Reviews and Comments

Even though this is a spinoff, there's negligible plot going on in here, so if you haven't read Witch Hat Atelier, you won't be that confused about what's going on. Hardcore fans hoping for more story might be disappointed, because this is, as it turns out, basically a really well illustrated cookbook. Art is very appealing with a cozy fantasy feel to it and some cool character designs. The food also looks incredibly good, and thankfully we get recipes as well. Of note, the recipes are all fairly simple, but I'd hesitate to call them "easy." Things like fried foods and custards have the potential to go wrong, and beginner cooks might find some of the recipes a challenge. That said, I wouldn't call any of these recipes too complex either, so this set of recipes would work really well for anyone looking to try something a little more ambitious without having to spend more money on extra kitchen tools or pricier ingredients. But if you're not here for the recipes, that's fine too! It's a pleasant book, entirely in line with the usual iyashikei food manga genre, great for anyone looking for a relaxing, low stakes read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for a review copy! All thoughts in this review are my own.

Robotics;Notes is based on a visual novel, and that means there's going to be a LOT of stuff packed in, in an attempt to merge enough information from all the different playthroughs of the game. The manga manages this pretty well, although the front end is fairly information-dense, largely by necessity. There's the robotics club. There's the Anemome Incident. There's the online game Kill Ballad. There's Aki's absent sister. There's the mysterious "popular anime" that aired ten years ago (random coincidence: the Robotics;Notes anime aired about ten years ago). There's a strange girl who stands on rooftops. There's a lot to cover. Thankfully Aki's enthusiasm is catching, and it's easy to keep turning pages to cheer for her success. She's the core of this manga, moving the story forward by sheer force of will. Kaito acts as a decent snarky foil, content to spend most of his days playing online games, but willing to rise to an ambitious challenge, given the right motivation. Other characters all look fun, given their brief introductions, and I look forward to getting to know them better in future installments. Art is nice, very closely matching the style of the games, with a couple fun panels and some cool looking robots.

Robotics;Notes is part of the science adventure series alongside Steins;Gate and Chaos;Head, but I'd classify this one as probably less dramatic than the other two. Then again, with an opening scene like that, who knows where we might go?

Thanks to NetGalley and Udon Entertainment for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!

I've never read the Manga Classics series before, but I always enjoy a good Poe adaptation, so I jumped at the chance to check this out. I'll refrain from reviewing the stories themselves, since it's Poe, and you probably already know if you like his work or not. (But if you don't know, Fall of the House of Usher is always a strong recommend from me.)

This book is a collection of some of his most famous works (Telltale Heart, The Raven, Cask of Amontillado, Masque of Red Death, and Fall of the House of Usher), each illustrated by a different artist. Style varies across the board, although all of the pieces have been adapted very faithfully. Telltale Heart leans into heavy use of blacks, making the nighttime sequences feel very ominous. The Raven is appropriately dreamlike in nature, with some really cool angles in the layout. Cask of Amontillado's characters are highly expressive, especially as the story goes on. Masque of Red Death is probably what most people think of when you say "manga style," with more use of tones and delicate lines that fit right in with the decadent atmosphere of the story. Fall of the House of Usher has some heavy and sometimes messy inks that really nail the gothic feeling of the story, and remind me quite a bit of a lot of the novel->comic books I used to read as a kid. A handful of character design sketches and layout thumbnails are also included, which are always a treat for art fans.

Overall, this book feels like a really great introduction to some of Poe's most famous works, with very accessible and moody art across the board.

Thanks to NetGalley and Udon Entertainment for a review copy! All thoughts in this review are my own.

The author describes her work as whimsical, and I am inclined to agree. There's a playfulness to the narrative, with several tongue-in-cheek descriptions of this Very Serious World, and plenty of subverted expectations. The guide to plants in particular speaks with a dry humor that I really enjoy. World-building is a little wibbly, but this feels largely on purpose. It's a fun ride, and it's easier not to ask toooo many questions about what's going on with all the magic. From what I can tell, this book was originally written for Kindle Vella, which means chapters were released one at a time. You can feel this a little bit with chapters feeling more like short episodes rather than connected scenes, as it bounces between two separate story threads that eventually come together. Florian's arc feels more adventure-like in nature, and I found myself really liking the motley bunch of characters he fell in with. Growina's story starts more cozy fantasy-like, with a larger cast of slightly less endearing folks as she navigates things like making friends or trying to convince people to try new food. If you're looking for an adventure with bright characters and less baggage than your average fantasy, give this book a look.

Thanks to NetGalley and Naughtobelus Books LLC for the review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

First off - yes the art really is that good throughout. Delicate lines, nice tones, and gorgeous large panels are the order of the day, making this a very pleasing manga to look at. Which is good, because the story can get pretty dark in some places. It's got all the messy political stuff one would expect from a story where a child plucked from the streets suddenly has to pose as royalty. Nina is a great lead, refusing to be a doormat for someone else's politics, but also canny enough to play things smart. Azure is an interesting foil, someone else also trapped by the cards dealt to them, but he keeps his reasons close, and I'm curious to learn more about his motives and plans as the series continues. We have yet to meet the final piece of our lead trio in this volume, but the two leads so far are great to read, and I'm curious to know what happens next.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for the review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!

The publisher's name Saturday AM evokes images of early Saturday morning cartoons, but if I had to place this series, I'd air in on Toonami. It's got punchy (literally) action, a quick-paced storyline, and snappy humor. Dante is adult-aged, which lends a lot of weight to his confidence. So much so that when he says he's going to kill the devil, I genuinely believe he can, despite all the naysayers within the comic itself. He's also got a strong sense of justice that makes him very easy to cheer for. Supporting cast are also likable, with the mentor and/or sidekick character looking like he's also going to be a great foil for Dante. A strong start to the series, and I am looking forward to more!

Thanks to NetGalley and Rockport Publishing for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

This is my first time reading any James Patterson, but the title did its job thoroughly in catching my attention, so props there. I'm led to believe that the writing style of short chapters and concurrent threads is standard for Patterson, so any fans of his work will be right at home here. I was also zero percent surprised to discover the co-writer Brian Stitts also works in television, since this entire book feels like reading a television show. Prose is straightforward, reading in some places like stage directions on a script, and the pacing felt like a modern police procedural, complete with several ongoing mysteries and a light touch of personal lives from our three leads to keep the engine moving. Even the end of the book feels like a season finale stinger. The mysteries are all interesting, but this isn't a solve-along book, so results reveal themselves in a more Conan Doyle style than a Christie one. A handful of minor details that don't pertain to the mysteries feel a bit jarring (Marple knows not to refer to a Korean woman by her first name because it's culturally insensitive, but does not call her by her job title, which would be most ideal; A haute cuisine dinner menu includes "ferns" instead of "fiddleheads"). I think my only real complaint is that my biggest mystery remains entirely unsolved: Why aren't they Holmes, Marple, and Dupin? And why hasn't anyone inside the book asked that too?

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!

First off, be aware the genre is science fantasy. A giant portal opened up and people with missiles and smart phones came out of it. Calling it straight fantasy is going to set up some wildly wrong expectations. The "science vs. magic" thing has never been of interest to me, but I really like checking out debut novels, and the cover was too good to ignore. The verdict? Still to come! A lot of this book is scene-setting for future installments, which promise to swing a lot harder, so I feel like I can't accurately decide how I feel until I see how it ends. But for now, let's break down what we do have. Ruying is, by her own admission, a coward, and her navigation of an impossible situation is probably the most realistic incarnation I've read in a while. Her sister is more the "hero" type, and in another book in another world, she probably would be the fearless protagonist. I liked the choice to focus on a very un-heroic MC and the choices one has to make in a space where there are no correct moves - only moves of varying levels of wrongness. I also enjoyed the multiple plot threads running at the same time with various political bents.

The romance is where this series is going to be the most divisive. Falling in love with one's captor is a tale as old as time, and in this case it feels ill-advised. Antony pragmatically presents himself as the least of many evils, and he's probably right. That doesn't mean dating has to be on the table, and despite the fact that a chapter from his POV indicates his feelings are genuine, I'm still not a fan. That being said, the ending is a major turning point that promises some big moves in future installments. I shall have to wait patiently until then.

Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!

Gothic novels have always been a mixed bag for me. I love the aesthetic, but I often find myself let down by tepid endings that don't always fulfill the carefully laden promise. The Cruel Dark does no such thing, instead sticking the landing so beautifully and so perfectly that I immediately want to dive back in and read it again. You've got all the trademarks of a gothic novel - an intelligent young woman who sees ghosts (or DOES SHE?), a crumbling mansion that's seen better days, and a brooding love interest who may or may not be exceedingly dangerous. All of these are stitched together in a tense atmosphere with a hint of Rebecca, and a healthy dose of spice for readers who like it sexy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bea Northwick for an advance copy! All thoughts in this review are my own.

Much like the comfort food featured in this series, Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu is warm and familiar with no real surprises, and that's the best thing about it. Each vignette takes on the same formula of a person in some kind of need finding solace in delicious food at a slightly magical izakaya, by trying out a new (for them) Japanese dish. I was delighted to see how well it captured the experience of eating: the one of a guy eating sushi for the first time was hilariously on point; and the hot tofu dish was such a pitch-perfect rendition of trying and failing to wait for a dish to cool before eating it, because it's just too good to wait. Reactions are large and joyous without going as far as the famous "foodgasms" of other food manga, and the food illustrations are extremely tasty. Anyone looking for a cozy, comforting, drama-free read will leave Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu satisfied, if not a little bit hungry for some Japanese food.

Thanks to NetGalley and Udon Entertainment for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

It's rare that a book promising cat-and-mouse delivers quite as well as this one. Usually you only get a bit of banter before the kissing starts, but there are some real twists and deceptions locked up in this one, and I loved it. (Don't worry, there's also kissing.) Anyone looking for conflicted leads with angst and internal hurts will find plenty here to go around. The chemistry between Rune and Gideon is volatile, with a dash of spice, and a really believable enemies-to-lovers(?)-to-enemies(?) roller coaster relationship. World building is effective, with rules about the use of magic explained with quick, but consistent strokes. Author's notes mention The Scarlet Pimpernel (a personal favorite) as a light inspiration, and I can totally see the spaces where it peeks through. I will say that I have never seen a character marked for death so obviously as [Name Redacted], and when they died I found myself somewhat relieved that it finally happened so I wouldn't have to worry about it anymore. Recommended reading for fans of morally gray, complex relationships, hunter vs. hunted relationships, and a splash of dark fantasy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Fairy tale "twist" stories are almost as ubiquitous as as fairy tales at this point. Retellings, the "true" version, or even lightly inspired editions grace many a shelf (mine included). But Princess Protection Program is not a retelling. It's a what if? What if the characters from those tales saw their futures and wanted to opt out? And what if the opt out was just as restrictive as their original stories? When Rosamund decides to opt out, she learns she's not the only one - in fact, an entire school has been created for characters who want to avoid their preset, often tragic, endings. But the school feels more like a pause button than an escape, and Rosamund quickly finds herself wondering if her story will ever truly go anywhere. And therein lies the heart of this book - a tale not about escaping destiny, but taking control of it. I appreciated that the story also spent time discussing how everyone has their own story to pursue, even as we often are supporting cast in someone else's tale. All of it is written in a quickly-paced, whimsical book with lots of fun references and some playful pokes at life in "the real world." A great book for any middle grade reader who enjoys a good twist on an old classic.

Thanks to NetGalley and Greenwillow Books for an advance copy! All thoughts in this review are my own.

About halfway through this book, I thought "fans of The Mummy would probably like this." And then I discovered it's one of the comps, so, you know. Uh, I guess I agree. To be more precise, this is for fans of prickly romances featuring an intelligent but sheltered young woman and a dashing self-assured man with a military history, all set in Egypt while a bunch of rich colonizer types try to steal artifacts. The action pieces are big and high energy, with mysterious deaths, a secret dig, museum rivalries, and illegal artifact sales, all described in beautiful immersive detail. Also, there is magic. And if it sounds like I threw that in there as a casual aside, it's because the book kind of does too. There's magic in the world, even if no one remembers how to control it. But pieces of it here and there are common enough that it's no big deal. At least, not yet. The story seems to imply that magic is going to be a much bigger deal in future installments, and truly I am hoping for future installments. Because that cliffhanger? Dang.

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Anyone looking for the cocktail of mysterious benefactors, strange mansions, treasure hunts with cryptic clues, and a high-stakes competition will find all that and more. Final Word is not shy about its inspiration - even referencing The Westing Game within its own text. And while there are certainly a lot of similar beats, this one opts to pick a more serious tone. The competition for the money is interspersed with themes of grief, family trauma, hurt, and forgiveness. The main character is surprisingly cynical (maybe TOO cynical?) for a pre-teen, but at least her level of savvy saves the reader from having to yell at her naiveté. The puzzles were all very clever and fun to try to figure out, and I appreciated all the literary references as well. Of note, this appears to be the first in a series, despite the main competition wrapping up in this volume. I will be curious to see where it goes from here.

Thanks to NetGalley and Holiday House for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

The Cells at Work series has always been peak edutainment for me. The original was fun, Code Black was a great twist, and now we have a new installment - Lady? The most evident change is that they story now follows Macrophage instead of a Red Blood Cell, stylized as an ikemen butler (in fact, nearly all the characters in this are ikemen of some sort). The plot follows a lot of the usual virus-busting, but it also covers things like menstruation, dieting, anemia, and a physical exam. But most interesting to me is the relationship that the characters have with the body. The original series didn't touch on this too much, and Code Black was a person who actively did damage to their body. In this case, Macrophage raises a prayer of gratitude every time the body does something to take care of itself, even if it's a small token like a hot bath. But having an anthropomorphized reminder that your body will thank you if you take care of yourself is kind of nice. As usual, there's plenty to learn, all packaged in a fun storytelling device. Fans of the series will enjoy this one too.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.