Lotte 'just an idiot' May (@LotteMakesStuff) — [archived] 2023-08-21T23:38:37.043Z

August 14th- 20th

Stuff I read this week

What He Who Doesn't Believe in Fate Says Vol. 1

This is one of those books where I say “Wow what an incredible book!” Just because the printing is interesting - so, yeah. Wow, what an incredible book! This is a (het) romance manga about trying to stop destiny and escape the red string of fate.

Im sure most manga/anime fans will have seen or read something with the concept of the red string of fate in it before, but basically it’s being connected to your soulmate via a red string - it’s often a non-visual metaphor in manga but in this book it’s real, and only Kosuke (our protagonist) can see it, and heck dang his doesn't connect with his crush, a hot coworker lady who ONLY believes in fate and is waiting for her destined true first (and only) love to appear.

The story is pretty good tbh, but WOW the presentation is amazing?!? It’s printed on Seven Seas high-quality paper stock, it’s thick and pretty smooth to the touch, and VERY bright bleach white. It’s not that regular cheap manga paper stock. The black ink contrasts really well- but more importantly, the red string is ALWAYS printed in red and it’s such a stunning look. Like, having this single splash of colour thrown in is such a great look!! Think of the green used in “The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All” but even more restrained. It’s incredible.

The layering is also really interesting- it looks like the red is printed first and the usual manga black outlines and hatching on top - so they really carefully lay out gaps so the dark never (unintentionally) spills over the red strings. It’s just a beautiful bit of craft, it almost looks hand-drawn, Like someone’s had to ink all the red lines by hand. FUCK I love it 10/10 should win an award for layout and print quality

Secrets of the Silent Witch Vol. 1

A really strong entry in the kinda-loser-dweeb-but-real-powerful-witch-girl-meets-hot-guy fantasy subgenre (I discussed that a bit last week! Gotta be a top10 genre!) there’s a little bit of a humorous villainess twist thrown into this one, which I love for sure (ahh, Villainess stories, Gotta be a top10 genre!). Real easy read, nice panel flow, and pretty art. Just some good shoujo fantasy going on here - Recommend.

Saint? Nope, Just a Monster Tamer Passing Through: The Invincible Saint and the Quest for Fluff, Vol. 1

Ahhh hot dang Kanata might be the BIGGEST idiot yet committed to a manga page. SHES SO SINGLE MINDED IN HER DESIRE TO PET FLUFFY CREATURES it’s wonderful and she’s such a fucking idiot 100/10 this is SO aimed at me

The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 9

I love maomao

https://cohost.org/nys/post/2509674-when-you-hear-a-rare

If I could reach you Vol. 7 (Final)

Ughhh every single page in the first half of this book physically destroys me, it absofuckinglytly hurts - just sick to my stomach with sadness omfg 10/10 it’s a fricking masterpiece - Reiichi is such a scumbag. He’s trying to be a kind, responsible guy but he just fucking sucks.

SIDEBAR: Risako is SO fricking hot wow wtf - she’s also a (very different kind of) scumbag don’t get me wrong, but DANG - she’s a beautiful scumbag.

Anyways, it was as good an ending as you could hope for I guess, I’d have killed for another volumes worth of chapters to flesh out that time skip at the end, but I guess they want to leave it a little open to the imagination…. I can end this harrowing journey with a small smile

Sword of the Demon Hunter: Kijin Gentōshō

Pretty interesting- sets up a time leap and then does nothing with it in volume 1. Have to get more to see how it goes I guess

Citrus Vol. 1

FUCK. I READ IT. I DID IT. Ive been threatening to read this for MONTHS and i finally did it.

So, Citrus is real good? screw the haters and all that. Yeah, it deals with weird abusive relationships but it knows what it’s doing, I feel. I had a good time with these two messed up kids, I'm sure things will go really well for them.

Bonus: Audiobooks

Sword Art Online Vol. 10

lol still garbage. delicious delicious garbage. The whole alicization story arc is probably the stupidest in, but i can probably say that every time a new arch starts. Anyways the outside of VR stuff in this volume is real cool. Asuna's panic over Kirito's disappearance is a pretty interesting mirror of Kirito's own post SAO arc, like its probably the smartest the plot ever gets you know? idk if that's saying much tho!