Book description: A fable for modern times, Castle Waiting is a fairy tale that's not about rescuing the princess, saving the kingdom, or fighting the ultimate war between Good and Evil—but about being a hero in your own home. The opening story, "The Brambly Hedge," tells the origin of the castle itself, which is abandoned by its princess in a comic twist on "Sleeping Beauty" … [Read more...] about Castle Waiting by Linda Medley: A
Fantasy
Alice in the Country of Hearts 1 by QuinRose and Soumei Hoshino: B-
From the back cover: Wonderland is officially at war! And Alice is trapped in the middle of it all. Will she make it out alive? A little arrogant, stubborn, and determined to get back home, Alice isn't fazed by these challenges... until she discovers that every man is gun crazy and weirdly in love with her. What's going on in Wonderland?! Review: Based on a “female-oriented … [Read more...] about Alice in the Country of Hearts 1 by QuinRose and Soumei Hoshino: B-
Moon Boy 7 by Lee YoungYou: C+
Myung-Ee and her childhood friend, Yu-Da, are “earth rabbits,” and must be on guard against the members of the fox tribe who want to eat them. Yu-Da is particularly special—as the rare “black rabbit,” his liver has the potential to restore the foxes’ queen. For that purpose, he was kidnapped by the foxes as a child and magically kept docile while they wait for his liver to … [Read more...] about Moon Boy 7 by Lee YoungYou: C+
Fairy Tail 8-9 by Hiro Mashima: B
The battle between Fairy Tail and rival guild Phantom Lord rages on. Two of Phantom Lord's elite group, Element 4, have been defeated, but Gray must finish off his opponent (Juvia, a lovelorn lady possessed of rain magic) while a wounded Erza summons the strength to achieve a victory of her own. Though they've foiled part of Phantom Lord's plans, however, Lucy still ends up … [Read more...] about Fairy Tail 8-9 by Hiro Mashima: B
Tsubasa: Those with Wings 3 by Natsuki Takaya: B-
After a disappointing start and lackluster middle, Natsuki Takaya finally delivers a mostly satisfying conclusion in this, the final volume of Tsubasa: Those with Wings. We begin with Kotobuki and friends (sans Raimon, who is prohibited from leaving the country by a bomb in his brain) in Japan, where they conveniently meet the Tsubasa’s creator and learn the secrets of its … [Read more...] about Tsubasa: Those with Wings 3 by Natsuki Takaya: B-