Manga & Light Novels

Feb 17, 2020

From Our TBR Pile Manga & Light Novels

#MangaMonday Review – A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow, Vol. 1 by Makoto Hagino

A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow, Vol. 1
By: Makoto Hagino
Illustrator: Makoto Hagino; Eve Grandt (touch-up and lettering)
Translator: John Werry
Release Date: November 12, 2019
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Series: A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow #1
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow, Vol. 1 by Makoto Hagino is a sweet yuri slice-of-life manga. Amano Konatsu is the new girl in town, living with her aunt while her father works overseas. The first day in her new town, Amano stumbles onto an event at her new school held by a club that runs a small aquarium. Koyuki Honami is the head of the club, and Amano can’t help but be instantly drawn to her and her fascinating club.

Feb 10, 2020

From Our TBR Pile Manga & Light Novels

#MangaMonday Review – Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare Volume 1 by Yuhki Kamatani

Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare Vol. 1
By: Yuhki Kamatani
Illustrator: Yuhki Kamatani (Illustrator); Kaitlyn Wiley (Lettering & Retouching)
Translator: Jocelyn Allen (Translator); Ysabet MacFarlane (Adaptation)
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Publisher: Seven Seas
Series: Our Dreams at Dusk #1
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

This particular manga has been on my radar for quite some time, often lauded by fans and bloggers alike as something that truly stands out within the genre. After reading it, I wholeheartedly agree that they were right. Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare Vol. 1 by Yuhki Kamatani is a manga that is grabs your hearts, but not in the gentle heartfelt way you might think. No. Right from the first page it punches a hole in your chest and grabs at your heart with its bare hands.

Feb 03, 2020

From Our TBR Pile Manga & Light Novels Uncategorized

#MangaMonday Review – Beastars Vol. 2

Beastars Vol. 2
By: Paru Itagaki
Illustrator: Paru Itagaki
Translator: Tomoko Kimura (Tanslator); Annette Roman (Adaptation)
Release Date: September 17, 2019
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Series: Beastars #2
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

A truly fantastic manga, Beastars, Vol. 2 by Paru Itagaki centers on Legoshi, a wolf, attending high school with both predators and prey. Tensions are high between the two groups; peace is something that could be broken at any moment despite many rules and regulations being in place. If you haven’t read the first volume yet, or are interested in my thoughts on it, please check out my review of Beastars, Vol. 1.

Jan 27, 2020

From Our TBR Pile Manga & Light Novels Uncategorized

#MangaMonday Review – Our Wonderful Days, Vol. 1 by Kei Hamuro

Our Wonderful Days, Vol. 1
By: Kei Hamuro
Illustrator: Kei Hamuro (Art); Erika Terriquez (Lettering & Retouching)
Translator: Katrina Leonoudakis (Translator); Asha Bardon (Adaptation)
Release Date: November 12, 2019
Publisher: Seven Seas
Series: Our Wonderful Days #1
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

Also known as Tsurezure Biyori, new series Our Wonderful Days Vol. 1 by Kei Hamuro is a sweet slice-of-life yuri manga that is perfect for all lovers of romances and slice-of-life stories set in schools. Once childhood friends, Koharu and Mafuyu drifted apart after Mafuyu moved when they were still young. Now in high school, those seem like distant days. But when Mafuyu moves back to town, she reconnects with Koharu. And, now that their grown, Koharu can’t help but start falling for her friend.

Jan 20, 2020

From Our TBR Pile Manga & Light Novels

#MangaMonday Review – My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Vol. 1 by Satoru Yamaguchi and Nami Hidaka

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Vol 1
By: Satoru Yamaguchi
Illustrator: Nami Hidaka
Release Date: August 6, 2019
Publisher: Seven Seas
Series: My Next Life as a Villainess
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

Isekai and otome combine in 2019’s manga My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Vol 1 written by Satoru Yamaguchi and illustrated by Nami Hidaka. This is the manga adapatation of a light novel of the same title, publishing by J-Novel Club, and is set for an anime adaptation during the Spring 2020 season.

Jan 13, 2020

Manga & Light Novels New & Upcoming Releases

#MangaMonday Review – No Longer Human by Junji Ito

No Longer Human
By: Junji Ito; Osamu Dazai (original novel)
Illustrator: Junji Ito
Translator: Jocelyn Allen
Release Date: December 17, 2019
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

The latest manga from Junji Ito is somewhat different from his usual fare. No Longer Human by Junji Ito is Ito’s take on Osamu Dazai’s novel of the same title. A character study more than true horror, this story is filled more with commentary on the human psyche than the monsters and ghosts that frequent Ito’s pages.

Jan 06, 2020

From Our TBR Pile Manga & Light Novels

#MangaMonday Review – Ghostly Things, Vol. 1 by Ushio Shirotori

Ghostly Things, Vol. 1
By: Ushio Shirotori
Illustrator: Ushio Shirotori (Illustrator); Rina Mapa (Lettering)
Translator: Nova Skipper (Translator); Clint Bickham (Adaptation)
Release Date: October 1, 2019
Publisher: Seven Seas
Series: Ghostly Things #1
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

The start of a new series, Ghostly Things, Vol. 1 by Ushio Shirotori is a paranormal fantasy manga featuring a teenager in a new (and probably haunted) house.

Dec 30, 2019

From Our TBR Pile Manga & Light Novels

#MangaMonday Review – No Guns Life, Vol. 2 by Tasuku Karasuma

No Guns Life, Vol. 2
By: Tasuku Karasuma
Illustrator: Tasuku Karasuma
Translator: Joe Yamazaki
Release Date: November 19, 2019
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Series: No Guns Life #2
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

The second volume in the series, No Guns Life, Vol. 2 by Tasuku Karasuma is the next volume in this gritty noir science fiction manga which was begun with No Guns Life, Vol. 1. The arc in this volume is in the 2019 anime adaptation of this title, which goes by the same name. Those who prefer to pick up a manga series after the ending point of an anime adaptation will want to wait for a future volume before beginning their collection.

Dec 23, 2019

Manga & Light Novels Uncategorized

#MangaMonday Review – The Brave-Tuber, Vol. 1 by Takahito Oosaki and Ikuro

Brave-Tuber, Vol. 1
By: Takahito Oosaki (Illustrator); James Gaubatz (Lettering)
Illustrator: Ikuro
Translator: Thomas Zimmerman (Translation); Dawn Davis (Adaptation)
Release Date: September 10, 2019
Publisher: Seven Seas
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

In a world replete with isekai, this manga is much more of a typical fantasy if that fantasy was thrown on its head and mixed in with a little YouTube and vlogging culture. If that sounds like a mix you’ve never heard of before, you might be right. The Brave-Tuber, Vol. 1 is written by Takahito Oosaki and illustrated by Ikuro, and is set to become an ONA in late December of 2019.

Dec 09, 2019

From Our TBR Pile Manga & Light Novels

#MangaMonday Review – Komi Can’t Communicate, Vol. 1 by Tomohito Oda

Komi Can't Communicate, Vol. 1
By: Tomohito Oda
Illustrator: Tomohito Oda
Release Date: June 11, 2019
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Series: Komi Can't Communicate #1
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:

Komi Can’t Communicate, Vol. 1 by Tomohito Oda is a delightful manga that begins on the first day of high school. It’s a story of friendship, teenage awkwardness, and of learning to overcome the fear of communicating with others.