Book Unhaul 34

Here's some more of my old series that I'm no longer interested in keeping~

Pandora Hearts #1-4, 6 by Jun Mochizuki

Gakuen Alice #1-3 by Tachibana Higuchi

Dazzle #1 by Minari Endoh

Mugen Spiral: The Complete Two-Volume Series by Mizuho Kusanagi

Mini Review: After Rejecting the Boss, the End of the World has Come; Cheeky Brat vol. 1; Five Scum Gongs Get Crazy Jealousy For Me

Title: After Rejecting the Boss, the End of the World has Come
Author: 曙歌
Chapters: 77 chapters + 2 extras
Publication: 2018
Summary from jjwxc:

There is a coal boss's father with a net worth of hundreds of millions, and the rich lady Mei Tiantian rejected the courtship of the poor boy Shen Zhan, and sincerely advised him: I know you are very good, but you should find a girl of the right family, so that you can be happy.

Then, the end of the world came... O((⊙﹏⊙))o Modern society collapsed overnight, animals and plants became the masters of the earth, and human lifestyles and diets were forced to undergo earth-shaking changes.

Some animals and plants even have the attribute of time. When a human kills a strange beast, the countdown to life will start for three days.

If you want to survive, you must always be careful not to step on the ants under your feet, and be an ordinary person who does not kill; or keep killing strange beasts to gain precious survival time, and embark on a path of danger and opportunity.

Only humility and death await the weak, while the strong can even live forever. And Shen Zhan, an outstanding graduate of the physical education department with well-developed limbs, a not simple mind and good looks, has become a big boss at the top of the food chain!

Mei Tiantian: (╯‵ ′)╯︵┻━┻

Shen Zhan: Build the strongest base together and be the best boss?

Mei Tiantian: Alright. o(*￣︶￣*)o 

One sentence copywriting : After rejecting the boss, Mei Tiantian became the boss herself.

Small Theater: It is said that Shen Zhan is a loyal dog, but Mei Tiantian doesn't think so. He is obviously a wolf with a big tail, no matter day or night, as long as there is no one, he will hold her in his arms and kiss her!

Mei Tiantian: It's so late, can you calm down for a while, don't bite! Do you think I'm a teething stick, or a scratching board?

Shen-so wronged-Zhan: I didn't bite you, I just wanted...

Mei Tiantian: Shut up!

Shen Zhan: ...

3 STARS - I LIKED IT

MY REVIEW: 

There's a lot of nationalism, especially in the beginning and end. Not terrible, but can be off-putting at first.

Title: Cheeky Brat vol. 1
Author: Mitsubachi Miyuki
Pages: 192
Publication: 2014
Summary from Goodreads:

I, Yuki, became the basketball team manager for one reason—I had a crush on the captain and wanted to be with him, always. But when Kido-senpai suddenly announced he got a girlfriend, where did that leave me? In the clubroom, crying my eyes out…until this cheeky brat of an underclassman showed up. And now that stupid, pretty playboy, Naruse, seems determined to wiggle his way into every corner of my life…

3 STARS - I LIKED IT

MY REVIEW: 

I started this series 5 years ago and really enjoyed it, especially the later volumes that came out at the time. Found out that the series was finally completed last year and wanted to start from the beginning and enjoy it all over again now that it's officially licensed in the US. 

However, I forgot how much of a stereotypically toxic shojo boy Naruse was in his pursuit in the beginning by basically harassing Yuki to tease her... 

The first couple volumes weren't as great as I remembered, but I still enjoyed them. I'm hoping the later volumes will get better as the couple matures through time and experience together.

Title: Five Scum Gongs Get Crazy Jealousy For Me
Author: 木三观
Chapters: 79 chapters
Publication: 2022
Summary from Novel Updates:

System: As long as you complete five scum gong elimination missions, you can retire.

The first is a school bully at the Royal Military Academy. To vent the protagonist Shou’s anger, he will have you disabled.

The second is the “white cut black*” Imperial Academy Taifu. To vent the protagonist Shou’s anger, he will have you drop out of school.

The third is a capitalist who is extremely wealthy and holds the lifeline of the global economy. For the protagonist Shou, he will have your family go bankrupt.

The fourth is a well-known interstellar medical scientist who saves you from water and fire and cures your disabilities. But in fact he accepted you for the protagonist Shou to use as a human experiment.

The fifth is the emperor of the empire, who has the power to overturn the whole world is interested in you and wants to take advantage of you, but after falling in love with the protagonist Shou, he throws you into the cold palace…

Shan Weiyi: Alright, I see, have them come all at once.

System: ?

Shan Weiyi: I want to eliminate five at a time, understand?

System: You may not quite understand the difficulty of the retirement task. In addition to starting as a cannon fodder to eliminate the scum gongs, you also need to deal with the challenge of “the protagonist shou”. They are played by the quick transmigration commissioners holding the script of the protagonist in hand, entering the small world before you, gaining the favorability of the Scum Gong first, and will try their best to prevent you from completing the task. In other words, you not only have to face five scumbag gongs, but also five Mary Sues…

Shan Weiyi: I understand.

System: What do you understand?

Shan Weiyi: I have to fight ten.

* refers to a character who looks innocent and cute on the surface, but is actually a black-bellied boss, decisive and ruthless

3.5 STARS - I LIKED IT

MY REVIEW: 

I really liked the world building in this book. Most interstellar books gloss over a lot of technological advancements other than weapons and body modification that obviously impact the plot. However, I really liked how the author used big data to highlight parts of the plot. 

Also, Shan Weiyi was ruthless, and I was all for it! Especially loved Tongzi's growth as well. What a cutie.

Books I Want to Read This Month

Went down to my parents' house the other weekend and brought back the rest of my manga, so I'm in the mood to reread some series or start up a new series!

1. Yona of the Dawn vol. 1 by Mizuho Kusanagi
2. Yona of the Dawn vol. 2 by Mizuho Kusanagi
3. Yona of the Dawn vol. 3 by Mizuho Kusanagi
4. Demon Slayer vol. 1 by Koyoharu Gotouge
5. Demon Slayer vol. 2 by Koyoharu Gotouge
6. Demon Slayer vol. 3 by Koyoharu Gotouge
7. Wotakoi Love Is Hard for Otaku vol. 1 by Fujita
8. Wotakoi Love Is Hard for Otaku vol. 2 by Fujita
9. Wotakoi Love Is Hard for Otaku vol. 3 by Fujita
10. Wotakoi Love Is Hard for Otaku vol. 4 by Fujita
11. Oksi by Mari Ahokoivu
12. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
13. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Familia Chronicle Novel vol. 1 by Fujino Omori
14. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Familia Chronicle Novel vol. 2 by Fujino Omori
15. Home Body by Rupi Kaur

July in Retrospect

July went by way too fast! I can't believe half of the year is already over. I feel like the second half of the year flies by because there's so many events happening each month! There's a family birthday back to back until Thanksgiving and Christmas. Now, we also have our elopement and honeymoon to plan for as well. 

Too much to do, which is probably why I haven't been in the mood to read much lately. That, and my wrists hurt from holding my phone too much. Pretty sure I have carpal tunnel ;_;

I read: 

• The Passerby, He Turned out to Be the World-Ending Boss by Chelal 
• Top Tier Seduction Formula by 松子茶
• “You’re Not Even Going to Try This?” by 马户子君
• Father, I don't Want this Marriage Season One by Hong Heesu, Roal, Yuri
• The Younger Brother Next Door is a School Grass by 奎奎因因

I watched: 

• The New Gate (2024)
• The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior (2024)
• 7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy! (2024)
• I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability (2024)
• Godzilla Minus One (2023)

Book Unhaul 33

Haven't done one of these posts in a long time!

Alec and I recently went back to my parents' house, and I brought back a whole bookshelf full of books. After going through the books and reorganizing my bookshelves, I realized that I was no longer interested in keeping a good chunk of these manga series anymore, so I'm planning on selling them to 2nd & Charles sometime soon.

Here's the first chunk of books. More to come!

Overlord, Vol. 1: The Undead King (Overlord Light Novels, #1) by Kugane Maruyama & so-bin

Overlord, Vol. 2: The Dark Warrior (Overlord Light Novels, #2) by Kugane Maruyama & so-bin

No Game No Life (Light Novel) #1-2 by Yuu Kamiya & 榎宮 祐

No Game No Life (Manga) #1 by Yuu Kamiya

My Heavenly Hockey Club #1-6 by Ai Morinaga

Uzumaki #1-3 by Junji Ito

The Whisper of the River by Ferrol Sams

Mini Review: A Non-Aloof President is Not a Good Male Lead; Stepmother Sees The Bullet Screen; I Hope to be Hated By the Protagonist, But I Will Always Be Confessed By the Protagonist

Title: A Non-Aloof President is Not a Good Male Lead
Author: N/A
Chapters: 58 chapters 
Publication: N/A
Summary from Wattpad:

Upon waking up, as the chief secretary of a Fortune 500 company's CEO, Fang Mo miraculously discovered that she could hear her boss's inner thoughts as long as she was within one meter of him.

During a shareholders' meeting,

While the CEO wore a serious expression, attentively listening to the work reports from the subordinates, Fang Mo heard:

[Damn it, who turned the air conditioning so low? Is it necessary for the air vent to blow directly on my back? I'm freezing!]

Fang Mo: "..."

Silently, she adjusted the temperature and changed the airflow direction.

During a charity dinner,

The CEO, clad in an expensive tailored suit, engaged in a conversation with a prominent figure about the investment direction for the next quarter, earning admiration from the surrounding individuals. However, what Fang Mo heard was:

[I really want to eat that strawberry cake I just saw! When will this conversation be over?! This suit is so uncomfortable!]

Fang Mo: "..."

After the dinner ended, the CEO spotted the casual attire prepared by Fang Mo and a strawberry cake that was supposedly mistakenly ordered in the car.

After some time passed, upon hearing her boss's complaints again, Fang Mo silently changed the office's curtains that he found distasteful and tacky. Then she overheard this remark:

[Secretary Fang really understands me. Is this what they call a soulmate in novels? What should I do? Should I start thinking about baby names?]

Fang Mo: "..."

Resignation! Right now!

3.5 STARS - I LIKED IT

MY REVIEW: 

First, I didn't realize that ChatGPT could translate a story so well compared to the usual broken English that Google Translate gives you. 

Second, this was hilarious! I loved Yuan Huaijing and Zhao Yan's friendship where they like to hurt each other in private lmao. 

And Fang Mo's reaction to Yuan Huajing's internal thoughts were also funny. There's nothing like watching your boss's image collapse in front of you day by day until you're used to it and want to start playing around as well lol.

Title: Stepmother Sees The Bullet Screen
Author: N/A
Chapters: 268 chapters 
Publication: N/A
Summary from Wattpad:

Jiang Shulan is the only daughter in three generations of the Jiang family. She was spoiled by her parents and brothers, but because she was too beautiful, she was targeted by a second-rate son.

After being introduced, Shu Lan went on a blind date in the city with a divorced factory director with kids but accidentally saw the bullet screen.

[Why did you go and marry a married old man? Not to mention the premature decline of baldness and kidney deficiency, you have to raise children for others and in the end, wasn't  even allowed to be buried next to him!]

Shu Lan: ?

Only then did she know that she was just a stepmother of a play. Her role was to serve her husband and raise his children. When the child's mother came back, she was swept out of the house by them.

Shu Lan, who woke up, looked at the handsome blind date in front of her, "I heard that older men are prone to baldness and premature deficiency. Don't you have it?"

Zhou Zhongfeng has a high family background and is young and talented. As soon as he returned, he received a telegram from his family. Grandpa was critically ill and hoped that he would get married and have children.

According to the introduction, the educated youth graduated from Yanjing University and is gentle and knowledgeable.

But as soon as they met, he was sprayed with blood.

Zhou Zhongfeng: ?

Ten minutes later, a few lines floated again.

[Date with the wrong person? But he is a little familiar. Isn't he the boss that appeared later?]

[Wait! Does Shu Shu know that the other party is the boss, so she's seducing him in a special way?]

Jiang Shulan: ?

Jiang Shulan accidentally had a blind date with the top boss Zhou Zhongfeng.

Years later:

Shu Lan relied on the bullet screen to marry a boss, gave birth to a genius, won the top scorer in the college entrance examination, and became the winner of life. Others asked her secrets.

She smiled without saying anything.

Barrage (tears): Kneel down and shout 666 for the boss!

4 STARS - I REALLY LIKED IT

MY REVIEW: 

The beginning was pretty draggy because it over-emphasized a lot of redundant information to drag out the eventual face slapping event. However, I'm glad that I powered through because the rest of the book was good! If you like slice of life and a slow burn romance with occasional face slapping and great side characters, you'll like this book.

Title: I Hope to be Hated By the Protagonist, But I Will Always Be Confessed By the Protagonist
Author: Southern Festival
Chapters: 77 chapters 
Publication: N/A
Summary from Wattpad:

"Queen Wendy" is a western magic novel, which tells the bloody storm caused by three best men competing for a woman. The length of the story, the magic of magic, and the bizarre plot are all amazing. 

As for Ling Yun, he was transmigrated into this book. However, he was neither a male supporting role nor a villain. He was just an unlucky cannon fodder, and a cannon fodder with an extremely miserable and hateful end. The system told him that he needs to collect dislike points on the premise of not cheating on the character, and he can leave as long as he collects 1 million dislike points. 

It's hard to be liked, but much easier to be hated, he agreed. 

However, after he got in, he found out that the plot was a bit of a pit... He was arrogant and domineering, causing trouble, bullying men and women, Ling Yun concluded that he would be able to complete the task satisfactorily or even exceed the quota! 

But the result is that no matter what he does, he will be misunderstood as kind and arrogant: "Shocked, Young Master Ling openly defended the common people in front of other nobles, such nobles who are close to the people are rare!" "Shocked, business district Young Master Ling has ordered people to quietly pay for the things that were damaged in the war, and the common people have no loss. Such selfless nobles are rare." "Young Master Ling did not hesitate to offend other nobles in order to rescue the slaves from the bullies. , Such kind-hearted nobles are rare." 

Suddenly, the imperial dandy was well received by the public, and even the emperor praised him. Ling Yun: Emmm, a group of fish-lipped humans, I'd better find the protagonists! However... 

Prince Tsundere: "Since you like me so much, I will reluctantly like you a little, just a little bit."

Genius pharmacist: "Brother Yun, you love me, I love you, we are heart to heart."

The villain major general: "My dear fiance, when are we getting married?"

Ling Yun: "...Please hate me, my hate value has almost cleared!"

2.5 STARS - I LIKED IT ENOUGH

MY REVIEW: 

I was hesitating back and forth on dropping this book around the middle to near end of this book because I felt like it was too draggy. There were certain moments that definitely kept me interested, but the back and forth between the protagonists with Ling Yun got boring after a while. 

Fortunately, the plot picked up eventually, but part of what I was looking forward to was the second part of the summary where the masses misunderstood him as kind and arrogant. However, only one of those instances happened in the book, and it wasn't even mentioned much. 

I felt disappointed realizing that those mentioned misunderstandings weren't actually an important (and probably hilarious) plot point as implied by the summary. So yeah, although I liked the ending and the pairing, I was still a little disappointed with this book.

DNF Review: Beautiful Cannon Fodder Dressed Like Everyone Else & The Villain is Coming Back Strong [Quick Wear]

Title: Beautiful Cannon Fodder Dressed Like Everyone Else
Author: Bright Lights
Chapters: 56 chapters
Publication: 2023
Summary from Wattpad:

Xin Yi wears the book. Transmigrated into the body of a person who is hated by everyone, he was originally a cannon fodder who is hated by everyone, and his appearance is also to reflect how good and kind the person in the book is. On the first day of transmigrating the book, the system informed him that the plot has already started halfway, and you, the vicious supporting actor, have been exposed as a fake young master, kicked out of a wealthy family, and living on the streets. And Xin Yi, who was standing on the street with a confused face, pursed her lips, her beautiful eyes were blank, she didn't know what to do. Until the system friendly prompt: [Host, you have no money now. ] Xin Yi thought for a while, thought of the TV drama, and asked tentatively: "Can I touch porcelain?" So the newly appointed system saw his stupid host, ran to a luxury car and lay down in front of a luxury car, thinking he was very professional . System: ... And the stern man in the luxury car got off because of Xin Yi's unprofessional approach, and then saw a stupid, beautiful idiot hugging his stomach and screaming for pain. Xin Yi said pitifully: I was knocked down by you, and you want to lose money. The man asked: How much. Xin Yi's beautiful face was wrinkled, and she said like in the TV series: If you want to pay me for medical expenses, a hundred yuan is enough, if there is no one hundred yuan, ten yuan is fine. Man: ... Xin Yi took a stack of banknotes when the people around her couldn't explain it. Meizizi's stomach ache no longer, she only took one and returned the rest to the man, and ran away without forgetting to say thank you. It's a pity that the money disappeared within a few days. After a few days, Xin Yi, penniless and dirty, was living on the street, and the man who was touched before also came to the :

MY REVIEW: 

Made it halfway through before deciding to call it quits. At first, it was pretty amusing reading about Xin Yi's antics about begging for money and using a beauty trick to receive money, but then the overall plot started getting boring with the past life mystery and his "brothers" getting involved. It didn't help that some parts of the chapters were missing, and I couldn't find the novel anywhere else to try to fill in the gaps. Overall, not worth the effort to finish reading.

Title: The Villain is Coming Back Strong [Quick Wear]
Author: Shili Qinghuan
Chapters: 211 chapters 
Publication: 2022
Summary from Wattpad:

Yun Lihan is a villain, so he has been disliked and abandoned in all kinds of ways, but he planned everything to make wedding dresses for others. Until one day, he kidnapped a system, turned his head and turned the protagonist. The system shivered in Yun Lihan's hands, "Don't kill me, I can take you across the world." ① The villain tyrant who sought to usurp the throne, he endured all kinds of suffering, and his most trusted subordinate turned his head and followed the protagonist. #On Yijian after the betrayal# ②The only sister who was the only sister who did not want to be a wealthy boy, his family died, and exhausted everything to protect, fell in love with the protagonist. #White-eyed wolf should be kicked out of the house# ③The villain Jianxian who practiced ruthless Taoism, he did not hesitate to mutilate himself, and used his life's spiritual power to save his brother, and disliked his blood-stained hands. #rubbish is not worthy of him to save# [Eating Guide]: #This is a story of a near-full-level boss Tu Xincun# #The male protagonist's fighting power is on the table, cold-hearted and cold-hearted. # #Cool! Very cool! Cool and it's over! # 

MY REVIEW: 

If you like strong revenge plots, this is your cup of tea. I made it through the first three arcs and enjoyed the face slapping and drawn out revenge but felt like it was missing something. While there was the excitement of watching a play, knowing that Yun Lihan is basically OP and has a solution to everything made the reading experience less exciting. 

Also, this was in the Danmei genre, but where was the ML? I didn't even know who it was after reading 68 chapters! If you gave me even a CRUMB, I would have something to look forward to as Yun Lihan conquered the different worlds. Might come back to this later. Not sure yet.

New Anime and Movies This Summer That I'm Excited For!

There's so many interesting anime coming out this summer! But most importantly, THERE'S A SEASON 3 OF KIMI NI TODOKE! I love this series! It's been years since season 2, so you know I'm definitely going to rewatch the entire series and enjoy its wholesomeness from the beginning lol.

In comparison, there's not many movies that I'm excited to watch this summer, but that's not surprising, since I haven't been really interested in watching movies that much this year overall.

Anime: 

• Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian
• The Strongest Magician in the Demon Lord's Army was a Human
• Tower of God Season 2
• Failure Frame: I Became the Strongest and Annihilated Everything With Low-Level Spells
• No Longer Allowed In Another World
• Why Does Nobody Remember Me in This World?
• I Parry Everything
• A Journey Through Another World: Raising Kids While Adventuring
• My Hero Academia the Movie: You're Next
• The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies
• Dahlia in Bloom: Crafting a Fresh Start with Magical Tools
• The Elusive Samurai
• Kimi ni Todoke: From Me To You Season 3
• A Few Moments of Cheers

Movies: 

• Deadpool & Wolverine (July 26)
• Sing Sing (Aug 2)
• Jessica Frost (Sept 4)
• Wolfs (Sept 20)