Candy Bunny Reader

  I love One Piece but I almost never talk about it on here! Since I am mostly caught up with the story I thought I would share who my most favorite characters are.  I actually have a lot of ideas for One Piece content in the future! I just need to make the time to make and post them. I do not own One Piece. One Piece is written and illustrated by Eichiro Oda.    

  A cute graphic novel I picked up on a whim.  Fae and the Moon by Franco and Catherine and Sarah Satrun is set in a fantasy world. The main character, Fae, is a girl living all by herself after her magical witch mother mysteriously disappeared. She spends most of her days tending to her mother's moon garden and feeding the animals near her house. She sometimes talks to a talking rabbit named Percival.  One day Fae thinks she is one step closer to finding her mother because of her connection to the moon. Fae takes the moon from the sky (literally) because she thinks if her mom doesn't see the moon in the sky, she might come back. Unfortunately, the moon is stolen by a huge colony of mice living underneath her house. At the same time, a dragon appears and seems to attack Fae, but he was really trying to protect her from someone or something.  Fae eventually learns why the mice stole the moon, and where her mother went, and the mystery of the dragon that suddenly appe...

It gets 5 stars from me. So glad that i got around to volume 10 of this series! Here we get to learn more about shadow Kate's origins and why she is so different than the other shadows in the mansion. This series needs more love! If you're a fan of Witch Hat Atelier, you'll love this series, too! They have somewhat similar vibes.  

  I don't think I need to explain what it is about because I think we pretty much all know. So far it's a slice of life fantasy about Akko (our lead witch) and her friends.  I've actually known about Little Witch Academia for a long time, but didn't get around to it until now when I saw that my local libraries had copies of one of the manga adaptations (it started out as an anime film then series). This version is only three volumes long and is written by Keisuke Sato ! What did I think of volume 1? This was fun! This was some cute fun. I have a feeling it's going to kick into a more serious story later on, but so far volume 1 gets 5 stars from me!  To be honest, it all kind of reminded me of another anime I like called Kaleido Star . From the main character being inspired by watching a live show to the character dynamics and archetypes. It's a nice coincidence! So far my favorite character is Sucy. She's so funny and relatable. 

  And guess who loved book 1 (as in gave it 5 stars ) and will continue reading the series?! Funny story: my first exposure to Percy Jackson was actually the 2010 film based off of this first book that I watched back in middle school. Since I didn't read the books back then, I thought the movie was okay, but my friends who have read the books all said the movie was a terrible adaptation of the first book. Now that I finally read the original Lightning Thief , I 100% agree with my friends and all longtime Percy Jackson fans. (I haven't watched the more recent Disney+ series because I don't have a subscription, so I can't make comparisons to the show, either.) I don't think I need to explain the plot because I think most of us know what the story is already about. What stood out to me was how surprisingly dark the story can get at times while still being family-friendly (think Avatar the Last Airbender). But I think those are the best kinds of kids' books. I like ...

  So if you've been on my blog long enough you know I mostly read middle grade and YA, but I do still like some adult fiction! Here is a list of adult fiction books I have read so far and loved. Romance  Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley  Funny Story by Emily Henry  Book Lovers by Emily Henry People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry Chef's Kiss by Garrett Melendez She Loves to Cook series by Sakaoumi Yuzaki    Literary Fiction  Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida  Morisaki Bookshop duology by Satoshi Yagisawa  The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett  I Want to be a Wall trilogy by Honami Shirono    Fantasy  Legends and Lattes (and the prequel Bookshops and Bonedust) by Travis Baldree  Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern The Sta...

  A part 2 to my favorite romance novels from two weeks ago.  These are just some random romance graphic novels and manga that I love, and I hope you love, too! 1. Girl From the Sea by Lee Ostertag 2. The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang 3. Chef's Kiss by Jarrett Melendez 4. Cheer Up by Crystal Frasier 5. The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz 6.  If You'll Have Me by Eunnie 7. Basil and Oregano by Melissa Capriglione 8. Leap by Simina Popescu 9. Stars in Their Eyes by Jessica Walton (The rest of these are all manga series)  10. A Sign of Affection by Suu Morishita 11. Sakura, Saku by Io Sakisaka  12. Kilala Princess by Rika Tanaka 13. Donuts Under a Crescent Moon by Shio Usui 14. In the Name of the Mermaid Princess by Yoshino Fumikawa 15. Our Not So Lonely Planet Travel Guide by Mone Sorai 16. Gokinjo Monogatari by Ai Yazawa

Yes, I am just reposting what I posted over on Instagram, but I think this makes the post more fun to look at.   

  Everything I read in October! I sure read a lot, and had lots of new favorites.  Reviews will be linked if applicable.   5 star books: I Want to Be a Wall Volumes 1-3 by Honomi Shirano  Doughnuts under a Crescent Moon Volumes 1-4 by Shio Usui (link to Volume 1 review here ) In the Name of the Mermaid Princess Volume 5  by Yoshino Fumikawa and Miya Tashiro   The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity Volume 9 by Saki Mikami Eden of Witches Volume 4 by Yumeji The Loneliest Place by Lora Senf The Firelight Apprentice by Bree Paulsen Hilda volume 1 by Luke Pearson By Your Side by Kasie West Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brogsol    4.5 star books: Transmogrify by several authors In the Name of the Mermaid Princess Volume 6  by Yoshino Fumikawa and Miya Tashiro     4 star books:  The Deep Dark by Molly Ostertag Lost Evangeline by Kate DiCamillo Sakura Saku Volume 8 by Io Sakisaka

  It was a mostly positive reading month! Found many new favorites. I read a total of 17 books and DNF 1 (one).  I hope your April went well, too! Links to my reviews provided if applicable.  The 5 star books:  1. Dear Wendy by Ann Zhao 2. French Girl in New York by Anna Adams 3. Neighborhood Story Volume 4 by Ai Yazawa 4. A Banh Mi for Two by Trinity Nguyen 5. If It Makes You Happy by Claire Kann 6. A Sign of Affection Volume 10 by Suu Morishita 7. The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity Volume 6 by Saka Mikami   8. No Talking by Andrew Clements 9. Witch Hat Kitchen Volume 5 by Kamome Shirahama  10. Passing for Human by Liana Finck 11. Kilala Princess Vol 2 by Rika Tanaka   The 4.5 star books: 1. Funny Story by Emily Henry 2. Alice in Kyoto Forest Vol 1 by Mai Mochizuki and Haruki Niwa 3. A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers    4. Amari and the Despicable Wonders by BB Alston The 4 star books: 1. Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech...

   I finally picked up the first volume of this popular manga series! Did I like it? Well.. Delicious in Dungeon by Ryoko Kui is set in a fantasy world where a member of a group of travelers gets eaten by a dragon while venturing near a dungeon. The member's name is Falin, and she is the sister of the leader of the group. His name is Laios. To rescue Laios's sister Falin, they have to venture through the underground dungeon and deal with its monsters. But they can't do any of it on an empty stomach! So with the help of their new friend Senshi, they learn what animals and plants in the dungeon are safe to eat and how to prepare them. The gang gets to try so many new, delicious foods. I really liked the character dynamics, and the mythical creatures and plants in the world of the story were really cool! Seeing them being cooked and eaten by the characters felt really cozy. It kind of reminded me of Witch Hat Kitchen , the chill spin off of Witch Hat Atelier . But I did give i...

  This series will keep getting longer and longer as I keep finding more books that need more love. 1. Seance Tea Party by Reimena Yee-- Full description here . A middle grade graphic novel of a girl that performs a seance and befriends a ghost, but this ghost has secrets of her own. 2. The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke --Full description here . A middle grade novel of two brothers escaping from their terrible aunt and uncle and form a close knit bond with some other runaway kids in an abandoned movie theatre in Venice, Italy. They are then tasked to perform a heist that involves a merry go round rumored to be magical. 3. The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang --Full description here . A cute historical fiction graphic novel of a girl tasked to design clothes for the prince of the kingdom. Great queer representation! 4. Bicycling with Butterflies by Sara Dykman --Full description here . A memoir of the author's journey following monarch butterflies on their migration path from M...

  I read a total of 23 books this month. And starting this year, I will also report on all the books I DNF (did not finish). I DNF 16 books.  Since this is a long list, I have decided to instead list the books based on their rankings. And I split the DNF pile into two based on why I DNF'd them.  I put links to full reviews when applicable and if you're interested. Books I gave 5 stars to: The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo-full review here . The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews-full review here . Avatar the Last Airbender: The Bounty Hunter and Tea Brewer by Faith Erin Hicks Ferris by Kate DiCamillo-full review here .  My Salty Mary by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows-full review here . Call the Name of the Night Volume 4 by Tama Mitsuboshi The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity Volume 3 by Saka Mikami I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver-full review here Yotsuba&! Volumes 9 and 10 by Kiyohiko Azuma Books I gave 4.5 sta...

  These are all 5 star books! What great luck that I found new favorites this year. I hope you found new favorites too! 1. One Piece Volumes 17, 18, 20, and 21 by Eichiro Oda (I read these in the beginning of the year before switching over to the anime) 2. Avatar: The Rift Volume 1 by Gene Yang 3. Witch Hat Atelier 11 and 12 by Kamome Shirahama (I also reread all the volumes up to 12 this year) 4. Akane Banashi Volumes 2 and 3 by Yuki Suenaga (although I don't feel like continuing with this series) 5. They Called Us Enemy by George Takei 6. The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo 7. Avatar North and South Volumes 1-3 by Gene Yang and Michael DiMartino 8. Avatar Imbalance Volumes 1-3 by Faith Erin Hicks 9. If You Still Recognize Me by Cynthia/Holden So 10. The Sprite and the Gardener by Rii Abrego 11. Toph's Metalbending Academy by Faith Erin Hicks 12. If You'll Have Me by Eunnie 13. Unfamiliar Volumes 1 and 2 by Haley Newsome 14. Bianca Torre is Afraid of Everything by J...

  I'm in the mood to share more anime/manga poems! Here's one inspired by Gakuen Alice. The original manga series is by Higuchi Tachibana. The video above is the opening for the show. Poem: Best friend! Best friend! Don’t leave me! I will follow you To the ends of the earth To find you What is this place? A magical school? Do I even have Magic powers of my own? I wonder if I can make Any new friends I did! I did! Many! But of course You will always be My number-one friend Now let’s figure out what secrets This magic school is hiding

  Today we will talk about another recent favorite author of mine! This post won't be a long one. The first books I read from K O'Neill was their Tea Dragon Society series, which I read last year. I loved them so much! Especially the third book. Here's my review for the first book. This year I picked up Aquicorn Cove, The Moth Keeper, and Princess Princess Ever After. They were all great! Especially the Mothkeeper. That one is my favorite from them so far. You can read the reviews for each book here (just click the title): Aquicorn Cove The Moth Keeper Princess Princess Ever After I love K O'Neill's books because they are all very whimsical, enchanting, and heartwarming. They also have great queer and disability representation!

  Here's the thing: today's poem is inspired by One Piece by Eiichiro Oda. And today is One Piece's 25th anniversary!!! Yay!!!  However, One Piece has sooo much music surrounding it, since it is a 25 year franchise. So instead of one of the openings or other random songs, I decided to share a video of the live-action actors having fun. Ironically, I haven't seen the live action version yet. I do follow the official page and most of the actors on Instagram, though. This will be one of the last poems I will post in a while. I will resume with more anime/manga poems in December.  Poem: Come with me to the colorful world Of colorful people Of colorful fruit And all things magic Doesn’t matter who you are You’re never too old To follow your dreams So start sailing! Pirate or marine Or…something else Go find the one thing You’re looking for You’ll run into some jerks—oh yes Jerks are everywhere, they say But with the found family that you found Y...

  Today's poem was inspired by the classic magical girl/mecha series by CLAMP, Magic Knight Rayearth!  The video above is the full song of the first opening. Poem: We could feel it in our hearts We could feel it in our soul We could feel it in our minds We were the chosen ones Chosen to save this world This world bent on willpower But we didn’t know What would be ahead of us A world full of turmoil Of heartbreak Things aren’t always what they seem We might be controlling giant robots Called rune gods But we are not angels As Lantis said “If Cephiro were truly beautiful The flowers would bloom All on their own.”

  All of the books I read in September!  I read a total of 17 books . Most were short books or graphic novels. It was mostly a good reading month. Except for that one book I gave 2 stars.  Links to Goodreads descriptions will be provided. Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix -4.5 stars To All the Boys I Loved Before by Jenny Han -2 stars Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson -4 stars Everything Leads to You by Nina Lacour -4 stars A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard -4 stars The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz -5 stars A Psalm for the Wild Built, and it's sequel, A Prayer for the Crown Shy , both by Becky Chambers , A Psalm got 4.5 stars, A Prayer got 5 stars.  Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar -5 stars Yotsuba&! Volumes 1-3 by Kiyohiko Azuma -all 5 stars! Seance Tea Party by Remina Yee -4.5 stars Huda F Are You by Huda Fahmy -5 stars Gigi Shin is not a Nerd by Lyla Lee -5 stars Homebody by Theo Parish -5 stars Mamo b...

  Here are my answers for this year's Midyear Freakout Tag! I do these every end of July.  Let me know what you think! 1. Best book of the year so far? If You Still Recognize Me by Cynthia So 2. Best sequel(s) you read so far? Serafina and the Twisted Staff, and Serafina and the Splintered Heart, both by Robert Beatty 3. New releases you haven't read yet but want to. Funny Story by Emily Henry 4. Most anticipated releases for the 2nd half of the year. Silverborn, The Mystery of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend  Sylvia Doe and the 100 Year Flood by Robert Beatty My Salty Mary by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows 5. Biggest disappointments of the year. Ellie Engle Saves Herself by Leah Johnson Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman 6. Biggest Surprise of the Year Bianca Torre is Afraid of Everything by Justine Pucella Winans 7. Favorite new author. Robert Beatty! 8. Some new favorite character(s). I got several: Ermengarde in A L...