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.