Manga Review: Pin to Kona by Ako Shimaki

Title: Pin to Kona

Original Title: Pin to Kona

Author: Ako Shimaki

Artist: Ako Shimaki

Year of Release: Sep 24, 2009 - Sep 24, 2015

Genres: Drama, Romance, Shoujo

Status: Completed/Translation ongoing

Chapters (Translated in English): 6

Volumes & Chapters: 

16 Volumes in Total

Mangafox | Goodreads | Myanimelist

Summary

In the world of Kabuki, where family social standings are highly valued, Kyonosuke is inept even though he is born as the son of a duke of a famous household. Ichiya while being born in a family that has no connection to Kabuki, is trying to move from the absolute lowest rank to the top using just his ability. Through some kind of karma, these two completely opposite boys have fallen in love with the same girl, Ayame.
That’s where the story begins.
Kyonosuke, who wants to be liked by the Kabuki loving Ayame, cries tears of regret because he would throw away all his powerful connections if he could only have real ability. But what if Ichiya, who wants to be the center of Ayame’s attention, was adopted into a famous household…?

My Thoughts

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Review covers 28 chapters 

I do not know how it was possible that I as a total Japan culture freak missed this fantastic title. But even if we take it in account, I have been postponing reading this story once I found it, because it’s not fully translated. Yes, it’s the truth, I’m reviewing only16 chapters today, or 7 volumes. There are 16 volumes in total with 68 chapters. It will be at least another year until it will be fully translated on my favourite manga reading website. But enough with my gloomy narrations. Let’s get to the story, try to hook you onto it so when you finish we’ll make a “waiting-for–an-update” club. *grins.

The story will follow Kyounosuke – a son of a famous Kabuki household. Wait, you have no idea what Kabuki is? Well, it’s a Japanese theatre, where only men can play. Yes, even the women roles are played by men. If you want to know more about it, you can ask google-sensei. So, I hope you’ll look into it, but I’ll be moving on. Don’t forget that it’s a love story, and we have a very strange love triangle or I can even call it a square. So, let’s establish it. Met our participants – Ayame – a very straight forward high school student, who is living in a run down house and is always working in order to. Hiro-kun or Hiroyuki (I hope, I’m saying his name correctly here). He’s also n Kabuki, however, he is not a descendant of a well-established family. And lastly Yuna – a young lady of the house where Hiro-kun is apprenticed. Are you ready to build our love square? Let’s start Kyou-chan falls in love with Ayame at the first sight, but he gets rejected, so who does Ayame love? She loves her childhood friend – Hiro-kun, but hasn’t seen him in a long time. Is this also an unrequited love? There’s the conflict of interests. It seems he does love her, but he still uses Yuna to achieve his goals. And lastly we have Yuna who is head over heels in love with Hiro-kun. So, here you go a love square!

But that’s enough with describing these love affairs. For 26 chapters there are a lot of things happening. We get to see how all characters develop either into their better or worse self. We’re surely looking at Kyou’s rapid development. Though his idiotic faces were back in the last chapter, however, he totally deserves that happiness of being near Ayame, he worked for his love! Ooops… am I spilling too much here? I hope not… the character that made me laugh was surely Ayame, when she finally understands her true feelings it’s so interesting! I mean, I was finally having a celebration that her thick headiness has been breached. And lastly my least favourite character. Surely Hiro-kun and Yuna. I hated ojou-sama right away, she was a typical woman, that I hate reading in the mangas about. And while in the beginning I supported Hiro-kun, in the end he disgusted me all together. The worst part is that I still support his choice of using every mean to achieve the position that he wants.

Are you ready to immerse yourself in the everyday life of a kabuki theatre artist? Are you ready to explore the issues of life or ordinary as well as “elite” people? I hope you are up for it, otherwise you’ll be missing a fantastic manga! Enjoy it to your 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

P.S.

If you have noticed this is the 3^rd time I’m featuring Ako Shimaki’s works and I still have one more on my reading list!

Rating

Book Review : The Crown by Kiera Cass (Selection #5)

Title: The Crown

Author: Kiera Cass

Series: The Selection #5

Publication Date: May 3, 2016

Publisher: HarperTeen

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Summary:

When Eadlyn became the first princess of Illéa to hold her own Selection, she didn’t think she would fall in love with any of her thirty-five suitors. She spent the first few weeks of the competition counting down the days until she could send them all home. But as events at the palace force Eadlyn even further into the spotlight, she realizes that she might not be content remaining alone.

Eadlyn still isn’t sure she’ll find the fairytale ending her parents did twenty years ago. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you…and soon Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more impossible—and more important—than she ever imagined.

My Thoughts:

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Ho, ho, ho… it’s not Christmas now at the moment that I’m writing the review and I’m pretty sure it’s not even Winter now that the review is live. You know I’ll be actually putting it earlier then expected. And that’s middle of summer 2016. It should have gone live in 2017, but, I just can’t wait to share my thoughts with you. Once I finish this I’ll have to adjust my very well thought schedule… *sobs.

Okay, whatever is one is done and I’m live right now in the middle of July. Therefore, if you have yet to start this series, check out my reviews for Selection, Elite, The One and The Heir, before jumping into the final book. it’s a final one as I have heard and I doubt there would have been anything interesting to write about. Okay I’m lying here I really would have liked to read how Eady and her chosen one were reigning. Did you just think that I wouldn’t spoil the book? don’t get excited, I’ll be announcing the prince consort shortly…* grins. Come one you had around two months to read the book and find of who it was. I don’t know if I voiced the suspicion in the previous review – The Heir but my instinct was spot on. I mean, who in their right mind would introduce the cutest and the most charming character in the side-lines without giving him some major limelight? Definitely not me, and apparently Ms. Cass had the same ideas!

But before I spoil everything let me talk about Eadlyn. It’s the truth and I didn’t like her and I was even doubting why the author didn’t end the series on book 3, but here’s the thing, as soon as I got the sequel, I forgot that I still had some other, more urgent books to read, I dove straights into it. And trust me I loved it! It showed how Eadlyn grew as a person as well as a ruler. She made a number of decisions that really made me proud of her, and those last 7 minutes when she debates whether to follow her heart are the best 7 minutes that were ever descried in the book. it’s the truth that the ultimate love confession for me is Cynthia Hand’s Unearthly Series, and nothing can compare to that yet, but the moment when Eady realized who she is in love with, could be quite on par. So, let’s make the countdown and find our prince consort! Kile – her childhood friend, I thought she would have chosen him, and the old Eadlyn would have in the situation she got in, but the new Eady was smarter. I’ll be skipping a lot of guys, lets just say that you’ll finally get Ean, he’s cool and Hale will be leaving us. Henry, our sweet and cute henry, he was on the verge of getting the prize, but he just had to point out the obvious 7 minutes before the announcement: Eadlyn was in love, but now with him. I’m quite sure you have all guessed who that is, if not, I’ll use his given name, so you’ll at least read and search until you find it. And that’s Eikko.

Please tell me you remember him… otherwise, shame on you! Sorry for all the rumbling. But I truly loved the book and you will too I you give it a chance. See how Eadlyn grows and watch how Illea make another great step! Enjoy it to your 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

My Rating:

Cover Reveal: Twelve and a Half Hearts by Ian Cahill

Check out the Cover Reveal for Ian Cahill's 
Twelve and a Half Hearts

Title: Twelve and a Half Hearts

Author: Ian Cahill

Release Date: 6 September 2016

Pre-Order: Amazon 

~ Summary ~

Sue Anderson is a bright young valedictorian, well on her way to achieving a dream of becoming a news anchor. When her fast track to success is derailed by the revelation she has heart disease, everything is put on hold and she is forced to leave school and return home. Sue, hell-bent on not giving up on her career, makes the difficult choice of shutting off her love life and fighting the disease alone. She won’t allow someone else to feel the massive grief and anguish of loving the someone they love. 

Told through the eyes of twelve characters who help to define who she is along the way, Sue moves through her twenties and thirties, pushing her heart to the limit with friends, jobs, roommates, hospital stays, tattoos and a memorable one-night-stand. Ultimately, she discovers life is about more than just surviving. And maybe the love she so earnestly rejects can’t be held at bay, even under the most unfortunate of circumstances. 

~ About the Author ~

Ian Cahill is an author and speaker currently living in the Midwest, where he makes his home near Kansas City with his beautiful wife and two daughters. He writes self-proclaimed “slice of life” fiction as well as exploring a variety of genres from sci-fi to romance. You can find him enjoying the simple pleasures of life: reading, writing, baseball and libations.

You can find him @ 

Website | Twitter 

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