Manga Review: Shinobi Life Vol. 1 by Shoko Conami

Title: Shinobi Life Vol. 1
Author: Shoko Conami
Genre: YA Fantasy/ Time Travel Manga
Publication Date: January 1st, 2006
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

“Many, many years ago, a ninja named Kagetora devoted his life to protecting Princess Beni (Beni-Hime). Unfortunately, they were attacked and Kagetora was flung into a lake, where he sank to the bottom. He was somehow warped at the future where he saw the princess Beni being threatened.

Little does Kagetora know that Beni is not the real princess, but she is, in fact, the descendant of her. Beni, on the other hand, thought that Kagetora was just a cosplayer. She is the daughter of a rich man and because of that, she has been kidnapped a hundred times already, but fear not because Kagetora is now here. Will Kagetora be able to go back to the past, or will he remain by Beni’s side forever?” (Goodreads)

I saw the cover for this one while browing Overdrive from my library. I wasn’t really sure what to expect since I didn’t read the premise of it before starting it.

There are some good moments between the two characters. I liked the aspect of time travel and Kagetora being from the past. It always a coll element to see. Plus, he is a ninja so no complaints there. Beni doesn’t have a great life. She did get more interesting as the story progressed.

The plot can be interesting at times but it does move rather quickly without things becoming more developed. That’s where it really lacked for me. I’m not sure where it will go but I am curious enough to pick up Vol. 2 since my library has it.

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E-Arc Review: The Garden of Promises and Lies (Found Things #3) by Paula Brackston

Title: The Garden of Promises and Lies (Found Things #3)
Author: Paula Brackston
Genre: Historical Fiction / Fantasy / Time-Travel
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2020
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ecopy to review!

“The third installment of a bewitching series “brimming with charm and charisma” that will make “fans of Outlander rejoice!” (Woman’s World Magazine).

New York Times bestselling author Paula Brackston’s second novel in the Found Things series, Secrets of the Chocolate House, was called a “time-swapping romance [that] will please fans of Alice Hoffman” (Publishers Weekly). Now, Brackston returns to the Found Things series with a third book, The Garden of Promises and Lies.

As the bustle of the winter holidays in the Little Shop of Found Things gives way to spring, Xanthe is left to reflect on the strange events of the past year. While she’s tried to keep her time-traveling talents a secret from those close to her, she is forced to take responsibility for having inadvertently transported the dangerous Benedict Fairfax to her own time. Xanthe comes to see that she must use her skills as a spinner if she and Flora are ever to be safe, and turns to the Spinners book for help.

It is then that a beautiful antique wedding dress sings to her. Realizing the dress and her adversary are connected in some way, she answers the call. She finds herself in Bradford-on-Avon in 1815, as if she has stepped into a Jane Austen story.

Now in Xanthe’s time, Fairfax is threatening Xanthe into helping him with his evil doings, and demonstrates all too clearly how much damage he is capable of causing. With Fairfax growing ever more powerful, Xanthe enlists the help of her boyfriend Liam, taking him back in time with her. It is a decision that might just ensure she prevails over her foe, but only by putting her life—and his—on the line.” (Goodreads)

When I requested this I didn’t realize it was a series so off I went to get the audiobooks from the library! Although the first book didn’t truly grasp my attention, the series gets better as it goes on and this book was hard to put down!

I am not usually one for historical fiction but what draws me to this series is the time-traveling. It adds that bit of fantasy I need and the author does a great job of mixing it into the plots of each book.

This book starts off where the second left off. It’s a series that needs to be read in order otherwise the issues between Fairfax and Xanthe will not make sense.

Xanthe is still very brave in her endeavors and will do anything to make sure Fairfax doesn’t gain the power he seeks. She definitely puts herself in harms way but luckily this time she has Liam to help out. I was a little hesitant about her and Liam but there relationship grows stronger as he learns more about her gift and wants to be there for her when she tries to help make things right in the past.

I really liked the plot for this one and it has been my favorite out of the three books. It is packed with action that kept me turning the pages (obviously digitally 😂). It was interesting to see how everything would play out with Fairfax and I do enjoy him as a villain. He reminds me of the boiler hat guy in Meet the Robinsons.

That ending though! Why do authors have to make such wild cliffhangers that I will need answers for! It’s just not fair. 😢

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. If you are into Historical Fiction and like time-travel then this would be perfect for you! I will now wait impatiently for the next book and contemplate what will happen, ha.

This Is How You Lose the Time War: ARC Mini Review

 

Title: This Is How You Lose the Time War
Author: Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
Genre: LGBT Science Fiction/Fantasy
Publication Date: July 16th, 2019

Arc was provided by publisher through a giveaway. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: “Among the ashes of a dying world, an agent of the Commandant finds a letter. It reads: Burn before reading.

And thus begins an unlikely correspondence between two rival agents hellbent on securing the best possible future for their warring factions. Now, what began as a taunt, a battlefield boast, grows into something more.

Except discovery of their bond would be death for each of them. There’s still a war going on, after all. And someone has to win that war. That’s how war works. Right?” (Goodreads)

My Review:

This was a very quick read and the writing style was different and one that I haven’t come across yet. Although it was unique, I’m not sure that I liked it all that well.

The book has two point of views, Red and Blue. They are both on opposite sides of the war and so their communication is done through letters. The letters were interesting to read and in the beginning were filled with banter. As the book progresses, their relationship dynamic changes and so the feelings in the letters change as well. There are also small little chapters of them seeing each other in different time periods which was pretty interesting.

Overall, the book is more poetic/centered around a relationship than I would have liked which I think takes away from the sci-fi aspect, at least for me anyways. Either way it was still a decent read!