My Hero Academia, Volumes 41-42

My Hero Academia, Volume 41 - 200 pages

My Hero Academia, Volume 42 - 184 pages

Kohei Horikoshi, Caleb D. Cook (Translator)

Series Summary (From Volume 1 on Goodreads)

What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called “Quirks” at age four? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?

Middle school student Izuku Midoriya wants to be a hero more than anything, but he hasn’t got an ounce of power in him. With no chance of ever getting into the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes, his life is looking more and more like a dead end. Then an encounter with All Might, the greatest hero of them all, gives him a chance to change his destiny…

Review

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this series.  I'll try to keep my review as spoiler-free as possible.  While I don't think every villain in a given work needs to be redeemable, I did like how this series explored some of the events that might lead to a given character being seen as a villain, without many (if any) excuses or apologies attached.  That said, I do still have my share of complaints.  I've heard it said that a lot of fans aren't happy with the pacing, especially of the ending, and I'm inclined to agree -- the ending did feel rushed.  Although the arc of the final battle as a whole took several volumes, it felt like the story jumped right into it far too quickly, without much on-page preparation.  Regardless, I loved the worldbuilding and much of the character development, and I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who likes shonen manga!  

The Soulmate

 The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth 352 pages

Synopsis: Picture a lovely cottage on a cliff, with sloping lawns, walking paths, and beautiful flowers. It’s Gabe and Pippa Gerard’s dream home in a sleepy coastal town. But their perfect house hides something sinister. The tall cliffs have become a popular spot for people to end their lives. Over the past several months, Gabe comes to their rescue, literally talking them off the ledge.

Until one day, he doesn’t. When Pippa discovers Gabe knew the victim, the questions spiral. . . .Did the victim jump? Was she pushed? And would Gabe, the love of Pippa’s life, her soulmate . . . lie? As the perfect façade of their marriage begins to crack, the deepest and darkest secrets begin to unravel. Because sometimes, the most convincing lies are the ones we tell ourselves.

My Thoughts: The author did it again. I finished this book in a day and a half; that's how hooked I was on this story. This story isn't so much a thriller, but more a book about domestic drama and dysfunctional families. Everyone's marriages seem perfect, but once you peel back the layers, you can see the cracks in the foundation. 

Artemis

 Artemis by Andy Weir 368 pages

Synopsis: Jazz Bashara is a criminal.

Well, sort of. Life on Artemis, the first and only city on the moon, is tough if you're not a rich tourist or an eccentric billionaire. So smuggling in the occasional harmless bit of contraband barely counts, right? Not when you've got debts to pay and your job as a porter barely covers the rent.

Everything changes when Jazz sees the chance to commit the perfect crime, with a reward too lucrative to turn down. But pulling off the impossible is just the start of her problems, as she learns that she's stepped square into a conspiracy for control of Artemis itself—and that now, her only chance at survival lies in a gambit even riskier than the first.

My Thoughts: I honestly truly enjoyed this book. As someone who doesn't know much about space or the Moon, I was a little daunted by all the Scientific talk, but the book was still enjoyable. I love Jazz as the main character; she is such an anti-hero and so funny! A lot of people might pass over this book because it's a female main character in a sci-fi novel, but don't! This book is worth reading along with his other novels! The number of times I laughed while reading this book. 

A Study in Scarlet Women

 A Study in Scarlet Women BK 1 by Sherry Thomas 323 pages

Synopsis: With her inquisitive mind, Charlotte Holmes has never felt comfortable with the demureness expected of the fairer sex in upper class society. But even she never thought that she would become a social pariah, an outcast fending for herself on the mean streets of London.

When the city is struck by a trio of unexpected deaths and suspicion falls on her sister and her father, Charlotte is desperate to find the true culprits and clear the family name. She’ll have help from friends new and old—a kind-hearted widow, a police inspector, and a man who has long loved her.
But in the end, it will be up to Charlotte, under the assumed name Sherlock Holmes, to challenge society’s expectations and match wits against an unseen mastermind.

My Thoughts: This book was a fun book to read for book club. I loved the fresh take on Sherlock Holmes as a woman instead of a man. The stereotyping of women during this time forces Charlotte to hide the fact that Sherlock is a fake person. There were a ton of characters that were hard to keep track of, but overall it was a fun read. 

The Ever King

The Ever King BK 1 by L.J. Andrews, 462 pages

Synopsis: They stole his crown. So he stole their daughter....
For years, Erik, the scarred king of the Ever Kingdom, has thought of nothing but vengeance against the man who killed his father and trapped him beneath the waves, making him a prisoner in his own realm.
Until his enemy’s daughter unintentionally breaks the chains on the Ever, and Erik makes her the unwitting pawn in his vicious game of revenge.
She’s innocent. He’s vicious. But he will take back what he lost, no matter the price.
Unless she steals his heart first.

My Thoughts: This book did have a lot of trigger warnings at the beginning; however, it wasn't as bad as I expected, even with the trigger warnings. The start was slow and boring, but then it got more interesting, and now I can't wait to read the next books in the series! The characters, world-building, and magic were all so fascinating! The banter between the two main characters was funny at moments but also could pull on your heartstrings at other moments. 

Killer Style: How Fashion Has Injured, Maimed, and Murdered Through History by Serah-Marie McMahon & Alison Matthews David

 Killer Style: How Fashion Has Injured, Maimed, and Murdered Through History by Serah-Marie McMahon & Alison Matthews David -- 48 pages

I read this book as preparation for a homeschool class. It was fascinating.  It covered various style choices that proved to be hazardous and/or dangerous throughout history.  I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in nonfiction.  The kids enjoyed learning about the different fashions as did the adults.

The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night by Steven Banbury

The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night by Steven Banbury, 322 pages

From the MARC: "On Halloween, it is always wise to expect the unexpected... But no amount of planning could have prepared Eve for that particular night. Fleeing an unpleasant orphanage, she's saved by someone who she never believed was real... the fabled Pumpkin King himself. Throwing caution aside, Eve accepts the offer to become his daughter and is whisked away to the misty Hallowell Valley -- home to witches and vampires, ghosts and goblins, and all that go bump in the night. But just when she believes she's found her place among the undead, a sinister scheme unearths itself, threatening to take everything from Eve unless she can stop it."

Hallowell Valley was a wonderful place to visit. The characters, even the ghosts, are substantial. Following Eve on her adventures felt like living in Halloweentown, which was a fervent daydream of younger me. And it ends with some wholesome found family feels.