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I Want To Eat Your Pancreas by Yoru Sumino
442 pages
YA Manga
4.5/5 *
Formats available: Libby Graphic Novel
Also known as Let Me Eat Your Pancreas, the manga version of the coming-of-age novel that inspired two films! In this deeply moving first-person story, an introverted high school boy finds his classmate’s diary—and learns her biggest secret. Yamauchi Sakura is dying from a pancreatic disease and now he is the only one person outside her family to know the truth. The last thing the boy wants is to be her friend, but Sakura’s cheerful demeanor and their shared secret draw them together in this heartrending tale of friendship and mortality.
When you lay this book down, title facing up, people read it then look at you weird; what I am trying to say is that it’s worth it. Personally, I am not a big fan of slice of life romance; however, when I saw this title I knew I had to take a bite. The author does nothing to disguise the inevitable ending of this book and I was worried that there wouldn’t be enough to keep me attached and invested in the story; sometimes I love being wrong. Sakura and her morose little friend build a unique bond quickly, and you’re sucked into this joyous tragic ride. Be ready to laugh, giggle, and then cry a little. As a reader I think you’ll easily relate to one or the other character. For me the sad little friend shared a lot of experiences and feelings about interacting with people that I felt as a young adult. The struggle to make deep connections and friendships, the battle to have people in my life and not hide in books, and the struggle with finding purpose and meaning. Then suddenly, and even violently, Sakura disrupts his world and their lives are immediately intertwined changing them both in ways they didn’t realize they needed. I enjoyed the devastation and the heart. This is a great addition to your reading list and an amazing refresher. Give this amazing book a go!
For more book recommendations please tune in to Off the Books with B&S Podcast on any of your preferred podcasting platforms; new episodes air every other Thursday.
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
878 pages
Romantasy
5/5*
Available: Book, Playaway, Libby eBook, Libby eAudiobook
“The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.” —Xaden Riorson
Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.
Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.
Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.
But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year.
Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.
Ride or die.
And I died. Rebecca Yarros sure knows how to leave us hanging on a cliffhanger. Iron Flame, the sequel to The Empyrean Series was a literal emotional roller coaster full of battle, love, and of course…DRAGONS! I can confidently say I had no idea what was going to happen for even a second. I didn’t know who was going to lose their lives, or if I could emotionally repair myself after the final page. Our main character, Violet, has come so far from the first book and has grown into quite the badass. Proud mother moment. I tried to stay off social media because I knew people were going to be talking about Iron Flame since it is so wildly popular. However, I did watch people’s reactions to reading the ending. The temptation was too strong.
So, to the ending I trudged…. absolutely dreading what could be waiting for me to read. There isn’t a good enough description to tell you guys about how utterly “shooketh” I was. My heart has left the building and has been eviscerated by you, Rebecca. Until next time you emotionally destroy me in the best of ways.
For more book recommendations please tune in to Off the Books with B&S Podcast on any of your preferred podcasting platforms; new episodes air every other Thursday.
-Samantha
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
446 pages
Fantasy/LitRPG/Sci-Fi
5/5*
Formats available: Book
“It's the most-watched game show in the galaxy!
In a flash, every human-erected construction on Earth--from Buckingham Palace to the tiniest of sheds to all the trucks and cars--collapses in a heap, sinking into the ground.
The buildings and all the people inside, they've all been atomized and transformed into the dungeon: an 18-level labyrinth filled with traps, monsters, and loot. A dungeon so enormous, it circles the entire globe.
Only a few dare venture inside. But once you're in, you can't get out. And what's worse, each level has a time limit. You have but days to find a staircase to the next level down, or it's game over. In this game, it's not about your strength or your dexterity. It's about your views and your followers. It's about building an audience and killing those goblins with style.
You can't just survive here. You gotta survive big.
You gotta fight with vigor, with excitement. You gotta make them stand up and cheer. And if you do have that "it" factor, you may just find yourself with a following. That's the only way to truly survive in this game, with the help of the loot boxes dropped upon you by the generous benefactors watching from across the galaxy.
They call it Dungeon Crawler World. But for Carl, it's anything but a game.”
Where do I begin with this glorious work of modern literature? I will start with the rabbit hole of how I found Dungeon Crawler Carl. Lately, there has been an upswing of some of my favorite reviewers desiring self-published fantasy works (also known as Indie Fantasy). (Please stop by the second floor of the Main Branch if you would like more of these Indie Fantasy books to read; I have a lot of recommendations for you). This search along with the growth in popularity of Indie Fantasy, met with the desire to try out LitRPG, found me at the doorstep of Matt Dinniman (who is now one of my favorite authors of all-time). The people over at urbanwriters.com sum up LitRPG as,
“LitRPG (Literary Role-Playing Game) is an emerging genre of fiction that combines the experience of digital role playing games with traditional narrative plotlines. It weaves a story around a protagonist that consciously immerses themselves in a virtual world to follow the quests and challenges set by the game realm.
It is not to be confused with choose-your-own-path storylines or novels that expand the lore of existing RPG games.
Instead, imagine you are the spectator to someone playing as their World of Warcraft avatar, witnessing their progression through in-game campaigns while observing their development through visible statistics such as health, agility, strength, or intelligence.”
I don’t want you to read that and get overwhelmed, confused, or immediately tell yourself that you will hate this; this is so much more easy to read and more magical than you think. Reading through the inventory, stats, and instructions wasn't overwhelming at all and I actually found myself looking forward to them because it added so much to the world, characters, and dialogue.
So, I decided to go for broke and pick up this book about a man in his heart undies with his amazing, show-winning Persian cat running around a dungeon under the surface of an obliterated Earth because the only thing to lose was not finishing the book. As of writing this blog, I am currently on book 6 of a, hopefully, 10 book series that I now would give my left pinky toe to forget and re-read. Yeah, it’s definitely that good.
I am a slow reader and was able to read these a week per story. That says a whole heck of a lot (ask my coworkers). Carl and Donut are the main event in this story full of laughs, galactic political sabotage, and life-threatening events. This story is designed to keep you laughing and shocked and what surprised me the most is how invested I would get with these characters. Author Matt did a phenomenal job writing this to make you laugh and cry. Even though Donut and Carl are the main show, the audience is also introduced to an overarching storyline that is full of intrigue, murder, and real-life feels. Also, the fact that the AI (the artificial intelligence running the game/dungeon) is its own character makes this a deliciously layered tale.
You’re going to experience loss and pain all while belly laughing yourself to the floor, and I recommend this story to someone who is looking for it all. The fact that there is so much intrigue and mystery behind this story right alongside the weirdness of it all is such a fantastic combination. It's like a salty and sweet snack, chocolate covered bacon, if you will. It is very dungeons and dragons had a love child with your favorite video game and that baby grows up to be crazy and make questionable choices with potty humor.
Just try it. You are going to love it too.
For more book recommendations please tune in to Off the Books with B&S on any of your preferred podcasting platforms; new episodes air every other Thursday.
Bethann
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
352 pages
YA Paranormal Romance
5/5*
Formats available: physical book, Libby e-book
Love and loyalty run deeper than blood. St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .
Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.
Hello, little dhampirs. So, I am on my third re-read of Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead, and it seriously gets better every time. I would say this is my number one comfort read. The best part is that it is a six-book series, so you can be filled with all the happiness AT LEAST six times! (Sounds like a great deal to me!) Vampire Academy sparked my love for paranormal romance, especially vampires, and has introduced me to so many amazing series such as Crave by Tracy Wolff, Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, and Fallen by Lauren Kate. Vampire Academy gives me just what I need when it comes to the balance between action and romance featuring...vampires, of course!
Is this my third time reading due solely to the mysterious and good-looking Dhampir guardian Dimitri Belikov? Yes, yes, it is. Okay, the plot is great as well. The slow burn love between dhampir guardian Belikov and dhampir novice Rose Hathaway is everything, and I will be reading this series for a fourth time just to experience their romance again. I also love the bond that Moroi Vampire Princess, Vasilisa Dragomir shares with Rose. Rose is her ride or die and will stop at nothing to protect Lissa from the Strigoi (aka the bad vampires). If you have read this series you should know, “they (the royal vampire, Moroi) come first”. If you are a lover of the Vampire Academy series, you must check out the books that I have listed above as well as the Vampire Academy movie! All can be found at KHCPL! Happy reading!
For more book recommendations please tune in to Off the Books with B&S Podcast on any of your preferred podcasting platforms; new episodes air every other Thursday.
-Samantha
The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia Book 1) by Carissa Broadbent
504 pages
Dark Fantasy Romance
4.6/5
Available Formats: Physical Book
Human or vampire, the rules of survival are the same: never trust, never yield, and always – always – guard your heart.
The adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, Oraya carved her place in a world designed to kill her. Her only chance to become something more than prey is entering the Kejari: a legendary tournament held by the goddess of death herself.
But winning won’t be easy amongst the most vicious warriors from all three vampire houses. To survive, Oraya is forced to make an alliance with a mysterious rival.
Everything about Raihn is dangerous. He is a ruthless vampire, an efficient killer, an enemy to her father’s crown… and her greatest competition. Yet, what terrifies Oraya most of all is that she finds herself oddly drawn to him.
But there’s no room for compassion in the Kejari. War for the House of Night brews, shattering everything that Oraya thought she knew about her home. And Raihn may understand her more than anyone – but their blossoming attraction could be her downfall, in a kingdom where nothing is more deadly than love.
Calling all fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses ! When I tell you that you need to pick up The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent…I am not kidding. This book is perfect for people who just wanted a bit more world-building and plot that maybe ACOTAR did not give you. Have no fear, the romance is still there!
I am fairly picky when it comes to a good vampire fantasy romance, and this book did not leave me disappointed at all. The Serpent and the Wings of Night is a great choice for all of you fantasy lovers and gives us all the tropes and themes that we are looking for. We’ve got vampires, curses, enemies to lovers, strong female main character lead, cliff-hangers, and of course…plot twists! Overall, this book was a solid 4.6/5 for me, and I am looking forward to reading the sequel, The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King.
If you have already read The Serpent and the Wings of Night a few other great series would be Crave by Tracy Wolff, Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead, and A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas.
For more book recommendations please tune in to Off the Books with B&S Podcast on any of your preferred podcasting platforms; new episodes air every other Thursday.
Samantha
Berserk Volumes 1-10 by Kentaro Miura
~230 pages each
Horror Fantasy Manga
4.5/5
Available Formats: Physical Book, Hoopla, Comics Plus
“His name is Guts, the Black Swordsman, a feared warrior spoken of only in whispers. Bearer of a gigantic sword, an iron hand, and the scars of countless battles and tortures, his flesh is also indelibly marked with The Brand, an unholy symbol that draws the forces of darkness to him and dooms him as their sacrifice. But Guts won't take his fate lying down; he'll cut a crimson swath of carnage through the ranks of the damned - and anyone else foolish enough to oppose him! Accompanied by Puck the Elf, more an annoyance than a companion, Guts relentlessly follows a dark, bloodstained path that leads only to death...or vengeance.”
I have a tendency to start random things whenever I feel like it; Berserk is one of those random things that quickly became an intense obsession. I am always on the lookout for new to me Graphic Novels or Manga to read so I decided to go online to get some other reader reviews and opinions (we call that Reader’s Advisory). All of that lead me to this series. I admit I have a tendency and a draw to darker more grim emotional stories, for me, Berserk is the epitome of this weird interest I have. There are few books in my life that I honestly would never give a star rating. (I put a rating at the top because that’s one of our requirements for writing; I have to follow my own rules). If I had my way, that “out of five stars” portion would be blank because this series is designed to wreck people not be gold star hungry. For fear that you think that I hate this series from what I just said, let me circle back a bit. The main character of this story, Guts , is a warrior from the small beginning of his seemingly cursed life. We hop on this emotional rollercoaster and get heartache whiplash from the start; all throughout his current story and backstory we get to see Guts at his lowest points and his highest points. Even though the reader knows the outcome is horrific and heartbreaking, Miura does a great job making you invested anyway. I care about these people. My heart bleeds for them. I cried for Guts and Casca! I was angry on their behalf. I find myself thinking of Gut’s trials and the depth of humanity, depraved and passionate. I read this wanting him to win all the while knowing his loss is insurmountable. I know that this series is going to hurt my feelings real bad, but I just can’t quit it. If you like the idea of going into a book seeing humanity at its absolute darkest, I hesitantly recommend this.
Please be aware that there are trigger warnings associated with this graphic novel series including torture, sexual assault, death, and themes of suicide. Please do your research according to your needs before picking this book up.
For more book recommendations please tune in to Off the Books with B&S Podcast on any of your preferred podcasting platforms; new episodes air every other Thursday.
Bethann