Alex Richey

I'm feeling cautiously optimistic for this one. I can appreciate the attention to detail for a skill that I know nothing about (makeup use). The art is wonderful and the characters very appealing. I get icky feelings about everyone trying to change their outsides to be accepted in society, when I'd rather be reading stories about dismantling the beauty standards our society has. But I'm willing to bet that the plot might eventually take that direction... Who knows? I'll keep reading for now. 

From the author: “I wrote this manga so that more people could understand that people with disabilities are not unapproachable. They're right there beside us.”

This was a resounding success. I can't help but see the world around me differently after finishing volume one. 

I had a hard time jumping into the story from the first dozen pages. The reader is thrown into the story so suddenly that it's hard to find grounding with these characters you haven't grown to know yet. But when you persevere, the reward is an adorable story that improves significantly. 

I'll be reading more of this one, both for the adorable characters, and for the growth I'm seeing in my own understanding of the world around me. 

This was cozy and charming. It started a bit slow, info-dumping as the character is introduced to the world she's suddenly found herself in, but it picked up half way through and I'm excited to see what cool things Sei will find herself doing next. All-powerful characters can be a hit or miss for me, but her nerdy personality and circle of pretty boys are holding my interest for now! 

 I'm so disappointed. I loved Dragon Ball and Z so much, and I heard so much about the lore of Super that I was sure I'd love it. 

The details are sparse and rely on anime and movie knowledge that I don't have. Characters just change into these new forms of super saiyan without the buildup, characters defeat some kind of resurrected Frieza off page in a side note. I'm so confused. 

I don't plan to continue. I guess I'll have to watch the anime if I want to know anything. 

 I want to read the next book this author writes because I like the writing a lot. It felt like the plot was too bloated and the pacing was all over the place. It mostly felt too slow. It also felt like the main character was described as being really smart and talented at her tasks but then just kept messing up to make the plot move forward. 

But it was also really romantic and played on a fairy tale that I like a lot. I was very emotional while reading. The characters pulled at my heart strings and got me really invested in their outcomes. I can't wait to see what this author does next. 

This helped me understand a lot about how trauma manifests and how it's treated. I've gained a lot of insights into my own experience with trauma. Some of the example cases were extremely difficult to read about, and some asked for more sympathy from me than I felt willing to give, but did demonstrate the author's points really well. 

I had a lot of doubts going in, but I am pleasantly surprised by how strong this starts. 

I've seen plenty of anime and manga fall flat with localized puns and humor, and when I heard this series was getting an official English translation, I had my doubts. Takeshi Obata, the artist, is highly renown for his work on Death Note and Hikaru No Go, so it made sense financially to bring this series to an English speaking audience who would throw money at it regardless of its worth. 

But this is actually pretty good. The comedy is the weakest part, admittedly, but the tension and drama are keeping me hooked on the plot. The writer knows a lot about the nuances of comedy, and I'm learning a lot about how comedians research, plan, and deliver their art. I didn't know anything about comedy going in, but I have a new appreciation for comedians just after reading volume 1 of this manga. 

I'm excited to continue!