Witch Hat Atelier , vol 2 by Kamome Shirahama, - A mini Review

 Hello everyone & Happy Thursday!!

Tell me a book that you recently gave it a 5 star rating.

The last book that I gave a 5 star rating, it was actually a manga. 

Last year I attempted to read my first ever manga and I chose Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama and I loved it. Several months later I picked volume 2 and I am still loving it. 

It is a very sweet story about a little girl, Coco, who loves magic and she wants to become a witch. However, things are not so simple as they sound and look. 

I really love how the story progresses and the characters, world building and magic system are incredible. 

I should stop now and go pick up volume 3.

Rating: 5 Stars

Synopsis:

After traveling to the mystical township of Kalhn with her new master to buy a casting wand, a strange, masked witch transports Coco and her three sister apprentices to an eerily quiet city. But they soon find out that they're not alone, and they encounter a ferocious dragon! Do these fledgling witches have what it takes to defeat the fire-breathing beast, or will their plans and lives go up in flames?!

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

Fathomfolk (Drowned World #1) by Eliza Chan - A Review

 

Fathomfolk is the first book in the Drowned World series by Eliza Chan and is a modern, myth-inflected story of revolution and magic set against the glittering, semi-submerged city of Tiankawi.

I enjoyed reading this one but it was not one of my favourites. I liked the characters, some more than others and I also liked the asian inspired setting and folklore. Mira and Kai were my favourites.

The book comments on social issues such as privilege, poverty, political exploitation and social hierarchy, and it does it really well.

However, I found it to be a little slow paced for my taste and towards the end I wanted more explanations. 

Rating: 3 Stars

About the book:

Welcome to Tiankawi – shining pearl of human civilization and a safe haven for those fleeing civil unrest. Or at least, that’s how it first appears.

 

But in the semi-flooded city, humans are, quite literally, on peering down from skyscrapers and aerial walkways on the fathomfolk — sirens, seawitches, kelpies and kappas—who live in the polluted waters below.

 

For half-siren Mira, promotion to captain of the border guard means an opportunity to reform. At last, she has the ear of the city council and a chance to lift the repressive laws that restrict fathomfolk at every turn. But if earning the trust and respect of her human colleagues wasn't hard enough, everything Mira has worked towards is put in jeopardy when a water dragon is exiled to the city.

 

New arrival Nami is an aristocratic water dragon with an opinion on everything. Frustrated by the lack of progress from Mira's softly-softly approach in gaining equality, Nami throws her lot in with an anti-human extremist group, leaving Mira to find the headstrong youth before she makes everything worse.

 

And pulling strings behind everything is Cordelia, a second-generation sea-witch determined to do what she must to survive and see her family flourish, even if it means climbing over the bodies of her competitors. Her political game-playing and underground connections could disrupt everything Nami and Mira are fighting for.

 

When the extremists sabotage the annual boat race, violence erupts, as does the clampdown on fathomfolk rights. Even Nami realizes her new friends are not what they seem. Both she and Mira must decide if the cost of change is worth it, or if Tiankawi should be left to drown.

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina

The Last Phi Hunter by Salinee Goldenberg - A Review

 Hello everyone & Happy Thursday!!

Today's post will be a review!

The Last Phi Hunter by Salinee Goldenberg (@gosalgo), is a mythic dark fantasy, equal parts smart, exhilarating, and delightfully fun. It examines identity, loneliness and forbidden love, in a stunning world with Thai demon folklore. 

The book was released on April 9th from Angry Robot (@angryrobotbooks)

I really liked reading this book. I loved the Thai & Southeast Asia inspired world building and the lore. The writing was really vibrant and the characters were both dark and funny. I really liked our MC Ex, who is very loveable.

If I had one complain it would be that towards the end I was a little bit confused but thankfully the ending was satisfying.

Rating: 4 Stars

About the book:

Ambitious Phi Hunter and perpetual lone wolf, Ex, finds his road to glory interrupted when a heavily pregnant runaway enlists his help to escape through the ghost-infected forest…

Ex, the youngest member of the Phi Hunters Order, has spent his life slaying the ghosts and demons of Suyoram Kingdom. While he takes great pride in his mystical trade, collecting dwindling bounties and peddling butchered spirit organs lacks the glory he craves. He’s determined to hunt down Shar-Ala, a demon of nightmares, of madness – who has eluded even Ex’s masters.

In a provincial village along the way, Arinya, a charming muay-boran champion, saves him from an ass-kicking, despite being nine months pregnant. In return, she asks him to escort her through the dangerous, spirit-filled forest, where ghosts salivate over the scent of the unborn.

But as more of Arinya’s secrets emerge, and the elusive demon nears, Ex must face dangers from both men and monsters, or lose not only the respect of the Phi Hunters, but the Hunters themselves, along with the woman he’s trying not to fall in love with.

See you in the next post and don't forget to keep reading!!!

Athina