Black Butler Volume 4 & 5 by Yana Toboso

Series: Black Butler

Author: Yana Toboso

Goodreads Summary 

London - the capital of the Great Empire - is once again under siege, as a string of bizarre attacks on British citizens returned from India sends rumours flying and casts a pall upon Queen Victoria's rule. Sent in by Her Majesty, young Earl Phantomhive and his most capable butler, Sebastian, follow a trail that collides head-on with an Indian youth who claims to be a prince. And this prince possesses an extraordinary butler of his own! As an intense rivalry between the two butlers begins to form, will the kitchen be the dueling duo's final battleground?!

Goodreads Summary

For an impeccable gentleman's butler like Sebastian Michaelis, the word "impossible" is just not in his vocabulary. Everything demanded of him under the English sun is well within his grasp. But do his talents extend to things under the scalding Indian sun?! As Harold West-Jeb's plan to use Agni, Prince Soma's superhuman butler, in a curry battle to win himself a Royal Warrant is exposed, Earl Ciel Phantomhive sets Sebastian to the task of creating an incomparable curry to defeat the despicable West-Jeb. But how can Ciel's devil of a butler possibly best Agni, the man with the Right Hand of God?!

Volume 4
This was another great volume in the series!! I loved it!! There are more murders in London and of course the Queen's hound-dog is sent to stop them. And the plot goes from there. This volume was really fast paced. You get caught up in the investigation and the characters, it was great!

Speaking of characters two new characters where introduced in this volume and they where so great to read!! I loved these characters and they brought more diversity into this volume they where just so fun to read. My favorite had to be Agni, because I loved how nice of a person he was and it was great to see Sebastian puzzled by that.

The best part of this was the flashback that gave us a glimpse into Ciel's past. We get to see a little bit of what happened when his parents died and how/why he went into a contract with Sebastian. That was great to read and really gave more depth to his character.

Overall I loved this volume, I think It's my favorite in the series so far just because of the new characters introduced. And this does leave on a slight cliffhanger. Nothing life or death, but just enough of one to make you eagerly want to read the next one.

Volume 5.

This one starts off where the last one ended, Sebastian is trying to make the perfect curry. it was really fun to see Sebastian get better at cooking curry as the volume progressed. He would take his mistakes and his observations to make a better batch of it, then he'd make an even better batch, then an even better batch.It was just fun to read that cycle.

The plot was great to read, not the best out of the five volumes so far, but still great to read. Although I'm a little confused about Agni's involvement with the London murders, I know why he was involved I just don't fully know what he did.

The cool thing about this volume was how we got to see little tidbits of the servants life before this. Like how Finny never went outside before he became a servant to Ciel. Just little things like that that make you wonder about their pasts.

This was another enjoyable volume in this series and like the last volume it leaves in the slightest cliffhanger. Not a huge cliffhanger, but the kind that sets up for the next volume. So I really want to get my hands on the sixth volume.

Happy reading

Mini Review: Black Butler Volume 3 by Yana Toboso

 Grade: Great 

Series: Black butler

Author: Yana Toboso

Goodreads summary

Terrorizing its populace, Jack the Ripper has shaken London to its very core. But when Sebastian Michaelis, singular butler of the Phantomhive house, lays bare the madman's true identity, all that is left for him to do is eliminate the perpetrator in the name of the Queen and Phantomhive. But inhumanly efficient skills don't guarantee victory when the opponent is just as supernaturally gifted! And though Sebastian may be able to save Ciel from physical harm in the battle that ensues, will the young earl ever recover from the emotional scars it will leave on his heart?

This one starts right where the last one ended. And it was really great to read Sebastian fight again and to see Madam Red's past to see why she did what she did. This whole volume was great to read!  And it was also interesting to read Sebastian's true nature come out just a little bit. There was some parts where you could tell he was a devil, but than he would go back to his normal gentleman manner.

And this whole volume isn't just about the fight between Sebastian and Grelle. It's kind of weird, because after the fight it's like a whole new volume started. The Ripper case is said and done with and it's never really mentioned again. So, it feels like it's two volumes.

One thing that is interesting to read it Ciel and Sebastian's relationship. Their relationship has like multi personality disorder. One second it's like they care for each other like brother, then the next it's like it's nonexistent, than it just turns creepy. Usually something like that would be annoying to read, but in this it was really interesting to read.

 I just love this series and if you are looking for a new manga to read I would highly suggest this one, it's great. I can't wait until it starts getting more in-depth in the whole Demons and Grim reapers world. Also the ending gives you just enough of a nugget to makes you wonder whats going to happen in the next volume.

This book is...

Happy reading.

Mini Review: Black Butler Volume 2 by Yana Toboso

 Grade: Great

 Series: Black Butler #2

Author: Yana Toboso

Goodreads Summary

As high society's social calendar opens up and the Season draws to a close, London is gripped by fear. Someone has taken to stalking women of the night and painting the town red...in their blood. The name on everyone's lips seems to be "Jack the Ripper" - and as a result, the name on Queen Victoria's lips is Phantomhive. Summoned to London to clean up the mess created by this madman, Ciel Phantomhive arrives with Sebastian, his extraordinary butler, at his side to pour him tea, polish his silver, and...investigate a serial killer. And with the aid (and occasional interference) of a few of the Phantomhive house's numerous acquaintances, little stands in the way of the young earl getting to the bottom of this mystery. However, one question remains...can he handle the shattering truth behind it?

So, volume 2 of the Black butler series begins a few days after the events in the first one. And the Queen's hound dog goes to London to solve the Jack the Ripper cause. I was really excited to read this one and it was so good!!

You know how I said in my review for the first volume that I could get obsessed with this series if the plot developed a bit more? Well the plot develops a lot in this one and I got hooked!! I am officially obsessed with this series! It's just so good. And I was floored when it showed who Jack the Ripper was.

I think one of the big parts on why I'm obsessed with it is because of the characters. It's like you don't know very much about the characters, but that's not a bad thing. It just makes you want to read more to puzzle these characters out, especially Sebastian. Sebastian is the type of character that creeps you out and also really interests you. Like in the beginning when he's thinking about all that stuff, it really creeped me out, but also made me want to know more about him. I know that sounded weird, but if you read this you'll understand it.

You also learn a bit more about the Demons or "Devils" in this one and also about some other creatures. Not a whole lot but just enough for you to be like "I need to know more!" And the book also ends in a cliff hanger that made me glad I had the next book already, because I really wanted to see Sebastian fight again!!

So far I am really loving this series and I can't wait to read the rest of the volumes!!! And if your interested in reading manga than I would highly recommend this one.

This book is...

Happy reading.

Mini Review: Black Butler Volume 1 by Yana Toboso

Grade: Good

Series: Black Butler

Author: Yana Toboso

Goodreads Summary:

In the Victorian ages of London The Earl of the Phantomhive house, Ciel Phantomhive, needs to get his revenge on those who had humiliated him and destroyed what he loved. Not being able to do it alone he sells his soul to a demon he names Sebastian Michaelis. Now working as his butler, Sebastian must help the Earl Phantomhive in this suspenseful, exciting, thriller manga.

This book introduces Ciel Phantomhive, the 12 year hold Head of the Phantomhive Family and his butler, Sebastian Michaelis and the plot goes from there. And even though I enjoyed this book, there isn't much of a plot in this first book. It's more of an introduction book in the sense that it introduces the characters and the whole mystery surrounding Ciel's past and Sebastian. Which was fine to read, but because of it I can't tell you how good the plot of the series is yet since it hasn't fully manifested yet.

And also the plot gets a little confusing, but that was just because of the mystery aspect of the book. In the end all the confusing things make sense, but as your reading it it's a little confusing.

And I really liked the characters in this one. Ciel didn't get much depth in this one, although he has a lot of potential to get depth, because of all the mystery surrounding his past. And the same goes for Sebastian, it was like he had to modes, good Butler and very creepy fighter. And I can see as the series goes on, him getting more in-between modes.

The art work in here isn't anything really noteworthy. It's like any other manga, which I really like the art work in manga, but if you don't, then don't pick this series up expecting fantastic art work.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. I think it was a good set up to a potentially great series. And I can also see myself get really obsessed with this series if it gets more of a plot line.

This book Is..

Happy reading

Mini Review: Fullmetal Alchemist volume 4 by Hiromu Arakawa

     Starting with this review I will be doing my new rating system for Manga's and Graphic Novels where I just state if it was "Great", "Good", or "Bad". I'm doing this because since my reviews for them are smaller and simpler than my rating system should match.

Name: Fullmetal Alchemist Volume 4

Author: Hiromu Arakawa

Publisher: VIZ Media LLC 

Goodreads Summary 

Trapped and injured in a secret alchemical laboratory, Edward Elric is at the mercy of his enemies, Lust and Envy. But they don't want him dead...they have other plans for him. As the laboratory goes up in flames, the brothers find themselves back at square one, with only an inkling of the massive scale of the Philosopher's Stone conspiracy. But then, Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes uncovers a shocking secret...

The third volume in this series ended in a huge cliffhanger and this book starts out right when the last one ended. So, it just throws you back into action and instantly grabs you attention and never lets you go. This volume is full of action, answers, questions, death, and more questions. It is just so good!

Like I said the plot starts out right away and never lets up. You get some answers, but they just led to even more questions. And you are just captivated throughout the whole thing. And what happens in this one is even worse than what happens in the 2 volume. You will cry and cry. And with that death I feel like it made it all more serious and real to me.

The characters are just as if not better than they where before. Alphonse becomes more human in my eyes, you learn more about Edward as a person and you even get hints about him and Winry (by the way I love their relationship in this series, I think it's so cute and so subtle that I just love it).

And the drawings are good, again they aren't the most detailed, but that's just the style of it. I also really like how even though most of the drawings aren't detailed, but when it's an important scene is becomes more detailed. I loved that!

Overall this is another great book in this outstanding series! I loved it! If you are a manga or graphic novel lover and haven't started this series yet, do so now! Because you will not be disappointed.

This book is...

Happy reading

Mini Review: Fullmetal Alchemist Volume 3 by Hiromu Arakawa

Volume 3

Goodreads Summary

Accompanied by their bodyguard, Alex Louis Armstrong, our heroes seek out their closest childhood friend, mechanic Winry Rockbell, to fix their battered "auto-mail" bodyparts. Soon their quest for the Philosopher's Stone takes them to the great central library, where the Stone's formula may be hidden...if the mysterious figure named Lust doesn't get there first! But the secret of the Philosopher's Stone may be even more frightening than the beings who guard it..

So, the last volume ended on a slight cliffhanger and this one doesn't really acknowledge it until the middle of it. Which is fine with me, because in the beginning it introduces some more characters. the new characters are from the Elric brother's past, so we also get a better look on there past and how they got to where they are today.

The plot in this book is really good. In the beginning not much is happening, but I was okay with that,  because like I said it tells you some information on their past. In about half way though, when they get to central is when the plot really picks up and some questions are answered, but that only leads to more questions. The volumes ends on a huge cliffhanger that makes me want to read the next one.

The illustrations in this are really good in my opinion, there not really detailed, but that's usually a given with Manga. I just really like the manga style illustrations.

This was another really great installment in a series that I have fallen in love with and I can't wait to read more in the series.

This got...

4.5 Butterflies

Beautiful, this is a great book. 

That was my mini review, I hope you read this series if you are looking for a good manga.
Happy reading.

Mini Reviews: Fullmetal Alchemist Volume 1 & 2

       These are going to be some very short reviews, because I have some thoughts just not a lot and I really want to review them. So, I am just going to write short reviews for them.
Also a little bit of background before I go into the reviews, I watched most of this series on netflix, because its also an anima. I really love it so I wanted to read the manga and hear we are. Anyway, because of that I might be a little biased on the character development and mystery part of it so I won't go into detail about my thoughts on them.


Volume one.

Goodreads summary

Alchemy: the mystical power to alter the natural world; something between magic, art and science. When two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, dabbled in this power to grant their dearest wish, one of them lost an arm and a leg...and the other became nothing but a soul locked into a body of living steel. Now Edward is an agent of the government, a slave of the military-alchemical complex, using his unique powers to obey orders...even to kill. Except his powers aren't unique. The world has been ravaged by the abuse of alchemy. And in pursuit of the ultimate alchemical treasure, the Philosopher's Stone, their enemies are even more ruthless than they are.

     This volume does a great job introducing the characters and the world to the readers. It introduces all the major characters Edward and Alphonse Elric who are brothers and our main characters. It also introduces Roy Mustang who has a big part of the plot later on (and who is awesome). The one thing that I loved was how your first impression of Edward was that he was an arrogant brat, but as the story progressed and you saw some of his past you learn that he isn't all arrogant, he is also wise. He has been though so much in his 15 years that he has a wisdom that most old people have, because he has that and he is just an teenager it comes off as arrogance. I really like how his character is so layered.

     The plot was really fast paced for the first volume in the series, there is action in every turn and Edward being very cunning in a smell minor town. What really drove the plot was the group of people who were introduced and, even though not much is said about them, you know are the bad guys. When you read that part you want to read the rest to see if anything else is said about them

     Over all, I would recommend this book to a person who is just starting Manga or to a person who's been reading manga for a while now. And if you read this you will find your next "book boyfriend" because Edward Elric is all kinds of awesome.

Volume two.

Goodreads summary

In an alchemical ritual gone wrong, Edward Elric lost his arm and his leg, and his brother Alphonse became nothing but a soul in a suit of armor. Equipped with mechanical "auto-mail" limbs, Edward becomes a state alchemist, seeking the one thing that can restore his brother and himself...the legendary Philosopher's Stone.


There are many types of alchemy in the world. Edward's commanding officer, "Flame Alchemist" Roy Mustang, can control fire. Shou Tucker, the "Sewing-Life Alchemist," specializes in the most difficult alchemy of all...biological transmutation, the ability to alter the tissue of living things. But no matter what their power, alchemists are still human. And when a mysterious killer begins stalking state alchemists, no one can escape his vengeance.

 

   More characters are introduced in this one, some military people and some other alchemist's. Roy Mustang gets more depth in this one (This is where I really started loving Mustang). The intermediate villain is also introduced, who I think is an awesome villain. Anyway, the plot picks up right were it left off and while there is some serous thinking on Ed's part the plot is still filled with action and fight scenes and humor. You can't read 10 paged without laughing your head off, these characters are just so funny!

 

There is some heartbreak in this book, when I was both reading the scene and watching it I just couldn't help but cry its just so sad!

 

The group of bad people are also in this and again there is an air of mystery surrounding them, but the author only gives you breadcrumbs on who they are and what they are doing. All you really know is that they are evil. 

 

Like I said before, I would recommend this series to everyone, its so good. I love the characters, the plot, the illustrations, everything about it. Just read this.

 

 would also recommend that you buy the three in one volumes, because I can never decide if I like a manga on the first volume 'cause it's so small.  

 

 I gave both of these...

4.5 Butterflies

Beautiful, this is a great book. 



 

   



That was my very small reviews. I hope you pick these up, because they are great.
Happy reading.