Naruto Vol. 1 by Masashi Kishimoto
Teodora's Rating: ★★★★

Review:
The infamous prankster of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, Naruto Uzumaki, has only one goal: to become the greatest ninja that ever was. However, Naruto has to first gain the trust of those around him and not by just giving up pranks. A long time ago, an evil fox spirit ravaged the village and the only way to contain it was to place it inside a vessel who is none other than Naruto. Can Naruto prove to everyone that he is not a threat and finally graduate to become a full-fledged ninja?
Naruto is a series that is extremely popular in the West and for a good reason too. Our young protagonist is just trying to fit in while meeting his lofty goals. While normal teens cannot brag about having a fox spirit inside them, Naruto is a relatable character and I couldn't help but root for him. After graduating, he is put on a team with two other young ninjas: the love-struck Sakura and the brooding Sasuke. When together, these characters balance each other well. This trio is not alone when it comes to how awesome the characters in this manga are. The action and character expressions are great; however, sometimes the backgrounds seem lacking. It is a well-paced story that promises fun and adventures. I would recommend Naruto to fans of tales about growing up, ninjas, and comedy.

Devils and Realist Vol. 2 by Madoka Takadono
Teodora's Rating: ★★★★★

Review:
William Twining's life has turned upside-down ever since demons started following and attacking him. Despite seeing things beyond the imagination, he is still confident that everything can be explained through science. But danger approaches our young protagonist faster and faster. Strong and intelligent demons enter the fray and even the school's church is growing suspicious of the straight-A boy and his new demonic aura. If their suspicions are proved correct, then they may just have to put an end on Twining's life for good.
Oh my! This manga accelerated to "I can't put it down" levels! New characters are introduced and anecdotes allow for older characters to be fleshed out more. The author builds upon their characters through delightful interactions and quirks. My favorite character this time around was the pastor, Ernest Crosby. I won't spoil too much other than his change in nature is amazing and seems to improve this volume. I look forward to checking out the next volume and getting further into the story.

Devils and Realist Vol. 1 by Madoka Takadono
Teodora's Rating: ★★★★

Review:
A man of science and the head of his class, William Twining, couldn't be less of a nonbeliever when it comes to the concept of Heaven and Hell. However when a demon called Dantalion steps into his life, his skepticism may be put to the test. Now Twining has to deal with a vast array of problems: paying for his tuition after his family declared bankruptcy, staying in the top of his grade, fending off demons who are convinced that he can choose who will be the next King of Hell, and convincing his friend (and himself) that demons are not real.
This manga is a refreshing read that tackles two of the most popular tropes found in mangas: high school and demons. Right off the bat, the thing that drove me to grab Devils and Realist was the gorgeous cover art and book art. All the characters are beautifully drawn and distinguishable from the next with the proper amount of comedy added to expressions. The action is clear and the book is well-paced, though there is a big of a character overload. I enjoyed all the allusions towards Solomon and his 72 pillars (each of which are a demon) and the other myths of religion. In fact, in the front and back inside covers, one of the characters pleasantly explains the real facts about the romanticized demons. I am hooked on the story and can't wait to see when and if William Twining ever admits to the supernatural around him. Having already read a few other volumes prior to this review, I would suggest this manga to those who enjoy nicely drawn characters, history, or are fans of the popular series, Black Butler.

Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers Vol. 3 by Ishio Yamagata
Teodora's Rating: ★★★

Review:
Slowly, yet surely Adlet begins to piece together ways to prove his innocence and gains allies, but not everyone is so easy to believe him. Braves against Braves fight each other, but is this the traitor's plan all along? Adlet is falsely accused for hurting one of the Braves, so time is of the essence. Who is the seventh?
The pacing of this volume was slow. This volume was dedicated to who may have really turned on the barrier surrounding them and putting the puzzle pieces together on who the traitor actually is. Adlet's deductions make sense and are clever, though this information is repeated so many times. I think that the traitor revealed themselves at the end of this manga, but I am still confused. The art is similar to the second volume and the action is now not only confusing, but slow. The next volume is the last, so I have high hopes for the final reveal of the traitor and what will come next.

Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers Vol. 2 by Ishio Yamagata
Teodora's Rating: ★★★

Review:
Adlet has managed to escape the accusatory Braves with the help of a half-fiend Brave called Fremy. While she heals his wounds, the two talk about their pasts, like how Adlet's best friend and sister were killed by fiends and how Fremy despised her fiend mother for pretending to love her. Adlet's past also reveals how he became a Brave and met the Brave princess, Nashetania. However, Fremy must eventually leave Adlet to avoid being called a traitor, leaving our main character alone. Will he be able to fend for himself against the powers of his comrades?
This volume went by much quicker than the first. Immediately, we learned more backstory about other characters and, while not to the best level, the world became easier to understand. The pacing is decent, but I am still wondering what direction this manga will take. Will it end in solving the mystery? Will it end at them defeating the evil god? I would say that the art is the same as it was in the first volume; however, there appears to be more variations (though minor) in line-thickness which is very much welcomed. The action is occasionally very hard to follow, and more dramatic line work would have been beneficial. This second volume proves to be better than its predecessor.

Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers Vol. 1 by Ishio Yamagata
Teodora's Rating: ★★★

Review:
Adlet Meyer is the "strongest man in the world" (according to him) and also one of the legendary Braves - a group of six heroes dedicated to protecting the world from fiends and ultimately defeating the evil god. When Adlet calls to assemble the rest of the Braves, something is amiss. Instead of six heroes, there are seven! Now trapped within a barrier, the Braves must find out who is the traitor among them... and they think Adlet is the seventh! Can he prove his innocence before he is killed?
Picking up this manga, I sensed RPG fantasy themes right away. What was unexpected for me was the mystery that is constantly present in the manga. The batch of suspects is small and the author does not muddle the story with more unnecessary characters, making it much more fun to guess who is the seventh Brave. Despite that, the biggest problem with this manga is the lack of explanation. I admire books that go straight to the action, but this time I felt left out. At the end of the manga, I had a small idea of the world and its problems, but many of my questions were left unanswered. This also affected the characters whose backstories were few and far between. I hope that the next volume addresses these. Art-wise, the style is nice to the eyes and some expressions are quite humorous. The style has a simple, same-thickness line-art and the pages flow nicely to the next. I don't understand the character design much. For example, two characters sport cat and bunny ears and tails, but are addressed as being human. Overall, the start of this manga introduced an intriguing main character and world.