Witch Hat Atelier 1 by Kamome Shirahama

Witch Hat Atelier 1 (Witch Hat Atelier, #1)

by Kamome Shirahama

Best of the Year — AV Club, New York Public Library, Nerdist, SYFY Wire, Chicago Public Library

"Harry Potter meets Kiki's Delivery Service!" -AV Club

A beautifully-illustrated story about a girl who longs for magic in her life and learns that, on the inside, she already is what she wishes she could be. Reminiscent of Studio Ghibli, this lushly-drawn story has captured the hearts of fantasy fans worldwide.

In a world where everyone takes wonders like magic spells and dragons for granted, Coco is a girl with a simple dream: She wants to be a witch. But everybody knows magicians are born, not made, and Coco was not born with a gift for magic. Resigned to her un-magical life, Coco is about to give up on her dream to become a witch...until the day she meets Qifrey, a mysterious, traveling magician. After secretly seeing Qifrey perform magic in a way she's never seen before, Coco soon learns what everybody "knows" might not be the truth, and discovers that her magical dream may not be as far away as it may seem...

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

4 of 5 stars

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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. Perhaps magic isn't as unattainable as she once thought. That realization is about to take her down a strange and new path that begins with significant loss.

Review:

Overall, I would have to say that Witch Hat Atelier Vol. 1 was a fun and cute read. I didn't love it quite as much as I had hoped – but with any luck, future volumes will fully captivate me (in case it wasn't obvious: I will continue with this one!).

Coco's character is sweet though highly excitable (about magic – duh). The other characters haven't quite grown on me yet. In truth, I find Qifrey a little unsettling (collecting magical girls, teaching them magic, and it all starts with wiping their memories? Um. Gross undertones there).

I feel that Witch Hat Atelier is one series that gets stronger as it continues. After all, a pretty hefty magical system had to be introduced (in one volume!); once that is out of the way, we can focus more on developing everything. Fingers crossed!

Will I Read the Rest of the Series: Yes

Highlights:
Magic Academy
Magic and Dragons
Magical Writing

Trigger Warnings:
Familial Loss

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 3 July, 2023: Finished reading
  • 3 July, 2023: Reviewed