Review for Osamu Tezuka's "BLACK JACK DELUXE 1"

 

BLACK JACK DELUXE 1
Medical drama manga

 

 

 

AUTHOR:
Osamu Tezuka

RELEASE DATE:
November 3, 2026

PUBLISHER:
Kodansha Comics

ISBN/ ASIN NUMBER :
9781647296155

RATING:
4

 

 

Black Jack is an unlicensed doctor with unparalleled medical skin. Desperate people still seek him out regardless of the fact. Although many view him as mercenary because of his outrageous fees, that judgement is far from the truth. Black Jack has his reasons for charging so much.

I have heard of Black Jack – what die-hard anime fan hasn’t? However, I never got around to watching the anime (the movie or OVAs). And finding the mangas to read is difficult, unless you have money to burn. So, when I saw the Deluxe edition on Netgalley, I decided to see for myself what all the hype was about.

The art style is old school. I would say it is pretty standard for the era in which it was first drawn. It did take me a while to grow accustomed to it.

The story section includes only selected chapters, which do not follow a structured plot. It instead offers fragments of Black Jack’s exploits. One chapter explains how BJ got his scarred face and why its upper portion is a different color. Another one reveals what inspired him to become a doctor. Several of the chapters end with dark twists.

All-in-all, I can see why this mangaka is so popular. And how his work helped shape manga into what it is today. The art style may not be to my tastes, that did not stop me from appreciating them.

Review of Sherrilyn Kenyon/Kinley MacGregor's "THE SCOTSMAN"

 

THE SCOTSMAN
Historical Romance

 

 

 

AUTHOR:
Sherrilyn Kenyon (alias Kinley MacGregor)

RELEASE DATE:
July 21, 2026

PUBLISHER:
Oliver Harber Books

ISBN/ ASIN NUMBER :
B0H22PFCPK

RATING:
4.5

AUTHOR LINK:
https://www.sherrilynkenyon.com/

 

 

Ewan MacAllister is haunted by his brother’s death and his own role in it. On the anniversary of that loss, he wakes from a drunken stupor to find a beautiful maiden standing over him. Her story echoes the one that once brought trouble to his family and clan. Ewan is determined not to repeat the past. Nora’s demeanor may annoy him, but she stirs something in him he thought long dead. Can Ewan forgive himself for his role in his brother’s death? And will his honor cost him the woman he loves?

Nora ingen Alexander of Canmore is determined to escape an arranged marriage. She seeks Ewan’s help to flee to England to be with her aunt. Nora finds a drunken bear of a man weighed down by sadness and pain. When gypsies kidnap them, she decides to help Ewan break free from his emotional anguish. He does not match Nora’s ideal husband, but she cannot resist the pull between them. Can Nora help Ewan overcome the past? Or will he force her to marry a man she does not love nor want?

Ewan’s past is tragic – not as much as his older brother Sin’s but close. I sympathize with the teenage Ewan who fell victim to the wiles of a manipulative woman. The guilt that incident wrought plagues him no matter what he does. I understand Ewan’s reasons for not wanting to repeat past mistakes. He has already caused enough trouble and suffering to his family and clan. What I love the most about Ewan is his patience with Nora. Her constant talking irritates him at first, but he gradually finds peace with it. When others malign Nora because of it, Ewan is quick to defend her.

Nora charmed me instantly. She is not the usual type of heroine that I generally like and prefer. Nora is a chatterbox and endlessly curious, and I feel that only adds to her appeal. Plus, her sunny disposition acts as the perfect contrast to Ewan’s silent, brooding demeanor. What I adore the most about Nora is her determination to help Ewan heal from his emotional pain. First, she appeals to his chivalrous nature to stop him drowning his sorrows in drink. Then Nora reasons with him – something his brothers and mother could never do.

THE SCOTSMAN is the fourth book in Kinley MacGregor’s historical romance series, BROTHERHOOD OF THE SWORD. It was first published by Avon in August 2003 as TAMING THE SCOTSMAN. The series is being reissued with new titles and redesigned covers. I remember this story. There are some parts and details I have forgotten. That is the nice thing about re-reading, especially after so much time has passed (since its first release), the story feels new. I enjoyed it just as much now as I did then. My opinions and feelings remain unchanged.

Couples from the prior books (Sin and Callie; Braden and Maggie) do make appearances. Sin made me laugh at one point (I almost woke my husband up with my laughter). His acerbic quips always amuse me. I love the MacAllister brothers’ fierce loyalty to one another. Hurt or threaten one of them, and the others will come for your throat.

Review for Nibedita Sen's "CRITICAL ROLE: CHILDREN OF EMPIRE"

 

THE MIGHTY NEIN: CHILDREN OF EMPIRE
High Fantasy

 

AUTHOR:
Nibedita Sen

RELEASE DATE:
November 11, 2026

PUBLISHER:
Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore

ISBN/ ASIN NUMBER :
9780593874295

RATING:
4.5

AUTHOR LINK:
https://www.nibeditasen.com/

 

 

Arcanist Caleb Widogast and Cobalt Soul Expositor Beauregard “Beau” Lionett belong to a ragtag band of adventurers – who have already saved the realm from an ancient arcane relic and a Leviathan. They join forces to uncover the source of a corruptive rot tied to the Cerberus Assembly and the Empire. Beau confronts obstacles within her order, and Caleb is faced with betraying those he once cared for. What new threat will they face? And will Caleb and Beau enlist the aid of their party’s members?

I have always had a soft spot for wounded, tortured character types. And Caleb fits that mold perfectly. I like the fact that he is trying to move beyond the horrors of his past and the things he has done. His relationships with the Nein and Essek seem to have helped him begin to heal from the trauma. Caleb is also Beau’s ideal counterbalance. He often reminds her of the value of patience and the softening of her acerbic tone. What I love the most about Caleb is that he still faces difficult moral dilemmas, especially when he must confront the possibility of hurting people from his past.

Beau annoyed me in this novel. She came across as hot-headed, abrasive, and impatient. It often felt as though many of the problems she and Caleb faced stemmed from her sharp tongue and impulsive choices. Several moments in the book left me thinking “Urgh!”. I know that is part of who she is, but I expected her time with her Mighty Nein companions and her lover to have tempered those traits or softened them.

I am a huge fan of high fantasy. Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance novels were some of my all-time favorites. They introduced me to authors that I try to follow and enjoy to this day. It is no secret that I struggle to find similar books that capture the essence of the genre that I like. Critical Role delivers on that front. My only small complaint is that a few terms in the book feel too modernized for a fantasy setting. It occasionally pulls me out of the story.

THE MIGHTY NEIN: CHILDREN OF EMPIRE is set within the Critical Role world of Exandria. I do not follow the podcasts or read the comics – though they are on my “to buy” and “to read” lists. However, I have watched the first season of the Prime animated series. CHILDREN OF EMPIRE is my second foray into a full-length novel set in this fantasy realm, with TUSK LOVE being the first. From what I understand, CoE takes place after the campaign. The author does an admirable job of summarizing important bits of Mighty Nein exploits that allow me to follow the story easily.

I wonder if it is just me… When it came to the dialogue, I could hear the Mighty Nein’s voice actors inside my mind.

Review of Sherrilyn Kenyon, Hinako and MaDaug Hishinuma 's SHADOW WARS: SON OF SHADOWS

 

SHADOW WARS – SON OF SHADOWS
Fantasy (Middle-grade fantasy)

 

AUTHOR:
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Hinako and Madaug Hishinuma

RELEASE DATE:
August 18, 2026

PUBLISHER:
Blackstone Publishing

ISBN/ ASIN NUMBER :
9798200751051

RATING:
4

AUTHOR LINK:
https://www.sherrilynkenyon.com/

 

 

Ryuichi is the son of two gods with a destiny he does not yet understand. He is dealing with the emotional and physical aftermath of his battle with his father. Ryuichi is not alone but joined by an unlikely group of companions. An ancient evil creature – one with ties to his parents – threatens both the nether and human realms. To defeat Orochi, Ryuichi will need his father’s help, so he and his friends travel to the nether realm to find them. Can Ryuichi unlock his true potential in time? Or will he lose far more than he bargained for?

Since I did not read the first book, I cannot remark on Ryuichi’s growth as a character.  I like that he is still plagued with doubts. Those self-doubts do cripple Ryuichi on occasion, so he is not this overly confident hero who can do everything perfectly. His companions rally around him when he needs them most. They both protect and teach Ryuichi what he needs to know about himself and his destiny.

SHADOW WARS: SON OF SHADOWS is the second and final book in a Japanese fantasy-adventure duology by Sherrilyn Kenyon and husband-and-wife team Hinako and MaDaug Hishinuma (fyi – MaDaug is Sherrilyn’s son). I have not read the first book, but I was still able to follow the story without any problems. I could tell that I had missed out on some important worldbuilding and background information. I do recommend starting with the first book to better understand the overall picture.

I noticed that the writing’s tone differed from Sherrilyn’s paranormal and historical works. There is no romance (well there is but it was secondary, minuscule in nature)– or steamy sex scenes. Yes, there are some witty funny parts, but they pale in comparison to her other books. Perhaps that is Sherrilyn’s co-authors’ influence – not that I am complaining. It worked with the story’s setting.

Fans of Japanese lore and mythology will enjoy this series. Oni, yokai, kitsune, and Shinigami are but some of the creatures that are in this book. There were some Japanese terms that I recognized and some that I had to look up. I felt they strengthened the atmosphere of the time period and setting.

The duology’s vibe reminds me of Forgotten Realms’ LEGEND OF THE FIVE RINGS: CLAN WARS. I have not read that series since a friend introduced it to me in 2000. Sadly, I did not finish it. I may even own a few of the books (they are put away in totes).