Is This a Cry for Help? by Emily Austin

2.5 stars After taking a leave of absence for her mental health, Darcy returns to her job as a public librarian. The last thing she needs is more difficulties, but she’ll have to deal with aggressive journalists, creepy emails, book bans, and protesters. Okay read. I expected to enjoy this more than I did. I…

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Beauty and the Beast: Belle’s Tale

Adapted by Mallory Reaves Art by Studio Dice 2.5 stars Based on the 2017 live-action Beauty and the Beast movie, this manga follows Belle’s perspective, providing her stream of consciousness as she rescues her father, befriends the castle’s inhabitants, and slowly falls in love with the Beast. A good adaptation. I would say you should…

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Disney’s Kilala Princess, Volume 4 by Rika Tanaka

Illustrated by Nao Kodaka Translated by Christine Dashiell 2.5 stars Kilala and Rei continue their request to collect the gems for the tiara and save Paradiso, visiting different Disney princesses. But this time they are joined by Sylphy, a woman claiming to be Rei’s fiancée. Will she help or hurt their cause? We get two…

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Disney’s Kilala Princess, Volume 3 by Rika Tanaka

Illustrated by Nao Kodaka Translated by Christine Dashiell 2.5 stars Rei has gone back to Paradiso, leaving Kilala with the tiara. But when Kilala gets a lead on the seventh princess, she ventures off to find out more. On her adventures, she has some fairy encounters, meets a new princess, and learns of a betrayal….

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The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec

2.5 stars An interesting dive into the world of Norse mythology. I loved the idea of a novel following Angrboda and tying together some stories of witches, giantesses, and other mysterious women. For me, the first part of the book really dragged. I liked the second half more as things picked up, but that whole…

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Rainbow! Vol. 1 by Sunny and Gloomy

2.5 stars Adorable artwork, a sweet supporting cast, and plenty of trauma to go around. The adorable cover and sweet synopsis did not prepare me for what this book was actually about. Despite being reduced to a single mention of “a complicated home life” on the back cover, the bulk of this volume is actually…

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Hellaween by Moss Lawton

2.5 stars An interesting start to a series. This has a good start to a story, but for some reason, it was hard for me to get into. I was definitely intrigued by the monster realm, Gwen’s experience as an amateur witch, and her supernatural friends from another world. Some fun humor. The story was…

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Ghostwriter: Alien Alert by Susan Korman

Illustrated by Dan Krovatin 2.5 stars Aliens, time travel, and a mystery-solving ghost. An interesting entry in the Ghostwriter series. It’s the day before Halloween in 1938, and cousins Emily and Sam are home alone. They’re listening to the radio when news of an alien invasion in their hometown breaks out. Can the Ghostwriter team…

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