I really did mean to read the books I own this year, but I didn't. I have a theory that the reason is in part because of the book I chose to start the year with was a book I wasn't enjoying and that left me unmotivated to read it at all. And I wasn't willing to just choose a different book when I could've and probably gotten through more of my owned books. That being said I finally decided to stop and just move on. It's a 1k-page book and it took me 9 months to get ~400 pages into it. I've read other books that were just as long, that didn't feel like as much of a chore to get through.
I like when there aren't long wait times at the library for volumes, so I was able to get through quite a few in a fairly short amount of time, thus adding to my avoidance of reading full-length books.
The (very) long awaited return to this series. It's been a long time since the previous volume came out. I believe the author was on hiatus or something. Either way, I was happy to get back to these characters. The plot of this story is very low-stakes, slice of life low fantasy, but the characters are what drives the story and I love them.Thrilled that the first volume back into this world was very Shirayuki and Zen focused.
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I love this series. And I am really excited reading the parts that will be in season 2. Jinshi is so smitten with MaoMao and she's so clueless about it. This chunk of volumes covered the last few episodes of season one of the anime, and some of that aftermath.
The over all mystery of who and why the plot is still on-going. Some envoys from 'the west' arrive, and stir some things up. As of now that plotline doesn't seem to have any further effect on the over-all plot. More shenanigans at the Crystal Palace, and a sinister plot. Lucky 'Detective MaoMao' was on the case, who the Emperor seems to like and trust. Which is interesting.
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I've been flying through this series, and loving it. I love that more time is spent with the characters in the "past" than in present day in the manga.
Most of this batch of volumes cover The Band of Seven arc. Not gonna lie, it's my least favorite arc in the entire series. Anime and manga. It takes so long. It was volumes 8-10, and while that may not seem like many, this is the Omnibus versions so each of these are three volumes each. So The Band of Seven is Nine (9) volumes. Far too many. I was happy when it was over, and my favorite incarnation of Naraku is introduced, Hakodoshi.
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I'd hoped to read one more volume before writing this bulk-review, but the wait time is still pretty far out for volume 6.
This volume covered the entirety of the first task for the First Class Mage test, and some of what happened right afterwards. I feel like the manga explained the bird a little more than the anime, but beyond that it was the exact same. Reading verses watching these events has a different impact. Oddly, I sometimes feel like the manga goes more in-depth with the characters than the anime does.
I love this story though. It's wholesome and tense at the same time. I'm looking forward to reading the next volume. (watch the hold for vol. 6 to come through right after I post this)
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Some background information/reveals for some of the side-antagonist characters were in this set of volumes. I'm still not sure what the end goal is supposed to be for all this. I am getting to the point where I'm debating if it's "worth" finishing or continuing. The 'why' for cursing Mao has yet to be answered. The side/background characters got more character development and page time than our main characters. While I do think fleshing out antagonists is important, I still don't know what their goals are, not really anyway. Is it just to be evil? Character motives aren't all that clear in this series and it bothers me. My curious nature is the only thing that prevents me from continuing. Although, now that I seem to be up to date with the volumes that are out and translated, I'm thinking of waiting until I can binge a few so I don't have to wait too-too long between volumes.
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