Top 10 Beach Reads

Since this was also a Top 10 Tuesday list last year that I did I decided to make sure that I didn't put any of the books I put on the list last year so most of this books won't really be what I think of as beach reads(especially since when I go to the beach I spend the day swimming not reading so I'm not really sure what a beach book is)
1. Hex Hall: I think this book would be a good beach read because the story of the first book at least has an overall humorous tone and while thinks do get dark at times through out the book it never gets too dark. Plus there's witchcraft and the amazingly cute friendship between Sophie and Jenna(the witch who knows nothing of the supernatural and the vampire who love all things pink) which is my favorite thing in the book.
2. Heroes of Olympus: I think this series fits because it's an action adventure series that has quite a lot of comic moments also there's great characters and mythology through out the books. There are times when things don't look like they aren't going to work out but so far things haven't become too dark or sad yet.
3. Cardcaptor Sakura: This is the series that makes me happiest because the story is by far the sweetest one I've ever read and I love everything about the series the characters, the relationships, the plot and the themes. This series is adorable and I never get tried of it and the artwork is gorgeous as well, also I've been in a bit of a Clamp mood the last couple of days so I'm putting a lot of Clamp on this list but I feel this series best fits my idea of a beach read.
4. Beauty Pop: This is a series that I think fits being a beach read because it's one that makes me laugh and I don't take it too seriously but I still love the series. This series is about people who are over the top serious about hair cutting and most of these people are boys which makes it even more hilarious.
5. Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass: This book is one of my favorites because it's about a world of nonsense and I think that it'd be a good book to loose yourself in while your down at the beach.
6. Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle: I'm honestly putting this on the list mostly because I'm in a Tsubasa mood at the moment and I really want to reread the series but I do actually believe the first half of the series would be a good beach read. The first half of the series is relatively light hearted and there's plenty of adventures and general silliness as well as the start of our group of travelers eventually becoming like a family which is one of my favorite things about the series. Then of course my favorite thing in the series is probably that in the first half of the series we get plenty of sweet/cute moments between Syaoran and Sakura which I always adore. I'm going to spam a few pictures of these two because I love them, they're cute and I need more pictures of them on my blog.
 
 

7. Shugo Chara: This is a lovely magical girl series that deals with self discovering and is super cute and I love the characters and the plot as well and I think it's a nice light read that would be good for the beach.
8. Magic Knight Rayearth: This is a series that I think would be a great beach read because it's full of action and adventure as well as a great three girl friendship that is incredibly sweet. Also it's another magical girl series and I'm a big fan of those. The end of the first half the series is pretty sad though so be sure to read the second half of the series if you want a happy ending.
9. Kobato: This another series by Clamp which means it has gorgeous artwork also I love the kindhearted but somewhat clueless heroine and I love seeing her try her best to do good deeds. It's a sweet fun series that I think would be a good beach read.
10. Wolves of Mercy Falls series: This series I think would be a good beach read due to it's description of the temperatures because it always manages to make me feel a bit of a chill. Although I wouldn't exactly call the series light because of Sam's past and well Cole in general and Isabel is pretty messed up in Linger as well and the whole being a wolf thing doesn't sound all that great either so it has quite a few darker elements in my opinion which makes me love the series even more but if your goal is to read a happy book it wouldn't be my first choice.

Manga Review: Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle Vol.4

                                     Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle Vol.4 Review

This volume begins with the Ryanban being defeated and Sakura getting her memory feather back. Kiishim who is now free of the Ryanban's control is the one who ends up defeating the Ryanban and she tells Chu'nyan how powerful and talented her mother was and wishes her luck in the future. In the end the people of Chu'nyan's world decide that they would rather rule themselves than assign a new leader after what happened with the Ryanban.

Syaoran, Sakura, Fai, Kurogane and Mokona go to a new world they find themselves in the middle of the woods by a big lake and not much of anything else when they get there. But Mokona sense a strong power that might be one of Sakura's feather so they stay long enough to see if that's true. While in this world there's quite a lot of memories about Sakura's and Syaoran's past, with Sakura she talks about her newest memory she got back confuses her a bit because she was so happy that someone who she couldn't see came to her birthday when she was younger and that she was really happy about it even though no one was there. Syaoran is able to fill in the gaps with his memory of that day but of course he can't tell Sakura what she doesn't remember. Syaoran remembers how after the Sakura's party that she told Syaoran after he told her that he can't remember anything from before he met Fujitaka and therefore doesn't know his birthday, that they could share a birthday and that she'll make sure to help him make whole bunch of happy memories. Syaoran also remembers how he was a bit confused by why Sakura smiling at him made him feel nice.

There was somethings about an underwater lake in this world that had magical fish scales as it's sun and it turns out that was where Mokona had sensed the power from and that there was no feather in this world. Fai tells Syaoran that even though there will be painful parts on this journy that none of them will be able to forget that they should still try to enjoy the journy the best they can because it would make everyone happier in the long run. Fai tells Sakura something similar to this when she wakes up from the sleep she fell into quite suddenly and she replies in a way that was very similar to something she had said to him in the past which was that she'll try her best even if she doesn't have much she can offer. I also really enjoyed that memory because little Sakura was so happy that she was able to get Syaoran to smile.

The next world the group goes to his the country of Jade which is a winter country with the clothing style of Victorian era Europe, the group first goes to a place for food and there Sakura is able to make the group quite a lot of money by beating everyone at card game do to her amazing luck. The group after getting the proper clothes for this world and hearing a legend about a princess and a magic feather from about 300 years ago, about the town of Spirit decide to go to Spirit to investigate the possibility of Sakura's feather being there. When the group arrives in Spirit it's made clear that the people of the town don't want any outsiders coming into town now since many of the town's children have disappeared, the group are allowed to stay do to Doctor Kyle welcoming them to stay with him.

On their first night in Spirit Sakura sees a golden haired Princess like the one from the legend and discovers in the morning that she wasn't dreaming when she saw her, during the day the group looks for clues about the feather by reading through the town's history and get as close to the castle as they can. That night Sakura sees the Princess again and decides to follow her and ends up getting captured and locked up in the castle, the group spent the next day looking for her and the missing children but have yet to find them.

I overall loved this volume it's the first volume where Sakura is fully awake and has the whole group interacting with each other which I love, I also just love seeing Sakura with her full personality even though she still gets suddenly really sleep when she's awake now she's actually awake not struggle to stay awake for the most part. The artwork continues to be amazing and I continue to love the storylines and the characters. I also liked that we saw quite a bit from Syaoran's and Sakura's childhoods. Please tell me your thoughts on this volume.

Manga Review: Cardcaptor Sakura Vol.4

                                                Cardcaptor Sakura Vol.4Review

This volume starts off with Sakura, Tomoyo and Syaoran being trapped in the maze card, to capture the maze card they have to find there way out of the maze. They come up with some ideas to try and make their search easier such as Sakura tries to use the Fly in order see which direction to go but the walls of the maze grew as she fly up, they tried to use Syaoran's compass but since it's used for locating Clow cards it doesn't work since their in a clow card and Tomoyo suggest they put one hand on a wall because she heard that's the way to get out of any maze. In the end their new teacher Kaho Mizuki ends up helping them out of the maze by smashing the walls with an object that contains powerful magic. Sakura seals the card after getting out of the maze but was nervous to do it in front of Kaho so Kaho turned away despite it being obvious she already knows about magic.Also in the first chapter we learn that back in middle school Touya and Kaho use to date but the two broke up when she moved away and she had predicted that the two of them would already be in love with other people the next time they meet.

The next story of the volume deals with Sakura's class going on a school trip at the beach were there is of course a clow card to be capture there. The first half of this story doesn't mention much about clow cards but does mention Sakura fear of ghosts and scary stories. Also Syaoran once again tells Sakura to be suspicious of Kaho but Sakura say she can't help but to like her and then the two of them start talking about their crushes on Yukito which makes them both blush. Sakura then tells Syaoran they shouldn't give up on their crushes because of the age difference and she gives him this smile that makes him blush and then he gets confused about his feelings so he decides to run away.

Later on while on the trip during this thing called the test of courage where the walk in a cave with a lit candle. While on the test of courage everyone starts to disappear which of course frightens Sakura greatly but after she runs into Syaoran he's able to calm her down and get her to sense that a clow card is causing everyone to disappear. After Sakura is done crying she tells Syaoran that he's nice he denies this and tells her he just doesn't like seeing people cry which does nothing to disprove Sakura's point. When they find a candle and Sakura doesn't have anything to light it with she is very impressed when Syaoran can use magic to lite it and she tells him this which makes him very embarrassed and he blushes a lot. Sakura decides to ask Syaoran about why he wants to capture the clow cards while they're approaching the clow card and he mentions the disaster that would fall upon the earth which Kero-chan had mentioned in previous volumes they try to figure out what it is but come up with nothing. The end up approaching the clow card and Sakura ends up capturing the card which turns out to be the erase card. Sakura tries to the card to Syaoran but he tells her that it's her card and after she thanks him for that he gets embarrassed and runs away again.

In the last chapter of this volume Sakura along with Tomoyo, Yukito and Touya go to a festival at Kaho's family's shrine and at said festival Sakura ends up capturing a clow card. The card she captures is called the glow card and it was a very peaceful card and Sakura ended up thanking the card because she had a nice moment with Yukito because of it.

Overall loved this volume the art remains beautiful, I continue to love the characters and their relationships with each other and the plot continues to entertain me. Please tell me your thoughts on this volume.

Manga Review: Tsubasa Reservoir chronicle Vol.3

                                          Tsubasa Reservoir chronicle Vol.3Review

This volume starts off with tying up to the loose ends of the last volume with our main characters saying goodbyes and leaving to go off to the next world. The next world they arrive in is the country of Koryo, this world is a sort of feudal Japan world were magic exists but sadly their current Ryanban(leader of the general area) is a cruel many who none of the citizens like who suddenly became extremely powerful the year before. Chu'nyan takes the main group back to her house believing that they are the amen'osa(a group of people with powerful magic that travels throughout the country and restores order when it needs to be) even though they obviously not the amen'osa, Syaoran, Fai, and Kurogane still go to the castle to defeat the Ryanban because he has Sakura's feather.

During this volume I felt that story was fairly self contained which I think was good for this volume. I really liked that in this volume that the group(save Sakura who was asleep for most of the first two volumes) seemed to know each other better, I especially enjoyed the banter that seems to exist between Fai and Kurogane as well as seeing them fight side by side for the first time. I also like that it's made clearly in this volume that Fai is unwilling to use his magic and also find it interesting that  he lied at first about not being able to use anymore just for Yuko to flat out say that this wasn't true.

I also enjoyed that Sakura was actually awake in this volume even though she seemed tried all volume, I liked seeing her. Sakura is of course still the same kind wonderful person she was before and I liked that she still seems very fond of Syaoran. I also find it interesting that she apparently naturally has very good luck when it comes to things that are left purely to chance(like a dice game but unlike destiny). I also liked that she and Chu'nyan seem to develop a brief friendship. I also just like Chu'nyan's character because she had a lot of spirit and she is actually able to help out quite a bit in the end even though she doesn't have much power of her own.

I overall really enjoyed this volume it had a good story and I continue to enjoy the characters as well. I also continue to think that the art is absolutely gorgeous. Please tell me your thoughts on this volume.

Top 10 Book Couples that would make it in real life

1. Syaoron and Sakura(Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle):There's just so much these two to go through before they got together that I believe that if they weren't meant for each other they would've given up on their relationship at some point but neither of them ever did they loved each other even when it seemed like it was impossible for them to be together. No matter what happen to separate these two they always found their way back to each other whether it be memory lose, loosing the ability to feel at all or even death nothing was able to keep them from loving each other. So I think in the real world were things would be much easier for them they'd defiantly end up together.
2.Kyo and Tohru(Fruits Basket): I just think these two are perfect for each other and I see no reason why they couldn't work out in the real world. i think that the two of them being friends for quite a while before they got together makes they're relationship realistic and I also liked how they seemed to have a good understanding of each other.Although my favorite thing about them is how they just loved to spend time with each other even if they were doing something as mundane as cooking a meal or running errands together.
3.Suzaku and Euphemia(Code Geass): I think these two would work out in real life because they worked out in the series for a while even though they had so many things against them being together.I think they worked out because they shared similar beliefs and believed that things could be changed for the better peacefully. But then they didn't work out because something very tragic happened but if that hadn't had happened they probably would've ended up together and since the tragic couldn't have happened in the real world they would work out in the real world.
4.Percy and Annabeth(Percy Jackson and the Olympians series/The Heroes of Olympus series): This two were friends for a long time before they got together so they know each other really well before they get together. I also think they would work out in real life because in The Lost Hero Annabeth does everything she can to find him and in The Son of Neptune Percy remembers her even though he can't remember pretty much anything else other than his name.
5.Ron and Hermione(Harry Potter series): I think there relationship would work out in real life because they were friends for so long so they clearly know and love each other for who they are and they do end up together.
6. Sakura and Syaoron(Cardcaptor Sakura): These two are just so sweet and adorable that I don't want to live in a world were they don't end up together. I think they would work out in real life because they started off as friends and were able to maintain a long distance relationship while they were in their last year of elementary school and first year or two of middle school.
7.Touya and Yukito(Cardcaptor Sakura):This is also a relationship which started off as friendship which I think is the best way to start off a relationship. I think these two would work out because they clearly care for each, they compliant each other very well. They always seemed to confide in each other and not keep secrets from each other which I think is a very good thing for any relationship. Also they the spend a lot time together so they clearly enjoy each other's company and there's also a lot of little things that I love about them as well that shows that they love each other.
8.Sam and Grace(Wolves of Mercy Falls series):While I think they way they met isn't exactly realistic and I think the connection they share isn't common I think they would still work out in real life. I think they would work out because the love and accept each other for who they are even though they're very different people but neither of them try to change who the other is. I think they would work out because while they are very important to each other they're not the only they care about, I'm not sure I explained myself well but I do think they could have worked out if they meet each other in the real world without any wolves being involved.
9.Tally and David(Uglies series): I think this relationship could have worked out because it was about how David loved Tally for who she was even she wasn't perfect and this taught Tally to both accept herself and to realize just because someone didn't get the pretty surgery doesn't mean they're not attractive. I think that their relationship had a good message in it and it seemed like the kind of relationship that should work out in real life.
10. Cammie and Josh(Gallagher Girls series): While I prefer Cammie/Zach over Cammie/Josh I feel that Cammie/Josh had a more realistic relationship with how he notice her when no one else did and how they went on actual dates together and did normal date things. I've always thought these two were really sweet together and I believe that if Cammie wasn't a spy or if Josh didn't get his memory wiped they would have been together a lot longer than they were.

Manga Review: Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle Vol.2

                                           Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle Vol.2Review

This volume picks up with were the last one ended with Syaoran saving a boy named Masayoshi from a water kuden with his fire kuden which Syaoran didn't know he had one until that moment, Shugo the guy with the water kuden is impressed by Syaoran's kuden. Masayoshi makes friends with Syaoran and offers to lead him as well as Fai, Kurogane and Mokona around the Hanshin Republic.

In this volume there's more of an explanation about what kudens are and how they work such as kuden's possibly being personal gods and kudens having different levels of strength. There's also more explained about how there are people who may be from your home world but there not real those people but they kind of are but they live in another world. Then they also learn that the reason they can understand each  other at all is because Mokona translates the languages for them.

Also in this volume we learn a lot more about the characters(well the boys at least since Sakura is asleep for most of the volume) and the relationships they're starting form with each other. Such as with Fai while he seems pretty carefree for the most part both Kurogane and Syaoran can tell there's a lot more about him that he's hiding and that he probably has some fighting experience. There's also the fact that in his kuden fight he'd rather run than fight. There's also Kurogane's love for fighting and the fact that he's still devoted to Princess Tomoyo even after the events of last volume( which isn't exactly new information). There's also the fact that Syaoran always feels the need to help or protect people even if they are capable of doing it themselves and that he's fairly knowledgeable but still naive.

In this volume Syaoran was able to get back one of Sakura's feathers after Monkona found it inside of a kuden. Syaoran is so happy that he got the feather and that Sakura will wake up that it's even more heartbreaking to see how sad he is when she doesn't remember him. Also after he remembers she won't ever remember him he forces himself to smile and introduces himself to her and explains her situation even though he's smiling it's easy for the reader to tell that he's seconds away from breaking down, which he does outside so Sakura won't see him cry. I also really liked the conversation that Fai and Kurogane had about how crying being able cry at certain times might be a show of strength instead of weakness.

I overall really enjoyed this volume and I really liked learning more about the characters and seeing how they'll work as group throughout the series. I also really enjoyed the artwork and especially liked how much emotion could be shown through it. Please tell me your thoughts on this volume.

Manga Review: Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle V.1

                                        Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle V.1Review

Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle is a series by Clamp that combines a lot of alternate universe versions of characters from their past works and characters that are original to this series, also it crosses over with Xxxholic. The story is about how a girl named Princess Sakura looses all of her memories after touching this symbol of wings that are on the floor of some ruins. After she looses her memories her childhood friend Syaoran (who Sakura was is in love with and he's in love with her but wasn't planning on saying anything about it since he's a commoner and she's a princess.) is sent to the time space witch(Yuuko from Xxxholic) in order to pay a price that will allow him to get Sakura's memories back which have been scattered through out many dimensions.

 There are also two other travelers that will go on this journey Kurogane a ninja who is sent away by his princess in order for him to go on a journey that will teach him to avoid unnessary death and his goal is to return to his home world. Then there's Fai a mage who is running away from his home world and is avoiding is home world through dimemsion hopping.

Syaoran, Kurogane and Fai all are forced to give up what they value the most in order to be given white Mokana who will allow them to travel through dimensions. Kurogane gives up his sword and Fai his markings, the value of these objects are not realized until later volumes of the series. Syaoran is forced to give up his relationship with Sakura which means she'll never remember him no matter how many memories she gets back.

The first world the group ends up in is the Hanshin Republic is a peaceful country in which the group stays with Sorta and Arashi( au versions of characters from X/1999). In this world all members have kuden which is an extra power.

I overall really liked the first volume and I liked what we saw of our main characters so far and all the references to Clamp's other series. I felt like there was a lot exposition but I felt like it was needed to understand the rest of the series so I don't have a problem with it. Please tell me your thoughts on the series.