Tag: Fullmetal Alchemist

Light Novel & Manga Haul February 2024

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About

I wasn’t actually expecting to have many manga for a haul this month. I thought I’d have maybe four. Obviously, I ended up with more than that. A pleasant surprise. Everything in this haul was purchased new from various sources or received as gifts, except for one manga.

Light Novels

Bofuri: I don’t Want to Get Hurt, so I’ll Max Out My Defense, Vol. 2

This book was gifted to me by the same friend who initially recommended the series and also gave me the first volume. I have seen some of the anime since reading the first book, but not the manga. Based on what I’ve seen of the anime, I think the light novel is the better version. I couldn’t read certain information in the anime without having to pause many times, because it seems like the anime doesn’t consider the forum posting as important as the light novels do. The forum posting parts are so wholesome. I feel like that’s one of the many reasons I like the light novel as much as I do.

I plan on reading this series long term, but it’s not a high priority on my collection list. The reviews for it will likely not be frequent. This one is also twice as thick as the first book, so that’s nice.

Just a warning, the light novels for this series are bound with flimsier paper than usual. If you so much as set it down wrong or drop it on the floor from a small height, there is a strong possibility it might tear. I’m two for two on that, so far.

What is it?

A funny and interesting VRMMORPG themed series.

Heaven Official’s Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu, Vol. 1

I’m dipping my toes into the danmei genre. I read the first volume of The Scum Villain’s Self Saving System and really liked it. This series is by the same author, so I got the first book to try. If I like both series, I’ll expand more deeply into the genre. So far, I’m optimistic.

What is it?

A historical BL (danmei) of some kind.

Manga

Ai Ore, Vol. 1

This is the only pre-owned manga in my haul. I bought it in the same store as some of my pre-owned novels the same month, in one of the same stores. The manga section of the store was closed the day a friend and I were shopping. We kept checking back in to see if they’d opened it. When we were finally allowed to enter that area, I felt like it would be rude not to buy something, since we kept asking about it.

The selection was pretty small, but this manga stood out to me. It’s pretty thick, like twice the size of a regular volume, and it’s a gender queer romance. It was half cover price, so I figured why not?

What is it?

A romance with two gender queer characters and a rock band.

Cat + Gamer, Vol. 1

This book was gifted to me from my wishlist. It’s about someone who gets a cat and uses their video game knowledge to help them learn how to take care of it. It sounded super cute when I came across it, so I’m looking forward to reading it. I think it’s great how many slice of life series about cats there are these days.

What is it?

A cute series about a gamer who adopts a cat and has no idea how to take care of it.

Daemons of the Shadow Realm, Vol. 3

Volume one hooked me. As a fan of Fullmetal Alchemist, this series does not disappoint. I’m excited to read this volume. I hope it keeps going strong. This is probably a series I’ll be collecting long term.

What is it?

An action adventure featuring spiritual duo companions and special powers as well as a generations old feud.

Dragon Ball: That Time I Got Reincarnated as Yamcha

I was a huge Dragon Ball fan when I was growing up. I’m generally not a fan of the modern stuff for it, though. My preference was for Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and I’m one of those weird people who actually likes Dragon Ball GT. So, I don’t pay much mind to anything Dragon Ball these days.

THIS, however, is a gift I received that I am absolutely excited to read. After reading the description and flipping through the pages a little, this manga seems hilarious, and I love the concept. It’s definitely on my short list of things to read in my immediate pile of manga.

What is it?

A stand alone isekai story that, I strongly assume, is a comedy.

Fangs, Vol. 2

I like volume one of this series, but it’s definitely not for everyone. It’s not exactly a happy series. I thought this was the final volume, but I did some quick checking, and people are saying there is likely more to come, because there’s supposedly a cliff hanger. Now I have concerns, because this volume came out two years ago and I don’t see any release information anywhere about a third volume. I’ll definitely be reading this soon to find out for myself. It’s on my short list pile.

What is it?

A vampire BL romance with some depressing themes.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Vol. 6 & 7

I’m still a little behind on volumes for this series. I’m hoping to catch up before I get around to watching the anime. The other day, I saw volume ten came out, so I’m not too far behind on the English releases.

Reviews for the volumes I’ve already read can be found in the index section.

What is it?

A fantasy story about an Elf mage coming to terms with how long her lifespan is compared to those around her.

Moriarty the Patriot, Vol. 1

I’m a fan of mysteries and Sherlock Holmes, so this series has been on my list of things to try for a while. This copy was gifted to me, and I’m looking forward to reading it. I don’t know anything about the contents, but I’m aware of who Moriarty is. I don’t think I’ve actually read any Sherlock Holmes stories that had Moriarty in them, though, so I don’t actually know a whole lot about the character, aside from them being Holmes’ rival. The only exposure to Moriarty I’ve had was the TV show Elementary, where if I remember right, Moriarty was a woman.

What is it?

A mystery series featuring Sherlock Holmes’ rival, Moriarty.

Soul Eater: The Perfect Edition, Vol. 2

I love Soul Eater, but my first exposure was the anime. I hear the manga is significantly better. Either way, I already planned on getting the manga. The perfect editions are hardcovers, and I see no reason not to get a favorite series in hardcover, so these are the ones I will be going with. It’ll likely be a while before I get around to reading them.

What is it?

A fantasy setting where people are trained to be warriors called meisters and wield weapons, that are actually people who become the weapon. They collect tainted souls in hopes of someday turning their weapons into their ultimate form to be used by Death himself. Sometimes this task involves saving the world.

This series is said to be in the same universe as Fire Force, which I have not yet read.

Miscellaneous

Fullmetal Alchemist 20th Anniversary Book

I don’t even really know what’s in this book. I just saw a 20th anniversary book was being released and I had to have it for my Fullmetal Alchemist collection. It’s approximately the same size as the hardcover editions of the manga, so it should look nice next to them on the shelf. I’ll likely read this after I get around to rereading the series.

What is it?

A collectable anniversary book with extra comics and information pertaining to the main series.

Light Novel and Manga Haul November 2022

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About

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.

Light Novel and Manga Haul September 2022

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About

I’ve been over spending the past couple months. This haul is still bigger than my usual. I’m endeavoring to get better at taking pictures, but I have shaky hands and I’m not good at composing artful arrangements.

I am aware Inuyasha is not a book, but I got him this month, and thought he should be in the picture. He is a PopUp Parade figure, and I highly recommend that brand for quality affordable figures.

Light Novels

Spice & Wolf, Vol. 5

I love this series. Unfortunately, I discovered it a bit late, so I’m about twenty volumes behind the current releases. 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.

Manga

The Apothecary Diaries, Vol. 6

After having to wait a couple weeks for volume five, I’m making sure to get these as close to release day as possible. I love this series. It’s currently one of my favorites. This volume came out around September, 13th, and I already have a review done for it. I can’t wait for volume seven. Why does it have to be so far away?

If you’re new the the series, here’s a link to my review for volume one.

Black Cat, Vol. 8 & 9

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. 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.

I can’t exactly recommend this series since I haven’t read it all myself, yet, but if you like gunfighting characters, this might be right up your alley. The main character is a former assassin turned bounty hunter who uses a pistol as his primary weapon.

If you like stories about secret organizations, super powered people, and human science experiments, this might also be for you.

Flame of Recca, Vol. 8 & 9

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 have not read any of the manga, yet. Maybe volume one and two forever ago, but that’s about it. I have no idea how similar it is to the anime. My plan is to binge read all thirty three volumes once I have them. These are also generally only available used.

If you like Yu Yu Hakusho, and want a similar experience, consider checking this series out. You’ll likely have better luck finding it digitally, though.

Fullmetal Alchemist Fullmetal Edition, Vol. 18

I’ve already read the entirety of Fullmetal Alchemist years ago. I absolutely love it. It’s one of my all time favorites, and it will always hold a special place in my heart.

I never got to own the whole series before now. This volume completes my collection. Before this, I think I had volumes one through four of the regular editions. I found these gorgeous hardcovers around the time I was considering purchasing more of the series, so I decided to upgrade instead.

I recommend this series to everybody. It’s absolutely amazing.

His Majesty the Demon King’s Housekeeper, Vol. 1

I already have a review for this. I grabbed it at my local bookstore because the cover caught my eye, and also because I saw the word library in the synopsis. Sometimes I choose books for purely impulsive reasons.

Maids and housekeepers have always been popular in anime and manga. I haven’t tried many with that theme, though, maybe a couple. This is definitely the first I’ve purchased. I saw a couple episodes of Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid, if you want to count that.

This is a rather wholesome isekai compared to the norm. Check out my review for more information.

My Happy Marriage, Vol. 1

I have a review for this typed up and ready to go for Wednesday, October, 5th. Because of that, I don’t want to say too much here.

I saw this book popping up in my social media feeds and at the bookstore, so I decided to buy it and give it a try. It released around the same time as The Apothecary Diaries volume 6, and it has a light novel version as well. Normally I would choose the light novel, but the manga was right in front of me at the store. The light novel is also fairly new, so it didn’t really matter which I started with.

Noragami Stray God Omnibus 1-3

I had heard of this series for a while, and only recently, sometime this year, got around to watching it on Hulu. I love the anime. It’s unfortunate it doesn’t have a real ending. It just kind of drops off and doesn’t get any more seasons. Regardless, it was enough to make me want to own the manga.

I did a little research on the manga before getting invested. Apparently, it’s better, but also darker, than the anime. That just further intrigues me.

The timing for this omnibus worked out great. It released the same day as The Apothecary Diaries volume six. I saw it on the shelf at my local book store and had to have it. Omnibus editions will probably make it so much easier to collect and read the series. The only downside is I have to wait for each volume to release.

SpyxFamily, Vol. 3 & 4

I have not started this series, yet. I’ve heard such good things about it, though, so I just went ahead and started buying it. My list of things to read is long, but I’m sure I’ll get to it eventually.

Light Novel and Manga Haul August 2022

fantasticfictionsblog

About

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.

Update: The review is now available.

Tail of the Moon, Vol. 4-6

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.