The Ancient Magus’ Bride, Vol. 1 by Kore Yamazaki

Translated by Adrienne Beck 2 stars Definitely weird but not in a way that worked for me. Chise is enslaved then sold to a mage, who takes her on as his apprentice… and also a future wife? Okay story. There were parts I liked. Cool fantasy world-building. The plot was a bit confusing. There are…

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Blue Horses by Mary Oliver

3 stars Another beautiful collection of poems. This one didn’t resonate with me quite as strongly as the other collections I’ve read from her, but it was still a wonderful read. A nice exploration of life, nature, and relationships. Goodreads

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The Little World of Liz Climo by Liz Climo

3 stars A fun collection of one-page comics featuring a lovable cast of animals. Sorted into categories of love and friendship, holidays and celebrations, family, and daily life, this collection brings a bit of humor, relatability, and strangeness. Adorable artwork. I loved getting to know all the reoccurring characters. A sweet collection focusing on friendship,…

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My Little Pony: Friendship Tales

4 stars This collection includes “Meet the Ponies of Ponyville” by Olivia London, “Hearts and Hooves” by Jennifer Fox, “Ponies Love Pets!” by Emily C. Hughes, and “Meet the Princess of Friendship” by Lucy Rosen. A nice mix of pony adventures and introductions to various characters. Follow along with the Mane 6 and the Cutie Mark Crusaders through mishaps…

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The Grudge Keeper by Mara Rockliff

Illustrated by Eliza Wheeler 3.5 stars A really sweet story about forgiveness and friendship. No one in Bonnyripple ever kept a grudge except Cornelius, the Grudge Keeper, a sort of archivist of the townspeople’s complaints about one another. When a storm hits the town, the people see just how much space all their grudges take…

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Hansel & Gretel by Neil Gaiman

Art by Lorenzo Mattotti 3 stars Nicely told. This is a pretty standard version of the Hansel and Gretel story. We get all the elements we’ve come to expect: the siblings abandoned in the woods, the trails of stones and breadcrumbs, the house made of gingerbread, and the hungry old woman in the forest. Lorenzo…

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Polar Bear Café: Volume 1 by Aloha Higa

2.5 stars A cute manga with plenty of puns in both Japanese and English. Fun slice-of-life adventures featuring Polar Bear, Panda, and all their friends. I have not watched the anime of this, but honestly if you have some non-traditional entity running a café, there’s a good chance I’m going to want to read it….

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Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit

3 stars Includes essays, articles, and lectures ranging from 2008 to 2014, Men Explain Things to Me examines various issues associated when gender and sex. Issues discussed revolve mainly around men’s perceived entitlement to women’s bodies and women’s time, the resulting discrimination and too-often violence against women, and the silencing of women’s voices. The essays range from…

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