Bleach Volume 3: Memories in the Rain

Bleach Volume 3: Memories in the Rain by Tite Kubo (2004)

Description: Ichigo Kurosaki was a little boy when his mother passed away. One rainy day, Ichigo, whose ability to see the undead is a blessing and a curse, tried to stop a young girl from drowning in a nearby river. His mother, Masaki, ran after them, frantically trying to rescue her only son. Then everything went black, and Ichigo awoke only to discover his mother dead and the little girl gone.

It's the anniversary of Masaki's death, and the entire Kurosaki clan, along with former Soul Reaper Rukia Kuchiki, head to the cemetery to pay their respects. Sleeping demons rarely ever stay still and pretty soon Ichigo confronts the Grand Fisher, the Hollow that may be responsible for his mother's demise.

Review: The continuing saga that is Bleach continues to intrigue me. This particular story was sad but revealing. The emotions that go into each of these stories is apparent and makes me want to continue to read the entire series. This really is a great series that everyone should read.

Score: 4 out of 5

Death Note Volume 1: Boredom

Death Note Volume 1 (2005) by Tsugumi Ohba

Description: Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects - and he's bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebooks dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer. With L hot on his heels, will Light lose sight of his noble goal... or his life?

Light tests the boundaries of the Death Note's powers as L and the police begin to close in. Luckily Light's father is the head of the Japanese National Police Agency and leaves vital information about the case lying around the house. With access to his father's files, Light can keep one step ahead of the authorities. But who is the strange man following him and how can Light guard against enemies whose names he doesn't know?

Review: This novel was a bit darker than I had originally thought it would be. The story was very interesting and I like seeing how the character of Light is not exactly good nor evil. There are interesting choices made and I like how they are playing out. This is definitely more for older teens and adults. A good story that I can't wait to read more of in the next volumes.

Score: 3.5 out of 5

Bleach Volume 2: Goodbye Parakeet, Good Night My Sister

Bleach Volume 2 (2004) by Tite Kubo

Description: Immediately after checking into the Kurosaki Clinic with a mysterious scar on his back, the muscle-bound Chad goes AWOL. Accompanying Chad is a talking parakeet imbued wit the soul of a young boy named Yuichi. It doesn't take newbie Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki long to surmise that a Hollow must be involved. By far the strongest spirits he's faced to date, Ichigo is about to discover that not every soul is bound for the Soul Society, especially if it's tainted with innocent blood.

Review: The action-packed Bleach is back with more stories of battles with the spirit world. We continue to learn more about soul reapers and how Hollows are made. The story is more interesting and is leading up to more adventure. I can't wait to read the rest of the series. Another recommendation for manga fans.

Score: 4.5 out of 5

Bleach Volume 1: Strawberry and the Soul Reapers

Bleach Volume 1 (2004) by Tite Kubo

Description: Ichigo Kurosaki has always been able to see ghosts, but this ability doesn't change his life nearly as much as his lose encounter with Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul reaper and member of the mysterious Soul Society. while fighting a Hollow, an devil spirit that preys on humans who display psychic energy, Rukia attempts to lend Ichigo some of her powers so that he can save his family; but much to her surprise Ichigo absorbs every last drop of her energy. Now a full-fledged Soul Reaper himself, Ichigo quickly learns that the world he inhabits is one full of dangerous spirits and, along with Rukia-who is slowly regaining her powers-it's Ichigo's job to protect the innocent from Hollows and help the spirits themselves find peace.

Review: This book was darker than I thought it would be. I thought the mythology was quite interesting and I really find this series intriguing. There is also some great humor inside. I really enjoyed reading this and recommend reading this series.

Score: 4.5 out of 5