Blue Exorcist: Volume I by Kazue Kato

I read the sample chapter in Shonen Jump and was intrigued enough to get my hands on Volume 1. It didn't disappoint.

Summary: Raised by Father Fujimoto (and his younger twin brother Yukio), Rin never knew his real father. But one day a fateful argument reveals the terrible truth - Rin is the son of the demon lord Satan! His demonic powers released, Rin swears to defeat Satan and joins the mysterious True Cross Academy to become an exorcist. Can Rin fight demons and keep his infernal bloodline a secret?

Reality Check: The art can be a little more grotesque than I normally prefer, but it's a really good story so I put up with it. The plot is relatively original, characters are interesting and engaging, the emotions raw and gripping, and the action is packed and exciting. Boys will definitely love this manga, but girls shouldn't have any trouble getting into it as well.

My favorite part: Rin's tail! And what he does with it. XD

Conclusion: I would say if you like D. Gray-man and Naruto, give Blue Exorcist a try. I'll definitely be reading more.

Genre: Older Teen Paranormal Action Adventure

 out of 4 Paws Up

Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles

A live two-disk compilation of Mayer's hits and a few covers recorded December 2007 at the Nokia Theater in LA. It includes three sets: an acoustic performance, a rare set with John Mayer Trio (with Steve Jordan and Pino Palladino), and a set featuring Mayer's full band.

I'm a huge John Mayer music fan, but not a live music fan. Nowadays, no one sounds very good live. But Mayer is brilliant live - better than in studio even, and that's saying something. In my opinion, Mayer has a perfect voice, and those are so rare nowadays.

I don't love every song (it's a rare day when I like every song on an album), but all of my favorite ones are better than ever. His cover of Free Fallin' is magnificent. My favorite song is the previously unreleased In Your Atmosphere - I can't stop playing it! The whole acoustic set is totally repeat-worthy.

Conclusion: Mayer is even better live. I highly recommend it!

 out of 4 Paws Up

Divergent by Veronica Roth

"There is one mirror in my house."

When I first heard about this book (many months before it came out), it was billed as another Hunger Games, which I love. So I was excited to get my hands on it. While it is not quite in the league of Hunger Games, it has the same feel, and was worth the read.

Summary: At 16, Beatrice chooses to leave her family faction Abnegation (the selfless) for the reckless Dauntless (the brave), in the painful decision of "faction before blood." As she battles through initiation, she must face her fears while trying to hide that she is Divergent, a person who can manipulate the test simulations. Can she keep her secret as the factions that keep the peace fall apart around her?

Reality Check: I could definitely tell it was a debut novel by a few ametuer moves the author made (that her agent & editors really should have caught).

Description was the book's biggest flaw. I could never get a clear picture about anything - the landscape, character movement, action. Whenever the image tried to form in my head, it was blurred with confusion and I never quite got a handle on it before having to move on. And at times, it felt like the author didn't do her homework on simple things - they were vague and "left to the reader's imagination," which in my opinion didn't have enough to imagine with.

But overall it was a good story that kept me reading almost nonstop right to the end, and a good story is the most important thing. Characters are next, and Tris was a strong female lead who took care of herself, which is a rare thing indeed - most enjoyable. Her male interest was supportive, not overly protective to a "damsel in distress" (which she definitely was not), and was flawed and interesting instead of "practically perfect in every way" like most love interests are right now.

Conclusion: The book wrapped up enough at the end that I wasn't sure if there would be a sequel (even though I heard it was supposed to be a trilogy). I have since confirmed that there will be more, so I will definitely be picking them up. Anyone who liked the Hunger Games trilogy or dystopian thrillers should give this book a read.

"I suppose that now, I must become more than either."

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian

 out of 4 Paws Up

Red Glove by Holly Black

"I don't know whether it's day or night when the girl gets up to leave."

Cassel returns with the second book in the Curse Workers Series, and I was happy to see him! After White Cat I was salivating for more, and Holly didn't let me down. In the slightly alternate (and brilliant) world of curse workers, Holly's gritty style brings her fantastic characters to life in the dark shadows of magic, murder, and the mob.

Summary: With his brothers' betrayal relatively behind him, Cassel hopes once more to find some semblance of normalcy at school, even as he tries to unsuccessfully avoid the cursed love of his life. But tragedy strikes the Sharpe family, and when the Feds blackmail Cassel into helping them reveal the identity of a mysterious mob hitman, he finds himself going down a dark road that many people, including himself, would rather not shine a light on. Sometimes, secrets should be left as they are.

Reality Check: While Holly's characters are TOP NOTCH, her plotting was a bit weak and choppy. Several times I felt that there wasn't much of a plot at all, and the info dump of a revelation at the end was pretty weak. I fully realized that this series is character-driven, definitely not plot-driven. But her writing is sound, and her characters are SO GOOD that I cared not that the plot sagged and just kept reading. And her endings? Don't even get me started about how much I loved the last scene (again)! Holly definitely knows how to make an exit.

Conclusion: Thoroughly entertaining - I highly recommend it. Cannot wait for Book 3: Black Heart!

"After all, hell is supposed to be hot."

Genre: Young Adult Urban Fantasy

 out of 4 Paws Up!



The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

I would like to begin this review by saying I am a huge Kelley Armstrong fan. The Darkest Powers Trilogy (set in the same world of this Darkness Rising series) is an amazing read, as is her Nadia Stafford series. But that said, my opinion of The Gathering is not a good one.

Summary: Maya has always felt a home in the Canadian forest where her ranger father's house resides, tending to sick animals and "hanging out" with cougars. But when she starts falling for the mysterious bad boy at school and discovers they have a lot more in common than she thought, her life begins to change in strange and frightening ways.

Reality Check: I devoured the previous Darkest Powers Trilogy, set in the same world of shapeshifters and magic. When The Gathering appeared, I was excited and expectant for a good read. This was not the case.

It read like a prologue - a very long prologue. It was all backstory and relationships, with little revelation and mystery. Truly it felt like ALL relationship, namely Maya and Rafe's, which never felt right. And I disliked Rafe - whenever he was around I was wishing he'd leave. Maya's "reactions" to him were inconsistent and very confusing - when she was apart from him she was wary of him, but seconds later when she was alone with him she was all smiles and throwing herself at him (literally). I did not believe the relationship, and kept praying for it to crash and burn and for her to end up with Daniel already.

I will say that it was very well written - Ms. Armstrong has a clear and intelligent voice. But Maya's emotions were too confusing and I did not like Rafe as a pair for her - which was all the book was about. Maybe I've just read too many on this strain, with more original plots (like her Darkest Powers Trilogy).

Conclusion: I have no intention of reading the second Darkness Rising book. But I'm definitely going to re-read Darkest Powers.

"The heliocopter wobbled once, then lifted off."

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy

 out of 4 Paws Up

To review or not to review...

I tend to be a very opinionated and sometimes critical person - mostly of entertainment, but a little of life as well. According to Veronica Roth's novel Divergent, this would suggest me for Candor, the honesty faction. Honestly, I don't believe in being honest unless it is helpful to someone - otherwise, I try very hard to keep my mouth shut. But I have read one too many frustrating (and a few brilliant) works of fiction, and I just can't stay quiet any longer. My opinions must be heard! Even if only by the black hole that is the world wide web.

This blog will be completely devoted to reviewing the entertainment (and perhaps a little life) that finds it way into my atmosphere. I will not pull punches, but I will never get nasty - I will be brutally honest, but fair. I'm just going to tell it as I see it, and hopefully my opinion will be helpful to you, curious reader.

If not, pardon my candor.