The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor 3/5 🌠

"Never assume, Eddie. Question everything. Always look beyond the obvious."

≛ From the very first page, the story reels you in. But honestly? I wasn’t a fan of the writing style. Maybe it’s just me—after all, this is my review. 🤣

"There are some things in life you can alter—your weight, your appearance, even your name—but there are others that wishing and trying and working hard can never make any difference to. Those things are the ones that shape us. Not the things we can change, but the ones we can’t."

≛ The endless plot twists kept coming, but instead of being thrilling, they felt chaotic—messy in a way that wasn’t enjoyable.

"That’s how it is when you’re kids. You can let things go. It gets harder as you get older."

≛ To give credit where it’s due, I read the whole thing in one day. I was ready to rate it 3.5 stars because of the shocking reveals and the fact that I couldn’t guess who the culprit was. But then… I remembered the dog. OKAY.

"That’s the thing with adults. Sometimes it doesn’t matter what you say; they only hear what they want to hear."

≛ And that “friendship” everyone talks about? It’s nothing but lies. Honestly, I don’t even think they’re real friends—more like people stuck with each other because they have no choice. It gave me IT by Stephen King vibes (their so-called friendship not the entire story), but not in a good way. There’s a resemblance, but it’s the weird, bad kind.

"People can hurt you without even realizing they’re doing it."

≛ Will I read another book by this author? Probably not. But who knows? Read it at your own risk. 😉 It’s entertaining, sure, but ultimately not for me—and pretty forgettable.

ᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙ

ᳮ In 1986, Eddie and his friends are just kids on the verge of adolescence. They spend their days biking around their sleepy English village and looking for any taste of excitement they can get.

ᳮ The chalk men are their secret code: little chalk stick figures they leave for one another as messages only they can understand. But then a mysterious chalk man leads them right to a dismembered body, and nothing is ever the same.

ᳮ In 2016, Eddie is fully grown, and thinks he's put his past behind him. But then he gets a letter in the mail, containing a single chalk stick figure.

ᳮ When it turns out that his friends got the same message, they think it could be a prank . . . until one of them turns up dead.

ᳮ That's when Eddie realizes that saving himself means finally figuring out what really happened all those years ago.

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ: 12th of January 2025

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 2/50

#readingwrapup #thechalkman #cjtudor #mystery #thriller #suspense #crime #horror #randomunbosom #bibliobibuli #bookstagram #2025reads #bookwhore

NATSUME'S BOOK OF FRIENDS SEASON 7

ლ⁠(⁠・⁠﹏⁠・⁠ლ⁠) Hidden gem alert! First anime of the year, woohoo! 🎉 And many more to come!

ლ⁠(⁠・⁠﹏⁠・⁠ლ⁠) The beauty of this anime lies in its simplicity. It's so relaxing and enjoyable. No extravagant events, but once you bond with the characters from season 1, you'll wish the episodes were endless.

ლ⁠(⁠・⁠﹏⁠・⁠ლ⁠) Takashi's character growth throughout the seasons is impressive. Dog's Circle still delights me, and Nyanko/Madara never fails to make me laugh. I'm super curious about Seiji, Kaname, and Suuichi.

ლ⁠(⁠・⁠﹏⁠・⁠ლ⁠) Fingers crossed for season 8! The journey feels unfinished. So many questions, especially about Reiko Natsume. And can we talk about the OST? It's incredible! OMG, and the singer's voice? Swoon-worthy! ❤️

ლ⁠(⁠・⁠﹏⁠・⁠ლ⁠) The last two episodes almost had me in tears. I wish I had friends like Ayakashi or Yōkai. 😊 I also wish that Takashi's family and friends knew about his abilities so he could share his adventures with them.

ლ⁠(⁠・⁠﹏⁠・⁠ლ⁠) It’s a gem that I highly recommend to everyone!

The Restaurant of Lost Recipes - Hisashi Kashiwai

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 4/5 ✮

‘You appreciate things differently when you’re older, don’t you? Food is never just about flavour. It’s something we feel – and in different ways, depending on where we are in life.’ ♡

❦ A memorable, unique, and heartwarming easy read.

❦ While it’s nothing extravagant, I find it incredibly enjoyable. This is the second book in The Kamogawa Food Detectives series, but you can read it as a standalone.

❦ It retains the same unique storytelling. The descriptions of the food are so vivid, you’ll find yourself craving the dishes mentioned—especially if, like me, you’re a fan of Japanese cuisine. It's mouthwatering! Haha

❦ Apart from the food, each story is lighthearted. It feels like you’re sharing a meal with Koishi and Nagare at their place. The father-son duo is endearing, and I love how Koishi's late mother is always included in the stories.

❦ This book brings good vibes, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a quick, delightful, cozy, and healing read. The representations of the food and characters are very unique. Highly recommended!

▌│█║▌║▌║ - ║▌║▌║█│▌

⌘ In Kyoto, Chef Nagare and his daughter Koishi run the Kamogawa Diner, a unique restaurant that helps recreate lost recipes from their customers' most cherished memories.

⌘ Using their culinary skills and keen detective work, they bring back flavors and dishes that hold special significance for their patrons.

⌘ Each customer's story adds a touch of magic and nostalgia to the cozy, heartwarming atmosphere of the diner.

⌘ The novel celebrates the power of food, community, and the healing nature of cherished memories. •⩊• 𓎩

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ: 13Dec24

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 108/12

#readingwrapup #therestaurantoflostrecipes #hisashikashiwai #japaneseliterature #cozymystery #contemporary #food #2024reads #asianliterature #randomunbosom #bookwhore

Demon Slayer (Kimetsu No Yaiba Volume 1 to 23) - Koyoharu Gotouge

Rating: 9/10🌟

●◉ Finally! I found the strength to finish this manga. I put it off for so long because I knew many characters would die. The journey with these beloved characters was intense, and I teared up when almost all my favorite characters died.

●◉ The artwork isn't as grand or beautiful compared to some other mangas I've read, but I'm sure it will be amazing once they release the final parts as an anime! That's what I'm really looking forward to!

●◉ It truly deserves 5 stars, but I can't give it a full rating because of the sacrifices made by the characters.

●◉ There's so much I want to say, but I might spoil it for you. Haha. One of the things I found frustrating is that Nezuko wasn't given a chance to show her full potential. Why?! Oh well, that's just my opinion. Haha.

●◉ For me, it's one of the best mangas of all time. Highly recommended! I'm not going to tell you if it has a good ending because you should suffer too. lol. Go read it! 😊

✿•◦ S Y N O P S I S ✿•◦

⸙ The setting is Taisho era Japan. Tanjirou is a kindhearted young boy who lived peacefully with his family as a coal seller.

⸙ Their normal life changes completely when his family is slaughtered by demons. The only other survivor, Tanjirou's younger sister Nezuko, has become a ferocious demon.

⸙ In order to return Nezuko to normal and get revenge on the demon that killed their family, the two of them depart on a journey. From a young talent, an adventure tale of blood and swords begins!

Genres: Action, Adventure, Shounen, Demons, Historical, Supernatural 

Reading challenge: 107/12 🌻

#manga #demonslayer #kimetsunoyaiba #shounen #demons #supernatural #koyoharugotouge #bibliobibuli #randomunbosom #readingwrapup2024

The Fable - The Second Contact Volume 1 to 9 - Katsuhisa Minami

❹/❺ 🌠

≛ What an intense cliffhanger! I'm eager for more of The Fable's narrative.

≛ Although the first installment was superior, this second part of The Fable is certainly worth the read.

≛ It remains full of action. I genuinely hope they produce a season 2 of the anime. Please! The storyline is simply amazing.

≛ All the characters experience growth. It's entertaining, and there are moments that will make you laugh.

≛ In this part, they also come to appreciate their lives and the people who matter to them. It's truly moving.

≛ Don't worry, Minami, your work has brought me comfort. Great job! 💚

ᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙ

ᳮ The story is set about one year after the ending to The Fable. Akira and Youko are forced to abort their latest mission due to the Covid-19 pandemic and return to Osaka to continue their quiet life as regular civilians, but the peace is not to last.

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ: 06Dec24

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞: 84/12

#readingwrapup #thefablethesecondcontact #katsuhisaminami #manga #animeadaptation #ecchi #crime #mafia #randomunbosom #bibliobibuli #bookstagram #2024reads #bookwhore

The Fable - Katsuhisa Minami

❹/❺ 🌠

≛ The plot is incredibly original, and the characters are fantastic—even the baddies are well-done. It's action-packed from beginning to end. Once you start reading it, you can't put it down.

≛ I also really like the art style and illustrations. It never gets boring because, despite the harsh scenes, the characters, particularly the major ones, Akira and Yoko, are entertaining and hilarious.

≛ I read this because I was left hanging after the first season of the anime. I'm eagerly looking forward to Season 2 next year. This manga is one of the greatest I've read this year. I'm also excited to read The Fable: The Second Contact. Next, I'll look into Sakamoto Days, which will be adapted into an anime in January of next year.

≛ All things considered, it’s addicting and enjoyable to read. Highly recommended!

ᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙᚙ

ᳮ When you're the infamous prodigy hitman known only as “Fable,” many things come easy. Being a normal person, however, isn't one of them. In fact, being told that he can't kill anyone for a while may just be the hardest job Fable's ever taken.

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ: 17Nov24

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞: 73/12

#readingwrapup #thefable #katsuhisaminami #manga #animeadaptation #ecchi #crime #mafia #randomunbosom #bibliobibuli #bookstagram #2024reads #bookwhore

The Crucifix Killer - Chris Carter (Robert Hunter #1)

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 ✮✮✮✮

❝Catching the killer will soothe the pain, but it won't erase what you've seen.❞

❦ A gripping and gut-wrenching story.

❦ Surprisingly good. I'm still in shock; I just finished reading this book. It blew my mind.

❦ The chapters aren't long, but everything in them makes sense. At first, readers might think it's boring, but everything is relevant to the whole story. The details of the events are really described. And every chapter ends with a cliffhanger. That's what makes it a page-turner. You want to know what happens next, which really hooks you.

❦ If you know me, you know I enjoy graphic and brutal events, whether it's in a TV series, book, or movie. The gorier, the better. And this book did not disappoint. The torture and crime were just intense. Whew. You'll just be left sighing. Which I absolutely love!

❦ I can't help but compare any book I read in this genre to my favorite author, Karin. And yes, Karin is still my number one. No one beats her writing style for me, as I've read over 20 of her books.

❦ Sometimes I think I'm a bit of a psychopath in my thinking. lol By about 40%, I had already guessed who the serial killer was. And I was right. So I thought I'd give this a middle rating like 3/5, but oh boy, I wasn't expecting that the author had a great twist at the end!!! Damn it. I didn't see that incredible twist coming! Kudos to the author! Not bad for his first novel!

❦ I'm ready to read book 2 of this series. It's not for every bookworm. If you're sensitive and don't like violence or bloody scenes, just skip this. But for those of us who are craving crime stories, this is a good book to read! Enjoy! HAPPY HUNTING! 😊🔪☠️🩸

▌│█║▌║▌║ - ║▌║▌║█│▌

⌘ When the body of a young woman is discovered in a derelict cottage in the middle of Los Angeles National Forest, Homicide Detective Robert Hunter finds himself entering a horrific and recurring nightmare. Naked, strung from two parallel wooden posts, the victim was sadistically tortured before meeting an excruciatingly painful death.

⌘ All the skin has been ripped from her face - while she was still alive. On the nape of her neck has been carved a strange double-cross: the signature of a psychopath known as the Crucifix Killer. But that's impossible. Because two years ago, the Crucifix Killer was caught and executed. Could this therefore be a copycat killer? Or could the unthinkable be true?

⌘ Is the real killer still out there, ready to embark once again on a vicious and violent killing spree, selecting his victims seemingly at random, taunting Robert Hunter with his inability to catch him? Hunter and his rookie partner are about to enter a nightmare beyond imagining. ⚰️

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ: 11/03/24

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 64/12

#bookstagram #readingwrapup #bookreview #thecrucifixkiller #roberthunter1 #bookseries #chriscarter #thriller #crime #mystery #fiction #suspense #randomunbosom #bibliobibuli #bookwhore