As far as sophomore outings go, this second installment in the Spice and Wolf series is an absolute delight. Weighing in at nearly three hundred pages, Isuna Hasekura’s newest light novel is a breezy read free of many of the problems that plagued the first volume.  After the controversy surrounding the release of the first book, I’m very glad that the publisher, Yen Press, took the time and effort to get everything right the second time around. 

As the second book opens, Holo and Lawrence are in the process of slowly making their way to Holo’s ancient homeland in the north when a bad purchase inadvertently lands Lawrence deeply in hock to a local merchant guild with only few days to make good on his debt.  With few options open to him and with a potential lifetime of forced servitude in a debtor’s prison facing him, Lawrence’s only hope for salvation arrives in the form of a dangerous scheme concocted Holo, Unfortunately, in order to pull off this daring scheme, they must first procure the aid of beautiful young shepherdess in a plan that could cost them both their lives.

Overall, the story flows well with Holo’s position as a deity-like Wisewolf featuring much more heavily into the plot than the first novel.  Additionally, Isuna does a much better job of defining the personalities of the two main characters, Holo and Lawrence, then in the first book.  This may be because, as he admits in the afterword of volume 2, that he had completely forgotten their personalities during the gap between the two books.  This effort on his part to rediscover and refine his characters leads to a subtle, but much more satisfying, change in Holo and Lawrence’s personalities.

Speaking of changes, I want to congratulate Yen Press for using the original Japanese cover art for volume 2. Jyuu Ayakura’s art is a delight and I far prefer it to the hideous Photoshop cover art that Yen Press used on volume 1. Speaking of which, I should probably mention that volume 2 does includes another piece of hideously photoshopped cover art, but this time it’s in the form of a removable dust jacket that you can promptly toss in the trash so the other books in your collection don’t catch “the ugly” off of it.

Bottom Line:

Spice and Wolf vol. 2 is a delight from start to finish. Once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. Thankfully, the book is a quick and easy read that won’t keep you up into the wee hours of the night. If you liked the first book, I highly recommend the second one!

Final Score: 5 out 5 stars

Reviewed By: Laughncat 1

Description: Spice and Wolf volume 2 by Isanu Hasekura – a light novel published by Yen Press

Purchase:

I’ll admit it.  This week’s installment isn’t that much different from last weeks with the only new addition being the 33% off sale from Right Stuf on all Yen Press titles.  Since I only suggest sales from sites I trust, this means the selection can be a bit thin at times.  With that in mind, I would greatly appreciate it if you guys and gals out there in internet land would send me sales tips or info about great sites you know of.  You can send me a message via my facebook page or direct email. It would be most appreciated. =^_^=

Anyway, on to the sales!

Right Stuf 33% Off All Titles From Yen Press

Right Stuf kicked off a new sale this week that’s scheduled to run through the 14th June.  The new sale gives customers a 33% discount on all Yen Press titles, including pre-orders and special order items.  Now would be a  great time to pick up a vol.1 of the delightful Spice and Wolf light novel series or perhaps give something like the Black Butler manga a try.  Just make sure to type in the coupon code: contract during checkout to receive the discount.

• 33% off all titles from Yen Press

While there, you may also want to check out their Daily Deals, Weekly Specials and Bargain Bin sections as well.

Amazon Anime Blu-ray Sale (Up To 58% Off!)

As with most Amazon promotions, I don’t know how long this anime one will last. Since it appears to cover all the anime titles either currently available on Blu-ray or available of pre-order. It’s also worth remembering that any purchases made totalling more than $25 dollars are eligible for Amazon’s free shipping promotion as well.

• Amazon 25%- 58% 0ff Anime Blu-ray Sale

GameStop $10 Game Credit Promotion (Online Only)

Gamestop is still running a sale duplicating Amazon’s current videogame promotion by offering $10 game credits on a several titles throughout their store. These specific titles have also been discounted between 10% t0 30% as well.

• Gamestop $10 game credit promotion

Massive Amazon Videogame Promotion

Amazon updated the list of games that are included in their current videogame promotion this past week by adding some new titles and removing some old ones as well as changing the amount of the discount on some titles to reflect a recent drop in MRSP (a la Mass Effect 2). Discounts still range from $10 to $20 off MSRP in addition to including a $10 to $20 game credit that’s good toward to the purchase of another game in the future. The amount of the discount and the inclusion of game credits various from title to title, with some titles only having one or the other. I’ve updated the list as best I could to reflect these changes, but if you spot something that I might have missed, just let me know. Lastly, I still haven’t heard when this current batch of promotions will end, so if you see something you like, you may want to go ahead and place an order.

Here’s a short list of some of the more noteworthy titles that are currently a part of this promotion:

• True Crime – $10 game credit + $5 MP3 download credit (Xbox 350, PS3, PC) 
• Transformers: War for Cybertron – $10 game credit + exclusive Demolisher playable character + $5 MP3 download credit (Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii, DS)
• Halo Reach – $20 game credit + $5 MP3 download credit (Xbox 360)
• Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood – $10 game credit + $5 MP3 download credit (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops – $20 game credit + $5 MP3 download credit (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
• Mass Effect 2 – $20 of MSRP + $10 game credit (Xbox 360, PC)
• God of War III – $15 off MSRP + $10 game credit + $5 MP3 download credit (PS3)
• Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction – $18 off MSRP + $10 game credit + $5 MP3 download credit (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
• Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars – $5 off + $10 game credit + $5 MP3 download credit (Wii)
• Alan Wake – $10 off MSRP + $5 MP3 download credit (Xbox 360)
• Super Street Fighter IV – $10 off MSRP + $10 game credit + $5 MP3 download credit (Xbox 360, PS3)

The selection of games that falls under this sale have been changes slightly from week to week.  To see the full list of games that are covered by this promotion, go here..

Set to drop in October, this adorable goblin girl is a must have for both Nendoroid fans and folks who hate books alike. Based on the main character from a Japanese light novel series, Bungaku Shoujo, which follows the life of a high school girl/book devouring demon who discovers a new type of delicacy when another student asks her to help him write a love letter. The first novel in the series was originally released in 2006 and has since spawned a manga, a forthcoming animated film and now, an adorable Nendoriod figure.

Preorders are open at all major Japanese retailers and many sites still have slots available. I personally recommend either J-List or Otacute for preordering items from Japan as both sites have provided excellent service to me in the past. Should you turn up empty handed at either of those sites, you may want to try HLJ, Ami-Ami, or Hobby Search.

More Info:

• Good Smile Company product page
• Bungaku Shōjo wiki
• Bungaku Shōjo novel on Amazon (a.k.a Book Girl and the Suicidal Mime)

More pics after the jump.

Spice and Wolf vol. 1 is the first release in the Spice and Wolf light novel series from Japanese author, Isuna Hasekura. Translated and released by Yen Press in December of 2009, this first installment is an easy read with a solid flow that is only thrown off by the occasional misspelling or grammatical error. In addition to having a large, easy to read typeset, the interior of the book has been illuminated with gorgeous interior artwork highlighting key scenes throughout the story. These interior illustrations come courtesy of Japanese artist Jyuu Arakura and have been reproduced faithfully from the original Japanese release. Full color illustrations appear at the beginning of the book with black and white illustrations are scattered throughout the interior.

The story itself revolves around the adventures of the traveling merchant, Lawrence, and his companion, the wise wolf god Holo, whom he acquires after visiting one of the small villages along trade route. Although he is initially doubtful of her claims of divinity, the rambunctious Holo soon proves herself a wise and competent partner. Unfortunately, in a world where the Church holds great power over the hearts of men and kings alike, keeping Holo’s status as a pagan god a secret becomes increasingly difficult as Lawrence becomes embroiled in a money manipulating scheme involving one of the most powerful trading companies in country.

As the story plays out over the course of the novel’s 230 pages, I was surprised by how much I was enjoying it. I’m not normally one for stories about financial intrigue, but Isuna Hasekura’s engaging mix of wonderful characters and easy to understand financial concepts kept me hooked throughout. I burned through the book in less than two nights and was quite disappointed that it was over when I turned the last page.

Bottom Line:

Spice and Wolf vol.1 is a wonderful read that well worth the time spent with it. Despite a hideous westernized cover and a few text errors within, this novel is a surprisingly good read. I greatly enjoyed Holo and Lawrence’s budding relationship and eagerly await volume two’s release in June.

Final Score: 4 out 5 stars
Reviewed By: LC1
Description: Spice and Wolf, vol. 1 light novel by Isuna Hasekura with illustrations by Jyuu Hasekura

It’s the weekend and I’m an avid window shopper. I’m so bad about it, I often wonder if should have been born a girl in light of just how much I enjoy the act of shopping (even if it’s only looking at stuff I can’t afford =^_^;;=). Luckily, for folks like me, The Right Stuf is hosting a mega sale on on their already heavily discounted bargin bin items. I LOVE Right Stuf’s bargain bin and I’ve been buying my gifts for folks out it for years. With discounts on products often ranging between 50% to 85% off, it’s quite easy to buy several boxsets worth of DVDs for less than $50. If you’ve got some money to burn and looking to stock up on some older anime and manga, do yourself a favor and check out the links below. =^_^=

DVD Bargain Bin
Manga Bargain Bin
Apparel, CDs, Videogames and Collectibles Bargain Bin

TOR books and EA’s Visceral Studios announced this week that a prequal to the original Dead Space game would be releasing on July 20th of this year. The novel is written by B.K. Evenson, who’s previous work includes the Aliens novel No Exit and contributing a short story to the Halo: Evolutions anthology book. The new novel is set to explore the history of the “Black Marker” and its relation to Michael Altman, the founder of the powerful Church of Unitology. 

The book will retail for $14.99 and is already available for preorder at many popular retail websites.  Personally, I’m hoping that the book will turn out to be as awesome as the game.  I need something necromorph-related to tide me over until the game comes out next year… =^_^;;=

More Info:

Joystiq article
Preorder on Amazon.com

The biggest problem with the novel version of Howl’s Moving Castle is that it’s nothing like the epic animated movie it got made into. It has all the same major elements, albiet arranged in a different order, but it simply fails to hold a candle to the magical vision that Hayao Miyazaki created when he directed the animated version in 2004. Normally, I’m a firm believer in the old adage “The book is always better than the movie,” but this is the second book I’ve read in the last two months that has been a noticeably inferior when compared to it’s celluloid counterpart.

As much as I love the animated version of Howl’s Moving Castle, I’ve always felt that is was a bit disjointed and suffered from a rushed, lackluster ending. I had hoped that the book would smooth out some of these rough edges and provide a more satisfying ending than the movie, but this, unfortunately, was not the case. It’s still charming and lovable in it’s own way, but often times the novel feels more like a collection of short stories involving the same characters rather than a singular experiance.  

I’m not saying the book isn’t magical in its own way, but it’s just not as compelling a product as the film it inspired. Even the author, in an interview at the end the book, states that the Miyazaki film depicted here characters in a far nobler light than her novel does. This is more true than I think she realizes. I sympathized with Howl and Sophie far more in the film than I did in the book. Sophie’s cantankerous nature as an old woman is charming in both versions, but book version of Sophie tends to wallow in self-pity far too much. Same goes for Howl, who is painted as self-centered, cowardly ass as opposed to the misunderstood scoundrel he plays in the movie version. Sadly, the constant whining from both characters just wore thin after awhile, much to the detriment of the story as a whole.

Bottom Line:

I really wanted to love the novel version of Howl’s Moving Castle and there is some good stuff buried in there, unfortunately, you have to be willing wade through a lot of uninspiring crap including a lame duck ending to get to it. Thankfully, it’s an easy read and can be picked up for cheap on the internet.

Final Score: 2 out 5 stars

Reviewed By: LC1

Description: Original novel that inspired the Miyazaki film

MSRP:

In move that can only be described as “indescribable,” the magazine and book publishing company, Yen Press, has chosen not to use the original Japanese cover art for their upcoming release of the Spice and Wolf light novel series by Isuna Hasekura. Instead , the book will use artwork created specifically for the American marker. In an apparent effort to appeal to a broader fantasy audience, the new artwork ditches the manga style artwork original used in favor of photograph of a nude woman with a badly photoshopped wolf’s tale and buckteeth. After careful examination of the new cover, I have yet to turn up any dragons or unicorns in the in the background, but I’m sure there’s still time to add them in sometime between now and the book’s release date. I mean they already have the generic fantasy font down pat…

According to the original post at Yen Press, all the original interior illustrations have been left intact and the only artwork that has been raped changed is the cover art. In an unexpected bit of generosity, Yen Press has magnanimously chosen to extend an olive branch to the more hardcore Horo fans out there by making a limited edition dust jacket containing the original cover art available to them around the same time as the book’s release. The catch is that you have to buy a copy of the December issue of the Yen Plus magazine if you want it. Early reports from the field describe the move as being similar to having a big fat guy crap on your chest and then hand you a roll of toilet paper afterwards. Sure, it cleans up most of the mess, but you’re never going to be able to forget that it happened in the first place =-_-;;=

View the original article.
Originally spotted via Sankaku Complex
Learn more about the Spice and Wolf series.

Monster Island is a rather dark zombie novel that ditches the usual quasi-scientific causes for a zombie apocalypse in favor of a more supernatural themed story drenched in blood and gore. This is written well enough to distinguish itself from the hordes of similarly themed novels that currently line the shelves of bookstores everywhere, but it never rises above being anything other then average for a variety of reasons.

The story opens with a former UN inspector, Dekalb, leading a group of Somali schoolgirls/child soldiers in the depths of New York City on a mission to recover medical supplies for a Somali warlord. With the city overrun with millions of undead, the mission quickly proves to be even more difficult then expected when the group encounters a sentiant zoMonster Island is a rather dark zombie novel that ditches the usual quasi-scientific causes for a zombie apocalypse in favor of a more supernatural themed story drenched in blood and gore. Although it was written well enough to distinguish itself from the hordes of similarly themed novels that currently line the shelves of bookstores everywhere, it never really rises above being anything other than average for a variety of reasons.

The story opens with a former UN inspector, Dekalb, leading a group of Somali schoolgirls/child soldiers in the depths of New York City on a mission to recover medical supplies for a Somali warlord. With the city overrun with millions of undead, the mission quickly proves to be even more difficult than expected when the group encounters a sentient zombie named Gary. Initially friendly towards the small group of foreign soldiers, the relationship soon goes sour when it Gary not only proves to be unable to restrain it hunger for human flesh, but also able to control other zombies with his mind.

I won’t go give anything else away, but the story proves to be fairly interesting, if a bit hokey at times. All the supernatural aspects of the story are a nice change of pace from the more traditional zombie fare; they also tend to be the story’s biggest weakness. While the author often goes into excruciating detail at times when it comes to the more medical aspects of zombification, there are just as many times when he just sort of glosses over stuff under the guise of “supernatural magic.” For example, I can accept that if someone dies while hooked up to an oxygen tank that their brain might not deteriorate after death, but once the newly undead individual removes the oxygen mask, shouldn’t their brain begin to decay just like anyone else’s?

Yes, I know. It’s a zombie book, but when you make a big deal in the book about the medical effects of dying and ways to circumvent certain problems, I damn well expect you to apply that logic consistently across the board rather than bothering with it when it’s convenient to the plot. Also, issues such as thousand year old mummies coming back to life despite having brains like a sundried raison, zombies that can grow ten feet tall just by eating a lot and super zombies that heal themselves examples of items that never really explained very well and just sort of fall under the heading of “weird shit that happens.”

Despite my gripes about a lack of consistency in the story telling, this wasn’t actually my biggest complaint with the book. No, my biggest problem with the book was the constant switching from a first person narrative and a third person one. Although the switching is explained in a half-assed way at the very end of the book, it still makes for a very jarring experience. On minute you’re looking at the world through the eyes of the UN inspector, Dekalb and the next you’re a disembodied spirit watching Gary the Zombie have super duper special huggy time with his fellow zombies. Thankfully, despite its flaws, Monster Island is an incredibly easy read that’s only marred by the occasionally awkward sentence or spelling errors.

Bottom Line:
Monster Island is a decent zombie novel that’s a worthwhile read for zombie fans, but don’t expect it to set your world on fire. It’s heavy on the supernatural and light on consistency and explanations. If you’re looking for an easy read, check it out from your local library. If you want something a bit more thoughtful and. well written, go read World War Z instead.

Final Score: 3 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by: LC1
Review Format: Paperback Novel
mbie named Gary. Intitally friendly towards the small group of foriegn soldiers, the relationship soon goes sour when it Gary not only proves to be unable to restrain it hunger for human flesh, but also able to control other zombies with his mind.

I won’t go give anything else away, but the story proves to be fairly interesting if a bit hokey at times. All the supernatural aspects of the story are a nice change of pace from the more traditional zombie fare, they also tend to be the story’s biggest weakness. While the author often goes into excrutiating detail at times when it comes to the more medical aspects of zombification, there are just as many times when he just sort of glosses over stuff under the guise of “supernatural magic.” For example, I can accept that if someone dies while hooked up to an oxygen tank that their brain might not deteriote after death, but once the newly undead individual removes the oxygen mask, shouldn’t their brain begin to decay just like anyone else’s?

Yes, I know. It’s a zombie book, but when you make a big deal in the book about the medical effects of dying and ways to circumvent certain problems, I damn well expect you to apply that logic consistantantly across the board rather then bothering with it when it’s conveniant to the plot. Also, issues such as thousand year old mummies coming back to life despite having brains like a sundried raison, zombies that can grow ten feet tall just by eating a lot and superzombies that heal themselves examples of items that never really explained very well and just sort of fall under the heading of “weird shit that happens.”

Despite my gripes about a lack of consistancy in the story telling, this wasn’t actually my biggest complaint with the book. No, my biggest problem with the book was the constant switching from a first person narrative and a third person one. Although the switching is explained in a half-assed way at the very end of the book, it still makes for a very jarring experiance. On minute your looking at the world through the eyes of the UN inspector, Dekalb and the next your a disembodied spirit watching Gary the Zombie have superduper special huggy time with his fellow zombies. Thankfully, despite its flaws, Monster Island is an incredibly easy read that’s only marred by the occasionally awkward sentence or spelling errors.

Bottom Line:
Monster Island is a decent zombie novel that’s a worthwhile read for zombie fans, but don’t expect it to set your world on fire. It’s heavy on the supernatural and light on consistancy and explanations. If your looking for an easy read, check it out from your local library. If you want something a bit more thoughtful and. well written, go read World War Z instead.

Final Score: 3 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by: LC1
Review Format: Paperback Novel

Viz Media has announced that they will be releasing a collection of essays, interviews, memoirs and manga strips from Hayao Miyazaki on August 4th. Titled Starting Point: 1979-1996, the book will allow fans to learn more about the life and philosophies of Miyazaki through his writings and drawings. As the beloved director behind such anime classics as My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Hayao Miyazaki has been an icon among anime fans for over two decades.

“Hayao Miyazaki is known and loved around the world for his imaginative films that continue to delight children and adults,” says Gonzalo Ferreyra, Vice President, Sales & Marketing for VIZ Media. “STARTING POINT presents, in Miyazaki’s own words, his philosophies towards life, his work, the animation industry both in Japan and abroad, and his creative inspirations and motivations. He also offers lots of stories, many of them quite humorous, which show the extent of his complete dedication to animated film and the people with whom he works. We invite fans to enjoy this chronicle of the life of a man whose own dreams have come true.”

Starting Point: 1979-1996 will retail for $29.95 in the U.S. and will contain a forward by John Lasseter.

You can check out the original press release after the jump.

STARTING POINT: 1979-1996
TRACES THE FIRST HALF OF THE CAREER OF FAMED ANIMATION DIRECTOR HAYAO MIYAZAKI
NEW FROM VIZ MEDIA

Comprehensive Edition Will Debut As Miyazaki’s Latest Animated Film Hits Theatres In North America This Summer

San Francisco, CA, July 17, 2009 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the publication of the first of a new collection of essays, interviews, memoirs and manga from legendary animation director, Hayao Miyazaki, titled STARTING POINT: 1979-1996. STARTING POINT: 1979-1996 has an estimated street date of August 4th and will carry an MSRP of $29.99 US and $34.99 Canada.

The book will cover the first-half of Miyazaki’s legendary career, during which he rose from humble beginnings to create some of the most seminal animated features ever made, including Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind, Castle In The Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service and Porco Rosso, as well as his launch of Studio Ghibli. A fitting introduction is offered by John Lasseter, the Chief Creative Officer at Pixar and Walt Disney. Ponyo is Miyazaki’s newest feature film and will be released by Walt Disney in North America this August.

Hayao Miyazaki is one of the world’s most beloved animation directors. In September 2005 he was awarded the Venice International Film Festival’s Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement, and his Studio Ghibli received the Festival’s Osella Award for overall achievement in 2004. His notable films include Spirited Away, winner of the 2002 Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature Film, as well as Princess Mononoke and Howl’s Moving Castle, all of which have received tremendous acclaim in the U.S. Miyazaki’s other achievements include the highly regarded manga series NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND, which is also published domestically by VIZ Media (rated ‘T’ for Teens). VIZ Media also publishes many other Hayo Miyazaki books including the for CASTLE IN THE SKY, HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE, SPIRITED AWAY, PRINCESS MONONOKE and more. VIZ Media also publishes many of Hayo Miyazaki’s beautiful and engaging Art Books and Picture Books.

“Hayao Miyazaki is known and loved around the world for his imaginative films that continue to delight children and adults,” says Gonzalo Ferreyra, Vice President, Sales & Marketing for VIZ Media. “STARTING POINT presents, in Miyazaki’s own words, his philosophies towards life, his work, the animation industry both in Japan and abroad, and his creative inspirations and motivations. He also offers lots of stories, many of them quite humorous, which show the extent of his complete dedication to animated film and the people with whom he works. We invite fans to enjoy this chronicle of the life of a man whose own dreams have come true.”

In the first two decades of his career, filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki laid the groundwork for his legendary movies. STARTING POINT is a collection of essays, interviews, and memoirs that go back to the roots of Miyazaki’s childhood, the formulation of his theories of animation, and the founding of Studio Ghibli.
Before directing such acclaimed films as Spirited Away, Miyazaki was just another salaried animator, but with a vision of his own. Follow him as he takes his first steps on the road to success, experience his frustrations with the manga and animation industries that often suffocate creativity, and realize the importance of bringing the childhood dreams of the world to life.

VIZ Media will also be releasing the PONYO PICTURE BOOK and THE ART OF PONYO, both due to release on August 4, 2009. Volumes 1 and 2 of THE PONYO FILM COMIC will be released on August 11th, with other volumes to follow.

For more information on any VIZ Media titles, please visit www.viz.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com