Candy Bunny Reader

So glad I finally found this first book! I've been wanting to read it for a long time. The Witch Boy by Molly Ostertag is about Aster--a boy who comes from a family where the women are witches and the men are shapeshifters. However, Aster has trouble with his shapeshifting powers, and he doesn't feel in touch with shapeshifting in general. He'd rather be a witch. He secretly looks at the witchcraft lessons the girls in his family take, and he tries out some spells of his own. His family is not happy with his witch activities whenever they catch him in the act. The only one who is happy with his witch activities and is cool with watching him do them is a new friend named Charlie.  At the same time, some of the boys in Aster's family have been mysteriously  disappearing. Aster decides to use his witch powers to save the day, even if it will stir up drama. I gave this book 5 stars . This was another pleasant, magical book by Molly Ostertag! The first book I read from her/...

Another underrated masterpiece by my new favorite author! Willa of the Wood by Robert Beatty is a historical fantasy middle grade book about Willa, who is a Faeran. The Faeran are a magical creature species that live in the Appalachian Mountains' forests, and live in clans. Willa is a jaetter--which, in her clan, are Faeran who are assigned to steal items from day-folk (humans) during the night for the padaran (the clan leader who is basically treated like a god).  But within the swoop of one night, she discovers some things that changes everything she knew about her clan and day-folk in general. To put it simply, the old ways, wisdom, and magic of her clan are dying, and many of those in her clan aren't as benevolent as they seem to be.  Willa feels like her world is shattering, but she finds solace and company in the least expected of people.  This book was full of unexpected surprises! What I love about Robert's Beatty's writing is how atmospheric and emotional it i...

This series (both the manga and anime) has gained some popularity recently! I got around to starting it a while ago. As of writing this I read the first 4 volumes. They've all been 4 stars. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe is about an immortal female elf mage named Frieren. She and her group of traveling magical fighter companions defeated the Demon King a long time ago, and have gone their separate ways. The fellowship lasted 10 years, and for Frieren, being an long-living elf, it felt like a very short time for her, and she didn't develop much attachment to her peers. But then one day years and years later one of her peers in the group, named Himmel, dies of old age. Frieren feels sad that she didn't spend more time to know him better, and she plans a new journey with new friends Fern, Stark, and Sein to go to the land of souls to talk to Himmel's spirit. Along the way, they encounter and accomplish mini-missions, just like any ty...

  Middle School and Other Disasters: Worst Broommate Ever! by Wanda Coven is a middle grade book (first of a series) of a girl named Heidi Heckelbeck who starts middle school at a boarding school that secretly offers magic classes (casting spells and stuff like that, not magic tricks). Heidi herself comes from a long line of witches who attended the same boarding school. Heidi is nervous about starting middle school without her family nearby and her friends from elementary school, but when she arrives there, she ends up loving the campus. She also runs into an old friend of hers named Sunny, and also becomes friends with Sunny's roommate, Annabelle. Unfortunately, Heidi's roommate is a girl she always had a huge rivalry with since second grade: a girl named Melanie Maplethrope! Now she thinks middle school will be a nightmare, but then she learns she and Melanie have a lot more in common than they thought...and maybe they could become friends? Man, this book was so refreshing ...

  I wasn't tagged in this, but I though this tag looked neat. I first saw it over at @hades.reads Instagram page.  As usual, I don't tag anyone. Feel free to do this tag if you see it! So here is everything I realized I love seeing in books: Sassy/funny characters friends to lovers rivals to lovers fake dating dual POV (can be first or third person) mysteries found family Queer characters (anyone underneath the LGBT umbrella!) Disabled characters (physical and nonphysical disabilities!) Ethnically diverse cast of characters self-discovery/self-acceptance stories strong friendships cool magic systems rich worldbuilding cozy settings magical creatures (especially fairies, dragons, and mermaids) likeable characters you want to root for unlikeable characters are unlikable on purpose references to anime/other cartoons witches challenging/questioning societal norms linear storytelling What are your favorite things in books? Do you like any of the ones I just mentioned?

 Trigger warning: family death Another great graphic novel you can read in a day! Baba Yaga's Assistant by Marika McCoola and Emily Carroll.  The main character is a half Russian-half American girl named Masha who lost her mother when she was younger, and was raised by her grandmother and father. But she also just recently lost her grandmother, and her father has been dating another woman who already has a daughter of her own named Dani who does not like Masha. Feeling unappreciated in her new family circumstances, Masha decides to run away from home, into the woods, and become Baba Yaga's assistant.  Masha has always been impressed by Baba Yaga's stories thanks to her grandmother. When she gets to Baba Yaga's famous house, Baba Yaga gives her three tricky tests to see if she is worthy of becoming her assistant. You'll have to find out if she passes the tests and what else happens... What else can I say! Such a great, little, magical, witchy story! 5 stars! Check t...