Hello!
Continuing with my catch up with my netgalley reviews from the last few months, here are some mini reviews for the Manga and Light Novels I’ve requested and read.
“Disclaimer – I received an e-arc via netgalley for these in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts are my own.”
The Dawn of the Witch 1 – Kakeru Kobashiri and Tatsuwo
Kodansha Comics
Genre: Comics & Graphic Novels | Sci Fi & Fantasy
Book Summary:
Saybil is a magic student with no memories of his life before he met a mysterious silver-haired woman in an alley. Now he travels with his teacher, Loux — another student, Holt, and the beastfallen Kudo for “special training”… but this field trip may not be as routine as it seems!
Review:
This is a series that has potential, especially with it’s worldbuilding and magic. However, it was let down by execution, as the characters especially the main character felt rather flat and I was not really engaged in their story, and while the art style was nice, it did lean a little too much into fanservice for my liking.
Rating:
Links:
***** *****
Those Snow White Notes 1 – Marimo Ragawa
Kodansha Comics
Genre: Comics & Graphic Novels
Book Summary:
When Setsu’s grandfather died, so did Setsu’s “sound”—his unique creative spark. Grieving, he goes to Tokyo to find himself…but manages to become totally, literally lost on his first day. Only a chance meeting with Yuna—aka Yuka, the hostess—saves him from being robbed. At first glance their lives seem totally different, but they’re both striving for their dreams—hers, of being an actress, and his, of developing his talent with the shamisen—and it could just be that life in the raucous, unfeeling urban sprawl of Tokyo could just be what binds their fates together…
Review:
The style for this one was quite classic and was a little like taking a trip back to the 90’s and early 2000’s, and honestly I quite enjoyed it. I also have a soft spot for music-based manga/anime with Given and Kids on the Slope being favourites, and this manga very much had a similar vibe, and while it was perhaps not the most action-packed story or development, I enjoyed it. There were a few pacing issues, and I didn’t feel that some of the characters were as fleshed out as they needed to be, but there were some very meaningful moments and overall I would recommend this one.
Rating:
Links:
***** *****
She’s My Knight 1 – Saisou
Kodansha Comics
Genre: Comics & Graphic Novels | Humour | Romance
Book Summary:
Haruma Ichinose, 17, has been popular since he was born. So popular, in fact, that he figured no one could even come close…until he met Yuki Mogami. She’s tall, cool, collected, and totally makes him crazy. He may just be in love…but can he deal with falling for someone even more dashing than himself?
Review:
This was a very entertaining read from start to finish, and while it would have been nice to follow one arching storyline, I found that I enjoyed the episodic nature of the story. The art style is cute, and worked perfectly with a cast of engaging characters to play with some of the classic shojo tropes and give them a twist, and this entire manga made me smile and I will certainly be checking out future volumes.
Rating:
Links:
***** *****
This Wonderful Season with You – Atsuko Yusen
Independent Publishers Group | Love X Love
Genre: Comics & Graphic Novels
Book Summary:
An all-new boys love by the creator of Dekoboko Sugar Days!
Enoki is practically the poster-boy for what a typical nerd looks like: short and slight, complete with big round glasses and social awkwardness. His main hobby is making video games, and he’s used to not having many friends at school. Then, he meets Shirataki, a former member of the baseball club and his exact opposite; tall, muscular and sporty. Despite their many differences, the spark of friendship between the two boys begins to grow into something more…
Review:
I enjoyed the art-style with this one, and for the most part it was a solid read and even did some interesting discussions around the characters relationship. However, the character development felt a little artificial in places, and the ending was both not what had been built up to and somewhat uncomfortable to read.
Rating:
Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US | Waterstones
***** *****
Reign of the Seven Spellblades Vol.1 – Bokuto Uno, Miyuki Ruria (Light Novel)
Yen Press | Yen On
Genre: Sci Fi & Fantasy | Teens & YA
Book Summary:
FROM A CLASH OF SWORDS, AN UNSHAKABLE BOND
Springtime at Kimberly Magic Academy brings a new batch of first-year students, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as they begin their journey to become full-fledged mages. Among these newcomers are Oliver Horn, a studious boy equally skilled with the wand and the blade, and Nanao Hibiya, a strong-willed samurai girl from the distant nation of Yamatsu. The wheels of fate bring these two souls together at Kimberly, where they become both comrades and rivals in equal measure. However, lurking within the academy’s halls are countless dangers and dark secrets guaranteed to threaten not only their friendship-but their very lives…
Review:
This was really enjoyable and not at all what I was expecting. The first half was light-hearted, but the tone darkens especially towards the end, and there were some unexpected turns that were very well done. A well-imagined plot and world, with wonderful characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. This is very much a story that I will be following in future volumes.
Rating:
Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US | Bookshop.org
***** *****
Unnamed Memory Vol. 1: The Witch of the Azure Moon and the Cursed Prince – Kuji Furumiya, Chibi
Yen Press | Yen On
Genre: Sci Fi & Fantasy | Teens & YA
Book Summary:
“My wish as champion is for you to descend the tower and be my wife.”Climbing a deadly tower, Oscar seeks the power of its master, the Witch of the Azure Moon. He hopes her incredible magic can break a curse that will kill any woman he takes for a wife. When the prince sees how beautiful Tinasha is, though, he has a better idea-since she’s surely strong enough to survive his curse, she should just marry him instead! Tinasha isn’t keen on the idea, but agrees to live with Oscar in the royal castle for a year while researching the spell placed on the prince. The witch’s pretty face hides several lifetimes of dark secrets, however-secrets that begin resurfacing…
Review:
I feel as though this one has a lot of potential, but that it wasn’t fully achieved in this volume. While this is the first book, and therefore a fair amount of worldbuilding, character and plot needs to be established, the structure somewhat let it down, and it felt as though there was a lot being drawn out much more than it needed to be. Sometimes, with points being brought up and then only reoccuring quite a bit later, which made it a little challenging to really become invested in the world and story. I did however enjoy the characters, and the promise of the slow burn romance, and I am certainly interested in seeing where this one goes, and whether that potential can be polished into something more in future volumes.
Rating:
Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US | Bookshop.org
***** *****
Beneath A Thousand Skies 