Thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for a review copy.

tl;dr
A twisty mystery with narration that strongly evokes the feel of the original series.

About
A pugilist dies at a boxing match - supposedly of natural causes. There's no reason to suspect foul play until another man from the same group also dies. Budding detective Sherlock Holmes is on the case, but the deeper he gets, the more it seems like everyone in this group has something to hide.

Thoughts
This book is the third in an original series featuring Sherlock's pre-Watson cases from the POV of Stamford (the man who introduced Holmes to Watson in the canon). Like most of the canon, it can be read in basically any order, so knowledge of previous books is not necessary. Also like the canon, the POV character does very little to characterize himself, focusing his narration entirely on the mystery at hand. Fans who prefer the plot-centric approach will find a lot to like, with several intertwined mysteries all happening at once, plenty of twists, and a satisfying solution. I was also pleased at how much research went into keeping the time period authentic.  Author's notes in the back list sources for anyone curious to learn more. Overall, a great read for Holmes fans looking for a good mystery with a similar feel to the original stories.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's for an advance copy!

tl;dr
A fast-paced adventure for fans of preteen demi-gods featuring a relatable protagonist.

About
Momo Arashima is just trying to be a normal kid. But between seeing magical spirits who definitely aren't there, and her own general awkwardness, she's pretty sure she's stuck being the outcast forever. But when a magical fox shows up saying she's the only one who can stop the world from ending, she's going to have to learn to be anything but normal.

Thoughts
Wow! I wish I had this book when I was a kid, for a myriad of reasons, but most prominently, because it's a great adventure. It's fast-paced, fun, informative, and deeply relatable. The adventure moves very quickly, and with a bit of irreverence with an energy that will appeal to readers of the "pre teen demi-gods" genre. I also have a serious soft spot for stories about heroines with swords. Momo's struggles to fit in will resonate with any reader, but I appreciated the extra time spent on the difficulties of living in the diaspora. My heart really felt for Momo and Danny (and their parents) as they all did their best to figure out how and who to be. I also appreciated getting to peek into Momo's internal struggles with her own anger, and her attempts to learn how to channel it into healthy energy, rather than simply ignore it. While this book doesn't dedicate much time to that, the ending certainly implies we'll be getting more of it in the future, and I'm looking forward to it!

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for an advance copy!

tl;dr
A fun adventure that reads like a fable, featuring a determined young heroine.

About
Kai and Kishi are twin sisters who have done everything together. But while Kishi is the well-behaved daughter, Kai finds herself constantly pushing the limits of the rules around her. When Kishi is taken by a bakekujira (a ghostly whale spirit), Kai strikes a deal for her sister's life that will send her on an otherworldly adventure.

Thoughts
What an adventure! I've always liked reading fairy tale amalgam type books - the kind where you can see traces of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty all rolled into a new story. This is one of those books, except with Japanese fables firmly front and center. That being said, this book utterly stands on its own, and no familiarity with the original fables is necessary (many, in fact, are recapped within this very book for your reading pleasure). Kai's journey to rescue her sister combined with her personal journey of growth are interwoven very cleanly, and the story moves in a very fable-like manner from one event to the next. There are lot of big action moments, and Kai's hard work and cleverness shines through in those moments. I appreciated the focus on the bonds between family members, but also learning to accept that people sometimes grow apart, and that's not always a bad thing. A lot of Japanese terms are woven in so seamlessly that they don't break up the story at all. I was surprised that most food presented was translated, though (e.g. sliced raw fish instead of sashimi, and tofu pouches instead of inari). The ending is purposefully unclear, mimicking the dreamlike outcome of the fables it's inspired by, which might be frustrating to some readers. Hopefully it just means a sequel! Overall, a great adventure for young readers with a strong-willed lead and a lot of action.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy.

tl;dr
A consistent entry in the series for fans of the books. The return of Cecily in peril made me sad.

About
Lady Cecily has once again gone missing, this time of her own accord. She's on the run from a controlling father, and Sherlock Holmes has been hired to find her. But even though the streets of London are dangerous for a young lady, Enola's not so sure that bringing her back home is any safer.

Thoughts
Lady Cecily cannot catch a break. This is the third time Enola's had to come to her rescue, and I feel worse for her every time it happens. Anyway, Enola's back, but not necessarily with a mystery. Lady Cecily is under duress again, and this time she's decided to run away. While Enola does wonder where she is, our young detective spends most of her time trying to secure a way to make sure Lady Cecily is not placed under duress again, once found. It's a departure from the usual unfolding of clues and more of an adventure story. Writing is easy to read, fast-paced, with a strong character voice as one might come to expect from the previous books. There's a brief prologue for readers who haven't read the books pertaining to Cecily, so this book can be read on its own (but hey, why not read the previous books anyway?). Cecily has dissociative identity disorder, which factors fairly strongly into this book. I am not educated enough to speak on the accuracy of the portrayal, but I can confirm that at the very least, one of the personalities isn't an evil murderer.

The series is also shifting the framework of Enola's "alone-ness." Previous books painted it as a mother equipping her child to be strong, but this narrative (highlighted with a thoughtful comment from a new character) starts to frame it as perhaps also not a kind thing to thrust on a child. As much as I love the message that Enola CAN do it on her own, I'm not sure I like the idea that she HAS to. I very much hope that this is explored in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy.

tl;dr
A nice supplemental story between Books 1 and 2 of the Wild Wynchesters. To the surprise of no one, very hard to follow as a standalone.

About
Philippa York's only joy in life is her weekly book club. So when a member shows up in distress, the victim of a scandalous theft, Philippa is determined to help. But how does one even track down a jewel thief?

Thoughts
I'm surprised by how sad this book made me. For context, this is a sort of bridge novella between books 1 and 2 of the Wild Wynchesters series and it focuses largely on Philippa trying to live under her mother's desire to see her married off to the best titled man they can find. It's meant to be a setup for us to understand her better in Book 2, but wow having all that frustration with no immediate conclusion was really tough to get through. As for the actual plot, the mystery was fairly light with a nice twist conclusion and some fun capers in between to save the day. A good quick read for anyone looking for a low stakes regency mystery, and definitely good for fans of the series.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy!

tl;dr
One of my favorite reads of the year! Great mix of magic and romance featuring powerful wizards and an incredibly sexy love interest. MC's character development lags in comparison to everything else.

About
Leyna wants to help people, and it's been her life goal to join the Royal Guard. After an accident right before graduation, it looks like she may not get that chance. But to her surprise, an offer to join the Royal Guard appears anyway, and soon she and her friends are whisked off to the castle to join the king's elite. But Leyna's dream job turns out to not be as dreamy as she expected, with traitors in their midst, forbidden magic brewing, the enigmatic court jester focusing on her for reasons unknown.

Thoughts
Dang, where to begin! There's a lot to like in here, especially for fans of magical schools and romance, who want something a step more adult. Most stories about magical academies end at graduation, so I was delighted to see that this story picks up from there. It's great to see our main cast are already competent spell casters with forged friendships and plans and history. The MC and her friends are already 22! Awesome. Was pleased to see that both MC's friends have their own things going on outside her existence, and that they're both more capable than she is in various respects. It's also a really great exploration of how dreams and reality don't always match up, as the MC discovers her dream job isn't nearly as noble as she imagined. World building is light, but with clear rules and an intriguing twist on the origins of magic that I really hope to see explored further in the second book.

As for the romance? Well, our mysterious LI is absolutely a winner. If you're looking for a roguish charmer with Just So Many Secrets along with some slow burn (MC) and guy falls first (LI), I've got great news for you. There's a lot of relentless teasing, plenty of mysteries, and a couple spicy lovemaking scenes that easily put this book in my top picks for the year.

I think the biggest downside of this book is that the MC doesn't get nearly as much character growth as she deserves. She's a hard worker, she has admirable dreams, she wants to put good into the world, and I like how seriously she takes things. But notably, she's also fairly classist, and weirdly lawful. She's hung up on using correct titles, to the point where she's aghast that her friend (who isn't nobility), keeps forgetting. She refuses to help her friends break innocents out of jail, because it's against the law. But unlike the "I believe in the justice system!" types who attempt to save innocent people through legal means (court battles, appeals, finding the true killer, etc.), she also seems reluctant to do anything on that front too. Her attitudes by the end of the book start to shift, and the cliffhanger ending implies a turnaround for her in book two, which I eagerly await. But in this volume, her development kind of lags, which is a shame considering how much I love absolutely everything else. It's still a strong recommend from me, and I hope to see her grow more in book two!

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy.

tl;dr
A quick, easy read with low stakes and a likable lead.

About
Sybil Stamper usually prefers to keep to herself with her books and her lists. But she dreams of being the belle of the ball, just once in her life, and a chance meeting with a designer might make that happen. That is, until a robbery steals away both dresses and her shot at a happy ending. Can she and the other members of her book club retrieve the dresses in time?

Thoughts
The Wild Wynchesters series is on my to-read list, but this spinoff book is the first I've managed to read of it. There are several references to the previous books in the main line and a couple hints about the next one, but I was still able to follow this story well enough. It's a quick read - good for a lazy afternoon when you want something low stakes. Sybil is a sympathetic lead, and I found myself deeply invested in her happiness by the end of it. The mystery was a fun one, with just enough twists to keep me guessing. I was a little disappointed that everything got a "back to the status quo" reset at the end, especially after how Sybil was treated, but overall a great one-off adventure.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for a review copy!

tl;dr
Pleasant artwork and a good opener that loses itself in the second half. Not an OwnVoices author.

About
Shinobu Asakura has trouble reading and writing - and it's made his life very difficult. Jobs are hard to hold onto, people around him think he's lazy, and he's pretty certain he's just stupid. But when a cafe worker asks if he might be dyslexic, Shinobu's life begins to change.

Thoughts
This is a tough review to write, because I'm very torn. I initially picked this up hoping it would be an OwnVoices author, but notes in the back imply this is not the case. The author lists her resources and consultants, so you can check those out if you're curious. I'm also not an OwnVoices reader in this case, so I won't really be dedicating time in this review to the accuracy of the depiction (you can find other reviews for that).

Art is soft and easy on the eyes, and each page moves easily into the next. Character designs are likewise very soft and pleasant. I think I liked the first half of the book more than the back half. Shinobu is set up as a likable guy who's just doing his best, and there are several instances that show off how genuinely smart he is. His grandmother is also very nice. The turning point for Shinobu figuring out he's dyslexic wasn't a magical moment that suddenly transformed everything into a positive happy ending, and watching both him and his grandmother work through their understanding was very touching. The second half of the volume is less touching. The cafe owner who initially helps Shinobu, plays a bizarrely cruel prank on him that feels utterly out of place. There's also a subplot about an acting troupe that feels pretty shaky. Overall, it's a mixed bag. There were some moments that really resonated with me (e.g. Shinobu's desire for a normal life, and his grandmother's earnest struggles to understand), but other pieces don't quite fit, and I'm not sure what to make of this as a whole.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gloo books for a review copy.

tl;dr
A fun book for kids with bright illustrations and easy-to-understand descriptions that works as a great introduction to Korean food.

Thoughts
This is a fun book! It covers some of Korea's most popular dishes, with names, pronunciation guides (very handy), brightly colored illustrations, and a brief description of what's actually in it. The book is geared towards young readers, but works as a nice quickstart guide for older readers looking to learn the name of that one tasty-looking food you saw in that k-drama. A recipe for mandu in the back is a nice addition, for anyone who wants to try their hand at cooking Korean food at home. I think my only complaint is that I'd love to see more.

Thanks to NetGalley and Rock Point for a review copy.

tl;dr
An impressive variety of recipes based on popular anime with very nice full-color illustrations. Might be difficult for beginners to get into.

Thoughts
Everyone loves food in anime, and an anime cookbook seems like a no-brainer! Especially written by someone who's clearly a fan of anime and cooking. The author has been doing anime food recreations for a while, and these recipes are drawn directly from that. I was pretty blown away by the sheer amount of recipes available. There are 75 in total, covering appetizers, mains, desserts, and drinks. Recipes range from original fantasy-esque meals to twists on traditional Japanese favorites, with everything in between. Yes, the breakfast from Howl's Moving Castle is here. Yes, it looks great. Considering the author does IRL recreations, I was surprised to find the book is illustrated instead of photographed. The full-color illustrations, however, are absolutely mouthwatering. I will say that the book expects you to already understand cooking to some extent, with very little in the front about tools and technique, and several dishes that require more than a beginner understanding. If you've never cooked before, or you're very new to it, I would recommend finding someone to help you with the recipes. But hey, if you've ever wanted to try the katsudon from Yuri!!! on ICE, now's your chance!