Reviews and Comments

The title and some of the narrative riff on the fact that living in the countryside is practically "another world" compared to busy city life. But the longer I read, the more I wonder if the city is the strange alternate reality instead. Yohei Sakuma is an exhausted manga editor, doing his job one day at a time simply because he must. When his division is shut down, he realizes he'd rather be anywhere but here, and takes up rice farming as a hobby just to get a change of pace. And it's here that he finds the joy of growing things. The narrative makes sure to point out that this isn't a romanticized "escape to the country life" story (there's a Starbucks just down the road, after all), but more about finding balance. Yohei and the reader are introduced to the concept of "half farmer/half x," someone who grows enough food for themselves, and spends the rest of their time pursing a career based on their own interests. It's a message that probably resonates with everyone, but seems especially sharp in the high-pressure world of manga publishing. The story meanders through these thoughts at an easy pace, and I found myself cheering for Yohei and his excellent wife (she cosplays and I love her), but also examining the balance in my own life. I can't wait to read more!

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

I love a "secret identity" plot, and I went into this expecting all sorts of slice of life hijinks with a side of romcom goodness. Turns out, it's almost all romance, and very few hijinks. It's also extremely messy with emotions. Honda hasn't yet realized he likes guys, and this manifests itself in some incredibly hurtful ways. Thankfully his friends are actually pretty great, and they call him out on it. But wow! That's not an attractive side of you, man. Kaido on the other hand is very sweet and should be protected at all costs. No complaints here. The art is nice, with delicate lines and some good tones. Honda's friends are little bit indistinct in their designs, but both the leads stand out and are very attractive.

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

If I didn't already know the author was a blogger, I'd probably guess, because the cadence of the book hits that perfect sweet spot of enthusiastic people sharing slices of knowledge in inviting vignettes. I already like cheese. But even as a fan of all things cheese, this covered so much more knowledge than I already had. History, science, geography - all the things that make cheese such a varied and exciting food. I was only a few pages in before had to hit pause and check to see if there were any local cheesemakers I could check out. And I think that's the strength of this book. It's informative, sure. But mostly it's inspiring. It makes me want to learn more, try new flavors, and have friends along for the ride. And honestly, that's pretty great.

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

I love a good "I was wronged and murdered and have been sent back in time to get my revenge before I'm wronged again" plot. A prevenge plot? Sure! I love a good prevenge plot. And this certainly is a fun one. The story wastes no time dropping us into the plot, and Mingshin wastes no time making different choices. She also stays pretty firmly locked into her goal, even with the distractions of romance and a sudden alteration in the timeline. That's not to say she ignores romance entirely. Jieh is a pretty big part of the storyline, and he checks all the boxes as far as love interests go: hot, strong, totally arrogant, and eventually incredibly soft. I confess, I prefer his sister, though. She's probably my favorite character in the whole thing, and would make a great lead character in her own drama. The political maneuvering is top notch, with the MC and her opponents all cleverly matched against each other. Anyone looking for machinations and plot twists will find lots of tasty moments here. The ending ties up several threads in a satisfying manner, but revenge is a long process, and there are definitely more questions that need answers. I hope we get future installments!

Thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

I was going through a reading dry spell when I grudgingly forced myself to start reading this book. And then I finished the entire thing in a day. The book starts at a slow pace, but it gets its hooks into you early with an uneasy sense of uncertainty with the world. There's magic in the world. Or maybe there isn't. Strange things haunt Effy at night. Or maybe they don't? All we really know is that Effy feels unwelcome, and finds solace only in her worn copy of the novel Angharad. It's no wonder that she leaps at the chance to redesign the author's house, even if the invitation seems utterly suspect. And things get even more suspect when she arrives. The house is a character unto itself, a proper gothic crumbling mansion with locked rooms and nature creeping in and out of cracks in the ceiling. It's here that the story really closes in, as reality begins to blur even more, and the mystery surrounding the house and the novel take center stage. Literature student Preston provides a good partner in both the study and romantic sense, with a softer slow-paced romance that takes a back seat to the rest of the plot. The ending is expected, but satisfying, and I found the discussion on what it means to read or write a book to be incredibly touching.

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

The pastel cover had me thinking this would be a "friendship is magic tale," (and it is!) but I was delighted to find some serious witchy vibes and scares in the back half as well. Honeycrisp Hill is a place overflowing with magic, and although we only get broad strokes on how the system works, it's clear that things can get dangerous quickly.

Wini and Kal make great leads, bonding over both their similarities and their differences. The unsettling pain of being an "outsider" based on things you can't control really resonated with me, and it was great to see them connect. In that space, I was also happy to see that this book takes the time to explore the many kinds of love - that love can be between friends, or family, or also romantically.

I was not at all surprised to find the author was also a pastry chef because the descriptions of baking are spot-on. The recipes included look great, and I love that Wini's personality that shines through in the instructions. I'm definitely going to have to try some of the recipes for myself.

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

The cover and description of this book had me going in thinking it was going to be more standard fantasy, so I found myself very confused by the use of cell phones at the start. Turns out it's modern magical boarding school with a dark academia twist, and I should have read the description more thoughtfully (mea culpa). Magical boarding schools don't usually do it for me, but this has all the markers that fans of the genre will love: distinct named Houses, mysterious symbols, classifications of things, school culture, magical tests, and Latin! And of course, a secret plot going on behind the scenes that our scrappy young heroine will have to uncover. The magic system and the school system are both described in depth, with a lot of cool stuff that sparks the imagination. The masks/diadem system in particular is very cool.

The lead couple are a standard enemies to lovers pair, although I found myself much more invested in the lives of several of the supporting cast. This book feels more like a setup for what's the come - now that we've been introduced to the magic, the characters, and the plot, the real fight can begin. It makes the pacing of the first volume a little wobbly, but the ending really comes in swinging with promises of some really twisty exciting stuff in the future.

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

There's a lot of Sherlock Holmes extended universe stuff out there, but the Early Casebook series is, for me, the one that best recreates the feel of the original stories: An observer's view of the genius that is Sherlock Holmes as he unravels one bewildering mystery after another. This one is probably the most complex of the Early Casebook stories I've read, with with several interwoven mysteries this time around, including a whole lot of family drama. Any of these cases could have been distilled into a short story of its own, with only a bit of the Greak Auk's mystery connecting them, but there was also a good deal of fun in trying to sort out which clue was relevant to which mystery. As with the other books in the series, historical research is vast, with a heap of author's notes in the back that go into further detail for any curious readers.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are mine.

Is this book really 432 pages long? Because I raced through it in a day, and it felt like it moved so quickly! I've always been impressed with RJB's world building, but this one might be my favorite yet. What do we call a world where plants provide light, vines are cultivated to be deadly security systems, the rich can afford large mushrooms that regulate the air temperature, and the murder weapon is a tree? Ugh, I love it. There are also strong notes of the usual "big monsters threaten humanity" suspects - Pacific Rim, Kaiju No. 8, and most evidently Attack on Titan, but this story chooses to move the first responders into the background and spend more time on infrastructure folks and a detective/assistant pair.

And what a stunning pair they are. Fans of the eccentric detective+earnest put-upon assistant, get ready to enjoy yourselves. Ana is a genius in all rights, but never in too much of a magical way that it seems she arrived at her conclusions unfairly. The clues are always available, and I did manage to pick out a couple reveals before they were dropped. As our POV character, Din is easily my favorite - his dedication to justice makes him very easy to cheer for, and I appreciated that he wasn't portrayed as completely brainless.

Despite all the giant monsters attacking in the background, this is a mystery first and foremost, and I appreciate that the narrative commits to this. I suspect that the mystery and the background plot will eventually merge in future books, but for now, I was happy just to read a really solid mystery with some great twists, and a really cool detective.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!

Having read and enjoyed the previous two books in the series, I have been looking forward to the third book and the third couple, and this book absolutely delivers. Charlotte and John were already likable in the previous installments, and it's great to see them get their moment. This book definitely centers the mystery, and the leads' relationships with their social standings. It's not a bad choice, as Charlotte and John have already developed enough that we the don't need to be convinced they love each other, but we do get a good deal of requisite pining before either of them manages to say it out loud. The stakes have also been raised a good deal! The mystery is incredibly personal, and the danger has ramped up, and I found myself genuinely worried for our heroes in several places. Like the previous books, the mystery is more read-along than solve-along, with a fitting conclusion. There's more thrill and action than one might expect from a book marketed as "Proper Victorian Romance."

The structure of this series is such that the two previous books are not required reading, but if you like this one, you'll probably like those too.

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

As always, the best way to learn how to forage is with a local guide, and the worst way is with an app (seriously, apps are SO bad at identifying plants - please do not use them). But I'm very pleased to see so many books available for beginners that make foraging accessible for people who might not have a local guide immediately available. This book covers a lot of easy entry points for beginners, including dandelions, stinging nettle, and ramps. It also covers some of the biggest beginner mistakes, including the very poisonous water hemlock. While the focus is on North American plants, a lot of these plants are available all over the globe, so there's a decent appeal here no matter where you live. My favorite part is the final chapter, which includes recipe/process guides on what to do with your foraged goodies. Notes on how to preserve items, infuse flavors, make wine, and other great food options are a huge bonus for books that typically don't explain how a lot of these things work. As is my usual hang-up with guide books, I could always use more photos - especially for plants with distinctly different stages - but this is a great starting point for anyone looking to get into foraging.

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

Let's start with the art, because it is absolutely gorgeous. Graphic novels can sometimes have a stunning cover that can hide interior work that doesn't quite match up - but this entire book is lovely to look at. Several panels feel like standalone art pieces, and I loved the composition, colors, designs, everything really. Characters and their respective unicorns all have bright, distinct designs that I would have been entirely obsessed with if this had been on TV when I was a kid. And likening it to a TV show is probably the best way I can describe this book. The entire thing runs a good deal like a pilot episode, taking time to explain the world and rules, briefly introducing our heroes, throwing them into a somewhat minor kerfuffle, and then hinting at a villain waiting in the shadows. It's a very lightweight adventure with little to complain about, but little to truly review in terms of plot. Overall a fun pilot episode, and I look forward to seeing where the story goes from here.

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

The story of how this got published feels like it could already be a series unto itself. Although it's written by Japanese manga-ka Kenshiro Sakamoto (known for Buster Keel), this was originally published in French by publishing company KANA. That's got nothing to do with the story, and it still reads from right to left like traditional manga, but I just found that fascinating on its own.

Anyway, on to the actual series. I was hit by a wave of warm nostalgia when I read this. Toah's Ark hits all the highlights of a solid shonen series from the naughts. A cheerful, unassuming hero travels from one town to the next fighting monsters with the aid of a powerful monster at his side, and we cycle through a series of touching vignettes of various one-off characters while we do. I didn't realize how much I wanted to read a story like this again until this book fell into my hands. The flashback chapter at the end and a final sketch hint that a much bigger plot will come into play soon, but for this first volume, we're still getting to know everyone. Toah is a fun lead: well-meaning, spunky, dedicated to justice, and hopelessly goofy. His sidekick Joker has some very fun design elements, including a scarf that just begs to be cosplayed.

From the cover, it's hard not to compare the style to Hiro Mashima's work, especially when you learn that Sakamoto-san also worked on a Fairy Tail spinoff manga. However, the interior artwork is much more unique. Art is really solid, moving between bold lines and soft thinner strokes when necessary. As the title implies, a lot of imagery and ideas are lifted from the Biblical Old Testament (the evil apple is especially cool-looking), but there's a mix of other world religion in here as well including references to Greek mythology and the Four Auspicious Beasts popular in East Asian culture.

Overall, recommended for anyone looking for a shonen series featuring a likable lead, intriguing design elements, and fun art.

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

When it comes to mysteries, detective leads are all about the case, but PI leads tend to have a lot of personal stuff going on as well. Balancing out the mystery and personal life is always tricky, but Emily Bain Murphy manages to hit that balance really well. The main puzzle stays in the forefront of the plot, but a series of flashbacks and help give us context on Cora and her very complicated history with Jack. The book veered off my expectations a little bit with them - the two leads are a PI and a con man, and yet they were probably the least duplicitous characters in the whole thing. In the end, I think it's their honesty that made them such a good match, though. Both smart and capable, but also emotionally vulnerable, for a slow burn relationship that unfolded in a very natural way. The other characters are all hot messes in that dramatic way that makes you not want to look away, and they all fit very neatly into the glamorous and hideous silver screen era of Hollywood.

Thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!

I initially was a little intimidated when I opened the book and was greeted with a list of names and titles from a world I didn't understand, but the characters are all described as they're introduced, such that I didn't ever need to page back to the list, so I worried for nothing. Martha Wells does an incredible job of fitting a lot of world building into a small space, doling out lore as necessary in a way that still sparks the imagination. And what a world it is! Layers of culture, powers, politics, and history unfold in two separate timelines with a scope that feels like a big adventure. Kai is a fun mix of snarky and competent, with other characters distinct, but not given quite as much attention. Overall, characters and their arcs to take a bit of a backseat to the plot and its mysteries. While this seems like it's probably a standalone book, I honestly wouldn't mind seeing these characters do more with a little more breathing room.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!