Candy Bunny Reader

Sheeta's Little Big World is manga trilogy by Yuki Kamba . It seems to take inspiration from the Studio Ghibli movie The Secret World of Arrietty , with elements of survival stories. Sheeta lives with other littlefolk in a small village in the woods somewhere after he was abandoned by his father. He becomes close friends with another boy named Nala. One day, the two boys see smoke coming from a giant tree from afar, and Nala runs away to see what it is. Sheeta then has a mission to find Nala and find his father, too. Sheeta relunctantly teams up with another littlefolk named Izuna, who holds a grudge against Sheeta's father for something he did to him in his past. As they travel, they learn to survive of the land, and encounter other littlefolk with problems they help to solve. It doesn't sound too bad, doesn't it? That's what I thought at first. The first book had a solid beginning. Book 2 still wasn;t too bad--I just didn't like how a large chunk of it was sp...

Nicola Traveling Around the Demon's World by Asaya Miyanagi is a cozy fantasy manga series that is 4 volumes long. I read the first two so far! Nicola is a sweet and naive human witch who accidentally finds herself in the Demon World. She forms a bond with a somewhat grumpy but kindhearted demon named Simon, who is a traveling merchant. There isn't much of a plot--it's mostly slice of life just in a fantasy world. Nicola and Simon travel from place to place, meet new people (or reunite with old friends), and get into shenanigans. Simon is almost always trying to buy or sell something, and Nicola learns more about the demon world and practices her magic.  It's very funny and heartwarming! It gets surprisingly emotional at times, too. I gave both books 5 stars. I need to find and read the last two volumes!

  A mysterious and magical story set at a grand hotel! Winterhouse is the first book in the Winterhouse trilogy by Ben Guterson .  It follows Elizabeth, a bookworm who got a reservation at the famous hotel over winter break while her emotionally cold and distant aunt and uncle go on vacation. When she gets there the hotel has so much to offer--great food, great concerts, and a grand library! Elizabeth even befriends a boy her own age, named Freddy. But while they are enjoying themselves, there seems to be something mysterious about the hotel and it's owner, named Norbridge Falls. The things involved include a strange book, secret codes, magic, and two mysterious guests named Marcus and Selene Heims, who seem to have something against Elizabeth. Elizabeth and Freddy try to figure out what it all is!  This book got me hooked from page 1. I just love cozy mysteries like these that have a hint of seriousness in them. It's quite similar to Greenglass House by Kate Milfo...

A double review (kind of)! The Firelight Apprentice by Bree Paulsen (same author as the Garlic duology) is set in a steampunk-ish city after a war. The main character Safi is a young girl with a gift for magic. Her older sister Ada is hesitant to send her to an apprentice, especially with the combination of liches (monsters who steal people's magic) roaming around, and after they've lost their mother in the war. The girls' father thinks that it would be good for Safi to hone her powers, and maybe even be a magician for the king. Safi gets to become the apprentice for a group of traveling magicians after seeing one of their shows one day. She learns quickly and enjoys her time with them, but back home things don't look so good... I'll leave it there! This graphic novel was just as heartwarming and magical as the other two books I've read from the author! I think she is slowly becoming a favorite author of mine. I gave it 5 stars !  As for Hilda and the Troll b...

A Song for You and I by Kay O'Neill is about Rowan, who is an apprentice nature ranger. They get assigned to watch some fields. If they are successful at their task, they will get their name carved on the door of the academy they go to.  Everyday on Rowan's fields, there are some sheep that like to come and graze there. Also every day there is another person named Leone who likes sitting and playing violin music for the sheep. But one day as Rowan tries to rescue Leone from an intense thunderstorm, their winged horse Kes gets her wing injured. As they wait for Kes's wing to heal, Rowan and Leone start getting to know each other better as they hang out more everyday and run errands together.  Well, it's not a very long story and I don't want to tell you too much, so you'll have to read the book to see how everything turns out! Unless you've already read it.  Yeah, I don't know what else to say except it's another great book by this favorite author of...

    Why'd it take me so long to get around to this? It was great! Taproot by Keezy Young follows a young gardener named Hamal, who can see ghosts. Every around him that he works with thinks he's weird. But Hamal is just happy to have so many friendly ghosts to keep him company. He usually talks to this one ghost named Blue. The two have gotten really close recently.  There is a reaper who lives in the forest nearby, and they've found out about Hamal practicing necromancy without a license. They threaten Blue about it whenever he visits the forest. Blue and Hamal come up with a plan to ease the reaper and for Hamal to get his license to talk to and work with ghosts. And for the two of them to be together! This was such a simple but very heartwarming story! I liked Blue and Hamal's dynamic, and I loved the message about the cycles and balance of natural life.  I did give it 4 stars though, but that was mostly due to pacing issues. I also thought the second half of th...

  Oh, this was so adorable! I remember the anime for this one came out a few years ago, but I never got around to watching it. When I saw they had the manga at my local library I knew it was a sign to start the story. Somali and the Forest Spirit by Yako Gureishi is set in a world where magical creatures dominate and humans are nearly extinct. They had a giant war in the past against each other. Our titular forest spirit is a Golem, and he finds a little human girl named Somali who was lost in the woods. She calls him "Dad", and they decide to travel to help her find her human birth family. Somali wears a hoodie with minotaur horns on it and pretends to be a minotaur, because if other creatures found out she is actually a human, it would be dangerous. Somali and Golem encounter a lot of fascinating characters along the way, who help them and teach them so much.  This was one of those fantasy traveling stories that feel cozy but also mysterious at the same time. I'd put t...

Are you a huge foodie like me? Then you might like these books! What's your favorite book with food as a central theme?   1.The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar 2. Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree 3. Chef's Kiss by Jarrett Melendez 4. The Baker and the Bard by Fern Haught 5. Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee 6. The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz 7. Cake Pop Crush by Suzanne Nelson 8.  The Cupcake Diaries series by Coco Simon 9.  Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa 10. Turtle Bread by Kim Joy 11. Basil and Oregano by Melissa Caprigione 12. Batter Royale by Leisl Adams  13. A Banh Mi for Two by Trinity Ngyuen (honorable mention) 14. Kitchen Princess manga series by Natsumi Ando (honorable mention)

  My third Kay O'Neill book for this year! Princess Princess Ever After follows a rebellious princess named Amira who befriends another princess named Sadie and a prince named Vladric after rescuing them from a tower and the top of a tree, respectively. Being royalty is not as easy as they all thought it would be! But the biggest danger of all is a sorceress who really seems to have something against Sadie... It's a very short and quick book, but it was a lot of fun! It has the typical things you would find in any Kay O'Neill book: a magical setting, magical creatures, lessons about loving yourself, and queer representation (Amira and Sadie become a sapphic couple)!  I did give it 4.5 stars . Sadie does experience some fatphobia in the book, but luckily it is all handled well at the end.  I will gladly pick up anything else Kay O'Neill writes!

It's been a while since I visited the wonderful world Travis Baldree created with Legends and Lattes ! (You can read the review for that book here .) It's also been a while since I took a picture of a book with one of my dolls. That's Venus McFlytrap from G3 Monster High. Bookshops and Bonedust is the prequel to Legends and Lattes . This prequel follows Viv the Orc recovering from an injury from her last battle. She spends time in this seaside town called Murk, where she becomes friendly with a colorful cast of new friends, from a restaurant owner named Brand, to a gnome named Gallina, to a carpenter named Pitts, and even her surgeon named Highlark. She also becomes enemies with a guard named Iridia, but even she becomes more of a frenemy later on. However, Viv spends most of her time at a nearby bookshop and the bakery next door to it. She becomes super close with the rattkin that owns the bookshop, named Fern, and her pet griffet Potroast (they're pictured on the c...

  A cozy little fantasy adventure with queer representation! The Baker and the Bard by Fern Haught follows two friends, Juniper and Hadley. They work at a bakery and sometimes perform at an inn. One day their boss at the bakery sends them on a mission to get some glowing oyster mushrooms in a big forest for a big order a rich customer places. The friends get notice that several crops nearby are failing. They find out the cause is because of giant caterpillars that belong to a fey (fairy) named Thistle. It turns out, the fey caterpillars have some problems of their own. Juniper and Hadley find a way to help Thistle and get the mushrooms they need for the bakery. I gave it 5 stars. It's such a simple, but magical story! I think this book is perfect if you're in the mood for some adventure but with not very high stakes. Kind of like Legends and Lattes! There is also queer rep in this book. Hadley and Thistle are nonbinary, and Juniper and Hadley become a Sapphic couple.

  Mamo by Sas Milledge follows Joanna, or Jo for short, whose mother has fallen ill. Other mishaps are happening in her small community, too. Jo wonders if it's all because of the fae (fairies) and humans making them angry. She enlists the help of the village witch named Orla. Though somewhat stubborn and reclusive, Orla helps out Jo when they find the root cause of the problem. It turns out Orla's deceased grandmother, the previous village witch named Mamo, is causing the problem with her bones and soul scattered about. Jo helps Orla by learning some magic to stop Mamo, and she finds out some things about Orla and Mamo that changes everything she knew about them.  This book was so cool because it talked about witchcraft and fairies in a way that closely mirrors real-world beliefs. Magic isn't the glittery stuff you see on TV, and the fairies here are actually really scary.  Unfortunately, I wasn't really of fan of Jo and Orla's relationship. They spend most of the...

  I picked up this graphic novel on a whim, and it was perfect timing! Seance Tea Party by Remina Yee is about Lora, a girl in middle school who is social outcast and doesn't have a large circle of friends. One day she does a séance in her house and she summons a ghost--who happens to be her old imaginary friend named Alexa. She spends a lot of time having magical adventures with Alexa. Everything seems fine--except Alexa seems to be hiding some secrets from Lora. At the same time, Lora is afraid to grow up.  This book totally stole my heart--it had a wonderful story, wonderful messages, and the artwork is gorgeous! It reminded me of The Tea Dragon Society  books by Kay O'Neill. If you are a fan of those books, check this out!  But I did give it 4.5 stars , but that was just because of Alexa's backstory. I can't tell you what it is because of spoilers, but it might trigger some people. Either way, great book!

  There are actually 3 volumes in this one book of this popular fantasy manga series. Siuil a Ruin by Nagabe is about Shiva, a girl who lives in a place that is divided by the "Inside", where the God of Light rules, and the "Outside", where the God of Darkness rules. Apparently, the God of Darkness has released this curse that can spread and permanently affect humans. Shiva supposedly has it, but she hasn't gotten a "cursed form" yet. She lives with an Outsider whom she calls "Teacher", and their days are usually very laid back and sweet. Teacher is trying to protect Shiva from anyone who tries to hurt her. From both Outsiders who want to return her soul to "Mother" and Insider soldiers who want to sacrifice her.  I've known about this manga series for a long time, and I finally got around to it! I loved the perfect mix of it being a cozy fantasy and a dark fantasy. I am very into all of the mysteries of who the gods really are,...