Claymore Vol 1 by Norihiro Yagi

Pages (Paperback): 208 pages

Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; 1 edition

Released: April 4, 2006

Description: A Claymore - a female warrior named for the sword she carries - travels from medieval village to village to destroy Yoma, monsters who disguise themselves as humans and who are almost impossible to kill. Claymores are half-humans, half-demons who willingly transformed themselves by mixing their blood with monster's blood. Claire, nicknamed silver-eyed killer, is such a powerful Claymore, she can slay a Yoma using only one hand. But she must constantly struggle to keep from becoming a monster herself.

Review: Claire is a Claymore, a contract demon killer. She goes from town to town killing the monsters that are causing problems. There are only four chapters in this volume, so it's simply an introduction into the world of Claymores. Their world is cruel and bloody. In order to fight the monsters they need to become them, but the more they do this the more they start to lose their human side.

Grade: 9 lines out of 10

The Twin's Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Pages (Hardcover): 400 pages

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

Released: August 31, 2010

Description: Lucy Sexton is stunned when a disheveled woman appears at the door one day…a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to Lucy's own beautiful mother. It turns out the two women are identical twins, separated at birth, and raised in dramatically different circumstances. Lucy's mother quickly resolves to give her less fortunate sister the kind of life she has never known. And the transformation in Aunt Helen is indeed remarkable. But when Helen begins to imitate her sister in every way, even Lucy isn't sure at times which twin is which. Can Helen really be trusted, or does her sweet face mask a chilling agenda?

Review: I've heard of Lauren Baratz-Logsted before, I mean I remember when Crazy/Beautiful was all around the bloggersphere. But for some reason, I didn't equate that Lauren to the Lauren that wrote this book. In any case, this is a fantastic book filled with twists, turns, and then some. You start thinking one way and find out you're completely wrong at the end. Loved this!

Grade: 10 lines out of 10