The Legend of Grimm’s Woods (Hocus & Poucs #1)

by Manuro Illustrated by Gorobei Translated by Mélanie Strang-Hardy 3.5 stars A fun adventure that puts you in charge of where to go next. Follow either Hocus or Pocus as they explore Grimm’s Woods in search of missing children. Along the way, you’ll collect stars, answer riddles, play games, and keep your magical creature fed…

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Little Witch Academia Vol. 1

by Yoh Yoshinari Art by Keisuke Sato 3 stars A nice blend of events from the anime along with original mini-stories. Great for those who want more after watching the show. I especially loved the character design section at the end. It delivers on all the personalities from the show. Nice art style. Fun humor….

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The Guardian Test (Legends of Lotus Island #1)

by Christina Soontornvat Illustrated by Kevin Hong 4 stars Given the short length of this book, I wasn’t sure how developed it would be. My worries were unfounded because Soontornvat has done it again. This is a to-the-point story with beautiful world building, great characters, and fantastic messages. Plum is content living with her grandparents…

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Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston (Sir Callie #1)

by Esme Symes-Smith 2.5 stars I’m really conflicted about this one. I went into it excited to read an epic fantasy about a non-binary child who dreams of being a knight in a world that enforces a strict gender binary of girls using magic and boys training to fight, going up against an unknown evil…

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Basil and Oregano by Melissa Capriglione

4 stars This was such a sweet book! Basil dreams of being a fabulous magiculinary chef. But first, she must become top student at Porta Bella Magiculinary Academy and earn the scholarship that goes with the title. When she meets Arabella Oregano, the daughter of a famous chef, things start to heat up. Basil must…

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Transmogrify!: 14 Fantastical Tales of Trans Magic

Edited by g. haron davis Stories by Saundra Mitchell, Sonora Reyes, Renée Reynolds, A. R. Capetta, Cory McCarthy, Francesca Tacchi, Ayida Shonibar, Nik Traxler, g. haron davis, Jonathan Lenore Kastin, Mason Deaver, Ash Nouveau, Cam Montgomery, Dove Salvatierra, and Emery Lee 5 stars Generally with anthologies, there are some stories that resonate with a reader…

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The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw (Audiobook)

5 stars Beautiful and unsettling. A mermaid in human form and a plague doctor travel together after the mermaid’s daughters devour the kingdom. On their journey, they come across a village of ageless children ruled by three “saints” with mystifying abilities to bring back the dead. As the pair investigate, they uncover the saint’s dark…

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The Sprite and the Gardener

by Rii Abrego and Joe Whitt Illustrated by Rii Abrego 3 stars A sweet story with stunning artwork. This gentle fantasy follows Wisteria, a new sprite to the neighborhood. When humans came to the land long ago, sprites took a backseat and let them take over caring for the plants. But after watching a wannabe…

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Diana: Princess of the Amazons (Diana #1)

by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale Illustrated by Victoria Ying 3 stars A story of friendship and belonging with an incredible all-female assemble. Diana is the only child on the island of Themyscira. When she was little, that made her feel special. But now… she’s just lonely. Caught between being too young and too old,…

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Marshmallow & Jordan by Alina Chau

4 stars A passionate athlete, a mysterious elephant, a prolonged drought, and a new interest that may divide friendships. When Jordan can no longer compete on the basketball team, she tries out water polo. But doing so means Jordan has to choose between getting better at water polo or keeping up with her friends on…

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