Manga Classics: Les Misérables (Victor Hugo, Stacy King, Tszmei Lee)

Synopsis:
The first release in UDON's new Manga Classics line!
Adapted for stage and screen, loved by millions, Victor Hugo's classic novel of love & tragedy during the French Revolution is reborn in this fantastic new manga edition!
The gorgeous art of TseMei Lee brings to life the tragic stories of Jean Valjean, Inspector Javert, and the beautiful Fantine, in this epic adaptation of Les Miserables!

Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest opinion.
I must admit that I have never read a manga, but when I saw this one I knew I couldn't pass it out. Although I have not read the original book yet, I have seen many adaptations and I am glad I found this one.
After a few minutes of trying to work my way into the vibe of manga books, as well as its peculiar way of reading, I finally started it and I didn't put it down until I finished it a few hours later.
I found it to be a very enjoyable read and a great way to ease yourself into the written world of Les Misérables, if you don't want to start with the original monster of a book right away.
I must say, though, that you should have at least a basic knowledge of the story if you want to read this (watch the movies, the musical or other), so it is a lot easier to understand and follow the fast paced plot line.
I believe this was a very well done adaptation of this classic tale. Even though some parallel plots were left unwritten, it showed, in my opinion, exactly the necessary and what makes this a beautiful story.
As for the art, it was just amazing. Not perfect, but amazing. I believe some characters could have benefited if they had been made in a different way. Still, in general, they felt very real... so real it brought tears to my eyes a couple of times.
Finally, without the musical element, we were left, in this book, with an inspirational story, rich with love, loss and regret. I think that is what makes it timeless and what will make this book stay for generations of manga readers to come.

The comeback kid: Endgame - The Calling sampler (James Frey)

Synopsis:
Twelve thousand years ago, they came. They descended from the sky amid smoke and fire, and created humanity and gave us rules to live by. They needed gold and they built our earliest civilizations to mine it for them. When they had what they needed, they left. But before they left, they told us someday they would come back, and when they did, a game would be played. A game that would determine our future.

This is Endgame.

For ten thousand years the lines have existed in secret. The 12 original lines of humanity. Each had to have a Player prepared at all times. They have trained generation after generation after generation. In weapons, languages, history, tactics, disguise assassination. Together the players are everything: strong, kind, ruthless, loyal, smart, stupid, ugly, lustful, mean, fickle, beautiful, calculating, lazy, exuberant, weak. They are good and evil. Like you. Like all.

This is Endgame.

When the game starts, the players will have to find three keys. The keys are somewhere on earth. The only rule of their Endgame is that there are no rules. Whoever finds the keys first wins the game. Endgame: The Calling is about the hunt for the first key. And just as it tells the story of the hunt for a hidden key, written into the book is a puzzle. It invites readers to play their own Endgame and to try to solve the puzzle. Whoever does will open a case filled with gold. Alongside the puzzle will be a revolutionary mobile game built by Google’s Niantic Labs that will allow you to play a real-world version of Endgame where you can join one of the lines and do battle with people around you.
Will exuberance beat strength? Stupidity top kindness? Laziness thwart beauty? Will the winner be good or evil? There is only one way to find out.

Play.
Survive.
Solve.
People of Earth.
Endgame has begun.

Review:
I was invited by Netgalley to read the sampler of this book and give my opinion on it.
So, first of all, I need to say that this is an amazing tease. Usually, I probably would be really mad because this, being a sampler, consisted of the first 70 pages. But it was brilliant, and well done, I want to buy it right now and read it.
The writing pulled me in from the very fist page, literally, when the author explained how this idea came to be. It was compelling, amazing and adventurous.
The multiple POVs give the story, from the very beginning, this sence of internationality and adventure. You know this is going to be an epic tale from the point you travel around the world, looking at the very tragedies that started the Endgame (the game and the book), on.
As I got closer and closer to the last page of the sampler, I found myself wishing I actually had the real book in my hands, and it kills me to think I still have to wait God knows how long until I am able to buy it.
From what I can tell, it is going to be a fantastic fast-passed piece of YA literature like I have never read before, not to mention that the marketing surrounding this book deserves the biggest of big awards: from including booktubers in the adventure, to Twitter hashtags that show us maps, to the Twitter accounts for each of the characters, and to the grand prize. It all gives this book a kind of publicity unlike anything ever done.
Sadly, I see a lot of people judging this book wrong. Some mention James Frey, others compare it to The Hunger Games, and so on, without even giving it a chance. To the first, I must quote Catriona (LittleBookOwl)'s review on Goodreads: sometimes, it is necessary to separate the art from the artist and appreciate the thing for what it actually is. To the latter, even though I have only read a small portion of it, I need to advise you not to follow that line of tought: they are completely different stories that have nothing to do with one another.
Finally, I need to admit that I believe this book will be remembered. It will cause an impact on readers and non-readers alike, and I am sure we will be talking about it for a long time... or at least until the puzzle is solved and the Endgame is over.


Authors:
James Frey is originally from Cleveland. All four of his books, A Million Little Pieces, My Friend Leonard, Bright Shiny Morning and The Final Testament of the Holy Bible, were international bestsellers. He is also one of the authors that share the pseudonym Pittacus Lore, author of the Lorien Legacies.
Nils Johnson-Shelton is the coauthor of the international bestseller No Angel: My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angels. He is also the author of the Full Fathom Five series for tweens.