Cat Massage Therapy, Volume 1 - 128 pages
Cat Massage Therapy, Volume 2 - 128 pages
Cat Massage Therapy, Volume 3 - 128 pages
Haru Hisakawa, Ahn Kiet Ngo (Translator)
Series Summary (From Volume 1 on Goodreads)
Nekoyama, worn out after another long day at the office, stops at a therapeutic massage parlor—only to discover that it’s run by a cat! Not only that, but the cat actually does the massaging?! As the professional “meowsseur” digs soft toe beans into Nekoyama’s aching muscles, his heart warms and his worries melt away. This is only the beginning, as he and other world-weary workers are about to meet the other feline professionals who have mastered pawfully cute techniques to reduce human stress.
Review
This series was so cute and relaxing to read! It's a purr-fect choice if you're in the mood for a light and fluffy read!
Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 1 by Gege Akutami (192 Pages)
Summary: In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural! Although Yuji Itadori looks like your average teenager, his immense physical strength is something to behold! Every sports club wants him to join, but Itadori would rather hang out with the school outcasts in the Occult Research Club. One day, the club manages to get their hands on a sealed cursed object. Little do they know the terror they’ll unleash when they break the seal…
Opinion: I was begged by a student to read this manga series as they really wanted to talk to someone about it. I've only read this volume so far, but I am enjoying it. The series seems like a mix of Fullmetal Alchemist's horror with the action and fighting of Sakamoto Days. I'm a fan of the main character, but also expect the side characters to grow on me as they receive more characterization throughout the rest of the volumes.
The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski (496 Pages)
Summary: War has begun. Arin is in the thick of it, with the East as his ally and the empire as his enemy. He's finally managed to dismiss the memory of Kestrel, even if he can't quite forget her. Kestrel turned into someone he could no longer recognize: someone who cared more for the empire than for the lives of innocent people-and certainly more than she cared for him. At least, that's what he thinks. But far north lies a work camp where Kestrel is a prisoner. Can she manage to escape before she loses herself? As the war intensifies, both Kestrel and Arin discover unexpected roles in battle, terrible secrets, and a fragile hope. The world is changing. The East is pitted against the West, and Kestrel and Arin are caught between. In a game like this, can anybody really win?
Opinion: I liked this book better than the second, mostly because Arin and Kestrel were finally totally honest with one another. A few side characters such as Roshar, Verex, and Sarsine really grew on me throughout this book as well. Kestrel's final duel with the emperor was also fun to read. Though, I do wish that the book had an epilogue from a few years later as the main story was wrapped up, but a new chapter was beginning.
The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski (416 Pages)
Summary: A royal wedding is what most girls dream about. It means one celebration after another: balls, fireworks, and revelry until dawn. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement: that she agreed to marry the crown prince in exchange for Arin's freedom. But can Kestrel trust Arin? Can she even trust herself? For Kestrel is becoming very good at deception. She's working as a spy in the court. If caught, she'll be exposed as a traitor to her country. Yet she can't help searching for a way to change her ruthless world . . . and she is close to uncovering a shocking secret.
Opinion: This book was good, but also frustrating. The plot twist from the end of the first book made more sense to me after learning about the emperor's plans, but both Arin and Kestrel were guilty of major miscommunication tropes multiple times throughout this one book, which really irks me. I felt like Kestrel and Arin knew each other so well from the first book so they wouldn't have actually fallen for each others constant lies.
