Manga Review: A Witch's Printing Office, Volume 1, by Mochinchi and Yasuhiro Miyama

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: December 2019

Volumes: 4+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Mika Kamiya was a completely average girl on her way back home from Japan's biggest amateur comics and book-selling event, Comic Market...until she got whisked off to a parallel fantasy world! To get back home, Mika is going to have to look for transportation magic at the magic tome-selling event, Magic Market!

Review:

This is about a girl protagonist who has been transported to another world. Mika is from modern day Tokyo, only she's been transported to a DnD-type world, where everyone knows at least some type of magic. In her efforts to find a way back home, and since she was on her way to Comiket when she was transported, she starts up the Magic Market and her very own printing press. It's quite innovative for a girl on her own in a new world.

I didn't really get much of a feel for the actual characters. Mika is okay, a little odd and rather normal. She is pretty smart, quick on her feet, and optimistic. She has the witch Claire at her side all the time, who seems to just follow along to humor what Mika is doing, in a nice way. We meet a handful of other characters. Broadway, the knight who guards Mika and seems to admire her, was sweet. There's a tiny bit of fanservice, but mostly this was a safe, more pg volume.

I'm not a big high fantasy reader, and this was a little slow and word-heavy, but it was kind of fun and very pretty. It's an interesting mix of DnD, isekai, and comic convention that I definitely don't mind.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, Yen Press, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Kigurumi Guardians, Volume 3, by Lily Hoshino

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: December 2017

Volumes: 3 (Hiatus)

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Lily Hoshino, the beloved artist behind Mawaru Penguindrum, offers her cute and twisted take on the magical girl genre. You probably never thought Sailor Moon needed more hot older guys in full-body mascot costumes, but Kigurumi Guardians will bring you around!

Hakka's second year of middle school was dull as it could be, until a suspicious cow mascot ("kigurumi") shows up in her room, holding a sign that reads, "My Name Is Ginger." But this isn't (just?) a stalker, it's a magical being that's come to convince Hakka (and her friends) to become Guardians, and save the world! Hakka is understandably confused, until she's suddenly attacked, and a beautiful young man leaps in to save her. Can this handsome knight and the weird kigurumi be... one and the same?

Review:

The beginning of this volume concludes Nobara's plot. The girls on her choir team don't like her, and then when they're used against her, Nobara has to face some realities. After that, we get to know Satsuki better. He has a rather lonely home life, which is helped with Fennel being there.

Aside from that, there was a fun chapter where they all go out shopping together, and we get to see their more casual dynamics. All of this leading up to the cliffhanger, as we're starting to learn that Hakka might be more powerful than she realizes.

I really like the dynamics of the characters. Each couple fits together really well, and I like how the kigurumi are there for their person how they need to be. I really like Satsuki and Fennel, in particular. I enjoy the humor, and the main plot is intriguing, though a little odd. My only wish were that the three main characters were older, because they really act like they should be in high school, and when I'm reminded of the age difference it bugs me. But it also bugs me that it doesn't feel like there should be such a huge gap.

That cliffhanger is rude, and it looks like it's going to be a long while for the next volume, still. I'm not sure why, though, if the authors sick or something, or if it's being discontinued? I hope not, because I really enjoy this series.

Manga Review: The Girl from the Other Side: Siuil, a Run, Volume 1, by Nagabe

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Seven Seas

Release Date: January 2017

Volumes: 8+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Once upon a time...

In a land far away, there were two kingdoms: the Outside, where twisted beasts roamed that could curse with a touch, and the Inside, where humans lived in safety and peace. The girl and the beast should never have met, but when they do, a quiet fairytale begins.

This is a story of two people--one human, one inhuman--who linger in the hazy twilight that separates night from day.

Review:

I cannot believe it has taken me so long to start this series. I heard all the good things about it, all the recommendations. No, I don't know what's wrong with me, honestly.

Shiva was an Insider, and she doesn't know why the town is empty now; all she knows is that this kind Outsider whom she calls Teacher is taking care of her, and her aunt should be coming to pick her up anytime now. So until then, she lives on happily with him, going around the village and finding food and things.

The dynamic of this just gets to me so hard. Teacher is living on in this little cottage, and he's taking care of Shiva, making food for her and making sure that she doesn't touch him. Because if she touches him, she'll be cursed. He doesn't believe anyone is coming for her, and he feels terrible and doesn't know how to tell her that.

Honestly, Teacher is extremely crush-worthy. I love him. He is the ultimate sweetheart, makeshift dad characters, and I love him. And then Shiva is a sweet little girl, happy to go on with her life, and Teacher just wants her to be innocent and happy for as long as possible.

There's clear dark tones throughout this. We discover why the Insiders left, and that they're hunting for the Outsiders, as their land is getting smaller as more villages are supposedly infected with the curse.

Even without the cliffhanger I want more of this series. I'm already a huge fan of Shiva and Teacher, and I want to see more of their story, whether it's slice-of-life or focused on the serious plot. I just want to read more of this. The artwork is gorgeous, the themes and tones of the story and characters are so good; I'm hooked.

Novel Review: A Monster Calls: Inspired by an Idea from Siobhan Dowd, by Patrick Ness and Illustrated by Jim Kay

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy, grief

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Release Date: 2013

Spoilers?: Light.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Teaser Tuesday.

Goodreads Synopsis:

An unflinching, darkly funny, and deeply moving story of a boy, his seriously ill mother, and an unexpected monstrous visitor.

At seven minutes past midnight, thirteen-year-old Conor wakes to find a monster outside his bedroom window. But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting-- he's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the nightmare he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments. The monster in his backyard is different. It's ancient. And wild. And it wants something from Conor. Something terrible and dangerous. It wants the truth. From the final idea of award-winning author Siobhan Dowd-- whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself-- Patrick Ness has spun a haunting and darkly funny novel of mischief, loss, and monsters both real and imagined.

The Cover:

The cover is dark and haunting, using the same artwork as throughout the book, which I think is actually very fitting. Thinking back on the book, it doesn't particularly feel like those adjectives, and yet the artwork feels very fitting to the story anyway.

Review:

Conor's mother has cancer, again, and she's doing worse than she used to. At the same time, Conor's being bullied at school, and now his grandmother is visiting again, and they don't really get along, either. During all of this, Conor suddenly starts seeing this giant monster at night, causing destruction and conflicts, and telling him these twisted stories.

I really liked the way that Conor meets the monster, how he's absolutely not afraid of him; he's facing much scarier things, and I love the meaning behind that. The stories that the monster tells him, too; they're unique and with a surprise ending each time, which Conor hates, and I love them. They're dark sometimes, and thoughtful, and very important to what Conor needs to learn. It's similar to the meaning behind his bullying, and how he kind of needed Harry to do these things. Their fight was very satisfying, honestly, and it needed to happen. I understood Conor's need, too, for things to go back to normal, for him to feel normal and be treated fairly, not pitied.

This story was really heartbreaking, honestly. Conor's struggle was hard and honest and rough, and no one around him was truly seeing it. The ending, too... It's heartbreaking, and his final confrontation with the monster was honest and brutal, and it made me cry.

These kinds of stories are just brutal, and sad, and necessary. This was a beautiful story, honestly, so thoughtful and well-written and meaningful. I'm glad I finally read it, and I think it's a very important story for a lot of people; that some people might need this exact story.

Manga Review: Children of the Whales, Volume 9, by Abi Umeda

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: March 2019

Volumes: 14+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 7. 10.

Goodreads Synopsis:

In an endless sea of sand drifts the Mud Whale, a floating island city of clay and magic. In its chambers a small community clings to survival, cut off from its own history by the shadows of the past.

The Mud Whale has finally reached the shores of Amonlogia, but it quickly becomes clear that Sir Rochalízo wasn’t being entirely up-front when he said the people of the Mud Whale would all be welcome. His father the duke has placed harsh conditions on their citizenship, and they only have three days to agree…or face the consequences!

Review:

Back into this series, they have reached Rochalizo's home, Amonlogia. They're immediately confronted with violence, and then with strict negotiations that turn out to be not much of a negotiation, really.

It wasn't terribly surprising what Rochalizo did to them, despite thinking they'd been getting along so well. I can see what a bad position Rochalizo was in, but he still wasn't very smart about his choices here. I was really surprised to see what a standing Suou ended up taking, and was honestly impressed by how strong of a stance he took. He was put in a bad spot, and he did what he thought was right, and it makes me a really big fan of his character, honestly.

I'm intrigued and worried by where the plot was going at the end of the volume. It could go really bad before they get out of this.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Yona of the Dawn, Volume 15, by Mizuho Kusanagi

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: December 2018

Volumes: 28+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 14. 16.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A red-haired princess loses her family and her kingdom… Now she must rise and fight for her throne!

Princess Yona lives an ideal life as the only princess of her kingdom. Doted on by her father, the king, and protected by her faithful guard Hak, she cherishes the time spent with the man she loves, Su-won. But everything changes on her 16th birthday when tragedy strikes her family!

A drug known as “nadai” has spread throughout the Water Tribe territory, so Yona and Riri, the daughter of the Water Tribe chief, are determined end this drug crisis. However, their task is an uphill battle, and they couldn’t have imagined the dangers that await them!

Review:

I'm so impressed by the quality of Kusanagi's work. Her earlier series were very good, with a lot of potential and usually good character development, but some were a little weak, and some of them had badly placed/too much humor for the plot. This series is so perfectly balanced, with on-key humor and plot, and such intense serious moments. And the characters are the best. Sometimes I think about this, and I'm just so impressed, and so happy about it. I just love this series so, so much.

Okay, anyway.

Yona is badly injured, but she continues to fight anyway. She stays strong, and it inspires Riri. The dragons and Hak, on the other hand, are extremely worried, and feel awful for not guarding her correctly. Yona, on the other hand, feels bad for not being stronger. It's a sad, touching moment, seeing them all struggle with this.

During the fight, though, Yona gets on the bad side of Hyo, the man behind all of this. But, while his pride is wounded and he wants her dead, they're all in search of him just as seriously. More so, even.

There's a surprising turn of events in the latter half of the volume, as we see Su-Won again. I really want to hate him, but he intrigues me, and then he does something good... I'm conflicted about him. But it's interesting to see him and Yona actually interacting; they are on very uneven ground with each other, but they also kind-of have an understanding. I'm curious about where that's going to go next. I'm also curious about Zeno—it's a little unclear what his power is, what his position and what he knows.

This series cannot come out fast enough. I need more.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Magi: Labyrinth of Magic, Volume 25, by Shinobu Ohtaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Shonen Sunday (VIZ Media)

Release Date: August 2017

Volumes: 37.

Spoilers?: Yes.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 24. 26.

Goodreads Synopsis:

An epic dungeon-busting adventure inspired by One Thousand and One Nights!

The three nations of Sindria, Leam and the Kou Empire now ponder the story of Alma Tran as told by Aladdin. The tragedy of that fallen world has lessons for all, but disagreements among these powerful countries could mean tragedy might happen all over again! Then, shocking news arrives from the east—a new power is rising in the Kou Empire!

Review:

While everyone was holed up in one spot getting a history lesson, they're still debating what side to take and what to do next, when they get the news that someone else was working to take control. Yep, Judar informs them that he's been working with Hakuryu, to overthrow the Kou empire. They've collected a following, and they're ready to kill the dictator-like queen, it seems.

I find it funny that all of this has been happening in the background, while everyone was getting a history lesson from Aladdin. It gives Alibaba a reason to make a quick decision on what side to take and what to do about it, though.

I'm only, like, kind of paying attention to this series. I'm very behind, and I keep forgetting I have it to read. I think it's too high-fantasy for me, when I originally thought I would enjoy it.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Yona of the Dawn, Volume 13, by Mizuho Kusanagi

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: August 2018

Volumes: 27+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 12. 14.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A red-haired princess loses her family and her kingdom… Now she must rise and fight for her throne!

Princess Yona lives an ideal life as the only princess of her kingdom. Doted on by her father, the king, and protected by her faithful guard Hak, she cherishes the time spent with the man she loves, Su-won. But everything changes on her 16th birthday when tragedy strikes her family!

Kang Su-jin, chief of the Fire Tribe, has been plotting to become the ruler of the Kingdom of Kohka—and now he’s started an uprising by attacking Su-won at Hiryuu Palace! As the armies clash on the battlefield, will Yona and her friends join the fray with so much on the line?!

Review:

The attempted rebellion meets its end in this volume. The two tribe leaders thought they were pulling one over on Su-Won, but they mightily underestimated him. Su-Won is smarter than anyone gives him credit for at this point, though understandable. He doesn't seem as cunning as he is, and he puts on a happy-go-lucky front very easily. But he's much more tricky than they expected.

This gives Yona a new perspective, though, seeing what the other leaders are up to. She sees Su-Won in a new perspective, why he did what he did. Now that she's seen what's happening in the tribes, what the leaders are doing, she sees that they need a strong ruler—and that her father wasn't quite it. It's unclear what she's going to do with this new knowledge, though. It's also unclear what Su-Won is going to do. They're both kind of avoiding each other, and letting them do what they are.

Quite a bit of this volume involves the Fire Tribe's main family. Tae-Jun and his older brother get to deal with the aftermath of what their father did, and they get to see what Tae-Jun has been up to. Su-Won is making his rounds, meeting with the tribes in the aftermath of what they did.

We get hints of progress between Yona and Hak as the volume ends. They're just so sweet... Aw.

I'm utterly in love with this series, of course. 

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: The Water Dragon's Bride, Volume 4, by Rei Toma

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: January 2018

Volumes: 8+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 3. 5.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A modern-day girl gets whisked away to a strange land where she is sacrificed to a water dragon god!

In the blink of an eye, a modern-day girl named Asahi is whisked away from her warm and happy home and stranded in a strange and mysterious world where she meets a water dragon god!

Because the water dragon god wants to interact with Asahi more, he descends to the village in the guise of a human. Asahi’s friend Subaru has mixed feelings about this but joins them on a journey to the capital. What adventures are in store, and how will their fates change?

Review:

It's time to pray to the water god again, and so Asahi decides that the three of them should go away for the three days. So her, the Water Dragon God, and Subaru go away to visit other places. They see some sights, and then Asahi throws herself in to help a village when there's a fire. Afterward, when they get home, Asahi tries to help an outbreak of sickness.

Asahi continues to push the Water Dragon God. He's emotionless and uncaring, but at least somewhat curious about humans. She pushes him into doing things, and pushes their relationship as much as she can, at times to see how far it will go. Subaru is always there, at the same time. Their friendship is the sweetest, purest thing. It's honestly painful how sweet it is, because we all know bad things are going to happen there.

I'm still surprised that I don't know which direction this triangle is going. I feel like Asahi and the Water Dragon have something that isn't romantic, but a different connection. They're learning from each other, in a way. But if Asahi doesn't end of up with Subaru, then I will not be happy with Subaru ending up sad and alone. I just want to hug him, he's such a sweetheart.

We also got some hints of something from Asahi's care taker, that maybe he knows something or he has a connection with Asahi that they don't know. I'm intrigued about where that's going.

I'm really hooked on this series. I can't wait for each volume. It's sad and sweet, thoughtful and painful, innocent and psychological. I'm really starting to love it.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Novel Review: The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Genre: YA Fantasy Romance; Aladdin Inspired

Publisher: RazorBill (Penguin Random House)

Release Date: February 23, 2016

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Teaser Tuesday. Wishlist Thursday. 

Goodreads Synopsis:

She is the most powerful Jinni of all. He is a boy from the streets. Their love will shake the world...

When Aladdin discovers Zahra's jinni lamp, Zahra is thrust back into a world she hasn't seen in hundreds of years -- a world where magic is forbidden and Zahra's very existence is illegal. She must disguise herself to stay alive, using ancient shape-shifting magic, until her new master has selected his three wishes.

But when the King of the Jinn offers Zahra a chance to be free of her lamp forever, she seizes the opportunity—only to discover she is falling in love with Aladdin. When saving herself means betraying him, Zahra must decide once and for all: is winning her freedom worth losing her heart?

As time unravels and her enemies close in, Zahra finds herself suspended between danger and desire in this dazzling retelling of Aladdin from acclaimed author Jessica Khoury.

The Cover:

I absolutely love this cover. I think it's gorgeous, and represents the story perfectly.

Review:

I really wanted to love this book, but it was just okay.

This is inspired by Aladdin, with the main character being Zahra, a genie stuck inside a lamp that thief Aladdin finds. Aladdin wants revenge on the vizier who killed his parents, and he also wants to be in love with the princess Caspida, so he can be prince. Zahra just wants her freedom, and she wants to not fall in love with a human after what happened last time.

I did appreciate all of the backstories. There’s a reason for Aladdin wanting revenge, there’s a reason for why Zahra is inside the cave, we get to see the people living in the city and the poverty and who they really want ruling. There’s real cruelty, to the people, to Aladdin, to the vizier. There’s war, and there’s consequences for action, including magic ones to Zahra.

While the story is quite different from Aladdin, there are a surprising amount of similarities and plot points made in reference, and I appreciated that.

One problem I had with the book was the pace. Zahra has a time limit on what she has to do to get her freedom. She has about a month. And yet for almost that entire month but the last two days, she wastes it, and there’s very little mention at all of her working toward it. It drove me crazy. So little even happened for the first half of the book.

My other problem was the romance. I so badly wanted to love Zahra and Aladdin. But I just wasn’t feeling it. I didn’t feel their chemistry, and I barely even felt anything for Aladdin’s character at all. He just seemed too under-developed. It wasn’t until the last quarter of the book that I started feeling any intense emotion from Zahra at all, let alone real romantic feelings for Aladdin. I wish all of the book had been that intense, if not more so. 

It was just okay. I wanted so badly to love this book, but it was just okay in the end, sadly.