When I give this five stars, I truly mean the series up until its most recently published book, just is a five star series. 

Kamome Shirahama is a really exquisite mangaka, pairing gorgeous artwork, loveable characters, creative worldbuilding, great writing, and the complete cohesion of an aesthetic that is truly her own.  Re-reading books I find myself finding hints and references to later arcs that are satisfying and not obtrusive, only enhancing a re-read. 

Also, as somebody who does like manga, I often find myself wishing for seinin/shounen stories that both feature non-male leads and don't just have bland or sexualized female characters.  It's such simple criteria and yet I always find myself having to put up with some level of discomfort to enjoy the stories since often the plots can be good despite that.  

But Witch Hat Atelier does this and more, the young female characters are the prominent leads who are motivated, have their own wants and needs and all have interesting struggles to overcome aside from the grand main mystery.  It is such a breath of fresh air to read a manga with young girls who are not infantilized or sexualized, an absence of romance as a motivation, and a diverse cast of characters (both personality-wise and otherwise) who are all interesting!  

Witch Hat Atelier is unique, and even if you're not sure you're into fantasy, it is absolutely worth a read if only for the art alone. A manga that stands out from the entire genre, missing the normal pitfalls of the genre and even having the audacity to be a great tale as well.