In The Solarium

  5/5  ⭐ Found family, a magical boarding school, and a missing friend. A perfect combination in this spooky YA graphic novel. Plus the incredible artwork is not to be missed.  This is one that caught my eye as I kept passing in the teen department at one of the libraries I work at. I then read the little summary and was hooked.  This story follows Abby as she learns one morning that the closest person she has to family has disappeared and feels that the school isn't doing enough in the search for her. And so takes it upon herself to discover what secrets this school has been hiding for years.  Accompanied by friends and a mysterious story from the schools past, they learn that the off-limits woods hold more than they expect when a similar story of a missing students comes up.  This was such an atmospheric and gorgeous graphic novel. And perfect for those looking for a more gothic meets dark academia story for the season.  Plus the characters...

  5/5 ⭐ This is a fun, fresh, and super cute introduction for this new manga series. And it will definitely be one that I keep an eye out for going forward. This series follows Ichiro Kuga who is a manga artist supporting his younger siblings after his father passed away. He has a fast approaching deadline that makes finding an assistant even more urgent. Enter sweetheart and incredible artist in their own right, Shiori Goshiki. Who ends up being more than what meets the eye. The art work is amazing, the story so nice and refreshing. And I just can not wait for the second volume to come. Thank you to the NetGalley and the Publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. 6/28/22 *This review was previously posted on my Google Site.

  5/5 ⭐ I couldn't resist the call of Beauty and the Beast retelling, not with the promises of twisted shadows and something I had never read before. Add in the manga format of the story I just knew this would be promising. And I wasn't disappointed.  From the beginning, it was clear this would be no ordinary retelling of the popular fairy tale. I am already on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens next. Because I have no clue where this story is going. It is unlike any other Beauty and the Beast retelling I have ever experienced.  Worth the read for anyone who likes the original fairy tale but looking for something different. If you like twisted fairy tales and manga, this one is for you. Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for the advanced copy in exchange for an unbiased review.   9/11/21 *This review was previously posted on my Google Site.

  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...

5/5 ⭐ Thanks to VIZ & NetGalley for the early copy in exchange for an honest review. I was very much looking forward to this webcomic to be released in print format. I had not experienced it as a webcomic so this was exciting for me. It looked so intriguing to me and I was not disappointed. I love when the norm or what is expected from the titles or descriptions and characters is not what it actually becomes and there is a different take on it. Which is the case for Devil's Candy. A universe full of devils and daemons and scientific inquiry that also touches on the importance of being true to oneself. It wa s refreshing to see a graphic novel that focuse d on more than just a battle scene or a romance arc. It explore d elements of learning to love oneself for what they have and they have the alternate strong female characters and, in the case of Kazu, a weaker male character who still managed to make himself useful and helpful. And not resentful at all at being the weaker o...

5/5 ⭐ I really love the graphic novels that have been coming out these past few years and this one is no exception. I was so excited to read this when I saw the description and it kept me entranced from page one. I basically read it one sitting, I love Haley. She is probably my favorite character this year. She is dedicated, exciting, powerful, and also she is a POC. She is a hoot. I loved that she wasn't willing to change who she was because of the other characters' demands or expectations of her. Which we saw later on influence the others to step out of their assigned character roles into something else that they wanted to be or just to try. The plot may come off as outlandish and cheesy but when you really look at it, it's about more than trying to stop leaks in the universe and being who you are truly and also allowing yourself to explore who you are and who you might want to be. Which I think is something we take for granted and this story does a really good job of put...