Customer Reviews

Psycho Busters: The Novel Book Two

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With this second novel in the original "Psycho Busters" the writing is either better this time around, or Katy Bridges, who is the translator, is doing a better job. This is because this is just a better novel all around than the first in the series; in writing, in pacing, and in plotting, even in characterization. Still, some things remain the same, Kakeru is still thick as a brick, Joi, Kaito, Ayano, Xio Long, are still attending Kakeru's school, the Greenhouse is still actively after them, this time sending a five-person attack team, and Hiyama is still the woman they depend on.

On the other hand there have been some serious changes. Our heroes and the novel's villains have powers that have increased significantly, the battle scenes are a bit better, Hiyama has contacted her ex-employers and is now working for reinstatement, and Kakeru is in love with the innocent and lovely Sayaka Mamidori, although it's obvious that Ayano is more than interested.

This second novel has a slightly grittier feel to it, as seen in the novel's beginning when a young girl is bloodily murdered inside a police station. The battle scenes are way better staged, and villains Sho Amamiya and Maya Kasuga make a return, and it's not until the end that Aoki makes Maya a vastly improved and subtly impressive villain. Hoo-boy, watch out for her.

We find out what Kakeru's true power is and why he is so desirable as a Category One, and an ex-villain makes a return to join Kakeru's side in this conflict. We also get new characters like the evil thuggish Jun Tudoroki, and policeman Mamoru Kamichika who is also dating one of Kakeru's sisters.

Even Rando Ayamine's artwork has gotten better this time around. There are fourteen illustrations this time around, and they range from ordinary to very good, with illos on pages eighty, eighty-six, and one hundred and eighteen being very, very good, and the illustration on page sixty-eight being just plain funny.

There are some very good twists in this superhero novel, including a real mystery that is so buried that you don't even notice it's there until it's solved and you realize just how important it is to the novel's plot. As usual, this novel ends on a cliffhanger that will make you want to pick up and read the third book right now.