In The Solarium

  4/5 ⭐ I was initially drawn to this one because of its simple and attractive cover art. And the following story didn't disappoint at all. While it reads as a regular slice of life, high school shojo, it also feels fresh. It's light and fun. And isn't bogged down by the usual sad or troubling backstory that so many shojos have. At least so far it doesn't have that. Not that there isn't any angst or conflict. The main character, Yoi Takiguchi, is tall, thin, and blessed with a very handsome face, which leads many to think she is a man. Add in her considerate and relaxed attitude many have swooned. Leading her to be dubbed the 'prince'. But she feels stuck with this label and wants to be seen as a girl rather than a boy. Enter Kohaku Ichimura, another 'prince' in her school but this time it's a 'real prince'. He is immediately taken with Yoi so much so he starts to pursue her. And even though Kohaku has his secrets, his interest in Yoi fee

4.5/5 ⭐ I never know what to expect from a cozy mystery. Which was the case for this one. A mysterious book store owner that knows how to help any problem with the right book. And in the bakery that makes scones particular to its customer and a spa, Miracle Springs is the perfect place to do some healing. As much as I love the idea of a cozy mystery, sometimes I find them repetitive and boring after a while. There are elements that can be found across the board in most cozy mysteries. The small town factor, the bookstore, b&b, or some self-owned business. Either seemingly normal backstory or one marked with tragedy. And then the murder. And yes, while all those elements were in this mystery too, it didn't feel boring or repetitive. Nora, the one with the tragic backstory, the one who likes to stay in the background and not get involved get's involved very quickly. Not from being nosy or too inquisitive but from a sense of justice and needed to make sure things are set right

5/5 ⭐ I have a fascination with the macabre, as many of us do. And I think that is part of why this one called to me. A former sanatorium turned chic hotel on a swiss mountain takes center stage where this drama was to take place. And boy what a drama it was. With quickly deteriorating weather conditions, Sarah Pearse takes us on a dark and twisted journey into the tragic past of the hotel. And her main character Elin who is struggling after a horrific ordeal at work. She gives trauma center stage as she presents the different ways her characters deal with it head-on and in the aftermath. It was refreshing to see it treated not as just an after-effect of an event but as something happening at the moment and how it can have such an impact on a person for years to come. The dynamics Pearse creates between her characters never felt forced or shallow. The differences between Elin and Isaac's sibling issues versus Cecile and Lucas's makes for an interesting comparison. The tragic ev

5/5 ⭐ Based on the best-selling novel by the same name, this manga adaptation of the Decagon House Murders will keep you entrapped until the very end. I love a good mystery. It tends to be my go-to genre for reading. But there is something, just exciting about a mystery/thriller manga. I didn't hesitate to request this one when I saw it and I devoured it in one sitting. Opening up with the arrival at an island littered with tragedy, the introduction of the peculiar mystery club is nothing short of dramatic and attention-grabbing. The reveal that each member adopts the moniker of a famous mystery author made the story even more entertaining. This first volume focused on building the plot and introducing the cast of this mystery as well as a previous, unsolved mystery. The going back and forth between the members on the island and the two members that stayed behind and how the mysteries intertwined kept the plot moving and the reader engaged. Now for the art, It is amazing. I tend to

5/5 ⭐   As an avid Christie fan, I just knew I had to read this story. I was only a little nervous about disliking it because I am such a fan but oh boy did Marie Benedict deliver a fantastic take on a mystery never to be solved. Between the flashbacks of a happier time to the events that have baffled us for decades, I couldn't have imagined a better scenario to be played out. While I knew that this was just a take on the events of Agatha Christie's disappearance, it was so well written that at moments I forgot. Her description of the characters makes it feel so real and believable that if I only knew this to be the truth I would believe it. Benedict manages to recreate the early 1900s with ease. The dances were full of new young people, with the war that no one thought would come to be looming over them. Uptight, traditionalist mothers not afraid to share their opinions, English gardens filled with old trees and colorful flowers. And beyond that, the emotions and actions of th