I think it works best when a retelling isn’t a direct-to-direct adaption.

This one deals with Alice who wants to become a geisha to escape her abusive uncle. There’s a Howl’s Moving Castle predicament and some cute animal friends. And a pinch of childhood lovers = one true lovers (?), or at least it seems, because mangas love that trope.

This volume is very introductory, but like Alice, I don't understand how the world works. I don't know if they're in Kyoto of the past or a different world completely. Besides, the animal tails on humans (and her talking animal friends) there aren't many fantastical displays. It leans more toward magical realism to me.

Anywho, onto volume 2!