kailey_luminouslibro's Reviews (3.79k)

 This book contains short stories based on the manga series, Your Lie in April, providing more backstory and details about events that happened during the series.

There is a prologue written from Kaori's point of view about how the group of four friends shared an ice cream treat together after rehearsal.
The first two stories are from Takeshi's and Emi's perspective, about how they first heard Kosei play piano and how it inspired them to practice more.
One story is from Tsubaki's perspective, about the time that they found the lost kitten, Chelsea.
And the last story is from Watari's point of view, about one time that he went on a date with Kaori.


I was disappointed that the stories don't add anything new to the main story. There are just some details added that enhance the original series, but nothing really new.
The writing style drags on very slowly, making it a little boring compared to the original series. I was also disappointed that I couldn't tell much of a difference between the voices of the different characters. They all sounded a little bit the same, and the writing style felt awkward sometimes.

I love the Your Lie in April manga so much that I guess I had my hopes too high for this short story collection. 

This book dives deep into spiritual truths and how we can strip away foolish lies we tell ourselves and truly pursue God with our whole heart. There are chapters about what real spiritual treasure is worth compared to earthly riches, how Christ has removed the barrier of our sin so that we can approach God, and the "universal Presence" of God and how we can be more aware of His Presence in our lives. I especially loved the chapter about "The Gaze of the Soul" and how faith is simply looking to God and turning our spiritual eyes to Him. There is also a lovely chapter about the meekness of Christ and how we can rest in Him.

The writing style is simple enough for anyone to follow, but it dives into really deep and meaningful ideas. Every paragraph is so powerful that it speaks to your soul in a special way!
I had to take my time reading this little book, just reading a few pages a day, and then stopping to reflect and pray over what I had read.

I really loved that there is a prayer at the end of each chapter that you can pray, helping you to apply the things you have read to your own spiritual journey.

After her parents and her brother die, Elizabeth is all alone in their remote cabin. A group of rowdy men threaten her, and Elizabeth flees in the night. She rides her horse across country, worried that the men might pursue her. She encounters a fellow traveler, a man who is lost, and they ride together for a few days. They form a tentative friendship, but are separated once they reach civilization again. Elizabeth travels on her own, searching for her relatives back East, and hoping to find her friend once again.

This is such a sweet and wholesome story! I actually cried a couple of times because Elizabeth is so incredibly brave and good. She suffers terribly, but manages to keep her heart pure. It was really inspirational to read about how she doesn't let the everyday ugliness of life tear her down or make her bitter.

I really loved the way the story is woven around the Gospel message in a tender way. Elizabeth and her friend both turn to Christianity to find comfort and courage through the dangers of their adventures. The book gives a clear and powerful message of hope in Christ, but it is such an integral part of the story that it doesn't feel preachy.

I found the characters really compelling and interesting. Even the side characters are very well-written. Elizabeth is such a complex and emotional character. Her personality is so strong! I fell in love with her right away!

I loved the sweet and slow romance. There was a little bit of insta-love, but it does make sense that two people who are thrown into danger in the wilderness will naturally begin to have strong feelings for each other very quickly. They share meaningful conversations and experiences together that bind their hearts closely to one another. So I didn't mind the slight insta-love, because in the context of the story, it made sense.

Tala and her little brother, Hototo, have to travel through many dangers to reach the Beacon, an alien rendezvous that will rescue five thousand children from the coming disasters which will cause the extinction of all humanity. They are attacked by wild animals and greedy humans, but Tala vows to protect her little brother. Hototo wears a cape and pretends to be a superhero. Along the way they team up with Humbo and Alice, who are also trying to reach the Beacon. But time is running out, and the countdown for the end of the world has already begun.

I was so intrigued by the apocalyptic plot, and every chapter sparked my imagination. It was really interesting to learn about this strange new earth where humanity is limping along in the last days. There are weird mutant animals with strange abilities, and human cults who attack each other. There are just a few major cities left in the world where humans can live safely, and that is where the Beacons will appear from the aliens who have promised to help.

One of the really cool things about this book is that there is a soundtrack on Youtube that you can play while you read the book. There are QR codes for each chapter in the book, so that you can follow the link to the song that fits the scenes you are reading. The music is beautiful and it creates such an atmosphere as you read. It makes for a really immersive experience.

I loved the sweet sibling relationship between Tala and Hototo. They have lost both their parents, and Tala is very good at shielding little Hototo from knowledge about the true nature of their world. She pretends that dead neighbors are only gone away on a visit. She pretends that a girl bit by a zombie will only go to the hospital to be made well again. She pretends and pretends that she will go with Hototo when he is rescued at the Beacon. Gradually, all these lies wear on them, and Tala cannot shield Hototo from everything that is going on. It's so beautifully bittersweet!

I did not like that there are so many violent scenes with a lot of blood and gore. People get shot, mutilated, decapitated, and turned into oozing zombies. People get their arms torn off or their hearts torn out of their chests. And then a monster/human/zombie hybrid dude eats the heart. That's just nauseating.

I feel like the story could have been just as scary and suspenseful without all the violence. It was just a bit too much. You could have people die meaningful deaths that are important to the story, but it didn't have to be quite that horrific. Sometimes an "off screen" death is actually more scary than if we have to see all the gore and blood.

However, I understand that the violence is an important part of the story for these characters. They are truly fighting for their survival while people around them are suffering and dying, and that fuels their determination to get to the Beacon. It also makes it more meaningful for the few children who have been promised a rescue. The world is falling apart, and humans and beasts alike are running rampant. We get to see just how far the world has fallen into chaos, and just how much they need a rescue.

I really liked that the story takes time to reflect about the state of the world. We get a few different perspectives and philosophies. There are monuments to the dead, and the characters cherish their memories of their loved ones who are gone. It puts a lens of nostalgia over the story as they contemplate their own deaths. I like how thoughtful the writing is.

The ending was really cool! It's so imaginative and unique. I never imagined that the story would take that direction, and I loved it!

The artwork is incredibly beautiful! Every page is so colorful and wild. It brings each vivid scene right into your heart.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

Three siblings visit their cousin for the Christmas holidays. The children have made poor grades in school, so they have to have a tutor through the winter break to bring up their scores. Mr. Roland, the tutor, is friendly but strict, and he hates dogs. The dog, Timothy, seems to hate Mr. Roland too, and the children find that suspicious. When the children discover an old scrap with Latin writing, they are forced to ask for Mr. Roland's help in translating the ancient words. Could there be a secret in the house that goes back for hundreds of years?

I enjoyed the mystery of the plot and all the adventures the children have, but the plot was a bit slow. Thankfully, the writing is so charming that I didn't mind the slow plot. The clues for the mystery are unraveled bit by bit, and the direction of the mystery was very obvious, so I got a little impatient to just get on with it, since I had already guessed what would happen. But it was enjoyable to see it all unfold!

I enjoyed reading about their little Christmas celebrations, and it was inspiring to see how they band together against a common enemy.

I loved the beautiful ink illustrations in this edition! It really sparked my imagination.

Although the story is mostly focused on the plot, there is a bit of character development for the siblings and their cousin. I especially liked that the children gain the trust of the adults through their truthfulness and honesty.

Three siblings go to visit their cousin and explore a small island just off the coast. One day a storm uncovers a wrecked ship that had been sunk generations ago. The storm throws the sunken ship up onto the rocks of the island. The children explore the wreck and discover a treasure map for gold ingots that are hidden in the ruins of the island.

It took me half the book to realize that the fifth person of the "Famous Five" is actually the dog. I kept waiting for another character to show up in the story, wondering where the mysterious fifth person was going to come in. Haha! I was a bit disappointed that it's only the dog.

I enjoyed the mystery of the plot and all the adventures the children have, but the plot was a bit slow. Thankfully, the writing is so charming that I didn't mind the slow plot. The treasure hunt was very interesting and the ending was satisfying as there are plenty of obstacles and dangers to be overcome before the children can actually recover the gold treasure.

I loved the beautiful ink illustrations in this edition! It really sparked my imagination.

Although the story is mostly focused on the plot, there is a bit of character development for the siblings and their cousin. They don't get along very well in the beginning, since their cousin is a little belligerent. But as they explore together, they begin to understand each other better. The cousin matures a little more and learns to keep her temper, so they get along much better.

This is such a fun and wholesome book!

In this fourth book of the series, Jack and Draycos visit a distant planet with their friend, Alison Kayna. They discover a herd of creatures called Phooka that appear similar to K'da like Draycos. However, the creatures are insentient, unintelligent, slow, and behave like animals with no language. Draycos wonders if his people, the K'da, could have evolved from this lower animal form. He questions what that could mean for his species in the future.
The mercenaries from the Malison Ring track Jack and Draycos to the planet, forcing them all to flee into the dense forest. Jack must herd the Phooka through miles of dangerous terrain to save them from being slaughtered by the mercenaries.

This book took the whole series to another level. There are so many questions about the Phooka and what they are capable of. Draycos is really agitated by the idea that the entire history of his species could be a lie.

Alison and Jack begin to trust each other a little bit more, and Alison becomes an integral part of their plans. But there is still that little nagging question: Is Alison really on their side? She obviously has her own plans and objectives that she is keeping secret, so why is she really teaming up with Jack and Draycos?

There is also something weird going on between Jack and Draycos. They seem to almost read each other's thoughts because they work so closely together. But are they really sharing thoughts in some telepathic way, or is it just that Jack is starting to believe in Draycos' honorable warrior ethic? Draycos seems to be getting stronger and smarter, and Jack is much more confident and mature. Are they influencing each other in some mystical way? I love that this book opens up a lot of new questions to be answered as the series progresses.

There are so many clever plot twists as they are dodging the mercenaries, skulking through the forest and avoiding their carefully planned ambushes. They get into some really sticky situations with bullets flying everywhere, but they are so resourceful and smart to figure out ways to use the enemies' weapons against them. It's really exciting and full of action!

I love all the characters, the plot, the themes, the writing style! Everything about this book is just so delightful. I can’t wait to read more from the series!

In this last book of the Aunt Jane's Nieces series, the girls are upset by news of the Great War (WWI) in Europe. Although the United States is remaining neutral so far, the nieces and their Uncle John decide to join the Red Cross as nurses and ambulance drivers to help the wounded French and Belgian soldiers near Dunkirk. Their friend volunteers his yacht as a hospital ship, and Uncle John provides all the necessary supplies. They obtain their approval from the Red Cross, their nurses' training, and their official credentials, but they still need a surgical doctor who will volunteer to join them. Uncle John hears of a medical man with a severely disfigured face who might be willing to help, but they will have to convince him that his features are not an obstacle.

I was very interested to see how this book took a much more serious turn than the other books in the series. Once the girls arrive at the warfront, they are exposed to danger from bombs and they have to witness terrible injuries and amputations. The book is not horribly graphic, but it doesn't shy away from the realities of war either. Although I'm very squeamish, it didn't bother me because it was told in such a matter-of-fact way without any gory details.

This story is especially interesting because the author took true stories of real people and real circumstances in the war and added them into the book. There are characters who are accused of spying for the Germans, based on real spies in WWI.
I enjoyed reading about the bravery of the soldiers, not just in battle, but their courage and cheerfulness through days of pain in a hospital bed. It was really inspiring!

I was really disappointed in the quick ending. There is a dangerous battle, and some of our characters are injured or killed while trying to assist wounded soldiers, and then within a few paragraphs the book is done. The story doesn't really address the character who died or the other characters' grief for the dead person. The remaining characters just sail off into the sunset and that's it. It was really weird how quickly the story was over with no denouement at all!

There is not much character development for the nieces or Uncle John. Their personalities are already so established at this point that there is not much left to change or develop in their relationships or character. But there are some really lovely scenes where their generosity and kindness change the story for other characters, so that they are still instrumental in pushing the plot forward.

My favorite storyline was of a young soldier who was badly injured and had only been married for 5 months. He would ask the nurses to read and reread the letters from his bride over and over again. The nieces were so sorry for him that they decided to try to get his young wife through the enemy lines to come visit him in the hospital ship. They have some crazy adventures looking for his wife and their generosity is taken advantage of by some dishonest people. It makes for a great story!

Overall, I have loved reading this series!

Diane and Robin are thrown into another adventure in this second book in the series, when they befriend Jannel, the future ruler of a planet under quarantine. Jannel is a girl their own age, who comes aboard their spaceship for safety away from the virus that is threatening her planet. The girls try to help Jannel overcome her fears for her future, but they wind up in terrible trouble.

I liked the world-building for this new planet that we visit with Diane, Robin, and Jannel. I appreciated that there is a history of politics that has led to the current unrest on the planet, and the way the virus plays into that is really interesting. We also get to learn a little bit about the wild flora and fauna of the planet!

I also liked getting to know more about Diane and Robin's home on the Polaris spaceship, where their "father" (actually their uncle) is the Captain. I enjoyed reading about their daily habits on board the spaceship and more of the backstory about how their father first took command of the ship. There is also a little romantic side-story for the Captain which I thought was fun!

The writing style has definitely improved from the first book. There are fewer flashbacks, and the pacing of the story is more natural. The plot is more cohesive as well. There are still a few weird coincidences in the plot, and some scenarios that seemed a bit unbelievable. I find it odd that trained soldiers would put prisoners into a cell and NOT take their bags, or at least search through their belongings and remove any incendiary devices. There are several things like that which are too convenient in the plot.

I really liked to see the friendship between Diane and Robin and their new friend, Jannel. It was lovely to see those characters developing and interacting together.

We get some wonderful character development as the girls are curious about their "father's" previous romantic relationships, and they have to come to terms with how they feel about that. I love seeing the close family dynamic between "father" and daughters.

However, in some ways, I was a little disappointed in the character development of Diane and Robin. After their adventures in the first book, I would have thought it would make them more cautious; but here they are, taking stupid risks... AGAIN. Here they are, defying their father and lying to him... AGAIN. It's like the lessons from the first book never even happened. Maybe we can hope for more character development in the future novels.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! The plot is exciting, the characters are endearing, and the world-building is imaginative. I liked it a lot!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

Seven is worried that when she is sorted into her witches coven she might not be in the same coven with her best friend. However, she never imagined that she would be a Spare, a witch without a coven at all. Seven and the other two Spares are set an impossible task to defeat a horrific Nightbeast. They must complete the task, or they will lose their magic forever, or worse, be turned into toads!

This book has everything I was looking for! There's a great magic system and interesting world-building. I really liked that the witches' world has a distant past that must be reckoned with. You really get a sense of the depth of the history behind their laws and the way their everyday lives are ordered.

I especially enjoyed the exploration of deep themes about belonging, courage, family love, friendship, and justice for every person in their world.
I loved the humorous writing style in this book! Despite the serious subject material, the writing is funny and light-hearted. There is a great balance in the pacing as well, and it all comes together for some excellent story-telling!
The plot is exciting and there is a lot of suspense and mystery, mixed in with quieter moments for the characters.

The best thing about this book is the gradual character development for the main character, Seven. As she gets to know the other Spares, they slowly begin to trust and care for each other until a friendship forms. Seven learns that people are more complex than you realize, and you can't know their hearts until you give them a chance.

I loved this book so much!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.