Welcome to Litsy!

Haru, a little blueberry-shaped bird, helps their best friend, a piglet named Yama, on an unexpected quest to do away with an immensely evil object. The pacing is a little off, but I absolutely love this first book. The characters are fun, the dialogue is charming, and the post-apocalypse setting is interesting. I enjoy that the characters don't fully understand their quest. The lighthearted but dark tone reminds me of Rice Boy.

This month's #WithTheBanned read is not gentle. It takes on internalized and external racism, generational trauma, and the harm of lack of diverse representation in media. It's a stunning read, but review the content warnings. The end includes an excellent afterward by the author that delves into her choice to explore these themes through the lense of such a traumatic, unaverage case. I was disappointed in what she equates homosexuality to.

My last read of 2024! This office romance and healing journey is a fun read, and I enjoyed the characters. The story shows anxiety and deals with childhood trauma and ptsd as well, and the publisher setting was fun. I felt like the pacing was a bit off throughout the book, and found some dramatic scenes a little unrealistic such as what hospital staff would allow. Do check the content warnings. #LGBTQIA #MentalHealth #OfficeRomance

A charming middle grade graphic novel with diverse characters, fierce women in stem, and a thrilling supporting setting filled with science tiptoeing around in the realm of sci-fi. I felt like this was a little rushed or like some of the plot points were a little over dramatic for the characters, but sometimes that‘s just how middle grade graphic novels are. This book ends with a delightful list of women in STEM. #Comics #WomenInSTEM #STEM

A pretty satisfying cozy fantasy! I enjoyed the characters and their journey to putting together their new bar venture. I did want a bit more flavor as far as Rhoren‘s transition from living in the mountains all his life to living down by the sea goes. #LGBTQIA #CozyFantasy

I absolutely adored this magical book following two indentured young men as they try to find clever ways to circumnavigate their magically fueled contracts of indenture. Between the shady Untermarkt where supernatural beings buy and sell things like luck, dreams, and destiny, the delightful characters, the bells, LGBTQIA+ rep, the twisty plot, and vivid descriptions, I don‘t know what I loved most! This might be my top 2024 book. #Magic #LGBTQIA

Liv experiences high school while being separated long-term from her twin brother for the first time. Despite her struggles, she finds a delightful friend group and finds herself in an unexpected love triangle. This was pretty darn adorable! I loved that Liv didn‘t have everything about her identity figured out by the end, leaving room for future growth beyond the story‘s end. #LGBTQIA #Comics

I really enjoy the way Magic is portrayed in this world. In this volume, not only do we get to see more about the mysterious organization following Coco‘s every move, but we see the way colored inks enhance magic. I enjoyed meeting a character figuring out how his vision differences can fit with the work he does. #Magic #Manga

Not surprisingly, this is continues to be a beautiful and charming manga. This volume continues to lay the groundwork to draw readers into the intriguing shadowy magic organization and make us root for Coco and friends as they learn the secret ways of magic. As is common for me, I absolutely loved the cooking scene. #Manga #Magic

A group of friends hatch a plan to buy fashionable coats and take on selling bootleg anime dvds at school. This is a weird one but definitely worth a read. I loved the somewhat random notes we get throughout that add flavor to the characters or to the world around them. The focus on religion didn‘t resonate with me but I‘m sure it will with some readers. #Comics #LGBTQIA