Riri

Actual rating: 3.5★

Similarly to the first volume, I find this hard to rate due to the plot and pacing. For the most part, this second volume is rather slow and driven by characters rather than story. The overarching plot revealed at the end of the previous volume didn't go anywhere in this one. It was just slightly mentioned at the beginning, and then the rest of the book is spent exploring various character issues instead. This obviously brings the main plot to a halt, so if you're more interested in that than the characters, you might find it a little dull as our main cast go about their days choosing brooms, setting up their workshop, and exploring the labyrinth. It's for this reason that I rounded the rating down.

If you're more interested in the characters, however, you might find this book more interesting. While the first volume focused mainly on Katie, in this one we learn more about Pete and Chela. Pete is opening up a lot more to Oliver after an unexpected self-discovery, while Chela has to deal with some family issues. That being said, they're not exactly facing an urgent issue that needs immediate solution like Katie did, so the subtlety of their growth felt a little lacking after all that happened in the first volume.

Overall, this second volume feels like it's still laying the groundwork for what's about to come. The problem is the previous book did a better job at maintaining engagement while doing that, and it really doesn't help that the action scenes in this one felt oddly detached and analytical. Still, the three-on-three battle in the last chapter was quite fun. We even get a cliffhanger at the end, and since a major conflict finally rears its head back in, hopefully the next volume will be more fun to read.

I really hope they will link back to the main plot soon, because that's the main attraction of this series for me. More magic academy life and less labyrinth exploration would be nice too.

This was a bit hard to rate.

For the first two chapters, it was more of a 3.5★ read. The first chapter is understandably slow because it serves as an introduction to our cast and Kimberly Magic Academy. The world gives off massive Harry Potter vibes, but with athames, madness, and a lot of politics right off the bat. An accident occurs during the welcoming parade, so that was interesting as far as introductions go. The second chapter, however, dragged on endlessly. It was such a struggle to go through, even though it's showing us all the magic-related classes in the academy. Even the action scenes felt draggy, and Nanao's long flashback made it even more so. I feel like it's so unnecessary long, with quite a few moments of telling instead of showing.

That being said, the latter half of the book is a lot better. It's fast-paced and action-packed without a moment of boredom, and it's where all the fun finally unfolds. For the first volume, a lot of focus is given on Katie and her struggle to adapt to the academy and its people, who aren't exactly kind to her. Of course, Oliver and Nanao are really dominant as the leading characters, and they can be found at the center of most—if not all—battles taking place in this book.

My reason for bumping this up to 4★ is definitely because of the twist at the end. I did guess the culprit behind the troll incident easily, but this one took me by surprise. The prologue is pretty intense, and I was waiting for the story to link back to it eventually... but that was not what I expected LOL. In a good way. Not only it got me curious as of where this story is going, but it also makes Oliver a lot more interesting as the main character. He spent the majority of the book hiding his true nature and objective, and as it turns out, I like his secrets quite a lot. Will definitely be following the series.

I read this in small doses at night, when I was swamped with work and fell sick. It's truly a hilarious and gleeful read, especially if you like a main character with a sadistic streak. The book begins with the classic villainess story opening scene, where Rachel gets dumped in public by her stupid fiancé who's fallen in love with another girl. Rachel is falsely accused of bullying and thrown into prison, and that's where she's slowly plotting her revenge while enjoying slow life in prison.

Yes. Slow life in prison.

Some might argue that Rachel might be too much, and that she's a “psycho” for the things she's done to others. However, I couldn't care less about morality in fiction so I find her actions very satisfying. The prince, his girlfriend, and his entourage are all so refreshingly stupid, and there isn't a single moment when I feel bad for them. If anything, I hope Rachel will keep going until they're thoroughly crushed.

It seems like this is a two-volume series, so the story won't get dragged out unnecessarily. Can't wait to see what Rachel is going to do next.

So the theme of this book is bullying, told from the perspective of a middle school student named Adachi. The one receiving bullying is his classmate, Yano Satsuki. Adachi himself is a bystander for the most part, which links to my biggest problem with this book. I hate it when a story that centers around bullying ends without a resolution, and that is exactly the case here.

Honestly, I might have enjoyed this a little more if only the main character isn't so indecisive. Adachi only makes a decision at the end, so the rest of the book is him sailing through all sorts of emotions while doing absolutely nothing about Yano's situation. It's super frustrating, and the fact that the depiction of bullying is so realistic only made it worse for me.

Still, the writing is so good in the poetic, introspective way. It conveys the conflicting thoughts and emotions really well, and it does show the message of how much of a monster humans can be. It just doesn't have a proper conclusion, so do keep that in mind if you're planning to pick this up.

Picked this up because I saw the anime, and that's basically what the book is: a shounen anime / manga in novel form. It's an action-packed, fast-paced story set in post-apocalyptic Japan, about a Mushroom Keeper and his encounter with a doctor who becomes his adventuring partner. This first volume covers their attempt to find Rust-Eater mushrooms, which has the ability to cure people from the Rust that's been plaguing the land. It ends in a really nice note despite having a lot more volumes to come, promising more exciting adventures for Bisco and Milo.

That being said, I had to knock off a star despite enjoying the book... because of how sexist it can be at times. Particularly when it comes to Pawoo, since the writing keeps pointing out about how it's such a waste that a woman as beautiful as her enjoys being a fierce warrior when she should be getting married. I understand that Japan does view women that way, but I just can't bring myself to like it.

Aside from that, this is the start of a really promising series. Will definitely be picking up the next book.

I still enjoyed this a lot, but I also feel like there was only a single issue left to resolve and the book spends ages circling around it simply because it can't end right away. The issue in question is, of course, the battle with the Witch of Yore. Who's... probably not who you think she is. From there, the hidden route is also explored and resolved nicely since they are more closely linked than I expected.

In the second volume, Lieselotte is enjoying a much better life than what the game originally provided for her. Sieg openly showers her with love, she gets along great with Fiene, and the people around her understand her a lot more than before. The only problem remaining is that the Witch of Yore is still possessing her, so Endo and Kobayashi are making all sorts of preparations for the final battle. Which was... anticlimactic, to say the least. At the same time, Endo and Kobayashi's relationship is also progressing rather nicely in the real world.

Again, this is a quick read that demands very little of me. I kind of wished the book would maintain the lighthearted, comedic tone the previous volume had, since at some points it switches to a more serious atmosphere. The two new love interests introduced here are also rather underdeveloped, and a great chunk of the book is spent on people professing their love for one another. もう、ラブラブすぎてお腹いっぱいです is honestly how I feel LOL.

But well, it's a refreshing take on the genre that concludes with a happy ending to end all happy endings. It was fun, and it stops without dragging the story out too much.

This is such a fantastic read.

The fourth volume of the Apothecary Diaries is the finale of an arc, following the tension that was so magnificently set by the previous volume. The set-up itself goes as far back as the first book, from the removal of Ah-Duo from the rear palace. All the things built up in the previous book reached a gripping climax in this one, and Maomao finds herself dragged right into the center of it. Literally. Because she gets kidnapped and then transported to the core of this whole conspiracy.

In any case, the book starts with Maomao being distraught over Jinshi's secret. Not only about her discovery of his decently sized frog, but what it says about his true identity. It doesn't help that Gyokuyou might be experiencing a breech birth, so Maomao's adoptive father, Luomen, is summoned back to the rear palace to give assistance. Maomao also learns that Xiaolan's terms of employment is ending, so she spends the first few chapters working in the bath with Xiaolan and Shisui in the hope of finding a new job for her friend.

...and then she learns a secret, and things immediately stops being peaceful.

This particular volume is probably my favorite so far, even if it has less mysteries to solve due to the sheer scale of the conspiracy. It's so well-written, and it gives depth to all of the characters involved. Maomao, who's usually so distant and detached, shows that she's also a human capable of emotions as she weeps over the loss of a friend by the end of the book. Most of the questions so far have been answered and resolved, except maybe the presence of the foreign envoys—which feels like it leads to a completely different issue anyway.

At the end of the book, Maomao finds herself back in the pleasure district. Jinshi can't keep her working under him anymore, due to a certain major action he had to take to save her. That can't possibly be the end of their involvement though, so I'm excited to see where the story will be heading next.

Unlike the previous two volumes, the third book of The Apothecary Diaries is mainly building up tension for political movements. There are envoys from foreign lands who seem to have their eyes on the emperor, and the objective of Consort Loulan's father remains a mystery. Maomao is still working for Gyokuyou, who is currently pregnant... but she's not the only one, and it opens up the way for all sorts of trouble in the rear palace. There's a lot of small incidents and peculiar things happening, including a school built inside the rear palace and also the introduction of Shisui, a serving woman who seems to spend her days chasing bugs.

Where these seemingly small things lead, however, does not lie in this volume. Instead, the highlight of the book is given to Maomao and Jinshi's relationship. It's clear enough that he's interested in her, but she finally gives him a reaction that isn't disgust or indifference. Maomao spends a good portion of the book away from Jinshi as she deals with various issues in the real palace, so it's nice to see them having some development despite not getting too many scenes together. Jinshi's real identity is also revealed, answering some of the questions from the previous books.

Oh, and Maomao touched the frog.

Jinshi's frog.

While I really enjoy Maomao's detective work and medicine analysis, I'm also looking forward to see how the main plot is going to unfold from here on out.

The second volume of The Apothecary Diaries sees Maomao's return to the palace, but not to the rear palace. Not right away, at least. She spends the first half of the book in the outer court, working directly for Jinshi. Just like in the previous book, there's a series of cases that may seem unrelated, but eventually leads to a much bigger issue. Maomao actually does get in danger this time around, and from there she is sent back to Gyokuyou's residence in the rear palace. The main issue itself, however, remains unsolved for now.

One of the new characters introduced in this book is Lakan, a military tactician who comes to bug Jinshi with strange requests every now and then. Due to the nature of his relationship with Maomao, the second half of the book digs deeper into Maomao's origins before nicely tying up a loose end involving her biological parents. I stopped reading the manga just before Maomao returns to the rear palace, so the way Lakan is written came off as a really nice surprise for me. He's not quite what he may seem to be. In a good way.

A new consort has also arrived to replace Ah-Duo. So far she stays in the background since the story for this volume doesn't focus on her, but each scene involving her carries a rather ominous tone. It feels like she might be related to some kind of conspiracy, and I can't wait to see how the story will play out in the next volume.

Picked this up because I really liked the manga, and I immensely enjoyed the novel form as well. It highlights all the little details that are easy to overlook in the manga. Not sure if the manga will take a different approach eventually, but as far as the first volume goes, it's a pretty faithful adaptation of the novel.

Maomao is an apothecary training under her adoptive father, living in the capital's red-light district until she was kidnapped and sold into the rear palace as a serving woman. At first she's rather detached to her surroundings and mostly keeps to herself, but everything starts to change after she solves the issue of infant deaths in the rear palace. From there, she works on a series of cases that may seem unrelated to each other at first, but all lead to the same major issue in the end.

What I like the most in the novel is that we don't only see things from Maomao's perspective, but also from Jinshi's side. Maomao's behavior and thought process are also explained better, so she feels more like a human with her own concerns. The first volume of the novel covers Maomao's arrival at the rear palace, up to the resolution of Ah-Duo's arc. Maomao has been reluctant to get promoted because it means putting more money in her kidnapper's pockets, but that issue is also taken care of by the end of the book.

The translation can come off as rather pretentious at times, especially with the usage of fancy words that are uncommonly used, but it actually works for this book. Not only because of the settings, but also because the original is also like that. The flow is good too, so no complaints in that aspect.

This is a subtle and reflective coming-of-age story of five teenagers as they navigate their last years in high school, each with their own secrets and personal struggles. There is no intense build-up leading to a gripping climax and the ending is left open too, but it's a pretty refreshing read that carries the scent of adolescent.

The book starts with Kyou's perspective, then shifts to Mickey's, Looney's, Zuka's, before wrapping it up in Elle's point of view. It's interesting to see that time passes with each perspective change, so it's like watching a patchwork of everyone's youth. They're all struggling to find out who they are, where they belong in the world, and understanding each other. Zuka actually puts it really nicely:

“We were all so clueless that it was kind of hilarious.”

Actual rating: 3.5★

Rounded up because when it gets things going, it's a lot of fun.

Despite the premise and the main character's love for cats and animals, somehow I feel like the animals aren't that prominent. This is mainly romance, and the biggest portion of the story is really the romance and everything building up to it. The main character, Amy, is reincarnated into an otome game along with her entire family. The thing is, she's not a fan of otome games so she barely played it and mostly just remembered the illustration on the title screen. She insists that she just wants to live with her beloved cat, Tigger, instead of becoming the prince's fiancée, but the story is obviously heading down that path. Tigger and the other animals do get quite a lot of scenes, but they're not very impactful when compared to the lives of Amy, her family and friends, and the guys who are so obviously interested in her.

In that sense, I feel a bit deceived.

That being said, it's not like this is a bad story or anything. It's actually pretty cute. Amy is a rare chubby main character, and her weight actually works in her favor. It makes her magical power stronger. She's 10 at the start of the book, and 14 at the end. That may make it feel like the story is progressing fast, but it's actually because of time skips. The pace itself is rather slow without them, which makes it feel more like a slow life story instead. Amy is supposed to be a villainess and we also get a glimpse of the heroine, but that's about it. Just a glimpse. Plus, Amy doesn't even know what actually happens in the otome game because she barely played it. To be honest, I feel like the story wanted to accomplish a lot and ended up doing a mediocre job at all aspects. The otome game concept is vague, and there isn't enough animal cuteness. In the end, the most prominently featured aspect is the romance.

In the first volume, we are introduced to four out of six love interests in the otome game. Amy hasn't met the other two, so we might meet them in the next volume. I'm curious as of where the story will be heading next since the slow pace makes it seem like there's barely any progress, but at the same time, I'm also wishing to see more scenes with the animals. While the story is fun enough in a peaceful way, I can't help but hope it'd stay true to the title.

Set in Taisho period, My Happy Marriage follows the tale of Saimori Miyo, a girl who's been enduring abuse from her family after her mother died. Her stepmother hates her, her stepsister looks down on her, and her father does absolutely nothing to stop them. As the result, Miyo is forced to live like a servant until they send her away to marry. Her fiancé, Kudou Kiyoka, is rumored to be cruel and cold-hearted, and her family is so certain he's just going to throw her out and leave her to die in the streets.

Well, of course that's not what happens. Instead, we get a Cinderella story as Miyo slowly heals from her trauma and finds her own happiness.

The fantasy elements involve beings known as the Grotesqueries, which can only be seen by Spirit-Sight. It's an ability possessed only by the Gifted, and Miyo's family treats her terribly because she was born from a political marriage to pass down the Gift, yet she doesn't seem to have it. Or at least most of the characters believe she doesn't. Due to this reason, Miyo is mostly uninvolved in any supernatural happenings in this book, which leaves the fantasy vibes rather thin. Still, I enjoyed the atmosphere of the Taisho period, as well as the subdued feel of the story. Some may find it boring, but I think it suits Miyo's personality really well. This may change in the next books though, since it is heavily hinted that she's not as powerless as they think. the main portion of the first volume is Miyo's introduction to Kiyoka, and how they genuinely start to grow fond of each other.

Oh, and how her family goes up in flames. Literally.

While Miyo may seem like a really passive character at first, she does grow after experiencing happiness with Kiyoka and Yurie. Her progress is slow, but it's understandable since she's been belittled and abused for so long. If you're not interested in the healing process or can't find it in yourself to empathize with an abuse victim, then you should find another book that offers a sturdier main character. But I do want Miyo to be happy after everything she's gone through, so I will definitely pick up the rest of the series.

While the plot of this book isn't exactly something new, it does offer a peculiar approach that sets it apart from the usual otome game-themed stories. As a fan of certain game commentators, it feels super refreshing for me.

This isn't isekai or time rewind, though it is technically a villainess story. It focuses on Lieselotte, the villainess of an otome game, and that's who she really is. A fictional character in a game. We follow her through the eyes of her fiancé and the crown prince, Siegwald, but the ones moving the plot along are Endou and Kobayashi, two high school students playing this otome game in the real world and providing commentaries for Siegwald to follow. Their objective is to save Lieselotte, who dies in every single route except for the harem ending where she goes yuri for the game's main character, Fiene.

At a glance, the plot seems to follow the usual otome game template with stereotypical character... except it doesn't. It quickly strays off that path and turns into something completely different, sprinkled with moments of Endou and Kobayashi's relationship in the real world. It feels like reading several genres in a single book, but honestly? The seemingly weird mix is working for me. I like how youthful love is blossoming in both worlds, and how everyone adores Lieselotte after they figure out that she's just a huge “tsun de rais”.

It does feel like the main issue with Lieselotte could've been solved in a single book, but there are definitely loose ends that could use another volume to be tied up properly. Like the question why Fiene has become an absolute gorilla in terms of stats, and also the truth about the hidden route that hasn't come to light. This is a quick, easy read that doesn't require much thinking, and I'm definitely picking up the next book.

Actual rating: 3.5★

This isn't a bad sequel, I just didn't enjoy it as much as the first volume. Following her engagement to Harij, Rose has moved into the Azm mansion. This book revolves around her life among humans and her wedding preparation, so it unfortunately lost the witchy atmosphere that made the previous one so good. Instead, we get to see Rose trying to adapt while also sorting out her own feelings. It honestly feels so incredibly draggy, since she would make one step forward and three steps back. It really saps the magic out of the great relationship dynamics they had, and despite them having supposedly intimate moments, somehow they feel more distant instead. Her initial reaction towards every unfamiliar thing is rejection, so it's not like the wedding preparation is fun either.

There is a subplot involving Yašm, the second prince who is Harij's childhood friend and current master, and also a girl who is asking to be Rose's apprentice. This is where the pacing feels a bit off. If only this subplot reared its head earlier in the story, it would've been a more enjoyable read. The subplot is introduced so late into the book, and it also ends rather abruptly. I feel like Rose's back and forth progression with her relationship, along with the wedding preparation, could've been cut shorter and more highlight should've been given to the second half of the book. It's a lot more entertaining, and Rose and Harij also get more interactions that are closer to their relationship in the previous volume.

Still, it's a nice way to end the series. Rose and Harij get the happy ending they deserved, and I'm glad they did. I just wish there were more to it. It's not great, but it's okay. You might like it more than I do if you like fluff, and if you're fine with other issues getting shoved aside as long as it ends happily.

Picked up this book because I liked Eiko Mutsuhana's other series, Return from Death. This is also a romance story set in a fantasy world, and the romance is pretty well-written. It is a slow burn with a lot of misunderstandings, but it develops naturally with plenty of sweet, fluffy interactions. The title pretty much explains the entire story, though of course things are never that simple.

The main character, Rose, is a witch who lives like a shut-in. She makes a living by selling medicines and concocting potions, and the majority of the book is set in the woods she's living in because she barely leaves her home. We do get glimpses of the outside world from Harij, Princess Billaura, and Rose's very few visits to town, but at least in this volume the world-building reflects Rose's lack of interest in the world beyond her hermitage. So if you don't like main characters who are timid and socially awkward, this book is probably not for you.

But if you don't mind Rose's personality and are in the mood for something lighthearted with minimum drama, you might find the story charming. I sure did. The writing really sets up a lovely, mystical, witchy atmosphere, which I think is one of the best things about this book. It has a happy ending too, even if it's left slightly hanging to open the way for the next volume.

Mutsuhana writes romance really well. She always manages to capture the bittersweet essence of shoujo stories, regardless of premise and genre. I might be a fan of her works for the romance alone LOL.

This was a delight to read. It's not like this book is the most well-written book ever, nor is it deep with a complex story or something like that. But it's so much fun. Cecilia Sylvie is a villainess from an otome game who's destined to die in every single route, so she decides to avoid that fate by... cross-dressing. That says a lot about what kind of protagonists we have here. She's not exactly the brightest, but she tends to tackle her issues in the wildest way possible.

The concept of the otome game reminds me of Angelique, with two girls competing to be the Holy Maiden by earning approval from the knights. Our protagonist is a fan of the game, so when it got turned into a movie, she went to watch it with her BL fangirl best friend. Except the movie theater then caught fire, so she died and became Cecilia in her next life. Her actions quickly changed a LOT of things since Cecilia is now nothing like the villainess she was supposed to be, but so is the game's original heroine, Lean. The story never tries to hide who Lean really is, but it's still fun to watch the entire thing unravel.

For starters, Lean and one of the knights are now into BL. Extremely so. Cecilia, in her disguise as Cecil, is their favorite subject to write about, so the whole Holy Maiden selection goes out the window since Lean is so busy pairing Cecil with the knights instead. The fact that Oscar, the crown prince and Cecilia's fiancé, seems to be developing a crush on Cecil is really not helping either. It's like if you're playing Angelique, but Angelique is busy shipping genderbent Rosalia with all the knights and we all end up in BL land LOL.

That being said, the book does what needs to be done when it reaches the climax. It has a good balance of comedy and mystery, with nicely written action scenes as well. It's a different take on the villainess genre, and I enjoyed it a lot.

I'm a bit unsure of how to rate this one. It started off great. Kaito is summoned to another world as a hero, only to get betrayed and killed off once he's no longer useful. After he vowed to get revenge on everyone who betrayed him, he got thrown back in time to the day of his summoning. It's a time reset story, but focusing on revenge. Maybe a bit excessively so, because Kaito turns so sadistic it goes beyond satisfying and lands in the realm of weird. For me, at least. It reminds me of those super shallow do-S in Rejet games.

Still, I love a good revenge story so that's not really an issue. The main problem for me is that after the initial revenge scene on the princess, the story turned into something... familiar. It feels a lot more like a standard isekai, with journey preparations, friend recruiting, dungeon crawling, and also fanservice. For a book that sells revenge, it kind of lost its focus in the middle and only came back to that towards the end. It would've been fine if only everything that makes the story unique didn't get shoved aside to make room for stereotypical isekai adventure template, which sadly makes it feel rather unoriginal. But when it gets back to the revenge plot, it's really good.

There's also a translation / writing issue, in which terms are used inconsistently. You can search the entire book to find the term “the mage” used exactly once, and I had to go back to find who the mage is because that wasn't what the book called him the first time. The original web novel also made it clear that the sorceress and the demon lord are the same person, but the nuance is lost in translation. If the translation is at least more consistent, it could've been a more pleasant read.

That... certainly wasn't the turn I expected the book to take.

Volume 4 takes place in early spring, where Shohi takes Rimi, Shusei, and the four consorts to the old capital for Tama's recovery. The castle they're staying at is a spiritual spot, so naturally, the subplot of this book involves a ghost. A wraith from two centuries ago who thinks she was pulled away from her fiancé, and is now haunting everyone who secretly yearns for someone they can't have. While Rimi and Shusei have promised to kill their feelings for each other, it hasn't been going well at all so the spiritual experience acts as the necessary trigger for Rimi to make up her mind. It forces her to face her own feelings, leading her to make a difficult decision that would be the best for everyone.

Unfortunately, Shusei also receives his own trigger via the revelation of his origins. Which means the political schemes are starting to move, and looking at Shusei's resolve at the end of the book, it's probably not a good thing for Shohi and it definitely doesn't align with what Rimi has in mind. While the culinary adventures aren't as prominent this time around, this particular volume is definitely a necessary addition since it really sets the overarching plot into motion. Rimi is still relying on memories of her sister, and it makes me wonder if she would ever drop it. It just feels so out of place sometimes, that she would do or see something new and suddenly bring up her sister again.

Regarding Shohi though... I understand that he's feeling unwell and the pent up frustration from not having Rimi is getting to him, but I find it impossible to warm up to him after he treats Rimi roughly. Again. While he's still learning to be a better person, it makes me feel like he would just revert to that at the first hint of trouble. I'm also not a fan of how he keeps asserting his desire to own Rimi, so combined with how he'd just push Rimi onto a wall and yell at her without a speck of consideration, it just serves as a reminder of how he was behaving in volume 1. Especially if you think about how Shusei is in the same boat and handles the situation much better.

I know the next book will probably be painful for all parties, but I'm really curious about how the political intrigue will play out. :')

⚠️ TW: suicide attempt, suicidal thoughts.

This is a different kind of isekai. It's not the classic hero from another world story, nor is it the type that shows possible failures branching off that trope. It's not about abandoning world salvation to enjoy a slow life either. By the time Keisuke is summoned, the world is already dying. A sudden mana overflow turned nearly everyone and everything into white crystals, so all that's left are the remnants of steam technology and a great expanse of nothing. There's nothing else to do other than drive his steam car, gather supplies, and maybe find a way to go home. Maybe. When he meets a half-elf girl named Nito, the story turns into a road trip for two.

In the prologue, Keisuke tries to commit suicide due to the despair from loneliness and not having any reason to go on. And considering the state of the world, he's not the only one with such thoughts. That being said, no one in this book actually commits suicide. Despite the dark tone of the story, each chapter is wrapped up nicely in a rather heartwarming way. Being a road trip story, Keisuke and Nito run into new characters in each chapter. They camp, they cook, they talk while sharing warm meals. The next day, they go on separate ways and resume their own journeys. It's that kind of story.

This first volume is mostly about Nito and her search for the Golden Sea, a place she only saw in her mother's notebook. Nito starts off being super awkward around Keisuke, only traveling with him for that purpose alone. By the end of the book, they have grown attached to one another and developed their own chemistry, so they find new reasons to keep traveling together. I guess that's the best part about this book. It shows that even if the world is dying and there isn't much left to do, people will still live and go on. Personally, I find that quite uplifting. Which is impressive, coming from a story with such a depressing setting.

The world-building is pretty vague, but considering the bits and pieces of information that we do get, it feels like something that we'll learn gradually as the journey continues. Really looking forward to the next volume.

While the previous two volumes each focused on a queen candidate and their problems, this book breaks free from that pattern. It expands on the world-building instead, introducing us to the bureau of magic and also giving us a glimpse of the capital city. As the result, Laetitia gets a new pet named Tweety, a Cuddle Bird from the bureau of magic. A giant chick... that loves cuddling. As the name says. Oh, and also a clowder of Gardener Cats towards the end. Joining Laetitia's villa is a new maid apprentice named Lelena, the younger sister of Krona from the first book. Lelena carries a lot of guilt because of what happened with Krona, and it extends to other issues that eventually builds up to the climax of the book. I was wondering what issue will be tackled in this volume since it's taking a different direction compared to the previous books, but it works out nicely in the end.

Being a “slow life” story, this series has been maintaining a delicate balance between slice of life and the progression of its overarching plot. It's even more evident in this particular volume. It takes a while for the main issue to come to light, but when it does, everything that happened during the slice of life parts suddenly makes sense. I also appreciate that for all the cute fluffiness the series has to offer, it doesn't drag out the revelation of Lord Aroo's identity, because Laetitia does find out in this book. Both parties feel understandably awkward and didn't get the chance to do anything about that... for now. Further development of their relationship will depend on the next books, but Glenreed does get a rival in this one. A magic nerd named Liddeus, who I'm pretty sure won't be end game for Laetitia, but still serves as a rival anyway.

So far, Laetitia is on friendly terms with Lady Natalie and Lady Kate, and she helps them to form a friendship past the human vs beastfolk prejudice. The other two candidates, Lady I-Liena and Lady Fillia, have actually been introduced in volume 2. They just haven't done anything to move the plot yet, and in this book they only appear as guests for Laetitia's tea party. It is hinted that they might have more serious issues compared to the other two though, so I wonder if we're going back to the queen candidates again after this.

Also, both Laetitia and Glenreed are starting to catch feelings. We all know this would happen sooner or later, but it's still nice to see them going beyond the relationship of a king and his placeholder queen. I look forward to the next volume.

Just as the cover suggests, the main focus of this book is Bel and Citrina. Mia still plays a prominent role, but since Citrina is a close friend of Bel's, their friendship becomes the highlight of this Yellowmoon-centric volume. In vol. 4 we learned about the Greenmoons, and in vol. 5 we were introduced to the Redmoons via Ruby. The Yellowmoons have been mentioned since the beginning of Mia's summer vacation, but it is only in this book that we finally meet them, learn about their role, and also see the consequences said role has brought upon their lineage.

As you might expect from the previous volume, Mia is preparing for her impending death during the Holy Eve Festival. It wasn't that hard to predict who's behind this whole ordeal, the narrative makes it clear enough from the beginning. What I didn't see coming, however, is how their plan links to the mass poisoning that caused Rafina to go mad in Bel's alternate future. I think it's a really nice way of tying up that loose end rather than just labelling it as the Chaos Serpents' plan and not divulge the details. Since Mia actually does get in danger this time, we also see quite a lot of action scenes. The last time Mia got this much action was back in vol. 2, so it's a nice change of pace.

Since the book takes place in autumn, there's also quite a lot of fun seasonal activities. Mia goes mushroom hunting. And eats a poisonous mushroom. And eats... other food. A lot of food. Truly the season for eating. Unfortunately, this leads to quite a lot of fat jokes, so that's the only thing I'd suggest to keep in mind if you're sensitive about that. We also didn't get to experience the Holy Eve Festival itself since Mia is busy trying to save Bel, but hopefully we'll get to see more fun events in the next books.

The bonus short story this time is showing Ruby joining the Princess Guard with a number of female warriors provided by her father. We already got the hint that Ruby and Vanos will get a happy ending in the future, but it seems like they're not the only ones with a budding romance. There are new characters, one of which is a guard who proved to be loyal to the empire in the previous timeline. It's a rather cute addition, which makes it quite exciting to see who will get developed next in the bonus stories.

Also, I'm now caught up with the series and it's a long wait until March for vol. 7. Cries.

Similarly to the previous volume, the fifth book of Tearmoon Empire is also split into two arcs. In the first half of the book, we see the conclusion of the summer vacation with Esmeralda. Since they kept talking about a cult, I was expecting them to run into some shady cult members on the island... but they don't. Instead, they find something that reveals the link between the Chaos Serpents and Tearmoon's first emperor. Which really explains the state of the empire. But this being a Tearmoon Empire book, the summer vacation safely ends with Mia recruiting Esmeralda as an ally. It seems that even in the preview timeline, Esmeralda had a lot of regrets about fleeing the empire with her family. She was previously a comical, stereotypical, bitter ojousama who just wants Mia's attention, but this book gives her more depth as a character.

Esmeralda isn't the only one joining Mia though, because after the second arc, Ruby from the Redmoon family also becomes an ally. Based on her portayal in the previous book, I really didn't expect her issue to be so focused on romance. Actually, the issue itself is romance. Which seems to lead to a happy ending, based on what the book says about her future. It might not be for everyone, but I personally find it cute. Mia has been unknowingly getting in their way, both in the previous timeline and the current one. It led to an especially terrible outcome in the previous timeline, and since Mia has matured a lot, she immediately realized where it went wrong. But as the Japanese saying goes, those who disturb the love of others shall be kicked by a horse and die. And that's what happens to Mia. Except she doesn't get kicked and doesn't die. Instead, she gets sneezed on by horses. For many, many times.

The Princess Chronicles book does change and says Mia is going to die soon though, after the upcoming Holy Eve Festival. The reason is not divulged in this book, so I can look forward to that in the next volume. While we still haven't learned anything about the Yellowmoon family, we do get to meet their daughter, Citrina, who is now best friends with Miabel. Overall, it was a really fun read with a lot of horses and cute moments. Can't wait to see what's going to happen to Mia next.

This book is divided into two arcs. The first one sees Mia's attempt to stop her academy from falling apart, which not only introduces us to Ludwig's teacher, but also links back to Perujin nicely. It's nice to see how the side characters remain prominent in the story, instead of getting pushed to the sidelines once their role is over. While the narrator is still as snarky as ever, it is undeniable that Mia has grown a lot as a character. She might be shallow and petty, but she does care a lot for Tearmoon and its people. As this arc comes to a wrap, it opens up the path to more political intrigue since the academy problems were caused by the Greenmoons.

In the latter half of the book, Mia goes on a summer vacation with Esmeralda to an uninhabited island. It goes as well as you'd expect, since they get hit by a storm and end up trapped on the island. It's mostly a fun summer adventure that serves as a nice change of pace, but at the same time, Ludwig is also dealing with yet another political issue in Ganudos. Except this one involves the Yellowmoons as well, so we're slowly getting introduced to the Four Duke's families. I'm actually pretty impressed by how Mia seems to be just having fun, but the overarching plot never really stops moving.

Miabel's presence, on the other hand, does fade into the background in this volume. I guess it's inevitable since bringing her to see Esmeralda would complicate everything, so she's staying in Saint-Noel Academy and doesn't get much spotlight this time. The book ends with Mia still on the uninhabited island and Esmeralda lost in a cave, so it looks like the conclusion to this summer vacation arc is going to be in the next volume.

Also, the bonus short story actually fleshed out the court chef who fed Mia ambermoon tomatoes in the first book. At this rate, the supporting characters will need their own sheet.

The third volume of Tearmoon Empire continues to maintain the fun and adventurous tone of the story. While Mia has successfully avoided the guillotine, she's now facing a new possible future of herself dying to poison while the entire world is thrown into chaos. Since the bloody diary has vanished, she receives new guidance in the form of Miabel, her granddaughter who traveled back in time. That being said, Miabel actually plays very little role in altering the path leading to the bleak future. At least in this volume. Miabel is mainly there to be a lovable little sister role for Mia, only going through her memories of the future every now and then.

After the trip to Remno in the previous book, this volume marks Mia's return to the academy and focuses on the student council presidential election. I like how not only this event is directly tied to the alternate future Miabel came from, but also fleshes Rafina out nicely. Her devoted and religious nature can easily evolve into something sinister, which no one would ever see coming until it's too late. Due to her personality and social standing, she's actually a very lonely person who needs a friend she can trust... and this book gives her one. There's plenty of character development, and the plot moves along nicely even if the story takes place in Saint-Noel Academy again. You could say this is the start of a new story arc, which I think is done pretty nicely.

Despite the light-hearted nature of the book, however, there's a short story about Dion in the alternate future that is rather heartbreaking. Miabel really likes him, and for a very good reason. Up until the end, Dion knows that he's a soldier who will meet his end in the battlefield, yet it doesn't stop him from imagining a more peaceful end for himself. While I have no doubt Mia will avoid that future, I can't help but hope that by doing so, she will also guide Dion to a better ending. Even though the main appeal of the series is the fun it delivers, I really like how the writing really conveys that bittersweet feeling from these “bad endings” too.

Based on how this book ends, it's heavily hinted that the academy Mia is building in Tearmoon is facing some problems and that we're going to see it in the next volume.