not for those who don’t like: Laughing, honestly you need to read this.