The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis

Hellen's Rating: ★★

Review:

The Magician's Nephew is about two children, Digory and Polly. When Digory's uncle sends Polly and Digory through a portal to another world, they meet new people and discover new places. Polly and Digory are fortunate to witness the birth of a new world called Narnia. I did not like this book and I found the story line hard to follow. There was little characterization and the climax was boring. Despite my personal dislike for this book, I would still recommend it for others. 

Black Butler Vol. 2 by Yana Toboso

Teodora's Rating: ★★★★★

Review:

Murders take over the headlines of London's news as a new killer ravages the streets. Known as "Jack the Ripper," this elusive criminal stalks and kills women and is causing unrest. Queen Victoria enlists the help of her loyal "guard dog," Ciel Phantomhive, and Ciel enlists the help of Sebastian. With the help of his aunt and other comrades, Sebastian and Ciel seek out this murderer. Perhaps Ciel just wishes that he did not have to converse with a loony mortician or wear a dress...
With this volume, the story of Black Butler picks up and begins. We are introduced to even more important characters and the manga ends in a cliffhanger. We also learn more about the unique relationship between Ciel and his butler. Like before, the art, pacing and humor are fantastic to see. My favorite character, the loony mortician Undertaker, finally gets introduced and we got to see more of the impossible things that Sebastian can do. I won't spoil it, but there is a wonderful allusion to the real Jack the Ripper. The killer was never identified, but many theories existed for who could have been the perpetrator. I thoroughly enjoy the effort Toboso makes towards the history of London. 

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Hellen's Rating: ★★★★

Review:

This book is about a young cyborg named Cinder, in a future where the world is plagued by a deadly disease called letumosis. When Cinder's stepsister is infected by letumosis, Cinder's stepmother forces Cinder to participate in the cyborg draft. The cyborg draft is where cyborgs are randomly chosen to help find a cure to letumosis. When Cinder is forced to participate, she discovers many new things about herself with the help of Dr. Erlund and Prince Kai. I loved this book and was just as surprised as Cinder of the inner discoveries that she made. 

Black Butler Vol. 1 by Yana Toboso
Teodora's Rating: ★★★★

Review:
It is the late 1800s in London and it is the home of Queen Victoria and her "guard dog," Ciel Phantomhive. Despite his young age, Ciel prefers to stay at his mansion, managing his family's business, with the help of the most special of butlers. Sebastian can do it all - cooking, cleaning, coming to Ciel's every beck-and-call, and preparing for guests at the last minute plus so much more, he is like a superhuman. If he is even human, that is? When Ciel is in trouble, Sebastian will always succeed in saving his young master.
This manga is a perfect combination of comedy and action. I recall holding back laughter numerous times at the "dramaticness" of expressions and awkward scenarios. The fighting scenes are clear and easy to follow. Each of the main chracters are memorable and wonderfully designed. Yana Toboso knows how to draw aged character (a common problem in mangas) and embraces the time period of her manga with remarkable detail. The art is definitely a highlight of this series. The story flows and is action-packed. Never does the story drag. If I  had to be nit-picky, I wish that the manga ended in a cliffhanger, but I can also understand the author's final decision. This manga was to act as an introduction. I would recommend Black Butler to fans of the supernatural, The Victorian era, and mystery.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Hellen's Rating: ★★★★

Review:
The Fault in Our Stars is about a girl, Hazel, who has cancer. When Hazel meets Gus, a former cancer patient, her life changes. This book is a tragic, yet slightly comedic, love story. I really enjoyed this book, even though it was the first book to make me cry.

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.