My Rating: 4 Stars I’m not a fan of romantic tragedies but Les Misérables is a classic that needs to be read at least once for the people that studied literature, which was my case. I read it during my bachelor degree and I didn’t like it at all, it was a long, boring read. Still, in the end, I was able to appreciate the magnificent style of one of Victor Hugo’s finest works. Like all the manga classics I’ve read so far edited by Stacy King, I wasn’t disappointed and I was actually able to like the story of Les Misérables. The story is well known if not for the play, for the films. The 19th-century tale, centres on Jean Valjean a peasant released from the galleys after 19 years of imprisonment and his path to becoming a wealthy man and a better person. It’s a story about unconditional love, tragedy, second-chances and redemption. The manga adaptation has a length of 350 pages and the original story is very well adapted just like all the previous ones. For someone that wants to know the story of Les Misérables, I definitely recommend this adaptation. The drawings match perfectly the dark atmosphere of 19th century France with the coldness and cruel reality of the period but also the light that comes with hope and redemption. All the emotions of the original novel are there and for me, it was even more emotional since it’s not just descriptions but illustrations as well. A moving story that shows the dark parts of French society for those that weren’t born with privileges and that suffered the injustice of society and life. Valjean that was arrested for 19 years for stealing bread to feed his family; Francine, abandoned by the man she loved to face the judgement of society for having an illegitimate child, only to die after a battle that she could never win. A beautiful classic adaptation of a classic made simple with all the emotions of its original. I highly recommend it! Thank you to Udon Entertainment and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
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My Rating: 4 Stars I keep repeating myself, I’m pretty sure a blogger should get a bit more creative but I think I’m justified in my choice of words. So here goes: Another brilliant adaptation of one of the most famous classics of English literature: Jane Eyre. I’ve read the original once a long time ago and by the time I finished with the manga adaptation I wanted to run and read it again. The novel follows the life of young Jane Eyre, an orphan with a cruel and abused childhood. When she is cast out by her aunt, Jane is sent to a charity school where she receives an education under a very strict regime. Years later, she finds a job as a governess at the Rochester estate. Three months after she starts, Jane meets the cold and mysterious Edward Rochester, the owner of the estate. Slowly they begin to bond but a secret threatens to ruin everything, both the reputation and the life of Miss Eyre. Will she be able to follow her heart and be with the man she loves or will she lose him? This is a story about facing fears and life no matter what comes your way, not letting traumatic experiences define you. It’s about determination, the power to follow dreams and above all, it’s about the courage to face the world and to stay faithful to ourselves under every circumstance. Jane Eyre is a brilliant character, a strong, intelligent woman that knows the boundaries set by her social class but still manages to answer politely, crossing the line with grace and pure wit. The adaptation is once again incredible. The drawings transmit the simplicity of the characters but still manage to convey emotion. Can’t wait to read more! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Udon Entertainment, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. My Rating: 3 Stars I’ve always been a big fan of Agatha Christie, but I must say I didn’t feel this novel as much as I would with Poirot or Miss Marple. The plot is very nice and the murder is complex and has some turns that left me without certainties of anything. The book starts with the introduction of the main character, Luke Fitzgerald, a retired policeman travelling by train to London. Sitting in his cabinet is an elderly woman, Lavinia Pinkerton that confides in him about several murders that have been happening and how the murderer would kill again. Dismissing the worries of lady, imagine the surprise of Mr Fitzgerald when he reads about the ladies's death in the newspaper the following day. What follows is the introduction of the suspects, including Miss Bridget Conway, the lady that captures Luke’s heart. But who is the murder? Why does he kill? And more importantly, who will be the next victim? Like I wrote before, the murder plot is complex and with some twists, something that I enjoy greatly. The murderer is truly the last person one would expect and it took me by surprise. The evidences are all there, but I was unable to connect the dots until the very end. The vintage setting, a small village where nothing ever happens and suddenly a murder occurs, is something that I’m still able to enjoy no matter how many books I read with the same setting. My only problem was connecting with the characters. I’m not a fan of romance and I think that Luke and Bridget’s story was cute but rushed with all the “love at first sight” thing. Still, I liked reading their interactions and conversations since Miss Conway is the smartest woman in the story. Overall, a nice read, but not one of my favourites from Agatha Christie! My Rating: 5 Stars A classic represented perfectly in another great manga adaptation. Even though I‘m not a fan of dramas, I read the Scarlet Letter in my Bachelor and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. The original novel takes place in Puritan Boston in the 17th century. A young woman, Hester Prynne, stands accused of adultery. Her husband, a scholar much older than her is claimed as dead and while waiting for his return Hester takes a lover and has a child fruit of that affair. Refusing to name the identity of the father, Hester’s punishments are to carry a scarlet letter A on her breast and public shaming. Amongst the crowd, Hester’s missing husband, calling himself Roger Chillingworth, observes and swears to take revenge on the unknown man that ruined both their lives. Once again the artwork is amazing and it represents perfectly the emotions and the meanings of the original novel. The adaptation is perfect, the characters have depth and all the emotions that I felt when I read The Scarlet Letter for the first time, resurfaced. I could practically see the tension between Hester’s husband and lover! Hester proves to be a very strong and passionate female character. She endures her punishment and after she is banished from the Boston community, she makes intelligent and accurate observations on the social behaviour that makes this period of history. Roger Chillingworth is, for me, the villain of this story. His thirst for revenge and his obsession make him a very dangerous character. I think of him as being arrogant and self-absorbed. Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, Pearl’s father, it’s not the strongest male character. The young theologian is tormented both physically and psychologically by his sin of having an affair with Hester. I really liked the original novel and its depth and this brilliant adaptation deserve all its 5 stars! Can’t wait to read more Manga Classics! Thank you to Udon Entertainment and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review. My Rating: 5 Stars I’m going to be honest: I really really don’t like Charles Dickens. There, I’ve said it. I had to read Hard Times and Great Expectations for a university course and, until today, they were probably the two novels that took me the longest to finish. However, I absolutely loved the adaptation to Manga. Congratulations to Stacy King, Nokman Poon and Crystal Chan for another brilliant Manga Classic! Great Expectations tells the story of Pip, a boy from the low class that is given the opportunity to have a better life. With his chance, he discovers that power and money can change a person and is reminded that the past can always come back to haunt you. It’s a timeless tale of opportunities, mystery, love, redemption and second chances. Here is my deal with Charles Dickens: I like the stories but his style of writing is too tedious for me. In this brilliant manga adaption, the story is made simple and very enjoyable. For someone that hasn’t read the novel before the story is very understandable and easy to follow. I’m very glad that there is a limit of pages per adaptation even though the story loses a bit of its depth, but I think the idea is to make the story more accessible to all ages. The art is simply breathtaking. The dress designs are very beautiful and pleasant to look at and the facial expressions of the characters are very well developed. I could feel the emotions of each scene from the drawings and the different atmospheres from the different places in the novel. I especially liked the manor of Miss Havisham and the dusty darkish room she is in, and I think it represents perfectly the state of her life and her unhappiness. My favourite character was and still is Estella. For me, she is the representation of how one is the fruit of their education, of the culture they receive since very young. She was taught how to hide her feelings, to be someone other than who she could become without the toxic influence of Miss Havisham. Pip is also a great character; I like his development as a character. With him, I think the lesson is you should never forget where you come from because those are the first pillars of your character. In the end, he becomes a better person because he remembers that and manages to break free of the culture of appearances of high society. The first adaptation that actually made me appreciate the genius of Charles Dickens! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Udon Entertainment, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. My Rating: 4 Stars This was a burst of colour in my readings! An amazing novel with amazing characters and a story-line that kept me clued to its pages! I could taste the circus life and colours with this brilliant show of imagination! Freeks tells the story of the Gideon Davorin’s Travelling Sideshow, a circus where acts are real magic. Each sideshow presents different wonders, from levitation to necromancy and fortune telling and each member of the carnival has their own set of unique talents. All expect Mara, a young girl that travels with her mother in the circus and, even though she loves her carnival family, dreams of a normal life. That dream seems very far away, still, the circus settles in the small town of Caudy, Louisiana and Mara meets Gabe. But something is amiss. Something is set in getting rid of the Freek sideshow and will stop at nothing to have that wish fulfilled. What or who is it? When members of the carnival are attacked and one disappears, Mara must make the choice to stay and fight or run away while discovering that “normal” isn’t really her thing. Where to begin? The mystery plot was very well thought and beautifully written. The mix between mystery and supernatural in the circus setting was perfect. The mystery plot left me glued to the pages. The style of writing was very good, easy to follow and the descriptions were very well made, especially for the characters and the different settings of the story. The unexpected twists are the bit of pepper that the story needed to become even more addictive. The protagonist, Mara is a great character and I loved her way of thinking and seeing things. She’s impulsive but acts with her heart and the way she built the relationships with the rest of the members of the carnival is heart-warming and it definitely creates a sense of union. With Gabe on the other hand, I thought their romance was a bit rushed, I would have liked to see more build-up of their relationship and how their perspective of each other changed when they got to know each other better. Still, they make a cute couple. I’m not a fan of romance, but since in the novel the romance doesn’t take the front stage, I was still able to enjoy it. A very enjoyable read that I recommend to the fans of the carnival world, the supernatural and mystery! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher St. Martin's Griffin, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. My Rating: 5 Stars How to end a trilogy: just like Ms Pacat does! The brilliant end for a fantastic collection! She really outdid herself in this novel, coming to the completion of a wonderful story leaving no loose ends. This book brought me to that dilemma "I want to finish it but I don't want to finish it" and I can honestly say that Damen and Laurent became one of my favourite M/M couples of all time. Picking up from the grand finale and cliffhanger of Prince's Gambit, Damen and Laurent don't have a moment to recover. Intrigue is taken to another level, constant interference and betrayal as both King and Prince fight their way to win back their thrones. As Vere and Akielos unite against a common enemy, the two royals struggle with attraction and feelings for each other. Will they fall into the plot that could end both their lives and their kingdoms? Shocking twists, heart-stopping revelations and a finale that will leave your heart pounding! I really raced through the pages of this volume, much like I did with the others. The third book is twice action-packed than the other two books combined and the fast-paced story-line didn't allow me to stop reading until the very end. It was very gratifying to see justice done and to see beloved characters have a great ending. Okay okay, I admit that I warmed up to Laurent a bit, but just a bit! I really saw the development of his character along the trilogy and in the end, it made a big difference. One of the things that made the difference is that Damen didn't back down no matter how much and what means Laurent used to push him away. What he needed was really someone that could see behind all the walls he built around himself, all the defences and truly listen to that he has to say. An amazing end, even though I would have liked another chapter with more details on Damen and Laurent maybe a few months later after the alliance was made. But still, it's a trilogy that I will keep recommending over and over again for a very long time. I hope that Ms Pacat will write again soon because a talent like that needs to be in the spotlight more often than not! My Rating: 5 Stars Just... Wow. Ms Pacat did it again and I think I developed an addiction in the process. Two volumes in two days and I must say I regret nothing. Absolutely perfect, still as fast-paced as before with a style of writing that makes it impossible to stop reading. I must say though, that I'm still not a fan of Laurence. Before that, there is a brief description of the second volume of the Captive Prince trilogy. Tension is building between Laurence and his uncle. Forced to travel to the border with Akielos as a punishment for childish actions and as an attempt to have him killed, Laurent must unite forces with Damen in order to avoid a war between their countries. Surrounded from both sides by usurpers and unknown traitors, the two kings must fight for their lives, their freedom and their people while trying to ignore the growing sensual tension between them. Can Damen keep his identity a secret for much longer? In this book, I could see the rising tension between the Regent and Laurence. The Regent's determination to get ride of Laurence that was very well concealed in the first volume is completely revealed and it shows the length of his greed and thirst for power. Laurent is still a very complex character and, like I mentioned in the review of the previous novel, I believe that he has some sort of trauma from his childhood and I don't mean his brother's death. I can't bring myself to like him though, and it's probably related to how he uses people to achieve his means no matter the consequences or cost. On the other hand, Damen is a character that doesn't let his nasty experience in Vere change who he is and who he's meant to be. He proved to have more King material than Laurent could ever hope to have: the knowledge in battle strategy, how to make the troops happy and avoid conflict, how to predict situations and act under pressure. Furthermore and most importantly, he has the heart of a king, his people come first. I absolutely loved the ending. It was simply perfect and very gratifying. No doubt that this trilogy made it to my Top favourite. My Rating: 5 Stars Absolutely brilliant! It was impossible to stop reading, impossible to drawn in the story, even if I developed a pet-hatred for a number of characters. But first things first, I want to congratulate Ms C.S Pacat for the wonderful novel, the setting and the characters. The novel starts with the handsome prince of Akielos, Damen, who is betrayed by his brother Kastor, stripped of his title and sent as a pleasure slave to the enemy nation of Vere. His life becomes even more difficult when he meets the spoiled, manipulative prince Laurent, known for his coldness and difficult temper. If Damen was convinced that the Veretian court was full of liars and people without honour, his vision only darkens when he becomes the target of the Prince's anger and hatred. When Damen finds himself in the middle of a power game for the throne, he must join forces with Laurent if he ever hopes to save his country while keeping his identity a secret. I became completely addicted to this novel and finished it in two days. The plot is brilliant, the descriptions are incredible, the writing style flows very nicely and the pace of the story-line didn't allow me to grow bored for even a second. Only compliments! I think the best word is definitely "Captivating". I developed a hatred for Laurent and I think it's impossible to like him. He acts as a spoiled brat, cruel to those who defy him but at the same time, I have to admit, he acts with care. I have the feeling that he had a traumatic childhood and his coldness and detachment have something to do with that. I really liked Erasmus. He is the representation of purity and innocence even with his background and painful experiences. It was impossible not to grow attached to him. Don't hesitate in buying this novel, not even for a second. It's a fresh M/M story unlike any other that you have read so far that you'll grow addicted to. Definitely worth the 5 stars! My Rating: 5 Stars Ms Stacy King did it again! A perfect adaptation of the Jane Austen classic Emma. I've read the Manga Classics: Pride and Prejudice so far and I'm very glad I get to read other classics of this collection. This manga, even in black and white, shows the liveliness, the humour and the innocence of Emma as she drags her friends into a love-match game! The drawings are beautifully mastered and I particularly liked the dresses and how they flow so nicely in the story. The expressions of the characters are perfectly represented. I think the graphics really match the emotions of the novel. On the contrary of Pride and Prejudice that is set in a more mature and disciplined environment where social rules have to be obeyed, Emma is set in a more innocent and playful way, full of colour, laughter and it portraits perfectly the spirit of young Emma. Fans of Jane Austen, I highly recommend it! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Udon Entertainment, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. |
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