Manga Review: Girl Got Game by Shizuru Seino

Title: Girl Got Game

Original Title: Power!!

Author: Shizuru Seino

Artist: Shizuru Seino

Year of Release: 1999

Genres: Comedy, Gender Bender, Romance, Shoujo, Slice of Life, Sports

Status: Completed

Chapters (Translated in English): 36

Volumes & Chapters: 

10 Volumes in total

Mangafox – Goodreads

Summary

Kyo Aizawa's father is a basketball devotee but has been forced to quit playing his precious sport because of an injury. Instead of himself working his way up to the NBA, he feels that Kyo, his daughter should fulfill his dream. To give Kyo a good start in her career of basketball he enrolls her in Seishu High School which is known for two things: its extremely cute girls' uniforms and their boys' basketball team. Not only does unhappy Kyo have to pretend to be a boy during the day (the basketball team members all live at the school to boost the team spirit), she has to do it day and night. The super-star of the team, Chiharu Eniwa, may be a good-looking, basketball champion, but his attitude towards Kyo is hostile from their very first meeting. Poor Kyo ends up roommates with the evil Chiharu. As they get to know one another, both sense that the other has a secret.

My Thoughts

Review covers 36 chapters 

 Hello, everyone and welcome back to Katie’s Corner! Today I have another work by Seino Shizuru. The first one I covered was Love Attack and you can find the review on my blog. I’ll be covering 2 more works, but that’s for future. However, let me tell you one thing that I have found out about Seino Shizuru’s works. All of them or mostly all of them are linked. If we take this one as a core, then its spin off is Love Attack and that has a sequel of its own, and after comes another spin off from Love Attack. I’ll read and find out how Heaven foes into my theory, but I’ll think about when I read. 

But let me return to the story. I liked it, but it wasn’t something unique. It reminded me of Rumored Midori-kun by go Ikeyamada, though the circumstances of the female leads were totally different.as I already mentioned the story is not all that unique, a girl has to cross-dress because her dad wants her to become a basketball player. The story started very well, but I somehow lost the thread because the it somehow lacked something. If you ask me it just plain lacked romance in every of its essence. However, I would have been fine with that if the story took a different pace, but even in that section it disappointed me. There were no “Big” or major games and such stories at least need those to justify themselves. But let me stop with all of the things that disappointed me and focus on something good.

Well… I wanted to say humor, but in that Ikeyamada-sensei bested this story. I guess I liked it enough to finish it and have some positive emotions at the end. The story does radiate good feelings and makes you like the easy going character. There are some characters that are broken and have a bad past, but in the end they do come to the “good side”. If you are a fan of basketball, some dormitory school life, and cross-dressing than this story is for you. Have fun reading and don’t forget to share your thoughts below. Stay tuned for more reviews as well as promos. Don’t miss your next favourite book or manga! Happy reading!

XOXO

Katie

Rating

Manga Review: Crimson Hero by Mitsuba Takanashi

Title: Crimson Hero

Original Title: Beniiro Hero

Author: Mitsuba Takanashi

Artist: Mitsuba Takanashi

Year of Release: 2003

Genres: Drama, Romance, School Life, Shoujo, Sports

Status: Completed

Chapters (Translated in English): 83

Volumes & Chapters: 

20 volumes in total 

Mangafox – Goodreads

Summary

All that matters to 15-year-old Nobara Sumiyoshi is volleyball--she's an awesome player with big-time ambitions. But sometimes it seems like a girl just can't get a break in the competitive world of high school volleyball.
Nobara's family wants her to inherit the role of "young mistress," serving rich patrons at her family's old-fashioned Japanese restaurant. No thanks! When Nobara transfers to Crimson Field High School, known for its top-notch volleyball team, it turns out that her mother will stoop to dirty tricks to keep her off the court. With assistance from her feisty Aunt Momoko, who's got some connections at Crimson Field, Nobara decides to start playing offense.

My Thoughts

Review covers 83 chapters 

Hi, guys and welcome back to Katie’s Corner! I think this is the author’s very first and so far the longest manga. Yup, there are 20 volumes. Now, a small advice. If you do not like the old style of drawings (where the characters are a bit chubby) and you can’t stomach volleyball, well this story might not be your cup of tea. First 8 volumes the characters are a bit chubby; through in the last 5 volumes I could finally say that the main character was cute. Well, I love volleyball, especially the manga Haikyuu, there’s the anime too, I will cover it some time afterwards on the blog. How did I like the story? I had loads of fun and at the same time the story had an iron grip on me. I was in the middle of my exam preparations and I couldn’t put it down to actually study. I was actually looking for a very lovey-dovey manga when I came across this one, but well, I actually enjoyed the whole: “I-need-to-be-focused-on-volleyball-attitude from mostly every character. No, don’t get me wrong, there is romance and quite a lot of it, however, it’s secondary compared to the whole volleyball theme.

Somewhere near the end, when everything is good and everyone is happy, and there’s no premonition of a tragedy or let’s say drama, the author just drops that bomb. Truth be told, I was waiting for something bad to happen. It was inevitable, but the way some of the characters took the blow is fantastic and you do not want to miss it, as it will shatter your heart to million pieces and it’ll take a lot to mend it back! I loved a lot the last 2 short stories, especially the one about Nobara and Yuushin. They’re such cuties! But I don’t want to spoil a lot for you, you need to experience this fun and at the same time serious story yourself.

Enjoy it to its fullest and don’t forget to share your thoughts below! Stay tuned for more reviews as well as promos. Don’t miss your next favourite book or manga! Happy reading!

XOXO

Katie

Rating

Manga Review: I Love You, Suzuki-kun!! by Go Ikeyamada

Title: I Like You, Suzuki-kun!!

Original Title: Suki Desu Suzuki-kun!!

Author: Go Ikeyamada

Artist: Go Ikeyamada

Year of Release: 2008

Genres: Comedy, Romance, School Life, Shoujo, Sports

Status: Completed (Translation Ongoing)

Chapters (Translated in English): 57

Volumes & Chapters: 

Volume 1 Chapters 1-5              Volume 7 Chapters 31-35
Volume 2 Chapters 6-10.1         Volume 8 Chapters 36-40.5
Volume 3 Chapters 11-15          Volume 9 Chapters 41-45
Volume 4 Chapters 16-20          Volume 10 Chapters 46-50
Volume 5 Chapters 21-25          Volume 11 Chapters 51-55
Volume 6 Chapters 16-30.5       Volume 12 Translation ongoing

Mangafox – Goodreads

Summary

A genius actress has just awoken!!

Suzuki Hikaru, Hoshino Sayaka, Ito Chihiro and Suzuki Shinobu are all new students who have just entered the same middle school. Sayaka is a shy girl who secretly loves acting. Hikaru is an energetic boy who loves basketball. Incidentally, he shares the same last name with Shinobu, a popular rich boy who would be perfect if not for his rotten personality. Chihiro is Hikaru?™s childhood friend and has long had a crush on him.

On the day of the opening ceremony, Hikaru happens to witness Sayaka acting out the lines of a drama on the rooftop and is instantly captivated. Upon seeing Hikaru getting along with Sayaka, Chihiro?™s chest begins to ache. When Shinobu sees this, he is overcome by a strange emotion and his heart starts beating faster… Unbeknownst to the four, this is the beginning of their magnificent love story; one that would last years to come.

My Thoughts

Review covers 33 chapters 

Happy New Year’s Eve everyone! Only 14 more hours until 2016! Are you ready for it? I sure hope you are, but let’s get back to the review!

Let’s just say that this review is appearing totally randomly on the blog. First of all, at the time I am writing the review (it’s October FYI), the story is completed but it’s not fully translated in English. I can even say there are more chapters translated and uploaded in Russian. I will be making two reviews, I might make a third one, but I’m not 100% sure about that, as first I’ll need to read the story to the end and for that I guess if by the time the review hits blog, which is right now, there’s no new updates, I’ll have to buy last 6 volumes in German. Though I’ll have one advantage. I’ll resurrect my German skills. Good bargain if you ask me.

But let me get back to the review! I’m covering 1/3 of the whole series, and I stopped right where the author says: end of part one. So that I do not mix two different lives together. The story is fantastic and it is the longest so far in Ikeyamada-sensei’s works. It is fun, it is sad and it surely is a story worth reading. We follow 2 love lines: one is Sayaka x Hikaru and another Chihiro x sShinobu. The part that I’m reviewing our heroes are in middle school. The story starts with them being 13 and meeting each other. Will, technically Chihiro & Hikaru are childhood friends. It is very interesting to read hos Hikaru & sayaka fall in love with each other, and how at the end of the 33 chapters Shinobu & Chihiro finally start a relationship.

All characters are fantastic. I especially love Chihiro, but I’ll cover her character next time, as what I wasn’t to talk about will spoil the next chapters. Let me concentrate on Sayyaka & Hikaru and the ives of 13 –year-olds. I loved those two. They made a couple that you would like to be you. I really wished that Hikaru was real. He’s a fantastic character. The way he conveys his feelings to Sayaka as well as how he is always when she needs him, makes him a perfect boyfriend. In the very beginning, I was not Sayaka’s biggest fan, but the more the story went on the more I understood that I love her character. She’s shy, she’s introverted but as soon as she starts acting she becomes a character that you just can’t take your eyes off. I love how they confessed to each other. And that moments when both of them are jealous their make-up s fantastic. Sometimes I even forget that they story was featuring middle school kids. The emotions are overflowing and you are wondering what is going to happen when they are featured as high school kids? Trust me, what I’ve read by now it was amazing and I can’t wait to know how the story will end.

I hope you will start reading this amazing story. I know I’m not fair recommending a story that is still being translated, but trust me you’ll love this story and the character. If you are looking for a story with lots of love, some drama and action than this story is just for you. Explore this amazing world of acting, basketball and school life. Enjoy it to its fullest and don’t forget to share your thoughts below! Stay tuned for more reviews as well as promos. Don’t miss your next favouirite book or manga! Happy reading!

XOXO

Katie

Rating

Manga Review: Get Love!! by Go Ikeyamada

Title: Get Love!!

Original Title: Get Love!!

Author: Go Ikeyamada

Artist: Go Ikeyamada

Year of Release: 2003

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Mature, Romance, School Life, Sports, Shoujo

Status: Completed 

Chapters (Translated in English): 28.3

Volumes & Chapters: 7 Volumes

Volume 1 Chapters 1-4.1              Volume 4 Chapters 12-16.5                        Volume 7 Chapters 26-28.3
Volume 2 Chapters 1-6                 Volume 5 Chapters 17-21
Volume 3 Chapters 7-11               Volume 6 Chapters 22-25.5

Mangafox – Goodreads

Mini Manga Review : My First Love by Nami Fujio

Title: My First Love

Original Title: Kimi wa Toumei

Author: Nami Fujio

Artist: Nami Fujio

Year of Release: 2012

Genres: Romance, School Life, Shoujo, Sports,

Status: Completed

Chapters (Translated in English): 3

Volumes & Chapters: 

Volume 1 Chapters 1-3

Mangafox – Goodreads

Summary

On typical days, he seems transparent and colorless, but the moment he enters the water, he shines brighter than any other. I fell in love with him... My first love.

My Thoughts

Review covers 3 chapters 

Hello everyone and welcome back to Katie’s Corner! Mini manga review has another very short but very cute story to share with you. Are you excited? Well, I am. I do not think I have covered any of Fujio Nami’s works here, so it’s going to be the first time. I do remember reading quite a few of her works though.

This short story is super cute, and has this so called “ending without ending” end. I’m not making any sense, am I? The characters do stay together, but you have this feeling that there should be more coming. The characters are interesting and you just love the art style, because it somehow makes you feel everything animated. And those smiles, I thought I would melt. There’s one moment in the first chapter, which I believe to be an indirect but a confession altogether.

There’s a normal: “I like you” too, but still these words made my heart beat like crazy.

Are you up to 15 minutes tops of a nice story? Well, what are you waiting for? Enjoy it and stay tuned to Katie’s Corner! Happy reading

XOXO

Katie

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