Sleeps In Sunbeams's manga / #magic(35)

A light and easy to read story about a magical princess locked in a tower and her animal companions. The story flowed quickly with a fairy tale like introduction to set the scene and then a quest to save the naive and gentle princess and the world from evil. Best suited to younger audiences this was cute yet predictable. Not bad if you want a break from anything serious.

A cute story that was let down a little by the poor grammar of the translation, especially in the beginning. It often read like a foreigner was speaking English without modals, articles and with general confusion . It made it a bit of a slog to read and there were some downright odd translations (eg the ‘wandering Jew’ bit; wth was that about so randomly inserted towards the end). The story with FL Airi Hoshina and the Prince Aram was sweet because of his faithful and heartfelt love but when he got young it felt awkward (especially on the art page of the Royal family where Aram was 4yo looking exactly as he does in the story). Added to that, Airi was likeable, a touch klutzy and a total romantic who never gave up on her special guy. Overall, a story worth reading despite the translation woes.

Orphan Azami Orikasa (17yo) is starting his special training at the Kuzunoha Magic Academy. His goal is to become a great National Magician and earn enough to support the orphanage where he grew up. There is one tiny problem; he is a forbidden Dark Mage in a school of Light Mages. Being found out would have dire consequences. Oh, and another little problem rose up. At the entrance ceremony he was revealed to Sagiri Tachitskasa, fellow freshman, powerful son of a royal magic family, light mage. Oh, and a werewolf on the cusp of fully turning only to be saved by dark magic. This is a great way to start a story, and while it delivers on magical background and chemistry between Azami and Sagiri, it sadly fails to do justice to the underlying plot of why Sagiri was cursed, where his brother is, what secrets are his family holding and what deeds did the brother participate in to become so twisted? Instead it’s left as a convenient curse that binds the two boys together. Lots of potential for more chapters, or even a sequel. Still interesting though.

A cute story centred around Eru, a first year student at magic school with self confidence issues and the friends he makes.

A short and sweet tale full of the power of positivity

A beautifully romantic story about a powerful witch Veronica, and the kings knight Ignatius. This mangaka creates wonderful character centric stories where the connection between the MCs is consuming and possessive yet also pure and sweet. Add to that a lovely HEA ending and you have a winner of a story.

Kanzaki Misuzu is whisked into a different world of magic and knights where she becomes the Black Healer, Daughter of Gaia (the God of the world) and sets about to find her way home. I enjoyed her journey, she was a brave adventuress who sought to use the talents she had to make her own way. The romance was sweet, though probably something I wanted more of and I liked the choices Reene made. My only issue was the ending seemed just a touch fast (the flow was a little off, perhaps from the new translator) and I wanted to see her life more in the demon world (the whole story was really spent in the human realm after all). A recommended read.

This was such a pure story with a beautiful innocent love blooming between talented young witch Alice, and the almost human Mari. Lovely art and an interesting storyline that I didn’t anticipate, this is one to recommend when you want some magic and falling in love.

It’s smut, more smut, and nothing but smut. But it is also beautifully drawn sexy yuri smut.

I thoroughly enjoyed this fantasy story of princes, dragons, magic school, and magic users. With the tall, friendly Lou and the more serious Prince Ian becoming unlikely friends and falling in love, this story was really hard to put down. I loved the puppy like dragon. He was adorable in the extra stories as a baby, and endearing as a young adult venturing out into the world. I also appreciated that he was still a dangerous dragon if anyone threatened those he loved. Really, just a sweetly romantic read. Recommended!