Naurto Volume 24: Unorthodox

Usually Kisgimoto moves much more quickly to the inevitable showdown. This arc is taking much longer than I expected. The Leaf ninja have nearly joined back up again, but first some old enemies need to be allies. It was interesting to see enemies fighting together but I'm still waiting for the big showdown between Sasuke and Naruto.

Bleach Volume 26: The Mascanron Drive

So Ichigo and Orihime are both taken out of the big fight by their abilities: Orihime because she's not a fighter, Ichigo because he can't control his hollowfied self. So she's kidnapped. Like Rukia was kidnapped in the first arc. Personally, I feel that there's some hidden motive behind this. I think there's something that Ichigo needs to see when he rescues Orihime. Of course, I'm also rooting for Orihime and Ichigo to become something of a couple so I may be biased.

Bleach Volume 25: No Shaking Throne

And thus begins the training montage. However, unlike a lot of times in this series, Ichigo does not master his new abilities right away. I don't quite get where Kubo is going with the inner Hollow thing. I don't know if Ichigo's always had it or if he's one of a special group, or if it's something all Soul Reaper go through, or what. Interested to see where it goes though.

The Path of Daggers

The first time I read this book was easy. My favourite character had just had a building fall on him and he had knives in hidden pockets all over his body. I figured there'd be resolution for sure. Except that Mat's not in The Path of Daggers. At all. He's mentioned. There's a sort of vague feeling that he's hurt but will be OK but that's it. That's what makes this one one of the least satisfying of the series.

Other stuff does happen. Another Forsaken falls. People move toward where they need to be for the end game. It's like the mid-game and the pieces are just moving into place.

Red Robin: Collision

Part of the reason that I picked up Red Robin was that I had also enjoyed the new Batgirl. In Collision Tim returns home to Gotham and meets some of those he left behind. Having teamed with Ra's al Ghul, it's not always pleasant.

I don't know if I enjoy Red Robin enough to start collecting the monthly titles, but I will continue to look for the graphic novels.

Red Robin: The Grail

I was hesitant in picking up Red Robin because, although I enjoyed Tim's character when he was first Robin, it seemed like a failed concept. Tim became Red Robin because Dick's Batman wanted Damian as his Robin? And Tim was the only one convinced that Bruce was still alive? I was hoping Tim was wrong. I like that Dick has become Batman. However, some of the events of Batman's return got me curious enough to pick up The Grail and I'm glad I did.

Tim's grown as a character since I last read him. He's almost an adult and he's got Bruce's drive, I think Dick was right, he wouldn't have been a good Robin for him. He's too much his own person to be a sidekick anymore.

Naruto Volume 23: Predicament

This one was more one big battle scene than anything else. The Konohagakure ninjas are still fighting one on one with their enemies but it draws closer to a climatic show down.

Naruto Volume 22: Comrades

I like seeing how each of the individual characters use their fighting styles but I miss the big group battles. Kishimoto has put a lot of thought into the "physics" of his world.

Bleach Volume 24: Immanent God Blues

I think Kubo may be growing as a writer. He's adding character development to his stories. This is two in a row where the characters are giving reasons for their actions, rather than just earning another level in their kick assedness.

Bleach Volume 23: Imala Suertei

Hey! There's actually some interpersonal relationships starting to develop in Bleach. Not holding my breath, though, it is "boy manga". Just after Orihime bares her soul to Rangiku a huge battle breaks out. I expect that'll last for the next couple of volumes.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Twilight

Hmmm... Well, that's a little anticlimactic. After all this time, Angel is the Big Bad. And he and Buffy are getting superpowers as some kind of reward. Maybe if I read Angel as well it would make some sense but not so much right now. I'm a little disappointed. Oh well, Spike's crashing the party that should make things interesting (and I'm an Angel girl).

A Crown of Swords

There's a flurry of activity in A Crown of Swords, for Robert Jordan anyway. The plot takes some major leaps in this one - Egwene and the Aes Sedai, Nynaeve and Elayne find the bowl, another Forsaken is killed and Rand actually takes a crown.

I love the bits with Mat in this one. He earns Elayne's respect (which he should have had long since) and his interaction with Birgitte is wonderful to read. I should feel bad about what happens to him in the hands of Tylin but I can't quite. I like the sheer desperation that comes through. It's too bad it ends in a cliff hanger that I know won't be resolved in the next book.

Green Lantern: No Fear

This is essentially the sequel to Rebirth. It's Hal Jordan dealing with coming back from the dead. It's about what makes him tick and what it means to be a man without fear. I like Johns' insight into what makes the man a Green Lantern.

Green Lantern: Rebirth

I like Hal Jordan. He's my favourite of the Green Lanterns of Earth and I was always disappointed when they made him evil and then killed him and then brought him back as the Spectre. I'd read Blackest Night and enjoyed it so I thought I'd read more of Geoff Johns. I'm glad I did. Sure, this is essentially retconning but it wouldn't be DC without a little friendly continuity shuffle.

Rosario + Vampire Season II: Test 2 Magical Candy

I guess this season is supposed to focus more on the supporting characters - like Yukari and Koko in this volume. It was a fun read, more for the guys I think though, but I'm waiting for more Tsukune.

Naruto Volume 21: Pursuit

Mostly a big fight scene but Kishimoto does take some time to give the characters motivation. It's one of the things I enjoy about Naruto. There's always the feeling that the characters have reasons for what they're doing.

Naruto Volume 21: Naruto vs Sasuke

What's up with Sasuke? I don't quite understand why he chooses the dark side in this volume. I did like that Sakura has noticed that Naruto is coming into his own and he's not quite the screw-up he used to be.

The Meaning of Everything

For a book about the dictionary this was a lot more exciting than I thought it would be. It's even a book where the ending is clear because, obviously, there is an Oxford English Dictionary. It's also pretty clear why Simon Winchester wrote a book about the dictionary. The man loves words. There's plenty of places where he uses an string of obscure words where there were other, more common, words available. In places I wished he'd chosen to follow the rule of the dictionary himself - no word in the meaning should be more complex than the word being described.

It is an enjoyable read for all that though. I certainly learned more about the English language reading it and I have a greater appreciation to people that put dictionaries together and continue to edit them. The task is enormous.

Bleach Volume 22: Consequences

Sort of surprised to see the Soul Reapers show up as students (makes me wish I'd worked a little harder to remember their names) but the reveal of Ichigo's dad was nothing short of epic. I can't wait to see where this goes!

Bleach Volume 21: Be My Family or Not

This is one of those awkward transition books where the story is trying to move from one arc to another. I had missed how Ichigo was regarded back in the land of the living so that was fun to see and I'm curious where Kubo is taking this arc.

Lord of Chaos

Up to the sixth book in my Wheel of Time reread. Lord of Chaos is usually where I start to slow down. Jordan has started to introduce multiple story lines. Rand, Mat and Perrin should be the central figures as the series started with them (though Mat is sort of on the periphery until his link with the knife is broken) but now there is major plot developments with Egwene and the Aes Sedai, with Elayne and Nynaeve, with Morgase and the Whitecloaks, etc. The story starts to get pulled in lots of different directions. In some ways that's what I really like about this series. It's very rich in detail. In other ways I just want to see more of my favourite characters.

Lord of Chaos does have one of the most climatic endings of Jordan's series. The battle of Dumai's Wells is epic in both scope and what it sets up for the rest of the series.

Blackest Night

I'd been hearing a lot about this series. Typical with DC it crossed over into a few of the titles I was reading over the summer. I eventually got curious enough to pick this up (and it came with the whole set of rainbow rings). It was more enjoyable than I thought it was going to be.

I discovered Geoff Johns. I have hope for the Green Lantern movie with his input on the story. And Ivan Reis has some incredible art.

Batgirl Rising

I picked this up on a whim. I've been reading the Dick Grayson Batman and completely enjoying it and saw that this was a bit more of the aftermath of Bruce Wayne's "death". I'm so glad I got this! It's not too often that I laugh out loud at what I'm reading but this did that.

I'm not that familiar with Stephanie Brown. I remember her from her Spoiler days in the old Robin series but I liked her in this. I liked how Barbara tried to talk her out of being Batgirl and eventually started training her and I liked how Dick reacted when he found out. Solid all round.

Rosario + Vampire Season II: Test 1 Monster Fruit

A new semester, and a new season, of Rosario + Vampire begins and this volume reads like it. It's a reminder of everyone who was in Tsukune's harem and who he really wants and it set up... nothing really. The last season surprised me in that it actually managed to seem like there was a story arc. I'll have to see if this one does the same.

Vampire Knight Volume 10

Hmmm... There's still a bit of a battle going on in this volume but the majority is back story to explain what's going on. It was kind of needed at this point. Unfortunately, Hino seems to be trying to set up a love triangle between Rukia, Kaname and Kain. Since Kaname is already in a love triangle with Yuki and Zero I don't think this one works. Plus I like Kain and am sorry that he's ultimately going to be disappointed. Unless he and Zero team up...

Naruto Volume 19: Successor

Absolutely my favourite Naruto so far. Using the doppelganger technique to do what he did was awesome. I actually looked around for someone to tell when I read it.

Naruto Volume 18: Tsunade's Choice

I think that Kishimoto is really growing as a story teller through this arc. Naruto's determination to overcome his limitations comes across as "real".

Bleach Volume 20: End of Hypnosis

So this is how evil Gin is. I don't know if Kubo planned where this was going or if he just managed to end up here.

Bleach Volume 19: The Black Moon Rising

Fight Scene. Huge Fight Scene. It's the showdown that's been building up for volumes and it does not disappoint. Ichigo has (of course) mastered the technique but it's interesting to see what his bankai was.

The Fires of Heaven

Another strong book from Robert Jordan. The Fires of Heaven is the one where things really start to move for me. All three of the characters have accepted their roles (though Perrin is barely mentioned in this volume) and the plot is beginning to move forward. Another two of the Forsaken are killed and Rand has returned from the Waste.

Once again, my favourite moments in this book come from Mat. He blossoms as a general here and it's not because he wants to. I enjoy his small steps that inevitably lead to where he's supposed to be.

Hellsing Volume 10

It's finally finished. The publishing of Hellsing seems to have been a bit hit and miss. There never seemed to be a schedule, Hirano must miss a lot of deadlines. That being said, the art didn't seem as sharp in this volume. It was still good, just not as good as I expected.

All in all, I was a little disappointed with the finale. Alucard drops out half way through the book and the danger is resolved by Integra and Seras. Then, when you think it might actually mean something, Alucard comes back from the dead. Plus, I was really unimpressed with the method of the killing of the vampire. Someone does not understand Schrodinger's cat.

Rosario + Vampire Lesson 10: Magic Mirror

This is the final volume of the first "season" of Rosario + Vampire and I think that Ikeda has grown as a mangaka. It struck me because a character from an early story makes a reappearance and both the story and the art are better than they were.

Rosario + Vampire Lesson Nine: Monster Mamas

It was fun to see the relatives of the main characters in this volume. They were all pretty much as expected. The story was a classic farce.

Naruto Volume 17: Itachi's Power

Well, this is an interesting turn for Naruto. I like that Kishimoto is using the nine-tailed fox demon as a plot point rather than just something that gives Naruto all that extra chakra. I'm curious to see a new relationship develop between Naruto and Sasuke as both continue to improve.

Naruto Volume 16: Eulogy

I really liked this one. I think Kishimoto is really growing as a story teller. I was really touched by a few moments in this one. The rest of the story is essentially a place holder to move through acts but all the elements are there for plot development and an actual arc.

Bleach Volume 18: The Deathberry Returns

The triumphant return of Ichigo! He gets some suitably heroic poses in this one. Complete with a slightly disbelieving Rukia. The wait was worth it for this return. He learned quite a bit in his last training session. I'm really looking forward to the conclusion of Yoruichi's battle as well.

Bleach Volume 17: Rosa Rubicundior, Lilio Candidior

Hmmm... Where's Ichigo?

It's civil war in the Soul Society and this volume pretty much just sums up the sides and shows some major battles. I'm beginning to lose track of the characters and whose side they're on.

The Shadow Rising

Of the books in the Wheel of Time series that focus on Rand and his plans this is one of the ones I like the best. He's less arrogant and more concerned about all of his actions, even if he knows that some of the decisions he makes will not work out the best for everyone.

This is also one of my favourite Perrin moments. His internal monologue about how much he misses Faile and how much it hurts him to essentially sacrifice himself bring me to tears every time I read it. I know that everything will work out in the end but the story still moves me.

Rosemary's Baby

I would never have normally picked up this book. I'd seen the movie, which everyone seems to love but I thought was only OK. It starts off very, very normal and then slowly adds elements of the fantastical until it goes over the top. It's a very slow build and I never really felt the pay off that I look for in a horror movie.

However, I was sitting in a hospital room, and had been sitting there for five days, and waiting for my father to die. It's not pleasant. I was alone and saw it peeking out from my brother's backpack so I started reading it. When he arrived he told me that he's already finished it so I might as well take it. It hadn't grabbed me by that point (much like the movie) but I brought it along because it was a book I could read without thinking about it. Exactly the kind of book I was looking for.

I finished on the plane the same day I started it. I have to say that the movie was very faithful to the book. It still wasn't scary. Even with the bonus of at least the description of Rosemary's baby.

Rosario + Vampire Lesson Eight: Shikigami

So it appears that there's actually a plot to Rosario + Vampire. Who knew? Or at least Ikeda has managed to link disparate thoughts together into something resembling a plot.

Rosario + Vampire Lesson Seven: Exorcist

I don't understand what's so important about Tsukune but I like when he gets pushed around... And then his scarier girl friends kick ass. Sadly Vampire Tsukune is really Ghoul Tsukune and there's some problems with that. I like him being more assertive and helping in the fights but I don't want him mindless.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Retreat

Interesting idea. So far Buffy and the gang have been building up the magic. Now, they're stripping it all away. I don't know how I feel about this turn of events. Buffy without the superpowers just doesn't seem the same.

Naruto Volume 15: Naruto's Ninja Handbook

Surprisingly, in the middle of a massive fight, Kishimoto takes a volume to use as character study. It's volumes like these that make me like Naruto. He's presented with someone who has a very similar back story to the one he's just learned of himself and his first inclination is to exhibit sympathy and recognise that if it weren't for the people in his life he could very well be a monster.

And then he starts kicking ass.

Naruto Volume 14:Hokage vs Hokage

There are three main battles in this volume and, unlike Bleach's last volume, Kishimoto can actually make all three interesting. The action flows well between these three scenes and keeps the tension high.

Bleach Volume 16: Night of Wijnruit

Kube's starting to stray from the main story of Ichigo trying to prevent Rukia's execution. He's still in training to get the killer moves and she's pretty much standing under the knife waiting for it to drop. In the meantime we're seeing political intrigue in the Soul Reaper organization as one faction seems to be attempting a coup. Not that interested honestly.

Bleach Volume 15: Beginning of the Death of Tomorrow

While Ichigo continues his training montage, Uryu does something stupid. It wasn't even cool stupid, just stupid stupid.

The Dragon Reborn

This is book 3 of the Wheel of Time series and is one of my favourites. It's where Robert Jordan first lets the reader see Mat's point of view and Mat is my favourite character. This one has the scene between Mat, Gwain and Galad. It always makes me laugh to read it. Unfortunately, this is also the book where the girls start doing stupid things. The beginning of the hunt for the Black sisters involves some poor decision making on characters that I otherwise enjoy. Interestingly, although this is the book where Rand essentially declares himself the Dragon Reborn, he isn't in it much. Things are sort of working around him.

Rosario + Vampire Lesson Six: Ghouls

Vampire Tsukune is always cool but I guess there had to be some drawbacks. Moka's ass kicking of the Tsukune ghoul was impressive. I'm curious if there's some kind of plan behind the mini-Rosario that Tsukune's been given.

Rosario + Vampire Lesson Five: Abominable Snowgirl

Tsukne's harem increases with the addition of the snow girl. Maybe he isn't as exactly average as Akihisa Ikeda would have us believe. For what other reason would every girl that he encounters feel the need to follow him around like a lost puppy?

Vampire Knight Volume 9

Kaname's a dick. Yeah, yeah, vampire war and trying to be on top and all but still. Dick.

Naruto Volume 13: The Chunin Exam, Concluded...!!

Superfluous punctuation marks in the title! That means it's going to be over the top. And it kind of was. The battle between Gaara and Sasuke is epic. And it's not over yet! Naruto tends to end on a cliff hanger and this volume is no different. It's a long wait until the next one.

Naruto Volume 12: The Great Flight

Every now and then Naruto steps back from the action to give a little background. Then right back into the action. I liked both the fights this volume. Naruto versus Neji was packed with goodness (and the object of the little bit of background). It feels like Naruto's growing as a character. The battle between Shikamaru and Temari was also really interesting. And a character study as Shikamru simply concedes as he sees that he's going to lose anyway.

Bleach Volume 14: White Tower Rocks

Ichigo finally makes it to Rukia! And there's another battle to get through. That means it's time for the training montage.

Bleach Volume 13: The Undead

Ichigo sure has been injured a lot in trying to reach Rukia. I hope she appreciates it. The battle sequences with Kenpachi were really interesting. Ichigo continues to grow in skill and it's more than his just raw talent on display.

The Great Hunt

I like a reluctant hero (probably where much of my love for Mat comes from) but I don't like a whiny hero. Yes, Rand has it tough. People are trying to kill him and he will go insane. He's got the world on his shoulders as the Dragon Reborn but does he have to mope about it so much?

The Great Hunt probably one of the better written in the Wheel of Time series. Like The Eye of the World it's fairly self-contained. The Horn of Valere is stolen in the beginning of the story and it's back in the hands of the heroes by the end of the book. That's something the series veers away from as it gets longer. There's elements of intrigue and most of the characters get their chance in the spot light (except for Mat, I'm starting to wonder how he became my favourite).

In my opinion, the only real down side to The Great Hunt is the great chunk in the middle where Rand and Loial and Hurin are stuck in the Portal Stone world. If I can't pin point where my love of Mat came from I can certainly assign my dislike of Rand to this part. I think it's mostly his "wool headedness" (to use a Jordan term) with regards to Selene. Rand knows Moiraine, all the Cairhienin are described as short yet the beautiful woman that shows up in the middle of nowhere and is incredibly knowledgeable does not raise any red flags by being near his height (and we all know that Rand is tall... really tall. I'm beginning to picture him like Jarad Padalenki).

Rosario + Vampire Lesson Four: Carnivorous Plants

A field trip to the human world... Of course it ends badly.

Rosario + Vampire Lesson 3: Trolls

I think Rosario + Vampire is finally hitting it's stride. It's not quite as formulaic as it was in the first two volumes. There's a little bit of variety being added. Plus, I like vampire Tsukune.

Vampire Knight Volume 8

This one is something of a long flash back about Yuki's past. I'm not sure how I feel about the direction of the story. I enjoyed the series before this was revealed and this takes it in a very different direction.

Vampire Knight Volume 7

This is where Vampire Knight starts to go in a direction I would never have suspected. Up to this point I was expecting a fairly mundane love triangle and teen angst typical of a romance series. Instead... It's nice to be surprised.

Naruto Volume 11: Impassioned Efforts

Insert training montage. In and of itself it's not a bad thing but after the build up to the final Chunin Selection exams I wasn't expecting as big a break between the preliminaries and the final.

Naruto Volume 10: A Splendid Ninja

The battle between Rock Lee and Gaara is pretty intense, but the most enjoyable part of this volume for me was the explanation of how the ninjas do their tricks. Maybe it's because I started playing the video game, maybe I was just wondering about the physics of Kishimoto's world but it was my favourite part.

Bleach Volume 12: Flower on the Precipice

Oooo... A little bit of intrigue into the Bleach story. The battles have been fun to read but I enjoy seeing some plot happen. Plus a little back story on Chad. Not a bad volume.

Bleach Volume 11: A Star and a Stray Dog

Ichigo continues to plod toward Rukia fighting ever increasing odds. At least he got some idea of where he was heading. The quick look into Rukia's back story was a nice touch for this volume. Otherwise it was largely forgettable.

The Eye of the World

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan is one of my favourite books. I find Jordan's world interesting. I think he has some very strong female characterisations (and while those characters do get a little annoying at times) they are all different.

Jordan writes from first person perspective which lets the reader see the action from the eyes of one of the main characters. What makes The Eye of the World great is that the first person changes through out the story. Each character has a voice and they're recognizable right from the beginning of this very long series.

Rosario + Vampire Lesson Two: Witches

More of the same from Lesson One. I think it's because Ikeda is still fulling his stable with characters. It looks like the full cast has been set so maybe if I stick with it I'll be rewarded with some changes to the basic story.

Rosario + Vampire Lesson One: Vampires

I like the idea for this one: absolutely average teen only able to get into one school, a school for monsters. I'm not sure I like the execution. So far each story is essentially the same. Tsukune is threatened by something, he worries about being exposed as a human, when Moka arrives to help he must take off her Rosario to unleash the beast. I hope it expands from the formula because it's already feeling a little stale.

Vampire Knight Volume 6

This one moved the story forward in so many ways. Kaname's still creepy but there's the feeling that he has a lot of balls in the air. Yuki's past is about to be revealed! It's feeling like whatever happened to her when she was small is a bit of linchpin to the story that Hino is trying to tell.

Vampire Knight Volume 5

Kaname's such a dick. On many, many levels.

I really liked the final panels of the exchange between Zero and Yuki. I found it very romantic.

I do feel a little sorry for Aido. I think he's in much further over his head than he expects.

Naruto Volume 9: Turning the Tables

I'll start by saying I was a little disappointed in the end of the battle between Ino and Sakura. Declaring it a tie was not really satisfying, though I suppose having all three of the team make it into the finals would have been poor for the story (because both Naruto and Sasuke have to make it based on their story). Sakura couldn't actually lose based on her story because it's all about her growing and if she loses the growth will have been for naught.

Naruto's battle, on the other hand, was worth the wait. He's so often portrayed as a loser that it's hard to imagine that the title actually bears his name but it's times like this that the reader is reminded that there's more to him than meets the eye.

Naruto Volume 8: Life-and-Death Battles

The Journeyman Ninja Selection Exams continue with a nice little battle for Sasuke. The battle isn't the main thing, it's him fighting against the curse that's been laid on him and the reactions of his team mates and other contestants. The volume ends with a good look at what Sakura is capable of. I find she's often overshadowed by Naruto and Sasuke (unsurprising really) but I do like her character as well.

Bleach Volume 10: Tatoo on the Sky

Another volume that's essentially a long training montage. The fight scene at the end was worth the wait though as Ichigo is really coming into his own as a Soul Reaper.

Bleach Volume 9: Fourteen Days for Conspiracy

I loved the fight scene that opened this volume. Great action spiced up with a bit of dialogue. This was mostly a volume of getting from one place to another and setting up the action for later in the story.

New Spring: The Novel

I'm a big fan of Robert Jordan. I've read New Spring before and I'll likely read it again. It's the prequel to the Wheel of Time series. Honestly, it doesn't add anything to the plot of the series. It's more a character piece of Moiraine and her Warder, Lan.

One of the things I really enjoy about Jordan is the rich background in which he's chosen to set his world. Reading the series there's always the sense that what has happened in the character's pasts has an effect on what they are doing in the present. And the feeling is that Robert Jordan knows what those events are. The meeting of Moiraine and Lan, her bonding of him and the beginning of her quest are all things that play an important part in the Wheel of Time but were more implied until this novel was released.

Moirane and Lan are younger in this book. Less sure of themselves in some ways and more arrogant in others. The ending of the story is known but there's great fun in getting there. It's a 4 for me.