SICKOS: yes ha ha ha.. yes

Pretty cute tbh! It’s about two childhood friends beginning to date. It’s not full of big dramatic plot twists or anything, but more short, lowkey moments - most chapters cover a short 15 minutes slice leading up to some event in their blossoming relationship. It’s quite and quite beautifully drawn- with Super gentle atmosphere to the characters interactions. Super recommended

365 Days to the Wedding

Ohhh yeah I picked this one up on a total whim, and HECK what an incredible book for fans of total idiots. I, Lotte May, world famous idiot, am a BIIIIG fan of idiots. ITS SO GOOD! We have the two biggest idiots, totally antisocial dweebs, incredible introverts working in the planning department of a travel agency - but disaster strikes our stupids hero’s company, they are going to open a new branch in Russia and someone from the Tokyo branch will be sent to set it up. Who knows how many years you might get stuck in Siberia! It’s cold there! There’s only one way for these two to protect their precious, single loner Tokyo lifestyles, and that’s pretending to get married. No big deal right? It can’t be that hard to fool your coworkers, it’s not like they are going to make a big deal of it… right? Right? Ahhh.

The 5 Minutes We Share At The Convenience Store.

https://mangadex.org/title/553e781b-9b27-4520-aa6a-a98c7d749c9f/konbini-de-kimi-to-no-5-funkan

A

The Abandoned Empress

Real engaging take on the whole non-isekai villainess time skip sub genre - I’m having a great time slowly understanding how this world works and how our main girl is going to survive. The first volume spends a LOT of its pages in her first life which was really neat- if very abusive and violent. Really makes you feel for her. 10/10 good book - the only thing that would make it better would be if it were yuri. Also, check out these beautiful shiny covers

Absolute Duo

Absolute garbage 6/10 enjoyed it.

Accomplishments of the Dukes Daughter

“wow, this has quickly become a favourite series - It's a real good entry in the isekai villainess genre. As much as i hate capital, capital owners, the pursuit of capital, and the concept of hereditary peerage DANG i do love manga about princesses and noble ladies starting businesses using knowledge from a previous life - that shit OWNS. She wants to invent health insurance and banking... and chocolate? Girlboss. 10/10”

Alpi the Soul Sender

Very beautiful book, an interesting and quiet story about the death of local gods. I really think this one is worth a read.

It’s published by Titan Comic’s ‘Titan Manga’ brand, which I guess is new? It’s the only book I have by them at least, and I’ve got thousands of these things! Anyways their copy is weird, right on the inside cover it says “PERFECT FOR FANS OF MAGICAL GIRLS” which is of course, a weird way to advertise a book, especially one like this! Maybe for madoka fans, people that want to read a slow meditation on the death of gods… this ain’t for precure fans, you know. It’s just strange.

Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten

As sugary sweet as the anime, and super pretty. I’ll be honest, the anime was a super big guilty pleasure of mine back when it aired,it’s deffo NOT good but it IS good if you know what I mean, real junk food.

My Androgynous Boyfriend

Vol. 1
Vol. 2

“Dang, this book is incredible- this is a straight romance comedy that has SO much yuri energy - like a straight romance story written like a yuri, if that makes sense. these are some of the softest characters I’ve read in ages. it’s also incredibly funny, I loled out loud, at 2 am like an idiot. 10/10 (THEY EVEN GO ON A DATE TO IKEA. that's the most lesbian kind of date, in my experience)”

Amateur E-girl Streaming a Space War

https://mangadex.org/title/62ea0d5e-b6d8-4391-a919-02d217410f18/amateur-e-girl-streaming-a-space-war

this e-girls about to get internet famous with her exclusive UFO alien attack vidoes - if she survives and YouTube doesn’t- what’s even the point

An Incurable Case of Love

A pretty good hospital-based romance story forming here - obviously not as good as Pulse (which is a yuri and therefore infinitely better), but still pretty dang good!

The characters are pretty interesting, even the asshole male romantic lead. Protag-chan herself is particularly good, she’s a newbie nurse straight out of university and the depictions of her struggling to learn how to do the job for real are pretty dang good - it’s the kind of work that feels like there must have been a bunch of research interviews done before the storyboard were drawn you know? Will deffo pick up more sometime

The Apothecary Diaries

Maomao makes some wonderful disgusted faces at flirty men, which really speaks to me imo
Maomao is SO FUCKING CUTE when she’s ingesting deadly deadly neurotoxins. This girl just LOVES poisons. I LOVE HER.

Assorted Entanglements

I really like the structure, which is half an episodic continuous storyline, with kinda standalone pages that are disconnected from the main story but have some small (and usually very funny) slice-of-life thing - its just plain good and is a real inventive way of deepening the relationship between our two ‘leading’ ladies, it creates a great sense of time

I say ‘leading’ because after the first bunch of chapters (and specially from the second volume onwards) things really open up. This isnt a story about two gals, its an ensemble cast of multiple different couples whose lives all interact and cross over - they all face different issues that tend to be mirrored and reflected in different ways. Its cool how rich each relationship and set of characters end up feeling. This - is a good book

Asumi chan is Interested in Lesbian Brothels!

“I think maybe Asumi chan is a raging homosexual? She sure does like sleeping with girls that's for sure. Im sure the real perverts would love this one - but its super sweet too.“

Ayaka is in Love with Hiroko!

Ayaka is in Love With Hiroko is incredibly good - recommend to everyone whos a fan of useless women.

B

Backstabbed in a Backwater Dungeon: my trusted companions tried to kill me, but thanks to the gift of an unlimited gacha I got lvl 9999 friends and am out for revenge on my former party members and the world

Very silly book, feel like I’ve never seen a fantasy hero’s power level get so inflated so quickly. I wonder if there’s going to be anything interesting here going forward or if it’s just revenge fantasy, but ehh it’s fine I guess? Not the best thing I’ve ever read

Beauty and the Feast

Vol. 4
”Remember that tweet from a few weeks ago from some lady that really wanted to make chilli for some students that lived in the same building, cos they just looked like really hungry boys and cooking for other people made her happy? This is a book about exactly that”

Becoming a Princess Knight and Working at a Yuri Brothel

Intensely silly, the title says it all. Recommend for those who like to see boob and girls kiss, and fans of stupid isekai. There’s an interesting brothel magic system in here, for some reason all the brothel ladies have magical kisses? This was deffo written by an idiot (complimentary)

Black and White - Tough Love at the Office

“I've never seen a yuri manga where two ladies beat each other up so lovingly. incredible work. Seven Seas is publishing so wild stuff these days its great.”

Bocchi the Rock!

You know, for a 4-koma style manga it’s real good? I’m not the biggest fan of that style of manga usually but you know, Bocchi is great. Is it as good as the anime? No. Categorically no. One million percently no. But there’s a cool spark here- it’s kinda amazing to see the source panels that sparked some of the standout moments of animation in the show… actually it’s kinda like reading an early storyboard that’s a few drafts off what ends up in the show? Which normally source manga doesn't feel like that? But yeah, it’s good, it’s interesting but wow that anime is incredible - it really elevates whats on the page, but you can still totally get how this inspired the animation team to go wild.

Bocchi the Rock! Gaiden: Hiroi Kikuri no Fukazake Nikki

All im saying is that i think its KINDA obvious that the mangaka has experience drawing yuri manga, and that like 999% the correct direction

Bride of the Barrier Master

Another girl is secretly super strong but abused and bullied by her family for being a disappointment manga, kinda like my happy marriage. Has all the same supernatural tropes in it too. Unlike that book, protag-chan isn’t a wet blanket pushover, she figures out who she is and has an inner strength and knows what she wants, which is nice. It was a fun read

By The Hearth At Alice-san's Home

https://mangadex.org/title/0df86784-961a-443c-9765-8b41702c6249/alice-san-chi-no-iroribata?utm_source=cohost&utm_medium=iframely

I was reading this this morning too, it’s pretty cute

c

Call Girl in Another World

When I saw this in the store I was like “ohhh heck, this is either one for REAL perverts or for REAL GENRE PERVERTS. I hope it’s for genre perverts” and I’m 3000% happy to report it’s for Genre Perverts! rejoice! Incredible my funny and incredible unerotic lol.

Captain Corinth: The Galactic Navy Officer Becomes an Adventurer

Vol. 3-4

This is a pretty neat concept- it’s a fantasy isekai by way of science fiction. The titular Captain Corinth gets stranded in a fantasy world after his spaceship is mysteriously ambushed in hyperspace and crash lands on a nearby uncharted planet. All the usual isekai tropes are justified though advanced technology - all your cheat skills are nanotechnology and AI - stuff like that. it’s just a neat implementation of all that junk isekai genre perverts adore, 10/10

Cheerful Amnesia

Top scientists have toiled away for YEARS doing complex lab experiments and they finally did it, the built the ultimate idiot yuri girl. The world’s biggest idiot. She’s so stupid. She is perfect. She has zero thoughts (apart from GIRLFRIEND HOT). I love her.

Anyways, what’s Cheerful Amnesia about? Well our perfect idiot yuri girl wakes up in hospital… with amnesia.. oh no! She can’t remember the last 3 years of her life! But there’s a hot lady in her room?!? Who says she’s her girlfriend?!! “WOW” she thinks to herself - “go past me I picked up a hottie”

And it just gets stupider from there. 10/10

Chronicles of an Aristocrat Reborn in Another World

Basic bitch isekai bullshit. Some weird shit theology in this one. Apparently you can become a god of you beat up another god real good? I think? Who knows. This is garbage. I will continue to read it

Citrus

Vol. 2-10

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.

Citrus+

You know that massive feeling of disappointment when you get to the end of a yuri series and all the angst is over and it’s just like… ending where the relationship starts? IT SUCKS! Well for Citrus, Saburouta sensei decided to fix that with a sequel series.

There’s a panel early on when Yuzu’s mum is looking at Mei blush about the idea of going on a date with Yuzu and like, smiling warmly at the whole situation. That panel is great. Only someone with a truly, incredibly, amazingly massive brain could have drawn that.

Cross Play Love Otaku x Punk

These two morons, these idiots, these absolute buffoons, these cretins, these not very smart people BOTH make much cuter girls than boys. Anyways wow what an incredibly complex, messy book. I think “kid with a case serious of the genders working in a cosplay cafe” has to be one of my favourite genres, right up there with ‘generic isekai’, ‘villainess but yuri’ and ‘idol but with a secret partner’. All great genres imo.

One of the BEST things about this is the main characters do have friends that immediately 100% clock them and just don’t do ANYTHING with that information- it’s just like huh cool I guess my best friend makes a hot girl I’ll leave them alone/watch from afar because this WILL BE funny. That kinda rules heh

D

Date of Marriage

Mangamo

Reading straight women’s romance manga is a funny experience - his plain clothes boosts his sex appeal? uhhh, okay sure thing buddy, I really don’t understand that but I think you look lovely. You do you though, go get him girl.

Daughter of the Emperor

Vol. 1 - 2

What’s really neat about this is that is TOTALLY doubles down on the mechanics of “being reborn” - our protagonist is a literal child. Sure- a child with an adult mind, but still a child. She can’t communicate, she’s 2 months old. Of course she can’t communicate! she can barely sit up by herself! And that kinda rules?

Days of Love at Seagull Villa

Dang this series was just incredibly readable - like the opposite of some other stuff I’ve been reading this week I just couldn’t put it down, and I could get through a volume in like 45mins - this yuri manga is just smooth as butter~

It’s got all the good things going for it, it’s about adult women (mostly) with adult problems… it’s not as good as the doughnut yuri but yeah, it was for sure short and sweet. It does suffer from that main yuri manga sin of ending when the protagonist’s finally get together. Ughh. That should be a beginning not the end!

Daytime Shooting Star

Pretty cute shoujo manga that’s so far ticking off all the tropes

✅ countryside girl moving to her uncles place in Tokyo due to her parents work

✅ hot girl in her class acting all innocent but bullying her for being a bumpkin

✅ love triangle forming (including a guy who is irresponsibly too old)

✅ whole class going bowling

The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess

“This is a super good isekai villainess story about a woman who dies (truck) and is reborn as one of her OCs in an AWFUL novel she wrote as a TERRIBLE teenager. Obviously, she's not the super beautiful author insert character, but rather her villainous little sister and OH NO all the hot boys DEFFO want her dead, probably. Watching our poor girl struggle through the pain of remembering her own terrible plot and dealing with the world changing as she continues not to get killed by the hot boys is super fun... the books do suffer a bit from the art not being super clear at times tho. Still, if you like villainess stories this has a really interesting twist to the formulae.”

The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy

ehhh, magic school battle manga. If you’ve read one, you’ve read like a billion of these. Genre perverts only.

The Death Defying Princess Creates a Yuri Harem to Survive

https://mangadex.org/title/b232c191-6e14-4522-a1a2-c4b0f688f00d/shi-ni-modori-oujo-wa-ikinobiru-tameni-yuri-harem-wo-tsukuru-koto-ni-shita

a new yuri harem timeslip villainess manga reincarnation manga, which you know- fantastic genre imo, gotta be one of the top genres out there. I quite liked the first chapter and have been waiting for more - and heck was not disappointed by chapter 2. Who would have guessed she’d become such a useless lesbian so fast. I’m rooting for this gal

Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody

Vol. 3-4

Isekaied (heart attack) - pretty good. The anime was pretty trashy (also good), I’m surprised by how much effort went into the art on this one. For genre perverts. One of the many, many isekai thats like “wow! owning slaves! must be a good replacement for an actual family!”

Destroy It All And Love Me In Hell

https://mangadex.org/title/eac0159f-2768-49d7-8891-4202f3e9fb8c/destroy-it-all-and-love-me-in-hell

Its one of thoes 'two girls slowly open up to each other about their home lives and find solace in shared trauma, and slowly draw closer tougher" kinda highschool yuri but uhhhh.... so toxic its radioactive - deffo check out the content warnings on the first page of chapter 1, but like heck good book im sure these kids will end up totally fine and well adjusted and nothing bad will happen whatsoever

The Do-Over Damsel Conquers the Dragon Emperor

Some weeeeeeeird stuff going on here. It’s an okay book, but hmmm. Like, why do you require your fiance to be under 14 my dude? This time slip story has a cannon, evil pedo incestuous prince on the other side of this conflict, they need to stop beating around the bush on this point and make it clear that this is NOT weird VERY quickly in the next volume, like heeeeeeck

Doughnuts under a crescent moon

Vol. 4
”Ughhhhh stories about yuri office ladies slowly falling in love get to me like nothing else ughhh I love this book I love it so much”

E

Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord: Production Magic Turns a Nameless Village into the Strongest Fortified City

A good one of these. Deffo just one for the genre perverts though, there’s nothing really to differentiate it from any other reborn as an aristocrat style story. Junk food. The titular Production Magic didn’t even show up in the first volume! Gimme something to work with here!

Edible Flowers

https://mangadex.org/title/24b47819-83c7-4627-8b33-b35e7fc47340

Its real good?! I do love these characters a LOT and it's a shame it just ends at what seems like a significant turning point in both of their lives... Even more so as the last chapter spends a good number of pages building up Ibuki's friends. There's a cool second arc hook being set up that just never happens. It's sad, but like, at least these 6 chapters exist!!

The Eminence In Shadow

“Picture someone who isn’t the main character or the antagonist, someone who manipulate events behind the scenes and flaunt their overwhelming power. That’s the kind of shadowbroker I’ve always dreamed of becoming“ - that’s the opening line, it’s a fucking strong mission statement! ITS GOOD! yeah yeah its an isekai so its obviously 100% my shit, but i just love everything about how this stupid story is structured. The whole gimmick with our protagonist just making fantasy shit up as he bumbles though the world and not realizing that every single tropey made up story he acts out in the world actually textually really exists IN REALITY, is real fun.

Even Dogs Go to Other Worlds: Life in Another World with My Beloved Hound

I’ve read a few volumes of the light novel (well, all the audiobooks that currently exist- same thing) and really like this dumb story, it’s a slow life Isekai about a guy and his dog in another world, I mean what more could you possibly want?!? Turns out ART. you want DRAWINGS. ITS LIKE A MILLION PERCENT CUTER WITH DRAWINGS. Leo (the dog) is SO CUTE in her massive wolf form, there’s a gentleness and joy that the art captures so well. As for the human cast, Claire is SUCH a cutie in the manga version, they capture so much of her character in her facial expressions, it’s just real good fluff

Even Though We’re Adults

Vol. 1- 5

Vol. 7

THIS BOOK IS INCREDIBLE - incredibly readable, if you get it you too will be howling in pain at the terrible adult love triangle thats forming. If your not violently nodding along and thinking “yeah! what the heck! keep going girl!” when one of our two main protagonist ladies shouts “Give me a break Ayano… you idiot. YOU’RE MARRIED!” at her phone - you must be dead inside. If like the idea of reading a series where a lady shouts “I CAN’T BE CHATTING WITH MY CRUSHES HUSBAND!” Whilst lying down in bed in despair this is the series for you!

Everyone’s Getting Married

[Notes based on some Line messages I set to @Nex3 whilst reading volume 6 in a cafe]

So it’s a Romance manga published by Shojo Beat, which are normally pretty by the numbers, about a regular office lady who’s dating a celebrity, which is a pretty by the numbers subgenre. Despite having ZERO interest in celebrity culture in real life ohhh heck do I LOVE this genre, cos you always have to have that dynamic where they have to keep the relationship hidden, which is fun right?

Anyways, the main character lady’s brother just found out who she’s dating- and normally in this kinda thing there’s a lot of stupid bullshit like “wow you’re dating them?!? They are famous!” That kinda stuff. In this her brother flat out doesn't recognise the guy or give a single shit - which is an INCREDIBLE twist

The boyfriend is a news presenter. Her brother just does not watch the news. That’s genre innovation right there. I was really impressed lol

F

A Face You Shouldn’t Show

https://mangadex.org/title/9f78bb87-b2d9-4e2c-b9fe-7e07b481d8ca/a-face-you-shouldn-t-show

I fucking love scumbag women! Someone should give Flowerchild a medal for her services to scummy women

Failed Princesses

I simultaneously like this series a lot and also find it really empty heh. It’s a hella cute and pretty ride, and the initial popular gal adopting a weird nerd and teaching her how to be pretty arc was REAL good… but the main story line… it’s like this plot is two shades two mean to its main characters? It’s not tasty! I dunno just feels like there’s a more delicious story that could have emerged over the last volume and a half… it’s like all the elements that make this ending are good! Just maybe not with this particular weighting.. and in this particular order? still good tho.

The Fiancée Chosen by the Ring

Vol. 4-5

So yeah it’s a pretty regular shoujo story about nobility, romance and ballgowns - but I really like the characters here, especially the embroidery obsessed protagonist- she’s just super cool? Its really neat how that character theme of "shes an embroidery pervert" gets woven in to so many things, its what she does in her free time, its what she pays attention to at the igh society parties, heck her magical powers are that she can do embroidery real good. Just a real cleanly structured story & world

Fiancée of the wizard

Yet another reincarnated as a Nobel lady story, this one is pretty good if you a pervert for the genre. The first half make it seem like it’s going to be super heartwarming so seeing how much of a antisocial jerk the wizard kid is when he grows up was pretty neat, like oh I guess this will have some bite to it after all

The Forbidden Peach

On Pocket Comics

About a university research associate meeting one of her students in a Lesbian brothel, you know, the way you do. was reallly good apart from the gross sexual assault bit in the middle. Its very sweet & messy apart from that. worth having a read

Formerly, the Fallen Daughter of the Duke

Vol. 3-4

standard for one of these- a very good one though.

The isekai mechanics and the time leaping is all really interestingly implemented- it’s like the “real world” is some weird ghostly plane protag-chan can only visit in a dreamlike state, and the isekai world is the concrete real place. The opposite dynamic to usual. It’s very strong I like it

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

“This book somehow manages to depict the passage of time more beautifully than any other manga I've ever read, really beautiful art and a very unique fantasy tale”

Futari Escape

“Pretty cute stories about two girls running away from work and disassociating from society for a bit.”

G

A Galaxy Next Door

I do love me some manga about making manga. This does have a weird supernatural background story to it, but its still nice to see people struggling their hardest to make beautiful art and slowly fall in love at the same time

The Girl I want is so Handsome! The Complete Manga Collection

Single Volume
pretty simple straightforward school based yuri story with a basketball theme… it’s cute. Does have that thing where like all plot progression is gated behind misunderstandings and miscommunication but luckily things tend to be cleared up the next chapter so it’s never annoying

The Girl I Saved on the Train Turned Out to be my Childhood Friend

It’s garbage and there’s a billion books like this- but usually there’s SOMETHING there to grab on to - I don’t expect every romantic manga primarily aimed at young boys to be a masterpiece but like… there’s gotta be something redeeming!! This is just empty

The Girl with the Sanpaku Eyes

It’s a pretty light and fluffy school romance manga about a girl who has scary eyes but is actually real sweet when you get to know her, and some boy she likes. So/ kinda nothing but still pretty entertaining to read though. The real big draw here is that it’s full color and beautiful, like 5000% some of the prettiest pastel comic pages you ever seen. I know I can go on a bit about how nice a book physically is whenever I come across a particularly nice one - but wow heck this is one of the nicest presented manga books you could ever hope to find. Denpa did a real good job on that front.

The Great Cleric

Yet another isekai, this time a sales guy dies of a sudden heat attack and gets reincarnated with the potential to learn healing magic and hand to hand combat skills. But oh no, healers in this world are ALL MASSIVE JERKS. Like, the biggest jerks! And our poor protag-kun? hes just a normal nice guy that would never want to charge anyone 30 gold for a healing spell. He just wants to charge 1 silver. Thats how nice he is! But first, hes gotta get good.

H

Handsome Girl and Crossdressing Boy

https://mangadex.org/title/685db91e-a8ab-4de3-9738-9d3f883bd179

Handsome Girl and Sheltered Girl

The arts real cute and you gotta love an idiot that cant tell that her crush is a girl

Hazure Skill: The Guild Member With a Worthless Skill is Actually a Legendary Assassin

A classic boy meets demon-lord girl, boy beats up demon lord girl, demon lord girl becomes boys pet cat, boy gets a job as a staff member at a small normal adventurers guild. You know, one of them. It’s always nice to see really abnormal characters getting obsessed with being “normal” (whilst having zero clue what normal even is). There’s lots of fun fantasy tropes and found family themes running all the way through. Simple but solidly executed “I can’t believe it’s not isekai” junk.

Headhunted to Another World: From Salaryman to Heavenly King!

Incredibly stupid

Help me Relax, Yui-san

It’s a cute manga but fucking hell these girls need a break

Her Royal Highness Seems to be Angry

Vol. 4-5

Wow incredibly beautiful art and a double isekai? Like we got a boy being summoned isekaied into a magical world (and dying), and then a princess time slipping to the future… possibly meeting the isekai boys reincarnation 1000 years in the future?!? Double isekai and a time slip this rules genre perverts get hyped that’s like 3 genres. And yeah - theres a lot of manga with really low detailed panel backgrounds but this isnt one of them. I bet it had a monthly serialization or something cos heck the amount of pencil time this would need to draw is wild!

Hi, I'm a Witch, and My Crush Wants Me to Make a Love Potion

Incredible line work- this mangaka can DRAW! Anyways, its a fun slow romance with some interesting magic system stuff. If you like shoujo fantasy it’s highly recommended.

There’s deffo a cool genre trend here with stories about young lonely women who are super super smart, world-leading in their craft witches living isolated in forests being discovered by hot Nobel boys - I’m pretty sure more of that exact girly fantasy trope has ended up on my pile lately than other sub-genres (like villainess, for example) I guess it’s a real smart way to merge your shoujo romance into a fantasy setting so you don't have to write about a dang school. I’m a noted genre pervert so I’m glad manga publishes have found a new one to mine for translation content

His Majesty the Demon King's Housekeeper

Cute fluff

The Holy Grail of Eris

Vol. 5
I adore our beautifully honest protagonist and her evil ghost aunty. Such a great dynamic, and oh heck the art is beautiful…. But gosh dang the world and literally EVERY SINGLE other character is horrible and it kinda makes it a real chore to read.

Housekeeping Mage from Another World: Making Your Adventures Feel Like Home

Vol. 1-4

Its an isekai shoujo romance about a lady reborn in a magic world except her magic is very week but shes real good at controlling it and invents all sort of domestic uses for it and calls it housekeeping magic..... and like, yeah i would like to read that very much thats some of my favorite genres right there.

How about R15?

https://mangadex.org/title/cb98bd40-a903-4416-bdd0-dab93d8f36ad/r15-ja-dame-desuka

this manga is so fucking stupid (complimentary)

How do we Relationship?

Dang I adore this book. Adult women doing their best - I love that for them! It’s the kind of book where there are just SO many panels when you read it and then just gaze into the art and feel all warm inside and just tuck yourself onto a little ball of pleasant feelings I SURE DO HOPE NOTHING GOES WRONG FOR THESE TWO.

Hungry for you: Endo Yasuko Stalks the Night

I love idiot girls!! “what do you mean Endo san is a vampire? Sure she’s kinda weird and old fashioned and I invited her into my home and she just kinda lives there now and she doesn’t eat human food apart from tomato sauce and then she bites my neck every night and I guess she drinks my blood when she does that and she hates the smell of garlic and is incapable of walking passed churches… but vampires arnt real duhhh she can’t possibly be one” solid logic.

I think the first volume is pretty incredible and the second volume is... not as good but wraps things up pretty okay. I mean, it gets weird, in a not great way but it works well enough. Nice little two book arc i guess. If you wanna read about some yuri vampires have at it.

Hunting in Another World With My Elf Wife

https://mangadex.org/title/7c5cbad4-8bfe-48b3-af13-18c338dda5da/i-became-a-slave-in-another-worldand-to-make-matters-worse-my-master-is-a-black-hearted-elf-queen-i

Pretty fun isekai about a dude going hunting with his wife, who is a hot and also an elf. A hot elf wife, if you will. 10/10 good for genre perverts.

My favourite part is actually the little omake at the end, which is a fun little chapter with the goddess that isekai's our protag-kun - and shes just doing research in Tokyo on how to pick a good ‘hero’ to summon. Lady just reads a hell of a lot of isekai light novels and bases her whole summoning ruleset based off that. 10/10

ISEKAI DEATH REPORT: mauled to death by a brown bear whilst hunting

I

I Became a SLAVE in Another World (Crying), and My Master Is a Black-Hearted ELF QUEEN! (But She's Super Hot ← This Is Important) I'm Pretty Useless, so I Get Insulted a Lot, but the ORC I'm Rooming With Is Full of Good Vibes, and the ELVES in the Village Are Pretty Cute Too, so on the Whole, I Have to Say That I'm Actually Quite Enjoying Myself Here.

incredible title, incredibly stupid

I Can’t believe I slept with you

Vol 1-3

A short, messy yuri about a fuckup game developer and her hot younger landlady. So yeah, lets ignore the problematic aspects of your landlady forcing “favors” from you because your behind on rent, at its core this is a sweet story about a useless oneesan type character relying on a anxious and unstable little sister, who in turn needs her for emotional support. they grow and heal together, and thats always heart warming. i just WISH they had another volume for post confession adventures WHY DO THESE THINGS ALWAYS END AT THE START OF A RELATIONSHIP IM GUNNA SCREAM.

I Cross-Dressed for the IRL Meetup

Scanlation - now avalible offically

I Don’t Need a Happy Ending: A Collection of short stories

Anthology

Yuri anthology by the same mangaka as Assorted Engagements, it follows the same kind of pattern with most of the stories being about messed up women doing messed up things - for various values of messed up. Its not as good as Assorted Engagements, that's for sure! Some of the earlier stories in the collection are flatout unpleasant IMO - “I’ll never fall in love with you” in particular was just.. a bit too much. I think “I Don’t Know What Love Is” is by far the stand-out story in the collection, it tells an incredible little tale for its page count, feels like the character actually went somewhere, its a really good one-shot. “A day off from Work” was also really good.

I Don't Know How to Give Birth!

This is an incredibly heartwarming autobiographical manga essay by Kazama Ayami about (obviously) her trying, failing and then finally succeeding in having a kid. This book is full of warmth, the art is really pretty, and this lady portrays herself as a massive idiot and OHHH GOSH i do love me a good idiot. You really can't help but adore this lady as she works her way through pregnancy.

At the end of each chapter there’s a one-panel comic and write-up by her husband (who is a ero mangaka) and daaaang that dude is the world's biggest supporter of women and a massive wife guy it’s very funny.

I Don't Know Which Is Love

Wow this book has wildly high energy levels! It’s 200% a yuri harem manga, and it’s pretty great. Each girl is attracted to something unique about the protagonist, and it’s all built around the five senses. One is crazy for her voice, another loves her gaze… you know there's a girl who is totally smitten with how good she uhhh…tastes?!? Like I said it’s high energy. Neat book!

I’ll Never Be Your Crown Princess!

Weird, lots of fucking about and finding out

I Married My Best Friend to Shut My Parents Up

Yet another book in the “fake marriage with my best girl friend (thanks shibuya ward) that accidentally turns real oops” yuri sub genre. It’s a GOOD sub genre I like it a lot. The arts is real pretty and it’s a cute book. There’s an infection point half way though that always makes my heart burst a little bit. Recommend

I Married my Female Friend

So glad this finally has an official English translation! I think for sure this one will go down as a modern Yuri classic when it's finished. The first volume is super well plotted and there's a really neat relationship arc right from the get-go, Its super satisfying watching Kurumi slowly clock that the relationship means a lot more to her than she realises and that Ruriko is someone she actually wants to settle down with. 11/10

I may Be a Guild Receptionist but I’ll Solo Any Boss to Clock Out on Time

Fairly typical story in the non-isekai “receptionist at the adventurer guild is secretly super powerful actually” fantasy subgenre. It’s competent? Like, we’re not winning any awards here for anything but I enjoyed my stay. I liked the conceit that she didn’t want anyone to know she’s severely a strong adventurer because receptionists aren't allowed side jobs and she doesn't want to lose the cushy government paycheck. It’s simple but works well. You can turn your brain off for this one

Imitation

IRL I am not into celebrity gossip or drama at all, I could barely identify any IRL celebrity types - I just do not care. In manga tho? Ohhhhh heck manga with idols, actors and other celebrities is one of my favourite genres. This is a really good implementation of that genre, we got a whole bunch of entertainers spread through three idle groups at various stages of their careers all interacting and it’s great, delicious drama. It’s fantastic. Our heroin, Maha is particularly good. Her arch of being a kind of over-eager newbie to crushed by the industry despite her innate talent shining though is super good and I can’t wait to see her grow.

That said, what the fuck is up with the whole scene where she’s working through her first acting job with the more experienced guy who is deffo the main love interest? He fucking hates her at this point in the story (for stupid reasons) and essentially physically assaults her on set? WHAT HE DOES IS LITERALLT AN ACTUAL CTIME. Like, he’s playing a murderer and ad libs a scene where he chokes her so hard she gets bruises on her neck? HE ACTUALLY CHOKES OUT THIS POOR GIRL. And everyone’s like “wow you did a great job of guiding her through her first job she’s acting so scared! It really sold the scene!” And NOBODY HAS A PROBLEM WITH IT!?! It’s messed up, and a lot of the drama over the next hundred pages are that dickhead trying to decide if he should apologise for committing an act of grievous bodily harm and traumatising the poor girl. It’s messed up and I wish someone would have said something. He has to go though a whole "am i a baddie?" arc, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN WAY BETTER IF SOMEONE WAS AT LEAST LIKE "WOW THIS IS A PROBLEM MAYBE WE SHOULD GET THIS YOUNG GIRL SOME MEDICAL ATTENTION SHE WAS JUST ASSAULTED"

Anyways other than how that’s handled, the books good.

In/Spectre

by FAR the best part is just how much of a little gremlin Kotoko is. DANG shes such a little bitch I LOVE HER

If I could reach you

Uta is probably the SADDEST girl ever committed to paper. Its actually cool just HOW sad this work is, somehow without collapsing into depression

If My Favorite Pop Idol Made It to the Budokan, I Would Die

What a weird and cool look into an idol fandom community, the books are very silly but a lot of fun, like this is pure idiot character territory with some light yuri themes at the fringes.

It's hard not to notice that a lot of the chapters to chapter dialogue plot beats and driven by misunderstanding, which usually SUPER HYPER annoy me, it's the WORST way to drive a story but I think that it’s actually kinda real neat here? There’s such a disconnect between being an idol and a fan and the way these characters talk past each other captures that really well.

You can’t point at a page here and shout “JUST TALK TO HER ABOUT IT JEEZ” because that’s the entire point. They can't ever talk! well, not for more than a few seconds at a handshake event... if there are enough tickets... Anyways , good book

If Witch, Then Which?

The crossdressing witch manga. It was okay I guess? Its cute and pretty short, but deffo not queer which is always disappointing. i mean 'crossdressing witch manga' sounds like it should be queer as heck, but it aint!

I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivalled in the Real World Too

Vol. 4
”DAAAANG what a stupid book 10/10 I fucking love isekai. It does that thing where the Isekai world has a bidirectional link with the real world, I LOVE IT WHEN THEY DO THAT. YEAH, SHOW ME A GUY WHOS FANTASY WORLD POWER LEVELING GAINS MAKE THEM MORE POWERFUL AT SOCIAL INTERACTIONS IN MODERN DAY TOKYO GIVE ME THAT SLOP ILL EAT IT UP SO FAST”

I Got Fired as a Court Wizard so Now I’m Moving to the County to Become a Magic Teacher

PLOT SUMMARY: Wizard cop gets fired from the wizard FBI for being from a poor family, so he moves back home to become a wizard teacher at wizard school teaching the poor idiot dropout wizard kids who probably wouldn't be allowed to join the wizard FBI no matter how good they get at protecting whatever the wizard equivalent of capital is.

Now he has the time to self-reflect enough to realize that doing state-sanctioned wizard executions as a wizard cop is bad actually. He tries to reform & repent by teaching poor wizard kids not to be stupid (and poor, presumably). Luckily, his hot childhood friend who is cute (and hot) isnt bothered by him being a ex-wizard-fbi-state-sanction-wizard-murder-cop and will probably hug his very manly pain away or something, cos shes cute and hot. The book's trash. 10/10

I love you so much I hate you

Vol. 1 - single volume
”Dang I love yuri about older women -Real nice to be reading something and wishing the best for these ladies - strong good warm feelings”

Into The Deepest Most Unknowable Dungeon

A lot of the time for new series, I have no idea what I’m getting into, I’m just buying new shit based on a title… maybe sometimes I’ll look at the cover… but usually I’m not thinking that deep. So a lot of the time with fantasy manga these days I’m 100% thinking “wow I can believe this isn’t an isekai” - it’s the opposite here “wow I can’t believe this is an isekai”. I thought it was just going to be some silly high fantasy dungeoneering… but nope it’s an isekai about how actually combat sucks, the dungeons are cool but the day to day business of adventuring sucks… but dang isn’t dungeon diving aesthetically romantic~ also wow this books world is HELLA misogynistic. It’s kinda impressive how gross it is

I think I Turned my Childhood Friend into A Girl

I read a scanlation ages ago but yeah, this is still SUPER CUTE, also the way the colour pages are incorporated into it is amazingly nice- it’s an incredibly nice book to behold. Yeah, it’s just real cute.

I Swear I won’t bother you again!

“Painfully straight (complimentary)”

I want to be a receptionist in this magical world

it’s a “I can’t believe it’s not an isekai” fantasy manga that somehow manages to fit a whole 6-year magic school education story arc into a single volume. That’s efficient!

I was Confessed to by my Beautiful Oshi

K

Kaiju Girl Caramelise

Uhhh this book is kinda incredible. Reading the bonus page at the back we learn the mangaka and her editor was trying to solve one major editorial problem with this work. How do you transfer from working on a series serialzied in a shoujo magazine to a series in a shonen one? The answer they stumbled up is just incredibly genius. Just draw a complete by the numbers stereotypical shoujo manga, make the protagonist a REAL loser girl, put in a HOT boy love interest, draw it alll HYPER feminine, so many sparkles, make it real fluffy and flowery…

Now finally make protag-chan turn into fucking Godzilla whenever she’s embarrassed. Like, skyscraper sized. Big girl shit. It’s absolute genius space brain stuff over here.

Kasane and Subaru

https://mangadex.org/title/4a086028-7977-4da6-a4c2-b659a4de29c6/kasane-to-subaru

Feel like a lot of you nerds would like this manga.

Killing Me!

Vol. 1
”super sweet yuri story about a vampire hunter and the vampire that’s in love with her. Only one volume is available, as it seems this manga got cancelled after one volume. WHICH IS SAD AT THIS IS HELLA CUTE. Akiyama seems to be still working as a manga artist which is nice, but drawing straight vampire stories now rather than gay ones - oh well can’t win them all!”

The Knight Blooms Behind Castle Walls

A sweet story of a young page boy who yearns to grow up quick and become a fully fledged knight in shining armor - she’s just keeping the fact she’s a girl hidden from all the rest of the castle’s inhabitants. This book really captures a sense of childlike glee that I don’t see often in manga, and it’s super beautifully drawn as well! Seeing young ladies blush at how gallant this lil squire is is reallllly adorable

The knight captain is new Princess-to-be

It’s fine guess? Maybe? idk? Actually, it kinda sucks? but in an 'its fine I guess' kinda way?? Yet another royalty/noble romance story (for someone who’s staunchly anti-monarchy I sure do buy and read a lot of this trash huh). The twist here, if you can call it that is that the noble lady/princess is the prince's knight captain of the guard, and she’s been training to be a knight since a young age so she doesnt know how to noble lady. She keeps saying she’s “trying to be the best man she can be” and when she first has to wear a ball gown she’s like “I couldn’t possibly wear drag” - it could be funny in a story that wasn’t so deplorably straight…

In this book it just doesn't work. They don’t fully commit to her not knowing how to be ladylike - it’s just shallow and not executed at all well. It’s super disappointing actually! Worst of all, there’s only 3 relatively short chapters in this book! A full 50% of the page count is unrelated one-shots by the same mangaka… which are fine? But daaaaang usually when they do filler one shots it’s like… one of them. Not 3 of them taking up half the dang volume!

Kou iu no ga ii

https://mangadex.org/title/051ce60f-bf16-432a-89a5-a8d52bd16de6/kou-iu-no-ga-ii

About two freshly single nerds who hook up a bunch and eat good food - just generally doing whatever the heck they want with no strings attached. Tomoka is a beautiful cheery idiot and totally makes the series for me

Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

Vol. 4-7

Incredible book 100/10. I’m a big fan of the anime, it’s stupid isekai bullshit, but it’s just so lighthearted in a pitch-perfect beautiful bright silly kinda way- yuna, the protagonist is incredible I love her, I love that she’s forced to wear that dang stupid bear Kigurumi which is stupid overpowered and cute and I love that people keep petting her in the manga version it’s so good. I love her two bear summons. I love her stupid bear house. I love that all her magic spells are bear-themed. This is a book that knows how to commit to a bit. Recommend (for genre perverts? But like, “cute girls doing cute things” genre fans too, not just isekai perverts)

Kyou, Eki de Mita Kawaii Onna no Ko.

https://mangadex.org/title/87367eda-a69e-4079-9f4b-0d396dc645fe/kyou-eki-de-mita-kawaii-onna-no-ko

So, this one has a pretty weird main framing device but its still pretty funny and worth a read

L

Last Game

I love manga about idiots. Protag-kun is a very smart rich idiot that’s always losing out at being number one in academics to the same poor girl- “DANG SHES SUPER ANNOYING ALWAYS BEATING ME, I know I’ll make her notice me and acknowledge me by making her fall in love with me and then I’ll reject her and THAT WILL SHOW HER WHO IS THE TOP DOG IN THIS CLASS” - these are the thoughts of a true BRAIN GENIUS what could possibly go wrong

I first read this a scan like a billion years ago, and I remember liking it but ohhhh heck I forgot how funny it was. THIS IS A REAL FUN TIME the exact blend of these two similar but different genius morons is delicious and if you read this a don’t end up with a smile on your face you are dead inside.

Let’s Buy the Land and Cultivate It In Another World

There’s a lot of isekai stories that are totally absolutely stupid, but this might be the absolute most stupidest. There are some neat ideas but like, it’s mostly just stupid ones. Dude fishes up a mermaid bride in the first 30 pages - it’s daft, it knows exactly what it is and heck it doesn’t waste time.

Let This Grieving Soul Retire - Woe is the Weakling Who Leads the Strongest Party

Its not great

The Little Healer

Scalation - official eng version on MangaUp

This is a thai webcomic about a doctor that gets reincarnated as a little girl with magic healing powers in a world where like, everyone FUCKING HATES healers, and his adventures getting used to being a girl and hanging out with a cool catgirl lady that DEFFO has a crush on them. The scanlation on mangadex has a real low effort feel to it, but that just kinda adds to the charm, and heck this is a real charming little gender bent isekai. recommended to genre perverts o7

Living With My Brother's Wife

"Wow! just like me!" she says whilst reading the manga at 5:15am. "Shes sleeping properly and is always incredibly physically exhausted. that's 100% what happens to me! wild!”

https://mangadex.org/title/6204ff54-c3d5-4645-b21f-f83f6fa303d0/ani-no-yome-to-kurashite-imasu

Love's in Sight!

Really cute 4 koma about a delinquent gang leader boy and a blind girl doing that whole romance thing and it’s VERY good. It explores this core theme of society not really wanting them in it, because of the precived trouble their existences cause and how that shared experience brings them together. Sure being a delinquent with a scar on you face from a knife fight is VERY different from being partially sighted, but like, it works very well in the text and that thread drives some interesting chapters…

Love me for who I am

Vol. 3-5
”It’s the enby maid manga! ITS TOO CUTE FOR WORDS. “
I would die for Mogumo (and ive made that fact ABUNDANTLY clear).

M

Magic Artisan Dahlia Wilts No More

It’s another isekai, but this time with a lady that used to work in an electronics company reincarnating into a fantasy world as the daughter of a magical artisan, and does the whole isekai modern Japan Knowledge thing to make cool magical inventions. SHE IS COOL, STRONG AND I LOVE HER. at it’s core, the first volume is a story of familial loss and romantic betrayal, but there’s a real warm core and hope for her, she’s so much stronger in her second life and I love her for it. Good book.

Maiden of the Needle

“This is National-Treasure level sewing! I haven’t seen anything like it in ages” - this is a direct quote from the text, if the concept of national treasure level sewing doesn't immediately sell you on this, you are not a genre pervert and why are you even reading this post? 9/10 good book.

Apart from that, we have a lot of generic bullied young Nobel lady who has amazing powers but not being given the opportunity to shine until she’s rescued by a hot guy energy- which you know- is whatever these days. There’s a billion books like that, but this one does it very well and has some good ideas. Not to get all problematic-age-gap discoursey or anything but where the book ends up is a bit weird - this kids 15 she should not be getting forced into marriages with the (ex?) king - but you know, books pretty good regardless. Enjoyed my stay

Match Making

Oneshot

Idiot yuri girls play final fantasy together, get into drama over it. Pretty good one shot give it a read maybe

The maple in summer colours

Oneshot

Idiot yuri women ‘accidentally’ meet up on a dating app (whhhhhhat women can match on this app? What are the chances?!) - get drunk about it

Minami Nanami Wants To Shine

Apparently this is a spin off to some other thing I’ve always just skipped over on Crunchyroll? Maybe I’ll give the source material a chance, because this was a pretty delightful read

Modern Dungeon Capture Starting with Broken Skills

Like the title says, it’s a modern take on dungeon diving, like solo leveling or d-genesis. I enjoyed it more that solo leveling (by a lot!) and it’s nowhere near as good a d-genesis (by a lot!) the arts kind as weird and cool, has a very sharp angular look to it. The story is whatever but has some genuinely cool moments trying to negotiate with a big scary (path blocking) angry killer dragon by trying to sell it asset management and wealth investments services is a genuinely good bit

Monthly in the Garden with My Landlord

Vol. 2
Vol. 5

A great new entry in the “yuri but with a landlord” AND the “yuri but with an idol” subgenres (also the “yuri but one of the girls works in the manga business because if your writing what you know, and all you know is kiss girl/write manga, your gunna get yuri mangaka yuri manga” genre. I do like that genre a lot) - and YES all landlords are bastards does NOT include this girl. She’s way too pure and stupid to actually be a landlord. Shes more like an adorable pet. At its core it’s a pleasant slow life, slow relationship building kinda thing... yeah these two girls are thrust together and have great chemistry but like, they take their time. It’s sweet

The Moon on a Rainy Night

Incredible book, delicious school yuri, and yet another entry in the fast-growing ‘romance drama but with disabilities’ genre… it ticks a looooooooooot of good book genre boxes right there!

If you like a good yuri story with a character struggling with obvious yet currently unaddressed queer feelings, this has you covered. I read scans a while back and I think this translation is really good in this print version - It’s a story that’s real good at hooking you in to its world. I wish more volumes were out NOW. I WANNA READ MORE

Print-wise, it’s beautiful. it’s published by Kodansha, so it’s one of thoes larger form factor manga prints - which works real well as the manga has a really detailed artstyle - were talking lots of linework, so the larger size just makes everything resolve really well. Anyways, good book.

Multi Mind Mayhem: Isekai Tensei Soudouki

This is the kind of isekai fantasy manga that has a page of character bios and portraits on the very first page of the book, like in volume one. One of the portrait boxes is slightly bigger than all the rest and is labelled “protagonist”. Its that kind of book. I just think that speaks to the confidence they have in how memorable and unique their character designs are.

My Coworker has a secret

“Dweebnerd woman gets a normal ass boyfriend” is a real good heterosexual romance manga subgenre, and this is a pretty good implementation of it. There’s also a pretty good cross-dressing guy in it who really owned all the pages he showed up on- it’s just a light amusing romcom and I’m deffo going to get more.

Also- this is good anti-landlord propaganda. Landlords suck

My Cute Little Kitten

Vol. 2
”Oh no is Milk Morinaga drawing cute fluffball airhead girls again? And this time they have a cat? Terrible news. 10/10”

My Dear, Curse-Casting Vampiress

This was a random pick up from a local bookshop and turned out pretty good- if your into the whole “Loli vampire having oversized one sided feelings for some random guy who may or may not have super powers but 100% for sure has amnesia and they go vampire hunting together whilst a shadowy government organization monitors their every move” trope. I feel like there’s been lots of this exact story lol

My Dress-up Darling

Every bit as good as the (incredible) anime. I rewatched it like two weeks ago so it’s very fresh in my mind- so being able to contrast how it adapted and changed scenes from the manga has been real interesting. One change i really noticed is how they introduce that Gojo kun is kinda a friendless loser right at the beginning, the anime adds an incredible visual joke that’s not in (and probably wouldn’t work as well) in the manga. Yeah, it’s been real interesting! ALSO FINDING OUT THAT SWALLOWTAIL WIGS IS A REAL SHOP IN IKEBUKURO WAS KINDA WILD the afterword pages in these volumes are great.

My Gently Raised Beast

“Painfully straight (derogatory)”

My Happy Marriage

So there's an anime adaption of My Happy Marriage airing RIGHT NOW on Netflix and its REAL GOOD. Being a Netflix exclusive sucks though - I don't have Netflix (fuck em). DANG i super wanted to watch that show though! How else am i supposed to experience that story?!! Well turns out I've already got 2 volumes of it on my shelf and i just never got around to it. Turns out, books good.. Not as good as the anime though. The anime seems to be a lot slower and that really serves the source material really well. For example, when Miyo leaves her fathers house and travels to her fiancé place, its like a page in the manga but much longer in the show, giving you a much better idea of the distance shes going and the loneliness she must feel. Like, its an AWFUL thing to be put through, being sent off alone and unloved. I hope they do an audiobook of the light novel so i can listen to that version too... anyways long story short the books are pretty good, but the anime is incredible. (you should just torrent the Netflix anime, I'm not a cop i won't tell anyone)

My Instant Death Ability Is So Overpowered, No One in This Other World Stands a Chance Against Me! ―AO―

Mangamo, print books now avaliable

Some idiot genre pervert isekai fun. You do not need to bring your brain into this book (which is good, I was so tired when I read it)

My Love Story With Yamada-kun at Lv999

My Stepmother & Stepsisters Aren’t Wicked

You can probably guess what this is like based on the title, but this is the story of a young girl who is the illegitimate child of a noble family moving in with her stepmother and stepsisters after her mother dies. Each chapter is a set-up for some stereotypical ’evil’ stepfamily plot beat, which totally gets inverted in a cute funny way. These step-ladies LOVE their newest family member.

It’s funny how even though you know that the book is going to subvert the genre trope it’s building up to- it STILL somehow still manages to surprise me exactly how, and every dang time I’ll be chuckling like a fool. 10/10 recommended, a great light little read

N

Neko no Te datte Yaku ni Tatsu

https://mangadex.org/title/c15bcb19-8aa3-4fef-acaa-6d5b54ca90e7/neko-no-te-datte-yaku-ni-tatsu

Noa Is My Senior, and My Friend

https://mangadex.org/title/3169544f-4b87-4a14-917b-f73600941f55/noa-senpai-wa-tomodachi

No Longer Allowed In Another World

What if Zetsubou Sensei was hit by a truck and got isekai’ed? 10/10 good. I published a Isekai Death Report here

Not-sew-wicked stepmon

This one has NO SEWING RELATED CONTENT! There is one case of what can charitably be described as ‘clothing adjacent drama’ but to be honest, I don’t think that counts. Incredibly disappointing. 10/10 books good

Now Loading...!

its a lesbian game dev manga, wow what a great genre, super relatable. I rate this genre 10/10
Degu representation - one of the characters has a pet Degu! She takes it to work! and lets it run around her office! That's a super underrated kind of critter, 10/10
is… is that degu’s name an excel saga reference? Or is naming an animal “emergency rations” a common joke in Japan? Anyways good bit regardless 10/10

The Npcs in This Village Sim Game Must Be Real!

World's saddest man finally finds the motivation to live better after talking to chat GPT for literally one day- also sells all his worldly possessions and embraces minimalism to fund his chat GPT micro-transaction addiction. I’m sure he is very mentally well. 8/10

O

On and Off: Work-Life Imbalance

https://mangadex.org/title/88949f72-43b8-48af-94a0-dc639e44be07/kaisha-to-shiseikatsu-on-to-off?utm_source=cohost&utm_medium=iframely

Gotta wonder where this is going to go, the old sns web version was SO SLOW with plot, I’m hyped.

Once Again in Slow Motion

https://mangadex.org/title/32d0b857-24b2-4c3b-8dc6-aa6d0739aa79/slow-motion-wo-mou-ichido

Its a cute romantic comedy about two dweebs in modern-day japan who just really, really love 80 music & idols and SUPER can't let anybody know about it cos it would be like, hella embarrassing. im about half way though and having a GREAT time. its got this real nice soft art style to it, its clearly inspired by that 80s manga look, but still feels fresh and new too. The writing is fun, These two protagonists are massive idiots so you cant help but root for them. 10/10

The One Within the Villainess

https://mangadex.org/title/6df29d13-2dab-4ca6-a0b5-74070abf3e1d/the-one-within-the-villainess

It’s so refreshing to read a villainess story with an actual villainous villainess. She’s so hot I love her

Oshi no ko

Ahhh heck it’s so good it’s so good it’s so goooood! The pacing is so good?!! Beautiful art too. I DO NOT WANT TO WAIT MONTHS BETWEEN VOLUMES THOUGH!

Every time I finish a volume of this I’m really impressed how well designed it is? Like, this guy is deffo writing this story to be published in paperbacks, which feels kinda unique? Obviously - all manga published in serial magazines is, but this reads like its ALWAYS in mind Like, each arc is perfectly wrapped up in one volume and the next one set up and ready to roll, it’s just some super impressive craft. I've read so much stuff that's kind all over the place, this is so intentional with its chapter layout. Good stuff.

Oshi to no Yuri wa Arienai!

https://mangadex.org/title/3d287418-9bd7-4bf4-b71b-1c4512812a50/kanpeki-na-iinchou-chan-to-gouhou-gyaru-chan-no-manga?utm_source=cohost&utm_medium=iframely

The worlds most normal lesbian.

The Otherworlder, Exploring the Dungeon

I hate real world military shit but if you throw a fully equipped marine into an isekai world come on I’m going to eat that garbage up. By the end of the first volume our main character has disposed of all his modern weapons (by getting a merman to hide them at the deepest trench in the ocean, naturally) because he understands the MASSIVE power disparity between modern firearms and like, adventurers with swords and shit. What if he loses control of his stash? It’s just not safe! And that’s a real cool, interesting narrative and character choice! But without his clear monopoly on deadly force afforded to him by a rifle and handgun, grenades and plastic explosives, I’m not sure where this story is going to go

Our Teachers are Dating!

P

Perfect World

And I quote “They’ve made designing part of the Paralympic facilities into contest and nabe-san (my boss) said we should enter… but 2020? That’s five years from now.” “I wonder what’ll be going on then”

UHHHH THEY DONT KNOW THEY LACK FUTURE INFORMATION OH NO. this is a beautiful lil romance manga about a dude in a wheelchair and a lady that likes him. Pretty good imo

Please Bully me Miss Villainess

Wild how in like a 20 chapter arc we’ve come from “Elsa might l-l-l-like me romantically!?! Oh no she couldn’t possibly the VIDEOGAME plot wouldn’t allow it and besides - we’re both girls” to “I WILL LITERALLY BEND TIME AND SPACE TO PROTECT MY GIRLFRIEND FROM CHILDHOOD SO THE DEMONS DONT GET HER”

The Princess of convenient plot devices

a pretty funny deep dive into “okay so we reincarnated as a princess in the world of a boys love novel… how does Nobel society function of all the hot Nobel dudes are trying to bone each other?” And the answer is your brother (the crown Prince) is kinda a misogynist? Makes sense, let him cook. Fortunately our heroin is kinda a complete fricking moron, so I love her unconditionally and pray for her heteronormative success.

Pulse

“By the same person as Lily Love and its also VERY good and VERY gay. These books that seven seas have put out are incredibly printed, full colour and everything. Super cool to see a webtoon presented in a book so well. The story so far is cute, seeing the doctor slowly open up is a real treat. ”

Q

Quality Assurance in Another World

It’s a fucking game developer isekai - essentially what if sword art online, except your a wimpy QA tester that’s REAL good at hiding. Maybe if you report all the bugs (whilst hiding from all the other QA testers that have given up on work and gone rouge) they will finally let you log out and go home? Prepare for t pose jokes

Also? The monster design in this book? It’s got dragons. Huge terrifying dragons. Dragons that will make even the mightiest NPC quiver with fear. They look like heckin ginormous frogs with goofy lil eyes. Terrifying. 10/10

R

Reborn as a Space Mercenary: I Woke Up Piloting the Strongest Starship!

What if you isekai'ed into Eve online? Huh, what if that- except now eve online has hot space elves. That’s the thesis we shall explore in this ground breaking work of speculative science fiction.

Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling

A pretty fun read, it’s got this cool super angular art style that makes heavy use of inky blacks and dark thick tones, the writing is real sharp in a goofy way - they clearly had a lot of fun adapting this isekai. The punchline to the human transformation skill is very good, the friendship between our protagonist dragon hatchling and his weird tiny lizard friend is cute as heck.

Reincarnated as a Sword: Another Wish

Spinoff manga from reincarnated as a sword where both sensei (the sword) and Fran the cat girl both get isekai’ed together into a parallel world (Isekaied again?!? In this economy?!). It’s fucking stupid, the dang sword guy gets held hostage and really enjoys getting to be the damsel in distress. 10/10 genre perverts only tho

A Reincarnated Witch Spells Doom

hella pretty and quite interesting romance isekai that dosnt really go anywhere special

The Remarried Empress

Villainess stories will never get old, it’s amazing how many variations you can get on “there’s a king and queen, the king is a shit husband, some scheming harlot gets between them and everyone thinks it’s the queens fault- go”. I’m not the biggest fan of the art in this one (it’s very pointy rather than rounded if you know what I mean) but it’s a hella engaging tale and OH GOSH the cover is beautiful, with golden embossed lettering and every. As an object- it’s incredible.

A returner’s magic should be special

Pretty simple korean reincarnation webtoon, dude helps beat the demon lord but oh no! gets time reverted back in time like 10 years or whatever (i forgot to take notes) to adventuring school. Guess its time to get even more buff than before and beat the demon lord guy back up, this time with future knowledge. Oh, also everyone in school is real classist and nobles get all the goodies

S

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

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

Sasaki and Peeps: That Time I Got Dragged into a Psychic Battle in Modern Times While Trying to Enjoy a Relaxing Life in Another World ~Looks Like Magical Girls Are On Deck~

our hero is a lonely 40 year old office worker who REALLY wants a friend, so he goes to a pet shop. Dogs and cats are too big and expensive… but that weird little bird? 100% within budget… and it can talk… THE BIRD IS A MAGICAL SAINT THAT GOT ISEKAIED TO EARTH?!? And he can do teleportation?!? Wow Sasaki’s daily commute just got SO MUCH faster. 10/10 Commuter Isekai is a fascinating subgenre

The Savior's Book Café Story in Another World

Vol. 2-4

Straight, but interesting. Dang i love isekai, and how they are all the same but different. “You have been summoned to a magical world! you MUST become a savior, a hero in this place! i shall grant you MASSIVE amounts of magical power and grant a wish” - okay thats all normal nothing weird here - “ehh that sounds like a hassle can i own a little café bookshop on the outskirts of a capital city and just kinda rest there and do nothing??” 11/10 PERFECT use of isekai powers LOVE IT for you girl please do exactly that.

A Scummy Gap Student With a Hard Life Calls Upon a Lady of the Night

https://mangadex.org/title/d07f1832-6d9a-4fb1-8cff-b5f2dda73c27/kuzu-rouninsei-jinsei-ga-tsurai-no-de-yoru-no-onee-san-wo-yondemita

VERY GOOD ACTUALLY

Secrets of the Silent Witch

A really strong entry in the kinda-loser-dweeb-but-real-powerful-witch-girl-meets-hot-guy fantasy subgenre there’s a little bit of a villainess twist thrown into this one, which I love for sure (ahh, Villainess stories, Gotta be a top 10 genre!). Real easy read, nice panel flow, and pretty art. Just some good shoujo fantasy going on here - Recommend.

Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles

Vol. 4-6

It’s a isekai. Are you a genre pervert? Did you watch the anime? Then it’s for you.

Sheep Princess in Wolf's Clothing

She loves to cook and she loves to eat

Dweebs eat incredible food together and think “huh this is nice if only we could keep hanging out together like all the time lol just kidding or am I haha just kidding what if we spent Christmas together” it’s a VERY real feeling lesbian tale

Shino Can't Say Her Name

An incredibly gripping and intense depiction of a girl absolutely suffering though her early high school days due to MASSIVELY crushing social anxiety exacerbated by bullying and her stutter, and the ups and downs of her one friendship. It’s a gripping tale with some beautiful art, and Denpa’s English release looks incredible, and is printed on that really nice soft paper, beautiful book!

SPOILER TALK: Maybe I’m just WAY too lesbian pilled but dang, Shino is GAY how can this have any other reading other than SHES FUCKING GAY and she’s REPULSED that her GAY crush is hanging out with some doofus nastylad like EWW you can feel it the text is SO GAY so getting to that ending, like, I know there are ways for lesbian couple to get kids but the heteronormativity hit me like a fucking truck lol. Like it’s a cute ending but daaaaang don’t you realise you accidentally wrote a yuri here? Commit to the bit

A Sign of Affection

Wow I gotta say this books got some amazing typesetting. So, this is a romance story about a deaf girl and a guy who is basically a language pervert, who get’s interested in her because sign language- it’s real good (if het) but the MOST INTERESTING part is the typesetting. Sometimes manga plays with the type to show when characters are speaking foreign languages or something, this book goes even deeper on that kinda trick and uses type to convey lip reading. It’s really elegant and gets SO MUCH detail across. Yuki, the main character is almost totally deaf, she can’t hear speech at all- so if a speech bubble has has regular solid black text, she can’t hear ANYTHING thats been said in that bubble even if she could like, conceptually "see" the bubble - that dosnt matter. black text means words that are spoken out loud and its something she cant perceive- she’s oblivious to any black word. Grey text is stuff she can lip read. If she’s having difficulty lip reading but mostly gets something- some of the characters in a word are printed tilted sideways - sometimes when she’s lip reading she misunderstands words so that’s just the normal grey color.. but its nonsense words so she gets confused - it’s wildly cool, just some real simple rules but they add such a richness to the text and I’ve never seen anything like it. There’s SO MUCH you can do in a graphic novel medium and I love that this book does something so unique and interesting

Slow Life In Another World (I Wish!)

Yet another isekai were owning slaves is poggers and cool and good really. Not great I’ll probably get and read more because I hate myself o7

Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You

Screenshots from the scanlation

probably the best new series published this year? deffo got a lotte recommendation. Clueless useless middle-aged salary man get relentlessly bullied by a young convenience store worker. its one of those nothing ever happens yet hella compelling kinda reads

Sometimes even reality is a lie!

J-Novel Club

Sorry, but I’m not into Yuri

https://mangadex.org/title/8f3e1818-a015-491d-bd81-3addc4d7d56a/warui-ga-watashi-wa-yuri-ja-nai?utm_source=cohost&utm_medium=iframely

Oh yeah this one is genuinely really sweet and good AND trash, it’s a true masterpiece. If you love reading about messy, truly terrible selfish people slowly bettering themselves, making friends and finding solid, heartwarming relationships this is the one to read. Heck it’s messy! It’s got a real unique art style to it as well that feels hella fresh.

So What’s Wrong With Getting Reborn as a Goblin?

Very silly & cute isekai (truck - isekai death report is avalible here) it’s very easy to read, you can just turn your brain off for this one. Recommended if your a genre pervert.

Stepmother's Marchen Vol. 1

Another Korean villainess story, again with a time leap, it’s just as good as literally any of the other ones of these

Still Sick

I’m a big fan of manga about writing manga, and I’m a big fan of yuri vibes and girls getting along and slowly getting real close and girls keeping secrets that gradually come out and like yeah good book.

Specifically, it does SUCH a good job of depicting the pain of not being able to do the work you love, getting stuck in a rut... and the healing power of someone elses joy i guess? its great stuff. Burnout sucks, these girls are cute, this book rules.

Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included

Cute and soft, inoffensive trash about a boy picking up an angel and letting her live in his studio apartment. It’s not the best apartment but it does get good natural lighting. I don’t know why that’s such an important feature of protagonist-kun’s home that it deserves to go in the title, seemed pretty throwaway in the book.

So this series is just kinda empty, inoffensive fluff. Very mid, 6/10 level stuff. The do go to mr donut (twice) in volume 2 so now it’s actually my favorite manga ever - I love mr donut.

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

T

A Tale of the Secret Saint

I do love me a reincarnation tale (im sure you have all figured that out by now), especially when the main character is a fucking idiot. Oh daaaang I love fucking idiots. Idiots rule. And this specific idiot? Shes so stupid!

Talk Dirty to me

Lezhin

GOOD TOXIC YURI MANHUA I’m like 12 chapters in, out of 51 (which fair warning it’s on the Lezhin comics app so that’s a lot of coins) and I’m having a great time! Manga about idols having a secret relationship is one of the best genres- and heck this is a twisted secret relationship! That said, there is a real soft core hidden under the verbal abuse just beginning to peek out I feel.

Tensei Mae wa Otoko Datta no de Gyaku Harem wa Okotowari Shite Orimasu

Terminator Sharehouse

https://mangadex.org/title/d9fb52cd-50b4-476a-87ee-eef4f6d83972/terminator-sharehouse

The Two of Them Are Pretty Much Like This

Vol. 4
gosh just beautiful- it feels like 99% of yuri manga is about a budding relationship, taking painstaking amounts of time to get to a love confession - getting to that starting point and as soon as that happens, THATS IT end of serialization, that’s you 6 chapters HOW DARE YOU WANT MORE. it sucks! I wanna read about women in love, I wanna see stories about their home lives, their hopes, their dreams, their years. This is a little bit of all that, and it’s perfect. Wako and Ellie have been going out for two years and living together for one year at the start of this story and that so unusual and weird for a yuri manga I LOVE IT

This girl is probably committing tax evasion.

https://mangadex.org/title/18d481be-f310-4088-a9c1-de29e08990cd/this-girl-is-probably-committing-tax-evasion

Look, I’m a simple girl. If I see a manga called “this girl is probably committing tax evasion” OBVIOUSLY I’m going to read it instantly. I mean come on what a perfect title - it’s that use of ‘probably’ that shifts it from a really good title into the realm of incredible. Probably committing tax evasion. Probably. Delicious.

This is Screwed Up, But I was Reincarnated as a girl in Another World

This could only have been drawn but a true pervert.

This World is Worth Fighting For

Oneshot

Pretty incredible revenge fantasy one shot.

https://mangadex.org/title/60309abd-3552-4824-bab6-20086eade196/kono-yo-wa-tatakau-kachi-ga-aru

Though I Am an Inept Villainess: Tale of the Butterfly-Rat Body Swap in the Maiden Court

I love villainess?!? I really enjoyed watching Raven of the inner palace last anime season, so seeing a villainess story with a similar setting was an instant pickup. Turns out this is very very good! The main character and her ladies maid have a great chemistry together, I can’t wait to see how this evolves over time. Body swapping from a sick, frail (but loved) persona to a healthy, strong (but universally hated) one is a super interesting setting as well, this is genius space brain level trash I love it

Tiger & Hummingbird

A girls love series about a a lady that LOVES jackets and T-shirts with tiger prints being kinda forced to work in a super trendy fashionable cloths store in Shibuya - much to the distress of the stores assistant manager. The gap between these two, board line delinquent and prim and proper is pretty delicious. I hope they hug about it some day.

Tonari wa Futsuu no Nijika (-chan)

https://mangadex.org/title/35bf0c4f-491b-4914-8342-5378e878a865

Wtf this is so good Ribbon’s putting out some amazing stuff

U

Until I Become Me

https://mangadex.org/title/a781de8e-0935-45bd-bc33-cbc76ea8c6f9

So I’ve just been reading though this, just absolutely mainlining it- put that shit right into my bloodstream. Lemme tell you, reading this page some 40 of chapters in, low on sleep, low on energy, low on mental defence, I cried like a baby. 11/10 this, is an incredibly good book. Someone! please pick it up for English localisation. Wtf.

V

Vampeerz

Yuri vampires! Again! I like this book, like… a lot? The art is incredible and the printing and binding job Denpa have done is fantastic.. they are a small publisher but I really love the feel of their books! It’s a nice object?

The work itself is very cute and very unsettling and perfectly stupid at moments, it’s a tale of a vampire that’s had enough and just wants to die and a young girl that just fell in love with her at first sight. Not much happens in the first volume but the stories pacing just delivers this perfect balance of unsettling creepiness and yuri first love… good book

The Villainess’s Guide to (not) failing in love

yet another villainess isekai, mostly by the numbers but pretty good as these things go… I mean they are all good. I love this genre. It’s got very pretty art and has a nice texture to the story - it really likes shoving a character archetype in front of you and giving them a subtle twist which really enriches them - very well executed

The Villainess Turns the Hourglass

If you’ve ever read a villainess story and though “I like all this Nobel high society intrigue but it would be WAY better if the protagonist was actually a villainess evil bitch” then look no further

The Villainess Who Has Been KILLED 108 Times -She Remembers Everything!

Heck! What an incredible book! What an incredible start to a story that feels MASSIVE! There’s a lot going on here, it’s drawing on a lot of the best reincarnation and villainess tropes and like turning them up to 11. It opens up with a real economical villainess backstory, setting up who the ‘heroes’ that killed our vileness are and then confidently starts playing with our expectations. I mean… that’s kinda what every villainess story does but this one just does it SO dang well, and then even in volume 1 its pulling all these little threads together SO well. I am real impressed and ~~cannot~~ wait for more. I wrote a little about it here if you wanna see a lil more.

The Villainess Who Steals the Heroine's Heart

Villains are Destined to Die

Vol. 3
”The colours in this book are incredible! DANG HER HAIR. she’s wonderful. 10/10 Its great to see more Korean stuff get printed in full-colour books. These things are just beautiful to behold sometimes. There's a real fun gimmick early on to this villainess story - our main character starts off mute and can only ever talk when given options that were in the original game shes been reincarnated in - which was an interesting twist for a while. be cool to see where this goes.”

Virgin Love

The set up here is kinda insane? We have a shared house for single people who want to find love, like it’s set up like a reality tv show but it’s actually a research project run by a fucking dating app? To like… spy on people to gather… data(?) to make the dating app better? Capitalism has gone too far. Also all the character in this are tedious it’s just not great not recommend

W

We started a threesome!!

It’s by the Futari H guy, and seems to be way less cringe than that was - it’s a fairly cute exploration of polyamory. It’s got a very 90s art style for something that was originally published in 2019, wild to see characters that look like this using smartphones! Anyways it’s pretty neat, lotsa drama but the relationship has a strong believable (ish) core to it.

What He Who Doesn't Believe in Fate Says

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

When I became a commoner they broke off our engagement

Super good, two babies (one noble and one commoner) get switched at birth and high society fantasy manga tropes ensue, if you’ve read any of these you know what’s going to happen (heck if you’ve read the title!) - it’s just real dang good

Whisper me a Love Song

Vol. 1 - 3

Vol. 4-5
”Super cute school yuri story about a girl falling in love with her senpai, who is the lead singer in a school band. Real pretty art… These print volumes are really nice, Kondansha comics seem to be publishing things in a larger page size than most other publishers, makes the art look super nice with this book. Big clear faces and all that!”

Who made me a Princess

On the surface, this shares a lot with “Daughter of the Emperor” - its a Villainess isekai, where the main character is reborn as an infant princess to a weirdo freak genocidal emperor who didn’t understand emotions or love or the value of human life and is DEFFO destined to be killed by that emperor when they hit 18 so they have to somehow teach them that love is good actually and not get murderkilled by dad. So yeah in broad strokes, these books are the same book heh - it’s closer in plot than most of these villainess stories tend to be.

That said, It’s a realllly pretty book with an enjoyable plot. The way our protagonist wriggles her way though this situation is interesting and neat even if it’s similar. Also dannnng this is a heavy dense book. There’s a lot to like, literally! I just love villainess stories so much 10/10

Witch Hat Atelier

I can see why people love this series- the main thing I couldn’t stop thinking about whilst raging out was how wonderful the idea of paring an ink based magic system with that art style is. Like, I think it’s rare for manga to have an art style that is almost part of the narrative theme, if that makes sense? The lavishly hyper detailed line work and the deeply inked hatched shading just work real well for a tale about ink magic. I just think that’s neat?

The Witches Marriage

Stupidly cute! One of my favourite things in manga is seeing capable strong smart women being reduced to incoherent blushing messes by cute girls. That’s all this manga is. Over and over. It rules.

Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion

kind of incredibly beautiful? It’s got such a cute sketchy feel to the characters, you can’t help but thing “dang they really did draw this huh”

Wolf Girl and Black Prince Vol. 1

Ughhh this is also farrr too straight. Seems like we’re doing the whole aloof kinda twisted awful guy to loving perfect boyfriend gap moe pipeline thing- and you know what it fucking sucks. Every character in this sucks and is just incredibly toxic. I had to put the book down SO many times as it was making me mad how toxic it was lol. Do straight girls really like this shit?!? Absolutely awful

Y

Yonezawa-san is Done Being Human

Mangamo

I was minding my own business on the tram this morning looking for a new manga to read, tapped into “Yonezawa-san is Done Being Human” without reading a synopsis - the dude is rolling around his apartment dressed up in a full fur suit and barking with in 4 pages. Absolutely wild stuff, I was not mentally prepared. Anyways I just read the first few chapters and it seems cute and funny. I mean, the guy works for a dog food company.

Yokohama Station SF

“Two hundred years ago, Yokohama station, which had been under constant construction, developed the ability to self-propagate.” Well that’s a weird premise! The station is alive(?) and slowly grows to cover all of Japan, apart from small “hollows” where it can’t get a foothold, maybe due to water or uneven terrain (the books say flat land was easier for the station to concrete over, but changes in elevation arnt impossible. the entirety of mount fuji in now covered in the stations escalators). People living inside the station need a ‘suika’ identity card or the automated turnstiles will eject them from the station, and people outside the station survive on garbage ejected from the station. This story follows a young man living in a small seaside village in a hollow who comes across a mysterious 5 day travel pass and is finally able to enter the station. BOOKS COOL AS HECK

Young Ladies Don’t Play Fighting Games

wow some real pretty ladies playing some fighting games right here. It’s an interesting twist on a classic catholic school style yuri set up, our main characters are both transfer students that are plopped into that rigid prim environment and handle fitting in differently - and contrasting the ultra refined young lady performances with the fighting game manic inner personas is just REAL GOOD. I love it in media when a woman gets to shout “FIGHT ME” with all her heart

Yubisaki Milk Tea

This series had a biiiiiig impact on me when I first read it back in 2006, was kinda wild to see such a brazen work about crossdressing and messed up gender feelings and relationships at the time. Re-reading it now in 2023, heck the relationships in this are REALLY messed up, and the book manages to capture specific feelings of despair and self disgust in a way that’s just kinda rare- it’s a good, messy work. Glad my copy is still safe and I can read it again after what… 17 years?

Yuri Espoir

There’s a characterisation reveal in the second chapter (well chapter 1 part 2- weird numbering) that’s just incredibly executed- the panel layout leading up to it is so good, there’s a tiny bit of foreshadowing in the first chapter but it’s just waaay more intense that you can guess, and then the book luxuriates in it for another 4 perfectly laid our pages. Worth reading just for that imo - an incredible bit of manga. Still blows my mind that Tokyopop somehow managed to survive into the 2020's and put out some actual great books. how did they manage that turn around?

Light Novel Index

86-Eighty-Six

The novels are every bit as interesting as the animated series. Compared to how gross The Saga of Tanya the Evil leaves you feeling, theres a lot of good here. I really like how these volumes contrast the neoliberal democratic paradises of The Federacy and the fascist Republic state we spent the first volume in... like, its the same place, with a lick of paint! Its the kind of book you can imagine a nerd defending for "not being political" despite being THE MOST POLITICAL thing. Neat stuff.

A

Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra: World Conquest starts with the Civilization of Ruin

I think out of all the light novel audiobook series im following (which, i think is literally all of them lol) this is BY FAR the worst. Its isekai where the protagonist gets reborn into the mechanics of his favorite 4X stratergy game, but in a generic fantasy world, and there seems to be other players reborn their with different game rule systems. Which is kind of interesting? But its just kinda not

Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/1198754-finished-it-real-go

C

Cross-Dressing Villainess Cecilia Sylvie

Vol. 1
”I love Villainess, i love Villainess who are smart enough to try and game the systems they are reborn into, and i love it when they are too dumb to realise everyone loves them and they are in zero danger of being executed.”

D

D-Genesis: Three Years after the Dungeons Appeared

This is just by far my favorite light novel series right, its so good. I wrote about how incredible the latest volume is here

The Dragon's Soulmate is a Mushroom Princess!

real silly shoujo romance - protag-chan is a common-born girl adopted into nobility, and goes through the whole engaged-to-a-royal-prince-but-dennounced-for-a-prettier-gir villainess style intro arc in the first chapter. pretty normal. The twist here is she has some kind of spirit defence magic that makes mushrooms sprout on any man who touches her - which is WEIRD. Luckily for her, a more handsomer and more royaler prince happens to find out post denunciation... HE HAPPENS TO BE A MASSIVE MUSHROOM PERVERT. Pretty cool premise. Theres some fun between chapter breaks where you get little factoids about different types of mushrooms that have featured in the previous chapter as well as uhhh, the mushroom's internal monologues and motivations? That rules.

E

Even Dogs go to Other Worlds: Life in Another World with my Beloved Hound

Cross Infinite World has this amazing ability to pick the most chill, low energy light novels for translation. Like, this is a 7 hour audiobook that essentially nothing happens in, and im 100% there for every second of it

Even if this Love Disappears Tonight

Audiobook

pretty good misery porn that pulls every trick possible to try and make you cry. Im real glad that Yen Press is just putting out so much stuff these days and not just like, anime bullshit (as much as i LOVE anime bullshit) - its just a well written tear jerking teen romance that will leave you having a nice little think about stuff at the end - and sometimes thats exactly what you want from an audiobook

Even if These Tears Disappear Tonight

Audiobook

This is a direct sequel to "Even if This Love Disappears Tonight" which is a book i thought "Theres NO way she can write a direct sequel to that its all tied up so well" TURNS OUT I WAS WRONG. This is a REAL good book digging into love and loss. I love it when media shows you the same scenes from multiple points of view, and this book REALLY is that, all the time. It takes a lot of the key scenes and themes from the first book and flips them around so you can see how they deeply affected Izumi's life. She's a good girl and deserves to heal. 10/10

The Evil Queen’s Beautiful Principles

Vol 1-2

So I listened to both volumes of this, and you know its pretty good junk food. Whats wild to me is the evil queen protagonist herself is SO GAY for her amnesiac childhood friend slash ladies maid. HER MAID IS ALSO SO GAY FOR HER. like, this book reads like a yuri. THEY LIVED TOGETHER IN A TOWER AND DID DIY TOGETHER. ITS JUST YURI... until the last 10 pages worth of content where its like "and she married the prince and lived happily ever after" ITS INSANE. YOU WROTE A FUCKING YURI. YOU CANT JUST TAG THAT ON AT THE END. THATS NOT HOW THIS WORKS

F

Full Metal Panic

woooooow this book is incredibly good. Ive always like the anime, but yeah the source novel is incredible. 1000% recommended. Real good production too

The Faraway Paladin

The Torch Port Ensemble

isekai bullshit, i remember the anime being kinda ehhh but the light novel is way more interesting, and does a better job of expressing the themes of moving forward and not stagnating - real young adult fantasy stuff you know, btu yeah its a much better piece of work i think. The audiobook is well produced and the narrator is pretty good - its not the worst way to spend an audible credit

H

Hell Mode

Vol. 1 (audiobook)
”ITS SO FRICKING STUPID. this is like popcorn for me, stupid dumbass isekai game system bullshit”

How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom

better than the anime. Also, i 100% thought this was "The Genius Prince's Guide To Raising a Nation Out of Debt" which is basically the same show. oops

I

I’d Rather Have a Cat than a Harem! Reincarnated into the World of an Otome Game as a Cat-Loving Villainess

Vol. 2
Just look at that title and tell me that its not the greatest thing you've ever laid eyes on? 11/10. recommended.

I'm in Love With the Villainess

Ishura

I didn't like it. Like, I found it INCREDIBLY tedious.. which is wild? i love this kind of light novel trash usually.. i just didn't get on with this one. Its trying to hard to be an epic fantasy I think, but its just kinda.. nothing? maybe it will get better.. its nearly 11 hours long. (hardly light I guess), these books rarely get longer than 6. Im a good 4 hours in, and i am liking it more as it goes on... but i still just flat out don't like it.. not sure im going to finish it tbh.

K

Konosuba: God's Blessing on this wonderful world!

Ive always found the show tedious whenever i try to watch it, which is weird because terrible isekai is my thing - this audiobook was way less annoying to me than the anime for some reason?

M

Min-Maxing My TRPG Build in Another World

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

[Vol. 2(https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/3432622-october-30th-novem)

UGHHHHH WHYYY do I like this stupid book so much Rudeus's internal monologue is so SLIMY and GROSS I hate him

My Daughter Left the Nest and Returned an S-Rank Adventurer

ehh fine? kinda the opposite to solo leveling, this is the most unoffensive light novel audiobook you could hope to listen to. If you wanna listen to 5 hours 11 mins of a daddys girl complaining about missing her dad and her dad being like "wow sure is lonely now im all alone better go pull weeds out my fields and do other old people things" then this is the book for you!

My Quiet Blacksmith Life in Another World

Its okay I guess. Ive read a million light novels like this, and ill read a million more GLADLY

Modern Villainess: It’s not easy building a corporate empire before the crash

Logical Witch - Siscon Idol

FINALLY! A isekai reincarnation light novel about the 2008 global recession! Turns out it’s not fun! It’s real dense and full of business bullshit… I should have guessed lol, it’s hard to root for the billionaire noble woman child… I can get there it just takes a lot. It’s just a slow hard book

R

Rascal Does Not Dream of …

Sister Home Alone

Gosh dang does this series have THE ABSOLUTE WORST naming conventions. I do like this series a lot though - Its like the Monogatari, except maybe a little more grounded

Reborn as a Space Mercenary: I Woke Up Piloting the Strongest Starship!

dang this series is so stupid, fun but stupid. Normally when I'm reading the light novel and reading the manga one version will end up being my favorite, but I'm not sure i can make that call for this book. Its just delicious low effort garbage, in the best way. delicious slop, if that's what your after any version is good.

Reborn to Master the Blade: From Hero-King to Extraordinary Squire

So, i saw the anime (which sucked) and was like... maybe the light novel is good? Its better... but its NOT good. Genre perverts only...

Reincarnated as the Last of my Kind

Somehow, this audio book is 6 hours long, and basically nothing happened... its about as 'light' as a light novel could ever get, and i gotta respect that

The Rising of the Shield Hero

The incel light novel is back baybeee~ and its still way better than it has any right to be heck dang it. Now that were 5 volumes in our narrator guy seems to be finally getting the hang of doing "girl" voices for character in a way that dosnt make you want to spontaneously vomit

S

The Saga of Tanya the Evil

More war (boring, boo) but waaaaay more importantly it felt like a solid 40% of the runtime was spent discussing coffee. Coffee as a wartime frontline luxury. Coffee a bribe. Coffee as a ritual. Coffee as an indicator of economic stability. The mechanics of smuggling coffee into a hegemonic empire via a neutral 3rd party country during wartime. Its all in here!

The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent

I watched the anime of this ages ago, and its quite funny how different the main character comes across (at least to my memory). in the anime shes very much a sweet lady, but in the book? wow the otome roots show though i guess and there SO much internal monologue about how all the dudes around her are SO hot and yeah - i just cant relate to that at all lady. Its VERY weird reading a book that like, so specifically lady-targeted harem het like this, as its SOOOO not meant for me.. the isekai shit though? ill eat that trash up SO bad

So I'm a Spider, So What?

Vol. 6
”STILL in love with this book, and i STILL think the audiobook having sections where the narrator is just reading off character sheet stats for like 10 mins is hilariously good.”

Solo Leveling

Vol. 7

I dont get the hype around this series. When Crunchyroll announced there was an anime adaption happening and they would be airing it, people went wild on that social media. Ive been listening to the audiobook version for a while and like.. i dont get it. ITS SO BORING!?!? Like, people seem to be hyped for the fights and stuff... but i SWARE there are like whole chapters that are just dryly discussing how portals to magical worlds full of terrifying monsters really depress the value of luxury housing markets IN A REAL BORING WAY. that kind of content should be right up my ally but dang solo leveling makes it dull.

Spice and Wolf

https://mangadex.org/title/87367eda-a69e-4079-9f4b-0d396dc645fe/kyou-eki-de-mita-kawaii-onna-no-ko

The audiobook version is real good, real recommended

Sword Art Online

Vol. 8

Vol. 10

I can never hate sword art. it sucks so much, but i sure do love this trash garbage. The audio books are really well produced, deffo recommended if you want some daft background listening.

V

VTuber Legend: How I Went Viral after Forgetting to Turn Off My Stream

Vol. 1
”Mostly read this because I saw rumours that it was getting an anime adaption. Its not very good, but i did read the heck out of it if that makes sense, and i will be buying and reading the rest, and enjoying every second of reading it whilst i think 'wow this sucks, its not very good!'”

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-09-22T01:40:29.880Z

Ive been going through all the manga reviews i posted here, and i think this might be the best one i ever wrote

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-09-21T12:57:37.311Z

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-08-22T14:00:48.561Z

this is me every Wednesday

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-08-22T21:09:14.477Z

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-09-21T12:57:37.311Z

Reading volume 7

I get how she feels tbh

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-09-21T12:51:20.681Z

Heck yes a new volume of Hunting in another world with my elf wife just got delivered, finally some good literature!

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-09-17T22:27:32.496Z

So, this one has a pretty weird main framing device but its still pretty funny and worth a read

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-09-02T12:28:27.490Z

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-08-05T11:24:48.349Z

Gender Manga Update Bot 🤖 @gendymangabot — [archived] 2024-08-05T08:00:11.672Z

Tonari wa Futsuu no Nijika (-chan) (Crossdressing)

https://mangadex.org/title/35bf0c4f-491b-4914-8342-5378e878a865

Chapter 2.5

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-08-05T11:24:48.349Z

Wtf this is so good Ribbon’s putting out some amazing stuff

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-07-24T20:09:31.871Z

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-07-24T15:42:31.394Z

NOOOO MAOMAO!!! YOU GOTTA PAY YOUR TAXES!

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-07-24T15:45:11.510Z

nekokurage

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/3760989-look-i-m-a-simple-g

Nick @kukkurovaca — [archived] 2024-07-24T16:01:23.298Z

lol you beat me to it

manga page, person speaking to other person who is looking out a window wistfully:
speaker 1: "Kusune-san...are you properly declaring the earnings from those doujinshi to the tax office?"
speaker 2: (gentle breeze blows a light curtain around her face) "Look. The blue sky....is very beautiful today."

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-07-24T16:24:43.540Z

this manga is forever lodged into a corner of my brain and it cant be shaken out

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-07-24T20:09:31.871Z

I JUST READ ANOTHER NEWS ARTICLE ABOUT THIS and aparently Nekokurage has since hired an accountant and ...

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-07-24T16:24:43.540Z

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-07-24T15:42:31.394Z

NOOOO MAOMAO!!! YOU GOTTA PAY YOUR TAXES!

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-07-24T15:45:11.510Z

nekokurage

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/3760989-look-i-m-a-simple-g

Nick @kukkurovaca — [archived] 2024-07-24T16:01:23.298Z

lol you beat me to it

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-07-24T16:24:43.540Z

this manga is forever lodged into a corner of my brain and it cant be shaken out

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-07-24T15:45:11.510Z

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-07-24T15:42:31.394Z

NOOOO MAOMAO!!! YOU GOTTA PAY YOUR TAXES!

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-07-24T15:45:11.510Z

nekokurage

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/3760989-look-i-m-a-simple-g

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-07-24T15:42:31.394Z

NOOOO MAOMAO!!! YOU GOTTA PAY YOUR TAXES!

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-06-17T12:56:42.117Z

The uhhh, ‘visual metaphor’ pages in “This is screwed up, but I was reincarnated as a girl in another world!” Continue to be incredible.

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-06-09T13:33:53.651Z

365 days to the wedding vol. 3 good

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-06-02T19:58:47.962Z

My Androgynous Boyfriend Vol. 4 good

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-05-24T14:00:42.835Z

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-05-24T12:16:28.522Z

A Sign of Affection Vol. 8 good

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-05-24T14:00:42.835Z

Also, Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You Vol. 1-2 good

probably the best new series published this year? deffo got a lotte recommendation. Clueless useless middle-aged salary man get relentlessly bullied by a young convenience store worker. its one of those nothing ever happens yet hella compelling kinda reads

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-05-12T12:37:04.092Z

You walk into a second hand book shop and see this. What do you do?

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2024-02-29T00:41:10.321Z

Feel like a lot of you nerds would like this manga.

Todays chapter was GOOD

https://mangadex.org/title/4a086028-7977-4da6-a4c2-b659a4de29c6/kasane-to-subaru

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-12-31T23:40:46.262Z

November 24th - December 31st

Stuff I read this uhh month(?)

Oshi no Ko Vol. 4

This volume catches back up to where the anime left off, and heck it was just as exciting in print - I LOVE ARIMA KANA!! MEMCHO IS SO GOOD! Ruby and Aqua were there too I guess!

Every time I finish a volume of this I’m really impressed how well designed it is? Like, this guy is deffo writing this story to be published in paperbacks, which feels kinda unique? Obviously - all manga published in serial magazines is, but this reads like its ALWAYS in mind Like, each arc is perfectly wrapped up in one volume and the next one set up and ready to roll, it’s just some super impressive craft. I've read so much stuff that's kind all over the place, this is so intentional with its chapter layout. Good stuff.

She Loves to cook, and she loves to eat Vol. 3

Ohhhhhh heeeeeeck what a perfect volume?!? It builds on the super strong base the first two volumes set up and just blew it up to a billion this time round. We got new characters added who feel natural and totally complement the main cast in interesting contrasting ways, as mirrors for their own internal dramas and then there’s moments where stuff happens that made me wanna shout with joy like oh heck this was a good volume I love this work so much

Daytime Shooting Star Vol. 1

Pretty cute shoujo manga that’s so far ticking off all the tropes

✅ countryside girl moving to her uncles place in Tokyo due to her parents work
✅ hot girl in her class acting all innocent but bullying her for being a bumpkin
✅ love triangle forming (including a guy who is irresponsibly too old)
✅ whole class going bowling

Like it’s got everything. I do like how no nonsense suzume, the main character is. She handles the bullying in a really great way. It’s by the numbers but well done - this is recommended for shoujo romance genre perverts for sure

Everyone's Getting Married, Vol. 7

Ahh the inevitable long distance bump in the relationship - it was cool how these two dealt with the impending split, everything felt real and true to these characters, and wow heck that was probably the worst proposal scene ever in a romance manga, 10/10 no notes

Everyone's Getting Married, Vol. 8 - 9 (Final)

These last two volumes that make up the final arc? I do not like them, I don’t like the whole “I love you so much let’s break up so you can concentrate on your work” thing, it’s STUPID, and VERY anti fun. I do not like the drama that spins out of it, I do not like how they reunite, i do NOT like the final marriage proposaL and make up AT ALL. that SUCKED and felt disrespectful towards the leading lady, and kinda a reflection of her agency. It’s a very frustrating end, especially as the first two volumes were so good. OH WELL.

The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 10

GOD MAOMAO IS SOO GOOD WTF SHE SO HOT IN THAT LAST PAGE TOO WOW
uhh yeah anyways this volume was super interesting, it tied together a bunch of threads that were left hanging from earlier in a new mystery that was really cool, introduced two new pieces of inner court infrastructure and WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON WITH THAT LAST CHAPTER why the heck did the emperor calling her out for special trials whats he plotting whats going ooooooooon

Perfect World Vol. 10 - 11

oh heck that was a heart wrenching set of volumes heck. I’m not someone who’s big on children or pregnancy stories but this totally nails what it’s sets out to do - it’s wild how effortlessly it pulls you into Tsugumi’s headspace. There were moments where the story is so expertly crafted you get hit by her exact feelings like a truck. It’s an incredible piece of work. In the authors pages at the back there’s talk about how one major aspect of the story wasn’t planned and came from the editor- and like dang that was 100% the right choice for these character and this story. It’s rare you get a glimpse of that side of the editor/mangaka dynamic- so that was cool to read about.

Perfect World Vol. 12 (Final)

The final volume does a nice job of tying up all the lose threads, but it’s real obvious it’s doing that. The drama is over. There’s no real plot arc or structure, there’s no stakes to anything- it’s just revisiting characters we have met along the way and giving them a chapter to wrap stuff up. It’s… fine? But not really a satisfying ending tbh. Good series whilst the drama lasted

Last Game Vol. 3

Not much to say, still incredibly good. Ive been reading a lot of shoujo recently, but this is just the best.

Crossplay love otaku x punk Vol. 6

still hilarious, got nothing more to say about this but its such a joy to read each new volume I love these idiot children

The NPCs in this Village Sim Game Must be Real Vol. 5

Yeahhh that’s the stuff- lots of cool storylines colliding in this one, but it’s at its best when stuff from the ‘virtual’ world bleeds over to the real world, like the pet otherworldly lizard and its weird ablility to always escape its tank. The plots developing in fun ways and all beginning to connect up full circle, like that weird coworker who DEFFO is playing a different yet connected chatGPT microtransactions game and all the weird stuff with baddies from protag-kun’s past. It’s all good stuff. This book for sure has some ideas.

Shino Can't Say Her Name

An incredibly gripping and intense depiction of a girl absolutely suffering though her early high school days due to MASSIVELY crushing social anxiety exacerbated by bullying and her stutter, and the ups and downs of her one friendship. It’s a gripping tale with some beautiful art, and Denpa’s English release looks incredible, and is printed on that really nice soft paper, beautiful book!

SPOILER TALK: Maybe I’m just WAY too lesbian pilled but dang, Shino is GAY how can this have any other reading other than SHES FUCKING GAY and she’s REPULSED that her GAY crush is hanging out with some doofus nastylad like EWW you can feel it the text is SO GAY so getting to that ending, like, I know there are ways for lesbian couple to get kids but the heteronormativity hit me like a fucking truck lol. Like it’s a cute ending but daaaaang don’t you realise you accidentally wrote a yuri here? Commit to the bit

stuff in the pile for next year

dannng that was a lot of books in one year.. almost hit 400. I think ill keep this up next year too.. HECK I actually completed a new years resolution basically? that's wild! (for those of you who are new, last year I decided to read a book a day to deal with my backlog as a new years resolution, that's why this post series exists... HECK) But yeah, I've got some new volumes to take, some Yuri, some villainess stuff, some isekai stuff - the BEST genres. But also, I've now got access to the 1000 odd books I managed to recue from my mums house recently - so maybe I'll start re-reading something old.... like GTO. Was GTO actually good? or was I an idiot teenager? maybe that would be a good thing to discover next year. THANKS FOR READING WITH ME

Books read this year: 391

Last week's post

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/3750469-november-6th-23rd

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-12-30T08:15:28.396Z

Me when I’m definitely not going to eat McDonald hash browns for the 3rd time this week

https://mangadex.org/title/3d287418-9bd7-4bf4-b71b-1c4512812a50/kanpeki-na-iinchou-chan-to-gouhou-gyaru-chan-no-manga

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-12-28T19:14:34.389Z

Ahhhhh! The full serialization has started!! This is going to be good!!

Gotta wonder where this is going to go, the old sns web version was SO SLOW with plot, I’m hyped.

https://mangadex.org/title/88949f72-43b8-48af-94a0-dc639e44be07/kaisha-to-shiseikatsu-on-to-off

Twitter version for reference

https://mangadex.org/title/0fa5d834-fdab-4ac4-b3c9-821f1580f991/company-and-private-life

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-12-26T11:29:35.145Z

It’s so refreshing to read a villainess story with an actual villainous villainess. She’s so hot I love her

https://mangadex.org/title/6df29d13-2dab-4ca6-a0b5-74070abf3e1d/the-one-within-the-villainess

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-12-18T04:34:01.441Z

Dave @sasuraiger — [archived] 2023-12-18T04:24:10.227Z

By the Furnace At Alice-san's House

https://mangadex.org/title/0df86784-961a-443c-9765-8b41702c6249/alice-san-chi-no-iroribata

Relaxed and cozy dinner comic about hanging out in a traditional Japanese home in the boonies with a traditional in-floor furnace. They make something nice on the furnace, the boy and the older girl feel a little bit awkward, repeat.

If ever an artist was in love with their subject, the artist is in love with this heroine. It bleeds from the panel.

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-12-18T04:34:01.441Z

I was reading this this morning too, it’s pretty cute

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-12-05T00:45:51.703Z

Look, I’m a simple girl. If I see a manga called “this girl is probably committing tax evasion” OBVIOUSLY I’m going to read it instantly. I mean come on what a perfect title - it’s that use of ‘probably’ that shifts it from a really good title into the realm of incredible. Probably committing tax evasion. Probably. Delicious.

Okay time to read it. EDIT: There’s some okay jokes in here

https://mangadex.org/title/18d481be-f310-4088-a9c1-de29e08990cd/this-girl-is-probably-committing-tax-evasion

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-12-04T01:06:42.150Z

November 6th - 23rd

Stuff I read this week

Assorted Entanglements Vol. 1 - 3

Super cute Yuri manga! I really like the structure, which is half an episodic continuous storyline, with kinda standalone pages that are disconnected from the main story but have some small (and usually very funny) slice-of-life thing - its just plain good and is a real inventive way of deepening the relationship between our two ‘leading’ ladies, it creates a great sense of time

I say ‘leading’ because after the first bunch of chapters (and specially from the second volume onwards) things really open up. This isnt a story about two gals, its an ensemble cast of multiple different couples whose lives all interact and cross over - they all face different issues that tend to be mirrored and reflected in different ways. Its cool how rich each relationship and set of characters end up feeling. This - is a good book

Yubisaki Milk Tea Vol. 1

This series had a biiiiiig impact on me when I first read it back in 2006, was kinda wild to see such a brazen work about crossdressing and messed up gender feelings and relationships at the time. Re-reading it now in 2023, heck the relationships in this are REALLY messed up, and the book manages to capture specific feelings of despair and self disgust in a way that’s just kinda rare- it’s a good, messy work. Glad my copy is still safe and I can read it again after what… 17 years?

365 Days to the Wedding Vol. 1

Ohhh yeah I picked this one up on a total whim, and HECK what an incredible book for fans of total idiots. I, Lotte May, world famous idiot, am a BIIIIG fan of idiots. ITS SO GOOD! We have the two biggest idiots, totally antisocial dweebs, incredible introverts working in the planning department of a travel agency - but disaster strikes our stupids hero’s company, they are going to open a new branch in Russia and someone from the Tokyo branch will be sent to set it up. Who knows how many years you might get stuck in Siberia! It’s cold there! There’s only one way for these two to protect their precious, single loner Tokyo lifestyles, and that’s pretending to get married. No big deal right? It can’t be that hard to fool your coworkers, it’s not like they are going to make a big deal of it… right? Right? Ahhh.

In/spector Vol. 2 - 3

This volume is mostly about setting up the first real yokai mystery for our duo to solve and introducing and explaining Kuro’s inhuman yokai powers… and thats cool, but dang by FAR the best part is just how much of a little gremlin Kotoko is. DANG shes such a little bitch I LOVE HER

Citrus+ Vol. 3

It’s nice to see Mei open up even more, and was fun to see some of the supporting characters have their own chapters. I’m still not really sure what Citrus+ is about yet, if anything. The original Citrus was deffo about something right? Yuzu and Mei, against all odds coming together and all that… + dosnt really seem to have any larger structure - which is fine! It’s nice to see these characters exist it a world, but also a bit weird you know?

My Stepmother & stepsisters Aren’t Wicked Vol. 2

Still got exactly one joke, over and over. STLL REALLY GOOD. Just space reading volumes out a bit more than I did so it didn’t get old fast.

My Dress-Up Darling Vol. 10

Marin lending Wakana a porn game hoodie because “that’s the only male clothing she has” is a really good bit. 10/10

Hi, I’m a witch and My Crush Wants Me to Make a Love Potion Vol. 3

I still think the mechanics around how magic system works in this are real cool and interesting- it comes up again in the plot in this volume. The idea that magic itself is a preposterous lie, so witches can’t ever tell lies in exchange for gaining the greater lie that is magic itself is REAL good, and using that as a basis for romantic tensions is really fun. It’s just such a well executed idea and story.

Hunting in another World with my Elf Wife Vol. 4

It’s all unfolding exactly as you’d expect plot-wise, no surprises or anything - but it well drawn and ‘fun’ in that genre pervert kinda way.

Pulse vol. 5

HOLY FUCKING SHIT THAT DIRECTOR LADY MAKES ME SO MAD WTF YOU CANT DO THAT YOU CANT JUST GO AND ENTER A LIVE OPERATING THEATRE LIKE THAT WTF SHE IS THE WORST VILLAIN EVER

This is screwed up but I was reincarnated as a girl in another World Vol. 9

It’s kinda interesting how much Ren’s circumstances changes from volume to volume - it dosnt really feel like there’s a plan here, if there was she would have stayed with the hot girls from a few volumes ago. This new/old friend group feels like it could be permanent, but knowing this book within two volumes they will all be long gone. But yeah, I like it a lot but dang it’s so made up as it goes along! Needs a little more direction

A sign of affection Vol. 7

Ughhhh it’s so goooooood. Itsumi IS going to be the worlds biggest wife guy by the end of this - Oushi’s rejected man pain is also really well drawn (and he fucking deserves it lol what a wet blanket of a guy). Mostly I’m just so glad to see Yuki happy she’s so precious I love her

The dark history of the reincarnated villainess Vol. 8

Things are diverting more and more from Konoha’s original dark histories, and her relationships with her characters, especially sol, predictably he’s now completed his 180 and is devoted to her - wonder how long till she fully realises it!

If my favourite pop idol made out to the Budokan I would die Vol. 4

I know I’ve said this before but the way Marina’s internal monologue mirrors that of the fans for other idols is just SO GOOD. - every time she has a lil mental breakdown over how cute she thinks her one true fan eripiyo is I could just DIE it’s so good

Fun fact: the back matter in the book claims the first printing of the English edition was in December 2023 - it’s a time traveller (editing note: i read this back in November)

I may Be a Guild Receptionist but I’ll Solo Any Boss to Clock Out on Time Vol. 1

Fairly typical story in the non-isekai “receptionist at the adventurer guild is secretly super powerful actually” fantasy subgenre. It’s competent? Like, we’re not winning any awards here for anything but I enjoyed my stay. I liked the conceit that she didn’t want anyone to know she’s severely a strong adventurer because receptionists aren't allowed side jobs and she doesn't want to lose the cushy government paycheck. It’s simple but works well. You can turn your brain off for this one

Bonus: Audiobooks

Reincarnated As the Last of My Kind Vol 5

Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest Vol. 1

My Quiet Blacksmith Life in Another World Vol 3

Min-Maxing My TRPG Build in Another World Vol. 2

I'm in Love With the Villainess Vol. 1

Reborn as a Space Mercenary Vol. 4

I Listened to a LOOT of audiobooks whilst packing and moving - And they are all pretty good tbh, i enjoyed my stay. Its neat that Reincarnated as the last of my kind is starting to wrap up, and the audiobook of In Love With The Villainess was SUPER good, would for sure recommend that. The rest are trashy but like, with a heart - and you already know if your going to like em based 100% on the titles come on.

stuff in the pile for next week

So yeah.. these were posted REAL late, and then I then went on to NOT read anything between November 24th and December 1st, cos I was so dang busy with moving.. which was SAD and heck I missed it! BUT I already hit that 365 book goal, so I guess that means I completed my 'read one manga book a day' new years resolution. I've never actually followed though with one of them ever before, so that's neat!

Books read this year: 377

Last week's post

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/3432622-october-30th-novem

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-11-07T01:14:58.597Z

October 30th - November 5th

Stuff I read this week

Cheerful Amnesia Vol. 1

Top scientists have toiled away for YEARS doing complex lab experiments and they finally did it, the built the ultimate idiot yuri girl. The world’s biggest idiot. She’s so stupid. She is perfect. She has zero thoughts (apart from GIRLFRIEND HOT). I love her.

Anyways, what’s Cheerful Amnesia about? Well our perfect idiot yuri girl wakes up in hospital… with amnesia.. oh no! She can’t remember the last 3 years of her life! But there’s a hot lady in her room?!? Who says she’s her girlfriend?!! “WOW” she thinks to herself - “go past me I picked up a hottie”
And it just gets stupider from there. 10/10

My Stepmother & Stepsisters Aren’t Wicked Vol. 1

You can probably guess what this is like based on the title, but this is the story of a young girl who is the illegitimate child of a noble family moving in with her stepmother and stepsisters after her mother dies. Each chapter is a set-up for some stereotypical ’evil’ stepfamily plot beat, which totally gets inverted in a cute funny way. These step-ladies LOVE their newest family member.

It’s funny how even though you know that the book is going to subvert the genre trope it’s building up to- it STILL somehow still manages to surprise me exactly how, and every dang time I’ll be chuckling like a fool. 10/10 recommended, a great light little read

Everyone’s getting married Vol. 5 - 6

[Notes based on some Line messages I set to @Nex3 whilst reading volume 6 in a cafe]

So it’s a Romance manga published by Shojo Beat, which are normally pretty by the numbers, about a regular office lady who’s dating a celebrity, which is a pretty by the numbers subgenre. Despite having ZERO interest in celebrity culture in real life ohhh heck do I LOVE this genre, cos you always have to have that dynamic where they have to keep the relationship hidden, which is fun right?

Anyways, the main character lady’s brother just found out who she’s dating- and normally in this kinda thing there’s a lot of stupid bullshit like “wow you’re dating them?!? They are famous!” That kinda stuff. In this her brother flat out doesn't recognise the guy or give a single shit - which is an INCREDIBLE twist

The boyfriend is a news presenter. Her brother just does not watch the news. That’s genre innovation right there. I was really impressed lol

I love shit which sticks to genre tropes and all, but this stupid book just keeps inverting expectations over and over and over - with one simple trick! The two characters just talk to each other! Like, A lot? So whenever a genre thing is about to happen - which pretty much always in romance manga things is some kind of miscommunication drama right? Drama happens because they don’t have full information- in this they get to the cusp of that… and then it dosnt happen cos they like, have a nice little chat.

So for this situation to like… her brother just dosnt recognise news broadcasters because who cares about broadcast communications is very funny to me.

Captain Corinth: The galactic navy officer becomes an adventure Vol. 3 - 4

“I’m commandeering this planet” is a stupid line and I’m 100% here for it. Heck yeah!

Hunting in Another World with My Elf Wife Vol. 2 - 3

The cliffhanger from volume 1 was resolved in a nice yet boring way, after that, it was fun to see all the isekai bullshit play out. Big fan of having a hot elf wife tbh.

As with volume 1, the best bits are the extra omake pages at the back, which follow the adventures (?) of the goddess who does that isekai summoning. In these volumes, we learn that she was going to go back to the realm of the gods but instead got hooked on American beer and now lives in Arizona and works at a hunting goods store. It’s very good stuff she should get her own spin off manga.

Perfect World Vol. 9

Well, the climatic event we all knew was going to happen finally happened- they got married. That ended up getting resolved really quickly as well, compared to all the drama that’s happened so far. There are still three volumes left in the series so it will be interesting to see how their relationship develops from here

In/Spectre Vol. 1

Just as interesting as the anime, I like the whole setup between these two, and it was a good cliffhanger spot to end volume one with Kotoko and Saki just meeting up. I wanna buy way more of this t-t

Bonus: Audiobooks

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Vol. 2

UGHHHHH WHYYY do I like this stupid book so much Rudeus's internal monologue is so SLIMY and GROSS I hate him.

stuff in the pile for next week

heck knows... i have to pack all my books up to get ready for the move hecccccck

Books read this year: 359

Last week's post

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/3347146-october-23-29

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-10-30T01:49:03.156Z

October 23 - 29

Stuff I read this week

Hunting in Another World With My Elf Wife Vol. 1

Pretty fun isekai about a dude going hunting with his wife, who is a hot and also an elf. A hot elf wife, if you will. 10/10 good for genre perverts.

My favourite part is actually the little omake at the end, which is a fun little chapter with the goddess that isekai's our protag-kun - and shes just doing research in Tokyo on how to pick a good ‘hero’ to summon. Lady just reads a hell of a lot of isekai light novels and bases her whole summoning ruleset based off that. 10/10

ISEKAI DEATH REPORT: mauled to death by a brown bear whilst hunting

Monthly in the Garden with My Landlord, Vol. 1

A great new entry in the “yuri but with a landlord” AND the “yuri but with an idol” subgenres (also the “yuri but one of the girls works in the manga business because if your writing what you know, and all you know is kiss girl/write manga, your gunna get yuri mangaka yuri manga” genre. I do like that genre a lot) - and YES all landlords are bastards does NOT include this girl. She’s way too pure and stupid to actually be a landlord. Shes more like an adorable pet. At its core it’s a pleasant slow life, slow relationship building kinda thing... yeah these two girls are thrust together and have great chemistry but like, they take their time. It’s sweet

Captain Corinth: The Galactic Navy Officer Becomes an Adventurer Vol. 1 - 2

This is a pretty neat concept- it’s a fantasy isekai by way of science fiction. The titular Captain Corinth gets stranded in a fantasy world after his spaceship is mysteriously ambushed in hyperspace and crash lands on a nearby uncharted planet. All the usual isekai tropes are justified though advanced technology - all your cheat skills are nanotechnology and AI - stuff like that. it’s just a neat implementation of all that junk isekai genre perverts adore, 10/10

The Villainess Who Has Been KILLED 108 Times -She Remembers Everything!- Vol. 1

Heck! What an incredible book! What an incredible start to a story that feels MASSIVE! There’s a lot going on here, it’s drawing on a lot of the best reincarnation and villainess tropes and like turning them up to 11. It opens up with a real economical villainess backstory, setting up who the ‘heroes’ that killed our vileness are and then confidently starts playing with our expectations. I mean… that’s kinda what every villainess story does but this one just does it SO dang well, and then even in volume 1 its pulling all these little threads together SO well. I am real impressed and ~~cannot~~ wait for more. I wrote a little about it here if you wanna see a lil more.

Everyone’s Getting Married Vol. 3 - 4

Dang, there’s some really messed up side relationships here. The actress lady who is protagonist-news-anchor-kun’s old flame is SUPER messed up - like a full on disaster lady. She needs to move the heck on, otherwise, later volumes are going to be an absolute blood bath for her.

Anyways, I am enjoying this a lot, it’s really nice how much trust these two lead characters have in each other. The whole story is about how they have a major difference in opinion about marriage, and they are so open and honest about that, that for everything else there’s a big base of trust - the book keeps presenting situations where you think oh no, here comes a classic romance manga misunderstanding driven fight and then it just doesn't happen, cos they have a chat about stuff instead? IT RULES and just read really well and I’m having a good time - even if it’s straight.

Bonus: Audiobooks

My Daughter Left the Nest and Returned an S-Rank Adventurer Vol. 6

Real nice volume, its all set in Turnera this time, so no big city stuff - just all quiet small country village life - its all really setting up reasons for Bel to go on his big journey to find old friends, and it does that in a real satisfying way. I like this stupid book a lot.

stuff in the pile for next week

Some of the new stuff I started recently I'm super enjoying, so I'm hoping to find a few more volumes of that stuff....

Books read this year: 349

Last week's post

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/3320018-october-16th-22nd

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-10-27T14:58:36.270Z

October 16th - 22nd

Stuff I read this week

Bocchi the Rock! Vol. 1

You know, for a 4-koma style manga it’s real good? I’m not the biggest fan of that style of manga usually but you know, Bocchi is great. Is it as good as the anime? No. Categorically no. One million percently no. But there’s a cool spark here- it’s kinda amazing to see the source panels that sparked some of the standout moments of animation in the show… actually it’s kinda like reading an early storyboard that’s a few drafts off what ends up in the show? Which normally source manga doesn't feel like that? But yeah, it’s good, it’s interesting but wow that anime is incredible - it really elevates whats on the page, but you can still totally get how this inspired the animation team to go wild.

Alpi the Soul Sender Vol.1

Very beautiful book, an interesting and quiet story about the death of local gods. I really think this one is worth a read.

It’s published by Titan Comic’s ‘Titan Manga’ brand, which I guess is new? It’s the only book I have by them at least, and I’ve got thousands of these things! Anyways their copy is weird, right on the inside cover it says “PERFECT FOR FANS OF MAGICAL GIRLS” which is of course, a weird way to advertise a book, especially one like this! Maybe for madoka fans, people that want to read a slow meditation on the death of gods… this ain’t for precure fans, you know. It’s just strange.

Failed Princess Vol. 6.5 (Ebook Exclusive, post final volume extras)

It’s okay I guess. The new in-between .5 chapters are whatever- cute I guess, but don't add too much. The two after-story chapters are really cute though and some much-needed closure on the story - I do really wish there was more of the college-age stuff, give me a Failed Princesses +

Love’s in sight! Vol 3

Some really cute storylines in this volume, it’s surprising just how deep the little character arcs can get with how silly the rest of the stuff in this book can be, but it’s always careful to tie everything together and have everyone realise there’s something about their different experiences that connects them, it’s just real cute like that. Some really good idiots here

The Princess of Convenient Plot Devices, Vol. 3

Wow, this one’s all world-building and plot philosophy - it’s kinda cool? We learn why our favourite fujoshi is stuck in this world and how that's affected her mentally, it’s actually kinda neat? I actually didn’t expect this story to get this stuck in the weeds, it’s super cool!

Housekeeping Mage from Another World: Making Your Adventures Feel Like Home! Vol 5 (Ebook Exclusive)

Another thing I read this week which is an ebook exclusive (darn it I want it paperback!)

Well, this one’s the xenophobia arc I guess, it was pretty okay I guess. Cool that our protag-chan is so nice to be around she can smile and solve racism forever- wild times to be alive in another world. (This book is dumb and stupid and I love it PLEASE put it out in print THANK YOU)

Everyone’s Getting Married Vol. 2

Stupid idiot grown as adults Date kinda poorly, but things seem to be picking up at the end.. (unless…). It’s so painfully straight, but kinda fun to read

Bonus: Audiobooks

How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom: Volume 5

I had a good time, but I cant remember any real details about it now lol. perfect background book.

stuff in the pile for next week

I wanna read YURI. I wanna read ISEKAI. I shall see whats in the pile maybe

Books read this year: 342

Last week's post

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/3206740-october-9th-15th

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-10-17T14:02:12.212Z

October 9th - 15th

Stuff I read this week

The knight captain is new Princess-to-be Vol. 1

It’s fine guess? Maybe? idk? Actually, it kinda sucks? but in an 'its fine I guess' kinda way?? Yet another royalty/noble romance story (for someone who’s staunchly anti-monarchy I sure do buy and read a lot of this trash huh). The twist here, if you can call it that is that the noble lady/princess is the prince's knight captain of the guard, and she’s been training to be a knight since a young age so she doesnt know how to noble lady. She keeps saying she’s “trying to be the best man she can be” and when she first has to wear a ball gown she’s like “I couldn’t possibly wear drag” - it could be funny in a story that wasn’t so deplorably straight…

In this book it just doesn't work. They don’t fully commit to her not knowing how to be ladylike - it’s just shallow and not executed at all well. It’s super disappointing actually! Worst of all, there’s only 3 relatively short chapters in this book! A full 50% of the page count is unrelated one-shots by the same mangaka… which are fine? But daaaaang usually when they do filler one shots it’s like… one of them. Not 3 of them taking up half the dang volume!

Not recommended, not even for genre perverts.

Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Vol. 1 - 2

Incredible book 100/10. I’m a big fan of the anime, it’s stupid isekai bullshit, but it’s just so lighthearted in a pitch-perfect beautiful bright silly kinda way- yuna, the protagonist is incredible I love her, I love that she’s forced to wear that dang stupid bear Kigurumi which is stupid overpowered and cute and I love that people keep petting her in the manga version it’s so good. I love her two bear summons. I love her stupid bear house. I love that all her magic spells are bear-themed. This is a book that knows how to commit to a bit. Recommend (for genre perverts? But like, “cute girls doing cute things” genre fans too, not just isekai perverts)

My Happy Marriage Vol. 4

Ohhhhh my gosh Hazuki had a son !?? And she was forcibly separated from her child when she was divorced!?! Did they include that in the anime? Did I miss it somehow?!? Fuuuuuuck that’s messed up. Okay, maybe the manga does handle some aspects of the actual storytelling better than the anime, but the anime for sure handles other aspects better, like just selling you on this world being a real actual breathing place.

If my favourite pop idol made it to the Budokan I would die Vol. 3

Goooooood the idol industry sucks ass- but I do love this book what the hell.

There’s a bit with Eripiyo is squeeing over how cute her oshi Maina is, and at the same time Maina(her oshi) is cringing with second-hand embarrassment over how bad Eripiyo’s tshirt is and thinking “ughh it’s so embarrassing… I LOVE HER!”

This book is just full of moments like that

Absolute Duo Vol. 1

Absolute garbage 6/10 enjoyed it.

So what’s wrong with getting reborn as a goblin? Vol. 3

Absolute garbage 6/10 enjoyed it.

Bonus: Audiobooks

Ishura Vol.1

I didn't like it. Like, I found it INCREDIBLY tedious.. which is wild? i love this kind of light novel trash usually.. i just didn't get on with this one. Its trying to hard to be an epic fantasy I think, but its just kinda.. nothing? maybe it will get better.. its nearly 11 hours long. (hardly light I guess), these books really get longer than 6. Im a good 4 hours in, and i am liking it more as it goes on... but i still just flat out don't like it.. not sure im going to finish it tbh.

stuff in the pile for next week

I wanna read YURI. I wanna read ISEKAI. I shall see whats in the pile maybe

Books read this year: 335

Last week's post

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/3165117-october-2nd-8th

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-10-13T16:30:55.623Z

October 2nd - 8th

Stuff I read this week

The Moon on a Rainy Night Vol. 1

Incredible book, delicious school yuri, and yet another entry in the fast-growing ‘romance drama but with disabilities’ genre… it ticks a looooooooooot of good book genre boxes right there!

If you like a good yuri story with a character struggling with obvious yet currently unaddressed queer feelings, this has you covered. I read scans a while back and I think this translation is really good in this print version - It’s a story that’s real good at hooking you in to its world. I wish more volumes were out NOW. I WANNA READ MORE

Print-wise, it’s beautiful. it’s published by Kodansha, so it’s one of thoes larger form factor manga prints - which works real well as the manga has a really detailed artstyle - were talking lots of linework, so the larger size just makes everything resolve really well. Anyways, good book.

An Incurable Case of Love Vol. 1

A pretty good hospital-based romance story forming here - obviously not as good as Pulse (which is a yuri and therefore infinitely better), but still pretty dang good!

The characters are pretty interesting, even the asshole male romantic lead. Protag-chan herself is particularly good, she’s a newbie nurse straight of of university and the depictions of her struggling to learn how to do the job for real are pretty dang good - it’s the kind of work that feels like there must have been a bunch of research interviews done before the storyboard were drawn you know? Will deffo pick up more sometime

The Do-Over Damsel Conquers the Dragon Emperor Vol. 1

Some weeeeeeeird stuff going on here. It’s an okay book, but hmmm. Like, why do you require your fiance to be under 14 my dude? This time slip story has a cannon, evil pedo incestuous prince on the other side of this conflict, they need to stop beating around the bush on this point and make it clear that this is NOT weird VERY quickly in the next volume, like heeeeeeck

I’ll Never Be Your Crown Princess! Vol. 1

Weird, lots of fucking about and finding out

Citrus + Vol. 2

Citrus+ is just way better (so far) than Citrus. Maybe it’s because the characters are already deep and fully formed or whatever, maybe the previous 10 volumes have just set up the world so well that stories can play out better now- or maybe it’s BECAUSE THERES SO MUCH MORE INTERESTING STUFF YOU CAN DO AFTER TWO DANG CHARACTERS START TO DATE DANG IT.

Perfect World Vol. 8

Finally, they did the thing! It’s incredibly good to see such a messy adult relationship unfold over SO many volumes, and for it to actually be good and real? And for all that to be true and for these two nerds to STILL put work over being together in any meaningful capacity is SO in character, I love it. The writing is so spot-on

The Holy Grail of Eris Vol. 5

This dang murder mystery keeps getting more and more complicated as the volumes go on- now we somehow have an empire-spanning royal succession war factoring into Scarlett’s death… somehow. It’s great stuff tbh!

One of the best things about this book is that heck, the author KNOWS it’s complicated. Throughout the book before new chapters, there’s always a “story so far” page just to fill you in on the recent plot threads - it really helps jog your memory. With the amount of time between volumes coming out it would be completely impenetrable without that, I wish more books did that as a rule

Bonus: Audiobooks

Full Metal Panic! Vol. 1

woooooow this book is incredibly good. Ive always like the anime, but yeah the source novel is incredible. 1000% recommended. Real good production too

The Sait's Magic Power is Omnipotent Vol. 3

pretty okay - the story going in interesting directions. Less "wow he's so hot" internal monologues this time around, but its still way to straight.

stuff in the pile for next week

I wanna read YURI. I wanna read ISEKAI. I shall see whats in the pile maybe

Books read this year: 328

Last week's post

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/3099546-september-25th-oct

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-10-07T17:31:53.381Z

September 25th - October 1st

Stuff I read this week (posting way late again oops)

This Is Screwed up, but I Was Reincarnated As a Girl in Another World! Vol. 8

Its still good! We’re entering the blacksmithing arc here and it’s still as stupid and joyful as ever. I am REAL SAD that Ren’s two admirers from the starter town have gone back home and left her to her own devices. INCREDIBLY SAD - it was REALLY nice seeing her open up to those girls and heck I want my yuri content, but I guess it might never happen here - also doing the reverse isekai thing where you take fantasy world people and show them modern Japan is always my FAVOURITE isekai sub flavour, and REN’s pocket dimension house is essentially that - just without the actual dimension hopping... OH WELL, I just hope they will be back someday soon otherwise rip me I guess!

A Reincarnated Witch Spells Doom Vol. 2

This is a simple tale of shoujo-manga style pretty boys squabbling over a girl, except one of them is an actual dragon and also it’s an isekai. You know. Normal stuff. I don’t think this was as fun as the first volume, mostly because of all that straight energy going about, but heck! The next volume seems like it’s going to be all politics - so that’s fun! Our titular doom-witch seems to have the magic power to control dragons, sooooo the local king/queen combo (who seem kinda maybe just might be massive jerks) wanna abuse that power for world domination? So maybe we will get a little bit of skulduggery? Got my hopes up a little!

Crossplay Love: Otaku x Punk Vol 5

Ahh, my idiot children are at it again. Not a single brain cell shared between them. It’s wild that neither of these two boys have figured it out yet

Magic Artisan Dahlia Wilts No More Vol. 4

Still great I can’t get enough of all this - the magical R&D, business planning a stupidly slow relationship building- it’s all just executed so well

Magic Artisan Dahlia Wilts No More Vol. 5

THIS IS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT!!
Keep these two dweebs as friends for as long as possible- 4 whole volumes with zero romantic overtones and then the last few chapters of volume 5? Just the lightest sprinkles. Just drifting closer together ever so slightly. THATS THE GOOD SHIT. Who cares if its straight if its handled THIS well.

Perfect World Vol. 7

The earthquake arc - wow heck what an emotional rollercoaster- and what a cliffhanger ending, with Tsugumi visiting Itsuki in Tokyo and telling him she has regrets with how things ended… it’s going to be messy next volume! This is also a case of WHO CARES if its straight this drama OWNS.

My Dear, Curse-Casting Vampiress, Vol. 2

Absolute GARBAGE. 7/10 fun read (garbage) for genre perverts only (the genre in question is GARBAGE)

The Eminence in Shadow Vol. 6 - 7

Dang every time I pick up a volume this thing just gets better and better. Cid’s Yandere sister is exceptionally unhinged in this volume, she’s deffo better in the manga version vs the anime.

Apart from that, it’s just so full of good moments and good bits- can’t wait for the second anime season to start streaming (so soon! (EDIT: Since writing the new season has started airing and it is VERY good))

Bonus: Audiobooks

Konosuba: Gods Blessing on this Wonderful World! Vol. 2

Still somehow okay? some pretty good bits in here too. Its wild how I find the anime WAY TO TEDIOUS to watch when I'm a massive genre pervert, but the audiobook is palatable. WEIRD.

My Quiet Blacksmith Life in Another World Vol. 2

Genre perverts only. Theres just kinda nothing to it. I do quite like some of these slow life genre stories, and obviously, I like isekai stories, so that's like two of my strike zone genres. IDK I like it a lot and I also do not recommend it?

stuff in the pile for next week

I wanna sift through my pile to find a good yuri. I wanna see girls HUG still.

Books read this year: 321

Last week's post

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/2953616-september-18th-24t

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-10-03T00:42:30.858Z

A Scummy Gap Student With a Hard Life Calls Upon a Lady of the Night ch59 Good?

VERY GOOD ACTUALLY - that woman SO needed to get punched in the face actually! And then this happens?!? Fantastic outcome! Good things come to those who study!

source

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-09-24T20:32:17.382Z

September 18th - 24th

Stuff I read this week

Maiden of the Needle Vol. 1

“This is National-Treasure level sewing! I haven’t seen anything like it in ages” - this is a direct quote from the text, if the concept of national treasure level sewing doesn't immediately sell you on this, you are not a genre pervert and why are you even reading this post? 9/10 good book.
Apart from that, we have a lot of generic bullied young Nobel lady who has amazing powers but not being given the opportunity to shine until she’s rescued by a hot guy energy- which you know- is whatever these days. There’s a billion books like that, but this one does it very well and has some good ideas. Not to get all problematic-age-gap discoursey or anything but where the book ends up is a bit weird - this kids 15 she should not be getting forced into marriages with the (ex?) king - but you know, books pretty good regardless. Enjoyed my stay

Not-sew-wicked stepmom Vol. 1

The second sewing-themed book this week- ehehe see what I did there? I saw two series were due for release very close to each other with needle-based puns in the name, and decided to do both! Back to back! As a bit! But I have been played as a fool! This one has NO SEWING RELATED CONTENT! There is one case of what can charitably be described as ‘clothing adjacent drama’ but to be honest, I don’t think that counts. Incredibly disappointing. 10/10 books good
Both of these stories were actually just real good though and I fricking inhaled them. You know, sometimes a books okay but it’s just hard to read so you keep at it bit by bit over the whole day? Not these two. I ate em both so fast! You’ll have a good time with either

The NPCs in this Village Sim Game Must be Real! Vol. 3 - 4

The bit where Chat GPT suddenly temporarily gained the ability to act like an NSA spy satellite and show protag-kun LIVE VIDEO FEED of his sister SHOWERING and his parents having a PRIVATE CONVERSATION ABOUT HIM was uhhh, kinda weird. And then we just move on, like that never happened? Weeeeeeird. Thats said.... I do need to rush out and locate volume 5 now. I need to know what’s in the egg. (yeah theres an egg.. there's something in it)

Magic Artisan Dahlia Wilts No More Vol. 3

I really like how we spent 30 whole pages building an intricate prototype magical sword, only for it to be a complete failure and they are like “well back to the drawing board”.

Really captures the whole spirit of R&D. Anyways, its still focuses on friendship which is nice - the longer they keep off the romance from starting the better this book series is going to be

Everyone’s Getting Married Vol. 1

Pretty cute josei manga, bout a lady that like REALLLLY wants to do the whole marriage thing and a guy that very much does NOT want to do the whole marriage thing. They get rubbed against each other and drama happens. It’s INCREDIBLY straight, eyes have been rolled, but you know, I enjoyed my stay. I’ll probs pick up more volumes and watch this dude inevitability become a wife guy.

Wifeguyification if you will

(EDIT: since writing this is did indeed pick up volumes 3, 5 AND 6 from a local bookshop... volumes 2 and 4 are currently missing in action. BUT I WILL FIND THEM AND I WILL KILL THEM (read: purchase them and put them on a shelf))

I Want to be a Receptionist in This Magical World Vol. 2

So last volume left off with our girl getting her job at the mages' guild as a receptionist - like we love that for you girl. BUT. Only like half the chapters in this volume are about said job. Most of it seems to be about sneaking into a noble's party and like, doing all that generic common-girl-dragged-into-ladies-society kinda thing. Kinda disappointing - yet at the same time kinda comfort food.

Reborn as a Space Mercenary Vol. 4

I AM NOT ACTUALLY SURE WHEN I READ THIS ONE. Sometime in the last 3 weeks? I just never made a note of it - just finished it and was like “huh thats over i guess” and shoved it into the “read” pile, awaiting later filing away onto a shelf. Found it today as i was putting stuff away, and noticed there was no notes in notion about it. OOPS. Make of that what you will, again, for weird genre perverts only. 7/10

Anyways, I HAVE NEVER READ THE NEXT STORY ARC BEFORE. Not in audiobooks, light novels OR manga. so like, dang I am looking forward to some new material in this stupid universe. Need to get the next volume asap.

Bonus: Audiobooks

The Faraway Paladin: The Torch Port Ensemble

Pretty good you know, theres no epic story arc going on this time - just some disconnected, more grounded character pieces around town. Its a lot better for it.

stuff in the pile for next week

I wanna sift though my pile to find a good yuri. I wanna see girls HUG.

Books read this year: 312

Last week's post

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/2944686-september-11th-17t

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-09-24T06:02:50.752Z

Gender Manga Update Bot 🤖 @gendymangabot — [archived] 2023-09-24T02:30:46.142Z

Ore ga Watashi ni Naru made (Genderswap)

https://mangadex.org/title/a781de8e-0935-45bd-bc33-cbc76ea8c6f9

Volume 4 Chapter 40

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-09-24T06:02:50.752Z

Can’t sleep won’t sleep

So I’ve just been reading though this, just absolutely mainlining it- put that shit right into my bloodstream. Lemme tell you, reading this page some 40 of chapters in, low on sleep, low on energy, low on mental defence, I cried like a baby. 11/10 this, is an incredibly good book. One one please pick it up for English localisation. Wtf.

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-09-23T22:08:10.014Z

September 11th - 17th (once again, late in posting)

Stuff I read this week

Citrus + Vol. 1

It’s back!!!!! You know that massive feeling of disappointment when you get to the end of a yuri series and all the angst is over and it’s just like… ending where the relationship starts? IT SUCKS! Well for Citrus, Saburouta sensei decided to fix that with a sequel series. I HOPE IT IS GOOD!

There’s a panel early on when Yuzu’s mum is looking at Mei blush about the idea of going on a date with Yuzu and like, smiling warmly at the whole situation. That panel is great. Only someone with a truly, incredibly, amazingly massive brain could have drawn that.

I Don't Know How to Give Birth!

This is an incredibly heartwarming autobiographical manga essay by Kazama Ayami about (obviosuly) her trying, failing and then finally succeding in having a kid. This book is full of warmth, the art is really pretty, and this lady portrays herself as a massive idiot and OHHH GOSH i do love me a good idiot. You really can't help but adore this lady as she works her way through pregnancy.

At the end of each chapter there’s a one-panel comic and write-up by her husband (who is a ero mangaka) and daaaang that dude is the world's biggest supporter of women and a massive wife guy it’s very funny.

[Oshi no ko] Vol. 3

This volume is the reality tv show arc. It’s really good! But wow I do this this arc was way better in the anime? They did such a killer job on some of the big reveal moments in the show and they just dont hit as hard in the book - but still this volume was incredibly good.

Magic Artisan Dahlia Wilts No More Vol. 2

Cute. I like that this is solidly fixating on Dahlia and Volfred’s friendship- but it’s deffo going to turn into a romance in next volume I can feel it coming. Shame, would be cool if just focused on the buddy-buddy aspect forever but whatever. Fun book

Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles Vol. 1 - 2

Look I’m way to sicky to write anything about this right now. It’s a isekai. Are you a genre pervert? Did you watch the anime? Then it’s for you. 8/10 (i was VERY ill when i wrote this.. maybe that's why I forgot to post this on time!)

The NPCs in this Village Sim Game Must be Real! Vol. 2

Volume 2 of Chat GPT the manga is pretty good still, the villagers have stepped up their cave security and Protag-kun now has the motivation to do better and get a job doing hard labour. Dudes really will just use a chatbot rather than do therapy but whatever works I guess. The story mechanic where any offerings the villagers leave at the god of fait's shrine show up the next day with the post is pretty funny. This dude gets so many free logs. How do you even post a log?

My Happy Marriage Vol. 3

Still good, but the anime’s still better.

Bonus: Audiobooks

Reborn to Master the Blade: From Hero-King to Extraordinary Squire Vol. 1

So, i saw the anime (which sucked) and was like... maybe the light novel is good? Its better... but its NOT good. Genre perverts only... 6/10

stuff in the pile for next week

I have already read most of next week's books (lol) - i hope you like sewing?

Books read this year: 304

Last week's post

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/2866551-september-4th-10th

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-09-16T18:02:40.422Z

September 4th - 10th

Stuff i read this week

If My Favorite Pop Idol Made It to the Budokan, I Would Die Vol. 1 - 2

What a weird and cool look into an idol fandom community, the books are very silly but a lot of fun, like this is pure idiot character territory with some light yuri themes at the fringes.

It's hard not to notice that a lot of the chapters to chapter dialogue plot beats and driven by misunderstanding, which usually SUPER HYPER annoy me, it's the WORST way to drive a story but I think that it’s actually kinda real neat here? There’s such a disconnect between being an idol and a fan and the way these characters talk past each other captures that really well.

You can’t point at a page here and shout “JUST TALK TO HER ABOUT IT JEEZ” because that’s the entire point. They can't ever talk! well, not for more than a few seconds at a handshake event... if there are enough tickets... Anyways , good book

The Npcs in This Village Sim Game Must Be Real! Vol. 1

World's saddest man finally finds the motivation to live better after talking to chat GPT for literally one day- also sells all his worldly possessions and embraces minimalism to fund his chat GPT micro-transaction addiction. I’m sure he is very mentally well. 8/10

A sign of affection Vol. 6

Still good. For more info see every other time I've ranted about how good it is

My Coworker Has a Secret! Vol. 2 (Final) ((i think?))

It’s still pretty dang good! Our two protagonists are officially dating now, but it’s really funny how Akari keeps telling Kazuma “You make me happy and I love you but obviously, not as much as my one true oshi idol, he’s my true love but you're a close second” - I love scumbag fan girls in manga it’s always refreshing

I Swear I won’t Bother You Again! Vol. 4

Yuri bait arc let’s goooo! (Well, actually it’s Violette makes a female friend arc, but there are some yuri trope references, and I’ll take ‘em. I LOVE WOMEN)

Still a fun villainess book, recommend if you are a genre pervert

The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy Vol. 1

ehhh, magic school battle manga. If you’ve read one, you’ve read like a billion of these. Genre perverts only.

Bonus: Audiobooks

The Dragon's Soulmate is a Mushroom Princess! Vol. 1

real silly shoujo romance - protag-chan is a common-born girl adopted into nobility, and goes through the whole engaged-to-a-royal-prince-but-dennounced-for-a-prettier-gir villainess style intro arc in the first chapter. pretty normal. The twist here is she has some kind of spirit defence magic that makes mushrooms sprout on any man who touches her - which is WEIRD. Luckily for her, a more handsomer and more royaler prince happens to find out post denunciation... HE HAPPENS TO BE A MASSIVE MUSHROOM PERVERT. Pretty cool premise. Theres some fun between chapter breaks where you get little factoids about different types of mushrooms that have featured in the previous chapter as well as uhhh, the mushroom's internal monologues and motivations? That rules. 8/10

stuff in the pile for next week

Now we have finished with Citrus, the next big series I have at the bottom of a pile and desperately want to read is Wotakoi. Let's see if I get around to digging it out... that and i really want to read an isekai. <- this is what i said last week it still applies

Books read this year: 296

Last week's post

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/2738773-august-28th-septem

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-09-13T02:14:03.413Z

You should really go read Slow Motion wo Mou Ichido/Once Again in Slow Motion, its super cute

Its a cute romantic comedy about two dweebs in modern-day japan who just really, really love 80 music & idols and SUPER can't let anybody know about it cos it would be like, hella embarrassing. im about half way though and having a GREAT time. its got this real nice soft art style to it, its clearly inspired by that 80s manga look, but still feels fresh and new too. The writing is fun, These two protagonists are massive idiots so you cant help but root for them. 10/10

https://mangadex.org/title/32d0b857-24b2-4c3b-8dc6-aa6d0739aa79/slow-motion-wo-mou-ichido

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-09-05T13:46:26.672Z

August 28th - September 3rd

Stuff i read this week

A Sign of Affection Vol. 4 - 5

What a good book. There’s not much more to say that I haven’t already said before but it’s wonderful to see the relationships in this grow. I just love reading soft warm romances. This is just an incredibly, incredibly good series and you should go read it. 10/10

Lets zoom into a moment. There’s a bit where Yuki is worried about what would make a date spot with Itsuomi and asks for some advice and her friends like “he seems like the kind of guy that would have a good time anywhere and just wants to see you have fun” and dang that line made the reason I like this series click.

I’m hella lesbian and fundamentally DO NOT guys - but it seems to me that most of these dang boys in hetrosexual romance mangas a lot of time just fundamentally do not seem interested in women and seeing them have a good time? I think all the ones I REALLY like probably have make leads that like uhhh... actually feel like they just want to see their love interest have fun? It’s a simple thing but really comes across - this dude clearly is going to be the world's biggest wife guy. I dunno if there actually is anything to this though... there's just something to these characters that clicks well and feels real.

ALSO in case you missed it, the first trailer for the anime adaption came out the other day ITS GOOD.

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/2666950-a-sign-of-affecti

My Happy Marriage Vol. 2

Ohh here’s something the manga adaptation does better than the anime- Koji. He’s a bit weird in the anime, very much a wet blanket of a man. His motivations are a lot more clear and sensible in the manga, and that 100% down to like, two panels of internal monologue that he can’t get in the anime. It makes him make way more sense - that boys messed up!

Anyway, the manga’s pretty good but the anime is a hundred times better

Last Game Vol. 2

It’s really interesting reading the author's notes about how hard it was to go from a 3 chapter short to being given a full serialisation. Still, she did a great job! Last game is a classic and gosh it’s so much fun to read. Yanagi-kun is such a funny little guy and his endless flip-flopping between hope and despair is incredibly drawn. Dude needs to catch a break, but i will forever stan for clueless girls.

Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included Vol. 3

Still inoffensive and just “ok”. Maybe that's a little mean. There was actually quite a few REALLY good idea in this - The standout idea was having a kid who keeps insisting she’s a vampire. Protag-kun initially immediately believes her (cos he's surrounded by supernatural weiro girls), but then the whole story begins to fall apart when it turns out she's got colour contacts in and is acting all chuunibyou. This is then flipped around again when it turns out that yes, she is actually a real vampire, she just admires bright-eyed Western vampires so much that it makes her a lil bit cringe. That's probably the smartest the writing will ever get in this, but it was genuinely a very funny bit.

Pulse Vol. 4

Pulse continues to be beautiful and incredibly horny. Our good good heart doctor finally manages to tell a girl she loves her and a hot, evil ex-girlfriend shows up as her new boss, ready to cut costs at the hospital. Why are ex-girlfriends so often unhinged capitalists? Anyways good volume. Looking forward to volume 5 cos ohh boy there's a lot of juicy drama being set up here

I Don't Know Which Is Love Vol. 1

Wow this book has wildly high energy levels! It’s 200% a yuri harem manga, and it’s pretty great. Each girl is attracted to something unique about the protagonist, and it’s all built around the five senses. One is crazy for her voice, another loves her gaze… you know there's a girl who is totally smitten with how good she uhhh…tastes?!? Like I said it’s high energy. Neat book!

Bonus: Audiobooks

Even if These Tears Disappear Tonight

This is a direct sequel to "Even if This Love Disappears Tonight" which is a book i thought "Theres NO way she can write a direct sequel to that its all tied up so well" TURNS OUT I WAS WRONG. This is a REAL good book digging into love and loss. I love it when media shows you the same scenes from multiple points of view, and this book REALLY is that, all the time. It takes a lot of the key scenes and themes from the first book and flips them around so you can see how they deeply affected Izumi's life. She's a good girl and deserves to heal. 10/10

stuff in the pile for next week

Now we have finished with Citrus, the next big series I have at the bottom of a pile and desperately want to read is Wotakoi. Let's see if I get around to digging it out... that and i really want to read an isekai.

Books read this year: 289

Last week's post

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/2639434-august-21st-27th

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-08-28T07:47:28.252Z

She seems like a big deal…!

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-08-27T13:54:23.416Z

August 21st - 27th

Stuff i read this week

Citrus Vol. 2

This volume expands on the cast a bunch, and our two lead girls grow in a really satisfying way. Volume 1 ends at such a wild emotional place with the whole “that’s not how sisters are supposed to act” scene in the student council office, and this volume does a REAL good job of taking that moment, expanding on how both Mei and Yuzu (and their friends!) got to that point. They are both mentally damaged, lonely girls who just want someone who won’t leave them and wow heck do they express that in the worst ways! It's raw, it's emotional, it's INCREDIBLY MESSED UP, but wow it's good stuff!

I had a look around for reviews of volume 2, it’s WILD how many people don’t get Mei’s character and why she’s like that. Like, I think the text is incredibly clear as to why she’s like that!! She’s been abandoned! She’s been sexually abused by a teacher! She’s been used as a political tool! She’s being forced to protect and inherit an institution! Even if that's what she personally wants, there's a gross weird pressure there! It’s fucking wild dweebs don’t get this?!?!

Citrus Vol. 3

HECK Matsuri is such a scumbag (complimentary) - but dang she has enough emotional literacy to immediately figure out what Mei’s whole deal is and rub it in her dang face… ugh that whole car park confrontation between the two is some great drama, with an absolutely devastatingly unhinged final line from Mei (“that was to take back the kiss you stole from yuzu” - like the fuck is wrong with you girl! Wow!) CITRUS IS SO GOOD

Citrus Vol. 4

Fucking hell Mei your breaking my heart. Ughhh poor kid needs a good therapist. Anyways, It’s an interesting volume - adding in some actual real twin sisters to contrast Yuzu and Mei against was a smart choice. These two kids think and tick incredibly differently to the leads and it works really well. Providing character contrasts is something that Citrus does incredibly well imo.

Citrus Vol. 5

The setup for the plot arc early on in this volume is kinda silly - it’s WILD that an ex-student-grown-ass-adult-woman can apparently just wonder in and arbitrarily enforce school rules with her own personally prescribed punishments, it’s just kida stupid. That conflict and the electioneering after kinda ends up feeling battlemanga-esque, if that makes sense - which is a neat change of pace, but it kinda doesn't go anywhere and just fizzles out.

Also, there’s a panel where Yuzu is playing tsum tsum on her phone and wow heck that’s also what I was doing in 2016, relatable.

Citrus Vol. 6

This volume is about coming to terms with being gay, figuring out how dating works and facing homophobia for the first time, and it’s all good stuff. The full two-page spread of Yuzu smiling after Mei says it’s okay to love each other is probably like, a top 5 all time best yuri manga page layout. It’s so simple but fuck, it pokes your heart

Citrus Vol. 7

Something Citrus does really well when introducing new characters is having them mirror some aspect of Yuzu and Mei’s relationship- but inverted somehow. I mean it’s not anything unique to Citrus or anything like that, it just does it A LOT and its PRETTY DARN GOOD AT IT imo, and that reoccurring pattern just becomes real obvious by Vol 7

Citrus Vol. 8

It’s the summer holiday trip arc, which initially seems to be about relationships maturing and evolving but you quickly realise it is actually just about Matsuri being a gremlin

Citrus Vol. 9

Fuuuuuck. It still punches you in the gut, you know? Despite how stupid drama around arranged marriages and stuff like that feels in 2023

Citrus Vol. 10 (Final)

It’s over and all that. Good book.

I GOTTA SAY THOUGH, HARUMI’S SISTER BEING A BIKER GIRL COMES OUT OF NOWHERE AND IS PROBABLY THE MOST UNBELIEVABLE THING TO HAPPEN IN A MANGA EVER

okay, I guess I gotta collect and read Citrus + now. I've never read that, wish me luck.

Bonus: Audiobooks

Series: Reborn as a Space Mercenary: I Woke Up Piloting the Strongest Starship! Vol. 2

dang this series is so stupid, fun but stupid. Normally when I'm reading the light novel and reading the manga one version will end up being my favorite, but I'm not sure i can make that call for this book. Its just delicious low effort garbage, in the best way. delicious slop, if that's what your after any version is good.

My Daughter Left the Nest and Returned as a S-Rank Adventurer Vol. 4

HOW THE HECK ARE THEY PUTTING THIS OUT SO FAST!?! They put out 4 volumes in 34 months? THEY PUT OUT TWO VOLUMES IN AUGUST ALONE. This is also good garbage but dang there was a moment in this where something happened that I literally shouted out "OH SHIT!!!" whilst washing the dishes, i was so hyped up lol.

My Quiet Blacksmith Life in Another World Vol. 1

Its okay I guess. Ive read a million light novels like this, and ill read a million more GLADLY

stuff in the pile for next week

Did i read Citrus? Yes. Yes i did. Uhh.. Citrus Plus? i gotta track it down first....

Books read this year: 282

Last week's post

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/2574542-stuff-i-read-this

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-08-27T01:54:05.211Z

Wow I didn’t know J-Novel club picked up “Sometimes Even Reality Is a Lie!” it’s really stupid AND stupid good imo

https://j-novel.club/series/sometimes-even-reality-is-a-lie

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-08-26T18:59:59.206Z

Gender Manga Update Bot 🤖 @gendymangabot — [archived] 2023-08-26T18:03:08.728Z

Kasane to Subaru (Crossdressing)

https://mangadex.org/title/4a086028-7977-4da6-a4c2-b659a4de29c6

Chapter 15

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-08-26T18:59:59.206Z

This chapters so good t-t

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-08-25T15:15:03.428Z

If you like yuri manga about idiots blushing a bunch you should check out "Trying Out Marriage With My Female Friend" chapter 30.

https://dynasty-scans.com/series/trying_out_marriage_with_my_female_friend

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!

stuff in the pile for next week

Maybe more Citrus? Who knows!

Books read this year: 273

Last weeks post

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/2529442-august-7th-13th

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-08-20T15:01:43.834Z

Sunday Sunday Sunday

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-08-18T09:04:13.649Z

August 7th - 13th

Stuff i read this week

If I could reach you Vol. 6

It’s the “Kaoru’s fucking depressed” arc- which is the wild surprise follow-up to the first 5 volumes (which is the 'Uta’s fucking depressed' arc, obviously. Dang these poor poor women)

Mostly the whole story boils down to this - even when he’s trying to be a goodie, Reiichi absolutely, 5000%ly, incredibly, in no uncertain terms, just overwhelmingly sucks ass. dude sucks so much. He is a deeply flawed character who only seems to be able to hurt everyone around him. He just sucks. I hate him. HE SUCKS SO MUCH. Dump his ass.

Death March To The Parallel World Rhapsody Vol. 3 - 4

This one’s for genre perverts only. As you know, I’m a big isekai fan so it is MADE FOR ME. I am that genre pervert. anyways, why the heck do the dweebs that write these books think that slavery is poggers and cool and fun actually? Messed up fuckers for sure

Volume 3 was okay, but volume 4 was pretty boring. If you’ve seen the anime, Vol 4 covers the elf artificial world tree dungeon battle arc thing… and it’s just kinda dull. Actually, every volume of this which has been covering dungeon battles has been dull. The characters may be paper thin but their interactions are the actual fun part! Oh well!

My coworker has a secret Vol. 1

“Dweebnerd woman gets a normal ass boyfriend” is a real good heterosexual romance manga subgenre, and this is a pretty good implementation of it. There’s also a pretty good cross-dressing guy in it who really owned all the pages he showed up on- it’s just a light amusing romcom and I’m deffo going to get more.

Also- this is good anti-landlord propaganda. Landlords suck

Reborn as a Space Mercenary: I woke up piloting the strongest starship! Vol. 3

a bit of a slow volume plot-wise... not a lot happens. There’s a bit of world building, we are treated to a good chapter about how good is made (with a factory tour!). Thats the best kind of thing to worldbuild IMO. but it’s mostly just establishing the whole research colony disaster arc. Did a pretty good job of it! It might have been slow, but this book is such a breeze to read through? Enjoying it a lot. 10/10.

Crossplay love otaku x punk Vol. 4

The idiots are at it again and heck it’s only getting stupider and more messy. 10/10

Hi, I'm a Witch, and My Crush Wants Me to Make a Love Potion Vol. 1 - 2

Incredible line work- this mangaka can DRAW! Anyways, its a fun slow romance with some interesting magic system stuff. If you like shoujo fantasy it’s highly recommended.

There’s deffo a cool genre trend here with stories about young lonely women who are super super smart, world-leading in their craft witches living isolated in forests being discovered by hot Nobel boys - I’m pretty sure more of that exact girly fantasy trope has ended up on my pile lately than other sub-genres (like villainess, for example) I guess it’s a real smart way to merge your shoujo romance into a fantasy setting so you don't have to write about a dang school. I’m a noted genre pervert so I’m glad manga publishes have found a new one to mine for translation content

Bonus: Audiobooks

The Rising of the Shield Hero Vol. 6

That dang spirit turtle arc is sp dull how many more volumes of this?

stuff in the pile for next week

Did i read Citrus? No. Same old same old. uhh... i wanna try and read it this week... will i be too lazy to get it from the bottom of my to-read pile? Probably. Will Lotte EVER reread Citrus? find out next week (copy pasted from last week again like.. I REALLY WANT TO READ CITRUS)

Books read this year: 266

Last weeks post

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/2393036-july-31st-august-6/

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-08-16T19:15:31.522Z

The Apothecary Diaries STILL is the best manga getting published right now and is STILL incredible and Vol 9 just came out and I love Maomao

LOOK AT HER

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-08-07T02:17:06.754Z

July 31st - August 6th

Stuff i read this week

No longer allowed in another world vol. 3

Hot dang! What a neat little twist on isekai Zetsubo Sensei's powers that were introduced in the last volume. I still super love this series there's so much interesting stuff going on all the time 10/10 So yeah this is one of the most interesting isekai books being published at the moment - it's in that subgenre where otherworlders are super common and they (and their imported culture and bad behaviour) are just messing everything the heck up because let’s face it, only the worst loser nerds ever get isekai'ed.

Isekai Zetsubo Sensei has to clear up these messes, but he rather not because he’s tired (relatable) and would really rather just kill himself, besides he’s got writers block like, REAL BAD so it would be much better to just fall sleep in a coffin you know? Or just take so many pills. Dude wants to off himself so bad. Anyways, It’s wild weird stuff.

It gets weird when you realise that Osamu Dazai (the sensei in this manga) was a real actual author, who did really actually commit suicide in the 1940s. This manga is a what if instead of dying in one of his suicide attempts, what if he got isekai'ed instead. Wikipedia list 4 other manga/anime properties that use this guy as a character. Duno what to think about that. But yeah, books good.

Her Royal Highness Seems to Be Angry Vol 4 - 5 (Final)

Well… that’s over! The name of this series is a real mystery. I don’t think I ever saw her royal highness actually being angry? Anyways, I really liked the first 3 volumes, but ehhh these last two volumes? It was kinda rushed trying to get to a weird ending and was just soooooo over complicated. Too many characters getting involved in confusing battles... it’s just not great.

So, this manga seems to be based on a light novel (that’s not available in English?) that at the time of volume 5 (final) of the manga being released in Japan, the light novel was at volume 8, and nowhere near ending its run. Sooo the manga got cancelled and had to wrap up early and heck it’s kinda a mess. At least, that seems to be whats going on here. It’s just kinda a shame that these last two volumes are so all over the place, the arts still pretty but everything else sucks. Real shame it had such a good start too. It started so strong!

The Otherworlder, Exploring the Dungeon Vol. 2 (Final)

Talking of manga adaptions that probably got cancelled early and kinda end in a messy rush. Wow. Two volumes? Really? Thats it? Okay. Volume 2 is not as good as the first - because it feels HELLA rushed and all the plot developments feel unearned. Real weird anyone would bother to licence a two-volume cancelled project. Disappointed.

Crossplay Love: Otaku x Punk Vol. 3

Beautiful idiots acting oblivious

My Happy Marriage Vol. 1

So there's an anime adaption of My Happy Marriage airing RIGHT NOW on Netflix and its REAL GOOD. Being a Netflix exclusive sucks though - I don't have Netflix (fuck em). DANG i super wanted to watch that show though! How else am i supposed to experience that story?!! Well turns out I've already got 2 volumes of it on my shelf and i just never got around to it. Turns out, books good.. Not as good as the anime though. The anime seems to be a lot slower and that really serves the source material really well. For example, when Miyo leaves her fathers house and travels to her fiancé place, its like a page in the manga but much longer in the show, giving you a much better idea of the distance shes going and the loneliness she must feel. Like, its an AWFUL thing to be put through, being sent off alone and unloved. I hope they do an audiobook of the light novel so i can listen to that version too... anyways long story short the books are pretty good, but the anime is incredible. (you should just torrent the Netflix anime, I'm not a cop i won't tell anyone)

If I could reach you Vol. 5

It was a great volume that’s for sure. I was kinda braced for it to be INCREDIBLY SAD, as it’s the point where Uta confesses all her feelings to Kaoru and eventually moves out (at the end of the volume), breaking their relationship - and yeah it is kinda sad but it’s more so very healing and hopeful?

Like it could have been VERY easy to make this whole volume a drama-filled mess, but all that was offset with Chloe and Miyabi getting much closer and Uta feeling genuine happiness that her friends are closing that romantic gap whilst she’s going through that tough time… shes just so glad for them. That's just a REAL good balance of tones! delicious.

Bonus: Audiobooks

86-Eighty Six, Vol 5

good volume! Introducing the Sirins was a big brain move, as they are essentially what the Republic claimed the 86 were, non-human autonomous drones. That leads to a lot of neato situations when you start rubbing them against the 86th strike package and getting people to examine their identities and beliefs. Still kinda weirded out by all the eugenics pure bloodline shit going on. Someone needs to tell the dweeb writing this that pure blood does not make for hot royals. it makes them fucking WEIRD.

stuff in the pile for next week

Did i read Citrus? No. Same old same old. uhh... i wanna try and read it this week... will i be too lazy to get it from the bottom of my to-read pile? Probably. Will Lotte EVER reread Citrus? find out next week

Books read this year: 258

Last weeks post

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/2340676-july-24th-30th

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-08-03T10:13:41.392Z

July 24th - 30th

Stuff i read this week

Imitation Vol. 1

IRL I am not into celebrity gossip or drama at all, I could barely identify any IRL celebrity types - I just do not care. In manga tho? Ohhhhh heck manga with idols, actors and other celebrities is one of my favourite genres. This is a really good implementation of that genre, we got a whole bunch of entertainers spread through three idle groups at various stages of their careers all interacting and it’s great, delicious drama. It’s fantastic. Our heroin, Maha is particularly good. Her arch of being a kind of over-eager newbie to crushed by the industry despite her innate talent shining though is super good and I can’t wait to see her grow.

That said, what the fuck is up with the whole scene where she’s working through her first acting job with the more experienced guy who is deffo the main love interest? He fucking hates her at this point in the story (for stupid reasons) and essentially physically assaults her on set? WHAT HE DOES IS LITERALLT AN ACTUAL CTIME. Like, he’s playing a murderer and ad libs a scene where he chokes her so hard she gets bruises on her neck? HE ACTUALLY CHOKES OUT THIS POOR GIRL. And everyone’s like “wow you did a great job of guiding her through her first job she’s acting so scared! It really sold the scene!” And NOBODY HAS A PROBLEM WITH IT!?! It’s messed up, and a lot of the drama over the next hundred pages are that dickhead trying to decide if he should apologise for committing an act of grievous bodily harm and traumatising the poor girl. It’s messed up and I wish someone would have said something. He has to go though a whole "am i a baddie?" arc, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN WAY BETTER IF SOMEONE WAS AT LEAST LIKE "WOW THIS IS A PROBLEM MAYBE WE SHOULD GET THIS YOUNG GIRL SOME MEDICAL ATTENTION SHE WAS JUST ASSAULTED"

Anyways other than how that’s handled, the books good. I can’t wait for more

A Galaxy Next Door Vol. 5

This volume is about rejecting the shackles of her supernatural nobility and just accepting the mundane and it kinda rules? I was not a fan of the whole alien princess thing in the first volume but it’s all been pulled around into a story thread that makes real sense and gets wrapped up in a nice way. Shiori’s arc is so good and I’m SO glad she gets to have friends from the island now, even if she feels like she never wants to return to the place that isolated her and forced her to be a princess. It’s all good.

Also there’s another bonus chapter where chibi-chan gets to be the point of view character again AND ITS ALSO REAL GOOD dang I kinda want a spin of manga that’s about chibi chan growing up and going to college or something, and having to grow up out of her fan girl shipper mentality a lil bit that would be so good

My Instant Death Ability Is So Overpowered, No One in This Other World Stands a Chance Against Me! ―AO― Vol. 1

Some idiot genre pervert isekai fun. You do not need to bring your brain into this book (which is good, I was so tired when I read it)

But yeah protag-kun’s superpower is he can just tell someone to die and uhh, they just do? It’s all very stupid low-stakes bullshit when you can solve every problem caused by cartoonishly evil isekaied kids by just telling them to die. I guess as a setup it ends up being kinda similar to “no longer allowed in another world” but like, that executes this ridiculous overpowered ability waaaay better by uhh no wait just go read that instead it’s real good I promise

Asumi-chan is Interested in Lesbian Brothels! Vol. 3

Gosh dang I love this book so much, there were some real good jokes in this volume, especially the whole thing with the pacifier candy. Some really funny pages there. Im keeping up with the scans too, and things are just going to get so much hotter by volume 5 we are NOT ready for how good this is going to be

I think I turned my childhood friend into a girl Vol. 3

Still cute.

Villains Are Destined to Die Vol. 3

Dang still the best colour work in the business. The fireworks scene in the first quarter of the volume is incredible, the way light is rendered in this art style is just incredible! And dang the timing in the panels is great too? Incredible scene to read. Im not sure the plot is doing anything that special - its a villainess story - you know the beats. Its like, an 7/10 villainess manhwa but DANG the artistry power levels are so high

Love's in Sight! Vol. 2

This book continues to surprise with how good the characters are. Its one of those things that seems like its not going to be very deep but turns out has way more depth and soul that you'd have guessed. Good idiots too.

Bonus: Audiobooks

Konosuba: God's Blessing on this wonderful world! Vol. 1

Ive always found the show tedious whenever i try to watch it, which is weird because terrible isekai is my thing - this was way less annoying to me than the anime for some reason? 6/10

Rascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Home Alone

Terrible naming convention on this series. Probably one of the worst titles in the business.

stuff in the pile for next week

Did i read Citrus? No. Same old same old. uhh... i wanna try and read it this week... will i be too lazy to get it from the bottom of my to-read pile? Probably. Will Lotte EVER reread Citrus? find out next week

Books read this year: 251

Last weeks post

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/2174713-july-17th-23rd

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-08-03T09:38:49.175Z

New chapter alert 🚨

https://mangadex.org/title/56901ae8-aece-4983-96c3-94751c96a8bb/bocchi-the-rock-gaiden-hiroi-kikuri-no-fukazake-nikki

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-08-03T09:06:57.002Z

Frank Hecker @hecker — [archived] 2023-08-03T00:41:49.624Z

If you'd like to read about a pair of clueless crossdressers...

From volume 5 of Crossplay Love: Otaku x Punk. Panel 1: Shuumei (dressed as “Mei” and talking to himself): “‘Being a girl is fun!’ What was I thinking?! This is getting dangerous!! I’m pretending to be a girl to get close to Hana, that’s it! I can’t forget my reasons here!!” Panel 2: Continuation of Shuumei/“Mei”’s thoughts: “I might be in girl’s clothes, but I’m still a guy! I won’t throw out my manly pride so easily!” Hanae as “Hana” (off-panel) speaking to “Mei”: “Oh, speaking of which!” Panel 3: “Hana”: “I bet your cute new skirt and your cool sense of style would go really well with some thigh-highs, and some red lipstick, and maybe a cap, too!” Panel 4: “Mei”: [wide-eyed stare]

...then Crossplay Love: Otaku x Punk might be right up your alley. If these adorable doofuses ever figure out the truth about each other — or, for that matter, about themselves — their heads might explode, but fortunately for them the mangaka seems to postponing that event indefinitely.

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-08-03T09:06:57.002Z

This book has some REALLY good idiots in it, reccomeneded.

they are truly clueless

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-07-24T14:00:46.394Z

July 17th - 23rd

Stuff i read this week

Now Loading...!

its a lesbian game dev manga, wow what a great genre, super relatable. I rate this genre 10/10
Degu representation - one of the characters has a pet Degu! She takes it to work! and lets it run around her office! That's a super underrated kind of critter, 10/10
is… is that degu’s name an excel saga reference? Or is naming an animal “emergency rations” a common joke in Japan? Anyways good bit regardless 10/10

This is screwed up, but I was Reincarnated as a Girl in Another World! Vol. 7

“Huh? I’ve skipped ahead too much? Nah don’t worry about it. I simply exist to enjoy delicious food every day” Maybe that's why I like this dang isekai so much, I LOVE manga that spends THAT much time slobbering over good-looking food.

I want to be a receptionist in this magical world Vol. 1

it’s a “I can’t believe it’s not an isekai” fantasy manga that somehow manages to fit a whole 6-year magic school education story arc into a single volume. That’s efficient! 6/10

The Princess of Convenient Plot Devices Vol. 2

Okay yeah, this villainess isekai is pretty dang good. It’s doing that thing I love so much where the main character has incredible world knowledge, but they are kind of an idiot so that messes up their read on things even if they are broad strokes correct. I HATE stories that hinge on lack of communication, but missed communication? That’s hot stuff.

The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 8

The opening chapters in this volume are all background stuff, going into who Maomao’s real parents were, which was kinda cool - BUT dang it’s the other stories in this volume that reminds me why I love this series so much. ESPECIALLY the stray cat saga in the last chapter. The fun multi-layered stuff going on, the detailed depictions of the whole process behind making a kitten princess safe (gotta clean it up and trim them claws!) - it’s just neat! 100/10 my favourite manga

My dress-up darling Vol. 9

It’s a pretty light volume, plot-wise not much happened - but it was really cool to see Wakana and Marin learn about photography on a real-deal big girl camera. I’m most excited about Juju showing up right at the end, and presumable being a big part of the next volume. It’s always real funny to see her interactions with Marin, they get on with each other like oil and water and I love that kinda thing.

The Remarried Empress Vol. 3

Dang excellent volume. Real-life royalty sucks ass but manhwa royalty is fascinating as always. I love how the book gives all the “villains” juuuust enough pages so whilst you do kinda hate them for what they are doing to the empress, you also understand them. Nobody’s prefect here, everyone sucks. Books good.

Bonus: Audiobooks

Spice and Wolf Vol. 6

The audiobook has almost caught up to where I stopped reading the print novels, got 2 more to go I think... maybe 3. This is where Col shows up in the story. I remember finding him SUPER annoying when I last read it, but dang I really enjoyed it this time around. I must have been in a weird headspace back then. Im even more hyped for the new anime series now... i just want more spice and wolf so bad.

My Daughter Left the Nest and Returned as an S-Rank Adventurer Vol. 2

I don't really have any thoughts on this. I just want you to know i read it.

Hell Mode Vol. 1

I love Hell Mode. Its SO stupid. Its your average isekai reincarnation with an elaborate VIDEOGAME system... but heck its SO elaborate. I can't wait for them to put out more of this, i read like... 5 volumes of the ebook before i kinda fell off it. Its just such good braindead material. i need that a lot these days!

stuff in the pile for next week

Did i read Citrus? No. Same old same old. uhh... i wanna try and read it this week... will i be too lazy to get it from the bottom of my to-read pile? Probably. Will Lotte EVER reread Citrus? find out next week

Books read this year: 244

Last weeks post

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/2123260-july-10th-16th

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-07-22T09:03:56.180Z

HECK I love Maomao so much I hope they draw her as a mangy cat in the anime too- it’s so good T-T

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-07-21T04:58:32.786Z

WTF KODANSHA USA IS PUBLISHING THIS IN ENGLISH?!? THATS COOL

https://mangadex.org/title/de27ce20-7f32-475d-a219-31e1a3ab36c5/josou-shite-off-kai-ni-sanka-shite-mita

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-07-20T06:00:05.828Z

July 10th - 16th

Stuff i read this week

Quality Assurance in Another World Vol. 2

Still incredible isekai storytelling. In this volume, protag-kun solves a problem by punching a treasure chest REAL hard a LOT of times and then standing on the lid and opening it, exploiting a physics glitch to make it catapult through the sky, like a messed up breath of the wild or something 11/10.

In case you missed it last time, this is the story of a QA tester getting stuck in some unspecified vr VIDEOGAME world, and just rolling with it and doing his goddamned job and testing the heck out of everything. If there's a hole in a wall's collision geometry he WILL find it and report it. Its a great take on the whole sword art online premise but actually good.

The Girl I Saved on the Train Turned Out to be my Childhood Friend Vol. 2 - 3

As I finished typing up my notes for last week on Monday I was like… volume 2 can’t be any worse… can it? You know what, I think the author of this series is actually and idiot.

Anyways...

Why am I doing this to myself?
we have spent SO MANY PAGES establishing how protag-kun is a fucking loser who sucks at dealing with people, whose only redeeming quality is that “he’s kinda nice and thoughtful sometimes”, but he mostly kinda sucks- I REFUSE TO BELIEVE HE IS CAPIBLE OF HAVING AN EX-GIRLFRIEND. it’s the most UNBELIEVABLE bit of character development this is stupid, and making that the driver behind the next 200 pages of BAD DRAMA is so unearned. this book is dumb
i hate EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK
i shall continue to pick up new volumes because I HATE MYSELF and i cant imagine it gets any worse, but i just have this feeling DEEP in my bones that its gunna disappoint me anyways

Wolf Girl and Black Prince Vol. 1

Ughhh this is also farrr too straight. I’ve made mistakes this week. Seems like we’re doing the whole aloof kinda twisted awful guy to loving perfect boyfriend gap mow pipeline thing- and you know what it fucking sucks. Every character in this sucks and is just incredibly toxic. I had to put the book down SO many times as it was making me mad how toxic it was lol. Do straight girls really like this shit?!? Absolutely awful, at least it doesn't have the gross leering gaze thing going on that "the girl i saved on the train" had going on... but somehow.. idk maybe this book is worse than that? idk... i did not have a good time.

Anyways I had a terrible time with it and I WILL BE BUYING MORE as it comes out because apparently, I hate myself

The Abandoned Empress Vol. 5

LETS GOOO finally, some flavour. This book gets better and better as the volumes go on. It does a real real good job of actually showing these characters grow up and becoming adults. Aristia for sure has a bunch of weirdo hot young men in her harem trying to plot their way into her affection- so it’s actually incredibly cool to see her mostly ambivalent reactions towards them in this volume- she’s focused on herself and survival and for that’s just real fun to read. Art is still really pretty, it’s a good book and you’ll have a good time I promise.

Yuri Espoir Vol. 1

There’s a characterisation reveal in the second chapter (well chapter 1 part 2- weird numbering) that’s just incredibly executed- the panel layout leading up to it is so good, there’s a tiny bit of foreshadowing in the first chapter but it’s just waaay more intense that you can guess, and then the book luxuriates in it for another 4 perfectly laid our pages. Worth reading just for that imo - an incredible bit of manga. Still blows my mind that Tokyopop somehow managed to survive into the 2020's and put out some actual great books. how did they manage that turn around?

Multi Mind Mayhem: Isekai Tensei Soudouki Vol. 1

This is the kind of isekai fantasy manga that has a page of character bios and portraits on the very first page of the book, like in volume one. One of the portrait boxes is slightly bigger than all the rest and is labelled “protagonist”. Its that kind of book. I just think that speaks to the confidence they have in how memorable and unique their character designs are.

That said on the same character roster page there’s a character called “Maggot” who is apparently protago-kuns mother? And a Nobel? And an adventurer? That’s stupid and i love it.

Anyways protag-kun seems to have TWO reincarnated souls stuck in his brain, a samurai and uhh, high school nerd who LOVES to read Wikipedia? Specifically actually literally textually Wikipedia. Guess that’s a superpower. If these nerds invert crop rotation I’ll scream.

(41 pages in) OH NO there’s a field… they are GROWING crops…
OH THANK HECK HES JUST INVENTING BEET SUGAR TO TAKE ON THE CANE SUGAR MONOPOLY AND MAKE A LOT OF MONEY SO THE BEAST LADY THAT WORKS AT THE TRADING GUILD WILL LET HIM PET HER DOG EARS OKAY THIS IS PRETTY GOOD
ACTUALLY, so I’ll end my real-time notes here. recommended if you are a genre pervert.

EDIT: MAYONNAISE?!? HE INVENTS MAYONNAISE?!? OF COURSE HE FUCKING INVENTS FUCKING MAYONNAISE. FUCK.

Bonus: Audiobooks

So I'm a spider, So what? Vol. 6

I've always liked this book, but now were on new material that wasn't in the anime it's EVEN better. this volume is getting SO good at the whole dramatic irony thing - we keep seeing stuff from White's perspective and then later seeing other characters react and monologue about stuff, with their imperfect understanding of the situation. its incredible how unknowable White is to everyone else, her motivations are just a total inscrutable mystery to everyone else, its great (her motivations are that shes a fucking idiot 10/10 no notes)

stuff in the pile for next week

lol Citrus... its just SO far down on my pile.. like physically.. it would be SO much work to get to volume 1... but i wanna..... Will Lotte EVER reread Citrus? find out next week

Books read this year: 236

Last weeks post

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/1987402-july-3rd-9th

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-07-13T06:11:48.861Z

GOOD PICKUP SEVEN SEAS

wild how they are apparently releasing it as Kimi to Shiranai Natsu ni Naru when you can see, right there on the original Japanese cover art that it’s already subtitled “throw away the suit together”, in English. That’s a choice!

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-07-12T02:59:57.214Z

don't you dare tell me that you can't learn anything from reading manga

(ps D-Genesis good)

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-07-10T23:21:40.973Z

July 3rd - 9th

Stuff i read this week

The Girl I Saved on the Train Turned Out to be my Childhood Friend Vol. 1

“Why is it like that?” That’s something I heard two girls in my local comic shop say about “My Dress-Up Darling” They had a short discussion about it and ultimately, they decided it was gross and unnecessary sexualising women and therefore, essentially, of no real value. It wasn’t ‘wholesome’ and was therefore gross I guess. I think they are DEAD wrong and I could talk about why that book is so incredibly designed for hours, but yeah whilst they were talking about that- I was busy buying this fucking book. I thought about that conversation a lot whilst reading this. Why is “The Girl I Saved on the Tain” like THIS?

Dress-Up Darling is overtly horny at times, it knows it’s a story about two teens, and heck stuff happens- they are working through THINGS, but at its core, it’s a DEEPLY sweet and dare I say it a ‘wholesome’ romance. Sexual stuff always happens for a clear reason, there’s a real intent to the gaze and it’s really interesting. Gaze in that book isn't just perverted leering. Its always used to represent something in the story, quite often embarrassment, cos these two kids are HOPELESS. But yeah, the important thing is that gaze has a narrative & design purpose.

As of writing these notes, I’ve not finished reading this volume but like, it’s kinda the opposite. This book has WHOLESOME vibes, its dressed up to look sweet and innocent, but dang- what’s up with the gaze? Why is there like a five-page bit about how big and soft protag-kun's sister's tits are? Why are there long panels just focusing on how sexy his mum's legs look in tights? Like, what’s going on here?!? What is the gaze in this book trying to imply?!? Does the source light novel have like, pages about how hot this guy's mum is?!? I'm guessing not, as its all going to be from his perspective? Hes not sitting there thinking WOW MY MUM SURE IS HOT LOOK HOW SEXY HER LEGS ARE WTF THATS CRAAAAZY. So why is the manga LIKE this?

But yeah, it’s hot garbage and there’s a billion books like this- but usually there’s SOMETHING there to grab on to - I don’t expect every romantic manga primarily aimed at young boys to be a masterpiece but like… there’s gotta be something redeeming!! Why is “the girl j saved on the train” like this?

4/10 not recommended (i have more volumes tho lol RIP me)

A Reincarnated Witch Spells Doom Vol. 1

So, if that “Girl on the Train” book was in the “your nothing special but she loves you anyways” romantic subgenre, this is “everyone thinks your nothing special but they immediately figure out you're actually like, secretly INCREDIBLY special and support you” sub-genre. Huh, it’s very funny how that first type tends to be aimed towards boys and the second girls. Wonder what that’s all about 🤔

Anyways, this was hella pretty and quite interesting romance isekai. Will read more as it comes out that’s for sure

The Holy Grail of Eris Vol. 4

Wow, out of all the villainess manga you could read (which is a lot.. there are SO many) this one still has the worst, most disgusting horrible depiction of noble society - all these fuckers SUCK ASS so bad. I LOVE IT. Anyways, Connie is slowly building up connections and learning how to navigate this gross world, and she's getting REAL good at it slowly but surely. Lady Scarlett’s ghost still rules - she is terrible and I love her. I mean, at the end of the day who doesn't want to root for a pure heroine slowly outsmarting the most despicable people in existence with her ghost girlfriend who is WORSE? (EDITOR NOTE: The ghost isn't her girlfriend, that's just Yurivision™ at work.. but what if...)

Perfect World Vol. 6

175 pages of two people DESPERATELY telling their significant others “don’t worry I’m 200% over it and under no circumstances will I EVER get back together with my ex who I now work VERY closely with again, it’s for sure not happening” - COME ONE we’re not stupid we CAN SEE YOU BOTH ON THE COVER TOGETHER fuck off! feeling like the next volume is going to be SUCH a massive mess.

If I could reach you Vol. 1 - 4

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuk

lol that's all I've got in my notes for that, but uhh yeah this is one of my favourite yuri stories, I read scans like.. 2 years back so as always its nice to come back to it. DANG- Uta is probably the SADDEST girl ever committed to paper. Its actually cool just HOW sad this work is, somehow without collapsing into depression. Her little friend group that forms around her in these early volumes really saves it from that i think. Her brother is such an asshat of a character tho UGHH. Theres some pannels in like.. volumes 2-3 where he just like... stares at Uta with this horrible gross look on his face which feels like.... he KNOWS what her feelings for Kaoru are and he's too chicken shit to say anything about it.. ITS WILD. I just want her to be happy lol.

Bonus: Audiobooks

How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom: Vol 2

ehh its fine.

#Bonus: Digital Manga

Yonezawa-san is Done Being Human

Pretty good lol -

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/1942458-you-enjoyed-reading

Edible Flowers

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/1966184-anyways-i-just-rerea

Bonus: VIDEOGAMEs

Peglin

Peglin rules.. please play Peglin. I played a bunch whilst listening to audiobooks last week, its a fun mix of rougelite run based item build management with pachislot mechanics. GOTTA HIT PEGS.

stuff in the pile for next week

Last week i said The Abandoned Empress and Citrus... and i didn't read either of them lol... uhh maybe this time? Will Lotte EVER reread Citrus? find out next week

Books read this year: 229

Last weeks post

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/1853979-june-26th-july-2nd/

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-07-08T18:39:03.784Z

Reading straight women’s romance manga is a funny experience - his plain clothes boosts his sex appeal?

uhhh, okay sure thing buddy, I really don’t understand that but I think you look lovely. You do you though, go get him girl.

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-07-08T03:25:52.041Z

You enjoyed reading “My love story with Yamada-kun at lvl.999”? Perhaps you should Read this manga about a salary man who wants to be a dog?

I was minding my own business on the tram this morning looking for a new manga to read, tapped into “Yonezawa-san is Done Being Human” without reading a synopsis - the dude is rolling around his apartment dressed up in a full fur suit and barking with in 4 pages. Absolutely wild stuff, I was not mentally prepared. Anyways I just read the first few chapters and it seems cute and funny. I mean, the guy works for a dog food company. Anyways this seemed like one to post to cohost lol

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-07-04T01:52:28.414Z

June 26th - July 2nd

Stuff i read this week

I Got Fired as a Court Wizard so Now I’m Moving to the County to Become a Magic Teacher Vol. 1

PLOT SUMMARY: Wizard cop gets fired from the wizard FBI for being from a poor family, so he moves back home to become a wizard teacher at wizard school teaching the poor idiot dropout wizard kids who probably wouldn't be allowed to join the wizard FBI no matter how good they get at protecting whatever the wizard equivalent of capital is.

Now he has the time to self-reflect enough to realize that doing state-sanctioned wizard executions as a wizard cop is bad actually. He tries to reform & repent by teaching poor wizard kids not to be stupid (and poor, presumably). Luckily, his hot childhood friend who is cute (and hot) isnt bothered by him being a ex-wizard-fbi-state-sanction-wizard-murder-cop and will probably hug his very manly pain away or something, cos shes cute and hot. The book's trash.

10 / 10

A Sign of Affection Vol. 3

Ughhhhh Yuki is so impossibly cute ughhhhhhh if only Itsuomi wasn’t a dude and was actually like, a butch lady or something and this series was a yuri it would be perfect. BUT YEAH IT MAY BE A HET ROMANCE BUT ITS SO SWEET 11/10

I’ve talked before about how good the typesetting/lettering has been in this series, but this time I really noticed the sections of the story where we go for like, 3-4 pages with almost no text at all. It works so well with where Yuki is as a character, with how her relationships are growing… Like, the comfiness of not directly communicating with someone you love and sharing a moment... it’s such a good work.

Still Sick Vol. 1 - 3

I love this storrryyyy - Its another yuri i first read as a scan on Dynasty Scans ages ago and now have in print ITS STILL REAL GOOD. As always I’m a big fan of manga about writing manga, and I’m a big fan of yuri vibes and girls getting along and slowly getting real close and girls keeping secrets that gradually come out and like yeah good book.

Specifically, it does SUCH a good job of depicting the pain of not being able to do the work you love, getting stuck in a rut... and the healing power of someone elses joy i guess? its great stuff. Burnout sucks, these girls are cute, this book rules.

10/10

Young ladies don’t play fighting games Vol. 3

I just noticed the inner covers of this volume (and maybe other too?) has little punch pow! effect cutouts arranged in a typical shoujo manga falling flower petal motifs. 10/10

I Married My Best Friend to Shut My Parents Up

Yet another book in the “fake marriage with my best girl friend (thanks shibuya ward) that accidentally turns real oops” yuri sub genre. It’s a GOOD sub genre I like it a lot. The arts is real pretty and it’s a cute book. There’s an infection point half way though that always makes my heart burst a little bit. Recommend

Bonus: Audiobooks

The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent Vol. 1

I watched the anime of this ages ago, and its quite funny how different the main character comes across (at least to my memory). in the anime shes very much a sweet lady, but in the book? wow the otome roots show though i guess and there SO much internal monologue about how all the dudes around her are SO hot and yeah - i just cant relate to that at all lady. Its VERY weird reading a book that like, so specifically lady-targeted harem het like this, as its SOOOO not meant for me.. the isekai shit though? ill eat that trash up SO bad. 8/10 pretty good.

stuff in the pile for next week

Theres a new volume of the Abandoned Empress out, so im gunna CONSUME that so hard. uhhh.. more yuri as well i guess? maybe this week ill finally citrus?

Books read this year: 221

Last weeks post

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/1762308-june-19th-25th

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-06-26T19:34:26.364Z

June 19th - 25th

Stuff i read this week

Last Game Vol. 1

Gods I love manga about idiots. Protag-kun is a very smart rich idiot that’s always losing out at being number one in academics to the same poor girl- “DANG SHES SUPER ANNOYING ALWAYS BEATING ME, I know I’ll make her notice me and acknowledge me by making her fall in love with me and then I’ll reject her and THAT WILL SHOW HER WHO IS THE TOP DOG IN THIS CLASS” - these are the thoughts of a true BRAIN GENIUS what could possibly go wrong

I first read this a scan like a billion years ago, and I remember liking it but ohhhh heck I forgot how funny it was. THIS IS A REAL FUN TIME the exact blend of these two similar but different genius morons is delicious and if you read this a don’t end up with a smile on your face you are dead inside.

Even Though We’re Adults Vol. 6

Fuuuuuuuuuuck. It’s still a hot mess, it still rips at your heart but the last chapter in this volume??? Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck T-T 💖 ALSO, there’s a chapter where you can clearly see a character in Mr Doughnut buying a Pon de Ring, meaning this can now be added into the pantheon of Doughnut Yuri. 10/10

The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess, Vol. 7

AHH DANG TIME TO CRINGE. Its actually pretty cool how all the cringe stuff is really beginning to wrap up to some sort of complete un-cringe whole in this volume - feels like maybe the next volume will be the last? But yeah, its a real satisfying volume in the story, its real sharp and funny 10/10

Though I am an inept villainess: Tale of the Butterfly-Rat body swap in the maiden court Vol. 3

Real real good- people are slowly beginning to figure out the whole body swap thing has happend, and a lot of the mysteries are slowly beginning to make sense. Super well crafted story here enjoying it a loooot. our protagonist is still unhinged in the best way - suuuuuper recommended this if you feel like reading an inner court villainess story, all three volumes that are out so far are great.

Who made me a Princess Vol. 1

On the surface, this shares a lot with “Daughter of the Emperor” - its a Villainess isekai, where the main character is reborn as an infant princess to a weirdo freak genocidal emperor who didn’t understand emotions or love or the value of human life and is DEFFO destined to be killed by that emperor when they hit 18 so they have to somehow teach them that love is good actually and not get murderkilled by dad. So yeah in broad strokes, these books are the same book heh - it’s closer in plot than most of these villainess stories tend to be.

That said, It’s a realllly pretty book with an enjoyable plot. The way our protagonist wriggles her way though this situation is interesting and neat even if it’s similar. Also dannnng this is a heavy dense book. There’s a lot to like, literally! I just love villainess stories so much 10/10

Hungry for you: Endo Yasuko Stalks the Night Vol. 1 - 2

I love idiot girls!! “what do you mean Endo san is a vampire? Sure she’s kinda weird and old fashioned and I invited her into my home and she just kinda lives there now and she doesn’t eat human food apart from tomato sauce and then she bites my neck every night and I guess she drinks my blood when she does that and she hates the smell of garlic and is incapable of walking passed churches… but vampires arnt real duhhh she can’t possibly be one” solid logic.

I think the first volume is pretty incredible and the second volume is... not as good but wraps things up pretty okay. I mean, it gets weird, in a not great way but it works well enough. Nice little two book arc i guess. If you wanna read about some yuri vampires have at it.

Bonus: Audiobooks

Solo Leveling Vol 7

Why do i KEEP insisting on putting myself though this each time a new volume comes out. WHO ACTUALLY LIKES THIS BOOK. it’s SO BAD - just when I thought this book couldn’t get any worse they just knocked it out the park so bad with this volume it’s legit terrible. Imagine waiting till volume 7 to try make the least likeable man ever have a relationship. (fictional or real. he's just the most unlikable man) AND THEN THEY JUST DROP THAT PLOT DEVELOPMENT 1/3rd OF THE WAY IN LIKE IT NEVER HAPPEND!?! Thankfully, This volume is getting to all the big reveal stuff- trying to tie all the unresolved plot threads together and all that, it does feel like the next one will (hopefully?) be the last... it’s all just so wretched lol. I refused to believe that people actually like this?

My Daughter Left the Nest and Returned an S-Rank Adventurer Vol 1

ehh fine? kinda the opposite to solo leveling, this is the most unoffensive light novel audiobook you could hope to listen to. If you wanna listen to 5 hours 11 mins of a daddys girl complaining about missing her dad and her dad being like "wow sure is lonely now im all alone better go pull weeds out my fields and do other old people things" then this is the book for you!

Bonus: Webtoons

The Forbidden Peach (on Pocket Comics)

About a university research associate meeting one of her students in a Lesbian brothel, you know, the way you do. was reallly good apart from the gross sexual assault bit in the middle. Its very sweet & messy apart from that. worth having a read

stuff in the pile for next week

I REALLY want to try and get into Citrus, but ive been saying that for months now heh. Its at the bottom of a pile right now so ill have to go digging... well see! I did get another volume of A Sign of Affection in the post today, so that will probs be read REAL soon

Books read this year: 214

Last weeks post

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/1726750-june-12th-18th

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-06-21T12:53:13.867Z

June 12th - 18th

Stuff i read this week

Cross Play Love Otaku x Punk Vol. 1 - 2

These two morons, these idiots, these absolute buffoons, these cretins, these not very smart people BOTH make much cuter girls than boys. Anyways wow what an incredibly complex, messy book. I think “kid with a case serious of the genders working in a cosplay cafe” has to be one of my favourite genres, right up there with ‘generic isekai’, ‘villainess but yuri’ and ‘idol but with a secret partner’. All great genres imo.

One of the BEST things about this is the main characters do have friends that immediately 100% clock them and just don’t do ANYTHING with that information- it’s just like huh cool I guess my best friend makes a hot girl I’ll leave them alone/watch from afar because this WILL BE funny. That kinda rules heh

Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody Vol. 1 -2

Isekaied (heart attack) - pretty good. The anime was pretty trashy (also good), I’m surprised by how much effort went into the art on this one. For genre perverts

The Two of Them Are Pretty Much Like This Vol. 3

I think this is probably my favorite ongoing yuri manga at the moment- the day to day life of these two ladies is so pleasant and healing to read about and their work struggles are very real and relatable - and heck I love manga & anime that’s about the manga & anime industry- stories about people working in creative industries give me life, especially when thoes stories have girls kissin girls too.

Sasaki and Peeps: That Time I Got Dragged into a Psychic Battle in Modern Times While Trying to Enjoy a Relaxing Life in Another World ~Looks Like Magical Girls Are On Deck~

Vol. 2

Shits getting interesting! Turns out the government has Psychic police - and they think Sasaki’s newfound magical powers are DEFFO psychic powers… which they arnt (its otherworld magic he learned from his pet bird obviously.. you've been keeping notes right?). So now he’s gotta try pretend to be a psychic, keep his magic hidden and keep doing the whole commuter isekai thing. Its neat

Young Ladies don’t Play Fighting Games Vol. 2

idk what else to say - this series is just REAL good and REAL smart about using genre tropes to build something real unique. you should deffo read it, and the bonus pages where the mangaka talks about the development process. just so many big brain plays here imo.

Bonus: Audiobooks

The Faraway Paladin Vol 1-2

isekai bullshit, i remember the anime being kinda ehhh but the light novel is way more interesting, and does a better job of expressing the themes of moving forward and not stagnating - real young adult fantasy stuff you know, btu yeah its a much better piece of work i think. The audiobook is well produced and the narrator is pretty good - its not the worst way to spend an audible credit

stuff in the pile for next week

As i write this jeff bozo personally came and delivered volume 7 of The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess to me SO YEAH TIME TO CRINGE REAL HARD I GUESS - also i still need to start rereading citrus lol.. maybe ill get around to that?

Books read this year: 207

Last weeks post

NOTE: The post got too long, even for me, lover of long posts. From now on ill link the previous weeks post like this... maybe ill make an index later too lol

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/1669087-june-5th-11th

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-06-19T21:10:26.364Z

I Became a SLAVE in Another World (Crying), and My Master Is a Black-Hearted ELF QUEEN! (But She's Super Hot ← This Is Important) I'm Pretty Useless, so I Get Insulted a Lot, but the ORC I'm Rooming With Is Full of Good Vibes, and the ELVES in the Village Are Pretty Cute Too, so on the Whole, I Have to Say That I'm Actually Quite Enjoying Myself Here.

https://mangadex.org/title/7c5cbad4-8bfe-48b3-af13-18c338dda5da/i-became-a-slave-in-another-worldand-to-make-matters-worse-my-master-is-a-black-hearted-elf-queen-i

So, this was added to Mangadex a few months ago without any translated chapters and i followed it there because it had the longest title id ever seen, and thats ALWAYS funny. anyways, totally forgot about it until like 10 mins ago when WOW someone translated chapter 1 wonder if its any good

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-06-12T11:19:47.999Z

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-01-08T21:16:13.455Z

this year im gunna read one volume of manga a day, every day

Stuff i read this week

The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess Vol. 1-5

This is a super good isekai villainess story about a woman who dies (truck) and is reborn as one of her OCs in an AWFUL novel she wrote as a TERRIBLE teenager. Obviously, she's not the super beautiful author insert character, but rather her villainous little sister and OH NO all the hot boys DEFFO want her dead, probably. Watching our poor girl struggle through the pain of remembering her own terrible plot and dealing with the world changing as she continues not to get killed by the hot boys is super fun... the books do suffer a bit from the art not being super clear at times tho. Still, if you like villainess stories this has a really interesting twist to the formulae.

Pulse vol.1&2

By the same person as Lily Love and its also VERY good and VERY gay. These books that seven seas have put out are incredibly printed, full colour and everything. Super cool to see a webtoon presented in a book so well. The story so far is very cute, seeing the doctor slowly open up is a real treat. Very much looking forward to volume 3. (also dang that's a lotta sex)

Black and White - Tough Love at the Office Vol. 1

dang that's a lotta sex. I've never seen a yuri manga where two ladies beat each other up so lovingly. incredible work. Seven Seas is publishing so wild stuff these days its great.

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive.

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-01-16T01:16:12.981Z

January 9th - 15th

Stuff i read this week

Accomplishments of the Dukes Daughter Vol. 1-4

wow, this has quickly become a favourite series - It's a real good entry in the isekai villainess genre. As much as i hate capital, capital owners, the pursuit of capital, and the concept of hereditary peerage DANG i do love manga about princesses and noble ladies starting businesses using knowledge from a previous life - that shit OWNS. She wants to invent health insurance and banking... and chocolate? girlboss. I'm deffo going to buy more of this after my next paycheck heh 10/10

My Cute Little Kitten Vol.1

Oh no is Milk Morinaga drawing cute fluffball airhead girls again? And this time they have a cat? Terrible news. 10/10

Futari Escape Vol. 1

Pretty cute stories about two girls running away from work and disassociating from society for a bit. Deadlines suck ass, 10/10

Asumi chan is Interestied in Lesbian Brothels!

I think maybe Asumi chan is a raging homosexual? She sure does like sleeping with girls that's for sure. Im sure the real perverts would love this one but its super sweet too. 10/10

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive.

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-01-23T00:05:38.826Z

January 16th - 22nd

Stuff i read this week

The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess vol 6

The dark history is really tightening up in this volume. Earlier stories deffo had a made-up as it’s going along falling to them, so it’s really cool to see all of that come together into a cohesive whole that's actually pretty dang good! Unfortunately, this is the last volume available in English right now, volume 7 doesn't come out until May. will I still be doing this in may?! who knows! maybe!

My Gently Raised Beast Vol. 1

Painfully straight (derogatory)

I Swear I won’t bother you again! Vol. 1-2

Painfully straight (complimentary)

My Androgynous Boyfriend Vol. 1

(Somehow) not Painfully straight. Dang, this book is incredible- this is a straight romance comedy that has SO much yuri energy - like a straight romance story written like a yuri, if that makes sense. these are some of the softest characters I’ve read in ages. it’s also incredibly funny, I loled out loud, at 2 am like an idiot. 10/10 (THEY EVEN GO ON A DATE TO IKEA. that's the most lesbian kind of date, in my experience)

Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter Vol. 5

Still really good, if very capital owner brained. We got some hot political intrigue story threads beginning to be woven into the narrative, so I cant wait to see how that ends up. Oh, and the spy/ladies (combat) maid is still incredibly hot. i love her

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Vol. 1

This book somehow manages to depict the passage of time more beautifully than any other manga I've ever read, really beautiful art and a very unique fantasy tale. recommended

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive. i didn't manage to get to any yuri stuff this week, i should fix that next week!

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-01-30T08:19:42.677Z

January 23rd- 29th

Stuff i read this week

Whisper me a Love Song Vol. 1

Super cute school yuri story about a girl falling in love with her senpai, who is the lead singer in a school band. Real pretty art. It’s a shame the music/band stuff is just used as background flavour more than being like, a real driver in the story like with Bocchi- I recommend “The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy At All” for a yuri manga where music plays a more ‘real’ role. These print volumes are really nice, Kondansha comics seem to be publishing things in a larger page size than most other publishers, makes the art look super nice with this book. Big clear faces and all that!

Whisper me a Love Song Vol. 2

Way more actual music stuff happening in this volume which was cool to see! Also drama is brewing~ real nice seeing stuff foreshadowed and playing out. I like this manga! Just a clean, well-crafted work

Villains are Destined to Die Vol. 1

The colours in this book are incredible! DANG HER HAIR. she’s wonderful. 10/10 Its great to see more Korean stuff get printed in full-colour books. These things are just beautiful to behold sometimes. There's a real fun gimmick early on to this villainess story - our main character starts off mute and can only ever talk when given options that were in the original game shes been reincarnated in - which was an interesting twist for a while. be cool to see where this goes.

Beauty and the Feast Vol. 1

Remember that tweet from a few weeks ago from some lady that really wanted to make chilli for some students that lived in the same building, cos they just looked like really hungry boys and cooking for other people made her happy? This is a book about exactly that. 10

Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter Vol. 6

Just kiss already! Anyways, the political stuff in the last two volumes has been super fun to follow through, civil war is brewing, the church’s power has been brought under the states heel, stuffs going to get messy! THIS STORY IS GETTING SO GOOD I WANNA READ THE NEXT VOLUME NOWWWW

Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter Vol. 7

So this was my first 2 book day - i just had to know what was going to happen next... AHHH THIS IS SO GOOD SHE BEAT UP THE POPE REAL GOOD 10/10 I wish they would get on with the relationship between Iris and ‘Dean’. Iris is not gay and this will never be a yuri, I have accepted that, it’s a done deal. Now I just want her to kiss and be happy. Im now caught up with this and i can finally stop staring at this pile of books guilty... but ughh now i have to wait for volumes to be published.. maybe i should have left 7 for next week TEARS

Love me for who I am Vol. 1

It’s the enby maid manga! ITS TOO CUTE FOR WORDS. 10/10 The whole theme of letting people be a true expression of themselves is really heartwarming and dang i want to read more, unfortunately, i do not have volume 2 and its out of stock everywhere. ill have to track it down. Super recommended

My Androgynous Boyfriend vol. 2

Still convinced this is a straight yuri manga. Not much to say about it apart from wow its hella warm.

Bonus: Light novels

I read two light novels this week so why not add them to the list

VTuber Legend: How I Went Viral after Forgetting to Turn Off My Stream, Vol. 1

Mostly read this because I saw rumours that it was getting an anime adaption. Its not very good, but i did read the heck out of it if that makes sense, and i will be buying and reading the rest, and enjoying every second of reading it whilst i think 'wow this sucks, its not very good!' 8/10

Cross-Dressing Villainess Cecilia Sylvie

I love Villainess, i love Villainess who are smart enough to try and game the systems they are reborn into, and i love it when they are two dumb to realise everyone loves them and they are in zero danger of being executed. 10/10

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive.

Books read this year: 30

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-02-05T18:14:43.850Z

January 30th - February 5th

Stuff i read this week

Oshi no ko Vol. 1

what an incredibly gripping prologue! A doctor is MURDERED by an idol’s creepy stalker- and is reborn as one of her twin children. Hijinks ensue. It’s yet another incredible read, beautiful art, all that good stuff 10/10 for reincarnation in the REAL world. This is getting an anime real soon - im HYPED

Killing Me! Vol. 1

super sweet yuri story about it a vampire hunter and the vampire that’s in love with her. Only one volume is available, as it seems this manga got cancelled after one volume. WHICH IS SAD AT THIS IS HELLA CUTE. Akiyama seems to be still working as a manga artist which is nice, but drawing straight vampire stories now rather than gay ones - oh well can’t win them all! Anyways, its is a really good little book recommended 10/10

Whisper me a Love Song Vol. 4-5

Double book day! This story is getting going now. It had a slow start, but here it’s getting to be something REAL good. (IM REAL GLAD)

Doughnuts under a crescent moon Vol. 1 -2

Ughhhhh stories about yuri office ladies slowly falling in love get to me like nothing else ughhh I love this book I love it so much. I read a scanlation ages ago, and now I’m going to track down all the volume of this asap (I only got this first one in stock on my shelves) 11/10. Very good - ITS BASICALLY WRITTEN FOR ME! I am a well know lesbian doughnut enjoyer. Heck I scoured the shelves at my local bookstore and managed to get volume 2 I am blessed by the yuri gods

I love you so much I hate you

dang I love yuri about older women, so im real glad i managed to have a two day office lady yuri streak. This book? It’s good 10/10. Just real nice to be reading something and wishing the best for these ladies - strong good warm feelings

The Holy Grail of Eris Vol. 1

Just when I thought I was running out of Villainess stories to read I find this neat tome on my shelf. The ghost possession gimmick is really interesting- going to be cool to see how this develops.

I swear I won’t bother you again Vol. 3

Continues the tradition of maids in these villainess stories secretly being the best character who deserve like a million % more pages. I previously described earlier volumes in this series as "Painfully straight (complimentary)" and that continues to be true. I do love a story with an idiot lead leady.

Bonus: Audio Books

So I'm a Spider, So What? vol 4

im STILL in love with this book, and i STILL think the audiobook having sections where the narrator is just reading off character sheet stats for like 10 mins is hilariously good. Way less character sheet stuff this time though, were showing restraint!

Bonus: Light novels

Hell Mode: Volume 5

Ive got half way though this so far this week - ITS SO FRICKING STUPID. this is like popcorn for me, stupid dumbass isekai game system bullshit. 10/10

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... i think i might have finally ran out of villainess isekai stuff.... what a sad time to be alive. maybe i can find some in a local bookstore (even if the entire point is to kill the backlog)

Books read this year: 39

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-02-12T22:24:47.125Z

February 6th - 12th

Stuff i read this week

I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in the Real World Too Vol. 1 - 2

DAAAANG what a stupid book 10/10 was fucking love isekai. It does that thing where the Isekai world has a bidirectional link with the real world, I LOVE IT WHEN THEY DO THAT. YEAH, SHOW ME A GUY WHOS FANTASY WORLD POWER LEVELING GAINS MAKE THEM MORE POWERFUL AT SOCIAL INTERACTIONS IN MODERN DAY TOKYO GIVE ME THAT SLOP ILL EAT IT UP SO FAST

My Androgynous Boyfriend Vol. 3

There’s a chapter in here about suddenly having to start working from home and having zoom meeting and I’m like oh well I know exactly when this was written- that was weird huh. Also, yeah this is still a heterosexual yuri manga that still holds.

Failed Princess Vo. 1

This book is so frickin cute. It turns out ive had volume 2 on my shelves for ages but never found volume 1 locally, so i went to track it down - which lead me to fricking amazon. They managed to stick the shipping envelope to the damn front cover. TRAGIC. its ruined, destined for a recycling plant once amazon replace it. cute story though

Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion Vol. 1

Gotta love villainess isekai nonsense I thought I’d be out of that this week but my bookshelf pulled though for me. This book tho, it’s kind of incredibly beautiful? It’s got such a cute sketchy feel to the characters, you can’t help but thing “dang they really did draw this huh” as you read it. Art is wonderful huh. 10/10.

Minami Nanami Wants To Shine Vol. 1 - 2

Apparently this is a spin off to some other thing I’ve always just skipped over on Crunchyroll? Maybe I’ll give the source material a chance, because this was a pretty delightful read. It’s about a girl who wants to be special, falling into a modelling carer and it’s kinda INCREDIBLY cute and sweet. 10/10

Beauty and the Feast Vol. 2

Its still really cute - but every chapter im terrified that the author is gunna pull a bunny drop or something. all my fingers crossed that this remains healing.

Bonus: Audio Books

I’d Rather Have a Cat than a Harem! Reincarnated into the World of an Otome Game as a Cat-Loving Villainess Vol. 2

Just look at that title and tell me that its not the greatest thing you've ever laid eyes on? 11/10. recommended.

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... Last week i said i was out of Villainess stories but i managed to pull one out the dark recesses of my shelf.. maybe another is lurking...

Books read this year: 47

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-02-20T01:32:55.668Z

February 13th - 19th

Stuff i read this week

Beauty and the Feast Vol. 3

We’re beginning to learn more about Shuko’s past and dang I love this poor woman and I’m glad she’s healing and the chapter with her friends looking out for her are the best and why can’t a manga character cook me dinner? 10/10

Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter Vol. 8

What’s this?!? Lotte pulled another villainess isekai manga volume out of her ass?? Wow how does she do it?!? She can’t keep getting away with this!! Anyways, this series is STILL incredibly good, i STILL want them to hurry up and kiss and i cant wait for the next volume to be release. The combat maid STILL rules forever i love her. 10/10 The cast pages at the front of every volume is getting crazy complicated character sheet

The Two of Them Are Pretty Much Like This Vol. 1-2

gosh just beautiful- it feels like 99% of yuri manga is about a budding relationship, taking painstaking amounts of time to get to a love confession - getting to that starting point and as soon as that happens, THATS IT end of serialization, that’s you 6 chapters HOW DARE YOU WANT MORE. it sucks! I wanna read about women in love, I wanna see stories about their home lives, their hopes, their dreams, their years. This is a little bit of all that, and it’s perfect. Wako and Ellie have been going out for two years and living together for one year at the start of this story and that so unusual and weird for a yuri manga I LOVE IT 100/10 super recommend

Failed Princess Vol. 2

Still a super frickin cute book! This volume is about coming to terms with jealousy, and its a real nice storyline for one of these school age yuri.

Doughnuts under a crescent moon vol. 3

Sad the next volume is the last. I really recommend this series, again because stuff about adult women in love just rules - just be warned it seems like volume 3 had a small print run and its REALLY hard to find anywhere. I eventually managed to get a copy on ebay... which came bundled with volume 1&2 T_T sometimes you just end up with duplicates.

No Longer Allowed In Another World Vol. 1

What if Zetsubou Sensei was hit by a truck and got isekai’ed? 10/10 good. I published a Isekai Death Report here

Though I Am an Inept Villainess: Tale of the Butterfly-Rat Body Swap in the Maiden Court Vol. 1

I love villainess?!? I really enjoyed watching Raven of the inner palace last anime season, so seeing a villainess story with a similar setting was an instant pickup. Turns out this is very very good! The main character and her ladies maid have a great chemistry together, I can’t wait to see how this evolves over time. Body swapping from a sick, frail (but loved) persona to a healthy, strong (but universally hated) one is a super interesting setting as well, this is genius space brain level trash I love it

The Savior's Book Café Story in Another World Vol. 1

Straight, but interesting. Dang i love isekai, and how they are all the same but different. “You have been summoned to a magical world! you MUST become a savior, a hero in this place! i shall grant you MASSIVE amounts of magical power and grant a wish” - okay thats all normal nothing weird here - “ehh that sounds like a hassle can i own a little café bookshop on the outskirts of a capital city and just kinda rest there and do nothing??” 11/10 PERFECT use of isekai powers LOVE IT for you girl please do exactly that. I think deep down, we have all just wanted to have a little café bookshop and no responsibility and massive amounts of magical energy. (no isekai death report for this title - she seems to just have been summoned)

The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 1

What a lovely little story! Maomao makes some wonderful disgusted faces at flirty men, which really speaks to me imo. She’s so cool snake Also I’m quickly realizing that “weird girls solve problems in the inner court of a Chinese palace” is like - a manga/light novel genre now? Like “isekai but it’s a otome novel and the main character is the villainess” is a genre. Very cool looking forward to exploring the depths of this genre on the coming weeks and months

Bonus: Audio Books

Sword Art Online Vol. 8

i can never hate sword art. it sucks so much, but i sure do love this trash garbage. This volume is a bunch of short stories that take place all over the timeline - i think the short story anthologies are some of the better sword art light novels, when we just get to throw the characters into an interesting situation without thinking about the connective tissue of the story too hard... sword art is best when you dont think about it too hard! The audio books are still really well produced, deffo recommended if you want some daft background listening.

Reincarnated as the Last of my Kind Vol. 4

Somehow, this audio book is 6 hours long, and basically nothing happened... 8/10 its about as 'light' as a light novel could ever get, and i gotta respect that

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... I may have solved my lack of Villainess stories with an amazon order.. maybe..

Books read this year: 57

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-02-26T22:37:30.893Z

February 20th - 26th

Stuff i read this week

The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 2-5

Maomao is SO FUCKING CUTE when she’s ingesting deadly deadly neurotoxins. This girl just LOVES poisons. I LOVE HER. My first taste of poison in ages has me grinning like a fool

Wish I read these slower lol.. it was so good I couldn’t stop myself though the story is SUPER engaging and the Maomao is just a wonderful lead character. i want to spend every second with her that i can heh, the facial expressions in this book are just THAT incredible. Its rare you get to see THAT much character on the page you know?

Savior's Book Cafe Story in Another World Vol. 2-4

Another series i should have savored rather than rush though, but it is what it is! Last week i said "Straight but interesting” and YEAH. its very straight but also very interesting? I do wonder why this fantasy world has such a thriving book publishing industry... like, who is writing all these books shes stocking her cafe with? Anyways, pretty good. Volume 5 dosnt come out until May this year, so thats all for now.

Love me for who I am Vol. 2

Yeah, to enby maid book is back and DANG!! it’s hard to get this book! Totally out of print it seem, eBay to the rescue. AND HECK I CAN SEE WHY it’s incredible for all thoes gender feels. I want the best for all these kids as they figure out life and love! Im just SO glad this series exists?

There’s a part where Tetsu suddenly begins to “get” all this gender stuff other characters are going though whist talking to his transwoman older sibling and hes like… dang I guess I should be calling you oneechan and not oniichan… and she’s so happy about it - I deffo almost cried lol. Yeah good book. Now i just have to track down volume 3... painful

Sasaki and Peeps Vol. 1

Ahhh heck what a super smart inversion of isekai themes! No guys dying of early onset truck here, instead our hero is a lonely 40 year old office worker who REALLY wants a friend, so he goes to a pet shop. Dogs and cats are too big and expensive… but that weird little bird? 100% within budget… and it can talk… THE BIRD IS A MAGICAL SAINT THAT GOT ISEKAIED TO EARTH?!? And he can do teleportation?!? Wow Sasaki’s daily commute just got SO MUCH faster. 10/10 Commuter Isekai in general are a fascinating subgenre, and this particular story is getting an anime adaption soon so im super glad i found it. It does a lot of neat stuff with time scaling and like.. practical power limits? Recommended.

The Girl I want is so Handsome! The Complete Manga Collection

Two volumes printed in one nice big book. It’s LARGE, I do love manga with smaller page sizes (makes it much easier to store them or carry them!) but heck it’s easy to forget how good these things look on LARGE pages! Looks incredible up close.

Plot wise it’s pretty simple straightforward school based yuri story with a basketball theme… it’s cute. Does have that thing where like all plot progression is gated behind misunderstandings and miscommunication but luckily things tend to be cleared up the next chapter so it’s never annoying. Yeah, it’s just simple, pretty well executed story printed in a really nice chunky volume.

Our Teachers are Dating! Vol. 1

GOD women are so hot, I love women.
IM REALLY SORRY that these book notes quite often tend to do this but I’m going on another rant about HOW these books are printed but HECK this book (series?!?) is printed on WEIRDLY high quality paper stock. It’s so thick it was even hard to fully open? The cover is a real nice card stock (double side printed at that! And the internal pages are real smooth and thick - theres no paper grain here. It’s also on the small side of the page size spectrum which coupled with the binding/paper quality just feels really luxurious? It’s wild! Puling a small sample of other books published by Seven Seas, and none of them have the same paper stock or bins stiffness to them. The closest is their full color manhwa prints, but even they seem to have thinner pages with a slight gloss finish. Like, "the girl i want is so handsome!" was also published by Seven Seas, as an object its like the polar opposite of this book. It’s real weird, but I love it! This is why physical objects rule.

Bonus: Audio Books

Solo Leveling Vol. 6

I dont get the hype around this series. When Crunchyroll announced there was an anime adaption happening and they would be airing it, people went wild on that social media. Ive been listening to the audiobook version for a while and like.. i dont get it. ITS SO BORING!?!? Like, people seem to be hyped for the fights and stuff... but i SWARE there are like whole chapters that are just dryly discussing how portals to magical worlds full of terrifying monsters really depress the value of luxury housing markets IN A REAL BORING WAY. that kind of content should be right up my ally but dang solo leveling makes it dull. BUT I SHALL CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO EVERY VOLUME, HOPING THE NEXT ONE IS WHERE IT GETS GOOD. This volume actual had some bits where Jinwoo actually feels kinda like a human for once.. but yeah hes still a bit of a fucking psychopath. The whole story also has that vague "oh yeah this feels kinda like it was written by a fascist" thing going on, like attack on titan.. oh maybe thats why so many people are hyped for it? cant recommend this unless your a total dweeb like me. (my next audible credits going to be spent on the new volume of Tanya the Evil, so uhhh, more of that next month too i guess!)

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... not sure about villainess content tho which is SAD. I do have more Apothecary Diaries arriving on monday tho so IM REAL HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

Books read this year: 68

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-03-06T15:39:37.967Z

February 27th - March 5th (another month down heck!)

Stuff i read this week

The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 6-7

Heck things are getting tense and super interesting- volume 6 manages to pull so many storylines together in a cool way also MAOMAO IS SO COOL I LOVE HER. I have once again READ ALL the new volume of this as soon as i get them which is a big mistake, i have now 100% run out and volume 8 dosnt hit until 9th May OR June 6th, depending on if you believe Amazon .co.uk or .com. who knows when ill get more Maomao! this sucks! I guess this is a great time to remind you that its getting an anime adaption soon and it looks beautiful

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/1198754-finished-it-real-go

Failed Princesses Vol. 3-4

Still cute, still dramatic, still getting going. Somehow a lot of stuff happens but it feels real slow? just hook up already i guess.

If Witch, Then Which? Vol. 1-3

The crossdressing witch manga. It was okay I guess? Its cute and pretty short, but deffo not queer which is always disappointing. i mean 'crossdressing witch manga' sounds like it should be queer as heck, but it aint!

Love me for who I am Vol. 3-5

The 'enby working in a cross dressing maid café' manga returns. I would die for Mogumo (and ive made that fact ABUNDANTLY clear). Mogumo is perfect. I love this book. Its kinda sad the story ends where it does, it would be nice to have a bigger glimpse into these characters lives now they have figured things out a bit more - but its nice have such a queer, beautiful little story in 5 nicely printed manga volumes. 10/10

Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Dukes Mansion Vol. 2

Fine i guess. I think id get on with this story better if more was out so i could binge... feels way to slow at the moment but these full colour manhwa books are SUPER readable. My copy had some major print quality issues - a lot of smudge black ink, some of the colors had oversaturated the paper and caused it to rip and crack. Weird! i Guess Yen Press isnt the best at full colour release, but im sure other books ive had have been better than this!

Bonus: Uhhh nothing

i started a few light novels but haven't finished anything yet.

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... i did hit the book shop on sunday to scout out some more Villainess content, WHICH WAS A SUCSESS so at least one villainess book, and maybe some isekai.. who knows!

Books read this year: 79

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-03-12T20:25:31.274Z

March 6th - 12th

Stuff i read this week

The Princess of convenient plot devices Vol. 1

Heck yeah she did it! She managed to procure another villainess isekai manga. Fricking champion.

I didn’t know anything about this going in to it (i didn’t even read the blurb on the back, just saw a villainess-like title and bought it immediately) but it’s not how I expected it to go based on the title, instead we have a pretty funny deep dive into “okay so we reincarnated as a princess in the world of a boys love novel… how does Nobel society function of all the hot Nobel dudes are trying to bone each other?” And the answer is your brother (the crown Prince) is kinda a misogynist? Makes sense, let him cook. Fortunately our heroin is kinda a complete fricking moron, so I love her unconditionally and pray for her heteronormative success.

Daughter of the Emperor Vol. 1 - 2

Yay another isekai~ what’s really neat about this is that is TOTALLY doubles down on the mechanics of “being reborn” - our protagonist is a literal child. Sure- a child with an adult mind, but still a child. She can’t communicate, she’s 2 months old. Of course she can’t communicate! she can beat sit up by herself! And that kinda rules? It’s about our girl figuring out that her new dad is a terrible tyrannical despotic emperor, who is incapable of showing emotion and figuring out how the world works, and how to survive as this crazed guy’s only child. It kinda rules. baby

This is Screwed Up, But I was Reincarnated as a girl in Another World Vol. 1-5

This could only have been drawn but a true pervert.

Chronicles of an Aristocrat Reborn in Another World Vol. 1 - 3

Some basic bitch isekai bullshit. You gotta respect the grift behind these tales.

A Galaxy Next Door Vol. 1

I do love me some manga about making manga. This does have a weird supernatural background story to it, but ours still nice to see people struggling their hardest to make beautiful art and slowly fall in love at the same time

The Holy Grail of Eris Vol. 2

Prologue is over and the plot is moving on on earnest… the core mystery isn’t very developed or interesting at this point. Kinda love the dynamic between our two lead ladies tho, but yeah for the most part the Nobel women in this world are cartoonishly evil and it’s just kinda stupid lol. I hope it gets better, cos the art is beautiful

Bonus: Audiobooks

Even Dogs go to Other Worlds: Life in Another World with my Beloved Hound Vol. 2

Cross Infinite World has this amazing ability to pick the most chill, low energy light novels for translation. Like, this is a 7 hour audiobook that essentially nothing happens in, and im 100% there for every second of it. glad they exist.

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... i didnt manage to read any yuri this week it was a full on isekai deepdive and i LOVED IT. but yeah, next week i wanna see a girl kiss

Books read this year: 92

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-03-19T22:48:16.345Z

March 13th - 19th

Stuff i read this week

The Abandoned Empress Vol. 1 - 3

Real engaging take on the whole non-isekai villainess time skip sub genre - I’m having a great time slowly understanding how this world works and how our main girl is going to survive. The first volume spends a LOT of its pages in her first life which was really neat- if very abusive and violent. Really makes you feel for her. 10/10 good book - the only thing that would make it better would be if it were yuri. Also, check out these beautiful shiny covers chibi

The Remarried Empress Vol. 1

Villainess stories will never get old, it’s amazing how many variations you can get on “there’s a king and queen, the king is a shit husband, some scheming harlot gets between them and everyone thinks it’s the queens fault- go”. I’m not the biggest fan of the art in this one (it’s very pointy rather than rounded if you know what I mean) but it’s a hella engaging tale and OH GOSH the cover is beautiful, with golden embossed lettering and every. As an object- it’s incredible.

Chronicles of an Aristocrat Reborn in Another World Vol. 4

Not much more to say since last week. Its by the numbers isekai bullshit, and sometimes thats all you need.

Let This Grieving Soul Retire - Woe is the Weakling Who Leads the Strongest Party Vol. 1 - 3

Some basic bitch fantasy bullshit. Its not great but i can turn my brain off.

Bonus: Audiobooks

The Saga of Tanya the Evil vol. 6

More war (boring, boo) but waaaaay more importantly it felt like a solid 40% of the runtime was spent discussing coffee. Coffee as a wartime frontline luxury. Coffee a bribe. Coffee as a ritual. Coffee as an indicator of economic stability. The mechanics of smuggling coffee into a hegemonic empire via a neutral 3rd party country during wartime. Its all in here! That stuff rules.

Bonus: Light Novels

D-Genesis: Three Years after the Dungeons Appeared Vo. 3

This is just by far my favorite light novel series right, its so good. I wrote about how incredible the latest volume is here

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... i didnt manage to read any yuri this week (again oops). next week i wanna see a girl kiss

Books read this year: 100 (wtf)

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-03-26T23:19:11.270Z

March 20th - 26th

Stuff i read this week

Daughter of the Emperor Vol. 3

I got no notes on this one. Villainess story. It’s good. Very petty. Cool our main character is like 3 years old now and they are keeping this whole actually reborn in another world thing very literal? It’s just good.

Even Though We’re Adults Vol. 1 - 5

Ahh delicious, finally taking a crack at my Yuri pile again. THIS BOOK IS INCREDIBLE - incredibly readable, if you get it you too will be howling in pain at the terrible adult love triangle thats forming. If your not violently nodding along and thinking “yeah! what the heck! keep going girl!” when one of our two main protagonist ladies shouts “Give me a break Ayano… you idiot. YOU’RE MARRIED!” at her phone - you must be dead inside.

If like the idea of reading a series where a lady shouts “I CAN’T BE CHATTING WITH MY CRUSHES HUSBAND!” Whilst lying down in bed in despair this is the series for you!

Villains Are Destined to Die Vol. 2

The way this book plays with game systems is still really interesting - but the best part by far is the coloring still. It’s just such a beautiful saturated vibrant look - I’m a sucker for that. Looking forward to the next volume for some more delicious pink hair

The Holy Grail of Eris Vol. 3

I adore our beautifully honest protagonist and her evil ghost aunty. Such a great dynamic, and oh heck the art is beautiful…. But gosh dang the world and literally EVERY SINGLE other character is horrible and it kinda makes it a real chore to read. I wish I liked this series more?

Days of Love at Seagull Villa Vol. 1 - 3

Dang this series was just incredibly readable - like the opposite of some other stuff I’ve been reading this week I just couldn’t put it down, and I could get through a volume in like 45mins - this yuri manga is just smooth as butter~

It’s got all the good things going for it, it’s about adult women (mostly) with adult problems… it’s not as good as the doughnut yuri but yeah, it was for sure short and sweet. It does suffer from that main yuri manga sin of ending when the protagonist’s finally get together. Ughh. That should be a beginning not the end!

Bonus: Web Manga

Senpai wa Otokonoko

super cute reccomended if you wanna read a silly queer manga thats also REAL heart wrenching at times

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/1234889-this-manga-is-very

stuff in the pile for next week

ahh i did it, i took a big chunk out of my Yuri. But whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive! I have some new isekai stuff being delivered. so fingers crossed that shows up!

Books read this year: 111

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-04-02T23:49:36.919Z

March 27th - April 2nd

Stuff i read this week

A Galaxy Next Door Vol. 2 -3

You know, after that first volume being a little weak because I was weirded out by the space-alien-island-bee-princess thing, im really enjoying the series now? Like, I do love a good princess-who-is-an-idiot and I do love a hopeless romantic lead as well, and i looooove inside baseball manga about writing manga. So yeah this book is going places! Everyone’s so warm and fluffy in it. ALSO i happen to believe that any book that has a (literal) prim and proper princess say “of course I adore your blushing and nervous laughter I dare say it is MY SHIT!” is very funny and worth your time imo.

Doughnuts Under A Crescent Moon Vol. 4

Our two asexual queens finally admit they are crushing on each other and eat a doughnut about it. Good yuri. Delicious. 10/10

So What’s Wrong With Getting Reborn as a Goblin? Vol. 1

Very silly & cute isekai (truck - isekai death report is avalible here) it’s very easy to read, you can just turn your brain off for this one. Recommended if your a genre pervert.

She loves to cook and she loves to eat Vol. 1

This book is very similar to Beauty and the Feast - it’s the story of a small young woman who loves to cook and adopts a neighbor to shovel bucketloads of food into - but instead of a young hungry baseball teen, in this book Nomoto-san’s neighbor happens to be a large butch lass who possibly works for Suntory beverage company and DEFFO also has a massive distaste for men. If these two gals don’t hug in volume 2 I will scream.

The Otherworlder, Exploring the Dungeon Vol. 1

I hate real world military shit but if you throw a fully equipped marine into an isekai world come on I’m going to eat that garbage up. By the end of the first volume our main character has disposed of all his modern weapons (by getting a merman to hide them at the deepest trench in the ocean, naturally) because he understands the MASSIVE power disparity between modern firearms and like, adventurers with swords and shit. What if he loses control of his stash? It’s just not safe! And that’s a real cool, interesting narrative and character choice! But without his clear monopoly on deadly force afforded to him by a rifle and handgun, grenades and plastic explosives, I’m not sure where this story is going to go moving into volume 2. It’s going to be interesting to see how it develops! Recommended if your a genre pervert.

Pulse Vol. 3

Dr. Mel is is hot and terrifying what the heck I did not expect any of this to happen also why did Lynn’s clothes all fall off in this volumes last chapter what was THAT all about?!? Also ACAB apparently includes Crystal??? Did we know she was a pig?!? So many much stuff happened can’t wait till volume 4! (I had it in my head that volume 3 was the last one, so I was real sad going in to this- great to know I was wrong!)

Remarried Empress Vol. 2

This one is getting very politically interesting! The whole dysfunctional dynamic between the empress and emperor is really gripping and it’s cool seeing the mistress get better at politic… but being used by weirdos all around without her particularly noticing. It’s a harsh world. Also bird magic is neat.

Witch Hat Atelier Vol. 1

I can see why people love this series- the main thing I couldn’t stop thinking about whilst raging out was how wonderful the idea of paring an ink based magic system with that art style is. Like, I think it’s rare for manga to have an art style that is almost part of the narrative theme, if that makes sense? The lavishly hyper detailed line work and the deeply inked hatched shading just work real well for a tale about ink magic. I just think that’s neat?

Bonus: Manga Scalations

Can you keep a secret?

I really love romance stories set in offices (i dunno, every office ive ever worked in sucked and the fantasy of a coworker actually being nice is kinda cool) and this is a pretty cute (het) one. They eat some doughnuts at one point which like.. if your going to put a doughnut into a romance story im going to rate it REALLY highly. im a simple girl.

Bonus: Spring Anime Season begins

New anime season! That means new shows! And new isekai worlds to Death report on! anyways this is what ive watched so far.

The Aristocrat's Otherworldly Adventure: Serving Gods Who Go Too Far

Immediately upon being reincarnated, this dweebs first conscious thought is an evangelion reference. 8/10

Hell's Paradise

seems pretty good. i like the "i can fix him says woman who is worse" vibes its got going on

My Home Hero

This show is going to be messed up.

stuff in the pile for next week

Whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive!

Books read this year: 120

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-04-10T10:00:08.620Z

April 3rd - 9th

notion has turned darkmode again. i have no idea why

Stuff i read this week

Reborn as a Space Mercenary Vol. 1 - 2

What if you isekai'ed into Eve online? Huh, what if that- except now eve online has hot space elves. That’s the thesis we shall explore in this ground breaking work of speculative science fiction. 10/10 Science Fiction Isekai is deffo a brand new genre for genre perverts to enjoy. Like, being 100% honest this polyamorous spaceship caption isekai is probably my favorited trash isekai I’ve read so far this year. It’s so brain dead and reads smooth.

The Eminence In Shadow Vol. 1

“Picture someone who isn’t the main character or the antagonist, someone who manipulate events behind the scenes and flaunt their overwhelming power. That’s the kind of shadowbroker I’ve always dreamed of becoming“ - that’s the opening line, it’s a fucking strong mission statement! Ive talked about my love of the anime (and probably the light novel too, which is also great) but this is my first time reading the manga. i love isekai ITS GOOD! yeah yeah its an isekai so its obviously 100% my shit, but i just love everything about how this stupid story is structured. The whole gimmick with our protagonist just making fantasy shit up as he bumbles though the world and not realizing that every single tropey made up story he acts out in the world actually textually really exists IN REALITY, is real fun.

She loves to cook and she loves to eat Vol. 2

The dweebs continue to eat incredible food together and think “huh this is nice if only we could keep hanging out together like all the time lol just kidding or am I haha just kidding what if we spent Christmas together” it’s a VERY real feeling lesbian tale

Witch Hat Atelier Vol.2

Really good second volume, it’s cool seeing these girls work so hard together, and the story slowly open up. There really is the sense that there’s a super interesting world to delve more deeply into here... but ive run out of volumes.

The Abandoned Empress Vol. 4

Bit of a slow volume but events are seemingly begging to swirl around and merge together. All the men in our protagonists like SUCK, do wonder if straight women really find these kinda characters hot. Like, theres zero redeeming features here. So why am i reading still? I’m here for the villainess energy

So What’s Wrong With Getting Reborn as a Goblin? Vol. 2

Really cool seeing how our isekai protagonist combines skills and short lifespans into a weird powerful system. I ENJOY THIS.

The Fiancée Chosen by the Ring Vol. 1 - 2

Finally so shoujo! Cute So yeah it’s a pretty regular shoujo story about nobility, romance and ballgowns - but I really like the characters here, especially the embroidery obsessed protagonist- she’s just super cool? Its really neat how that character theme of "shes an embroidery pervert" gets woven in to so many things, its what she does in her free time, its what she pays attention to at the igh society parties, heck her magical powers are that she can do embroidery real good. Just a real cleanly structured story & world you know? I really like manga that’s smooth and easy to read and this is just incredibly that. It’s pretty as heck and I like it 10/10

Bonus: Audiobooks

Even if this Love Disappears Tonight

pretty good misery porn that pulls every trick possible to try and make you cry. Im real glad that Yen Press is just putting out so much stuff these days and not just like, anime bullshit (as much as i LOVE anime bullshit) - its just a well written tear jerking teen romance that will leave you having a nice little think about stuff at the end - and sometimes thats exactly what you want from an audiobook

Rascal Does Not Dream of Logical Witch/Rascal Does Not Dream of Siscon Idol

I also finished both of these audiobooks this week - gosh dang does this series have THE ABSOLUTE WORST naming conventions. I do like this series a lot though, this is one that has you thinking a lot as well, as every story has a neat puzzle to it - Its like the bakemonogatari stories, except maybe a little more grounded - How the heck do you explain this weeks supernatural phenomena. phenomena of the week, instead of monster? Its a good genre.

stuff in the pile for next week

Whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive!

Books read this year: 129

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-04-17T17:01:48.012Z

April 10th - 16th

Stuff i read this week

The Knight Blooms Behind Castle Walls Vol. 1

A sweet story of a young page boy who yearns to grow up quick and become a fully fledged knight in shining armor - she’s just keeping the fact she’s a girl hidden from all the rest of the castle’s inhabitants. This book really captures a sense of childlike glee that I don’t see often in manga, and it’s super beautifully drawn as well! Seeing young ladies blush at how gallant this lil squire is is reallllly adorable 10/10 super different.

The books also full of these really cute cross sections and diagrams of castles and castle life, little tapestries depicting the history of the castle. These are some of my favorite moments of visual storytelling in this book, the mangaka manages to fit so much into a few small detail panels. Recommended

I can’t believe I slept with you Vol. 1 - 3

A short, messy yuri about a fuckup game developer and her hot younger landlady. So yeah, lets ignore the problematic aspects of your landlady forcing “favors” from you because your behind on rent, at its core this is a sweet story about a useless oneesan type character relying on a anxious and unstable little sister, who in turn needs her for emotional support. they grow and heal together, and thats always heartwarming. i just WISH they had another volume for post confession adventures WHY DO THESE THINGS ALWAYS END AT THE START OF A RELATIONSHIP IM GUNNA SCREAM.

Beauty and the feast vol. 4

I’m beginning to understand that the mangaka that wrote this series is just a pervert for oneesan character archetype. Thats the only explanation for all of this. She loves to cook and she loves to eat is deffo a better story with similar "i must feed this nerd" themes... that said Yakumo san is undeniably a great oneesan

The Fiancé Chosen by the Ring Vol. 3

I got nothing more to say about this series. It’s fun? Like, there is zero surprising stuff going on here.. i just wanna read more? Its junk food, but more healthy than.....

Chronicles of an Aristocrat Reborn in Another World Vol. 5

Some weird shit theology in this one. Apparently you can become a god of you beat up another god real good? I think? Who knows. This is garbage. I will continue to read

Bonus: Audiobooks

86-Eighty-Six Vol. 2-3

The audiobook productions Yen Audio put out for this series are real good, and the novels are every bit as interesting as the animated series. Compared to how gross The Saga of Tanya the Evil leaves you feeling, theres a lot of good here. I really like how these volumes contrast the neoliberal democratic paradises of The Federacy and the fascist Republic state we spent the first volume in... like, its the same place, with a lick of paint! Its the kind of book you can imagine a nerd defending for "not being political" despite being THE MOST POLITICAL thing. Neat stuff.

stuff in the pile for next week

Whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive! Talking of messy yuri seires, i might try and get through Citrus again, i managed to track down the few volumes i was missing....

Books read this year: 136

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-04-26T01:23:21.176Z

April 17th - 23rd (wow i forgot to post this on sunday oops)

Stuff i read this week

Vampeerz Vol. 1 - 2

Yuri vampires! Again! I like this book, like… a lot? The art is incredible and the printing and binding job Denpa have done is fantastic.. they are a small publisher but I really love the feel of their books! It’s a nice object?

The work itself is very cute and very unsettling and perfectly stupid at moments, it’s a tale of a vampire that’s had enough and just wants to die and a young girl that just fell in love with her at first sight. Not much happens in the first volume but the stories pacing just delivers this perfect balance of unsettling creepiness and yuri first love… good book

A Tale of the Secret Saint Vol. 1 -2

I do love me a reincarnation tale (im sure you have all figured that out by now), especially when the main character is a fucking idiot. Oh daaaang I love fucking idiots. Idiots rule. And this specific idiot? Shes so stupid! And she has a dragon friend?!? An idiot with a dragon friend! 10/10

No longer allowed in another world vol. 2

Okay now the title makes sense! I really liked volume 1 but the weird title really bugged me, but the first half of volume 2 finished off the prologue and now everything makes sense in a satisfying intelligent way. 10/10 In this volume isekai zetsubo sensei writes an novel, smirks at a cat girl princess and snacks on waaaaay to many pills and poisons to be healthy.

A returner’s magic should be special Vol. 1 - 2

Pretty simple korean reincarnation webtoon, dude helps beat the demon lord but oh no! gets time reverted back in time like 10 years or whatever (i forgot to take notes) to adventuring school. Guess its time to get even more buff than before and beat the demon lord guy back up, this time with future knowledge. Oh, also everyone in school is real classist and nobles get all the goodies. See, super simple, perfect story 10/10

Bonus: Audiobooks

86-Eighty-Six Vol. 4

Its finally at new content thats not in the anime and AHHH HECK ITS GOOD. Is a new season of the anime planned yet? I HOPE SO! we got a heckload of underground shopping center combat in this volume which rules and OH HECK THE LEGION SOMEHOW GOT EVEN MORE CREEPY

stuff in the pile for next week

Whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. Idk... maybe ill dig out some of the shoujo ive not read too that would be fun. ALSO next week i need to plan out a new format for this thread because it getting too long IM SO SORRY

Books read this year: 143

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-02T18:17:14.574Z

April 24th - 30th (wow i forgot to post this on sunday again oops)

Stuff i read this week

Kaiju Girl Caramelise Vol.

Uhhh this book is kinda incredible. Reading the bonus page at the back we learn the mangaka and her editor was trying to solve one major editorial problem with this work. How do you transfer from working on a series serialzied in a shoujo magazine to a series in a shonen one? The answer they stumbled up is just incredibly genius. Just draw a complete by the numbers stereotypical shoujo manga, make the protagonist a REAL loser girl, put in a HOT boy love interest, draw it alll HYPER feminine, so many sparkles, make it real fluffy and flowery…

Now finally make protag-chan turn into fucking Godzilla whenever she’s embarrassed. Like, skyscraper sized. Big girl shit. It’s absolute genius space brain stuff over here.

Though I am an Inept Villainess: Tale of the Butterfly-Rat Body Swap in the Maiden Court Vol. 1 - 2

This is the first time I’ve had to do a second read of a book from this year, but volume 2 just came out and I can’t remember a thing about the first one. And I’m glad I did read it again?!? It’s super good?! The art is wonderful and the two lead characters are wonderful. Volume 2 is even better, the whole courtly drama is just heating up deliciously and OH HECK it ends on a great cliffhanger (someone FIGUREs OUT THE BODYSWAP?!) ohh be still my beating heart I don’t want to wait months for volume 3 this sucks~

Failed Princesses Vol. 5 - 6

Ahh dang it’s over - I simultaneously like this series a lot and also find it really empty heh. It’s a hella cute and pretty ride, and the initial popular gal adopting a weird nerd and teaching her how to be pretty arc was REAL good… volume 4s was really strong with Izumi’s confession (and rejection) just being a great story.. and seeing Izumi ending up happy in the background (with the extrovert nerd girl) was just really satisfying… but the main story line… fucking Kanade’s weird obsession and lack of self confidence AFTER EVERYTHING YOUVE BEEN THOUGH TOGETHER IN THE PREVIOUS 5 VOLUMES!!?! Idk… just feels real not earned in a way… it’s like this plot is two shades two mean to its main characters? It’s not tasty! I dunno just feels like there’s a more delicious story that could have emerged over the last volume and a half… it’s like all the elements that make this ending are good! Just maybe not with this particular weighting.. and in this particular order? still good tho.

Hazure Skill: The Guild Member With a Worthless Skill is Actually a Legendary Assassin Vol. 1 - 3

A classic boy meets demon-lord girl, boy beats up demon lord girl, demon lord girl becomes boys pet cat, boy gets a job as a staff member at a small normal adventurers guild. You know, one of them. It’s always nice to see really abnormal characters getting obsessed with being “normal” (whilst having zero clue what normal even is). There’s lots of fun fantasy tropes and found family themes running all the way through. Simple but solidly executed “I can’t believe it’s not isekai” junk. 10/10

Also, wow there’s something weird with these books. For some reason Yen Press switched to a MUCH higher quality paper stock on the 3rd volume. It’s real smooth and not grainy at all, a little thicker… weird! I do like a higher quality product but I like consistency more! Just a weird thing to change too

Bonus: Audiobooks

The Rising of the Shield Hero Vol 5

The incel light novel is back baybeee~ and its still way better than it has any right to be heck dang it. Now that were 5 volumes in our narrator guy seems to be finally getting the hang of doing "girl" voices for character in a way that dosnt make you want to spontaneously vomit

stuff in the pile for next week

Whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. Idk... I think i wanna start reading though my dress-up darling.. its kinda calling to me.. WE SHALL SEE THO. ALSO next week i need to plan out a new format for this thread because it getting too long IM SO SORRY - last week i said id do that this week but I REALLY HAVNT HAD TIME OOPS

Books read this year: 151

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-09T22:28:29.542Z

May 1st - 7th

Stuff i read this week

This is Screwed up but I was Reincarnated as a Girl in Another World Vol. 6

Yay a new volume of one of the MOST trash isekai series is out ~ in this volume Ren wants eggs SO bad she goes on a long journey to the royal capital (bigger marketplace there) and drags along two of the waitresses she met at the hotel she used to stay at. She’s going to pamper them SO HARD.

Im still really enjoying this delicious garbage and 1000% recommend this series. Its always stupid, fun and lighthearted, but internally consistent, it puts a LOT of artistry into drawing food (which is one of my favorite things in manga).... but it deffo is one for genre perverts (which genre tho? Isekai? Gender bending? Yes.)

Hazure Skill: The Guild Member With a Worthless Skill is Actually a Legendary Assassin Vol. 4

Huh… different paper again… you know, for a dumb harem adjacent over powered cheat skill fantasy manga (which again, I can’t believe it’s not an isekai) it’s got some heart to it. That’s alway my favourite kind of trash, when there’s just a nice warmth to the work, you know? The relationship between our assassin protagonist and the demon lord really has that- the whole two misfits that don’t really understand how to be human making a place for themselves in the world kinda thing- always gets me

I got a cheat skill in another world and became unrivaled in the real world too vol. 3

Talking of dumb harem adjacent over powered cheat skill fantasy manga that weirdly has a lot of heart to it - this volume puts the manga at the exact same point as the currently airing anime - in fact I think the most recent episode that aired this week covers the same material as the last two chapters in this book (editing lotte- the anime has pulled ahead again since i wrote this as uhhh, it airs every weekend oops). It’s pretty interesting to see both adaptions side by side and seeing how they weight story beats slightly differently. The action is deffo waaay clearer in the anime, you’ll get like 15 seconds of screen time for something that’s a single confusing panel in the manga. Bottom line? It’s still delicious trash, it’s weirdly wholesome and very good for you.

The Eminence in Shadow Vol. 2

Whatever I said about volume 1? Just copy paste that here it’s still an incredible work. My main problem with it is none of my local bookshops have volume 3 in stock (editing lotte again: youll never guess what i got on monday next week), and I’ve already got volume 4 waiting. Sigh.

My Dress-up Darling Vol. 1 - 4

Every bit as good as the (incredible) anime. I rewatched it like two weeks ago so it’s very fresh in my mind- so being able to contrast how it adapted and changed scenes from the manga has been real interesting (that’s been a bit of a theme this week hasn’t it!?!). One change i really noticed is how they introduce that Gojo kun is kinda a friendless loser right at the beginning, the anime adds an incredible visual joke that’s not in (and probably wouldn’t work as well) in the manga. Yeah, it’s been real interesting! ALSO FINDING OUT THAT SWALLOWTAIL WIGS IS A REAL SHOP IN IKEBUKURO WAS KINDA WILD it seems like the afterword pages in these volumes are gunna be great.

Bonus: Web manhwa

What’s Wrong with Being a Villainess

CHECK IT OUT THIS THING IS TOTALLY BEAUTIFUL AND FUNNY 10/10. I love it in villainess stories where a totally normal collage kid can be like, the most villainess and evil noble woman ever just because she has experienced how modern day capital works. Like, theres a whole trope subgenre in isekai fiction where having a highschool level understanding of the nitrogen cycle or the ability to make basic skin moisturizers are both SUPER big brain space god level knowledge in isekai stories. Your mundane normal upbringing makes you special, no matter how painful it was. This villainess-variant of that trope takes it one level deeper and wraps it even tighter in the isekai genre underpinning base axiom - "the real world sucks and a magic world would for sure be better". Villainess stories' like this one counter that with a "people would still suck in magical other worlds - they hate you for just being who you are, but you have been hurt by end game capitalism. they have not.... yet" - and i just think thats neat. it rules actually.

stuff in the pile for next week

Whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. Idk... ALSO next week i need to plan out a new format for this thread because it getting too long IM SO SORRY - last week (and the week before) i said id do that this week but I REALLY HAVNT HAD TIME OOPS. being sick sucks ass

Books read this year: 159

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-17T11:13:48.318Z

May 8th - 14th

Stuff i read this week

Quality Assurance in Another World vol. 1

It’s a fucking game developer isekai - essentially what if sword art online, except your a wimpy QA tester that’s REAL good at hiding. Maybe if you report all the bugs (whilst hiding from all the other QA testers that have given up on work and gone rouge) they will finally let you log out and go home? Prepare for t pose jokes

Also? The monster design in this book? It’s got dragons. Huge terrifying dragons. Dragons that will make even the mightiest NPC quiver with fear. They look like heckin ginormous frogs with goofy lil eyes. Terrifying. 10/10

(There’s a good 20 pages on rubbing yourself against walls trying to find collision bugs. To real.)

The Eminence in Shadow Vol. 3

I’m convinced now - the plot is waaaay clearer and easier to follow than in the anime adaption, the panel layout is really good and everything just flows real well. Super good adaptation. It’s just delightfully easy to read - getting through the entirety of the school terrorist arc in like 40 mins feels just right

A Tale of the Secret Saint Vol. 3

I can’t keep track of all these characters- good book tho, 'i cant believe its not isekai' junk food

Hazure Skill: The Guild Member With a worthless skill is actually a legendary assassin vol. 5

Even more junk food.. well this series more like a comfort food, just the right blend of cute fantasy misfit finding family vibes… then that last chapter in this volume? Yikes. I hope you like horrific depictions of torture along side your warm fuzzy nonsense.

Chronicles of an Aristocrat Reborn in Another World Vol. 6

This ones more of a junk food that you know is really bad for you and it makes you sick every time you eat it, but maybe a little bit wont send you to the bathroom for an hour. An okay volume, the set up for next volume is fun tho! Seems like it’s gunna be about adventures being jerks.

Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included Vol. 1-2

Cute and soft, inoffensive trash about a boy picking up an angel and letting her live in his studio apartment. It’s not the best apartment but it does get good natural lighting. I don’t know why that’s such an important feature of protagonist-kun’s home that it deserves to go in the title, seemed pretty throwaway in the book.

So this series is just kinda empty, inoffensive fluff. Very mid, 6/10 level stuff. The do go to mr donut (twice) in volume 2 so now it’s actually my favorite manga ever - I love mr donut. 100/10

Bonus: scanlations

Kasane and Subaru

.
Real cute manga about two cowrokers dating - Subaru is secretly a cross dresser and Kasane is their biggest fan. I love stories about coworkers dating and this is A VERY CUTE VARIENT OF THIS GENRE.

Bonus: Audiobooks

Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra: World Conquest starts with the Civilization of Ruin Vol. 4

I think out of all the light novel audiobook series im following (which, i think is literally all of them lol) this is BY FAR the worst. Its isekai where the protagonist gets reborn into the mechanics of his favorite 4X stratergy game, but in a generic fantasy world, and there seems to be other players reborn their with different game rule systems. Which is kind of interesting? This volume is mainly about a fight with a tabletop RPG hero... which kinda isnt interesting. When your game rulesystem lets you say "actually none of the attacks your units did hurt me, my dungeon master says so" theres kinda... nothing to be done, no tension, no nothing. Just nothing ever happens. This ones only for genre perverts.

stuff in the pile for next week

There was a looooot of trash this week. maybe next week i can find something better... Idk... ALSO next week i need to plan out a new format for this thread because it getting too long IM SO SORRY - last week (and the week before) (and the week before) i said id do that this week but I REALLY HAVNT HAD TIME OOPS.

Books read this year: 166

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-24T23:48:00.187Z

May 15th - 21st

Stuff i read this week

Young Ladies Don’t Play Fighting Games Vol. 1

Okay that was real good. I’m glad I finally managed to track down a copy and I’m deffo going to get the rest wow some real pretty ladies playing some fighting games right here. It’s an interesting twist on a classic catholic school style yuri set up, our main characters are both transfer students that are plopped into that rigid prim environment and handle fitting in differently - and contrasting the ultra refined young lady performances with the fighting game manic inner personas is just REAL GOOD. I love it in media when a woman gets to shout “FIGHT ME” with all her heart, 10/10

Into The Deepest Most Unknowable Dungeon Vol. 1

Or, “I was reincarnated in another world but it was pretty much an all-around downgrade” as our main character quips .

A lot of the time for new series, I have no idea what I’m getting into, I’m just buying new shit based on a title… maybe sometimes I’ll look at the cover… but usually I’m not thinking that deep. So a lot of the time with fantasy manga these days I’m 100% thinking “wow I can believe this isn’t an isekai” - it’s the opposite here “wow I can’t believe this is an isekai”. I thought it was just going to be some silly high fantasy dungeoneering… but nope it’s an isekai about how actually combat sucks, the dungeons are cool but the day to day business of adventuring sucks… but dang isn’t dungeon diving aesthetically romantic~ also wow this books world is HELLA misogynistic. It’s kinda impressive how gross it is. Not really recommended- genre perverts might find it interesting.. but like… I didn’t have a good time.. but it was interesting, in a way that makes me want to track down more volumes so I can continue to have a bad time but think a lot about the genre I like… so that’s… something!?!

The Eminence in Shadow Vol. 4

Aww poor Epsilon

Call Girl in Another World Vol. 1

When I saw this in the store I was like “ohhh heck, this is either one for REAL perverts or for REAL GENRE PERVERTS. I hope it’s for genre perverts” and I’m 3000% happy to report it’s for Genre Perverts! rejoice! Incredible my funny and incredible unerotic lol. very neat spin on an isekai setup, and boy does our main lady love to do sexy stuff with big weirdos.

I think I Turned my Childhood Friend into A Girl Vol. 1 -2

I read a scanlation ages ago but yeah, this is still SUPER CUTE, also the way the colour pages are incorporated into it is amazingly nice- it’s an incredibly nice book to behold. Yeah, it’s just real cute.

Magic Artisan Dahlia Wilts No More Vol. 1

After how big a disappointment deepest dungeon was, this was a bit of a happy surprise. It’s anoter isekai, but this time with a lady that used to work in an electronics company reincarnating into a fantasy world as the daughter of a magical artisan, and does the whole isekai modern japan Knowledge thing to make cool magical inventions. SHE IS COOL, STRONG AND I LOVE HER. at it’s core, the first volume is a story of familial loss and romantic betrayal, but there’s a real warm core and hope for her, she’s so much stronger in her second life and I love her for it. Good book.

Bonus: Audiobooks

How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom: Volume 1

better than the anime. Also, i 100% thought this was "The Genius Prince's Guide To Raising a Nation Out of Debt" which is basically the same show. oops

stuff in the pile for next week

Opps late again and oops still need to figure out how to reformat this...IM SO SORRY ITS SO LONG - last week (and the week before) (and the week before) (and the week before) i said id do that this week but I REALLY HAVNT HAD TIME OOPS. Next week? im readin YURI

Books read this year: 173

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-31T00:55:38.546Z

May 22nd - 28th

Stuff i read this week

How do we Relationship? Vol. 1

Dang I adore this book. Adult women doing their best - I love that for them! It’s the kind of book where there are just SO many panels when you read it and then just gaze into the art and feel all warm inside and just tuck yourself onto a little ball of pleasant feelings I SURE DO HOPE NOTHING GOES WRONG FOR THESE TWO.

Also - is just like to acknowledge Saeko for her opening gambit with Miwa - shouting “whoaa that’s some mad cleavage!” The first time you meet a pretty girl is incredibly high power level stuff. Like, we’ve al thought it (probably) but actually pulling it off and not seeming like a creep is incredible work. 10/10 excellent lesbianing right there

The Eminence in Shadow Vol. 5

It’s volume five, so you really need me to tell you how cool it is again? In this volume a girl breaks a baddies sword in half WOTH HER TEETH. 10/10 no notes.

Asumi-chan is Interested in Lesbian Brothels! Vol. 2

This dang girl gets bullied so hard by hot women how does that keep happened to her oh no. If you DO NOT like hot girls huggin an stuff this isnt a book for you.

The Girl with the Sanpaku Eyes Vol. 1

It’s a pretty light and fluffy school romance manga about a girl who has scary eyes but is actually real sweet when you get to know her, and some boy she likes. So/ kinda nothing but still pretty entertaining to read though. The real big draw here is that it’s full color and beautiful, like 5000% some of the prettiest pastel comic pages you ever seen. I know I can go on a bit about how nice a book physically is whenever I come across a particularly nice one - but wow heck this is one of the nicest presented manga books you could ever hope to find. Denpa did a real good job on that front. 10/10

Oshi no Ko Vol. 2

Ahhh heck it’s so good it’s so good it’s so goooood. Volume 2 is the show business arc, and dang the pacing is so good?!! Beautiful art too. I DO NOT WANT TO WAIT MONTHS FOR VOLUME 3

Her Rotal Highness Seems to be Angry Vol. 1

Wow incredibly beautiful art and a double isekai? Like we got a boy being summoned isekaied into a magical world (and dying), and then a princess time slipping to the future… possibly meeting the isekai boys reincarnation 1000 years in the future?!? Double isekai and a time slip this rules genre perverts get hyped that’s like 3 genres. And yeah - theres a lot of manga with really low detailed panel backgrounds but this isnt one of them. I bet it had a monthly serialization or something cos heck the amount of pencil time this would need to draw is wild!

A Galaxy Next Door Vol. 4

I LOVE THIS BOOK STILLL and I think it’s just getting better as the volumes progress? It’s so nice to see them grow more open and close with each other, and our weird space princess get like, slightly more normal.

I really liked that this volume expanded and developed on the other boarding house residents and the manuals friends a bit more, and of course Chibi Chan got some more pages (a whole bonus chapter about her too!) I like manga with a warmth to them, and this is just getting warmer each time. Can’t help but smile

Bonus: Digital Manga

Housekeeping Mage from Another World: Making Your Adventures Feel Like Home Vol. 1-4

Id buy these in paperback if they were out ITS VERY GOOD! Its an isekai shoujo romance about a lady reborn in a magic world except her magic is very week but shes real good at controlling it and invents all sort of domestic uses for it and calls it housekeeping magic..... and like, yeah i would like to read that very much thats some of my favorite genres right there.

stuff in the pile for next week

late - no format updates - sorry again lol - broken record for sure! next week? yuri? isekai? probably. im a dweeb.

Books read this year: 180

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-06-04T23:13:59.845Z

May 29th - June 4th

Stuff i read this week

The Great Cleric Vol. 1 - 3

Yet another isekai, this time a sales guy dies of a sudden heat attack (I think? It’s unclear- hence no death report.. i dont want to be wrong) and gets reincarnated with the potential to learn healing magic and hand to hand combat skills. But oh no, healers in this world are ALL MASSIVE JERKS. Like, the biggest jerks! And our poor protag-kun? hes just a normal nice guy that would never want to charge anyone 30 gold for a healing spell. He just wants to charge 1 silver. Thats how nice he is! But first, hes gotta get good. The first three volumes are mostly a real long skill training arc with some light assassination plots thrown in for a bit of spice... but it’s fun and light, but theres a lot of genre pervert stuff going on. Turns out the world is racist towards beast people (wow so original - who would have thought) so the fact that protag-kun willing to heal them is a big deal. wow! want a nice kid! It’s that kinda story. If your a genre pervert, you know what this is going to be and you love it.

as a sample of the elvel of writing were dealing with here, 100 pages into volume 2 our main guy thinks “hrmm… there HAS to be some sort of discrimination against beastfolk here “ WOW PROTAG-KUN SURE IS A FUCKING BRAIN GENIUS.

Love's in Sight! Vol. 1

Really cute 4 koma about a delinquent gang leader boy and a blind girl doing that whole romance thing and it’s VERY good. It explores this core theme of society not really wanting them in it, because of the precived trouble their existences cause and how that shared experience brings them together. Sure being a delinquent with a scar on you face from a knife fight is VERY different from being partially sighted, but like, it works very well in the text and that thread drives some interesting chapters… also the book is just very funny and cute. I preordered volume 2 o7

Perfect World Vol. 1

And I quote “They’ve made designing part of the Paralympic facilities into contest and nabe-san (my boss) said we should enter… but 2020? That’s five years from now.” “I wonder what’ll be going on then”

UHHHH THEY DONT KNOW THEY LACK FUTURE INFORMATION OH NO. this is a beautiful lil romance manga about a dude in a wheelchair and a lady that likes him. Pretty good imo

Her Royal Highness Seems to be Angry Vol. 2 -3

I said it last time and I’ll say it again, it’s weird to be reading a Tokyo pop published book and the art is beautiful... that said as beautiful as the art is - it’s kinda hard to follow the panels sometime and I’m finding it hard to tell some of the characters apart… which is always annoying when a manga has that kinda readability issue… just dang is it pretty.

The saviour’s book cafe story in another world Vol. 5

Annnnd it’s another series done - volume 5 was the last one in this series. It was a pretty good (if painfully straight) romance isekai. The enby character got quite a lot of page time in the last volume and is pretty cool (if mildly “problematic”- not that I give a shit) and it was cool to see them expended upon and filling out the last story arc with something a little different. I enjoyed my stay in this work.

Bonus: Scanlations

The Little Healer

This is a thai webcomic about a doctor that gets reincarnated as a little girl with magic healing powers in a world where like, everyone FUCKING HATES healers, and his adventures getting used to being a girl and hanging out with a cool catgirl lady that DEFFO has a crush. Its a real low effort translation, but that just kinda adds to the charm, and heck this is a real charming little gender bent isekai. recommended to genre perverts o7

stuff in the pile for next week

Same as last week friends~ The Yuri pile is growning, ive got some new volumes coming in the mail of stuff i started in previous weeks that im excited about as well! I do want to get into some more of How do we Relationship? and im still staring at that big pile of Citrus thinking.... yeah... i could read that. will i? who knows! check in next week

Books read this year: 188

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-06-12T11:19:47.999Z

June 5th - 11th

Stuff i read this week

A Sign of Affection Vol. 1-2

Wow I gotta say this books got some amazing typesetting. So, this is a romance story about a deaf girl and a guy who is basically a language pervert, who get’s interested in her because sign language- it’s real good (if het) but the MOST INTERESTING part is the typesetting. Sometimes manga plays with the type to show when characters are speaking foreign languages or something, this book goes even deeper on that kinda trick and uses type to convey lip reading. It’s really elegant and gets SO MUCH detail across. Yuki, the main character is almost totally deaf, she can’t hear speech at all- so if a speech bubble has has regular solid black text, she can’t hear ANYTHING thats been said in that bubble even if she could like, conceptually "see" the bubble - that dosnt matter. black text means words that are spoken out loud and its something she cant perceive- she’s oblivious to any black word. Grey text is stuff she can lip read. If she’s having difficulty lip reading but mostly gets something- some of the characters in a word are printed tilted sideways - sometimes when she’s lip reading she misunderstands words so that’s just the normal grey color.. but its nonsense words so she gets confused - it’s wildly cool, just some real simple rules but they add such a richness to the text and I’ve never seen anything like it. There’s SO MUCH you can do in a graphic novel medium and I love that this book does something so unique and interesting

My dress-up darling Vol. 5-7

Volume 5 is the volume where the kids go to the love hotel thinking it’s a photography studio and get super teen embarrassed. Good volume, the two pages of the made up 4koma Marin cosplays from are real cute - thats also the last volume that was adapted into the anime so from that point, its allllll new material~ and oh heck the new stuff is all incredible! Volume 6 IMMEDIATELY introduces the best side character that’s been in the series yet and i cant wait for the second season of the anime to come out so i can see this character in the anime too heh

Unrelated- but volume 5 is the second book published by Square Enix Manga I’ve bought that’s had the cover incorrectly cut. Like, there’s extra material hanging off and it’s not cleanly cut, like the final stage of producing paperbacks is trimming the whole book to size, it’s like they did it with a dull blade. It’s weird! Not great imo. Talking of manufacturing defects, volume 6 has a massive scratch on the back cover. The shop I got it in had 3 copies with the same scratch. Square Enix has quality control issues

Perfect World Vol 2- 5

Fucking hell im SO MAD AT LITERALLY EVERY CHARACTER AROUND THESE TWO WHY CANT YOU ALL BE NORMAL ABOUT THIS. SO MUCJ OF THIS SYORY MAKES ME MAD IFGHJHHHGGHGG WHY CANT I SYOP reaDING IT - cant wait to buy more and get mad all over again.

Yokohama Station SF, Vol. 1

“Two hundred years ago, Yokohama station, which had been under constant construction, developed the ability to self-propagate.” Well that’s a weird premise! The station is alive(?) and slowly grows to cover all of Japan, apart from small “hollows” where it can’t get a foothold, maybe due to water or uneven terrain (the books say flat land was easier for the station to concrete over, but changes in elevation arnt impossible. the entirety of mount fuji in now covered in the stations escalators). People living inside the station need a ‘suika’ identity card or the automated turnstiles will eject them from the station, and people outside the station survive on garbage ejected from the station. This story follows a young man living in a small seaside village in a hollow who comes across a mysterious 5 day travel pass and is finally able to enter the station. BOOKS COOL AS HECK

How do we Relationship? Vol. 2

I suppose you could call volume 2 ‘the jealousy arc’ or maybe, the beginning of it. one of the great things about this book is just how real the characters are, and thats like, not just the main yuri protags, its every character in this little world. Everybodys going though something, but they are all dealing with that differently in ways that reinforce the central themes of whatever the current bundle of chapters is about in a way not many similar stories manage…. which is real good? Theres a real space here, its incredibly well plotted and tied together..

My Dear, Curse-Casting Vampiress Vol. 1

This was a random pick up from a local bookshop and turned out pretty good- if your into the whole “Loli vampire having oversized one sided feelings for some random guy who may or may not have super powers but 100% for sure has amnesia and they go vampire hunting together whilst a shadowy government organization monitors their every move” trope. I feel like there’s been lots of this exact story lol

Bonus: Audiobooks

Spice and Wolf Vol.5

The audiobook version continues to be real good, real recommended.

stuff in the pile for next week

Same as last week friends~ The Yuri pile is growning, ive got some new volumes coming in the mail of stuff i started in previous weeks that im excited about as well! I do want to get into some more of How do we Relationship? and im still staring at that big pile of Citrus thinking.... yeah... i could read that. will i? who knows! check in next week

Books read this year: 200

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-06-04T23:13:59.845Z

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-01-08T21:16:13.455Z

this year im gunna read one volume of manga a day, every day

Stuff i read this week

The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess Vol. 1-5

This is a super good isekai villainess story about a woman who dies (truck) and is reborn as one of her OCs in an AWFUL novel she wrote as a TERRIBLE teenager. Obviously, she's not the super beautiful author insert character, but rather her villainous little sister and OH NO all the hot boys DEFFO want her dead, probably. Watching our poor girl struggle through the pain of remembering her own terrible plot and dealing with the world changing as she continues not to get killed by the hot boys is super fun... the books do suffer a bit from the art not being super clear at times tho. Still, if you like villainess stories this has a really interesting twist to the formulae.

Pulse vol.1&2

By the same person as Lily Love and its also VERY good and VERY gay. These books that seven seas have put out are incredibly printed, full colour and everything. Super cool to see a webtoon presented in a book so well. The story so far is very cute, seeing the doctor slowly open up is a real treat. Very much looking forward to volume 3. (also dang that's a lotta sex)

Black and White - Tough Love at the Office Vol. 1

dang that's a lotta sex. I've never seen a yuri manga where two ladies beat each other up so lovingly. incredible work. Seven Seas is publishing so wild stuff these days its great.

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive.

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-01-16T01:16:12.981Z

January 9th - 15th

Stuff i read this week

Accomplishments of the Dukes Daughter Vol. 1-4

wow, this has quickly become a favourite series - It's a real good entry in the isekai villainess genre. As much as i hate capital, capital owners, the pursuit of capital, and the concept of hereditary peerage DANG i do love manga about princesses and noble ladies starting businesses using knowledge from a previous life - that shit OWNS. She wants to invent health insurance and banking... and chocolate? girlboss. I'm deffo going to buy more of this after my next paycheck heh 10/10

My Cute Little Kitten Vol.1

Oh no is Milk Morinaga drawing cute fluffball airhead girls again? And this time they have a cat? Terrible news. 10/10

Futari Escape Vol. 1

Pretty cute stories about two girls running away from work and disassociating from society for a bit. Deadlines suck ass, 10/10

Asumi chan is Interestied in Lesbian Brothels!

I think maybe Asumi chan is a raging homosexual? She sure does like sleeping with girls that's for sure. Im sure the real perverts would love this one but its super sweet too. 10/10

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive.

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-01-23T00:05:38.826Z

January 16th - 22nd

Stuff i read this week

The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess vol 6

The dark history is really tightening up in this volume. Earlier stories deffo had a made-up as it’s going along falling to them, so it’s really cool to see all of that come together into a cohesive whole that's actually pretty dang good! Unfortunately, this is the last volume available in English right now, volume 7 doesn't come out until May. will I still be doing this in may?! who knows! maybe!

My Gently Raised Beast Vol. 1

Painfully straight (derogatory)

I Swear I won’t bother you again! Vol. 1-2

Painfully straight (complimentary)

My Androgynous Boyfriend Vol. 1

(Somehow) not Painfully straight. Dang, this book is incredible- this is a straight romance comedy that has SO much yuri energy - like a straight romance story written like a yuri, if that makes sense. these are some of the softest characters I’ve read in ages. it’s also incredibly funny, I loled out loud, at 2 am like an idiot. 10/10 (THEY EVEN GO ON A DATE TO IKEA. that's the most lesbian kind of date, in my experience)

Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter Vol. 5

Still really good, if very capital owner brained. We got some hot political intrigue story threads beginning to be woven into the narrative, so I cant wait to see how that ends up. Oh, and the spy/ladies (combat) maid is still incredibly hot. i love her

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Vol. 1

This book somehow manages to depict the passage of time more beautifully than any other manga I've ever read, really beautiful art and a very unique fantasy tale. recommended

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive. i didn't manage to get to any yuri stuff this week, i should fix that next week!

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-01-30T08:19:42.677Z

January 23rd- 29th

Stuff i read this week

Whisper me a Love Song Vol. 1

Super cute school yuri story about a girl falling in love with her senpai, who is the lead singer in a school band. Real pretty art. It’s a shame the music/band stuff is just used as background flavour more than being like, a real driver in the story like with Bocchi- I recommend “The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy At All” for a yuri manga where music plays a more ‘real’ role. These print volumes are really nice, Kondansha comics seem to be publishing things in a larger page size than most other publishers, makes the art look super nice with this book. Big clear faces and all that!

Whisper me a Love Song Vol. 2

Way more actual music stuff happening in this volume which was cool to see! Also drama is brewing~ real nice seeing stuff foreshadowed and playing out. I like this manga! Just a clean, well-crafted work

Villains are Destined to Die Vol. 1

The colours in this book are incredible! DANG HER HAIR. she’s wonderful. 10/10 Its great to see more Korean stuff get printed in full-colour books. These things are just beautiful to behold sometimes. There's a real fun gimmick early on to this villainess story - our main character starts off mute and can only ever talk when given options that were in the original game shes been reincarnated in - which was an interesting twist for a while. be cool to see where this goes.

Beauty and the Feast Vol. 1

Remember that tweet from a few weeks ago from some lady that really wanted to make chilli for some students that lived in the same building, cos they just looked like really hungry boys and cooking for other people made her happy? This is a book about exactly that. 10

Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter Vol. 6

Just kiss already! Anyways, the political stuff in the last two volumes has been super fun to follow through, civil war is brewing, the church’s power has been brought under the states heel, stuffs going to get messy! THIS STORY IS GETTING SO GOOD I WANNA READ THE NEXT VOLUME NOWWWW

Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter Vol. 7

So this was my first 2 book day - i just had to know what was going to happen next... AHHH THIS IS SO GOOD SHE BEAT UP THE POPE REAL GOOD 10/10 I wish they would get on with the relationship between Iris and ‘Dean’. Iris is not gay and this will never be a yuri, I have accepted that, it’s a done deal. Now I just want her to kiss and be happy. Im now caught up with this and i can finally stop staring at this pile of books guilty... but ughh now i have to wait for volumes to be published.. maybe i should have left 7 for next week TEARS

Love me for who I am Vol. 1

It’s the enby maid manga! ITS TOO CUTE FOR WORDS. 10/10 The whole theme of letting people be a true expression of themselves is really heartwarming and dang i want to read more, unfortunately, i do not have volume 2 and its out of stock everywhere. ill have to track it down. Super recommended

My Androgynous Boyfriend vol. 2

Still convinced this is a straight yuri manga. Not much to say about it apart from wow its hella warm.

Bonus: Light novels

I read two light novels this week so why not add them to the list

VTuber Legend: How I Went Viral after Forgetting to Turn Off My Stream, Vol. 1

Mostly read this because I saw rumours that it was getting an anime adaption. Its not very good, but i did read the heck out of it if that makes sense, and i will be buying and reading the rest, and enjoying every second of reading it whilst i think 'wow this sucks, its not very good!' 8/10

Cross-Dressing Villainess Cecilia Sylvie

I love Villainess, i love Villainess who are smart enough to try and game the systems they are reborn into, and i love it when they are two dumb to realise everyone loves them and they are in zero danger of being executed. 10/10

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive.

Books read this year: 30

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-02-05T18:14:43.850Z

January 30th - February 5th

Stuff i read this week

Oshi no ko Vol. 1

what an incredibly gripping prologue! A doctor is MURDERED by an idol’s creepy stalker- and is reborn as one of her twin children. Hijinks ensue. It’s yet another incredible read, beautiful art, all that good stuff 10/10 for reincarnation in the REAL world. This is getting an anime real soon - im HYPED

Killing Me! Vol. 1

super sweet yuri story about it a vampire hunter and the vampire that’s in love with her. Only one volume is available, as it seems this manga got cancelled after one volume. WHICH IS SAD AT THIS IS HELLA CUTE. Akiyama seems to be still working as a manga artist which is nice, but drawing straight vampire stories now rather than gay ones - oh well can’t win them all! Anyways, its is a really good little book recommended 10/10

Whisper me a Love Song Vol. 4-5

Double book day! This story is getting going now. It had a slow start, but here it’s getting to be something REAL good. (IM REAL GLAD)

Doughnuts under a crescent moon Vol. 1 -2

Ughhhhh stories about yuri office ladies slowly falling in love get to me like nothing else ughhh I love this book I love it so much. I read a scanlation ages ago, and now I’m going to track down all the volume of this asap (I only got this first one in stock on my shelves) 11/10. Very good - ITS BASICALLY WRITTEN FOR ME! I am a well know lesbian doughnut enjoyer. Heck I scoured the shelves at my local bookstore and managed to get volume 2 I am blessed by the yuri gods

I love you so much I hate you

dang I love yuri about older women, so im real glad i managed to have a two day office lady yuri streak. This book? It’s good 10/10. Just real nice to be reading something and wishing the best for these ladies - strong good warm feelings

The Holy Grail of Eris Vol. 1

Just when I thought I was running out of Villainess stories to read I find this neat tome on my shelf. The ghost possession gimmick is really interesting- going to be cool to see how this develops.

I swear I won’t bother you again Vol. 3

Continues the tradition of maids in these villainess stories secretly being the best character who deserve like a million % more pages. I previously described earlier volumes in this series as "Painfully straight (complimentary)" and that continues to be true. I do love a story with an idiot lead leady.

Bonus: Audio Books

So I'm a Spider, So What? vol 4

im STILL in love with this book, and i STILL think the audiobook having sections where the narrator is just reading off character sheet stats for like 10 mins is hilariously good. Way less character sheet stuff this time though, were showing restraint!

Bonus: Light novels

Hell Mode: Volume 5

Ive got half way though this so far this week - ITS SO FRICKING STUPID. this is like popcorn for me, stupid dumbass isekai game system bullshit. 10/10

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... i think i might have finally ran out of villainess isekai stuff.... what a sad time to be alive. maybe i can find some in a local bookstore (even if the entire point is to kill the backlog)

Books read this year: 39

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-02-12T22:24:47.125Z

February 6th - 12th

Stuff i read this week

I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in the Real World Too Vol. 1 - 2

DAAAANG what a stupid book 10/10 was fucking love isekai. It does that thing where the Isekai world has a bidirectional link with the real world, I LOVE IT WHEN THEY DO THAT. YEAH, SHOW ME A GUY WHOS FANTASY WORLD POWER LEVELING GAINS MAKE THEM MORE POWERFUL AT SOCIAL INTERACTIONS IN MODERN DAY TOKYO GIVE ME THAT SLOP ILL EAT IT UP SO FAST

My Androgynous Boyfriend Vol. 3

There’s a chapter in here about suddenly having to start working from home and having zoom meeting and I’m like oh well I know exactly when this was written- that was weird huh. Also, yeah this is still a heterosexual yuri manga that still holds.

Failed Princess Vo. 1

This book is so frickin cute. It turns out ive had volume 2 on my shelves for ages but never found volume 1 locally, so i went to track it down - which lead me to fricking amazon. They managed to stick the shipping envelope to the damn front cover. TRAGIC. its ruined, destined for a recycling plant once amazon replace it. cute story though

Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion Vol. 1

Gotta love villainess isekai nonsense I thought I’d be out of that this week but my bookshelf pulled though for me. This book tho, it’s kind of incredibly beautiful? It’s got such a cute sketchy feel to the characters, you can’t help but thing “dang they really did draw this huh” as you read it. Art is wonderful huh. 10/10.

Minami Nanami Wants To Shine Vol. 1 - 2

Apparently this is a spin off to some other thing I’ve always just skipped over on Crunchyroll? Maybe I’ll give the source material a chance, because this was a pretty delightful read. It’s about a girl who wants to be special, falling into a modelling carer and it’s kinda INCREDIBLY cute and sweet. 10/10

Beauty and the Feast Vol. 2

Its still really cute - but every chapter im terrified that the author is gunna pull a bunny drop or something. all my fingers crossed that this remains healing.

Bonus: Audio Books

I’d Rather Have a Cat than a Harem! Reincarnated into the World of an Otome Game as a Cat-Loving Villainess Vol. 2

Just look at that title and tell me that its not the greatest thing you've ever laid eyes on? 11/10. recommended.

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... Last week i said i was out of Villainess stories but i managed to pull one out the dark recesses of my shelf.. maybe another is lurking...

Books read this year: 47

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-02-20T01:32:55.668Z

February 13th - 19th

Stuff i read this week

Beauty and the Feast Vol. 3

We’re beginning to learn more about Shuko’s past and dang I love this poor woman and I’m glad she’s healing and the chapter with her friends looking out for her are the best and why can’t a manga character cook me dinner? 10/10

Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter Vol. 8

What’s this?!? Lotte pulled another villainess isekai manga volume out of her ass?? Wow how does she do it?!? She can’t keep getting away with this!! Anyways, this series is STILL incredibly good, i STILL want them to hurry up and kiss and i cant wait for the next volume to be release. The combat maid STILL rules forever i love her. 10/10 The cast pages at the front of every volume is getting crazy complicated character sheet

The Two of Them Are Pretty Much Like This Vol. 1-2

gosh just beautiful- it feels like 99% of yuri manga is about a budding relationship, taking painstaking amounts of time to get to a love confession - getting to that starting point and as soon as that happens, THATS IT end of serialization, that’s you 6 chapters HOW DARE YOU WANT MORE. it sucks! I wanna read about women in love, I wanna see stories about their home lives, their hopes, their dreams, their years. This is a little bit of all that, and it’s perfect. Wako and Ellie have been going out for two years and living together for one year at the start of this story and that so unusual and weird for a yuri manga I LOVE IT 100/10 super recommend

Failed Princess Vol. 2

Still a super frickin cute book! This volume is about coming to terms with jealousy, and its a real nice storyline for one of these school age yuri.

Doughnuts under a crescent moon vol. 3

Sad the next volume is the last. I really recommend this series, again because stuff about adult women in love just rules - just be warned it seems like volume 3 had a small print run and its REALLY hard to find anywhere. I eventually managed to get a copy on ebay... which came bundled with volume 1&2 T_T sometimes you just end up with duplicates.

No Longer Allowed In Another World Vol. 1

What if Zetsubou Sensei was hit by a truck and got isekai’ed? 10/10 good. I published a Isekai Death Report here

Though I Am an Inept Villainess: Tale of the Butterfly-Rat Body Swap in the Maiden Court Vol. 1

I love villainess?!? I really enjoyed watching Raven of the inner palace last anime season, so seeing a villainess story with a similar setting was an instant pickup. Turns out this is very very good! The main character and her ladies maid have a great chemistry together, I can’t wait to see how this evolves over time. Body swapping from a sick, frail (but loved) persona to a healthy, strong (but universally hated) one is a super interesting setting as well, this is genius space brain level trash I love it

The Savior's Book Café Story in Another World Vol. 1

Straight, but interesting. Dang i love isekai, and how they are all the same but different. “You have been summoned to a magical world! you MUST become a savior, a hero in this place! i shall grant you MASSIVE amounts of magical power and grant a wish” - okay thats all normal nothing weird here - “ehh that sounds like a hassle can i own a little café bookshop on the outskirts of a capital city and just kinda rest there and do nothing??” 11/10 PERFECT use of isekai powers LOVE IT for you girl please do exactly that. I think deep down, we have all just wanted to have a little café bookshop and no responsibility and massive amounts of magical energy. (no isekai death report for this title - she seems to just have been summoned)

The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 1

What a lovely little story! Maomao makes some wonderful disgusted faces at flirty men, which really speaks to me imo. She’s so cool snake Also I’m quickly realizing that “weird girls solve problems in the inner court of a Chinese palace” is like - a manga/light novel genre now? Like “isekai but it’s a otome novel and the main character is the villainess” is a genre. Very cool looking forward to exploring the depths of this genre on the coming weeks and months

Bonus: Audio Books

Sword Art Online Vol. 8

i can never hate sword art. it sucks so much, but i sure do love this trash garbage. This volume is a bunch of short stories that take place all over the timeline - i think the short story anthologies are some of the better sword art light novels, when we just get to throw the characters into an interesting situation without thinking about the connective tissue of the story too hard... sword art is best when you dont think about it too hard! The audio books are still really well produced, deffo recommended if you want some daft background listening.

Reincarnated as the Last of my Kind Vol. 4

Somehow, this audio book is 6 hours long, and basically nothing happened... 8/10 its about as 'light' as a light novel could ever get, and i gotta respect that

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... I may have solved my lack of Villainess stories with an amazon order.. maybe..

Books read this year: 57

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-02-26T22:37:30.893Z

February 20th - 26th

Stuff i read this week

The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 2-5

Maomao is SO FUCKING CUTE when she’s ingesting deadly deadly neurotoxins. This girl just LOVES poisons. I LOVE HER. My first taste of poison in ages has me grinning like a fool

Wish I read these slower lol.. it was so good I couldn’t stop myself though the story is SUPER engaging and the Maomao is just a wonderful lead character. i want to spend every second with her that i can heh, the facial expressions in this book are just THAT incredible. Its rare you get to see THAT much character on the page you know?

Savior's Book Cafe Story in Another World Vol. 2-4

Another series i should have savored rather than rush though, but it is what it is! Last week i said "Straight but interesting” and YEAH. its very straight but also very interesting? I do wonder why this fantasy world has such a thriving book publishing industry... like, who is writing all these books shes stocking her cafe with? Anyways, pretty good. Volume 5 dosnt come out until May this year, so thats all for now.

Love me for who I am Vol. 2

Yeah, to enby maid book is back and DANG!! it’s hard to get this book! Totally out of print it seem, eBay to the rescue. AND HECK I CAN SEE WHY it’s incredible for all thoes gender feels. I want the best for all these kids as they figure out life and love! Im just SO glad this series exists?

There’s a part where Tetsu suddenly begins to “get” all this gender stuff other characters are going though whist talking to his transwoman older sibling and hes like… dang I guess I should be calling you oneechan and not oniichan… and she’s so happy about it - I deffo almost cried lol. Yeah good book. Now i just have to track down volume 3... painful

Sasaki and Peeps Vol. 1

Ahhh heck what a super smart inversion of isekai themes! No guys dying of early onset truck here, instead our hero is a lonely 40 year old office worker who REALLY wants a friend, so he goes to a pet shop. Dogs and cats are too big and expensive… but that weird little bird? 100% within budget… and it can talk… THE BIRD IS A MAGICAL SAINT THAT GOT ISEKAIED TO EARTH?!? And he can do teleportation?!? Wow Sasaki’s daily commute just got SO MUCH faster. 10/10 Commuter Isekai in general are a fascinating subgenre, and this particular story is getting an anime adaption soon so im super glad i found it. It does a lot of neat stuff with time scaling and like.. practical power limits? Recommended.

The Girl I want is so Handsome! The Complete Manga Collection

Two volumes printed in one nice big book. It’s LARGE, I do love manga with smaller page sizes (makes it much easier to store them or carry them!) but heck it’s easy to forget how good these things look on LARGE pages! Looks incredible up close.

Plot wise it’s pretty simple straightforward school based yuri story with a basketball theme… it’s cute. Does have that thing where like all plot progression is gated behind misunderstandings and miscommunication but luckily things tend to be cleared up the next chapter so it’s never annoying. Yeah, it’s just simple, pretty well executed story printed in a really nice chunky volume.

Our Teachers are Dating! Vol. 1

GOD women are so hot, I love women.
IM REALLY SORRY that these book notes quite often tend to do this but I’m going on another rant about HOW these books are printed but HECK this book (series?!?) is printed on WEIRDLY high quality paper stock. It’s so thick it was even hard to fully open? The cover is a real nice card stock (double side printed at that! And the internal pages are real smooth and thick - theres no paper grain here. It’s also on the small side of the page size spectrum which coupled with the binding/paper quality just feels really luxurious? It’s wild! Puling a small sample of other books published by Seven Seas, and none of them have the same paper stock or bins stiffness to them. The closest is their full color manhwa prints, but even they seem to have thinner pages with a slight gloss finish. Like, "the girl i want is so handsome!" was also published by Seven Seas, as an object its like the polar opposite of this book. It’s real weird, but I love it! This is why physical objects rule.

Bonus: Audio Books

Solo Leveling Vol. 6

I dont get the hype around this series. When Crunchyroll announced there was an anime adaption happening and they would be airing it, people went wild on that social media. Ive been listening to the audiobook version for a while and like.. i dont get it. ITS SO BORING!?!? Like, people seem to be hyped for the fights and stuff... but i SWARE there are like whole chapters that are just dryly discussing how portals to magical worlds full of terrifying monsters really depress the value of luxury housing markets IN A REAL BORING WAY. that kind of content should be right up my ally but dang solo leveling makes it dull. BUT I SHALL CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO EVERY VOLUME, HOPING THE NEXT ONE IS WHERE IT GETS GOOD. This volume actual had some bits where Jinwoo actually feels kinda like a human for once.. but yeah hes still a bit of a fucking psychopath. The whole story also has that vague "oh yeah this feels kinda like it was written by a fascist" thing going on, like attack on titan.. oh maybe thats why so many people are hyped for it? cant recommend this unless your a total dweeb like me. (my next audible credits going to be spent on the new volume of Tanya the Evil, so uhhh, more of that next month too i guess!)

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... not sure about villainess content tho which is SAD. I do have more Apothecary Diaries arriving on monday tho so IM REAL HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

Books read this year: 68

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-03-06T15:39:37.967Z

February 27th - March 5th (another month down heck!)

Stuff i read this week

The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 6-7

Heck things are getting tense and super interesting- volume 6 manages to pull so many storylines together in a cool way also MAOMAO IS SO COOL I LOVE HER. I have once again READ ALL the new volume of this as soon as i get them which is a big mistake, i have now 100% run out and volume 8 dosnt hit until 9th May OR June 6th, depending on if you believe Amazon .co.uk or .com. who knows when ill get more Maomao! this sucks! I guess this is a great time to remind you that its getting an anime adaption soon and it looks beautiful

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/1198754-finished-it-real-go

Failed Princesses Vol. 3-4

Still cute, still dramatic, still getting going. Somehow a lot of stuff happens but it feels real slow? just hook up already i guess.

If Witch, Then Which? Vol. 1-3

The crossdressing witch manga. It was okay I guess? Its cute and pretty short, but deffo not queer which is always disappointing. i mean 'crossdressing witch manga' sounds like it should be queer as heck, but it aint!

Love me for who I am Vol. 3-5

The 'enby working in a cross dressing maid café' manga returns. I would die for Mogumo (and ive made that fact ABUNDANTLY clear). Mogumo is perfect. I love this book. Its kinda sad the story ends where it does, it would be nice to have a bigger glimpse into these characters lives now they have figured things out a bit more - but its nice have such a queer, beautiful little story in 5 nicely printed manga volumes. 10/10

Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Dukes Mansion Vol. 2

Fine i guess. I think id get on with this story better if more was out so i could binge... feels way to slow at the moment but these full colour manhwa books are SUPER readable. My copy had some major print quality issues - a lot of smudge black ink, some of the colors had oversaturated the paper and caused it to rip and crack. Weird! i Guess Yen Press isnt the best at full colour release, but im sure other books ive had have been better than this!

Bonus: Uhhh nothing

i started a few light novels but haven't finished anything yet.

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... i did hit the book shop on sunday to scout out some more Villainess content, WHICH WAS A SUCSESS so at least one villainess book, and maybe some isekai.. who knows!

Books read this year: 79

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-03-12T20:25:31.274Z

March 6th - 12th

Stuff i read this week

The Princess of convenient plot devices Vol. 1

Heck yeah she did it! She managed to procure another villainess isekai manga. Fricking champion.

I didn’t know anything about this going in to it (i didn’t even read the blurb on the back, just saw a villainess-like title and bought it immediately) but it’s not how I expected it to go based on the title, instead we have a pretty funny deep dive into “okay so we reincarnated as a princess in the world of a boys love novel… how does Nobel society function of all the hot Nobel dudes are trying to bone each other?” And the answer is your brother (the crown Prince) is kinda a misogynist? Makes sense, let him cook. Fortunately our heroin is kinda a complete fricking moron, so I love her unconditionally and pray for her heteronormative success.

Daughter of the Emperor Vol. 1 - 2

Yay another isekai~ what’s really neat about this is that is TOTALLY doubles down on the mechanics of “being reborn” - our protagonist is a literal child. Sure- a child with an adult mind, but still a child. She can’t communicate, she’s 2 months old. Of course she can’t communicate! she can beat sit up by herself! And that kinda rules? It’s about our girl figuring out that her new dad is a terrible tyrannical despotic emperor, who is incapable of showing emotion and figuring out how the world works, and how to survive as this crazed guy’s only child. It kinda rules. baby

This is Screwed Up, But I was Reincarnated as a girl in Another World Vol. 1-5

This could only have been drawn but a true pervert.

Chronicles of an Aristocrat Reborn in Another World Vol. 1 - 3

Some basic bitch isekai bullshit. You gotta respect the grift behind these tales.

A Galaxy Next Door Vol. 1

I do love me some manga about making manga. This does have a weird supernatural background story to it, but ours still nice to see people struggling their hardest to make beautiful art and slowly fall in love at the same time

The Holy Grail of Eris Vol. 2

Prologue is over and the plot is moving on on earnest… the core mystery isn’t very developed or interesting at this point. Kinda love the dynamic between our two lead ladies tho, but yeah for the most part the Nobel women in this world are cartoonishly evil and it’s just kinda stupid lol. I hope it gets better, cos the art is beautiful

Bonus: Audiobooks

Even Dogs go to Other Worlds: Life in Another World with my Beloved Hound Vol. 2

Cross Infinite World has this amazing ability to pick the most chill, low energy light novels for translation. Like, this is a 7 hour audiobook that essentially nothing happens in, and im 100% there for every second of it. glad they exist.

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... i didnt manage to read any yuri this week it was a full on isekai deepdive and i LOVED IT. but yeah, next week i wanna see a girl kiss

Books read this year: 92

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-03-19T22:48:16.345Z

March 13th - 19th

Stuff i read this week

The Abandoned Empress Vol. 1 - 3

Real engaging take on the whole non-isekai villainess time skip sub genre - I’m having a great time slowly understanding how this world works and how our main girl is going to survive. The first volume spends a LOT of its pages in her first life which was really neat- if very abusive and violent. Really makes you feel for her. 10/10 good book - the only thing that would make it better would be if it were yuri. Also, check out these beautiful shiny covers chibi

The Remarried Empress Vol. 1

Villainess stories will never get old, it’s amazing how many variations you can get on “there’s a king and queen, the king is a shit husband, some scheming harlot gets between them and everyone thinks it’s the queens fault- go”. I’m not the biggest fan of the art in this one (it’s very pointy rather than rounded if you know what I mean) but it’s a hella engaging tale and OH GOSH the cover is beautiful, with golden embossed lettering and every. As an object- it’s incredible.

Chronicles of an Aristocrat Reborn in Another World Vol. 4

Not much more to say since last week. Its by the numbers isekai bullshit, and sometimes thats all you need.

Let This Grieving Soul Retire - Woe is the Weakling Who Leads the Strongest Party Vol. 1 - 3

Some basic bitch fantasy bullshit. Its not great but i can turn my brain off.

Bonus: Audiobooks

The Saga of Tanya the Evil vol. 6

More war (boring, boo) but waaaaay more importantly it felt like a solid 40% of the runtime was spent discussing coffee. Coffee as a wartime frontline luxury. Coffee a bribe. Coffee as a ritual. Coffee as an indicator of economic stability. The mechanics of smuggling coffee into a hegemonic empire via a neutral 3rd party country during wartime. Its all in here! That stuff rules.

Bonus: Light Novels

D-Genesis: Three Years after the Dungeons Appeared Vo. 3

This is just by far my favorite light novel series right, its so good. I wrote about how incredible the latest volume is here

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... i didnt manage to read any yuri this week (again oops). next week i wanna see a girl kiss

Books read this year: 100 (wtf)

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-03-26T23:19:11.270Z

March 20th - 26th

Stuff i read this week

Daughter of the Emperor Vol. 3

I got no notes on this one. Villainess story. It’s good. Very petty. Cool our main character is like 3 years old now and they are keeping this whole actually reborn in another world thing very literal? It’s just good.

Even Though We’re Adults Vol. 1 - 5

Ahh delicious, finally taking a crack at my Yuri pile again. THIS BOOK IS INCREDIBLE - incredibly readable, if you get it you too will be howling in pain at the terrible adult love triangle thats forming. If your not violently nodding along and thinking “yeah! what the heck! keep going girl!” when one of our two main protagonist ladies shouts “Give me a break Ayano… you idiot. YOU’RE MARRIED!” at her phone - you must be dead inside.

If like the idea of reading a series where a lady shouts “I CAN’T BE CHATTING WITH MY CRUSHES HUSBAND!” Whilst lying down in bed in despair this is the series for you!

Villains Are Destined to Die Vol. 2

The way this book plays with game systems is still really interesting - but the best part by far is the coloring still. It’s just such a beautiful saturated vibrant look - I’m a sucker for that. Looking forward to the next volume for some more delicious pink hair

The Holy Grail of Eris Vol. 3

I adore our beautifully honest protagonist and her evil ghost aunty. Such a great dynamic, and oh heck the art is beautiful…. But gosh dang the world and literally EVERY SINGLE other character is horrible and it kinda makes it a real chore to read. I wish I liked this series more?

Days of Love at Seagull Villa Vol. 1 - 3

Dang this series was just incredibly readable - like the opposite of some other stuff I’ve been reading this week I just couldn’t put it down, and I could get through a volume in like 45mins - this yuri manga is just smooth as butter~

It’s got all the good things going for it, it’s about adult women (mostly) with adult problems… it’s not as good as the doughnut yuri but yeah, it was for sure short and sweet. It does suffer from that main yuri manga sin of ending when the protagonist’s finally get together. Ughh. That should be a beginning not the end!

Bonus: Web Manga

Senpai wa Otokonoko

super cute reccomended if you wanna read a silly queer manga thats also REAL heart wrenching at times

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/1234889-this-manga-is-very

stuff in the pile for next week

ahh i did it, i took a big chunk out of my Yuri. But whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive! I have some new isekai stuff being delivered. so fingers crossed that shows up!

Books read this year: 111

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-04-02T23:49:36.919Z

March 27th - April 2nd

Stuff i read this week

A Galaxy Next Door Vol. 2 -3

You know, after that first volume being a little weak because I was weirded out by the space-alien-island-bee-princess thing, im really enjoying the series now? Like, I do love a good princess-who-is-an-idiot and I do love a hopeless romantic lead as well, and i looooove inside baseball manga about writing manga. So yeah this book is going places! Everyone’s so warm and fluffy in it. ALSO i happen to believe that any book that has a (literal) prim and proper princess say “of course I adore your blushing and nervous laughter I dare say it is MY SHIT!” is very funny and worth your time imo.

Doughnuts Under A Crescent Moon Vol. 4

Our two asexual queens finally admit they are crushing on each other and eat a doughnut about it. Good yuri. Delicious. 10/10

So What’s Wrong With Getting Reborn as a Goblin? Vol. 1

Very silly & cute isekai (truck - isekai death report is avalible here) it’s very easy to read, you can just turn your brain off for this one. Recommended if your a genre pervert.

She loves to cook and she loves to eat Vol. 1

This book is very similar to Beauty and the Feast - it’s the story of a small young woman who loves to cook and adopts a neighbor to shovel bucketloads of food into - but instead of a young hungry baseball teen, in this book Nomoto-san’s neighbor happens to be a large butch lass who possibly works for Suntory beverage company and DEFFO also has a massive distaste for men. If these two gals don’t hug in volume 2 I will scream.

The Otherworlder, Exploring the Dungeon Vol. 1

I hate real world military shit but if you throw a fully equipped marine into an isekai world come on I’m going to eat that garbage up. By the end of the first volume our main character has disposed of all his modern weapons (by getting a merman to hide them at the deepest trench in the ocean, naturally) because he understands the MASSIVE power disparity between modern firearms and like, adventurers with swords and shit. What if he loses control of his stash? It’s just not safe! And that’s a real cool, interesting narrative and character choice! But without his clear monopoly on deadly force afforded to him by a rifle and handgun, grenades and plastic explosives, I’m not sure where this story is going to go moving into volume 2. It’s going to be interesting to see how it develops! Recommended if your a genre pervert.

Pulse Vol. 3

Dr. Mel is is hot and terrifying what the heck I did not expect any of this to happen also why did Lynn’s clothes all fall off in this volumes last chapter what was THAT all about?!? Also ACAB apparently includes Crystal??? Did we know she was a pig?!? So many much stuff happened can’t wait till volume 4! (I had it in my head that volume 3 was the last one, so I was real sad going in to this- great to know I was wrong!)

Remarried Empress Vol. 2

This one is getting very politically interesting! The whole dysfunctional dynamic between the empress and emperor is really gripping and it’s cool seeing the mistress get better at politic… but being used by weirdos all around without her particularly noticing. It’s a harsh world. Also bird magic is neat.

Witch Hat Atelier Vol. 1

I can see why people love this series- the main thing I couldn’t stop thinking about whilst raging out was how wonderful the idea of paring an ink based magic system with that art style is. Like, I think it’s rare for manga to have an art style that is almost part of the narrative theme, if that makes sense? The lavishly hyper detailed line work and the deeply inked hatched shading just work real well for a tale about ink magic. I just think that’s neat?

Bonus: Manga Scalations

Can you keep a secret?

I really love romance stories set in offices (i dunno, every office ive ever worked in sucked and the fantasy of a coworker actually being nice is kinda cool) and this is a pretty cute (het) one. They eat some doughnuts at one point which like.. if your going to put a doughnut into a romance story im going to rate it REALLY highly. im a simple girl.

Bonus: Spring Anime Season begins

New anime season! That means new shows! And new isekai worlds to Death report on! anyways this is what ive watched so far.

The Aristocrat's Otherworldly Adventure: Serving Gods Who Go Too Far

Immediately upon being reincarnated, this dweebs first conscious thought is an evangelion reference. 8/10

Hell's Paradise

seems pretty good. i like the "i can fix him says woman who is worse" vibes its got going on

My Home Hero

This show is going to be messed up.

stuff in the pile for next week

Whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive!

Books read this year: 120

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-04-10T10:00:08.620Z

April 3rd - 9th

Stuff i read this week

Reborn as a Space Mercenary Vol. 1 - 2

What if you isekai'ed into Eve online? Huh, what if that- except now eve online has hot space elves. That’s the thesis we shall explore in this ground breaking work of speculative science fiction. 10/10 Science Fiction Isekai is deffo a brand new genre for genre perverts to enjoy. Like, being 100% honest this polyamorous spaceship caption isekai is probably my favorited trash isekai I’ve read so far this year. It’s so brain dead and reads smooth.

The Eminence In Shadow Vol. 1

“Picture someone who isn’t the main character or the antagonist, someone who manipulate events behind the scenes and flaunt their overwhelming power. That’s the kind of shadowbroker I’ve always dreamed of becoming“ - that’s the opening line, it’s a fucking strong mission statement! Ive talked about my love of the anime (and probably the light novel too, which is also great) but this is my first time reading the manga. i love isekai ITS GOOD! yeah yeah its an isekai so its obviously 100% my shit, but i just love everything about how this stupid story is structured. The whole gimmick with our protagonist just making fantasy shit up as he bumbles though the world and not realizing that every single tropey made up story he acts out in the world actually textually really exists IN REALITY, is real fun.

She loves to cook and she loves to eat Vol. 2

The dweebs continue to eat incredible food together and think “huh this is nice if only we could keep hanging out together like all the time lol just kidding or am I haha just kidding what if we spent Christmas together” it’s a VERY real feeling lesbian tale

Witch Hat Atelier Vol.2

Really good second volume, it’s cool seeing these girls work so hard together, and the story slowly open up. There really is the sense that there’s a super interesting world to delve more deeply into here... but ive run out of volumes.

The Abandoned Empress Vol. 4

Bit of a slow volume but events are seemingly begging to swirl around and merge together. All the men in our protagonists like SUCK, do wonder if straight women really find these kinda characters hot. Like, theres zero redeeming features here. So why am i reading still? I’m here for the villainess energy

So What’s Wrong With Getting Reborn as a Goblin? Vol. 2

Really cool seeing how our isekai protagonist combines skills and short lifespans into a weird powerful system. I ENJOY THIS.

The Fiancée Chosen by the Ring Vol. 1 - 2

Finally so shoujo! Cute So yeah it’s a pretty regular shoujo story about nobility, romance and ballgowns - but I really like the characters here, especially the embroidery obsessed protagonist- she’s just super cool? Its really neat how that character theme of "shes an embroidery pervert" gets woven in to so many things, its what she does in her free time, its what she pays attention to at the igh society parties, heck her magical powers are that she can do embroidery real good. Just a real cleanly structured story & world you know? I really like manga that’s smooth and easy to read and this is just incredibly that. It’s pretty as heck and I like it 10/10

Bonus: Audiobooks

Even if this Love Disappears Tonight

pretty good misery porn that pulls every trick possible to try and make you cry. Im real glad that Yen Press is just putting out so much stuff these days and not just like, anime bullshit (as much as i LOVE anime bullshit) - its just a well written tear jerking teen romance that will leave you having a nice little think about stuff at the end - and sometimes thats exactly what you want from an audiobook

Rascal Does Not Dream of Logical Witch/Rascal Does Not Dream of Siscon Idol

I also finished both of these audiobooks this week - gosh dang does this series have THE ABSOLUTE WORST naming conventions. I do like this series a lot though, this is one that has you thinking a lot as well, as every story has a neat puzzle to it - Its like the bakemonogatari stories, except maybe a little more grounded - How the heck do you explain this weeks supernatural phenomena. phenomena of the week, instead of monster? Its a good genre.

stuff in the pile for next week

Whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive!

Books read this year: 129

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-04-17T17:01:48.012Z

April 10th - 16th

Stuff i read this week

The Knight Blooms Behind Castle Walls Vol. 1

A sweet story of a young page boy who yearns to grow up quick and become a fully fledged knight in shining armor - she’s just keeping the fact she’s a girl hidden from all the rest of the castle’s inhabitants. This book really captures a sense of childlike glee that I don’t see often in manga, and it’s super beautifully drawn as well! Seeing young ladies blush at how gallant this lil squire is is reallllly adorable 10/10 super different.

The books also full of these really cute cross sections and diagrams of castles and castle life, little tapestries depicting the history of the castle. These are some of my favorite moments of visual storytelling in this book, the mangaka manages to fit so much into a few small detail panels. Recommended

I can’t believe I slept with you Vol. 1 - 3

A short, messy yuri about a fuckup game developer and her hot younger landlady. So yeah, lets ignore the problematic aspects of your landlady forcing “favors” from you because your behind on rent, at its core this is a sweet story about a useless oneesan type character relying on a anxious and unstable little sister, who in turn needs her for emotional support. they grow and heal together, and thats always heartwarming. i just WISH they had another volume for post confession adventures WHY DO THESE THINGS ALWAYS END AT THE START OF A RELATIONSHIP IM GUNNA SCREAM.

Beauty and the feast vol. 4

I’m beginning to understand that the mangaka that wrote this series is just a pervert for oneesan character archetype. Thats the only explanation for all of this. She loves to cook and she loves to eat is deffo a better story with similar "i must feed this nerd" themes... that said Yakumo san is undeniably a great oneesan

The Fiancé Chosen by the Ring Vol. 3

I got nothing more to say about this series. It’s fun? Like, there is zero surprising stuff going on here.. i just wanna read more? Its junk food, but more healthy than.....

Chronicles of an Aristocrat Reborn in Another World Vol. 5

Some weird shit theology in this one. Apparently you can become a god of you beat up another god real good? I think? Who knows. This is garbage. I will continue to read

Bonus: Audiobooks

86-Eighty-Six Vol. 2-3

The audiobook productions Yen Audio put out for this series are real good, and the novels are every bit as interesting as the animated series. Compared to how gross The Saga of Tanya the Evil leaves you feeling, theres a lot of good here. I really like how these volumes contrast the neoliberal democratic paradises of The Federacy and the fascist Republic state we spent the first volume in... like, its the same place, with a lick of paint! Its the kind of book you can imagine a nerd defending for "not being political" despite being THE MOST POLITICAL thing. Neat stuff.

stuff in the pile for next week

Whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive! Talking of messy yuri seires, i might try and get through Citrus again, i managed to track down the few volumes i was missing....

Books read this year: 136

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-04-26T01:23:21.176Z

April 17th - 23rd (wow i forgot to post this on sunday oops)

Stuff i read this week

Vampeerz Vol. 1 - 2

Yuri vampires! Again! I like this book, like… a lot? The art is incredible and the printing and binding job Denpa have done is fantastic.. they are a small publisher but I really love the feel of their books! It’s a nice object?

The work itself is very cute and very unsettling and perfectly stupid at moments, it’s a tale of a vampire that’s had enough and just wants to die and a young girl that just fell in love with her at first sight. Not much happens in the first volume but the stories pacing just delivers this perfect balance of unsettling creepiness and yuri first love… good book

A Tale of the Secret Saint Vol. 1 -2

I do love me a reincarnation tale (im sure you have all figured that out by now), especially when the main character is a fucking idiot. Oh daaaang I love fucking idiots. Idiots rule. And this specific idiot? Shes so stupid! And she has a dragon friend?!? An idiot with a dragon friend! 10/10

No longer allowed in another world vol. 2

Okay now the title makes sense! I really liked volume 1 but the weird title really bugged me, but the first half of volume 2 finished off the prologue and now everything makes sense in a satisfying intelligent way. 10/10 In this volume isekai zetsubo sensei writes an novel, smirks at a cat girl princess and snacks on waaaaay to many pills and poisons to be healthy.

A returner’s magic should be special Vol. 1 - 2

Pretty simple korean reincarnation webtoon, dude helps beat the demon lord but oh no! gets time reverted back in time like 10 years or whatever (i forgot to take notes) to adventuring school. Guess its time to get even more buff than before and beat the demon lord guy back up, this time with future knowledge. Oh, also everyone in school is real classist and nobles get all the goodies. See, super simple, perfect story 10/10

Bonus: Audiobooks

86-Eighty-Six Vol. 4

Its finally at new content thats not in the anime and AHHH HECK ITS GOOD. Is a new season of the anime planned yet? I HOPE SO! we got a heckload of underground shopping center combat in this volume which rules and OH HECK THE LEGION SOMEHOW GOT EVEN MORE CREEPY

stuff in the pile for next week

Whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. Idk... maybe ill dig out some of the shoujo ive not read too that would be fun. ALSO next week i need to plan out a new format for this thread because it getting too long IM SO SORRY

Books read this year: 143

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-02T18:17:14.574Z

April 24th - 30th (wow i forgot to post this on sunday again oops)

Stuff i read this week

Kaiju Girl Caramelise Vol.

Uhhh this book is kinda incredible. Reading the bonus page at the back we learn the mangaka and her editor was trying to solve one major editorial problem with this work. How do you transfer from working on a series serialzied in a shoujo magazine to a series in a shonen one? The answer they stumbled up is just incredibly genius. Just draw a complete by the numbers stereotypical shoujo manga, make the protagonist a REAL loser girl, put in a HOT boy love interest, draw it alll HYPER feminine, so many sparkles, make it real fluffy and flowery…

Now finally make protag-chan turn into fucking Godzilla whenever she’s embarrassed. Like, skyscraper sized. Big girl shit. It’s absolute genius space brain stuff over here.

Though I am an Inept Villainess: Tale of the Butterfly-Rat Body Swap in the Maiden Court Vol. 1 - 2

This is the first time I’ve had to do a second read of a book from this year, but volume 2 just came out and I can’t remember a thing about the first one. And I’m glad I did read it again?!? It’s super good?! The art is wonderful and the two lead characters are wonderful. Volume 2 is even better, the whole courtly drama is just heating up deliciously and OH HECK it ends on a great cliffhanger (someone FIGUREs OUT THE BODYSWAP?!) ohh be still my beating heart I don’t want to wait months for volume 3 this sucks~

Failed Princesses Vol. 5 - 6

Ahh dang it’s over - I simultaneously like this series a lot and also find it really empty heh. It’s a hella cute and pretty ride, and the initial popular gal adopting a weird nerd and teaching her how to be pretty arc was REAL good… volume 4s was really strong with Izumi’s confession (and rejection) just being a great story.. and seeing Izumi ending up happy in the background (with the extrovert nerd girl) was just really satisfying… but the main story line… fucking Kanade’s weird obsession and lack of self confidence AFTER EVERYTHING YOUVE BEEN THOUGH TOGETHER IN THE PREVIOUS 5 VOLUMES!!?! Idk… just feels real not earned in a way… it’s like this plot is two shades two mean to its main characters? It’s not tasty! I dunno just feels like there’s a more delicious story that could have emerged over the last volume and a half… it’s like all the elements that make this ending are good! Just maybe not with this particular weighting.. and in this particular order? still good tho.

Hazure Skill: The Guild Member With a Worthless Skill is Actually a Legendary Assassin Vol. 1 - 3

A classic boy meets demon-lord girl, boy beats up demon lord girl, demon lord girl becomes boys pet cat, boy gets a job as a staff member at a small normal adventurers guild. You know, one of them. It’s always nice to see really abnormal characters getting obsessed with being “normal” (whilst having zero clue what normal even is). There’s lots of fun fantasy tropes and found family themes running all the way through. Simple but solidly executed “I can’t believe it’s not isekai” junk. 10/10

Also, wow there’s something weird with these books. For some reason Yen Press switched to a MUCH higher quality paper stock on the 3rd volume. It’s real smooth and not grainy at all, a little thicker… weird! I do like a higher quality product but I like consistency more! Just a weird thing to change too

Bonus: Audiobooks

The Rising of the Shield Hero Vol 5

The incel light novel is back baybeee~ and its still way better than it has any right to be heck dang it. Now that were 5 volumes in our narrator guy seems to be finally getting the hang of doing "girl" voices for character in a way that dosnt make you want to spontaneously vomit

stuff in the pile for next week

Whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. Idk... I think i wanna start reading though my dress-up darling.. its kinda calling to me.. WE SHALL SEE THO. ALSO next week i need to plan out a new format for this thread because it getting too long IM SO SORRY - last week i said id do that this week but I REALLY HAVNT HAD TIME OOPS

Books read this year: 151

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-09T22:28:29.542Z

May 1st - 7th

Stuff i read this week

This is Screwed up but I was Reincarnated as a Girl in Another World Vol. 6

Yay a new volume of one of the MOST trash isekai series is out ~ in this volume Ren wants eggs SO bad she goes on a long journey to the royal capital (bigger marketplace there) and drags along two of the waitresses she met at the hotel she used to stay at. She’s going to pamper them SO HARD.

Im still really enjoying this delicious garbage and 1000% recommend this series. Its always stupid, fun and lighthearted, but internally consistent, it puts a LOT of artistry into drawing food (which is one of my favorite things in manga).... but it deffo is one for genre perverts (which genre tho? Isekai? Gender bending? Yes.)

Hazure Skill: The Guild Member With a Worthless Skill is Actually a Legendary Assassin Vol. 4

Huh… different paper again… you know, for a dumb harem adjacent over powered cheat skill fantasy manga (which again, I can’t believe it’s not an isekai) it’s got some heart to it. That’s alway my favourite kind of trash, when there’s just a nice warmth to the work, you know? The relationship between our assassin protagonist and the demon lord really has that- the whole two misfits that don’t really understand how to be human making a place for themselves in the world kinda thing- always gets me

I got a cheat skill in another world and became unrivaled in the real world too vol. 3

Talking of dumb harem adjacent over powered cheat skill fantasy manga that weirdly has a lot of heart to it - this volume puts the manga at the exact same point as the currently airing anime - in fact I think the most recent episode that aired this week covers the same material as the last two chapters in this book (editing lotte- the anime has pulled ahead again since i wrote this as uhhh, it airs every weekend oops). It’s pretty interesting to see both adaptions side by side and seeing how they weight story beats slightly differently. The action is deffo waaay clearer in the anime, you’ll get like 15 seconds of screen time for something that’s a single confusing panel in the manga. Bottom line? It’s still delicious trash, it’s weirdly wholesome and very good for you.

The Eminence in Shadow Vol. 2

Whatever I said about volume 1? Just copy paste that here it’s still an incredible work. My main problem with it is none of my local bookshops have volume 3 in stock (editing lotte again: youll never guess what i got on monday next week), and I’ve already got volume 4 waiting. Sigh.

My Dress-up Darling Vol. 1 - 4

Every bit as good as the (incredible) anime. I rewatched it like two weeks ago so it’s very fresh in my mind- so being able to contrast how it adapted and changed scenes from the manga has been real interesting (that’s been a bit of a theme this week hasn’t it!?!). One change i really noticed is how they introduce that Gojo kun is kinda a friendless loser right at the beginning, the anime adds an incredible visual joke that’s not in (and probably wouldn’t work as well) in the manga. Yeah, it’s been real interesting! ALSO FINDING OUT THAT SWALLOWTAIL WIGS IS A REAL SHOP IN IKEBUKURO WAS KINDA WILD it seems like the afterword pages in these volumes are gunna be great.

Bonus: Web manhwa

What’s Wrong with Being a Villainess

CHECK IT OUT THIS THING IS TOTALLY BEAUTIFUL AND FUNNY 10/10. I love it in villainess stories where a totally normal collage kid can be like, the most villainess and evil noble woman ever just because she has experienced how modern day capital works. Like, theres a whole trope subgenre in isekai fiction where having a highschool level understanding of the nitrogen cycle or the ability to make basic skin moisturizers are both SUPER big brain space god level knowledge in isekai stories. Your mundane normal upbringing makes you special, no matter how painful it was. This villainess-variant of that trope takes it one level deeper and wraps it even tighter in the isekai genre underpinning base axiom - "the real world sucks and a magic world would for sure be better". Villainess stories' like this one counter that with a "people would still suck in magical other worlds - they hate you for just being who you are, but you have been hurt by end game capitalism. they have not.... yet" - and i just think thats neat. it rules actually.

stuff in the pile for next week

Whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. Idk... ALSO next week i need to plan out a new format for this thread because it getting too long IM SO SORRY - last week (and the week before) i said id do that this week but I REALLY HAVNT HAD TIME OOPS. being sick sucks ass

Books read this year: 159

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-17T11:13:48.318Z

May 8th - 14th

Stuff i read this week

Quality Assurance in Another World vol. 1

It’s a fucking game developer isekai - essentially what if sword art online, except your a wimpy QA tester that’s REAL good at hiding. Maybe if you report all the bugs (whilst hiding from all the other QA testers that have given up on work and gone rouge) they will finally let you log out and go home? Prepare for t pose jokes

Also? The monster design in this book? It’s got dragons. Huge terrifying dragons. Dragons that will make even the mightiest NPC quiver with fear. They look like heckin ginormous frogs with goofy lil eyes. Terrifying. 10/10

(There’s a good 20 pages on rubbing yourself against walls trying to find collision bugs. To real.)

The Eminence in Shadow Vol. 3

I’m convinced now - the plot is waaaay clearer and easier to follow than in the anime adaption, the panel layout is really good and everything just flows real well. Super good adaptation. It’s just delightfully easy to read - getting through the entirety of the school terrorist arc in like 40 mins feels just right

A Tale of the Secret Saint Vol. 3

I can’t keep track of all these characters- good book tho, 'i cant believe its not isekai' junk food

Hazure Skill: The Guild Member With a worthless skill is actually a legendary assassin vol. 5

Even more junk food.. well this series more like a comfort food, just the right blend of cute fantasy misfit finding family vibes… then that last chapter in this volume? Yikes. I hope you like horrific depictions of torture along side your warm fuzzy nonsense.

Chronicles of an Aristocrat Reborn in Another World Vol. 6

This ones more of a junk food that you know is really bad for you and it makes you sick every time you eat it, but maybe a little bit wont send you to the bathroom for an hour. An okay volume, the set up for next volume is fun tho! Seems like it’s gunna be about adventures being jerks.

Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included Vol. 1-2

Cute and soft, inoffensive trash about a boy picking up an angel and letting her live in his studio apartment. It’s not the best apartment but it does get good natural lighting. I don’t know why that’s such an important feature of protagonist-kun’s home that it deserves to go in the title, seemed pretty throwaway in the book.

So this series is just kinda empty, inoffensive fluff. Very mid, 6/10 level stuff. The do go to mr donut (twice) in volume 2 so now it’s actually my favorite manga ever - I love mr donut. 100/10

Bonus: scanlations

Kasane and Subaru

.
Real cute manga about two cowrokers dating - Subaru is secretly a cross dresser and Kasane is their biggest fan. I love stories about coworkers dating and this is A VERY CUTE VARIENT OF THIS GENRE.

Bonus: Audiobooks

Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra: World Conquest starts with the Civilization of Ruin Vol. 4

I think out of all the light novel audiobook series im following (which, i think is literally all of them lol) this is BY FAR the worst. Its isekai where the protagonist gets reborn into the mechanics of his favorite 4X stratergy game, but in a generic fantasy world, and there seems to be other players reborn their with different game rule systems. Which is kind of interesting? This volume is mainly about a fight with a tabletop RPG hero... which kinda isnt interesting. When your game rulesystem lets you say "actually none of the attacks your units did hurt me, my dungeon master says so" theres kinda... nothing to be done, no tension, no nothing. Just nothing ever happens. This ones only for genre perverts.

stuff in the pile for next week

There was a looooot of trash this week. maybe next week i can find something better... Idk... ALSO next week i need to plan out a new format for this thread because it getting too long IM SO SORRY - last week (and the week before) (and the week before) i said id do that this week but I REALLY HAVNT HAD TIME OOPS.

Books read this year: 166

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-24T23:48:00.187Z

May 15th - 21st

Stuff i read this week

Young Ladies Don’t Play Fighting Games Vol. 1

Okay that was real good. I’m glad I finally managed to track down a copy and I’m deffo going to get the rest wow some real pretty ladies playing some fighting games right here. It’s an interesting twist on a classic catholic school style yuri set up, our main characters are both transfer students that are plopped into that rigid prim environment and handle fitting in differently - and contrasting the ultra refined young lady performances with the fighting game manic inner personas is just REAL GOOD. I love it in media when a woman gets to shout “FIGHT ME” with all her heart, 10/10

Into The Deepest Most Unknowable Dungeon Vol. 1

Or, “I was reincarnated in another world but it was pretty much an all-around downgrade” as our main character quips .

A lot of the time for new series, I have no idea what I’m getting into, I’m just buying new shit based on a title… maybe sometimes I’ll look at the cover… but usually I’m not thinking that deep. So a lot of the time with fantasy manga these days I’m 100% thinking “wow I can believe this isn’t an isekai” - it’s the opposite here “wow I can’t believe this is an isekai”. I thought it was just going to be some silly high fantasy dungeoneering… but nope it’s an isekai about how actually combat sucks, the dungeons are cool but the day to day business of adventuring sucks… but dang isn’t dungeon diving aesthetically romantic~ also wow this books world is HELLA misogynistic. It’s kinda impressive how gross it is. Not really recommended- genre perverts might find it interesting.. but like… I didn’t have a good time.. but it was interesting, in a way that makes me want to track down more volumes so I can continue to have a bad time but think a lot about the genre I like… so that’s… something!?!

The Eminence in Shadow Vol. 4

Aww poor Epsilon

Call Girl in Another World Vol. 1

When I saw this in the store I was like “ohhh heck, this is either one for REAL perverts or for REAL GENRE PERVERTS. I hope it’s for genre perverts” and I’m 3000% happy to report it’s for Genre Perverts! rejoice! Incredible my funny and incredible unerotic lol. very neat spin on an isekai setup, and boy does our main lady love to do sexy stuff with big weirdos.

I think I Turned my Childhood Friend into A Girl Vol. 1 -2

I read a scanlation ages ago but yeah, this is still SUPER CUTE, also the way the colour pages are incorporated into it is amazingly nice- it’s an incredibly nice book to behold. Yeah, it’s just real cute.

Magic Artisan Dahlia Wilts No More Vol. 1

After how big a disappointment deepest dungeon was, this was a bit of a happy surprise. It’s anoter isekai, but this time with a lady that used to work in an electronics company reincarnating into a fantasy world as the daughter of a magical artisan, and does the whole isekai modern japan Knowledge thing to make cool magical inventions. SHE IS COOL, STRONG AND I LOVE HER. at it’s core, the first volume is a story of familial loss and romantic betrayal, but there’s a real warm core and hope for her, she’s so much stronger in her second life and I love her for it. Good book.

Bonus: Audiobooks

How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom: Volume 1

better than the anime. Also, i 100% thought this was "The Genius Prince's Guide To Raising a Nation Out of Debt" which is basically the same show. oops

stuff in the pile for next week

Opps late again and oops still need to figure out how to reformat this...IM SO SORRY ITS SO LONG - last week (and the week before) (and the week before) (and the week before) i said id do that this week but I REALLY HAVNT HAD TIME OOPS. Next week? im readin YURI

Books read this year: 173

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-31T00:55:38.546Z

May 22nd - 28th

Stuff i read this week

How do we Relationship? Vol. 1

Dang I adore this book. Adult women doing their best - I love that for them! It’s the kind of book where there are just SO many panels when you read it and then just gaze into the art and feel all warm inside and just tuck yourself onto a little ball of pleasant feelings I SURE DO HOPE NOTHING GOES WRONG FOR THESE TWO.

Also - is just like to acknowledge Saeko for her opening gambit with Miwa - shouting “whoaa that’s some mad cleavage!” The first time you meet a pretty girl is incredibly high power level stuff. Like, we’ve al thought it (probably) but actually pulling it off and not seeming like a creep is incredible work. 10/10 excellent lesbianing right there

The Eminence in Shadow Vol. 5

It’s volume five, so you really need me to tell you how cool it is again? In this volume a girl breaks a baddies sword in half WOTH HER TEETH. 10/10 no notes.

Asumi-chan is Interested in Lesbian Brothels! Vol. 2

This dang girl gets bullied so hard by hot women how does that keep happened to her oh no. If you DO NOT like hot girls huggin an stuff this isnt a book for you.

The Girl with the Sanpaku Eyes Vol. 1

It’s a pretty light and fluffy school romance manga about a girl who has scary eyes but is actually real sweet when you get to know her, and some boy she likes. So/ kinda nothing but still pretty entertaining to read though. The real big draw here is that it’s full color and beautiful, like 5000% some of the prettiest pastel comic pages you ever seen. I know I can go on a bit about how nice a book physically is whenever I come across a particularly nice one - but wow heck this is one of the nicest presented manga books you could ever hope to find. Denpa did a real good job on that front. 10/10

Oshi no Ko Vol. 2

Ahhh heck it’s so good it’s so good it’s so goooood. Volume 2 is the show business arc, and dang the pacing is so good?!! Beautiful art too. I DO NOT WANT TO WAIT MONTHS FOR VOLUME 3

Her Rotal Highness Seems to be Angry Vol. 1

Wow incredibly beautiful art and a double isekai? Like we got a boy being summoned isekaied into a magical world (and dying), and then a princess time slipping to the future… possibly meeting the isekai boys reincarnation 1000 years in the future?!? Double isekai and a time slip this rules genre perverts get hyped that’s like 3 genres. And yeah - theres a lot of manga with really low detailed panel backgrounds but this isnt one of them. I bet it had a monthly serialization or something cos heck the amount of pencil time this would need to draw is wild!

A Galaxy Next Door Vol. 4

I LOVE THIS BOOK STILLL and I think it’s just getting better as the volumes progress? It’s so nice to see them grow more open and close with each other, and our weird space princess get like, slightly more normal.

I really liked that this volume expanded and developed on the other boarding house residents and the manuals friends a bit more, and of course Chibi Chan got some more pages (a whole bonus chapter about her too!) I like manga with a warmth to them, and this is just getting warmer each time. Can’t help but smile

Bonus: Digital Manga

Housekeeping Mage from Another World: Making Your Adventures Feel Like Home Vol. 1-4

Id buy these in paperback if they were out ITS VERY GOOD! Its an isekai shoujo romance about a lady reborn in a magic world except her magic is very week but shes real good at controlling it and invents all sort of domestic uses for it and calls it housekeeping magic..... and like, yeah i would like to read that very much thats some of my favorite genres right there.

stuff in the pile for next week

late - no format updates - sorry again lol - broken record for sure! next week? yuri? isekai? probably. im a dweeb.

Books read this year: 180

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-06-04T23:13:59.845Z

May 29th - June 4th

Stuff i read this week

The Great Cleric Vol. 1 - 3

Yet another isekai, this time a sales guy dies of a sudden heat attack (I think? It’s unclear- hence no death report.. i dont want to be wrong) and gets reincarnated with the potential to learn healing magic and hand to hand combat skills. But oh no, healers in this world are ALL MASSIVE JERKS. Like, the biggest jerks! And our poor protag-kun? hes just a normal nice guy that would never want to charge anyone 30 gold for a healing spell. He just wants to charge 1 silver. Thats how nice he is! But first, hes gotta get good. The first three volumes are mostly a real long skill training arc with some light assassination plots thrown in for a bit of spice... but it’s fun and light, but theres a lot of genre pervert stuff going on. Turns out the world is racist towards beast people (wow so original - who would have thought) so the fact that protag-kun willing to heal them is a big deal. wow! want a nice kid! It’s that kinda story. If your a genre pervert, you know what this is going to be and you love it.

as a sample of the elvel of writing were dealing with here, 100 pages into volume 2 our main guy thinks “hrmm… there HAS to be some sort of discrimination against beastfolk here “ WOW PROTAG-KUN SURE IS A FUCKING BRAIN GENIUS.

Love's in Sight! Vol. 1

Really cute 4 koma about a delinquent gang leader boy and a blind girl doing that whole romance thing and it’s VERY good. It explores this core theme of society not really wanting them in it, because of the precived trouble their existences cause and how that shared experience brings them together. Sure being a delinquent with a scar on you face from a knife fight is VERY different from being partially sighted, but like, it works very well in the text and that thread drives some interesting chapters… also the book is just very funny and cute. I preordered volume 2 o7

Perfect World Vol. 1

And I quote “They’ve made designing part of the Paralympic facilities into contest and nabe-san (my boss) said we should enter… but 2020? That’s five years from now.” “I wonder what’ll be going on then”

UHHHH THEY DONT KNOW THEY LACK FUTURE INFORMATION OH NO. this is a beautiful lil romance manga about a dude in a wheelchair and a lady that likes him. Pretty good imo

Her Royal Highness Seems to be Angry Vol. 2 -3

I said it last time and I’ll say it again, it’s weird to be reading a Tokyo pop published book and the art is beautiful... that said as beautiful as the art is - it’s kinda hard to follow the panels sometime and I’m finding it hard to tell some of the characters apart… which is always annoying when a manga has that kinda readability issue… just dang is it pretty.

The saviour’s book cafe story in another world Vol. 5

Annnnd it’s another series done - volume 5 was the last one in this series. It was a pretty good (if painfully straight) romance isekai. The enby character got quite a lot of page time in the last volume and is pretty cool (if mildly “problematic”- not that I give a shit) and it was cool to see them expended upon and filling out the last story arc with something a little different. I enjoyed my stay in this work.

Bonus: Scanlations

The Little Healer

This is a thai webcomic about a doctor that gets reincarnated as a little girl with magic healing powers in a world where like, everyone FUCKING HATES healers, and his adventures getting used to being a girl and hanging out with a cool catgirl lady that DEFFO has a crush. Its a real low effort translation, but that just kinda adds to the charm, and heck this is a real charming little gender bent isekai. recommended to genre perverts o7

stuff in the pile for next week

Same as last week friends~ The Yuri pile is growning, ive got some new volumes coming in the mail of stuff i started in previous weeks that im excited about as well! I do want to get into some more of How do we Relationship? and im still staring at that big pile of Citrus thinking.... yeah... i could read that. will i? who knows! check in next week

Books read this year: 188

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-31T00:55:38.546Z

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-01-08T21:16:13.455Z

this year im gunna read one volume of manga a day, every day

Stuff i read this week

The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess Vol. 1-5

This is a super good isekai villainess story about a woman who dies (truck) and is reborn as one of her OCs in an AWFUL novel she wrote as a TERRIBLE teenager. Obviously, she's not the super beautiful author insert character, but rather her villainous little sister and OH NO all the hot boys DEFFO want her dead, probably. Watching our poor girl struggle through the pain of remembering her own terrible plot and dealing with the world changing as she continues not to get killed by the hot boys is super fun... the books do suffer a bit from the art not being super clear at times tho. Still, if you like villainess stories this has a really interesting twist to the formulae.

Pulse vol.1&2

By the same person as Lily Love and its also VERY good and VERY gay. These books that seven seas have put out are incredibly printed, full colour and everything. Super cool to see a webtoon presented in a book so well. The story so far is very cute, seeing the doctor slowly open up is a real treat. Very much looking forward to volume 3. (also dang that's a lotta sex)

Black and White - Tough Love at the Office Vol. 1

dang that's a lotta sex. I've never seen a yuri manga where two ladies beat each other up so lovingly. incredible work. Seven Seas is publishing so wild stuff these days its great.

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive.

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-01-16T01:16:12.981Z

January 9th - 15th

Stuff i read this week

Accomplishments of the Dukes Daughter Vol. 1-4

wow, this has quickly become a favourite series - It's a real good entry in the isekai villainess genre. As much as i hate capital, capital owners, the pursuit of capital, and the concept of hereditary peerage DANG i do love manga about princesses and noble ladies starting businesses using knowledge from a previous life - that shit OWNS. She wants to invent health insurance and banking... and chocolate? girlboss. I'm deffo going to buy more of this after my next paycheck heh 10/10

My Cute Little Kitten Vol.1

Oh no is Milk Morinaga drawing cute fluffball airhead girls again? And this time they have a cat? Terrible news. 10/10

Futari Escape Vol. 1

Pretty cute stories about two girls running away from work and disassociating from society for a bit. Deadlines suck ass, 10/10

Asumi chan is Interestied in Lesbian Brothels!

I think maybe Asumi chan is a raging homosexual? She sure does like sleeping with girls that's for sure. Im sure the real perverts would love this one but its super sweet too. 10/10

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive.

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-01-23T00:05:38.826Z

January 16th - 22nd

Stuff i read this week

The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess vol 6

The dark history is really tightening up in this volume. Earlier stories deffo had a made-up as it’s going along falling to them, so it’s really cool to see all of that come together into a cohesive whole that's actually pretty dang good! Unfortunately, this is the last volume available in English right now, volume 7 doesn't come out until May. will I still be doing this in may?! who knows! maybe!

My Gently Raised Beast Vol. 1

Painfully straight (derogatory)

I Swear I won’t bother you again! Vol. 1-2

Painfully straight (complimentary)

My Androgynous Boyfriend Vol. 1

(Somehow) not Painfully straight. Dang, this book is incredible- this is a straight romance comedy that has SO much yuri energy - like a straight romance story written like a yuri, if that makes sense. these are some of the softest characters I’ve read in ages. it’s also incredibly funny, I loled out loud, at 2 am like an idiot. 10/10 (THEY EVEN GO ON A DATE TO IKEA. that's the most lesbian kind of date, in my experience)

Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter Vol. 5

Still really good, if very capital owner brained. We got some hot political intrigue story threads beginning to be woven into the narrative, so I cant wait to see how that ends up. Oh, and the spy/ladies (combat) maid is still incredibly hot. i love her

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Vol. 1

This book somehow manages to depict the passage of time more beautifully than any other manga I've ever read, really beautiful art and a very unique fantasy tale. recommended

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive. i didn't manage to get to any yuri stuff this week, i should fix that next week!

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-01-30T08:19:42.677Z

January 23rd- 29th

Stuff i read this week

Whisper me a Love Song Vol. 1

Super cute school yuri story about a girl falling in love with her senpai, who is the lead singer in a school band. Real pretty art. It’s a shame the music/band stuff is just used as background flavour more than being like, a real driver in the story like with Bocchi- I recommend “The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy At All” for a yuri manga where music plays a more ‘real’ role. These print volumes are really nice, Kondansha comics seem to be publishing things in a larger page size than most other publishers, makes the art look super nice with this book. Big clear faces and all that!

Whisper me a Love Song Vol. 2

Way more actual music stuff happening in this volume which was cool to see! Also drama is brewing~ real nice seeing stuff foreshadowed and playing out. I like this manga! Just a clean, well-crafted work

Villains are Destined to Die Vol. 1

The colours in this book are incredible! DANG HER HAIR. she’s wonderful. 10/10 Its great to see more Korean stuff get printed in full-colour books. These things are just beautiful to behold sometimes. There's a real fun gimmick early on to this villainess story - our main character starts off mute and can only ever talk when given options that were in the original game shes been reincarnated in - which was an interesting twist for a while. be cool to see where this goes.

Beauty and the Feast Vol. 1

Remember that tweet from a few weeks ago from some lady that really wanted to make chilli for some students that lived in the same building, cos they just looked like really hungry boys and cooking for other people made her happy? This is a book about exactly that. 10

Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter Vol. 6

Just kiss already! Anyways, the political stuff in the last two volumes has been super fun to follow through, civil war is brewing, the church’s power has been brought under the states heel, stuffs going to get messy! THIS STORY IS GETTING SO GOOD I WANNA READ THE NEXT VOLUME NOWWWW

Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter Vol. 7

So this was my first 2 book day - i just had to know what was going to happen next... AHHH THIS IS SO GOOD SHE BEAT UP THE POPE REAL GOOD 10/10 I wish they would get on with the relationship between Iris and ‘Dean’. Iris is not gay and this will never be a yuri, I have accepted that, it’s a done deal. Now I just want her to kiss and be happy. Im now caught up with this and i can finally stop staring at this pile of books guilty... but ughh now i have to wait for volumes to be published.. maybe i should have left 7 for next week TEARS

Love me for who I am Vol. 1

It’s the enby maid manga! ITS TOO CUTE FOR WORDS. 10/10 The whole theme of letting people be a true expression of themselves is really heartwarming and dang i want to read more, unfortunately, i do not have volume 2 and its out of stock everywhere. ill have to track it down. Super recommended

My Androgynous Boyfriend vol. 2

Still convinced this is a straight yuri manga. Not much to say about it apart from wow its hella warm.

Bonus: Light novels

I read two light novels this week so why not add them to the list

VTuber Legend: How I Went Viral after Forgetting to Turn Off My Stream, Vol. 1

Mostly read this because I saw rumours that it was getting an anime adaption. Its not very good, but i did read the heck out of it if that makes sense, and i will be buying and reading the rest, and enjoying every second of reading it whilst i think 'wow this sucks, its not very good!' 8/10

Cross-Dressing Villainess Cecilia Sylvie

I love Villainess, i love Villainess who are smart enough to try and game the systems they are reborn into, and i love it when they are two dumb to realise everyone loves them and they are in zero danger of being executed. 10/10

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive.

Books read this year: 30

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-02-05T18:14:43.850Z

January 30th - February 5th

Stuff i read this week

Oshi no ko Vol. 1

what an incredibly gripping prologue! A doctor is MURDERED by an idol’s creepy stalker- and is reborn as one of her twin children. Hijinks ensue. It’s yet another incredible read, beautiful art, all that good stuff 10/10 for reincarnation in the REAL world. This is getting an anime real soon - im HYPED

Killing Me! Vol. 1

super sweet yuri story about it a vampire hunter and the vampire that’s in love with her. Only one volume is available, as it seems this manga got cancelled after one volume. WHICH IS SAD AT THIS IS HELLA CUTE. Akiyama seems to be still working as a manga artist which is nice, but drawing straight vampire stories now rather than gay ones - oh well can’t win them all! Anyways, its is a really good little book recommended 10/10

Whisper me a Love Song Vol. 4-5

Double book day! This story is getting going now. It had a slow start, but here it’s getting to be something REAL good. (IM REAL GLAD)

Doughnuts under a crescent moon Vol. 1 -2

Ughhhhh stories about yuri office ladies slowly falling in love get to me like nothing else ughhh I love this book I love it so much. I read a scanlation ages ago, and now I’m going to track down all the volume of this asap (I only got this first one in stock on my shelves) 11/10. Very good - ITS BASICALLY WRITTEN FOR ME! I am a well know lesbian doughnut enjoyer. Heck I scoured the shelves at my local bookstore and managed to get volume 2 I am blessed by the yuri gods

I love you so much I hate you

dang I love yuri about older women, so im real glad i managed to have a two day office lady yuri streak. This book? It’s good 10/10. Just real nice to be reading something and wishing the best for these ladies - strong good warm feelings

The Holy Grail of Eris Vol. 1

Just when I thought I was running out of Villainess stories to read I find this neat tome on my shelf. The ghost possession gimmick is really interesting- going to be cool to see how this develops.

I swear I won’t bother you again Vol. 3

Continues the tradition of maids in these villainess stories secretly being the best character who deserve like a million % more pages. I previously described earlier volumes in this series as "Painfully straight (complimentary)" and that continues to be true. I do love a story with an idiot lead leady.

Bonus: Audio Books

So I'm a Spider, So What? vol 4

im STILL in love with this book, and i STILL think the audiobook having sections where the narrator is just reading off character sheet stats for like 10 mins is hilariously good. Way less character sheet stuff this time though, were showing restraint!

Bonus: Light novels

Hell Mode: Volume 5

Ive got half way though this so far this week - ITS SO FRICKING STUPID. this is like popcorn for me, stupid dumbass isekai game system bullshit. 10/10

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... i think i might have finally ran out of villainess isekai stuff.... what a sad time to be alive. maybe i can find some in a local bookstore (even if the entire point is to kill the backlog)

Books read this year: 39

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-02-12T22:24:47.125Z

February 6th - 12th

Stuff i read this week

I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in the Real World Too Vol. 1 - 2

DAAAANG what a stupid book 10/10 was fucking love isekai. It does that thing where the Isekai world has a bidirectional link with the real world, I LOVE IT WHEN THEY DO THAT. YEAH, SHOW ME A GUY WHOS FANTASY WORLD POWER LEVELING GAINS MAKE THEM MORE POWERFUL AT SOCIAL INTERACTIONS IN MODERN DAY TOKYO GIVE ME THAT SLOP ILL EAT IT UP SO FAST

My Androgynous Boyfriend Vol. 3

There’s a chapter in here about suddenly having to start working from home and having zoom meeting and I’m like oh well I know exactly when this was written- that was weird huh. Also, yeah this is still a heterosexual yuri manga that still holds.

Failed Princess Vo. 1

This book is so frickin cute. It turns out ive had volume 2 on my shelves for ages but never found volume 1 locally, so i went to track it down - which lead me to fricking amazon. They managed to stick the shipping envelope to the damn front cover. TRAGIC. its ruined, destined for a recycling plant once amazon replace it. cute story though

Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion Vol. 1

Gotta love villainess isekai nonsense I thought I’d be out of that this week but my bookshelf pulled though for me. This book tho, it’s kind of incredibly beautiful? It’s got such a cute sketchy feel to the characters, you can’t help but thing “dang they really did draw this huh” as you read it. Art is wonderful huh. 10/10.

Minami Nanami Wants To Shine Vol. 1 - 2

Apparently this is a spin off to some other thing I’ve always just skipped over on Crunchyroll? Maybe I’ll give the source material a chance, because this was a pretty delightful read. It’s about a girl who wants to be special, falling into a modelling carer and it’s kinda INCREDIBLY cute and sweet. 10/10

Beauty and the Feast Vol. 2

Its still really cute - but every chapter im terrified that the author is gunna pull a bunny drop or something. all my fingers crossed that this remains healing.

Bonus: Audio Books

I’d Rather Have a Cat than a Harem! Reincarnated into the World of an Otome Game as a Cat-Loving Villainess Vol. 2

Just look at that title and tell me that its not the greatest thing you've ever laid eyes on? 11/10. recommended.

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... Last week i said i was out of Villainess stories but i managed to pull one out the dark recesses of my shelf.. maybe another is lurking...

Books read this year: 47

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-02-20T01:32:55.668Z

February 13th - 19th

Stuff i read this week

Beauty and the Feast Vol. 3

We’re beginning to learn more about Shuko’s past and dang I love this poor woman and I’m glad she’s healing and the chapter with her friends looking out for her are the best and why can’t a manga character cook me dinner? 10/10

Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter Vol. 8

What’s this?!? Lotte pulled another villainess isekai manga volume out of her ass?? Wow how does she do it?!? She can’t keep getting away with this!! Anyways, this series is STILL incredibly good, i STILL want them to hurry up and kiss and i cant wait for the next volume to be release. The combat maid STILL rules forever i love her. 10/10 The cast pages at the front of every volume is getting crazy complicated character sheet

The Two of Them Are Pretty Much Like This Vol. 1-2

gosh just beautiful- it feels like 99% of yuri manga is about a budding relationship, taking painstaking amounts of time to get to a love confession - getting to that starting point and as soon as that happens, THATS IT end of serialization, that’s you 6 chapters HOW DARE YOU WANT MORE. it sucks! I wanna read about women in love, I wanna see stories about their home lives, their hopes, their dreams, their years. This is a little bit of all that, and it’s perfect. Wako and Ellie have been going out for two years and living together for one year at the start of this story and that so unusual and weird for a yuri manga I LOVE IT 100/10 super recommend

Failed Princess Vol. 2

Still a super frickin cute book! This volume is about coming to terms with jealousy, and its a real nice storyline for one of these school age yuri.

Doughnuts under a crescent moon vol. 3

Sad the next volume is the last. I really recommend this series, again because stuff about adult women in love just rules - just be warned it seems like volume 3 had a small print run and its REALLY hard to find anywhere. I eventually managed to get a copy on ebay... which came bundled with volume 1&2 T_T sometimes you just end up with duplicates.

No Longer Allowed In Another World Vol. 1

What if Zetsubou Sensei was hit by a truck and got isekai’ed? 10/10 good. I published a Isekai Death Report here

Though I Am an Inept Villainess: Tale of the Butterfly-Rat Body Swap in the Maiden Court Vol. 1

I love villainess?!? I really enjoyed watching Raven of the inner palace last anime season, so seeing a villainess story with a similar setting was an instant pickup. Turns out this is very very good! The main character and her ladies maid have a great chemistry together, I can’t wait to see how this evolves over time. Body swapping from a sick, frail (but loved) persona to a healthy, strong (but universally hated) one is a super interesting setting as well, this is genius space brain level trash I love it

The Savior's Book Café Story in Another World Vol. 1

Straight, but interesting. Dang i love isekai, and how they are all the same but different. “You have been summoned to a magical world! you MUST become a savior, a hero in this place! i shall grant you MASSIVE amounts of magical power and grant a wish” - okay thats all normal nothing weird here - “ehh that sounds like a hassle can i own a little café bookshop on the outskirts of a capital city and just kinda rest there and do nothing??” 11/10 PERFECT use of isekai powers LOVE IT for you girl please do exactly that. I think deep down, we have all just wanted to have a little café bookshop and no responsibility and massive amounts of magical energy. (no isekai death report for this title - she seems to just have been summoned)

The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 1

What a lovely little story! Maomao makes some wonderful disgusted faces at flirty men, which really speaks to me imo. She’s so cool snake Also I’m quickly realizing that “weird girls solve problems in the inner court of a Chinese palace” is like - a manga/light novel genre now? Like “isekai but it’s a otome novel and the main character is the villainess” is a genre. Very cool looking forward to exploring the depths of this genre on the coming weeks and months

Bonus: Audio Books

Sword Art Online Vol. 8

i can never hate sword art. it sucks so much, but i sure do love this trash garbage. This volume is a bunch of short stories that take place all over the timeline - i think the short story anthologies are some of the better sword art light novels, when we just get to throw the characters into an interesting situation without thinking about the connective tissue of the story too hard... sword art is best when you dont think about it too hard! The audio books are still really well produced, deffo recommended if you want some daft background listening.

Reincarnated as the Last of my Kind Vol. 4

Somehow, this audio book is 6 hours long, and basically nothing happened... 8/10 its about as 'light' as a light novel could ever get, and i gotta respect that

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... I may have solved my lack of Villainess stories with an amazon order.. maybe..

Books read this year: 57

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-02-26T22:37:30.893Z

February 20th - 26th

Stuff i read this week

The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 2-5

Maomao is SO FUCKING CUTE when she’s ingesting deadly deadly neurotoxins. This girl just LOVES poisons. I LOVE HER. My first taste of poison in ages has me grinning like a fool

Wish I read these slower lol.. it was so good I couldn’t stop myself though the story is SUPER engaging and the Maomao is just a wonderful lead character. i want to spend every second with her that i can heh, the facial expressions in this book are just THAT incredible. Its rare you get to see THAT much character on the page you know?

Savior's Book Cafe Story in Another World Vol. 2-4

Another series i should have savored rather than rush though, but it is what it is! Last week i said "Straight but interesting” and YEAH. its very straight but also very interesting? I do wonder why this fantasy world has such a thriving book publishing industry... like, who is writing all these books shes stocking her cafe with? Anyways, pretty good. Volume 5 dosnt come out until May this year, so thats all for now.

Love me for who I am Vol. 2

Yeah, to enby maid book is back and DANG!! it’s hard to get this book! Totally out of print it seem, eBay to the rescue. AND HECK I CAN SEE WHY it’s incredible for all thoes gender feels. I want the best for all these kids as they figure out life and love! Im just SO glad this series exists?

There’s a part where Tetsu suddenly begins to “get” all this gender stuff other characters are going though whist talking to his transwoman older sibling and hes like… dang I guess I should be calling you oneechan and not oniichan… and she’s so happy about it - I deffo almost cried lol. Yeah good book. Now i just have to track down volume 3... painful

Sasaki and Peeps Vol. 1

Ahhh heck what a super smart inversion of isekai themes! No guys dying of early onset truck here, instead our hero is a lonely 40 year old office worker who REALLY wants a friend, so he goes to a pet shop. Dogs and cats are too big and expensive… but that weird little bird? 100% within budget… and it can talk… THE BIRD IS A MAGICAL SAINT THAT GOT ISEKAIED TO EARTH?!? And he can do teleportation?!? Wow Sasaki’s daily commute just got SO MUCH faster. 10/10 Commuter Isekai in general are a fascinating subgenre, and this particular story is getting an anime adaption soon so im super glad i found it. It does a lot of neat stuff with time scaling and like.. practical power limits? Recommended.

The Girl I want is so Handsome! The Complete Manga Collection

Two volumes printed in one nice big book. It’s LARGE, I do love manga with smaller page sizes (makes it much easier to store them or carry them!) but heck it’s easy to forget how good these things look on LARGE pages! Looks incredible up close.

Plot wise it’s pretty simple straightforward school based yuri story with a basketball theme… it’s cute. Does have that thing where like all plot progression is gated behind misunderstandings and miscommunication but luckily things tend to be cleared up the next chapter so it’s never annoying. Yeah, it’s just simple, pretty well executed story printed in a really nice chunky volume.

Our Teachers are Dating! Vol. 1

GOD women are so hot, I love women.
IM REALLY SORRY that these book notes quite often tend to do this but I’m going on another rant about HOW these books are printed but HECK this book (series?!?) is printed on WEIRDLY high quality paper stock. It’s so thick it was even hard to fully open? The cover is a real nice card stock (double side printed at that! And the internal pages are real smooth and thick - theres no paper grain here. It’s also on the small side of the page size spectrum which coupled with the binding/paper quality just feels really luxurious? It’s wild! Puling a small sample of other books published by Seven Seas, and none of them have the same paper stock or bins stiffness to them. The closest is their full color manhwa prints, but even they seem to have thinner pages with a slight gloss finish. Like, "the girl i want is so handsome!" was also published by Seven Seas, as an object its like the polar opposite of this book. It’s real weird, but I love it! This is why physical objects rule.

Bonus: Audio Books

Solo Leveling Vol. 6

I dont get the hype around this series. When Crunchyroll announced there was an anime adaption happening and they would be airing it, people went wild on that social media. Ive been listening to the audiobook version for a while and like.. i dont get it. ITS SO BORING!?!? Like, people seem to be hyped for the fights and stuff... but i SWARE there are like whole chapters that are just dryly discussing how portals to magical worlds full of terrifying monsters really depress the value of luxury housing markets IN A REAL BORING WAY. that kind of content should be right up my ally but dang solo leveling makes it dull. BUT I SHALL CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO EVERY VOLUME, HOPING THE NEXT ONE IS WHERE IT GETS GOOD. This volume actual had some bits where Jinwoo actually feels kinda like a human for once.. but yeah hes still a bit of a fucking psychopath. The whole story also has that vague "oh yeah this feels kinda like it was written by a fascist" thing going on, like attack on titan.. oh maybe thats why so many people are hyped for it? cant recommend this unless your a total dweeb like me. (my next audible credits going to be spent on the new volume of Tanya the Evil, so uhhh, more of that next month too i guess!)

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... not sure about villainess content tho which is SAD. I do have more Apothecary Diaries arriving on monday tho so IM REAL HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

Books read this year: 68

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-03-06T15:39:37.967Z

February 27th - March 5th (another month down heck!)

Stuff i read this week

The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 6-7

Heck things are getting tense and super interesting- volume 6 manages to pull so many storylines together in a cool way also MAOMAO IS SO COOL I LOVE HER. I have once again READ ALL the new volume of this as soon as i get them which is a big mistake, i have now 100% run out and volume 8 dosnt hit until 9th May OR June 6th, depending on if you believe Amazon .co.uk or .com. who knows when ill get more Maomao! this sucks! I guess this is a great time to remind you that its getting an anime adaption soon and it looks beautiful

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/1198754-finished-it-real-go

Failed Princesses Vol. 3-4

Still cute, still dramatic, still getting going. Somehow a lot of stuff happens but it feels real slow? just hook up already i guess.

If Witch, Then Which? Vol. 1-3

The crossdressing witch manga. It was okay I guess? Its cute and pretty short, but deffo not queer which is always disappointing. i mean 'crossdressing witch manga' sounds like it should be queer as heck, but it aint!

Love me for who I am Vol. 3-5

The 'enby working in a cross dressing maid café' manga returns. I would die for Mogumo (and ive made that fact ABUNDANTLY clear). Mogumo is perfect. I love this book. Its kinda sad the story ends where it does, it would be nice to have a bigger glimpse into these characters lives now they have figured things out a bit more - but its nice have such a queer, beautiful little story in 5 nicely printed manga volumes. 10/10

Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Dukes Mansion Vol. 2

Fine i guess. I think id get on with this story better if more was out so i could binge... feels way to slow at the moment but these full colour manhwa books are SUPER readable. My copy had some major print quality issues - a lot of smudge black ink, some of the colors had oversaturated the paper and caused it to rip and crack. Weird! i Guess Yen Press isnt the best at full colour release, but im sure other books ive had have been better than this!

Bonus: Uhhh nothing

i started a few light novels but haven't finished anything yet.

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... i did hit the book shop on sunday to scout out some more Villainess content, WHICH WAS A SUCSESS so at least one villainess book, and maybe some isekai.. who knows!

Books read this year: 79

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-03-12T20:25:31.274Z

March 6th - 12th

Stuff i read this week

The Princess of convenient plot devices Vol. 1

Heck yeah she did it! She managed to procure another villainess isekai manga. Fricking champion.

I didn’t know anything about this going in to it (i didn’t even read the blurb on the back, just saw a villainess-like title and bought it immediately) but it’s not how I expected it to go based on the title, instead we have a pretty funny deep dive into “okay so we reincarnated as a princess in the world of a boys love novel… how does Nobel society function of all the hot Nobel dudes are trying to bone each other?” And the answer is your brother (the crown Prince) is kinda a misogynist? Makes sense, let him cook. Fortunately our heroin is kinda a complete fricking moron, so I love her unconditionally and pray for her heteronormative success.

Daughter of the Emperor Vol. 1 - 2

Yay another isekai~ what’s really neat about this is that is TOTALLY doubles down on the mechanics of “being reborn” - our protagonist is a literal child. Sure- a child with an adult mind, but still a child. She can’t communicate, she’s 2 months old. Of course she can’t communicate! she can beat sit up by herself! And that kinda rules? It’s about our girl figuring out that her new dad is a terrible tyrannical despotic emperor, who is incapable of showing emotion and figuring out how the world works, and how to survive as this crazed guy’s only child. It kinda rules. baby

This is Screwed Up, But I was Reincarnated as a girl in Another World Vol. 1-5

This could only have been drawn but a true pervert.

Chronicles of an Aristocrat Reborn in Another World Vol. 1 - 3

Some basic bitch isekai bullshit. You gotta respect the grift behind these tales.

A Galaxy Next Door Vol. 1

I do love me some manga about making manga. This does have a weird supernatural background story to it, but ours still nice to see people struggling their hardest to make beautiful art and slowly fall in love at the same time

The Holy Grail of Eris Vol. 2

Prologue is over and the plot is moving on on earnest… the core mystery isn’t very developed or interesting at this point. Kinda love the dynamic between our two lead ladies tho, but yeah for the most part the Nobel women in this world are cartoonishly evil and it’s just kinda stupid lol. I hope it gets better, cos the art is beautiful

Bonus: Audiobooks

Even Dogs go to Other Worlds: Life in Another World with my Beloved Hound Vol. 2

Cross Infinite World has this amazing ability to pick the most chill, low energy light novels for translation. Like, this is a 7 hour audiobook that essentially nothing happens in, and im 100% there for every second of it. glad they exist.

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... i didnt manage to read any yuri this week it was a full on isekai deepdive and i LOVED IT. but yeah, next week i wanna see a girl kiss

Books read this year: 92

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-03-19T22:48:16.345Z

March 13th - 19th

Stuff i read this week

The Abandoned Empress Vol. 1 - 3

Real engaging take on the whole non-isekai villainess time skip sub genre - I’m having a great time slowly understanding how this world works and how our main girl is going to survive. The first volume spends a LOT of its pages in her first life which was really neat- if very abusive and violent. Really makes you feel for her. 10/10 good book - the only thing that would make it better would be if it were yuri. Also, check out these beautiful shiny covers chibi

The Remarried Empress Vol. 1

Villainess stories will never get old, it’s amazing how many variations you can get on “there’s a king and queen, the king is a shit husband, some scheming harlot gets between them and everyone thinks it’s the queens fault- go”. I’m not the biggest fan of the art in this one (it’s very pointy rather than rounded if you know what I mean) but it’s a hella engaging tale and OH GOSH the cover is beautiful, with golden embossed lettering and every. As an object- it’s incredible.

Chronicles of an Aristocrat Reborn in Another World Vol. 4

Not much more to say since last week. Its by the numbers isekai bullshit, and sometimes thats all you need.

Let This Grieving Soul Retire - Woe is the Weakling Who Leads the Strongest Party Vol. 1 - 3

Some basic bitch fantasy bullshit. Its not great but i can turn my brain off.

Bonus: Audiobooks

The Saga of Tanya the Evil vol. 6

More war (boring, boo) but waaaaay more importantly it felt like a solid 40% of the runtime was spent discussing coffee. Coffee as a wartime frontline luxury. Coffee a bribe. Coffee as a ritual. Coffee as an indicator of economic stability. The mechanics of smuggling coffee into a hegemonic empire via a neutral 3rd party country during wartime. Its all in here! That stuff rules.

Bonus: Light Novels

D-Genesis: Three Years after the Dungeons Appeared Vo. 3

This is just by far my favorite light novel series right, its so good. I wrote about how incredible the latest volume is here

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... i didnt manage to read any yuri this week (again oops). next week i wanna see a girl kiss

Books read this year: 100 (wtf)

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-03-26T23:19:11.270Z

March 20th - 26th

Stuff i read this week

Daughter of the Emperor Vol. 3

I got no notes on this one. Villainess story. It’s good. Very petty. Cool our main character is like 3 years old now and they are keeping this whole actually reborn in another world thing very literal? It’s just good.

Even Though We’re Adults Vol. 1 - 5

Ahh delicious, finally taking a crack at my Yuri pile again. THIS BOOK IS INCREDIBLE - incredibly readable, if you get it you too will be howling in pain at the terrible adult love triangle thats forming. If your not violently nodding along and thinking “yeah! what the heck! keep going girl!” when one of our two main protagonist ladies shouts “Give me a break Ayano… you idiot. YOU’RE MARRIED!” at her phone - you must be dead inside.

If like the idea of reading a series where a lady shouts “I CAN’T BE CHATTING WITH MY CRUSHES HUSBAND!” Whilst lying down in bed in despair this is the series for you!

Villains Are Destined to Die Vol. 2

The way this book plays with game systems is still really interesting - but the best part by far is the coloring still. It’s just such a beautiful saturated vibrant look - I’m a sucker for that. Looking forward to the next volume for some more delicious pink hair

The Holy Grail of Eris Vol. 3

I adore our beautifully honest protagonist and her evil ghost aunty. Such a great dynamic, and oh heck the art is beautiful…. But gosh dang the world and literally EVERY SINGLE other character is horrible and it kinda makes it a real chore to read. I wish I liked this series more?

Days of Love at Seagull Villa Vol. 1 - 3

Dang this series was just incredibly readable - like the opposite of some other stuff I’ve been reading this week I just couldn’t put it down, and I could get through a volume in like 45mins - this yuri manga is just smooth as butter~

It’s got all the good things going for it, it’s about adult women (mostly) with adult problems… it’s not as good as the doughnut yuri but yeah, it was for sure short and sweet. It does suffer from that main yuri manga sin of ending when the protagonist’s finally get together. Ughh. That should be a beginning not the end!

Bonus: Web Manga

Senpai wa Otokonoko

super cute reccomended if you wanna read a silly queer manga thats also REAL heart wrenching at times

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/1234889-this-manga-is-very

stuff in the pile for next week

ahh i did it, i took a big chunk out of my Yuri. But whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive! I have some new isekai stuff being delivered. so fingers crossed that shows up!

Books read this year: 111

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-04-02T23:49:36.919Z

March 27th - April 2nd

Stuff i read this week

A Galaxy Next Door Vol. 2 -3

You know, after that first volume being a little weak because I was weirded out by the space-alien-island-bee-princess thing, im really enjoying the series now? Like, I do love a good princess-who-is-an-idiot and I do love a hopeless romantic lead as well, and i looooove inside baseball manga about writing manga. So yeah this book is going places! Everyone’s so warm and fluffy in it. ALSO i happen to believe that any book that has a (literal) prim and proper princess say “of course I adore your blushing and nervous laughter I dare say it is MY SHIT!” is very funny and worth your time imo.

Doughnuts Under A Crescent Moon Vol. 4

Our two asexual queens finally admit they are crushing on each other and eat a doughnut about it. Good yuri. Delicious. 10/10

So What’s Wrong With Getting Reborn as a Goblin? Vol. 1

Very silly & cute isekai (truck - isekai death report is avalible here) it’s very easy to read, you can just turn your brain off for this one. Recommended if your a genre pervert.

She loves to cook and she loves to eat Vol. 1

This book is very similar to Beauty and the Feast - it’s the story of a small young woman who loves to cook and adopts a neighbor to shovel bucketloads of food into - but instead of a young hungry baseball teen, in this book Nomoto-san’s neighbor happens to be a large butch lass who possibly works for Suntory beverage company and DEFFO also has a massive distaste for men. If these two gals don’t hug in volume 2 I will scream.

The Otherworlder, Exploring the Dungeon Vol. 1

I hate real world military shit but if you throw a fully equipped marine into an isekai world come on I’m going to eat that garbage up. By the end of the first volume our main character has disposed of all his modern weapons (by getting a merman to hide them at the deepest trench in the ocean, naturally) because he understands the MASSIVE power disparity between modern firearms and like, adventurers with swords and shit. What if he loses control of his stash? It’s just not safe! And that’s a real cool, interesting narrative and character choice! But without his clear monopoly on deadly force afforded to him by a rifle and handgun, grenades and plastic explosives, I’m not sure where this story is going to go moving into volume 2. It’s going to be interesting to see how it develops! Recommended if your a genre pervert.

Pulse Vol. 3

Dr. Mel is is hot and terrifying what the heck I did not expect any of this to happen also why did Lynn’s clothes all fall off in this volumes last chapter what was THAT all about?!? Also ACAB apparently includes Crystal??? Did we know she was a pig?!? So many much stuff happened can’t wait till volume 4! (I had it in my head that volume 3 was the last one, so I was real sad going in to this- great to know I was wrong!)

Remarried Empress Vol. 2

This one is getting very politically interesting! The whole dysfunctional dynamic between the empress and emperor is really gripping and it’s cool seeing the mistress get better at politic… but being used by weirdos all around without her particularly noticing. It’s a harsh world. Also bird magic is neat.

Witch Hat Atelier Vol. 1

I can see why people love this series- the main thing I couldn’t stop thinking about whilst raging out was how wonderful the idea of paring an ink based magic system with that art style is. Like, I think it’s rare for manga to have an art style that is almost part of the narrative theme, if that makes sense? The lavishly hyper detailed line work and the deeply inked hatched shading just work real well for a tale about ink magic. I just think that’s neat?

Bonus: Manga Scalations

Can you keep a secret?

I really love romance stories set in offices (i dunno, every office ive ever worked in sucked and the fantasy of a coworker actually being nice is kinda cool) and this is a pretty cute (het) one. They eat some doughnuts at one point which like.. if your going to put a doughnut into a romance story im going to rate it REALLY highly. im a simple girl.

Bonus: Spring Anime Season begins

New anime season! That means new shows! And new isekai worlds to Death report on! anyways this is what ive watched so far.

The Aristocrat's Otherworldly Adventure: Serving Gods Who Go Too Far

Immediately upon being reincarnated, this dweebs first conscious thought is an evangelion reference. 8/10

Hell's Paradise

seems pretty good. i like the "i can fix him says woman who is worse" vibes its got going on

My Home Hero

This show is going to be messed up.

stuff in the pile for next week

Whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive!

Books read this year: 120

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-04-10T10:00:08.620Z

April 3rd - 9th

Stuff i read this week

Reborn as a Space Mercenary Vol. 1 - 2

What if you isekai'ed into Eve online? Huh, what if that- except now eve online has hot space elves. That’s the thesis we shall explore in this ground breaking work of speculative science fiction. 10/10 Science Fiction Isekai is deffo a brand new genre for genre perverts to enjoy. Like, being 100% honest this polyamorous spaceship caption isekai is probably my favorited trash isekai I’ve read so far this year. It’s so brain dead and reads smooth.

The Eminence In Shadow Vol. 1

“Picture someone who isn’t the main character or the antagonist, someone who manipulate events behind the scenes and flaunt their overwhelming power. That’s the kind of shadowbroker I’ve always dreamed of becoming“ - that’s the opening line, it’s a fucking strong mission statement! Ive talked about my love of the anime (and probably the light novel too, which is also great) but this is my first time reading the manga. i love isekai ITS GOOD! yeah yeah its an isekai so its obviously 100% my shit, but i just love everything about how this stupid story is structured. The whole gimmick with our protagonist just making fantasy shit up as he bumbles though the world and not realizing that every single tropey made up story he acts out in the world actually textually really exists IN REALITY, is real fun.

She loves to cook and she loves to eat Vol. 2

The dweebs continue to eat incredible food together and think “huh this is nice if only we could keep hanging out together like all the time lol just kidding or am I haha just kidding what if we spent Christmas together” it’s a VERY real feeling lesbian tale

Witch Hat Atelier Vol.2

Really good second volume, it’s cool seeing these girls work so hard together, and the story slowly open up. There really is the sense that there’s a super interesting world to delve more deeply into here... but ive run out of volumes.

The Abandoned Empress Vol. 4

Bit of a slow volume but events are seemingly begging to swirl around and merge together. All the men in our protagonists like SUCK, do wonder if straight women really find these kinda characters hot. Like, theres zero redeeming features here. So why am i reading still? I’m here for the villainess energy

So What’s Wrong With Getting Reborn as a Goblin? Vol. 2

Really cool seeing how our isekai protagonist combines skills and short lifespans into a weird powerful system. I ENJOY THIS.

The Fiancée Chosen by the Ring Vol. 1 - 2

Finally so shoujo! Cute So yeah it’s a pretty regular shoujo story about nobility, romance and ballgowns - but I really like the characters here, especially the embroidery obsessed protagonist- she’s just super cool? Its really neat how that character theme of "shes an embroidery pervert" gets woven in to so many things, its what she does in her free time, its what she pays attention to at the igh society parties, heck her magical powers are that she can do embroidery real good. Just a real cleanly structured story & world you know? I really like manga that’s smooth and easy to read and this is just incredibly that. It’s pretty as heck and I like it 10/10

Bonus: Audiobooks

Even if this Love Disappears Tonight

pretty good misery porn that pulls every trick possible to try and make you cry. Im real glad that Yen Press is just putting out so much stuff these days and not just like, anime bullshit (as much as i LOVE anime bullshit) - its just a well written tear jerking teen romance that will leave you having a nice little think about stuff at the end - and sometimes thats exactly what you want from an audiobook

Rascal Does Not Dream of Logical Witch/Rascal Does Not Dream of Siscon Idol

I also finished both of these audiobooks this week - gosh dang does this series have THE ABSOLUTE WORST naming conventions. I do like this series a lot though, this is one that has you thinking a lot as well, as every story has a neat puzzle to it - Its like the bakemonogatari stories, except maybe a little more grounded - How the heck do you explain this weeks supernatural phenomena. phenomena of the week, instead of monster? Its a good genre.

stuff in the pile for next week

Whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive!

Books read this year: 129

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-04-17T17:01:48.012Z

April 10th - 16th

Stuff i read this week

The Knight Blooms Behind Castle Walls Vol. 1

A sweet story of a young page boy who yearns to grow up quick and become a fully fledged knight in shining armor - she’s just keeping the fact she’s a girl hidden from all the rest of the castle’s inhabitants. This book really captures a sense of childlike glee that I don’t see often in manga, and it’s super beautifully drawn as well! Seeing young ladies blush at how gallant this lil squire is is reallllly adorable 10/10 super different.

The books also full of these really cute cross sections and diagrams of castles and castle life, little tapestries depicting the history of the castle. These are some of my favorite moments of visual storytelling in this book, the mangaka manages to fit so much into a few small detail panels. Recommended

I can’t believe I slept with you Vol. 1 - 3

A short, messy yuri about a fuckup game developer and her hot younger landlady. So yeah, lets ignore the problematic aspects of your landlady forcing “favors” from you because your behind on rent, at its core this is a sweet story about a useless oneesan type character relying on a anxious and unstable little sister, who in turn needs her for emotional support. they grow and heal together, and thats always heartwarming. i just WISH they had another volume for post confession adventures WHY DO THESE THINGS ALWAYS END AT THE START OF A RELATIONSHIP IM GUNNA SCREAM.

Beauty and the feast vol. 4

I’m beginning to understand that the mangaka that wrote this series is just a pervert for oneesan character archetype. Thats the only explanation for all of this. She loves to cook and she loves to eat is deffo a better story with similar "i must feed this nerd" themes... that said Yakumo san is undeniably a great oneesan

The Fiancé Chosen by the Ring Vol. 3

I got nothing more to say about this series. It’s fun? Like, there is zero surprising stuff going on here.. i just wanna read more? Its junk food, but more healthy than.....

Chronicles of an Aristocrat Reborn in Another World Vol. 5

Some weird shit theology in this one. Apparently you can become a god of you beat up another god real good? I think? Who knows. This is garbage. I will continue to read

Bonus: Audiobooks

86-Eighty-Six Vol. 2-3

The audiobook productions Yen Audio put out for this series are real good, and the novels are every bit as interesting as the animated series. Compared to how gross The Saga of Tanya the Evil leaves you feeling, theres a lot of good here. I really like how these volumes contrast the neoliberal democratic paradises of The Federacy and the fascist Republic state we spent the first volume in... like, its the same place, with a lick of paint! Its the kind of book you can imagine a nerd defending for "not being political" despite being THE MOST POLITICAL thing. Neat stuff.

stuff in the pile for next week

Whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive! Talking of messy yuri seires, i might try and get through Citrus again, i managed to track down the few volumes i was missing....

Books read this year: 136

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-04-26T01:23:21.176Z

April 17th - 23rd (wow i forgot to post this on sunday oops)

Stuff i read this week

Vampeerz Vol. 1 - 2

Yuri vampires! Again! I like this book, like… a lot? The art is incredible and the printing and binding job Denpa have done is fantastic.. they are a small publisher but I really love the feel of their books! It’s a nice object?

The work itself is very cute and very unsettling and perfectly stupid at moments, it’s a tale of a vampire that’s had enough and just wants to die and a young girl that just fell in love with her at first sight. Not much happens in the first volume but the stories pacing just delivers this perfect balance of unsettling creepiness and yuri first love… good book

A Tale of the Secret Saint Vol. 1 -2

I do love me a reincarnation tale (im sure you have all figured that out by now), especially when the main character is a fucking idiot. Oh daaaang I love fucking idiots. Idiots rule. And this specific idiot? Shes so stupid! And she has a dragon friend?!? An idiot with a dragon friend! 10/10

No longer allowed in another world vol. 2

Okay now the title makes sense! I really liked volume 1 but the weird title really bugged me, but the first half of volume 2 finished off the prologue and now everything makes sense in a satisfying intelligent way. 10/10 In this volume isekai zetsubo sensei writes an novel, smirks at a cat girl princess and snacks on waaaaay to many pills and poisons to be healthy.

A returner’s magic should be special Vol. 1 - 2

Pretty simple korean reincarnation webtoon, dude helps beat the demon lord but oh no! gets time reverted back in time like 10 years or whatever (i forgot to take notes) to adventuring school. Guess its time to get even more buff than before and beat the demon lord guy back up, this time with future knowledge. Oh, also everyone in school is real classist and nobles get all the goodies. See, super simple, perfect story 10/10

Bonus: Audiobooks

86-Eighty-Six Vol. 4

Its finally at new content thats not in the anime and AHHH HECK ITS GOOD. Is a new season of the anime planned yet? I HOPE SO! we got a heckload of underground shopping center combat in this volume which rules and OH HECK THE LEGION SOMEHOW GOT EVEN MORE CREEPY

stuff in the pile for next week

Whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. Idk... maybe ill dig out some of the shoujo ive not read too that would be fun. ALSO next week i need to plan out a new format for this thread because it getting too long IM SO SORRY

Books read this year: 143

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-02T18:17:14.574Z

April 24th - 30th (wow i forgot to post this on sunday again oops)

Stuff i read this week

Kaiju Girl Caramelise Vol.

Uhhh this book is kinda incredible. Reading the bonus page at the back we learn the mangaka and her editor was trying to solve one major editorial problem with this work. How do you transfer from working on a series serialzied in a shoujo magazine to a series in a shonen one? The answer they stumbled up is just incredibly genius. Just draw a complete by the numbers stereotypical shoujo manga, make the protagonist a REAL loser girl, put in a HOT boy love interest, draw it alll HYPER feminine, so many sparkles, make it real fluffy and flowery…

Now finally make protag-chan turn into fucking Godzilla whenever she’s embarrassed. Like, skyscraper sized. Big girl shit. It’s absolute genius space brain stuff over here.

Though I am an Inept Villainess: Tale of the Butterfly-Rat Body Swap in the Maiden Court Vol. 1 - 2

This is the first time I’ve had to do a second read of a book from this year, but volume 2 just came out and I can’t remember a thing about the first one. And I’m glad I did read it again?!? It’s super good?! The art is wonderful and the two lead characters are wonderful. Volume 2 is even better, the whole courtly drama is just heating up deliciously and OH HECK it ends on a great cliffhanger (someone FIGUREs OUT THE BODYSWAP?!) ohh be still my beating heart I don’t want to wait months for volume 3 this sucks~

Failed Princesses Vol. 5 - 6

Ahh dang it’s over - I simultaneously like this series a lot and also find it really empty heh. It’s a hella cute and pretty ride, and the initial popular gal adopting a weird nerd and teaching her how to be pretty arc was REAL good… volume 4s was really strong with Izumi’s confession (and rejection) just being a great story.. and seeing Izumi ending up happy in the background (with the extrovert nerd girl) was just really satisfying… but the main story line… fucking Kanade’s weird obsession and lack of self confidence AFTER EVERYTHING YOUVE BEEN THOUGH TOGETHER IN THE PREVIOUS 5 VOLUMES!!?! Idk… just feels real not earned in a way… it’s like this plot is two shades two mean to its main characters? It’s not tasty! I dunno just feels like there’s a more delicious story that could have emerged over the last volume and a half… it’s like all the elements that make this ending are good! Just maybe not with this particular weighting.. and in this particular order? still good tho.

Hazure Skill: The Guild Member With a Worthless Skill is Actually a Legendary Assassin Vol. 1 - 3

A classic boy meets demon-lord girl, boy beats up demon lord girl, demon lord girl becomes boys pet cat, boy gets a job as a staff member at a small normal adventurers guild. You know, one of them. It’s always nice to see really abnormal characters getting obsessed with being “normal” (whilst having zero clue what normal even is). There’s lots of fun fantasy tropes and found family themes running all the way through. Simple but solidly executed “I can’t believe it’s not isekai” junk. 10/10

Also, wow there’s something weird with these books. For some reason Yen Press switched to a MUCH higher quality paper stock on the 3rd volume. It’s real smooth and not grainy at all, a little thicker… weird! I do like a higher quality product but I like consistency more! Just a weird thing to change too

Bonus: Audiobooks

The Rising of the Shield Hero Vol 5

The incel light novel is back baybeee~ and its still way better than it has any right to be heck dang it. Now that were 5 volumes in our narrator guy seems to be finally getting the hang of doing "girl" voices for character in a way that dosnt make you want to spontaneously vomit

stuff in the pile for next week

Whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. Idk... I think i wanna start reading though my dress-up darling.. its kinda calling to me.. WE SHALL SEE THO. ALSO next week i need to plan out a new format for this thread because it getting too long IM SO SORRY - last week i said id do that this week but I REALLY HAVNT HAD TIME OOPS

Books read this year: 151

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-09T22:28:29.542Z

May 1st - 7th

Stuff i read this week

This is Screwed up but I was Reincarnated as a Girl in Another World Vol. 6

Yay a new volume of one of the MOST trash isekai series is out ~ in this volume Ren wants eggs SO bad she goes on a long journey to the royal capital (bigger marketplace there) and drags along two of the waitresses she met at the hotel she used to stay at. She’s going to pamper them SO HARD.

Im still really enjoying this delicious garbage and 1000% recommend this series. Its always stupid, fun and lighthearted, but internally consistent, it puts a LOT of artistry into drawing food (which is one of my favorite things in manga).... but it deffo is one for genre perverts (which genre tho? Isekai? Gender bending? Yes.)

Hazure Skill: The Guild Member With a Worthless Skill is Actually a Legendary Assassin Vol. 4

Huh… different paper again… you know, for a dumb harem adjacent over powered cheat skill fantasy manga (which again, I can’t believe it’s not an isekai) it’s got some heart to it. That’s alway my favourite kind of trash, when there’s just a nice warmth to the work, you know? The relationship between our assassin protagonist and the demon lord really has that- the whole two misfits that don’t really understand how to be human making a place for themselves in the world kinda thing- always gets me

I got a cheat skill in another world and became unrivaled in the real world too vol. 3

Talking of dumb harem adjacent over powered cheat skill fantasy manga that weirdly has a lot of heart to it - this volume puts the manga at the exact same point as the currently airing anime - in fact I think the most recent episode that aired this week covers the same material as the last two chapters in this book (editing lotte- the anime has pulled ahead again since i wrote this as uhhh, it airs every weekend oops). It’s pretty interesting to see both adaptions side by side and seeing how they weight story beats slightly differently. The action is deffo waaay clearer in the anime, you’ll get like 15 seconds of screen time for something that’s a single confusing panel in the manga. Bottom line? It’s still delicious trash, it’s weirdly wholesome and very good for you.

The Eminence in Shadow Vol. 2

Whatever I said about volume 1? Just copy paste that here it’s still an incredible work. My main problem with it is none of my local bookshops have volume 3 in stock (editing lotte again: youll never guess what i got on monday next week), and I’ve already got volume 4 waiting. Sigh.

My Dress-up Darling Vol. 1 - 4

Every bit as good as the (incredible) anime. I rewatched it like two weeks ago so it’s very fresh in my mind- so being able to contrast how it adapted and changed scenes from the manga has been real interesting (that’s been a bit of a theme this week hasn’t it!?!). One change i really noticed is how they introduce that Gojo kun is kinda a friendless loser right at the beginning, the anime adds an incredible visual joke that’s not in (and probably wouldn’t work as well) in the manga. Yeah, it’s been real interesting! ALSO FINDING OUT THAT SWALLOWTAIL WIGS IS A REAL SHOP IN IKEBUKURO WAS KINDA WILD it seems like the afterword pages in these volumes are gunna be great.

Bonus: Web manhwa

What’s Wrong with Being a Villainess

CHECK IT OUT THIS THING IS TOTALLY BEAUTIFUL AND FUNNY 10/10. I love it in villainess stories where a totally normal collage kid can be like, the most villainess and evil noble woman ever just because she has experienced how modern day capital works. Like, theres a whole trope subgenre in isekai fiction where having a highschool level understanding of the nitrogen cycle or the ability to make basic skin moisturizers are both SUPER big brain space god level knowledge in isekai stories. Your mundane normal upbringing makes you special, no matter how painful it was. This villainess-variant of that trope takes it one level deeper and wraps it even tighter in the isekai genre underpinning base axiom - "the real world sucks and a magic world would for sure be better". Villainess stories' like this one counter that with a "people would still suck in magical other worlds - they hate you for just being who you are, but you have been hurt by end game capitalism. they have not.... yet" - and i just think thats neat. it rules actually.

stuff in the pile for next week

Whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. Idk... ALSO next week i need to plan out a new format for this thread because it getting too long IM SO SORRY - last week (and the week before) i said id do that this week but I REALLY HAVNT HAD TIME OOPS. being sick sucks ass

Books read this year: 159

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-17T11:13:48.318Z

May 8th - 14th

Stuff i read this week

Quality Assurance in Another World vol. 1

It’s a fucking game developer isekai - essentially what if sword art online, except your a wimpy QA tester that’s REAL good at hiding. Maybe if you report all the bugs (whilst hiding from all the other QA testers that have given up on work and gone rouge) they will finally let you log out and go home? Prepare for t pose jokes

Also? The monster design in this book? It’s got dragons. Huge terrifying dragons. Dragons that will make even the mightiest NPC quiver with fear. They look like heckin ginormous frogs with goofy lil eyes. Terrifying. 10/10

(There’s a good 20 pages on rubbing yourself against walls trying to find collision bugs. To real.)

The Eminence in Shadow Vol. 3

I’m convinced now - the plot is waaaay clearer and easier to follow than in the anime adaption, the panel layout is really good and everything just flows real well. Super good adaptation. It’s just delightfully easy to read - getting through the entirety of the school terrorist arc in like 40 mins feels just right

A Tale of the Secret Saint Vol. 3

I can’t keep track of all these characters- good book tho, 'i cant believe its not isekai' junk food

Hazure Skill: The Guild Member With a worthless skill is actually a legendary assassin vol. 5

Even more junk food.. well this series more like a comfort food, just the right blend of cute fantasy misfit finding family vibes… then that last chapter in this volume? Yikes. I hope you like horrific depictions of torture along side your warm fuzzy nonsense.

Chronicles of an Aristocrat Reborn in Another World Vol. 6

This ones more of a junk food that you know is really bad for you and it makes you sick every time you eat it, but maybe a little bit wont send you to the bathroom for an hour. An okay volume, the set up for next volume is fun tho! Seems like it’s gunna be about adventures being jerks.

Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included Vol. 1-2

Cute and soft, inoffensive trash about a boy picking up an angel and letting her live in his studio apartment. It’s not the best apartment but it does get good natural lighting. I don’t know why that’s such an important feature of protagonist-kun’s home that it deserves to go in the title, seemed pretty throwaway in the book.

So this series is just kinda empty, inoffensive fluff. Very mid, 6/10 level stuff. The do go to mr donut (twice) in volume 2 so now it’s actually my favorite manga ever - I love mr donut. 100/10

Bonus: scanlations

Kasane and Subaru

.
Real cute manga about two cowrokers dating - Subaru is secretly a cross dresser and Kasane is their biggest fan. I love stories about coworkers dating and this is A VERY CUTE VARIENT OF THIS GENRE.

Bonus: Audiobooks

Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra: World Conquest starts with the Civilization of Ruin Vol. 4

I think out of all the light novel audiobook series im following (which, i think is literally all of them lol) this is BY FAR the worst. Its isekai where the protagonist gets reborn into the mechanics of his favorite 4X stratergy game, but in a generic fantasy world, and there seems to be other players reborn their with different game rule systems. Which is kind of interesting? This volume is mainly about a fight with a tabletop RPG hero... which kinda isnt interesting. When your game rulesystem lets you say "actually none of the attacks your units did hurt me, my dungeon master says so" theres kinda... nothing to be done, no tension, no nothing. Just nothing ever happens. This ones only for genre perverts.

stuff in the pile for next week

There was a looooot of trash this week. maybe next week i can find something better... Idk... ALSO next week i need to plan out a new format for this thread because it getting too long IM SO SORRY - last week (and the week before) (and the week before) i said id do that this week but I REALLY HAVNT HAD TIME OOPS.

Books read this year: 166

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-24T23:48:00.187Z

May 15th - 21st

Stuff i read this week

Young Ladies Don’t Play Fighting Games Vol. 1

Okay that was real good. I’m glad I finally managed to track down a copy and I’m deffo going to get the rest wow some real pretty ladies playing some fighting games right here. It’s an interesting twist on a classic catholic school style yuri set up, our main characters are both transfer students that are plopped into that rigid prim environment and handle fitting in differently - and contrasting the ultra refined young lady performances with the fighting game manic inner personas is just REAL GOOD. I love it in media when a woman gets to shout “FIGHT ME” with all her heart, 10/10

Into The Deepest Most Unknowable Dungeon Vol. 1

Or, “I was reincarnated in another world but it was pretty much an all-around downgrade” as our main character quips .

A lot of the time for new series, I have no idea what I’m getting into, I’m just buying new shit based on a title… maybe sometimes I’ll look at the cover… but usually I’m not thinking that deep. So a lot of the time with fantasy manga these days I’m 100% thinking “wow I can believe this isn’t an isekai” - it’s the opposite here “wow I can’t believe this is an isekai”. I thought it was just going to be some silly high fantasy dungeoneering… but nope it’s an isekai about how actually combat sucks, the dungeons are cool but the day to day business of adventuring sucks… but dang isn’t dungeon diving aesthetically romantic~ also wow this books world is HELLA misogynistic. It’s kinda impressive how gross it is. Not really recommended- genre perverts might find it interesting.. but like… I didn’t have a good time.. but it was interesting, in a way that makes me want to track down more volumes so I can continue to have a bad time but think a lot about the genre I like… so that’s… something!?!

The Eminence in Shadow Vol. 4

Aww poor Epsilon

Call Girl in Another World Vol. 1

When I saw this in the store I was like “ohhh heck, this is either one for REAL perverts or for REAL GENRE PERVERTS. I hope it’s for genre perverts” and I’m 3000% happy to report it’s for Genre Perverts! rejoice! Incredible my funny and incredible unerotic lol. very neat spin on an isekai setup, and boy does our main lady love to do sexy stuff with big weirdos.

I think I Turned my Childhood Friend into A Girl Vol. 1 -2

I read a scanlation ages ago but yeah, this is still SUPER CUTE, also the way the colour pages are incorporated into it is amazingly nice- it’s an incredibly nice book to behold. Yeah, it’s just real cute.

Magic Artisan Dahlia Wilts No More Vol. 1

After how big a disappointment deepest dungeon was, this was a bit of a happy surprise. It’s anoter isekai, but this time with a lady that used to work in an electronics company reincarnating into a fantasy world as the daughter of a magical artisan, and does the whole isekai modern japan Knowledge thing to make cool magical inventions. SHE IS COOL, STRONG AND I LOVE HER. at it’s core, the first volume is a story of familial loss and romantic betrayal, but there’s a real warm core and hope for her, she’s so much stronger in her second life and I love her for it. Good book.

Bonus: Audiobooks

How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom: Volume 1

better than the anime. Also, i 100% thought this was "The Genius Prince's Guide To Raising a Nation Out of Debt" which is basically the same show. oops

stuff in the pile for next week

Opps late again and oops still need to figure out how to reformat this...IM SO SORRY ITS SO LONG - last week (and the week before) (and the week before) (and the week before) i said id do that this week but I REALLY HAVNT HAD TIME OOPS. Next week? im readin YURI

Books read this year: 173

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-31T00:55:38.546Z

May 22nd - 28th

Stuff i read this week

How do we Relationship? Vol. 1

Dang I adore this book. Adult women doing their best - I love that for them! It’s the kind of book where there are just SO many panels when you read it and then just gaze into the art and feel all warm inside and just tuck yourself onto a little ball of pleasant feelings I SURE DO HOPE NOTHING GOES WRONG FOR THESE TWO.

Also - is just like to acknowledge Saeko for her opening gambit with Miwa - shouting “whoaa that’s some mad cleavage!” The first time you meet a pretty girl is incredibly high power level stuff. Like, we’ve al thought it (probably) but actually pulling it off and not seeming like a creep is incredible work. 10/10 excellent lesbianing right there

The Eminence in Shadow Vol. 5

It’s volume five, so you really need me to tell you how cool it is again? In this volume a girl breaks a baddies sword in half WOTH HER TEETH. 10/10 no notes.

Asumi-chan is Interested in Lesbian Brothels! Vol. 2

This dang girl gets bullied so hard by hot women how does that keep happened to her oh no. If you DO NOT like hot girls huggin an stuff this isnt a book for you.

The Girl with the Sanpaku Eyes Vol. 1

It’s a pretty light and fluffy school romance manga about a girl who has scary eyes but is actually real sweet when you get to know her, and some boy she likes. So/ kinda nothing but still pretty entertaining to read though. The real big draw here is that it’s full color and beautiful, like 5000% some of the prettiest pastel comic pages you ever seen. I know I can go on a bit about how nice a book physically is whenever I come across a particularly nice one - but wow heck this is one of the nicest presented manga books you could ever hope to find. Denpa did a real good job on that front. 10/10

Oshi no Ko Vol. 2

Ahhh heck it’s so good it’s so good it’s so goooood. Volume 2 is the show business arc, and dang the pacing is so good?!! Beautiful art too. I DO NOT WANT TO WAIT MONTHS FOR VOLUME 3

Her Rotal Highness Seems to be Angry Vol. 1

Wow incredibly beautiful art and a double isekai? Like we got a boy being summoned isekaied into a magical world (and dying), and then a princess time slipping to the future… possibly meeting the isekai boys reincarnation 1000 years in the future?!? Double isekai and a time slip this rules genre perverts get hyped that’s like 3 genres. And yeah - theres a lot of manga with really low detailed panel backgrounds but this isnt one of them. I bet it had a monthly serialization or something cos heck the amount of pencil time this would need to draw is wild!

A Galaxy Next Door Vol. 4

I LOVE THIS BOOK STILLL and I think it’s just getting better as the volumes progress? It’s so nice to see them grow more open and close with each other, and our weird space princess get like, slightly more normal.

I really liked that this volume expanded and developed on the other boarding house residents and the manuals friends a bit more, and of course Chibi Chan got some more pages (a whole bonus chapter about her too!) I like manga with a warmth to them, and this is just getting warmer each time. Can’t help but smile

Bonus: Digital Manga

Housekeeping Mage from Another World: Making Your Adventures Feel Like Home Vol. 1-4

Id buy these in paperback if they were out ITS VERY GOOD! Its an isekai shoujo romance about a lady reborn in a magic world except her magic is very week but shes real good at controlling it and invents all sort of domestic uses for it and calls it housekeeping magic..... and like, yeah i would like to read that very much thats some of my favorite genres right there.

stuff in the pile for next week

late - no format updates - sorry again lol - broken record for sure! next week? yuri? isekai? probably. im a dweeb.

Books read this year: 180

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-24T23:48:00.187Z

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-01-08T21:16:13.455Z

this year im gunna read one volume of manga a day, every day

Stuff i read this week

The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess Vol. 1-5

This is a super good isekai villainess story about a woman who dies (truck) and is reborn as one of her OCs in an AWFUL novel she wrote as a TERRIBLE teenager. Obviously, she's not the super beautiful author insert character, but rather her villainous little sister and OH NO all the hot boys DEFFO want her dead, probably. Watching our poor girl struggle through the pain of remembering her own terrible plot and dealing with the world changing as she continues not to get killed by the hot boys is super fun... the books do suffer a bit from the art not being super clear at times tho. Still, if you like villainess stories this has a really interesting twist to the formulae.

Pulse vol.1&2

By the same person as Lily Love and its also VERY good and VERY gay. These books that seven seas have put out are incredibly printed, full colour and everything. Super cool to see a webtoon presented in a book so well. The story so far is very cute, seeing the doctor slowly open up is a real treat. Very much looking forward to volume 3. (also dang that's a lotta sex)

Black and White - Tough Love at the Office Vol. 1

dang that's a lotta sex. I've never seen a yuri manga where two ladies beat each other up so lovingly. incredible work. Seven Seas is publishing so wild stuff these days its great.

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive.

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-01-16T01:16:12.981Z

January 9th - 15th

Stuff i read this week

Accomplishments of the Dukes Daughter Vol. 1-4

wow, this has quickly become a favourite series - It's a real good entry in the isekai villainess genre. As much as i hate capital, capital owners, the pursuit of capital, and the concept of hereditary peerage DANG i do love manga about princesses and noble ladies starting businesses using knowledge from a previous life - that shit OWNS. She wants to invent health insurance and banking... and chocolate? girlboss. I'm deffo going to buy more of this after my next paycheck heh 10/10

My Cute Little Kitten Vol.1

Oh no is Milk Morinaga drawing cute fluffball airhead girls again? And this time they have a cat? Terrible news. 10/10

Futari Escape Vol. 1

Pretty cute stories about two girls running away from work and disassociating from society for a bit. Deadlines suck ass, 10/10

Asumi chan is Interestied in Lesbian Brothels!

I think maybe Asumi chan is a raging homosexual? She sure does like sleeping with girls that's for sure. Im sure the real perverts would love this one but its super sweet too. 10/10

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive.

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-01-23T00:05:38.826Z

January 16th - 22nd

Stuff i read this week

The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess vol 6

The dark history is really tightening up in this volume. Earlier stories deffo had a made-up as it’s going along falling to them, so it’s really cool to see all of that come together into a cohesive whole that's actually pretty dang good! Unfortunately, this is the last volume available in English right now, volume 7 doesn't come out until May. will I still be doing this in may?! who knows! maybe!

My Gently Raised Beast Vol. 1

Painfully straight (derogatory)

I Swear I won’t bother you again! Vol. 1-2

Painfully straight (complimentary)

My Androgynous Boyfriend Vol. 1

(Somehow) not Painfully straight. Dang, this book is incredible- this is a straight romance comedy that has SO much yuri energy - like a straight romance story written like a yuri, if that makes sense. these are some of the softest characters I’ve read in ages. it’s also incredibly funny, I loled out loud, at 2 am like an idiot. 10/10 (THEY EVEN GO ON A DATE TO IKEA. that's the most lesbian kind of date, in my experience)

Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter Vol. 5

Still really good, if very capital owner brained. We got some hot political intrigue story threads beginning to be woven into the narrative, so I cant wait to see how that ends up. Oh, and the spy/ladies (combat) maid is still incredibly hot. i love her

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Vol. 1

This book somehow manages to depict the passage of time more beautifully than any other manga I've ever read, really beautiful art and a very unique fantasy tale. recommended

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive. i didn't manage to get to any yuri stuff this week, i should fix that next week!

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-01-30T08:19:42.677Z

January 23rd- 29th

Stuff i read this week

Whisper me a Love Song Vol. 1

Super cute school yuri story about a girl falling in love with her senpai, who is the lead singer in a school band. Real pretty art. It’s a shame the music/band stuff is just used as background flavour more than being like, a real driver in the story like with Bocchi- I recommend “The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy At All” for a yuri manga where music plays a more ‘real’ role. These print volumes are really nice, Kondansha comics seem to be publishing things in a larger page size than most other publishers, makes the art look super nice with this book. Big clear faces and all that!

Whisper me a Love Song Vol. 2

Way more actual music stuff happening in this volume which was cool to see! Also drama is brewing~ real nice seeing stuff foreshadowed and playing out. I like this manga! Just a clean, well-crafted work

Villains are Destined to Die Vol. 1

The colours in this book are incredible! DANG HER HAIR. she’s wonderful. 10/10 Its great to see more Korean stuff get printed in full-colour books. These things are just beautiful to behold sometimes. There's a real fun gimmick early on to this villainess story - our main character starts off mute and can only ever talk when given options that were in the original game shes been reincarnated in - which was an interesting twist for a while. be cool to see where this goes.

Beauty and the Feast Vol. 1

Remember that tweet from a few weeks ago from some lady that really wanted to make chilli for some students that lived in the same building, cos they just looked like really hungry boys and cooking for other people made her happy? This is a book about exactly that. 10

Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter Vol. 6

Just kiss already! Anyways, the political stuff in the last two volumes has been super fun to follow through, civil war is brewing, the church’s power has been brought under the states heel, stuffs going to get messy! THIS STORY IS GETTING SO GOOD I WANNA READ THE NEXT VOLUME NOWWWW

Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter Vol. 7

So this was my first 2 book day - i just had to know what was going to happen next... AHHH THIS IS SO GOOD SHE BEAT UP THE POPE REAL GOOD 10/10 I wish they would get on with the relationship between Iris and ‘Dean’. Iris is not gay and this will never be a yuri, I have accepted that, it’s a done deal. Now I just want her to kiss and be happy. Im now caught up with this and i can finally stop staring at this pile of books guilty... but ughh now i have to wait for volumes to be published.. maybe i should have left 7 for next week TEARS

Love me for who I am Vol. 1

It’s the enby maid manga! ITS TOO CUTE FOR WORDS. 10/10 The whole theme of letting people be a true expression of themselves is really heartwarming and dang i want to read more, unfortunately, i do not have volume 2 and its out of stock everywhere. ill have to track it down. Super recommended

My Androgynous Boyfriend vol. 2

Still convinced this is a straight yuri manga. Not much to say about it apart from wow its hella warm.

Bonus: Light novels

I read two light novels this week so why not add them to the list

VTuber Legend: How I Went Viral after Forgetting to Turn Off My Stream, Vol. 1

Mostly read this because I saw rumours that it was getting an anime adaption. Its not very good, but i did read the heck out of it if that makes sense, and i will be buying and reading the rest, and enjoying every second of reading it whilst i think 'wow this sucks, its not very good!' 8/10

Cross-Dressing Villainess Cecilia Sylvie

I love Villainess, i love Villainess who are smart enough to try and game the systems they are reborn into, and i love it when they are two dumb to realise everyone loves them and they are in zero danger of being executed. 10/10

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive.

Books read this year: 30

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-02-05T18:14:43.850Z

January 30th - February 5th

Stuff i read this week

Oshi no ko Vol. 1

what an incredibly gripping prologue! A doctor is MURDERED by an idol’s creepy stalker- and is reborn as one of her twin children. Hijinks ensue. It’s yet another incredible read, beautiful art, all that good stuff 10/10 for reincarnation in the REAL world. This is getting an anime real soon - im HYPED

Killing Me! Vol. 1

super sweet yuri story about it a vampire hunter and the vampire that’s in love with her. Only one volume is available, as it seems this manga got cancelled after one volume. WHICH IS SAD AT THIS IS HELLA CUTE. Akiyama seems to be still working as a manga artist which is nice, but drawing straight vampire stories now rather than gay ones - oh well can’t win them all! Anyways, its is a really good little book recommended 10/10

Whisper me a Love Song Vol. 4-5

Double book day! This story is getting going now. It had a slow start, but here it’s getting to be something REAL good. (IM REAL GLAD)

Doughnuts under a crescent moon Vol. 1 -2

Ughhhhh stories about yuri office ladies slowly falling in love get to me like nothing else ughhh I love this book I love it so much. I read a scanlation ages ago, and now I’m going to track down all the volume of this asap (I only got this first one in stock on my shelves) 11/10. Very good - ITS BASICALLY WRITTEN FOR ME! I am a well know lesbian doughnut enjoyer. Heck I scoured the shelves at my local bookstore and managed to get volume 2 I am blessed by the yuri gods

I love you so much I hate you

dang I love yuri about older women, so im real glad i managed to have a two day office lady yuri streak. This book? It’s good 10/10. Just real nice to be reading something and wishing the best for these ladies - strong good warm feelings

The Holy Grail of Eris Vol. 1

Just when I thought I was running out of Villainess stories to read I find this neat tome on my shelf. The ghost possession gimmick is really interesting- going to be cool to see how this develops.

I swear I won’t bother you again Vol. 3

Continues the tradition of maids in these villainess stories secretly being the best character who deserve like a million % more pages. I previously described earlier volumes in this series as "Painfully straight (complimentary)" and that continues to be true. I do love a story with an idiot lead leady.

Bonus: Audio Books

So I'm a Spider, So What? vol 4

im STILL in love with this book, and i STILL think the audiobook having sections where the narrator is just reading off character sheet stats for like 10 mins is hilariously good. Way less character sheet stuff this time though, were showing restraint!

Bonus: Light novels

Hell Mode: Volume 5

Ive got half way though this so far this week - ITS SO FRICKING STUPID. this is like popcorn for me, stupid dumbass isekai game system bullshit. 10/10

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... i think i might have finally ran out of villainess isekai stuff.... what a sad time to be alive. maybe i can find some in a local bookstore (even if the entire point is to kill the backlog)

Books read this year: 39

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-02-12T22:24:47.125Z

February 6th - 12th

Stuff i read this week

I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in the Real World Too Vol. 1 - 2

DAAAANG what a stupid book 10/10 was fucking love isekai. It does that thing where the Isekai world has a bidirectional link with the real world, I LOVE IT WHEN THEY DO THAT. YEAH, SHOW ME A GUY WHOS FANTASY WORLD POWER LEVELING GAINS MAKE THEM MORE POWERFUL AT SOCIAL INTERACTIONS IN MODERN DAY TOKYO GIVE ME THAT SLOP ILL EAT IT UP SO FAST

My Androgynous Boyfriend Vol. 3

There’s a chapter in here about suddenly having to start working from home and having zoom meeting and I’m like oh well I know exactly when this was written- that was weird huh. Also, yeah this is still a heterosexual yuri manga that still holds.

Failed Princess Vo. 1

This book is so frickin cute. It turns out ive had volume 2 on my shelves for ages but never found volume 1 locally, so i went to track it down - which lead me to fricking amazon. They managed to stick the shipping envelope to the damn front cover. TRAGIC. its ruined, destined for a recycling plant once amazon replace it. cute story though

Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion Vol. 1

Gotta love villainess isekai nonsense I thought I’d be out of that this week but my bookshelf pulled though for me. This book tho, it’s kind of incredibly beautiful? It’s got such a cute sketchy feel to the characters, you can’t help but thing “dang they really did draw this huh” as you read it. Art is wonderful huh. 10/10.

Minami Nanami Wants To Shine Vol. 1 - 2

Apparently this is a spin off to some other thing I’ve always just skipped over on Crunchyroll? Maybe I’ll give the source material a chance, because this was a pretty delightful read. It’s about a girl who wants to be special, falling into a modelling carer and it’s kinda INCREDIBLY cute and sweet. 10/10

Beauty and the Feast Vol. 2

Its still really cute - but every chapter im terrified that the author is gunna pull a bunny drop or something. all my fingers crossed that this remains healing.

Bonus: Audio Books

I’d Rather Have a Cat than a Harem! Reincarnated into the World of an Otome Game as a Cat-Loving Villainess Vol. 2

Just look at that title and tell me that its not the greatest thing you've ever laid eyes on? 11/10. recommended.

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... Last week i said i was out of Villainess stories but i managed to pull one out the dark recesses of my shelf.. maybe another is lurking...

Books read this year: 47

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-02-20T01:32:55.668Z

February 13th - 19th

Stuff i read this week

Beauty and the Feast Vol. 3

We’re beginning to learn more about Shuko’s past and dang I love this poor woman and I’m glad she’s healing and the chapter with her friends looking out for her are the best and why can’t a manga character cook me dinner? 10/10

Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter Vol. 8

What’s this?!? Lotte pulled another villainess isekai manga volume out of her ass?? Wow how does she do it?!? She can’t keep getting away with this!! Anyways, this series is STILL incredibly good, i STILL want them to hurry up and kiss and i cant wait for the next volume to be release. The combat maid STILL rules forever i love her. 10/10 The cast pages at the front of every volume is getting crazy complicated character sheet

The Two of Them Are Pretty Much Like This Vol. 1-2

gosh just beautiful- it feels like 99% of yuri manga is about a budding relationship, taking painstaking amounts of time to get to a love confession - getting to that starting point and as soon as that happens, THATS IT end of serialization, that’s you 6 chapters HOW DARE YOU WANT MORE. it sucks! I wanna read about women in love, I wanna see stories about their home lives, their hopes, their dreams, their years. This is a little bit of all that, and it’s perfect. Wako and Ellie have been going out for two years and living together for one year at the start of this story and that so unusual and weird for a yuri manga I LOVE IT 100/10 super recommend

Failed Princess Vol. 2

Still a super frickin cute book! This volume is about coming to terms with jealousy, and its a real nice storyline for one of these school age yuri.

Doughnuts under a crescent moon vol. 3

Sad the next volume is the last. I really recommend this series, again because stuff about adult women in love just rules - just be warned it seems like volume 3 had a small print run and its REALLY hard to find anywhere. I eventually managed to get a copy on ebay... which came bundled with volume 1&2 T_T sometimes you just end up with duplicates.

No Longer Allowed In Another World Vol. 1

What if Zetsubou Sensei was hit by a truck and got isekai’ed? 10/10 good. I published a Isekai Death Report here

Though I Am an Inept Villainess: Tale of the Butterfly-Rat Body Swap in the Maiden Court Vol. 1

I love villainess?!? I really enjoyed watching Raven of the inner palace last anime season, so seeing a villainess story with a similar setting was an instant pickup. Turns out this is very very good! The main character and her ladies maid have a great chemistry together, I can’t wait to see how this evolves over time. Body swapping from a sick, frail (but loved) persona to a healthy, strong (but universally hated) one is a super interesting setting as well, this is genius space brain level trash I love it

The Savior's Book Café Story in Another World Vol. 1

Straight, but interesting. Dang i love isekai, and how they are all the same but different. “You have been summoned to a magical world! you MUST become a savior, a hero in this place! i shall grant you MASSIVE amounts of magical power and grant a wish” - okay thats all normal nothing weird here - “ehh that sounds like a hassle can i own a little café bookshop on the outskirts of a capital city and just kinda rest there and do nothing??” 11/10 PERFECT use of isekai powers LOVE IT for you girl please do exactly that. I think deep down, we have all just wanted to have a little café bookshop and no responsibility and massive amounts of magical energy. (no isekai death report for this title - she seems to just have been summoned)

The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 1

What a lovely little story! Maomao makes some wonderful disgusted faces at flirty men, which really speaks to me imo. She’s so cool snake Also I’m quickly realizing that “weird girls solve problems in the inner court of a Chinese palace” is like - a manga/light novel genre now? Like “isekai but it’s a otome novel and the main character is the villainess” is a genre. Very cool looking forward to exploring the depths of this genre on the coming weeks and months

Bonus: Audio Books

Sword Art Online Vol. 8

i can never hate sword art. it sucks so much, but i sure do love this trash garbage. This volume is a bunch of short stories that take place all over the timeline - i think the short story anthologies are some of the better sword art light novels, when we just get to throw the characters into an interesting situation without thinking about the connective tissue of the story too hard... sword art is best when you dont think about it too hard! The audio books are still really well produced, deffo recommended if you want some daft background listening.

Reincarnated as the Last of my Kind Vol. 4

Somehow, this audio book is 6 hours long, and basically nothing happened... 8/10 its about as 'light' as a light novel could ever get, and i gotta respect that

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... I may have solved my lack of Villainess stories with an amazon order.. maybe..

Books read this year: 57

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-02-26T22:37:30.893Z

February 20th - 26th

Stuff i read this week

The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 2-5

Maomao is SO FUCKING CUTE when she’s ingesting deadly deadly neurotoxins. This girl just LOVES poisons. I LOVE HER. My first taste of poison in ages has me grinning like a fool

Wish I read these slower lol.. it was so good I couldn’t stop myself though the story is SUPER engaging and the Maomao is just a wonderful lead character. i want to spend every second with her that i can heh, the facial expressions in this book are just THAT incredible. Its rare you get to see THAT much character on the page you know?

Savior's Book Cafe Story in Another World Vol. 2-4

Another series i should have savored rather than rush though, but it is what it is! Last week i said "Straight but interesting” and YEAH. its very straight but also very interesting? I do wonder why this fantasy world has such a thriving book publishing industry... like, who is writing all these books shes stocking her cafe with? Anyways, pretty good. Volume 5 dosnt come out until May this year, so thats all for now.

Love me for who I am Vol. 2

Yeah, to enby maid book is back and DANG!! it’s hard to get this book! Totally out of print it seem, eBay to the rescue. AND HECK I CAN SEE WHY it’s incredible for all thoes gender feels. I want the best for all these kids as they figure out life and love! Im just SO glad this series exists?

There’s a part where Tetsu suddenly begins to “get” all this gender stuff other characters are going though whist talking to his transwoman older sibling and hes like… dang I guess I should be calling you oneechan and not oniichan… and she’s so happy about it - I deffo almost cried lol. Yeah good book. Now i just have to track down volume 3... painful

Sasaki and Peeps Vol. 1

Ahhh heck what a super smart inversion of isekai themes! No guys dying of early onset truck here, instead our hero is a lonely 40 year old office worker who REALLY wants a friend, so he goes to a pet shop. Dogs and cats are too big and expensive… but that weird little bird? 100% within budget… and it can talk… THE BIRD IS A MAGICAL SAINT THAT GOT ISEKAIED TO EARTH?!? And he can do teleportation?!? Wow Sasaki’s daily commute just got SO MUCH faster. 10/10 Commuter Isekai in general are a fascinating subgenre, and this particular story is getting an anime adaption soon so im super glad i found it. It does a lot of neat stuff with time scaling and like.. practical power limits? Recommended.

The Girl I want is so Handsome! The Complete Manga Collection

Two volumes printed in one nice big book. It’s LARGE, I do love manga with smaller page sizes (makes it much easier to store them or carry them!) but heck it’s easy to forget how good these things look on LARGE pages! Looks incredible up close.

Plot wise it’s pretty simple straightforward school based yuri story with a basketball theme… it’s cute. Does have that thing where like all plot progression is gated behind misunderstandings and miscommunication but luckily things tend to be cleared up the next chapter so it’s never annoying. Yeah, it’s just simple, pretty well executed story printed in a really nice chunky volume.

Our Teachers are Dating! Vol. 1

GOD women are so hot, I love women.
IM REALLY SORRY that these book notes quite often tend to do this but I’m going on another rant about HOW these books are printed but HECK this book (series?!?) is printed on WEIRDLY high quality paper stock. It’s so thick it was even hard to fully open? The cover is a real nice card stock (double side printed at that! And the internal pages are real smooth and thick - theres no paper grain here. It’s also on the small side of the page size spectrum which coupled with the binding/paper quality just feels really luxurious? It’s wild! Puling a small sample of other books published by Seven Seas, and none of them have the same paper stock or bins stiffness to them. The closest is their full color manhwa prints, but even they seem to have thinner pages with a slight gloss finish. Like, "the girl i want is so handsome!" was also published by Seven Seas, as an object its like the polar opposite of this book. It’s real weird, but I love it! This is why physical objects rule.

Bonus: Audio Books

Solo Leveling Vol. 6

I dont get the hype around this series. When Crunchyroll announced there was an anime adaption happening and they would be airing it, people went wild on that social media. Ive been listening to the audiobook version for a while and like.. i dont get it. ITS SO BORING!?!? Like, people seem to be hyped for the fights and stuff... but i SWARE there are like whole chapters that are just dryly discussing how portals to magical worlds full of terrifying monsters really depress the value of luxury housing markets IN A REAL BORING WAY. that kind of content should be right up my ally but dang solo leveling makes it dull. BUT I SHALL CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO EVERY VOLUME, HOPING THE NEXT ONE IS WHERE IT GETS GOOD. This volume actual had some bits where Jinwoo actually feels kinda like a human for once.. but yeah hes still a bit of a fucking psychopath. The whole story also has that vague "oh yeah this feels kinda like it was written by a fascist" thing going on, like attack on titan.. oh maybe thats why so many people are hyped for it? cant recommend this unless your a total dweeb like me. (my next audible credits going to be spent on the new volume of Tanya the Evil, so uhhh, more of that next month too i guess!)

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... not sure about villainess content tho which is SAD. I do have more Apothecary Diaries arriving on monday tho so IM REAL HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

Books read this year: 68

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-03-06T15:39:37.967Z

February 27th - March 5th (another month down heck!)

Stuff i read this week

The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 6-7

Heck things are getting tense and super interesting- volume 6 manages to pull so many storylines together in a cool way also MAOMAO IS SO COOL I LOVE HER. I have once again READ ALL the new volume of this as soon as i get them which is a big mistake, i have now 100% run out and volume 8 dosnt hit until 9th May OR June 6th, depending on if you believe Amazon .co.uk or .com. who knows when ill get more Maomao! this sucks! I guess this is a great time to remind you that its getting an anime adaption soon and it looks beautiful

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/1198754-finished-it-real-go

Failed Princesses Vol. 3-4

Still cute, still dramatic, still getting going. Somehow a lot of stuff happens but it feels real slow? just hook up already i guess.

If Witch, Then Which? Vol. 1-3

The crossdressing witch manga. It was okay I guess? Its cute and pretty short, but deffo not queer which is always disappointing. i mean 'crossdressing witch manga' sounds like it should be queer as heck, but it aint!

Love me for who I am Vol. 3-5

The 'enby working in a cross dressing maid café' manga returns. I would die for Mogumo (and ive made that fact ABUNDANTLY clear). Mogumo is perfect. I love this book. Its kinda sad the story ends where it does, it would be nice to have a bigger glimpse into these characters lives now they have figured things out a bit more - but its nice have such a queer, beautiful little story in 5 nicely printed manga volumes. 10/10

Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Dukes Mansion Vol. 2

Fine i guess. I think id get on with this story better if more was out so i could binge... feels way to slow at the moment but these full colour manhwa books are SUPER readable. My copy had some major print quality issues - a lot of smudge black ink, some of the colors had oversaturated the paper and caused it to rip and crack. Weird! i Guess Yen Press isnt the best at full colour release, but im sure other books ive had have been better than this!

Bonus: Uhhh nothing

i started a few light novels but haven't finished anything yet.

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... i did hit the book shop on sunday to scout out some more Villainess content, WHICH WAS A SUCSESS so at least one villainess book, and maybe some isekai.. who knows!

Books read this year: 79

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-03-12T20:25:31.274Z

March 6th - 12th

Stuff i read this week

The Princess of convenient plot devices Vol. 1

Heck yeah she did it! She managed to procure another villainess isekai manga. Fricking champion.

I didn’t know anything about this going in to it (i didn’t even read the blurb on the back, just saw a villainess-like title and bought it immediately) but it’s not how I expected it to go based on the title, instead we have a pretty funny deep dive into “okay so we reincarnated as a princess in the world of a boys love novel… how does Nobel society function of all the hot Nobel dudes are trying to bone each other?” And the answer is your brother (the crown Prince) is kinda a misogynist? Makes sense, let him cook. Fortunately our heroin is kinda a complete fricking moron, so I love her unconditionally and pray for her heteronormative success.

Daughter of the Emperor Vol. 1 - 2

Yay another isekai~ what’s really neat about this is that is TOTALLY doubles down on the mechanics of “being reborn” - our protagonist is a literal child. Sure- a child with an adult mind, but still a child. She can’t communicate, she’s 2 months old. Of course she can’t communicate! she can beat sit up by herself! And that kinda rules? It’s about our girl figuring out that her new dad is a terrible tyrannical despotic emperor, who is incapable of showing emotion and figuring out how the world works, and how to survive as this crazed guy’s only child. It kinda rules. baby

This is Screwed Up, But I was Reincarnated as a girl in Another World Vol. 1-5

This could only have been drawn but a true pervert.

Chronicles of an Aristocrat Reborn in Another World Vol. 1 - 3

Some basic bitch isekai bullshit. You gotta respect the grift behind these tales.

A Galaxy Next Door Vol. 1

I do love me some manga about making manga. This does have a weird supernatural background story to it, but ours still nice to see people struggling their hardest to make beautiful art and slowly fall in love at the same time

The Holy Grail of Eris Vol. 2

Prologue is over and the plot is moving on on earnest… the core mystery isn’t very developed or interesting at this point. Kinda love the dynamic between our two lead ladies tho, but yeah for the most part the Nobel women in this world are cartoonishly evil and it’s just kinda stupid lol. I hope it gets better, cos the art is beautiful

Bonus: Audiobooks

Even Dogs go to Other Worlds: Life in Another World with my Beloved Hound Vol. 2

Cross Infinite World has this amazing ability to pick the most chill, low energy light novels for translation. Like, this is a 7 hour audiobook that essentially nothing happens in, and im 100% there for every second of it. glad they exist.

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... i didnt manage to read any yuri this week it was a full on isekai deepdive and i LOVED IT. but yeah, next week i wanna see a girl kiss

Books read this year: 92

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-03-19T22:48:16.345Z

March 13th - 19th

Stuff i read this week

The Abandoned Empress Vol. 1 - 3

Real engaging take on the whole non-isekai villainess time skip sub genre - I’m having a great time slowly understanding how this world works and how our main girl is going to survive. The first volume spends a LOT of its pages in her first life which was really neat- if very abusive and violent. Really makes you feel for her. 10/10 good book - the only thing that would make it better would be if it were yuri. Also, check out these beautiful shiny covers chibi

The Remarried Empress Vol. 1

Villainess stories will never get old, it’s amazing how many variations you can get on “there’s a king and queen, the king is a shit husband, some scheming harlot gets between them and everyone thinks it’s the queens fault- go”. I’m not the biggest fan of the art in this one (it’s very pointy rather than rounded if you know what I mean) but it’s a hella engaging tale and OH GOSH the cover is beautiful, with golden embossed lettering and every. As an object- it’s incredible.

Chronicles of an Aristocrat Reborn in Another World Vol. 4

Not much more to say since last week. Its by the numbers isekai bullshit, and sometimes thats all you need.

Let This Grieving Soul Retire - Woe is the Weakling Who Leads the Strongest Party Vol. 1 - 3

Some basic bitch fantasy bullshit. Its not great but i can turn my brain off.

Bonus: Audiobooks

The Saga of Tanya the Evil vol. 6

More war (boring, boo) but waaaaay more importantly it felt like a solid 40% of the runtime was spent discussing coffee. Coffee as a wartime frontline luxury. Coffee a bribe. Coffee as a ritual. Coffee as an indicator of economic stability. The mechanics of smuggling coffee into a hegemonic empire via a neutral 3rd party country during wartime. Its all in here! That stuff rules.

Bonus: Light Novels

D-Genesis: Three Years after the Dungeons Appeared Vo. 3

This is just by far my favorite light novel series right, its so good. I wrote about how incredible the latest volume is here

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... i didnt manage to read any yuri this week (again oops). next week i wanna see a girl kiss

Books read this year: 100 (wtf)

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-03-26T23:19:11.270Z

March 20th - 26th

Stuff i read this week

Daughter of the Emperor Vol. 3

I got no notes on this one. Villainess story. It’s good. Very petty. Cool our main character is like 3 years old now and they are keeping this whole actually reborn in another world thing very literal? It’s just good.

Even Though We’re Adults Vol. 1 - 5

Ahh delicious, finally taking a crack at my Yuri pile again. THIS BOOK IS INCREDIBLE - incredibly readable, if you get it you too will be howling in pain at the terrible adult love triangle thats forming. If your not violently nodding along and thinking “yeah! what the heck! keep going girl!” when one of our two main protagonist ladies shouts “Give me a break Ayano… you idiot. YOU’RE MARRIED!” at her phone - you must be dead inside.

If like the idea of reading a series where a lady shouts “I CAN’T BE CHATTING WITH MY CRUSHES HUSBAND!” Whilst lying down in bed in despair this is the series for you!

Villains Are Destined to Die Vol. 2

The way this book plays with game systems is still really interesting - but the best part by far is the coloring still. It’s just such a beautiful saturated vibrant look - I’m a sucker for that. Looking forward to the next volume for some more delicious pink hair

The Holy Grail of Eris Vol. 3

I adore our beautifully honest protagonist and her evil ghost aunty. Such a great dynamic, and oh heck the art is beautiful…. But gosh dang the world and literally EVERY SINGLE other character is horrible and it kinda makes it a real chore to read. I wish I liked this series more?

Days of Love at Seagull Villa Vol. 1 - 3

Dang this series was just incredibly readable - like the opposite of some other stuff I’ve been reading this week I just couldn’t put it down, and I could get through a volume in like 45mins - this yuri manga is just smooth as butter~

It’s got all the good things going for it, it’s about adult women (mostly) with adult problems… it’s not as good as the doughnut yuri but yeah, it was for sure short and sweet. It does suffer from that main yuri manga sin of ending when the protagonist’s finally get together. Ughh. That should be a beginning not the end!

Bonus: Web Manga

Senpai wa Otokonoko

super cute reccomended if you wanna read a silly queer manga thats also REAL heart wrenching at times

https://cohost.org/LotteMakesStuff/post/1234889-this-manga-is-very

stuff in the pile for next week

ahh i did it, i took a big chunk out of my Yuri. But whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive! I have some new isekai stuff being delivered. so fingers crossed that shows up!

Books read this year: 111

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-04-02T23:49:36.919Z

March 27th - April 2nd

Stuff i read this week

A Galaxy Next Door Vol. 2 -3

You know, after that first volume being a little weak because I was weirded out by the space-alien-island-bee-princess thing, im really enjoying the series now? Like, I do love a good princess-who-is-an-idiot and I do love a hopeless romantic lead as well, and i looooove inside baseball manga about writing manga. So yeah this book is going places! Everyone’s so warm and fluffy in it. ALSO i happen to believe that any book that has a (literal) prim and proper princess say “of course I adore your blushing and nervous laughter I dare say it is MY SHIT!” is very funny and worth your time imo.

Doughnuts Under A Crescent Moon Vol. 4

Our two asexual queens finally admit they are crushing on each other and eat a doughnut about it. Good yuri. Delicious. 10/10

So What’s Wrong With Getting Reborn as a Goblin? Vol. 1

Very silly & cute isekai (truck - isekai death report is avalible here) it’s very easy to read, you can just turn your brain off for this one. Recommended if your a genre pervert.

She loves to cook and she loves to eat Vol. 1

This book is very similar to Beauty and the Feast - it’s the story of a small young woman who loves to cook and adopts a neighbor to shovel bucketloads of food into - but instead of a young hungry baseball teen, in this book Nomoto-san’s neighbor happens to be a large butch lass who possibly works for Suntory beverage company and DEFFO also has a massive distaste for men. If these two gals don’t hug in volume 2 I will scream.

The Otherworlder, Exploring the Dungeon Vol. 1

I hate real world military shit but if you throw a fully equipped marine into an isekai world come on I’m going to eat that garbage up. By the end of the first volume our main character has disposed of all his modern weapons (by getting a merman to hide them at the deepest trench in the ocean, naturally) because he understands the MASSIVE power disparity between modern firearms and like, adventurers with swords and shit. What if he loses control of his stash? It’s just not safe! And that’s a real cool, interesting narrative and character choice! But without his clear monopoly on deadly force afforded to him by a rifle and handgun, grenades and plastic explosives, I’m not sure where this story is going to go moving into volume 2. It’s going to be interesting to see how it develops! Recommended if your a genre pervert.

Pulse Vol. 3

Dr. Mel is is hot and terrifying what the heck I did not expect any of this to happen also why did Lynn’s clothes all fall off in this volumes last chapter what was THAT all about?!? Also ACAB apparently includes Crystal??? Did we know she was a pig?!? So many much stuff happened can’t wait till volume 4! (I had it in my head that volume 3 was the last one, so I was real sad going in to this- great to know I was wrong!)

Remarried Empress Vol. 2

This one is getting very politically interesting! The whole dysfunctional dynamic between the empress and emperor is really gripping and it’s cool seeing the mistress get better at politic… but being used by weirdos all around without her particularly noticing. It’s a harsh world. Also bird magic is neat.

Witch Hat Atelier Vol. 1

I can see why people love this series- the main thing I couldn’t stop thinking about whilst raging out was how wonderful the idea of paring an ink based magic system with that art style is. Like, I think it’s rare for manga to have an art style that is almost part of the narrative theme, if that makes sense? The lavishly hyper detailed line work and the deeply inked hatched shading just work real well for a tale about ink magic. I just think that’s neat?

Bonus: Manga Scalations

Can you keep a secret?

I really love romance stories set in offices (i dunno, every office ive ever worked in sucked and the fantasy of a coworker actually being nice is kinda cool) and this is a pretty cute (het) one. They eat some doughnuts at one point which like.. if your going to put a doughnut into a romance story im going to rate it REALLY highly. im a simple girl.

Bonus: Spring Anime Season begins

New anime season! That means new shows! And new isekai worlds to Death report on! anyways this is what ive watched so far.

The Aristocrat's Otherworldly Adventure: Serving Gods Who Go Too Far

Immediately upon being reincarnated, this dweebs first conscious thought is an evangelion reference. 8/10

Hell's Paradise

seems pretty good. i like the "i can fix him says woman who is worse" vibes its got going on

My Home Hero

This show is going to be messed up.

stuff in the pile for next week

Whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive!

Books read this year: 120

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-04-10T10:00:08.620Z

April 3rd - 9th

Stuff i read this week

Reborn as a Space Mercenary Vol. 1 - 2

What if you isekai'ed into Eve online? Huh, what if that- except now eve online has hot space elves. That’s the thesis we shall explore in this ground breaking work of speculative science fiction. 10/10 Science Fiction Isekai is deffo a brand new genre for genre perverts to enjoy. Like, being 100% honest this polyamorous spaceship caption isekai is probably my favorited trash isekai I’ve read so far this year. It’s so brain dead and reads smooth.

The Eminence In Shadow Vol. 1

“Picture someone who isn’t the main character or the antagonist, someone who manipulate events behind the scenes and flaunt their overwhelming power. That’s the kind of shadowbroker I’ve always dreamed of becoming“ - that’s the opening line, it’s a fucking strong mission statement! Ive talked about my love of the anime (and probably the light novel too, which is also great) but this is my first time reading the manga. i love isekai ITS GOOD! yeah yeah its an isekai so its obviously 100% my shit, but i just love everything about how this stupid story is structured. The whole gimmick with our protagonist just making fantasy shit up as he bumbles though the world and not realizing that every single tropey made up story he acts out in the world actually textually really exists IN REALITY, is real fun.

She loves to cook and she loves to eat Vol. 2

The dweebs continue to eat incredible food together and think “huh this is nice if only we could keep hanging out together like all the time lol just kidding or am I haha just kidding what if we spent Christmas together” it’s a VERY real feeling lesbian tale

Witch Hat Atelier Vol.2

Really good second volume, it’s cool seeing these girls work so hard together, and the story slowly open up. There really is the sense that there’s a super interesting world to delve more deeply into here... but ive run out of volumes.

The Abandoned Empress Vol. 4

Bit of a slow volume but events are seemingly begging to swirl around and merge together. All the men in our protagonists like SUCK, do wonder if straight women really find these kinda characters hot. Like, theres zero redeeming features here. So why am i reading still? I’m here for the villainess energy

So What’s Wrong With Getting Reborn as a Goblin? Vol. 2

Really cool seeing how our isekai protagonist combines skills and short lifespans into a weird powerful system. I ENJOY THIS.

The Fiancée Chosen by the Ring Vol. 1 - 2

Finally so shoujo! Cute So yeah it’s a pretty regular shoujo story about nobility, romance and ballgowns - but I really like the characters here, especially the embroidery obsessed protagonist- she’s just super cool? Its really neat how that character theme of "shes an embroidery pervert" gets woven in to so many things, its what she does in her free time, its what she pays attention to at the igh society parties, heck her magical powers are that she can do embroidery real good. Just a real cleanly structured story & world you know? I really like manga that’s smooth and easy to read and this is just incredibly that. It’s pretty as heck and I like it 10/10

Bonus: Audiobooks

Even if this Love Disappears Tonight

pretty good misery porn that pulls every trick possible to try and make you cry. Im real glad that Yen Press is just putting out so much stuff these days and not just like, anime bullshit (as much as i LOVE anime bullshit) - its just a well written tear jerking teen romance that will leave you having a nice little think about stuff at the end - and sometimes thats exactly what you want from an audiobook

Rascal Does Not Dream of Logical Witch/Rascal Does Not Dream of Siscon Idol

I also finished both of these audiobooks this week - gosh dang does this series have THE ABSOLUTE WORST naming conventions. I do like this series a lot though, this is one that has you thinking a lot as well, as every story has a neat puzzle to it - Its like the bakemonogatari stories, except maybe a little more grounded - How the heck do you explain this weeks supernatural phenomena. phenomena of the week, instead of monster? Its a good genre.

stuff in the pile for next week

Whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive!

Books read this year: 129

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-04-17T17:01:48.012Z

April 10th - 16th

Stuff i read this week

The Knight Blooms Behind Castle Walls Vol. 1

A sweet story of a young page boy who yearns to grow up quick and become a fully fledged knight in shining armor - she’s just keeping the fact she’s a girl hidden from all the rest of the castle’s inhabitants. This book really captures a sense of childlike glee that I don’t see often in manga, and it’s super beautifully drawn as well! Seeing young ladies blush at how gallant this lil squire is is reallllly adorable 10/10 super different.

The books also full of these really cute cross sections and diagrams of castles and castle life, little tapestries depicting the history of the castle. These are some of my favorite moments of visual storytelling in this book, the mangaka manages to fit so much into a few small detail panels. Recommended

I can’t believe I slept with you Vol. 1 - 3

A short, messy yuri about a fuckup game developer and her hot younger landlady. So yeah, lets ignore the problematic aspects of your landlady forcing “favors” from you because your behind on rent, at its core this is a sweet story about a useless oneesan type character relying on a anxious and unstable little sister, who in turn needs her for emotional support. they grow and heal together, and thats always heartwarming. i just WISH they had another volume for post confession adventures WHY DO THESE THINGS ALWAYS END AT THE START OF A RELATIONSHIP IM GUNNA SCREAM.

Beauty and the feast vol. 4

I’m beginning to understand that the mangaka that wrote this series is just a pervert for oneesan character archetype. Thats the only explanation for all of this. She loves to cook and she loves to eat is deffo a better story with similar "i must feed this nerd" themes... that said Yakumo san is undeniably a great oneesan

The Fiancé Chosen by the Ring Vol. 3

I got nothing more to say about this series. It’s fun? Like, there is zero surprising stuff going on here.. i just wanna read more? Its junk food, but more healthy than.....

Chronicles of an Aristocrat Reborn in Another World Vol. 5

Some weird shit theology in this one. Apparently you can become a god of you beat up another god real good? I think? Who knows. This is garbage. I will continue to read

Bonus: Audiobooks

86-Eighty-Six Vol. 2-3

The audiobook productions Yen Audio put out for this series are real good, and the novels are every bit as interesting as the animated series. Compared to how gross The Saga of Tanya the Evil leaves you feeling, theres a lot of good here. I really like how these volumes contrast the neoliberal democratic paradises of The Federacy and the fascist Republic state we spent the first volume in... like, its the same place, with a lick of paint! Its the kind of book you can imagine a nerd defending for "not being political" despite being THE MOST POLITICAL thing. Neat stuff.

stuff in the pile for next week

Whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive! Talking of messy yuri seires, i might try and get through Citrus again, i managed to track down the few volumes i was missing....

Books read this year: 136

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-04-26T01:23:21.176Z

April 17th - 23rd (wow i forgot to post this on sunday oops)

Stuff i read this week

Vampeerz Vol. 1 - 2

Yuri vampires! Again! I like this book, like… a lot? The art is incredible and the printing and binding job Denpa have done is fantastic.. they are a small publisher but I really love the feel of their books! It’s a nice object?

The work itself is very cute and very unsettling and perfectly stupid at moments, it’s a tale of a vampire that’s had enough and just wants to die and a young girl that just fell in love with her at first sight. Not much happens in the first volume but the stories pacing just delivers this perfect balance of unsettling creepiness and yuri first love… good book

A Tale of the Secret Saint Vol. 1 -2

I do love me a reincarnation tale (im sure you have all figured that out by now), especially when the main character is a fucking idiot. Oh daaaang I love fucking idiots. Idiots rule. And this specific idiot? Shes so stupid! And she has a dragon friend?!? An idiot with a dragon friend! 10/10

No longer allowed in another world vol. 2

Okay now the title makes sense! I really liked volume 1 but the weird title really bugged me, but the first half of volume 2 finished off the prologue and now everything makes sense in a satisfying intelligent way. 10/10 In this volume isekai zetsubo sensei writes an novel, smirks at a cat girl princess and snacks on waaaaay to many pills and poisons to be healthy.

A returner’s magic should be special Vol. 1 - 2

Pretty simple korean reincarnation webtoon, dude helps beat the demon lord but oh no! gets time reverted back in time like 10 years or whatever (i forgot to take notes) to adventuring school. Guess its time to get even more buff than before and beat the demon lord guy back up, this time with future knowledge. Oh, also everyone in school is real classist and nobles get all the goodies. See, super simple, perfect story 10/10

Bonus: Audiobooks

86-Eighty-Six Vol. 4

Its finally at new content thats not in the anime and AHHH HECK ITS GOOD. Is a new season of the anime planned yet? I HOPE SO! we got a heckload of underground shopping center combat in this volume which rules and OH HECK THE LEGION SOMEHOW GOT EVEN MORE CREEPY

stuff in the pile for next week

Whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. Idk... maybe ill dig out some of the shoujo ive not read too that would be fun. ALSO next week i need to plan out a new format for this thread because it getting too long IM SO SORRY

Books read this year: 143

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-02T18:17:14.574Z

April 24th - 30th (wow i forgot to post this on sunday again oops)

Stuff i read this week

Kaiju Girl Caramelise Vol.

Uhhh this book is kinda incredible. Reading the bonus page at the back we learn the mangaka and her editor was trying to solve one major editorial problem with this work. How do you transfer from working on a series serialzied in a shoujo magazine to a series in a shonen one? The answer they stumbled up is just incredibly genius. Just draw a complete by the numbers stereotypical shoujo manga, make the protagonist a REAL loser girl, put in a HOT boy love interest, draw it alll HYPER feminine, so many sparkles, make it real fluffy and flowery…

Now finally make protag-chan turn into fucking Godzilla whenever she’s embarrassed. Like, skyscraper sized. Big girl shit. It’s absolute genius space brain stuff over here.

Though I am an Inept Villainess: Tale of the Butterfly-Rat Body Swap in the Maiden Court Vol. 1 - 2

This is the first time I’ve had to do a second read of a book from this year, but volume 2 just came out and I can’t remember a thing about the first one. And I’m glad I did read it again?!? It’s super good?! The art is wonderful and the two lead characters are wonderful. Volume 2 is even better, the whole courtly drama is just heating up deliciously and OH HECK it ends on a great cliffhanger (someone FIGUREs OUT THE BODYSWAP?!) ohh be still my beating heart I don’t want to wait months for volume 3 this sucks~

Failed Princesses Vol. 5 - 6

Ahh dang it’s over - I simultaneously like this series a lot and also find it really empty heh. It’s a hella cute and pretty ride, and the initial popular gal adopting a weird nerd and teaching her how to be pretty arc was REAL good… volume 4s was really strong with Izumi’s confession (and rejection) just being a great story.. and seeing Izumi ending up happy in the background (with the extrovert nerd girl) was just really satisfying… but the main story line… fucking Kanade’s weird obsession and lack of self confidence AFTER EVERYTHING YOUVE BEEN THOUGH TOGETHER IN THE PREVIOUS 5 VOLUMES!!?! Idk… just feels real not earned in a way… it’s like this plot is two shades two mean to its main characters? It’s not tasty! I dunno just feels like there’s a more delicious story that could have emerged over the last volume and a half… it’s like all the elements that make this ending are good! Just maybe not with this particular weighting.. and in this particular order? still good tho.

Hazure Skill: The Guild Member With a Worthless Skill is Actually a Legendary Assassin Vol. 1 - 3

A classic boy meets demon-lord girl, boy beats up demon lord girl, demon lord girl becomes boys pet cat, boy gets a job as a staff member at a small normal adventurers guild. You know, one of them. It’s always nice to see really abnormal characters getting obsessed with being “normal” (whilst having zero clue what normal even is). There’s lots of fun fantasy tropes and found family themes running all the way through. Simple but solidly executed “I can’t believe it’s not isekai” junk. 10/10

Also, wow there’s something weird with these books. For some reason Yen Press switched to a MUCH higher quality paper stock on the 3rd volume. It’s real smooth and not grainy at all, a little thicker… weird! I do like a higher quality product but I like consistency more! Just a weird thing to change too

Bonus: Audiobooks

The Rising of the Shield Hero Vol 5

The incel light novel is back baybeee~ and its still way better than it has any right to be heck dang it. Now that were 5 volumes in our narrator guy seems to be finally getting the hang of doing "girl" voices for character in a way that dosnt make you want to spontaneously vomit

stuff in the pile for next week

Whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. Idk... I think i wanna start reading though my dress-up darling.. its kinda calling to me.. WE SHALL SEE THO. ALSO next week i need to plan out a new format for this thread because it getting too long IM SO SORRY - last week i said id do that this week but I REALLY HAVNT HAD TIME OOPS

Books read this year: 151

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-09T22:28:29.542Z

May 1st - 7th

Stuff i read this week

This is Screwed up but I was Reincarnated as a Girl in Another World Vol. 6

Yay a new volume of one of the MOST trash isekai series is out ~ in this volume Ren wants eggs SO bad she goes on a long journey to the royal capital (bigger marketplace there) and drags along two of the waitresses she met at the hotel she used to stay at. She’s going to pamper them SO HARD.

Im still really enjoying this delicious garbage and 1000% recommend this series. Its always stupid, fun and lighthearted, but internally consistent, it puts a LOT of artistry into drawing food (which is one of my favorite things in manga).... but it deffo is one for genre perverts (which genre tho? Isekai? Gender bending? Yes.)

Hazure Skill: The Guild Member With a Worthless Skill is Actually a Legendary Assassin Vol. 4

Huh… different paper again… you know, for a dumb harem adjacent over powered cheat skill fantasy manga (which again, I can’t believe it’s not an isekai) it’s got some heart to it. That’s alway my favourite kind of trash, when there’s just a nice warmth to the work, you know? The relationship between our assassin protagonist and the demon lord really has that- the whole two misfits that don’t really understand how to be human making a place for themselves in the world kinda thing- always gets me

I got a cheat skill in another world and became unrivaled in the real world too vol. 3

Talking of dumb harem adjacent over powered cheat skill fantasy manga that weirdly has a lot of heart to it - this volume puts the manga at the exact same point as the currently airing anime - in fact I think the most recent episode that aired this week covers the same material as the last two chapters in this book (editing lotte- the anime has pulled ahead again since i wrote this as uhhh, it airs every weekend oops). It’s pretty interesting to see both adaptions side by side and seeing how they weight story beats slightly differently. The action is deffo waaay clearer in the anime, you’ll get like 15 seconds of screen time for something that’s a single confusing panel in the manga. Bottom line? It’s still delicious trash, it’s weirdly wholesome and very good for you.

The Eminence in Shadow Vol. 2

Whatever I said about volume 1? Just copy paste that here it’s still an incredible work. My main problem with it is none of my local bookshops have volume 3 in stock (editing lotte again: youll never guess what i got on monday next week), and I’ve already got volume 4 waiting. Sigh.

My Dress-up Darling Vol. 1 - 4

Every bit as good as the (incredible) anime. I rewatched it like two weeks ago so it’s very fresh in my mind- so being able to contrast how it adapted and changed scenes from the manga has been real interesting (that’s been a bit of a theme this week hasn’t it!?!). One change i really noticed is how they introduce that Gojo kun is kinda a friendless loser right at the beginning, the anime adds an incredible visual joke that’s not in (and probably wouldn’t work as well) in the manga. Yeah, it’s been real interesting! ALSO FINDING OUT THAT SWALLOWTAIL WIGS IS A REAL SHOP IN IKEBUKURO WAS KINDA WILD it seems like the afterword pages in these volumes are gunna be great.

Bonus: Web manhwa

What’s Wrong with Being a Villainess

CHECK IT OUT THIS THING IS TOTALLY BEAUTIFUL AND FUNNY 10/10. I love it in villainess stories where a totally normal collage kid can be like, the most villainess and evil noble woman ever just because she has experienced how modern day capital works. Like, theres a whole trope subgenre in isekai fiction where having a highschool level understanding of the nitrogen cycle or the ability to make basic skin moisturizers are both SUPER big brain space god level knowledge in isekai stories. Your mundane normal upbringing makes you special, no matter how painful it was. This villainess-variant of that trope takes it one level deeper and wraps it even tighter in the isekai genre underpinning base axiom - "the real world sucks and a magic world would for sure be better". Villainess stories' like this one counter that with a "people would still suck in magical other worlds - they hate you for just being who you are, but you have been hurt by end game capitalism. they have not.... yet" - and i just think thats neat. it rules actually.

stuff in the pile for next week

Whats on the pile for next week?? oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. Idk... ALSO next week i need to plan out a new format for this thread because it getting too long IM SO SORRY - last week (and the week before) i said id do that this week but I REALLY HAVNT HAD TIME OOPS. being sick sucks ass

Books read this year: 159

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-17T11:13:48.318Z

May 8th - 14th

Stuff i read this week

Quality Assurance in Another World vol. 1

It’s a fucking game developer isekai - essentially what if sword art online, except your a wimpy QA tester that’s REAL good at hiding. Maybe if you report all the bugs (whilst hiding from all the other QA testers that have given up on work and gone rouge) they will finally let you log out and go home? Prepare for t pose jokes

Also? The monster design in this book? It’s got dragons. Huge terrifying dragons. Dragons that will make even the mightiest NPC quiver with fear. They look like heckin ginormous frogs with goofy lil eyes. Terrifying. 10/10

(There’s a good 20 pages on rubbing yourself against walls trying to find collision bugs. To real.)

The Eminence in Shadow Vol. 3

I’m convinced now - the plot is waaaay clearer and easier to follow than in the anime adaption, the panel layout is really good and everything just flows real well. Super good adaptation. It’s just delightfully easy to read - getting through the entirety of the school terrorist arc in like 40 mins feels just right

A Tale of the Secret Saint Vol. 3

I can’t keep track of all these characters- good book tho, 'i cant believe its not isekai' junk food

Hazure Skill: The Guild Member With a worthless skill is actually a legendary assassin vol. 5

Even more junk food.. well this series more like a comfort food, just the right blend of cute fantasy misfit finding family vibes… then that last chapter in this volume? Yikes. I hope you like horrific depictions of torture along side your warm fuzzy nonsense.

Chronicles of an Aristocrat Reborn in Another World Vol. 6

This ones more of a junk food that you know is really bad for you and it makes you sick every time you eat it, but maybe a little bit wont send you to the bathroom for an hour. An okay volume, the set up for next volume is fun tho! Seems like it’s gunna be about adventures being jerks.

Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included Vol. 1-2

Cute and soft, inoffensive trash about a boy picking up an angel and letting her live in his studio apartment. It’s not the best apartment but it does get good natural lighting. I don’t know why that’s such an important feature of protagonist-kun’s home that it deserves to go in the title, seemed pretty throwaway in the book.

So this series is just kinda empty, inoffensive fluff. Very mid, 6/10 level stuff. The do go to mr donut (twice) in volume 2 so now it’s actually my favorite manga ever - I love mr donut. 100/10

Bonus: scanlations

Kasane and Subaru

.
Real cute manga about two cowrokers dating - Subaru is secretly a cross dresser and Kasane is their biggest fan. I love stories about coworkers dating and this is A VERY CUTE VARIENT OF THIS GENRE.

Bonus: Audiobooks

Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra: World Conquest starts with the Civilization of Ruin Vol. 4

I think out of all the light novel audiobook series im following (which, i think is literally all of them lol) this is BY FAR the worst. Its isekai where the protagonist gets reborn into the mechanics of his favorite 4X stratergy game, but in a generic fantasy world, and there seems to be other players reborn their with different game rule systems. Which is kind of interesting? This volume is mainly about a fight with a tabletop RPG hero... which kinda isnt interesting. When your game rulesystem lets you say "actually none of the attacks your units did hurt me, my dungeon master says so" theres kinda... nothing to be done, no tension, no nothing. Just nothing ever happens. This ones only for genre perverts.

stuff in the pile for next week

There was a looooot of trash this week. maybe next week i can find something better... Idk... ALSO next week i need to plan out a new format for this thread because it getting too long IM SO SORRY - last week (and the week before) (and the week before) i said id do that this week but I REALLY HAVNT HAD TIME OOPS.

Books read this year: 166

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-24T23:48:00.187Z

May 15th - 21st

Stuff i read this week

Young Ladies Don’t Play Fighting Games Vol. 1

Okay that was real good. I’m glad I finally managed to track down a copy and I’m deffo going to get the rest wow some real pretty ladies playing some fighting games right here. It’s an interesting twist on a classic catholic school style yuri set up, our main characters are both transfer students that are plopped into that rigid prim environment and handle fitting in differently - and contrasting the ultra refined young lady performances with the fighting game manic inner personas is just REAL GOOD. I love it in media when a woman gets to shout “FIGHT ME” with all her heart, 10/10

Into The Deepest Most Unknowable Dungeon Vol. 1

Or, “I was reincarnated in another world but it was pretty much an all-around downgrade” as our main character quips .

A lot of the time for new series, I have no idea what I’m getting into, I’m just buying new shit based on a title… maybe sometimes I’ll look at the cover… but usually I’m not thinking that deep. So a lot of the time with fantasy manga these days I’m 100% thinking “wow I can believe this isn’t an isekai” - it’s the opposite here “wow I can’t believe this is an isekai”. I thought it was just going to be some silly high fantasy dungeoneering… but nope it’s an isekai about how actually combat sucks, the dungeons are cool but the day to day business of adventuring sucks… but dang isn’t dungeon diving aesthetically romantic~ also wow this books world is HELLA misogynistic. It’s kinda impressive how gross it is. Not really recommended- genre perverts might find it interesting.. but like… I didn’t have a good time.. but it was interesting, in a way that makes me want to track down more volumes so I can continue to have a bad time but think a lot about the genre I like… so that’s… something!?!

The Eminence in Shadow Vol. 4

Aww poor Epsilon

Call Girl in Another World Vol. 1

When I saw this in the store I was like “ohhh heck, this is either one for REAL perverts or for REAL GENRE PERVERTS. I hope it’s for genre perverts” and I’m 3000% happy to report it’s for Genre Perverts! rejoice! Incredible my funny and incredible unerotic lol. very neat spin on an isekai setup, and boy does our main lady love to do sexy stuff with big weirdos.

I think I Turned my Childhood Friend into A Girl Vol. 1 -2

I read a scanlation ages ago but yeah, this is still SUPER CUTE, also the way the colour pages are incorporated into it is amazingly nice- it’s an incredibly nice book to behold. Yeah, it’s just real cute.

Magic Artisan Dahlia Wilts No More Vol. 1

After how big a disappointment deepest dungeon was, this was a bit of a happy surprise. It’s anoter isekai, but this time with a lady that used to work in an electronics company reincarnating into a fantasy world as the daughter of a magical artisan, and does the whole isekai modern japan Knowledge thing to make cool magical inventions. SHE IS COOL, STRONG AND I LOVE HER. at it’s core, the first volume is a story of familial loss and romantic betrayal, but there’s a real warm core and hope for her, she’s so much stronger in her second life and I love her for it. Good book.

Bonus: Audiobooks

How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom: Volume 1

better than the anime. Also, i 100% thought this was "The Genius Prince's Guide To Raising a Nation Out of Debt" which is basically the same show. oops

stuff in the pile for next week

Opps late again and oops still need to figure out how to reformat this...IM SO SORRY ITS SO LONG - last week (and the week before) (and the week before) (and the week before) i said id do that this week but I REALLY HAVNT HAD TIME OOPS. Next week? im readin YURI

Books read this year: 173

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-24T11:41:45.685Z

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-18T19:17:07.449Z

At home visiting my mum… which means I get to visit THE SHELF™️

Ohhh THE SHELF™️ how I missed you

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-24T11:41:45.685Z

Some stats collected from THE SELF™️

So I’m back home in Ireland after visiting my mum. I was able to put some time each day i was there into scanning all the books on the shelf into my book collection app. Here’s some stats

The shelf contains 918 volumes. That means I took about 80 with me to Ireland over the years, as it used to have just over 1000.
I counted about 20 duplicate volumes. Oops.
My book app says that’s 193,413 pages. Idk if that’s correct, but that’s a lot of pages
I spent at least £3,843 on this lol. Every book that still has a purchase price sticker on it got logged. Only about half of them had a price record I could log… so I guess it’s probably about double this. Over 15 years i guess that’s not too bad
Two of the most dominant publishers in this collection (TokyoPop and Del Ray) don’t even exist anymore, which is kinda wild (idk what’s up with TokyoPop’s ownership? They seem to be back… again? It’s weird. It’s like buying a new game and seeing Atari’s logo on the box and thinking wtf how did that happen)
the two most prolific Mangaka in this collection were Clamp (59 volumes) and Ken Akamatsu (55 volumes) that probably tells you a lot about lotte as a teen.
I am actually missing a few volumes of Negima- idk where they have gone, I had a complete collection of that- This suggests that some books have gone walkies.

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-18T19:17:07.449Z

At home visiting my mum… which means I get to visit THE SHELF™️

Ohhh THE SHELF™️ how I missed you

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-05-17T11:13:48.318Z

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-01-08T21:16:13.455Z

this year im gunna read one volume of manga a day, every day

Stuff i read this week

The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess Vol. 1-5

This is a super good isekai villainess story about a woman who dies (truck) and is reborn as one of her OCs in an AWFUL novel she wrote as a TERRIBLE teenager. Obviously, she's not the super beautiful author insert character, but rather her villainous little sister and OH NO all the hot boys DEFFO want her dead, probably. Watching our poor girl struggle through the pain of remembering her own terrible plot and dealing with the world changing as she continues not to get killed by the hot boys is super fun... the books do suffer a bit from the art not being super clear at times tho. Still, if you like villainess stories this has a really interesting twist to the formulae.

Pulse vol.1&2

By the same person as Lily Love and its also VERY good and VERY gay. These books that seven seas have put out are incredibly printed, full colour and everything. Super cool to see a webtoon presented in a book so well. The story so far is very cute, seeing the doctor slowly open up is a real treat. Very much looking forward to volume 3. (also dang that's a lotta sex)

Black and White - Tough Love at the Office Vol. 1

dang that's a lotta sex. I've never seen a yuri manga where two ladies beat each other up so lovingly. incredible work. Seven Seas is publishing so wild stuff these days its great.

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive.

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-01-16T01:16:12.981Z

January 9th - 15th

Stuff i read this week

Accomplishments of the Dukes Daughter Vol. 1-4

wow, this has quickly become a favourite series - It's a real good entry in the isekai villainess genre. As much as i hate capital, capital owners, the pursuit of capital, and the concept of hereditary peerage DANG i do love manga about princesses and noble ladies starting businesses using knowledge from a previous life - that shit OWNS. She wants to invent health insurance and banking... and chocolate? girlboss. I'm deffo going to buy more of this after my next paycheck heh 10/10

My Cute Little Kitten Vol.1

Oh no is Milk Morinaga drawing cute fluffball airhead girls again? And this time they have a cat? Terrible news. 10/10

Futari Escape Vol. 1

Pretty cute stories about two girls running away from work and disassociating from society for a bit. Deadlines suck ass, 10/10

Asumi chan is Interestied in Lesbian Brothels!

I think maybe Asumi chan is a raging homosexual? She sure does like sleeping with girls that's for sure. Im sure the real perverts would love this one but its super sweet too. 10/10

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive.

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-01-23T00:05:38.826Z

January 16th - 22nd

Stuff i read this week

The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess vol 6

The dark history is really tightening up in this volume. Earlier stories deffo had a made-up as it’s going along falling to them, so it’s really cool to see all of that come together into a cohesive whole that's actually pretty dang good! Unfortunately, this is the last volume available in English right now, volume 7 doesn't come out until May. will I still be doing this in may?! who knows! maybe!

My Gently Raised Beast Vol. 1

Painfully straight (derogatory)

I Swear I won’t bother you again! Vol. 1-2

Painfully straight (complimentary)

My Androgynous Boyfriend Vol. 1

(Somehow) not Painfully straight. Dang, this book is incredible- this is a straight romance comedy that has SO much yuri energy - like a straight romance story written like a yuri, if that makes sense. these are some of the softest characters I’ve read in ages. it’s also incredibly funny, I loled out loud, at 2 am like an idiot. 10/10 (THEY EVEN GO ON A DATE TO IKEA. that's the most lesbian kind of date, in my experience)

Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter Vol. 5

Still really good, if very capital owner brained. We got some hot political intrigue story threads beginning to be woven into the narrative, so I cant wait to see how that ends up. Oh, and the spy/ladies (combat) maid is still incredibly hot. i love her

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Vol. 1

This book somehow manages to depict the passage of time more beautifully than any other manga I've ever read, really beautiful art and a very unique fantasy tale. recommended

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive. i didn't manage to get to any yuri stuff this week, i should fix that next week!

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-01-30T08:19:42.677Z

January 23rd- 29th

Stuff i read this week

Whisper me a Love Song Vol. 1

Super cute school yuri story about a girl falling in love with her senpai, who is the lead singer in a school band. Real pretty art. It’s a shame the music/band stuff is just used as background flavour more than being like, a real driver in the story like with Bocchi- I recommend “The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy At All” for a yuri manga where music plays a more ‘real’ role. These print volumes are really nice, Kondansha comics seem to be publishing things in a larger page size than most other publishers, makes the art look super nice with this book. Big clear faces and all that!

Whisper me a Love Song Vol. 2

Way more actual music stuff happening in this volume which was cool to see! Also drama is brewing~ real nice seeing stuff foreshadowed and playing out. I like this manga! Just a clean, well-crafted work

Villains are Destined to Die Vol. 1

The colours in this book are incredible! DANG HER HAIR. she’s wonderful. 10/10 Its great to see more Korean stuff get printed in full-colour books. These things are just beautiful to behold sometimes. There's a real fun gimmick early on to this villainess story - our main character starts off mute and can only ever talk when given options that were in the original game shes been reincarnated in - which was an interesting twist for a while. be cool to see where this goes.

Beauty and the Feast Vol. 1

Remember that tweet from a few weeks ago from some lady that really wanted to make chilli for some students that lived in the same building, cos they just looked like really hungry boys and cooking for other people made her happy? This is a book about exactly that. 10

Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter Vol. 6

Just kiss already! Anyways, the political stuff in the last two volumes has been super fun to follow through, civil war is brewing, the church’s power has been brought under the states heel, stuffs going to get messy! THIS STORY IS GETTING SO GOOD I WANNA READ THE NEXT VOLUME NOWWWW

Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter Vol. 7

So this was my first 2 book day - i just had to know what was going to happen next... AHHH THIS IS SO GOOD SHE BEAT UP THE POPE REAL GOOD 10/10 I wish they would get on with the relationship between Iris and ‘Dean’. Iris is not gay and this will never be a yuri, I have accepted that, it’s a done deal. Now I just want her to kiss and be happy. Im now caught up with this and i can finally stop staring at this pile of books guilty... but ughh now i have to wait for volumes to be published.. maybe i should have left 7 for next week TEARS

Love me for who I am Vol. 1

It’s the enby maid manga! ITS TOO CUTE FOR WORDS. 10/10 The whole theme of letting people be a true expression of themselves is really heartwarming and dang i want to read more, unfortunately, i do not have volume 2 and its out of stock everywhere. ill have to track it down. Super recommended

My Androgynous Boyfriend vol. 2

Still convinced this is a straight yuri manga. Not much to say about it apart from wow its hella warm.

Bonus: Light novels

I read two light novels this week so why not add them to the list

VTuber Legend: How I Went Viral after Forgetting to Turn Off My Stream, Vol. 1

Mostly read this because I saw rumours that it was getting an anime adaption. Its not very good, but i did read the heck out of it if that makes sense, and i will be buying and reading the rest, and enjoying every second of reading it whilst i think 'wow this sucks, its not very good!' 8/10

Cross-Dressing Villainess Cecilia Sylvie

I love Villainess, i love Villainess who are smart enough to try and game the systems they are reborn into, and i love it when they are two dumb to realise everyone loves them and they are in zero danger of being executed. 10/10

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri and more villainess isekai stuff. what a time to be alive.

Books read this year: 30

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-02-05T18:14:43.850Z

January 30th - February 5th

Stuff i read this week

Oshi no ko Vol. 1

what an incredibly gripping prologue! A doctor is MURDERED by an idol’s creepy stalker- and is reborn as one of her twin children. Hijinks ensue. It’s yet another incredible read, beautiful art, all that good stuff 10/10 for reincarnation in the REAL world. This is getting an anime real soon - im HYPED

Killing Me! Vol. 1

super sweet yuri story about it a vampire hunter and the vampire that’s in love with her. Only one volume is available, as it seems this manga got cancelled after one volume. WHICH IS SAD AT THIS IS HELLA CUTE. Akiyama seems to be still working as a manga artist which is nice, but drawing straight vampire stories now rather than gay ones - oh well can’t win them all! Anyways, its is a really good little book recommended 10/10

Whisper me a Love Song Vol. 4-5

Double book day! This story is getting going now. It had a slow start, but here it’s getting to be something REAL good. (IM REAL GLAD)

Doughnuts under a crescent moon Vol. 1 -2

Ughhhhh stories about yuri office ladies slowly falling in love get to me like nothing else ughhh I love this book I love it so much. I read a scanlation ages ago, and now I’m going to track down all the volume of this asap (I only got this first one in stock on my shelves) 11/10. Very good - ITS BASICALLY WRITTEN FOR ME! I am a well know lesbian doughnut enjoyer. Heck I scoured the shelves at my local bookstore and managed to get volume 2 I am blessed by the yuri gods

I love you so much I hate you

dang I love yuri about older women, so im real glad i managed to have a two day office lady yuri streak. This book? It’s good 10/10. Just real nice to be reading something and wishing the best for these ladies - strong good warm feelings

The Holy Grail of Eris Vol. 1

Just when I thought I was running out of Villainess stories to read I find this neat tome on my shelf. The ghost possession gimmick is really interesting- going to be cool to see how this develops.

I swear I won’t bother you again Vol. 3

Continues the tradition of maids in these villainess stories secretly being the best character who deserve like a million % more pages. I previously described earlier volumes in this series as "Painfully straight (complimentary)" and that continues to be true. I do love a story with an idiot lead leady.

Bonus: Audio Books

So I'm a Spider, So What? vol 4

im STILL in love with this book, and i STILL think the audiobook having sections where the narrator is just reading off character sheet stats for like 10 mins is hilariously good. Way less character sheet stuff this time though, were showing restraint!

Bonus: Light novels

Hell Mode: Volume 5

Ive got half way though this so far this week - ITS SO FRICKING STUPID. this is like popcorn for me, stupid dumbass isekai game system bullshit. 10/10

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... i think i might have finally ran out of villainess isekai stuff.... what a sad time to be alive. maybe i can find some in a local bookstore (even if the entire point is to kill the backlog)

Books read this year: 39

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-02-12T22:24:47.125Z

February 6th - 12th

Stuff i read this week

I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in the Real World Too Vol. 1 - 2

DAAAANG what a stupid book 10/10 was fucking love isekai. It does that thing where the Isekai world has a bidirectional link with the real world, I LOVE IT WHEN THEY DO THAT. YEAH, SHOW ME A GUY WHOS FANTASY WORLD POWER LEVELING GAINS MAKE THEM MORE POWERFUL AT SOCIAL INTERACTIONS IN MODERN DAY TOKYO GIVE ME THAT SLOP ILL EAT IT UP SO FAST

My Androgynous Boyfriend Vol. 3

There’s a chapter in here about suddenly having to start working from home and having zoom meeting and I’m like oh well I know exactly when this was written- that was weird huh. Also, yeah this is still a heterosexual yuri manga that still holds.

Failed Princess Vo. 1

This book is so frickin cute. It turns out ive had volume 2 on my shelves for ages but never found volume 1 locally, so i went to track it down - which lead me to fricking amazon. They managed to stick the shipping envelope to the damn front cover. TRAGIC. its ruined, destined for a recycling plant once amazon replace it. cute story though

Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion Vol. 1

Gotta love villainess isekai nonsense I thought I’d be out of that this week but my bookshelf pulled though for me. This book tho, it’s kind of incredibly beautiful? It’s got such a cute sketchy feel to the characters, you can’t help but thing “dang they really did draw this huh” as you read it. Art is wonderful huh. 10/10.

Minami Nanami Wants To Shine Vol. 1 - 2

Apparently this is a spin off to some other thing I’ve always just skipped over on Crunchyroll? Maybe I’ll give the source material a chance, because this was a pretty delightful read. It’s about a girl who wants to be special, falling into a modelling carer and it’s kinda INCREDIBLY cute and sweet. 10/10

Beauty and the Feast Vol. 2

Its still really cute - but every chapter im terrified that the author is gunna pull a bunny drop or something. all my fingers crossed that this remains healing.

Bonus: Audio Books

I’d Rather Have a Cat than a Harem! Reincarnated into the World of an Otome Game as a Cat-Loving Villainess Vol. 2

Just look at that title and tell me that its not the greatest thing you've ever laid eyes on? 11/10. recommended.

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... Last week i said i was out of Villainess stories but i managed to pull one out the dark recesses of my shelf.. maybe another is lurking...

Books read this year: 47

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-02-20T01:32:55.668Z

February 13th - 19th

Stuff i read this week

Beauty and the Feast Vol. 3

We’re beginning to learn more about Shuko’s past and dang I love this poor woman and I’m glad she’s healing and the chapter with her friends looking out for her are the best and why can’t a manga character cook me dinner? 10/10

Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter Vol. 8

What’s this?!? Lotte pulled another villainess isekai manga volume out of her ass?? Wow how does she do it?!? She can’t keep getting away with this!! Anyways, this series is STILL incredibly good, i STILL want them to hurry up and kiss and i cant wait for the next volume to be release. The combat maid STILL rules forever i love her. 10/10 The cast pages at the front of every volume is getting crazy complicated character sheet

The Two of Them Are Pretty Much Like This Vol. 1-2

gosh just beautiful- it feels like 99% of yuri manga is about a budding relationship, taking painstaking amounts of time to get to a love confession - getting to that starting point and as soon as that happens, THATS IT end of serialization, that’s you 6 chapters HOW DARE YOU WANT MORE. it sucks! I wanna read about women in love, I wanna see stories about their home lives, their hopes, their dreams, their years. This is a little bit of all that, and it’s perfect. Wako and Ellie have been going out for two years and living together for one year at the start of this story and that so unusual and weird for a yuri manga I LOVE IT 100/10 super recommend

Failed Princess Vol. 2

Still a super frickin cute book! This volume is about coming to terms with jealousy, and its a real nice storyline for one of these school age yuri.

Doughnuts under a crescent moon vol. 3

Sad the next volume is the last. I really recommend this series, again because stuff about adult women in love just rules - just be warned it seems like volume 3 had a small print run and its REALLY hard to find anywhere. I eventually managed to get a copy on ebay... which came bundled with volume 1&2 T_T sometimes you just end up with duplicates.

No Longer Allowed In Another World Vol. 1

What if Zetsubou Sensei was hit by a truck and got isekai’ed? 10/10 good. I published a Isekai Death Report here

Though I Am an Inept Villainess: Tale of the Butterfly-Rat Body Swap in the Maiden Court Vol. 1

I love villainess?!? I really enjoyed watching Raven of the inner palace last anime season, so seeing a villainess story with a similar setting was an instant pickup. Turns out this is very very good! The main character and her ladies maid have a great chemistry together, I can’t wait to see how this evolves over time. Body swapping from a sick, frail (but loved) persona to a healthy, strong (but universally hated) one is a super interesting setting as well, this is genius space brain level trash I love it

The Savior's Book Café Story in Another World Vol. 1

Straight, but interesting. Dang i love isekai, and how they are all the same but different. “You have been summoned to a magical world! you MUST become a savior, a hero in this place! i shall grant you MASSIVE amounts of magical power and grant a wish” - okay thats all normal nothing weird here - “ehh that sounds like a hassle can i own a little café bookshop on the outskirts of a capital city and just kinda rest there and do nothing??” 11/10 PERFECT use of isekai powers LOVE IT for you girl please do exactly that. I think deep down, we have all just wanted to have a little café bookshop and no responsibility and massive amounts of magical energy. (no isekai death report for this title - she seems to just have been summoned)

The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 1

What a lovely little story! Maomao makes some wonderful disgusted faces at flirty men, which really speaks to me imo. She’s so cool snake Also I’m quickly realizing that “weird girls solve problems in the inner court of a Chinese palace” is like - a manga/light novel genre now? Like “isekai but it’s a otome novel and the main character is the villainess” is a genre. Very cool looking forward to exploring the depths of this genre on the coming weeks and months

Bonus: Audio Books

Sword Art Online Vol. 8

i can never hate sword art. it sucks so much, but i sure do love this trash garbage. This volume is a bunch of short stories that take place all over the timeline - i think the short story anthologies are some of the better sword art light novels, when we just get to throw the characters into an interesting situation without thinking about the connective tissue of the story too hard... sword art is best when you dont think about it too hard! The audio books are still really well produced, deffo recommended if you want some daft background listening.

Reincarnated as the Last of my Kind Vol. 4

Somehow, this audio book is 6 hours long, and basically nothing happened... 8/10 its about as 'light' as a light novel could ever get, and i gotta respect that

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... I may have solved my lack of Villainess stories with an amazon order.. maybe..

Books read this year: 57

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-02-26T22:37:30.893Z

February 20th - 26th

Stuff i read this week

The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 2-5

Maomao is SO FUCKING CUTE when she’s ingesting deadly deadly neurotoxins. This girl just LOVES poisons. I LOVE HER. My first taste of poison in ages has me grinning like a fool

Wish I read these slower lol.. it was so good I couldn’t stop myself though the story is SUPER engaging and the Maomao is just a wonderful lead character. i want to spend every second with her that i can heh, the facial expressions in this book are just THAT incredible. Its rare you get to see THAT much character on the page you know?

Savior's Book Cafe Story in Another World Vol. 2-4

Another series i should have savored rather than rush though, but it is what it is! Last week i said "Straight but interesting” and YEAH. its very straight but also very interesting? I do wonder why this fantasy world has such a thriving book publishing industry... like, who is writing all these books shes stocking her cafe with? Anyways, pretty good. Volume 5 dosnt come out until May this year, so thats all for now.

Love me for who I am Vol. 2

Yeah, to enby maid book is back and DANG!! it’s hard to get this book! Totally out of print it seem, eBay to the rescue. AND HECK I CAN SEE WHY it’s incredible for all thoes gender feels. I want the best for all these kids as they figure out life and love! Im just SO glad this series exists?

There’s a part where Tetsu suddenly begins to “get” all this gender stuff other characters are going though whist talking to his transwoman older sibling and hes like… dang I guess I should be calling you oneechan and not oniichan… and she’s so happy about it - I deffo almost cried lol. Yeah good book. Now i just have to track down volume 3... painful

Sasaki and Peeps Vol. 1

Ahhh heck what a super smart inversion of isekai themes! No guys dying of early onset truck here, instead our hero is a lonely 40 year old office worker who REALLY wants a friend, so he goes to a pet shop. Dogs and cats are too big and expensive… but that weird little bird? 100% within budget… and it can talk… THE BIRD IS A MAGICAL SAINT THAT GOT ISEKAIED TO EARTH?!? And he can do teleportation?!? Wow Sasaki’s daily commute just got SO MUCH faster. 10/10 Commuter Isekai in general are a fascinating subgenre, and this particular story is getting an anime adaption soon so im super glad i found it. It does a lot of neat stuff with time scaling and like.. practical power limits? Recommended.

The Girl I want is so Handsome! The Complete Manga Collection

Two volumes printed in one nice big book. It’s LARGE, I do love manga with smaller page sizes (makes it much easier to store them or carry them!) but heck it’s easy to forget how good these things look on LARGE pages! Looks incredible up close.

Plot wise it’s pretty simple straightforward school based yuri story with a basketball theme… it’s cute. Does have that thing where like all plot progression is gated behind misunderstandings and miscommunication but luckily things tend to be cleared up the next chapter so it’s never annoying. Yeah, it’s just simple, pretty well executed story printed in a really nice chunky volume.

Our Teachers are Dating! Vol. 1

GOD women are so hot, I love women.
IM REALLY SORRY that these book notes quite often tend to do this but I’m going on another rant about HOW these books are printed but HECK this book (series?!?) is printed on WEIRDLY high quality paper stock. It’s so thick it was even hard to fully open? The cover is a real nice card stock (double side printed at that! And the internal pages are real smooth and thick - theres no paper grain here. It’s also on the small side of the page size spectrum which coupled with the binding/paper quality just feels really luxurious? It’s wild! Puling a small sample of other books published by Seven Seas, and none of them have the same paper stock or bins stiffness to them. The closest is their full color manhwa prints, but even they seem to have thinner pages with a slight gloss finish. Like, "the girl i want is so handsome!" was also published by Seven Seas, as an object its like the polar opposite of this book. It’s real weird, but I love it! This is why physical objects rule.

Bonus: Audio Books

Solo Leveling Vol. 6

I dont get the hype around this series. When Crunchyroll announced there was an anime adaption happening and they would be airing it, people went wild on that social media. Ive been listening to the audiobook version for a while and like.. i dont get it. ITS SO BORING!?!? Like, people seem to be hyped for the fights and stuff... but i SWARE there are like whole chapters that are just dryly discussing how portals to magical worlds full of terrifying monsters really depress the value of luxury housing markets IN A REAL BORING WAY. that kind of content should be right up my ally but dang solo leveling makes it dull. BUT I SHALL CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO EVERY VOLUME, HOPING THE NEXT ONE IS WHERE IT GETS GOOD. This volume actual had some bits where Jinwoo actually feels kinda like a human for once.. but yeah hes still a bit of a fucking psychopath. The whole story also has that vague "oh yeah this feels kinda like it was written by a fascist" thing going on, like attack on titan.. oh maybe thats why so many people are hyped for it? cant recommend this unless your a total dweeb like me. (my next audible credits going to be spent on the new volume of Tanya the Evil, so uhhh, more of that next month too i guess!)

stuff in the pile for next week

oh would you look at that there's more yuri... not sure about villainess content tho which is SAD. I do have more Apothecary Diaries arriving on monday tho so IM REAL HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

Books read this year: 68

Lotte 'just an idiot' May @LotteMakesStuff — [archived] 2023-03-06T15:39:37.967Z

February 27th - March 5th (another month down heck!)

Stuff i read this week

The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 6-7

Heck things are getting tense and super interesting- volume 6 manages to pull so many storylines together in a cool way also MAOMAO IS SO COOL I LOVE HER. I have once again READ ALL the new volume of this as soon as i get them which is a big mistake, i have now 100% run out and volume 8 dosnt hit until 9th May OR June 6th, depending on if you believe Amazon .co.uk or .com. who knows when ill get more Maomao! this sucks! I guess this is a great time to remind you that its getting an anime adaption soon and it looks beautiful