In the Name of the Mermaid Princess, Vol. 1 by Yoshino Fumikawa

Illustrated by Miya Tashiro Translated by Junko Goda 4 stars A beautiful manga with sweet characters and wonderful messages about calling out injustice and fighting for your beliefs. In a kingdom that doesn’t allow the so-called Unhuman, beings born with magical powers, Princess Mio prepares for her betrothal to Prince Chika. But Mio has a…

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This Monster Wants to Eat Me, Vol. 2 by Sai Naekawa

Translated by Caleb Cook 5 stars As Shiori patiently waits to devour Hinako, the two spend more time together and become closer. But Hinako’s best friend, Miko, isn’t thrilled to share her. Great story development with some fantastic twists and turns. The artwork is hauntingly beautiful. Creep, odd, and gorgeous. Such an interesting series. Really…

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This Monster Wants to Eat Me, Vol. 1 by Sai Naekawa

Translated by Caleb Cook 4 stars Hinako want to die. Shiori wants to eat her. It’s a perfect match. After the traumatic loss of her family, Hinako finds continuing to live a chore. But after she’s attacked by yokai, saved by a beautiful mermaid, then befriended by the mermaid who wants to eat her, her…

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Disney’s Kilala Princess, Volume 2 by Rika Tanaka

Illustrated by Nao Kodaka Translated by Kathy Schilling 3 stars The second volume takes Kilala under the sea. She and Rei are separated and she must journey through the ocean with the help of some new friends to find him. Another fun fast-paced adventure. Adorable artwork. I’m really enjoying getting new storylines with Disney princesses…

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Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol

5 stars Absolutely fantastic. Easily one of my new favorite books of all time. I wish I had this book as a kid. Jane has learned to accept her plainness. But after her parents’ death, her cousin is set to inherit everything including the house she lives in. Her only chance is to find someone…

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Shark Girl by Kate Beaton

3 stars An odd little story with nice age-appropriate messaging about ethical fishing practices. The story follows Shark Girl who, after witnessing human irresponsibility and greedy fishing practices, decides to take revenge by starting a mutiny. A nice blend of humor and an examination of human nature. Showcases both the good and the bad of…

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Lily the Pond Mermaid by Lucy Fleming

3 stars A sweet story about a pond mermaid and her overwhelming worries. Lily does everything she can to help her friends who live in and around the pond. But she worries that the responsibility is just too much for her to handle alone. After a major storm, Lily finds the courage to talk to…

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Afro Unicorn: The Land of Afronia, Vol. 1 by April Showers

Text by Terrance Crawford Illustrated by Ronaldo Barata 2 stars Nice to get a longer adventure about the Afro Unicorns. This one focuses on Unique and Divine as they make their way to the Festival of Crowns. Along the way, they learn one of the crowns has gone missing. The story itself was okay. A…

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