Hoshi Furu Oukoku no Nina
Read up to 32.5 - I like it so far, just hope it doesn't Chihayafuru me. The whole thing is still a flashback from Nina being judged before (what appears to be) King Azure, so.... Who knows rn. Obviously there's more strife coming. Dropped for now.
Kemono Joushi ni Jitsuwa Mitomerarete Ita Hanashi
Is being released in English!! Vols 1-2 available, Vol 3 just published in Japanese Jan 2024, hopefully coming soon... Hmm... I want to like this more, but the tone is so... Restrained? Everything is being funneled through office politics, and the constant strong beast reiatsu from Atlas is getting old.
Mizutama Honey Boy
On paper you'd think I would like it, but it's still a stereotypical "strong girl needs protecting by boy" story. HOW.
Kanata Kara
Well that was really sweet! I wondered how and why it was so important to mention that Noriko's father was a novelist - and it all circled back around in the end. The whole thing was Noriko's diary, so the unique aspect of her internal monologue summarizing events as they traveled made perfect sense. The ending was a little corny and simplistic, but it was what the whole story had been building to, in a way. A little disappointed Izark didn't have a "good" sky demon transformation, but I guess that would've been counter to the whole "evil transforms you into a monster" theme. I'm glad for the epilogue! Also a little cheesy, but the open ended foreshadowing that one day Noriko and Izark might/will be able to visit Japan together is extra sweet.
A Proud Wolf's Awkward Love Affair