This haul size is closer to my average high end quantity. Usually I don’t even get this many. I’ve been buying way too many books lately, though, so they have not looked like this the past couple months. I’m going to try to use some self control to maintain a small reasonable amount of books each month, instead of the massive piles I’ve had.
Light Novels
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Ties that Bind
This finishes my collection of the Fullmetal Alchemist light novels. It’s volume five out of six, but I already have the rest. Next time I read the Fullmetal Alchemist manga, I will read these, too.
What is it?
Volume five of six non-confirmed canon light novel stories for Fullmetal Alchemist. Written by Makoto Inoue with the original concept from Hiromu Arakawa.
Manga
Black Cat, Vol. 13
Only seven more volumes to go after this one! Some of them are going to take some digging to find affordably. This series is pretty much exclusively available as used copies. I will read and review them at some point after I have them all.
What is it?
A former assassin turned bounty hunter adventure with some super powered villains.
Fruits Basket Collector’s Edition, Vol. 12
Complete! This is the final volume of the series. I will be reading and reviewing the series at some point. From here on out, I need to start getting Fruits Basket Another. I believe it’s still fairly new and releasing volumes. Volume four is the last one I saw come out, so I probably won’t rush to get going on that.
What is it?
A charming series about a girl who meets a family that turns into the animals of the Chinese zodiac when hugged by someone of the opposite sex.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 4
I’m way behind on this as both anime and manga. I love the series based on what I’ve seen. It’s wildly popular, though, so I probably don’t have to tell you how good it is. With this volume, I have one, two, and four. The store did not have volume three.
What is it?
A story about a rising hero in a world where almost everyone has super powers.
Skip Beat! Vol. 47
The latest volume that came out this November! I’m starting to get an itch to read the series, but I still have that gap to fill. Once I fill that gap of volumes I’m missing, I will probably read and review this at my earliest convenient opportunity.
What is it?
A revenge showbiz story with romance.
Tail of the Moon, Vol. 9
There are six volumes left after this one for a total of fifteen. I will definitely be reading and reviewing the series at some point after getting them all. I already know I like the series, because I’ve read a chunk of it before.
What is it?
A romance story about an incompetent ninja girl sent to woo Lord Hanzo.
Most of this haul is pre-owned manga. It’s going to take a while to finish some stuff I’m collecting, so expect to see some of the same series appear frequently in monthly hauls.
Light Novels
Spice & Wolf, Vol. 6 & 7
I love this series. I’m way behind the current releases, but I’ll catch up eventually. Volume twenty three, I believe, is coming out in the second half of November.
Reviews for volumes one through four have already been posted. Feel free to check those out. I will continue to review the series as I read it.
Update: The review for volume six is now available.
Manga
Black Cat, Vol. 10, 11, & 12
I absolutely love the Black Cat anime. I saw the anime before I read any of the books. Initially, I borrowed the first few volumes from a friend, but I didn’t get very far at the time. There are about twenty volumes, and I’m currently in the process of obtaining them for myself. This haul puts me about a little over half way through completing the series. Most, if not all, of them have to be purchased used these days. If you’ve also seen the anime, be aware the manga is a bit different.
Flame of Recca, Vol. 10 & 11
This is another of which I’ve seen the anime first. I love the anime because it is drastically similar to Yu Yu Hakusho. It has the same story formula, while being unique enough to capture my interest. I think there are thirty three volumes, so I’ve still got a long way to go to complete this one. I’m waiting until I complete it to read it. Like Black Cat, this one is mostly only available used.
Fruits Basket Collector’s Edition, Vol. 10 & 11
After these, I only have one more volume! I’m excited to be able to binge read the series soon. I’ll also be collecting Fruits Basket Another once this series is complete.
While I’ve been a fan of Fruits Basket for a long time, I haven’t been able to read it, and I’ve only seen the original anime. It’ll be nice to finally be able to read it, and I should get around to watching the new version of the anime at some point.
Tail of the Moon, Vol. 7 & 8 + Prequel
I read a chunk of this series before, but I can’t remember how much. I just know I loved what I read. There are fifteen volumes, plus the prequel shown here. I didn’t know the prequel existed until recently, so I made sure to grab it.
I went a little overboard this month. This is excessively more books than I usually obtain by the end of the month. I use books as a reward system for myself, and you can see the results. Obviously, I’ve had a productive month.
I didn’t mention it in my first haul, because there were only five books, and they were all new, but I frequently buy used. So if you see a haul with a discolored book, or volumes with stickers or damage, I likely bought it pre-owned.
Manga
Fruits Basket Collector’s Edition, Vol. 9
I’m collecting all of these so I can binge read them all at once. Back in the day, I wasn’t able to read them, so I’m collecting these editions. I’m up to volume nine. Only three left! Yes, I will also be getting Fruits Basket Another once this series is completed.
Headhunted to Another World, Vol. 1 & 2
I research new books all the time. This one sounds like it might be one of the more entertaining isekai, and the first two volumes were at my local bookstore, so I grabbed them to try. This series is not a priority for me, though, so I have no idea when I’ll actually get around to reading it.
Update: Reviews now available for these volumes, one and two.
Flame of Recca, Vol. 7
This is something I discovered in high school. It reminds me strongly of Yu Yu Hakusho, of which I am a huge fan. They seem to use the same story formulas. I haven’t read this series, yet, but I have seen the anime. These appear to be out of print, so I’m slowly obtaining used copies to complete my collection.
Skip Beat! Vol. 45 & 46
These volumes catch me up to current releases. I am still missing a gap (I think volumes 36-42), so I can’t actively read the series yet. It does, however, make it easier for me to keep up with current releases. I’ll be reading and reviewing all volumes of this series eventually.
Yagi the Bookshop Goat
I’m trying to expand on my yaoi collection, because I have virtually none. According to what people are saying, Tokyopop is doing well with their yaoi and BL releases recently. I also hear this stand alone story is good. While I have not yet read it, I have high hopes. It sounds adorable.
This is another series I started in high school and have never gotten around to finishing. I’m going to fix that. A couple more volumes and I’ll be about half way to completing the collection.
Otomen, Vol. 1 & 2
This purchase is from my local bookstore, where they occasionally get some pre-owned manga. I’ve read this before, the whole series, and I absolutely loved it. It’s a story where traditional gender roles are flipped around, and it’s absolutely sweet and hilarious. I intend to collect the whole series since I read it before but did not own it.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Vol. 2
This series sounds super good. I have the first volume, but have not yet read it. Sometimes it’s better to have two volumes to test a series, so I saw no issue in buying the second volume before reading the first. I have high hopes for this one.
Update: The review for this volume is now available, also see the review for volume one.
The Hero Life of a (Self Proclaimed) “Mediocre” Demon, Vol. 1
This is not high on my list of priorities, but it was at my local bookstore, so now it’s on my shelf. It sounds like it might be funny. I don’t know when I’ll get around to it.
Update: The review for this volume is now available.
Light Novels
The Invincible Shovel, Vol. 1
I see the manga for this everywhere, and I hear it’s a comedy. Typically, the light novels for things are better than the manga, so I made sure to get the light novel, which was surprisingly more difficult to locate.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Under the Faraway Sky
This is volume four of the Fullmetal Alchemist light novel series, yet another series I started in school and did not have the opportunity to finish. The second editions for the six novel series are currently releasing. The final release is around the end of September. I’m getting the second editions despite having a copy of the first edition for volume one, because they changed the spines for the second editions, and volume six only got an English release as second edition. I want mine to match.
Spice & Wolf, Vol. 4
I love this series. Unfortunately, I discovered it a bit late, so I’m about twenty volumes behind the current releases at this point. I’m sure I’ll catch up eventually.
Reviews for this series are already in progress, so feel free to check those out. I’ll include a link to volume one for people who’d like more information.
Update: The review for this volume is now available.
Log Horizon: The Beginning of Another World, Vol. 1
The anime for this is amazing. I’ve only seen the first season or two, but I loved it. I hear the light novel is a little taxing to read with all the descriptions in volume one for introducing mechanics and stuff, but I’d like to judge that for myself.
Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest, Vol. 1
This is much thicker than I expected, but that’s not a bad thing. The premise sounds interesting. Instead of a single person or small group sent to another world, it’s a whole class. I hear the recommendation is to read one through seven, then start the prequel. I hope I like it, because this implies I might have a series to last me a while. Long running series are great as long as they don’t get boring, and I love it when books have spin-offs and prequels to expand on the world.
