Definitely has an issue 1/pilot episode feel with the characters and plot feeling a little generic overall, but it's enjoyable enough that I'd read volume 2. With a long-running comic, the later chapters are almost always better than the beginning ones because it takes a while for a webtoon to find its groove.

I thought the reveal of one character was a fun plot twist.

The artwork fits well. No complaints and the cover is stellar.

This is a really cute manga.

TL;DR: Resident foodie/monster eater finds a knight who matches her freak.

I always find stories endearing when an outcast or “weirdo” finds their people romantically or platonically. The female lead is like an encyclopedia for monsters and how to prepare them. Understandably, Melphiera has a hard time accepting the Duke’s interest in her is genuine.

I’m curious to see if there’s more beyond the shtick here, but it doesn’t have to be anything else.

I got the first three volumes from the library, so I’ll continue.

Won an ARC in a Goodreads Giveaway!

I really enjoyed how quickly the setting and characters were established. The friends are all distinctive and fun. Zeke and Imogen have been friends forever and are predicted to fall in love. But when that doesn’t happen Zeke shows his raw behind.

There’s entertainment value here, but it also relays a good principle/lesson without being preachy. The way entitlement is shown and built over time is exceptional. Also, the nword is used so often here that I thought they were New Yorkers. But they're from Chicago. 

Anyway, the characters are such a highlight. Manny was absolutely hilarious and my favorite character here. If y'all would just listen to Manny, 75% of this story wouldn't exist. 

There are dual povs from Zeke and Imogen.  Zeke does some grimy things but you can still tell at the core he’s not an evil person. We see how a lot of men contort themselves into thinking they are owed something for their kindness or assets. And how manosphere/red pill/incel BS makes teenage boys susceptible. 

I loved Imogen's narrative voice; she's romantic and creative. A rare character in fiction who loved to journal and write, and I believed it. I used to fill up notebooks with stories and even romance scenes, so she felt undoubtedly relatable.  They even got the teenage girls affinity to reading books to fanfiction pipeline. Above all, I thought the teens sounded natural.

Anyway, read this! Zeke's entitlement may be a necessary evil to wade through, but the story's worth it. It was a joy to read, and I'll keep an eye on more stories from Casomar.

Ending spoiler:

I'm glad Zeke didn't end up with Cara again, and she found someone else. Having boundaries is good! I was really thinking the story was going to show sometimes when you mess up with your friends this badly, you won't stay friends. It will be hi and bye only. That it's okay to forgive someone and end a friendship. 

And that just because you apologize doesn't make things return to how they were.

But I figured the happy ending would allow them all to reconnect.

INFINITELY CUTE! Also, there's a French glossary at the end of the book. I'll continue screaming this. Publishers, please let readers know this in the book front credits.

I loved the representation of how intense and debilitating period cramps can be here (spoiler:

. My first thought was she might have a fibroids problem. Cramps always suck but sometimes it’s a medical issue too.

. Yes, sometimes, you do want to curl up into the fetal position.

Lia faces major cultural shock here leaving Romania and being thrust into Canada (Montreal). There’s a balance of wanting to hold tight to what you’re comfortable with and exploring the new that is relatable for any age and anybody. 

The French language here is untranslated, which throws the reader into the same learning curve/unknown as Lia, but it's easy to figure out. I know only a little French from being a beginner in Spanish, but it adds to the personality of the story 100-fold.

The art style is so adorable – the best mixture of European cartoons and an animesque flair. I absolutely love it.

There’s either a throwaway line or a future plot point with one of Lia’s friends (*insert iPhone eyes emoji here*). If this book is a series, I can see it being developed further. 

Overall, I enjoyed this so much! I would read book 2 or another book from Calin.

I love concept art books. You can’t imagine the level of detail and thought each movie element is given.

As someone who may one day create a fantasy world of my own, this is an amazing example of what to think about. The history of the place, modes of transportation, differences between what the youth and elders wear, how the environment impacts things, just everything.

They mentioned a 440-page bible for Talokan alone. Many of those things weren’t even used, but it all went to fleshing out the world.

Also, I devoured seeing the costume designs they considered for each character. The fact that

Shuri’s

Black Panther suit is an intentional mix of T’Challa’s and Killmonger? AHHHHHHH

Thank you to my local library for buying this book. I enjoyed reading this.

Great narrative voice here. Mina has a clear arc, but I didn’t understand her allegiance to the derby girls. None of them seemed super welcoming to me outside of Swan. Honestly, they were pretty rude.