Reader’s Corner: 86, After-School Hanako-kun, Batmanga, and Marie Kondo

86–Eighty-Six, Vol. 1 The recent anime adaptation piqued my curiosity about this series, and the first volume didn’t disappoint. A country steeped in racism and greed uses child soldiers from ethnic minorities (collectively dubbed the “Eighty-Six”) to fend off an endless robot army. The privileged Lena takes command of one such unit, Spearhead Squadron, and… Read More Reader’s Corner: 86, After-School Hanako-kun, Batmanga, and Marie Kondo

Reader’s Corner: Fly Me to the Moon, Love Me, Love Me Not, and Play it Cool, Guys

The Surprise of Haruhi Suzumiya While I started the Haruhi Suzumiya light novels long ago, it’s only since the announcement of Intuition that I decided to make my way through them all. And I’m glad I waited so long, for I can’t imagine being a fan and only getting one new novel in the thirteen… Read More Reader’s Corner: Fly Me to the Moon, Love Me, Love Me Not, and Play it Cool, Guys

Reader’s Corner: A Dissociated Haruhi, Reincarnated Dragon Hatchling, and (Already) Dead Detective

Farewell to My Alter A collection of one shots including the debut commercial work by Nio Nakatani, the writer of Bloom into You, Farewell to My Alter is one of the engaging volumes I’ve read in 2021, not least of which is because the stories contain twist endings. It’s like The Outer Limits or Twilight… Read More Reader’s Corner: A Dissociated Haruhi, Reincarnated Dragon Hatchling, and (Already) Dead Detective

Reader’s Corner: Kyle’s Little Sister, Saint Cecilia and Pastor Lawrence, and Guide to the Perfect Otaku Girlfriend

I Refuse to Be Your Enemy!, Vol. 6 This volume is a lovely conclusion to the reincarnated-as-a-villainess isekai story of Kiara. She was reborn into the world of a tactical RPG she played in her previous life (for a prime example of that kind of game, think Fire Emblem: Three Houses). Similar to a Fire… Read More Reader’s Corner: Kyle’s Little Sister, Saint Cecilia and Pastor Lawrence, and Guide to the Perfect Otaku Girlfriend

Reader’s Corner: World Piece, SAO Progressive Vol. 2, and My Youth Romantic Comedy is Wrong Vol. 11

The Emperor’s Lady-in-Waiting Is Wanted as a Bride, Vol. 1 Imperial culture had no issue with Lyse being a female knight in her first life, but she then reincarnates as a minor noblewoman in the neighboring kingdom of Olwen, where residents disdain her proficiency with a sword and mock her as the “boar girl” for… Read More Reader’s Corner: World Piece, SAO Progressive Vol. 2, and My Youth Romantic Comedy is Wrong Vol. 11

Reader’s Corner: Spy x Family, Laid-Back Camp, and Drugstore in Another World

Spy x Family, Vol. 5 The hilarious hijinks of Japan’s favorite fake family continue apace in Volume 5! Spy Loid “Twilight” Forger, assassin Yor “Thorn Princess” Briar, and mind-reading Anya are joined now by Bond the dog who can see the future—especially what’s for dinner. This can be a real life saver when it comes… Read More Reader’s Corner: Spy x Family, Laid-Back Camp, and Drugstore in Another World

Reader’s Corner: One Week Friends, Failure Frame, and SAO Progressive

Failure Frame: I Became the Strongest and Annihilated Everything With Low-Level Spells Mimori Touka and his classmates are spirited away to a fantasy world where they’re given skills, powers, and ranks. But Minori has a problem. He has the lowest rank, E, and according to the summoning goddess, and with the support of the other… Read More Reader’s Corner: One Week Friends, Failure Frame, and SAO Progressive