A Sign of Affection, Vol. 6 by Suu Morishita

A Sign of Affection, Vol. 6 by Suu Morishita

Yubisaki to Renren #6, 196 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Since Yuki met Itsuomi in that moment of kismet on the train, and then decided to pursue him, she's felt a new drive in her life. The two new lovers have been shopping, traveling, and walking in the snow. They've spent a quiet, thrilling day together under blooming flowers. But the text message that he didn't let her read sticks in her mind, and when Yuki and Itsuomi are all alone together at last, and she finally reads it, a nagging question is all she can think about. And she has no idea how Itsuomi will react.

The Apothecary Diaries, Vol. 4 by Natsu Hyuuga

The Apothecary Diaries, Vol. 4 by Natsu Hyuuga

The Apothecary Diaries #4, 194 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

The trail of the garden banquet leads Maomao to the Garnet Palace! Aiming to uncover the identity and motives of the culprit who nearly succeeded in turning the festivities into a tragedy, the young apothecary-turned-lady's maid temporarily takes up there at Jinshi's behest. Home to Lady Aduo—the consort with the longest tenure in the Emperor's affections—the Garnet palace harbors many intrigues, some more shocking than even Maomao could have imagined! Will solving the mystery at hand lose Maomao her job...and maybe even her life?!

My Hero Academia, Volumes 35 - 37

My Hero Academia, Volume 35 - 192 pages

My Hero Academia, Volume 36 - 200 pages

My Hero Academia, Volume 37 - 200 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

Hard to believe we're already moving into the final arc!  The battle's only just beginning and things are already ramping up in a hurry.  I'm excited to see how things turn out!  

My Hero Academia, Volume 34

My Hero Academia, Volume 34 - 192 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

Something about this one irked me a bit.  We're introduced to what could have been an amazing character with connections to All Might, and a unique and powerful Quirk, too.  She's made all but irrelevant barely halfway through this volume.  On a narrative level, I can understand the circumstances that might have led to these events, but I'm of the opinion that this wasn't very well-executed.  The lack of significant reaction from the main characters - especially All Might - along with the actual events and the "consequences" thereof, make her actions feel next to meaningless at this point.  Introducing her earlier might have done her better justice.  

A Sign of Affection, Vol. 5 by Suu Morishita

A Sign of Affection, Vol. 5 by Suu Morishita

Yubisaki to Renren #5, 164 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Yuki's life revolved around friends, fashion, her classes, and social media, until something interrupted her routine: a chance meeting with Itsuomi, a classmate-with a passion for languages, world travel, movies—and, increasingly, for Yuki. Amazed at how casually Itsuomi asked her out, Yuki couldn't help but wonder how serious this relationship was for him, but, with Itsuomi showing his devotion in little ways, every day, another thrilling thought has entered her mind: What if this new happiness could become her new normal?

My Hero Academia, Volumes 31 - 33

My Hero Academia, Volume 31 - 216 pages

My Hero Academia, Volume 32 - 224 pages

My Hero Academia, Volume 33 - 192 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

It's been a bit since we had a segment dedicated to developing Izuku and All Might's characters, and I honestly feel like some of this was a long time coming.  While the recent revelations concerning One For All and its users have definitely increased the amount of pressure on Izuku by a substantial amount, some of his ideologies have been foreshadowing this for some time now.  

Spacewalking With You, Vol. 1 by Inuhiko Doronoda

Spacewalking With You, Vol. 1 by Inuhiko Doronoda

Kimi to Uchū wo Aruku Tame ni #1, 224 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Kobayashi just can’t focus--not on studying, not on work--and the adults in his life think he's in danger of becoming a worthless dropout. Then, one day, a strange new presence arrives in his class: an energetic and naive kid named Uno. Kobayashi saves Uno from getting scammed, and that close encounter launches a new friendship. Uno's definitely a space cadet, but Kobayashi can't help admiring the way he floats through life, and before he knows it, he might start feeling his feet lift off the ground, too...

My Hero Academia, Volumes 26 - 30

My Hero Academia, Volume 26 - 200 pages

My Hero Academia, Volume 27 - 184 pages

My Hero Academia, Volume 28 - 184 pages

My Hero Academia, Volume 29 - 184 pages

My Hero Academia, Volume 30 - 200 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

Much of the events in these volumes are focused around one major confrontation between the Paranormal Liberation Front and the protagonists and their allies.  That said, I wouldn't say the pacing has been negatively impacted, as there's plenty of intense action.  The events of this arc make for a much darker tone going forward.  The revelations in volume 30 in particular seem set to precipitate the collapse of the current hero-centric society.  

A Sign of Affection, Vol. 4 by Suu Morishita

A Sign of Affection, Vol. 4 by Suu Morishita

Yubisaki to Renren #4, 164 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Yuki, a deaf college student who’s led a relatively sheltered life, has just taken a huge step: She’s got a boyfriend! And he seems like a keeper: Itsuomi is a multilingual globetrotter who works hard, and he’s a knockout, to boot. Yuki can still scarcely believe that Itsuomi casually dropped the question, “Wanna go out with me?” And she can’t help wondering—when will Itsuomi start to open up to her about his past, and his dreams for the future? Is this a whim, or is it real?

A Sign of Affection, Vol. 3 by Suu Morishita

A Sign of Affection, Vol. 3 by Suu Morishita

Yubisaki to Renren #3, 160 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Does he really see me as a girl? Yuki's a Deaf college student who is at first enchanted by and soon falls in love with an upperclassman in her school named Itsuomi who doesn't care about her lack of hearing but treats her like anyone else. Yuki resolves to face that love head-on and really pursue it proactively. Soon Itsuomi, who was once a riddle for Yuki, starts to really open up to her and express his truest feelings.

My Hero Academia, Volumes 24 & 25

My Hero Academia, Volume 24 - 192 pages

My Hero Academia, Volume 25 - 200 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

These two were a lot more villain-centric, giving us some much-needed insight into -- and development of -- the characters of this series' most recurrent antagonists.  I'm not the type to believe that every literary villain needs some kind of tragic and relatable backstory, but I think what we get here definitely fits the vibe of this series.  It falls in line with the prevalent themes of how society treats its members who fall outside what's considered the norm, who's responsible for "saving" people if/when they need it most, and the ramifications of a society built around a class of professional "heroes."  

A Sign of Affection, Vol. 2 by Suu Morishita

A Sign of Affection, Vol. 2 by Suu Morishita

Yubisaki to Renren #2, 162 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Why must the time we spend together always be so short? Yuki's a hearing-impaired college student whose path crosses with Itsuomi, an upperclassman from her school. Against all expectations, Itsuomi doesn't bat an eye at her condition, treating her more normally than she's ever felt in her life, and she begins to fall in love with him. Resolving to be strong and face that love head-on, Yuki hopes to get to know him better... but that's easier said than done!

A Sign of Affection, Vol. 1 by Suu Morishita

A Sign of Affection, Vol. 1 by Suu Morishita

Yubisaki to Renren #1, 198 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Yuki is a typical college student, whose world revolves around her friends, social media, and the latest sales. But when a chance encounter on a train leads to her meeting friend-of-a-friend and fellow student Itsuomi-san, her world starts to widen. But even though Itsuomi-kun can speak three languages, sign language isn't one of them. Can the two learn to communicate the budding feelings between them?

My Hero Academia, Volume 22 & 23

My Hero Academia, Volume 22 - 192 pages

My Hero Academia, Volume 23 - 198 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

I thought it was neat to have this compare and contrast dynamic between the events of the joint training arc in these volumes, and the sports festival from the beginning of the series.  We get to see all the progress made both by class 1-A, and their rivals in class 1-B.  I was also glad to see the return of Shinso; I'd been worried he was just going to be used to make a point early on in the series about flaws in the U.A. system, before being removed from the story entirely.  

My Hero Academia, Volume 19 - 21

My Hero Academia, Volume 19 - 192 pages

My Hero Academia, Volume 20 - 200 pages

My Hero Academia, Volume 21 - 200 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

It's hard to believe I'm already halfway through this series!  The pacing is still medium to fast, balancing reflection and exposition with sequences of more intense action.  I'm glad each of the students in class 1-A (and beyond) get some time in the spotlight to showcase their growth and development as competent heroes.  I think I prefer this approach, rather than solely focusing on Izuku, or even just a handful of characters.  I can't really pick a favorite hero thus far, but I'd say my favorite villains are probably Gentle Criminal and La Brava.  I thought their arc did a good job at showing that even if someone has a Quirk that objectively seems like it could make them a great hero, they could still be dealt a bad hand by society and their peers, leading to them being cast aside and marginalized.  

Go For It, Nakamura! by Syundei

Go For It, Nakamura! by Syundei

Ganbare! Nakamura-kun!! #1, 200 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐.25/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Nakamura has fallen in love-at-first-sight with one of his classmates, Hirose -- but there's a problem: they haven't actually met yet...and Nakamura is a total klutz who might bungle things before they even begin!

My Hero Academia, Volume 14 - 18

My Hero Academia, Volume 14 - 208 pages

My Hero Academia, Volume 15 - 192 pages

My Hero Academia, Volume 16 - 192 pages

My Hero Academia, Volume 17 - 192 pages

My Hero Academia, Volume 18 - 192 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

The Shie Hassaikai Arc reached its conclusion here and good grief these books can be emotional when they want to be!  I'm glad we got some more insight into All Might's character and motivations, rather than him remaining as the semi-distant mentor figure whose eventual decline would herald dark times for Japan and the world as a whole.  Also, I thought all the interactions between Eri and Mirio were really endearing!  

The Apothecary Diaries, Vol. 3 by Natsu Hyuuga

The Apothecary Diaries, Vol. 3 by Natsu Hyuuga

The Apothecary Diaries #3, 193 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

After putting on a successful and sensual(?) show of food tasting at the garden banquet, Maomao is the talk of the palace! But she soon discovers that notoriety isn't the only thing the party has granted her! Her collection of hairpins from the event brings the young herbalist a brief window of freedom beyond the palace walls, as she returns to the pleasure district for the first time in ten months! But while reunions with her father and her friends await, so too does another mystery...

My Hero Academia, Volume 13

My Hero Academia, Volume 13 - 192 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

I liked the worldbuilding added by the provisional licensing exam.  It's nice to see them acknowledge how a hero's job might not only involve combat against a villain, but also require search and rescue and a suitable "bedside manner" when interacting with those being rescued.  

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Volume 1

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Volume 1 - 304 pages

Naoko Takeuchi

Summary (From Goodreads)

Teenager Usagi is not the best athlete, she's never gotten good grades, and, well, she's a bit of a crybaby. But when she meets a talking cat, she begins a journey that will teach her she has a well of great strength just beneath the surface and the heart to inspire and stand up for her friends as Sailor Moon! 

Review

Although I'm familiar with the premise and have run across my fair share of memes and references, I'd never actually gotten the chance to read this series, let alone watch the anime based on it.  Honestly, I found myself really enjoying it!  There's no shortage of camp, as is the norm for the magical girl subgenre, and the characters are each endearing in their own way.  I can certainly tell this was designed with a younger audience in mind, but it manages to be relatable on some level without trying too hard.