Book description: Two adventure-loving boys from the country set out on their quest to defeat the evil dragon that threatens the world. Det and Osen battle their way to glory, finding romance and the life of heroes along the way. Review: Having left Ogean, their small village, behind, friends Det and Osen are traveling toward Dedeil, a large city where they hope to “make it … [Read more...] about The Adventures of Young Det 3 by Gyojeong Kwon: B+
Fantasy
Tsubasa: Those with Wings 2 by Natsuki Takaya: C+
Oh, if only Tsubasa: Those with Wings were as good as its gorgeous cover suggests! Former thief Kotobuki and her companion/love interest, erstwhile Army officer Raimon, are still searching for Tsubasa, a legend rumored to grant wishes. But first, they must slog through an excruciatingly dull plot about the Army enlisting the help of Raimon’s gun-smuggling foster father to … [Read more...] about Tsubasa: Those with Wings 2 by Natsuki Takaya: C+
Flora Segunda by Ysabeau S. Wilce: A-
From the back cover: Flora Fyrdraaca knows taking shortcuts in Crackpot Hall can be risky. After all, when a House has eleven thousand decaying rooms that shift about at random, there's no telling where a person might end up. But it's not just household confusion that vexes Flora, what with Mamma always away being Commanding General of the Army, Poppy drowning his sorrows in … [Read more...] about Flora Segunda by Ysabeau S. Wilce: A-
The Sharing Knife: Passage by Lois McMaster Bujold: B+
From the front flap: Young Fawn Bluefield and soldier-sorcerer Dag Redwing Hickory have survived magical dangers and found, in each other, love and loyalty. But even their strength and passion cannot overcome the bigotry of their own kin, and so, leaving behind all they have known, the couple sets off to find fresh solutions to the perilous split between their peoples. But … [Read more...] about The Sharing Knife: Passage by Lois McMaster Bujold: B+
The Lapis Lazuli Crown 1 by Natsuna Kawase: B
In the country of Savarin, about 20% of the population can perform magic. Seventeen-year-old Miel comes from a long line of sorcerers, and though the family has fallen a bit since the days when their services were sought after at the palace, they’re still very respectable. Miel doesn’t have much interest in improving her own skills, though, until she meets Prince Radian (also … [Read more...] about The Lapis Lazuli Crown 1 by Natsuna Kawase: B