Manga List - July 2014

Akame ga Kill (ongoing)

"AKAME GA KILL!, written by Takahiro and illustrated by Tetsuya Tashiro, follows teenage country-bumpkin Tatsumi, who dreams of earning enough money for his impoverished village by working in the Capital—but his short-lived plans go awry when he’s robbed by a buxom beauty upon arrival! Penniless, Tatsumi is taken in by the beautiful and kindly Lady Aria, but just when his Capital dreams seem within reach once more, Lady Aria’s mansion is besieged by Night Raid—a team of ruthless assassins who target high-ranking members of the upper class! As Tatsumi is quick to learn, appearances can be deceiving in the Capital, and this team of assassins just might be…the good guys?!" - Baka Updates
Genre: shonen, action, fantasy, drama, romance (mostly for humor)

First of all, Akame is the name of the girl in this cover photo for those that are confused. As of where I am right now (chapter 30ish), I still don't know why the title has her name when Tatsumi appears to be the protagonist, and Akame doesn't even get many panels out of the other main characters .-.

This manga is one of my favourites of this type - the art is CUTE but still fitting for the genre, the gags are good, and there is a good amount of gore (though stumpy arms look like sausages but what do you expect right?). Some of the characters have that element of madness which is rather reminiscent of higurashi no naku koro ni.

As usual, I am reading the manga version, but I do know that this has been turned into an anime too and has only recently started airing.. so I guess I'm not too late jumping on the bandwagon! The manga also has a prequel which I look forward to reading while waiting for it to update. The main story is probably going to be veeery long ❤

I think the story starts improving around chapter 20 - up until then, you may have to grit your teeth a bit to get through. The battle scenes are very...fast paced? I get lost a lot in the battle sequence and I feel like too much is missed between the panels, and also it's hard to actually understand each panel. It may be because I skim the battle scenes quickly but still, a little irksome.

For those that like No Game No Life, I think you will like this story too. Though there is a lot more gore, the humor is somewhat similar, and the characters are equally likeable ^^
Rating:  4/5


Jisatsutou (ongoing)

"Treating non-successful suicidal patients requires a lot of money and resources. With low budget and a personal respect argumentation, a doctor will ask a non-successful suicidal patient if he/she still wants to live on or not. If not the government will respect his/her wish. However, the government doesn't just simply kill them." - Baka Updates

Genre: survival, psychological, drama, tragedy

Ok so I usually avoid anything with jisatsu in the title because I had previously read a horror manga and it creeped me out so much (Jisatsu Circle for anyone who's interested. It's a psychological neverending loop horror. Also has a lot of violence and nudity and just overall depressing as heck).

Still thought I'd read this one because the synopsis didn't say much. Perhaps it would become some alternate universe survival action story? No, actually it's just basic human survival set in our universe, nothing sci-fi at all. It's actually kind of nice, reading about how some of these people who previously felt completely useless suddenly realised that they had important survival skills that other people didn't. Despite being a tragedy, I really like how the protagonist thinks about the meaning of life and is empowered / empowers others. This manga also has an over the shoulder narration that forewarns you about the future.

One thing I really don't like about the manga is the art. Can it be any less appealing? This is actually my third time attempting to read it and I'm finally making my way through. The previous two times I just couldn't get past the first chapter.

In a way, I guess this manga is really depressing too. So idk. Perhaps read it if you're super down or being NEET? It's not really something I'd like to pick up any old day lol.

Rating: 3/5

Ousama Game (completed)

"A mysterious command arrives from a "King"-----The life-threatening "Game" has now begun for the 32 students of the first year's B Class. One day, all of the students in Nobuaki's class received their first message from someone calling themselves the "King", in which was written a baffling command. That first command was very easy. However, the commands began to escalate until a life-threatening game had begun--- Failing to obey the orders leads to death!! Their friendships are being undermined by a bottomless terror!!'

Genre: action, drama, horror, supernatural, mystery

The art in this manga is likeable, and makes it really easy to read. As you can guess by the art, the horror aspect of it isn't through being super gruesome (though there are 'gruesome' scenes), but rather just fear of what will happen next. The suspense isn't too strong for me, probably because the art was cute xD

The story was pretty good for the first 2/3 or so, but as it drew closer to the end, the logic started not adding up, deaths happened too fast, and it was all just a big mess of an ending. Perhaps the author's funding got cut or something? Either way, I think the ending could have been executed much much better. On Baka-Updates there are apparently a prequel and sequel to the story which I didn't know about till now. Perhaps I'll give that a go next month.

Rating: 2/5 (because the ending was just terrible)

Second Brain (ongoing)

"Ichihara is a boy living with supernatural powers and is treated differently by everyone except by his mother. He is trying to live a normal life but instead everyone wants to fight him and calls him a monster. One day an android with supernatural powers, named number 5 kills Ichihara's mother when she tries to protect him. How will the story unfold?" - My Anime List

Genre: action, sci-fi, shonen

First of all, the art and the fight scenes are very likeable. So far, there are 5 chapters out in English, and the story has been paced pretty well. I'm expecting this series to be fairly good, but the storyline isn't all too exciting. I'm a sucker for stories with curious powers xD

The story has a very un-turbulent (is that a word?) progression. That's why I categorized it shonen. Personally I'd like there to be some heavy conspiracy and whatnot but there's none of that here!

Somehow the world in this manga reminds me of another manga, but I can't remember which at the moment... Will edit this post if I ever remember.

I would wait a while before starting on this series, since the updates are a little slow and with only 5 chapters out, it's not hard to just throw it aside. It will be good!

Rating: 4/5

Tokyo Ghoul / Toukyou Kushu (ongoing)

"The suspense horror/dark fantasy story is set in Tokyo, which is haunted by mysterious "ghouls" who are devouring humans. People are gripped by the fear of these ghouls whose identities are masked in mystery. An ordinary college student named Kaneki encounters Rize, a girl who is an avid reader like him, at the café he frequents. Little does he realize that his fate will change overnight." - My Anime List

Genre: horror, action, tragedy, sci-fi, mystery, drama

I've been seeing posts about this EVERYWHERE recently, so I finally went and took a look. Tenshi and I watched the first 2 episodes together, but because not many episodes were out, I hopped on over to read the manga which is weirdly only listed as Toukyou Kushu instead of the English name (much confusion).

It is 110% worth the hype. Out of the recent manga I have been reading, this one wins by miles and miles. It has the tragedy, mystery, backstabbing, drama all down pat PLUS some pretty awesome superhuman skills. The fight scenes were really confusing on the anime, but in the manga it was alright. I think the anime version of this story isn't bad per se compared to the manga, but the censorship is hella annoying.

The only thing to be aware of with the manga right now is that for some stupid reason, the chapters aren't being consecutively uploaded.

Because Shingeki no Kyojin scenes jumped all over the place, I thought perhaps this manga just had the same issue. NOPE I just skipped a whole bunch of chapters ==;

I am so mad right now. Of all the ways I could have been spoilered. Seriously. I was starting to be annoyed at the main character gaining strength and status so quickly, but now I know it's not the mangaka's fault, but rather because I had pretty much been jumping my way through 30 chapters. Fair enough.

Anyway, if you read the manga, just watch out and stop before you skip chapters and it'll be all good. 87 chapters right now is a pretty good amount to read until they fill in the missing chapters anyway ^^

Rating: 5/5

There is such a distinct lack of good shoujo manga right now that I want to cry inside. I used to never venture into shonen but there's legit nothing left to read. It's really sad ~.~

Anime I plan to watch this year

Of the spring 2014 anime, Selector Infected WIXOSS and Isshuukan Friends are the two cryfest series I have yet to take a look at, but plan to do so eventually. The first one was recommended by Tenshi so it's definitely going to be good! I also watched the first episode of M3 ~Sono Kuroki Hagane~ and it was very very disappointing. Don't think I will bother with the rest of the series.

From summer 2014 (which I haven't started on at all), I really want to watch season 2 of Free! but I will hold out until I can marathon the entire season. Also want to watch Love Stage!! which uses the seiyuu for Rei and Nagisa (my favourite ship from Free!) for the main characters but Tenshi told me the anime is pretty awful :'(

Also SAO 2, I will hold out until it's completed ;v;

For the fall series, I am really looking forward to

• Psycho-Pass 2
• FSN: Unlimited Blade Works (I am a massive FSN fan, though I wish they'd make an anime for Hollow Ataraxia so I can creepily admire Saber in casual clothes)
• Kiseijuu sounds pretty interesting, but I'm definitely not feeling the art

It's a little sad, but I think I will be very bored this winter. The only definite series that I am interested in is Romantica Clock, but it's by the artist of Pika Ichi / Aishiteruze Baby, etc. and I prefer her manga. No anime for me this winter it seems ~ QAQ

=^.^=

Tokyo Kawaii Life July Secret Sale Haul!

I was really mad at myself after coming back from Japan, for buying a bodyline dress instead of stocking more Liz Lisa (or checking out sales on lolita brands QAQ). In fact, I haven't even had the chance to wear my bodyline dress yet!

I bought a dress and a top at the Liz Lisa 109 store, both were bought very quickly but I still super super love them to this day! But anyway, moving on because this post isn't about what I bought in Japan hehe :P

I was going to place an order for the items I wanted at 20% off, but then I thought I'd try my luck with their secret shop sale. The Buy 2+ and get 60% off your order deal is too good to pass QAQ

banner for the sale!

Unfortunately I only jumped on it on Saturday, and of course by then, heaps of stuff had already sold out. The pair of shoes I wanted the most was down to the last size and color too! Thankfully I snagged one in time though~! So glad I tried for the secret sale, because I saved a lot of money! Well I saved them from the items I wanted, and then proceeded to spend them buying more items LOL but that's ok xD

To enter the secret sale, you need an account on Tokyo Kawaii Life which took me a couple of minutes to set up. Since I had an existing Tenso account, I had a shipping address ready for use. I think you must set up an address to start using the account?

Anyway, here are the stock photos of what I bought:

top

dress

cardi (much needed for my wardrobe)

skirt w/ detachable suspenders

skirt

dress

wedges (pink colorway, though the photo doesn't make it look very pink at all)

dress

The last dress is actually from the outlet, not the secret sale. It was so cheap anyway that it didn't matter lol. Also that dress is Penderie, and everything else is Liz Lisa.

There were also some other cute items I really wanted, but was too late to buy T_T they're sitting in my wishlist right now, but I don't think I'll ever get them. The stock status says they're sold out :'(

dress

dress

dress

dress (Liz Lisa x My Melody collab ❤)

These were 57% off outside of secret sale anyway

Similar design to the shoes I bought, but the pink seems to be more pink o.O anyway it's cute!

Now that I look back on what I bought, only 2 items were things I always wanted. I actually just wanted to buy dresses but somehow ended up with all sorts of random stuff lol. I'm still pretty sad that I won't get the dresses in my wishlist, they're just so beautiful QAQ

Everything is going to take a few days to arrive at Tenso, then comes the dreaded international shipping lol. I think the package will be around 4kg, and Tenso shipping is nowhere near as cheap as the shipping service I use for taobao...><

Hopefully everything will arrive mid/late August, just in time for spring in NZ! Yay!!~
edit: I may put up a post when all my items have arrived, but I don't have a mannequin and I suck at layouts and I just feel like my outfit photo quality is shoddy so I may not. I'll see ><

Now, my broke ass needs to get back to work. Uni work calls!


=^.^=

First outings this semester!

Uni started this week, but I am sooo totally not ready to get down to business!

It's like, every holiday needs to have at least a week of doing absolutely zilch, and I just haven't had that yet haha

So this week, I've been meeting up with friends here and there and just catching up with everyone and eating way too much QAQ

Warning: much of this post is just food photos! X'D

On Monday, LL and I revisited Sushi Factory on Vulcan Lane (Auckland CBD). They had pink umeshu!!

Ok we didn't buy it because we went at lunch time and we both had to get back to uni in the afternoon. But the bottles are really pretty, no??? Hopefully we can try it another night, but we've planned for a Sake night which will (fingers crossed) go ahead next week. I need hot sake in my life <3

Sushi Factory also had some dodgy as sushi on the conveyor belt when we first got there... Honestly conveyor belt sushi is not that great in NZ. There just aren't enough customers for the sushi to continually be fresh! Not to mention the prices are like, what.

Sketchy as heck black medium-rare beef.

I ordered some kind of fried crumbed chicken katsudon thing which made me miss Japan cause it was (as typically) hella expensive lol

Oh hey it looks good in the photo! XD

We were actually supposed to go to Mamak (a Malaysian restaurant at Chancery) but we got there and it turns out the place is closed on Mondays wtf.

*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*

I ended up going there (Mamak) on Tuesday with Tenshi instead, and it's a really nice place!! Super small but absolutely lovely in every way~

The laksa I ordered is really photogenic right? \(//∇//)\

Portion sizes are actually very decent. This bowl was over 1/3 the width of our 1 person wide table so it's really massive and the contents appear small. I could barely finish it, that's how big the bowl was!

*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*

Finally found a chance to catch up with VYL this (friday) morning after what feels like forever. We checked out Federal Delicatessen which is possibly the only American Diner-esque eatery in Auckland or New Zealand for that matter. I was really excited for their poutine as it's the first time I have seen poutine in NZ, but unfortunately it failed on many levels. In particular, the chips weren't even done as well as a regular fish and chip shop, and that gravy was just SAD.

The Toasted Reuben that VYL ordered was pretty good, but it's a tad expensive and honestly I don't think it's possible to screw up on a pastrami and swiss sandwich in rye bread with sauerkraut (which I'm pretty sure is canned). 

Surprisingly the place was really packed when we left at noon too! It's probably because the diner is right opposite the sky tower. What a convenient location...

Interiors are pretty cool. The waitresses wear cute little dresses too! And it's nice and clean.

Oh yeah, an uncle sitting at an outside table waved me and asked if I had a good meal .-.

I don't get waved down often, so it was a bit odd. I'm convinced that man is the boss in disguise, but VYL thinks he's just a random hobo. What hobo would be allowed to occupy a table (for hours and hours just to smoke) at a diner that sets such high prices though?? He's definitely the boss! >:|

*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*

Also today, Hana Emi Doll members planned for a meetup in the evening, but Pat and AP couldn't make it in the end so it was just me and Roxy ;-;

We went corset shopping as planned, and actually ended up buying corsets! I originally wanted to look and try first, but somehow I got swept away and ordered one lol *no self control*

Roxy's corset was already made, but they didn't have one to the right length for me so I ordered one. It's going to take about 2 months for it to be ready!! 2 long painstaking months to wait </3

I can't wait to start waist training eep!!! >w<

Anyway we were planning to go ktv afterwards, but since it was just the two of us, we decided to go shopping (for lashes at Ippondo), pool (at KISS which is surprisingly in pretty good condition compared to the other pool places around), and dinner at Nol Bu Ne!

Speaking of shopping, on the way to Ippondo we walked past this weird art display on the walkway! When I was in Zurich there was a super awkward and view obstructing crane as an art display in the middle of the city. I was telling Roxy about it when BAM out appears a random art display in NZ wtf

It's a couple of kiwis or ducks under a danbo looking box @-@

I have no idea what it's about, but the entire thing is rock solid. You can find it on Queen St just up the road from the White House, in front of Myers Park.

Ok back to dinner! I ordered fish roe soup thingy which is supposed to be spicy but I think I've developed an immunity to chemical chilli </3 

Perhaps BT chicken (super super spicy BBQ chicken wings) killed my tastebuds last semester after all lol

Their potato is just as sweet and perfect as ever. I usually visit the place just for the purpose of having their sweet potato lol. It's the first side dish on the left and doesn't look great, but tastes delicioussssss!

After dinner, we made a quick trip to daiso for my cheap but really good to use daiso eyelashes haha. I buy the really sparse long lashes with a thick band from Daiso as a base, to get my lashes to face up (and create a round eye shape). It saves me having to curl my lashes hehe. Although the effect isn't quite the same, but at 8am on the way to uni with very little sleep I honestly don't care~

We thought really really hard about what we could do after that, but apart from drinking and/or clubbing there was nothing else to do. The weather today was also ridiculously typical of NZ with sun showers, sudden downpours and random gusts of massive winds so we couldn't even venture out on to the viaduct. I can't wait till shops start opening to 9pm as a regular thing. We need it in NZ. Need it bad.

I haven't done much uni work this week, so I'll be really busy next week putting my life back together. Hopefully I can start releasing my travel posts soon though! They're going to be hella long with wayy too many photos~

Don't worry, not many photos will have my face xD

=^.^=

Review: Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream for Oily & Combination Skin

Hi everyone!

I had typed up half of this before leaving for vacation, but just didn't get around to releasing the post, so here it is now, before I start on my travel posts! >.<

This is my second product review on a product sent for trial by BeautyReview. Roxy actually received her one (read her review here) a day before and I was really worried I wouldn't receive mine before I leave! Thanfully I did get it the day after I saw Roxy's review, pheww ~

As it is, I don't have time to try it on my face anyway, so you'll just see the massive color contrast on the back of my hand hahaha (you will see. It's pretty dramatic.)

First, some photos of the packaging~

Listed benefits:

1. Hydrates for 24hrs
2. Evens tone
3. Corrects blemishes
4. Boosts healthy glow
5. UV Protection SPF 15

There is a lot of room in the box for the tube to roll around in: -1

I quite like this long thin tube style. It's a lot easier to carry in a small makeup pouch compare to the big blocky tubes. Strange that mine not only came in a different kind of packaging to Roxy's, but mine is 40mL- less than her 50mL tube! I wonder if the prices are different too?? It's clearly the same line of product...

And also, when I found the product on Garnier USA's site, it's 60mL. Feeling a bit ripped off right about now.

I squeezed some before realising I need to shake it lol. Why do bb creams and makeup base look so gross if you don't shake it every time OTL

As you can see, the tone is a bit pinker than my skin tone. I like it though!

My lovely tan ❤

The product covers all the way from my forearm to the knuckles at the end of my metacarpels (you can see the difference right??) the color is very even: +1!!!

The lines on my hands are quite visible, but that may be due to the tanner skin tone. I haven't tanned in a while but when I observe tanned people their skin seems to be quite liney. My skin feels silky after applying, though a little dusty too! As usual, BB cream isn't as sticky or absorbing as well as foundation does on my skin.

That color difference. Lol.

Does it do what it says it will do? I don't think it's hydrating at all, but it definitely does even my skin tone, correct blemishes (though you can still see my little mole or freckle thing), and gives my skin a healthy glow. It glow very well in fact, to the point where it almost looks a bit shiny. But that's what people call dewy skin, no?

Anyway, with regards to the SPF 15, I think it's always good to have SPF protection in all your products and even SPF 15 is better than no SPF protection!

Of the product effectiveness tests that Garnier conducted, it was also hydration that failed a bit compared to the other stats (read here).

Final Ratings!

Texture: 3 (dusty)
Scent: 4 (no distinctive scent, so it's good!)
Absorption:2 (doesn't feel like I absorbed anything at all, so I don't think it hydrates as claimed)
Effectiveness: 3 (looks pretty good when applied, but doesn't last long)
Overall: 3

I look forward to using the rest of this product for kurogal photoshoots, but otherwise I'm not tan enough to go outside wearing this lol. If the product is really cheap in your country, then it may be worth giving a go but in NZ, Garnier is a little more expensive than a typical 'drugstore brand' so I personally won't be repurchasing.


=^.^=

Review: GEO Flower Lotus Gray

Hai hai ~

Here is my second grey lens review of A/W 2014 (and last of this season)!

This time I decided to try a grey lens with a really bold pattern, for kurogal/oraora style! Even though I have never dressed oraora, and I don't think I could with the wardrobe I have (lol), the style is pretty awesome so perhaps I could incorporate some of it into my daily fashion with awesome lenses!

As usual, I went to GEO/EOS on my hunt for lenses. In the end, these are the two brands I absolutely trust in the market. There are so many new brands coming out in droves, it's hard to imagine that any would have developed a good formula, or one that's better than such established brands right?? (I bought these before EyeCandy's kindly sent me the Royal Vision Bella 4 Tone Gray)

I always wanted to try a pair of lenses that had a pattern like diamonds on it, even though the design is really in-your-face and super unnatural ><

Now, on to the review!

Specs

Power: 0.00 ~ -8.00

Diameter: 15.0mm

Base Curve: 8.7mm

Water Content: 38%

1 Year Disposable

Stock photo. Again. Sorry QAQ

Even though these lenses appear to have a small amount of space in the middle for the iris, it's never obstructed my vision. The lenses feel a little stiff (compared to EOS Ice series), but they're not really drying. It's just quite noticeable that you're wearing lenses. Sometimes with the ice series I really do forget why my vision is so clear without glasses on (lol)!

I think perhaps contacts with large black limbal rings appear smaller than they actually are? The enlargement is not as much as I would expect from an 15.0mm. It feels more like...14.5~14.8 perhaps?

They don't look 15.0mm...

I guess in terms of natural-ness, it's actually pretty good for lenses with a diamond-like pattern. The light grey pattern, though opaque, is not as obvious as I thought it would be since all the colors are in small specks and there are a few shades of grey. Especially since the edge of my iris is not that obvious as the grey is rather opaque, and the pattern diamond-like anyway. However, the inner edge where the grey ends is quite obvious, which I dislike.

Ratings

Design: 5/5 - probably the most natural diamond pattern lenses on the market?

Comfort: 4/5 - feels a little thick

Enlargement: 3/5 - not as much as I was expecting

Overall: 4/5

These lenses would look great with really heavy eye makeup ora ora/rokku style though!

Like this. right? right???? xD

Selfies -

The design is super nice from far away ~

Can't see the edge of my iris at all!

I just wanted to show my hair accessories tbh ^^;

All in all, these lenses were fun to try, but I think (for now) I will personally stick with purchasing teary type lenses. They're just so much easier to work with all types of looks ><

=^.^=