“Have I done something wrong just by being myself? (pg 66)” 
I like that the author tried to give the characters some depth. I found Marjan's story a little confusing. The pacing seemed a little off, but the friendship drama between Nayra and Rami was good (tho easily avoided as most highschool drama is)

 Okay, I had given the first volume some grace because it needed to introduce the premise. But this story is all visuals and a little plot. And why is the doggone Illuminati and child sacrifices in here??? The plot just jumped the shark and did a backflip.

Even though it made sense by the story’s worldbuilding, I didn’t enjoy the conclusion of Alice’s childhood love.

One point for Natsume and Hachisu because they were seriously cute! 

 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! 

 This author gets middle school drama very well! 

The Little Mermaid meets African deities and Trans-Atlantic slavery

This was a little ambitious with all its moving parts, but the premise wasn’t bad. Orisas (differentiated from orishas?) made the narrative a bit distracting for me. 
 
Personally, I would’ve liked the book to focus either on the involvement of the orisas or Simi’s amnesia. Simi’s fractured memory of her previous life before being made into a mermaid was the most promising part to me. 

Kola could’ve been a better companion. But his character was bland as was Simi.

Overall, this was too slow-moving for me, so it couldn't keep my interest. 

Ahh, this volume explores the wholesomeness and purity of kids making art. Yatora's new part-time job involves him helping out with the kids' community art class. This series loves to overthink and over-analyze everything.

We see with the kiddies in art class the moment when art either takes a back seat for "serious pursuits" like focusing on education, career, or parental expectations. Or, when the love of creating art, follows you to adulthood. 

It also shows how much parental approval or lack thereof can significantly alter a child's creations.

I'm glad to see Yatora get to see art without so much technical thinking and judgment behind it. His art teachers can be so harsh, sometimes. Making art shouldn't feel like a chore, and I think that's what he has been missing.

Also, with Hashida ...

the experience with Sae will either endear him to teaching or the pain of making an impact on a student's life just for them to leave or drop art will deter him.

I liked Babs taking a mentor role to Cass and Stephanie. Cass is a girl of few words in this iteration. The terrorist artist thing and the Batgirls being public enemy #1 wasn’t a bad idea. But I found the execution to be dull. 

There are a few moments where the art really shines.

I still don’t get the main villain’s motive.

Eh, an interesting premise of supernatural creatures moonlighting as superheroes/villains to hide their identities. It has major found family vibes as it's not illegal for vampires to live in clans/communities together, but our main characters can't stay away from each other.

Not bad overall, but it's not something I could see myself reading a volume two.

dnf halfway through

Another flat, lifeless male power fantasy. The appeal is ‘don’t you wish you could get back at everyone who did you wrong? Win at life because you already know everything.” 

The main character, I legit cannot remember his name, is so boring. The world's done him wrong, but I don't care. I felt no connection toward him.

Every time the artwork draws me in, but the story kills any interest.