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DNF page 80. Just don't love it. Doesn't feel like anything special.

Bi Romance For The Younger Millennial / Zoomer Set. If you have an ounce of work ethic in your pinky finger, you've got more than our female lead and narrator of this tale. Which means you're likely going to find her quite annoying, at the very least. If you're not a fan of bisexual women or the term "cishet" (to be clear, the second thing there is only used a time or two that I noticed), maybe skip this book. If you need the spice of a Carolina Reaper or at least a Scotch Bonnet... eh, you're not going to like this one much either. If you're not a fan of romance novels that could have been a five minute mature conversation a decade ago... you're probably not going to like this book. If you're not a fan of trigger warnings at the front of books... well, this one has a couple of pages of them.

With all of *that* dispensed with, welcome. If you're still here and still interested in this book, know that for what it is, it is reasonably solid. Maybe a touch squishy in some areas and maybe rolling a bit after the rest of it has stopped moving a time or two, but good enough to be enjoyable for those that can suspend their disbelief for a few hours and just go with the story as presented.  

And the story as presented *is* a fat bi chick version of a fairly standard plot device in romance books - multiple dates with different people set up by some friend/ family group, except the best friend winds up inserting himself into them and... well, like I said, its been done more than enough for you to know exactly how this goes. While there is more spice than the "clean" / "sweet" crowd will likely prefer, there also isn't really enough to "give them the vapors" either, so on that point it is somewhere in between. The romance itself, as a form of second chance / these kids should have had a mature conversation a decade ago and could have been together this entire time, still works for what it is.

Really the areas that this book - and all of Howe's books - break a bit of ground is their acceptance of "larger bodies", but Howe openly notes in that same trigger warning at the front of the book that in order to make this particular story work, she had to trim down the more typical nearly screaming from the rooftops level of "fat pride" / "fat acceptance"/ however you want to phrase that... and yes, to an extent, it shows in the way the story is told and ultimately in how the story flows.

And yet, with all of this noted, there really were no technical errors noted here, and thus this book could work well for someone looking for something atypical during the Holiday season that isn't  a "holiday book".

Very much recommended.

Short. Clean. Innocent Fun. This is one of those romances that is *so* innocent and playful that you almost begin to question just how old these characters are. And to be clear, they are very clearly adult characters... but the fun and pranks here are so innocent as to be juvenile, making you think that these characters had been playing these same games for many, many years... despite having just met.  

The epilogue(s) here - one official and yet the chapter *before* it taking place a year after the main events of the book, usually denoting a form of epilogue even if it isn't labeled that - feel perhaps a touch tacked on, particularly given some of the revelations therein as they relate to the overall main story, but that is one where your mileage may absolutely vary.

Overall this was a fun, quick read (a couple of hours or so for me), great for those times in the holiday season when maybe you only have a few minutes between doing things to get any reading in, but perhaps are actively looking for a shorter-ish book that won't make you think too hard about things.

Very much recommended.

Summary:

Coco lives in a world where magic exists. Unfortunately, she's no magician. That's the one thing she's desperately wanted to be ever since she was a little girl. However, she has also been told that magicians are born, not made. Until one day, Coco sees something that changes her life. Now, she's a witch in training.

The festival is going strong, and it's finally time for the Silver Night Parade. The parade is famous as it allows magicians to perform their latest spells in front of the king and people. Coco hadn't planned on creating something for this event, but circumstances (and friendship) forced her hand.

Review:

Wow. I think that, against all odds, Witch Hat Atelier Vol. 12 managed to up the ante. This volume is intense, ominous, and fascinating all in one. That said, if you’re not a fan of leeches…uh, maybe ask for a few spoilers.

Witch Hat Atelier Vol. 12 is one of the more action-filled additions to this series. Yeah, there are still a few major revelations, but they don’t feel like the focus. If anything, I feel like all of the combat is actually setting the scene for something more, if you can believe that.

I don’t typically include quotes in my manga reviews, but I do feel like one perfectly sums up this volume/series: “Any soul out there who tries to restrict the things you learn is only doing it to keep you square under their thumb.” I felt that one. Ouch.

I hate that we have to wait until 2025 for the next volume. The wait (which will be worth it) is going to hurt. Who else is with me?

Highlights:
Magical Academy
Magical Writing
Secrets Galore

Trigger Warnings:
Blood/Leeches

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Summary:

You know how the story goes: a young woman in a horrible situation wakes up one day to find herself in a new world—complete with a new face! Usually, this second chance at life is a dream come true.

Not for Penelope. She's the unwanted Daughter of a Duke, and having just finished playing this game (The Duke's Super Love Project), she knows just how lethal her future can get. Somehow, she'll have to find a way to escape this horrible situation. At least she has some insight on what events to avoid.

Review:

Eee! I’ve been waiting MONTHS for the next volume of Villains Are Destined to Die. (In reality, I think it was a month and a half - tops). Villains Are Destined to Die Vol. 5 is everything I hoped it would be, and I’m thrilled to dive back into this series.

The last volume ended in a major cliffhanger, so naturally, this volume picks up right in the thick of things. This whole assassination/setup arc made me love certain characters all the more…while wishing I could smack others.

This arc stems from some very satisfying moments, including characters saying/hearing things they deserve. It was refreshing, to say the least. Combining this with the brilliant artwork, I fell in love with this series.

Ironically, I think this volume solidified my ship for the series, and it’s not who I would have predicted. Not in a million years. But now it’s all I want for Penelope’s endgame. Fingers crossed!

I’m happy to report that in addition to getting my greedy little hands on Villains Are Destined to Die Vol. 5; I landed the sixth volume too! So I’m going to go read that right away.

Highlights:
Manwha
Dark Isekai
Dating Sim Game Foundation
Originally a webcomic (Tapas)

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Summary:

You know how the story goes: a young woman in a horrible situation wakes up one day to find herself in a new world—complete with a new face! Usually, this second chance at life is a dream come true.

Not for Penelope. She's the unwanted Daughter of a Duke, and having just finished playing this game (The Duke's Super Love Project), she knows just how lethal her future can get. Somehow, she'll have to find a way to escape this horrible situation. At least she has some insight on what events to avoid.

Review:

While the last volume didn’t end in the same style of cliffhanger as vol. 4, I’m thrilled to dive right into Villains Are Destined to Die Vol. 6. This series has quickly become my favorite isekai and is easily one that I look forward to the most.

Thanks to the assassination attempt, the last volume was full of court politics and drama. Meanwhile, this volume was pretty much all about Winter, magic, and external politics. Quite the shift, but not one I’m complaining about.

That said, this volume did NOT go at all as I expected. No volume has followed my assumptions (I love that). It started heading down one path, only to blindside us halfway through. And that cliffhanger! Ugh! I hate that I have to wait for volume seven. I just want to know what happens!

Long story short: Villains Are Destined to Die Vol. 6 is an emotional roller coaster, and I am here for it. There was more fighting and character revelation than anticipated, and it made me all the more excited for the next volume.

Highlights:
Manwha
Dark Isekai
Dating Sim Game Foundation
Originally a webcomic (Tapas)

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Summary:

Maomao spent the earliest parts of her life training in herbal medicine. She had a path in life that she loved. Unfortunately, that was all ripped away from her when she was captured and sold to the inner palace.

Since then, Maomao's life has changed significantly. She no longer works for the inner palace but instead works directly for Jinshi and the outer palace. That isn't to say she can't continue helping the allies she made within those walls.

Review:

Ohhh! Things are getting interesting in The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 10. I love that we’re diving into a new collection of mysteries (that may or may not be tied into the first set; who knows?). It’s so perfect for this series.

There’s a lot to love about this volume (and a lot to look forward to with the anime!). It’s tense, fascinating, and funny all in one. It shows the best and worst of the people within the Inner Palace, finding that perfect balance.

The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 10 gives room for some character development. And it’s not just for Maomao and Jinshi; it seems like at least two secondary characters got some time to shine, which I really appreciated.

The most compelling part of the story is the new (potential?) threat, thanks to the ambassadors. Even if their presence is temporary (I’m still not sure of that), it will undoubtedly linger. A reminder of the outside forces at play?

Highlights:
Historical Fiction
Manga
Poison & Medicine

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Summary:

Aristia was told all her life that she was the girl foretold in the prophecy - the one destined to become the empress. As such, she was raised to be the perfect bride for the future emperor.

Unfortunately, everyone was wrong. When another young woman appears from a different world, everyone quickly realizes she’s the girl in the prophecy, forcing Aristia to the side. This sets up a series of events that lead…well…to bad places for poor Aristia. Unless she gets a second chance, her story has been written.

Review:

I was browsing my local library recently, and The Abandoned Empress, Vol. 1 caught my attention (stunning cover!). So, with little thought or hesitation, I decided to try it! While I found the overall world fascinating, the tone of this story is just too heavy and down for me.

To be clear, I don’t mind an against-all-odds story or a story that begins in tragedy (Villains Are Destined to Die should be an excellent example of that!). But for some reason, this one just didn’t hook me before it got all sad and depressing, which meant I was pretty put off by the story overall. So keep that bias in mind.

The good: I love that Aristia’s (Tia) story is a clever take on the whole Isekai trope. Instead of popping into another world, she gets a second chance at her messed up life. Likewise, I love how she seems to be going about her second chance.

The bad: Everyone hates Aristia, and I do mean hate. The ending starts to help explain some of those reasons…but it’s still pretty stupid and shallow. It feels more like hate for the sake of the story, you know? Combine that with the trigger warnings, and…it’s too much for this reader.

Highlights:
Manwha
Romantic Fantasy
Historical Vibe
Battle for love/throne

Trigger Warnings:
Abuse/Sexual Assault
Depression
Pregnancy/Miscarriage

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Summary:

Jennifer is admittedly very good at what she does - be it working as a lawyer, acting as an Avenger, you name it. Unfortunately, she’s never really felt like she has perfected that balance.

It’s also been a long time since she looked for something, or rather, someone, more permanent when it comes to her love life. So it’s safe to say that things are changing, but is She-Hulk ready to accept those changes?

Review:

I’m not going to lie; I’ve been curious to see how far the whole Jen and Jack arc would go. Naturally, I dove into my copy of She-Hulk Vol. 5. I just had to find out! This is She-Hulk, after all.

The only downside to this volume is I’m pretty sure this marks the end of yet another She-Hulk series. Or at least Rainbow Rowell’s run of She-Hulk. I wouldn’t have minded more, but I do have to admit that this was a fitting ending.

She-Hulk Vol. 5 dives all in on the “will they/won’t they” trope, all while throwing a few curveballs at us readers. It was emotional at times, tense at others, and hilarious in other moments. In other words, it’s a solid She-Hulk tale.

I love that some of Jack’s backstory came into play in this volume. A lot was getting left out, but now that feels more full circle. It helps to settle any debate about what could happen with this couple.

As always, I loved the artwork! She-Hulk Vol. 5 has some of the best colors and designs; overall, there’s a lot of energy. The fights are epic, the expressions never hold back, and it’s a lot of fun to read. I hope the artists had as much fun making it.

Highlights:
Superhero Drama
Cameos Galore
Law, Love, and Loyalty

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Summary:

Kim Dokja has spent the last several years reading a webnovel. That doesn’t make him terribly unique, does it? What’s more interesting is that he’s the only reader of this webnovel - and it’s about to end.

As a reward for being the only reader of this series, he gets an alert, an edge, and a downloaded copy of the series. That in itself shouldn’t have been life-changing if not for what is about to happen to the world…

Review:

I’m a sucker for an engaging description and a solid cover, so when I spotted a stack of Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint at my local library, I knew I was going to give it a try. This series starts immediately in a way most readers can appreciate - with a character completely hooked on a fictional world.

However, there’s a significant twist, and it doesn’t take long to hit Kim Dokja and the rest of his world (HARD). So that’s how Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Vol. 1 kicks off, and I am already invested. So yes, I will be reading the rest of this series!

Watching the main character change so much in a single volume was fascinating. He goes from a quiet worker (dare I say, nerd?) to a calm and determined…well, he’s not a hero, but he’s something else.

As for the world, I also need to see more of that. There are so many questions; the only way to get those answers is to keep reading. So onward!

Highlights:
Manwha
Dystopia
Story within a story

Trigger Warnings:
Graphic Depictions

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Summary:

The students of U.A. High (and beyond) have been signed into an ambitious Team-Up Missions Program. This program is designed to help them match and team up with other pros and aspiring pros, giving them real-life experience as heroes.

The timing of this program couldn’t be better, as our heroes-to-be need all the prepping they can get. As such, get ready to see new matches and team-ups as our students learn new tricks and perfect old skills.

Review:

I have meant to read My Hero Academia: Team-Up Missions for WAY too long, so I’m happy to dive back into this series. It’s just as fun and chaotic as I remembered, offering light entertainment to balance out the heaviness of the current MHA arc.

My Hero Academia: Team-Up Missions Vol. 2 brings us back to the characters we know and love so much, and as expected, they’re in unique team combinations. Most of the pairings were a lot of fun, either because they were expected or highly requested (or both). I wish the pacing allowed for a bit more time with each group/event.

There’s no denying that this is an action-packed series with a focus on what can be achieved with each new team-up. I don’t know how canon the series is (I’m assuming not much?), but seeing the heroes in this environment is a delight. I always felt like we needed to see more training in the main MHA arc.

Bonus points for getting the artwork so perfect. This looks and feels like the main MHA story, so the transition isn’t alarming. It feels perfectly natural.

Highlights:
MHA Spin-off
Teenage Superheroes
High action and drama

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Summary:

In the world of MHA, we often focus on two types of people—the heroes and the villains. But what about everyone else? There are people who will never be interested in becoming heroes and those who wish to but don’t have the same options.

Enter the world of the vigilantes, people who want to make a difference but, for one reason or another, will not follow the path to becoming a more traditional hero. Their stories may not be glamorous, but their lives can be just as dangerous.

Review:

This is my second time trying to dive into the world of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, and I’ve made it to the second volume. I’m still not one hundred percent on the series, but I’m certainly willing to continue reading at this point.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Vol. 2 introduces new risks - and familiar faces. In truth, there’s a bit of a love/hate relationship here, for me at least. I love the character design of the primary antagonist. But I also hate that they pulled in a familiar character and tried to give us his origin story. That was unnecessary, and I liked him better without that twist. Sorry, not sorry.

If we ignore that part, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Vol. 2 is an overall solid read. The characters are growing on me, and their dynamics start solidifying. I don’t know where their stories will lead, so I’ll have to keep reading.

Highlights:
MHA Spin-off
Superheroes vs Villains
Fight for Justice

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Summary:

Paul isn’t the best at reading people. What he is good at is magic, sort of. So he’s decided to go above and beyond in getting romantic advice - by summoning the Great Duke of Hell.

Naturally, this sets off a series of events that nobody, especially Paul, could have predicted. It turns out that almost everyone in his life has a secret to hide, and he is about to kick them all up to the surface.

Review:

Let me start by saying that pretty much none of Love Advice From the Great Duke of Hell went the way I expected, and I love that. This series is so quirky and so much fun; I’m lucky to have had the chance to read it.

Love Advice From the Great Duke of Hell Vol. 1 is an interesting introduction to the world. It has that strong webcomic vibe (where it knows it has more time to introduce readers). That said, things quickly take a turn once the foundation is there. None of the characters act as expected—or really are who they say they are if you want to get right down to it. I’m hooked.

I do wish the artwork was more like the cover, as that was part of what drew me in. The artwork for this series is a bit rougher, but I didn’t hate it. This was just one of those times when I really wanted the art I was promised, you know?

Long story short, this series was worth checking out. If you’re curious, it might be worth hopping over to Webtoon to peek!

Highlights:
Webtoon Comic
Romantic Comedy
Great Duke of Hell = Wingman

Thanks to Webtoon Unscrolled and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Summary:

Hades is the god of the underworld, but that doesn’t mean he’s heartless. Mostly, he spends time alone or with his loyal companion. Otherwise, he’s probably spending time trying to avoid his sort of ex. That is until Persephone fell into his life. She changed everything.

Persephone is a naive woman struggling against the constraints of her role in life. She doesn’t know how to feel about her designation in love - or her role in the pantheon. She doesn’t know how she feels about these new events, especially her meeting with Hades.

Review:

So, it goes without saying, but I am WAY behind the times on reading Lore Olympus. Do you know how you hear about a hyped series, which makes you nervous to try it? That’s what happened to me.

Anyway, I’m righting those wrongs and diving into Lore Olympus: Volume One. The content warnings were appreciated, as getting blindsided with a particular scene would have been bad, so thank you, Rachel Smythe, for that.

My first take is that I am in love with the colors of this series. They’re so blindingly pretty, and it forces a unique take on all the characters (whose basis I’ve gotten a bit tired of, so this was refreshing).

The first volume is a solid start to the series, providing a foundation of the world, characters, and potential problems that will surface. I’m looking forward to seeing where the story goes from here.

I can see why people are hooked on Lore Olympus. I just finished the first volume, and I maayy have already picked up the second volume from my library. Shh! Don’t tell anyone.

Highlights:
Mythology & Retelling
Greek Mythology Modernized
Unique Artstyle
Forbidden Love

Trigger Warnings:
Sexual Assault
Kidnapping
Trauma & Stalking

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Summary:

Keisuke Shizuki was burned once by a popular and pretty girl, and he swore to himself that it would never happen again. He used his transition into high school as an excuse to overhaul his life.

First, he changed his looks and style, and last, he worked hard to come off as “normal” and “average” (and not nerdy) as possible. Everything was going according to plan until he bumped into Kusunoki, a girl from his old school. It seems like she had a similar plan but needs some help to achieve her goals.

Review:

Hooray, it's time for another manga with a long title! But seriously, Kusunoki's Flunking Her High School Glow-Up Vol. 1 is not what I expected. First, there's the obvious - I thought that Kusunoki would have been the main POV (the title and cover indicate that), but it's actually Keisuke Shizuki.

There's a reason for it, and the sort of twist works out. It's not the deepest manga out there, plus it has fun with the whole romantic comedy meets coming-of-age trope, with a high school overhaul twist.

I think I would have liked the story more if more of the characters felt…real or human? Keisuke Shizuki learns to hate women/girls because of one bad experience (which, okay, it was pretty bad, but still). This is one of many examples of girls behaving badly or just not acting like people. It's not the best look/take. Even Kusunoki seems helpless without a male lead. I don't know; maybe I'm reading too much into it.

Highlights:
Romantic Comedy
Coming-of-Age
High School Drama

Will I continue the series? Maybe

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Summary:

Ichiro is a dedicated member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Security Bureau. As such, he’s always been good at taking orders…even if those orders mean ignoring the obvious and not following through on a cause close to his heart.

That is, until he gets a new assignment. He’s been tasked with getting close to an infamous Yakuza, Shiro. It just so happens that Shiro and Ichiro’s goals coincide, putting these unlikely two together.

Review:

If you’re looking for a quirky murder/mystery manga with forced proximity, Kei X Yaku: Bound By Law Vol. 1 is the read for you! But seriously, this manga surprised me again and again, and I have to read the rest of the series.

The setup is pretty solid: an agent is sent undercover to romance a Yakuza member; only things aren’t what they seem. The two have reason to work together but must keep up the pretense.

In other words, it’s a classic forced proximity trope with a few twists. The overall vibe makes the whole story more enjoyable, and I’ll be curious to see where their story leads. I also really want to know more about the case of missing a person, so I’m invested at multiple levels.

Highlights:
Yaoi Manga
Officer x Yakuza
Forced Proximity

Trigger Warnings:
Missing Person

Will I continue the series? Yes!

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