Mini-Reviews + Sneak Peek: Undead Girl Gang

Although how much I read greatly depends on time (of course) and my mental health (shakes tiny fist at… well a giant stack of books // my eyes are bigger than my brainpan), I’m usually reading/trying to read several books at once. I have always liked jumping between things for whatever reason. I’ll pause video games to read a few pages of something, or put down one book to read a bit of another. It’s just nice to always have something to read.

In the last month or so, I had a disappointing thriller, a delicious manga series, and, since I’ve started book blogging, a sneak peek of what looks to be a pretty awesome teen magic tome.

Bonfire by Krysten Ritter

I remember thinking as I read this // “I’m going to forget this book in two weeks time, yeah?” Unfortunately, as much as Ritter is a badass actress and an even more badass textile artist (with a badass adorable pupper), the writing in Bonfire is less than stellar. Or interesting or memorable… It was a compulsively readable “easy” book, but ultimately nothing mattered, no character was worth caring about, and even the protag didn’t get much out of her narrative/journey.

Rating: 2/5

Delicious in Dungeon by Ryōko Kui

THIS GOES FOR EVERY VOLUME I LOVE THIS SERIES OMG // This series is so creative and funny and sweet and captivating and and and I want this to be a video game so so much. The premise: There is a levels-deep dungeon full of monsters and creepy stuff and an ultimate reward at the end, but our heroes are chiefly concerned at the moment with retrieving one of their own from the belly of a dragon (before her body is too decomposed to resurrect (and HOO BOY there is such fun stuff done with reviving characters in this world.)) I love everyone in this dungeon?!?! Laios is our “never met a monster I didn’t want to snack on” human (brother of the missing party member), Marcille is a silly sweet elf trying to feel more confidant in her magic, Chilchuck is a halfling that cracks me up (his reactions to the absurdity of his companions are great), and finally we have Senshi, dwarf chef extraordinaire – I WOULD DIE FOR SENSHI AND HIS GLORIOUS BEARD I LOVE HIM SO. As our well-drawn, ragtag crew makes their way deeper and deeper into the dungeon, they decide to eat the monsters they come across because times are tough.

Bottom line (because this mini-review is HAPPILY BECOMING WAY TOO LONG WHY AREN’T YOU READING THIS ADORABLE PERFECT MANGA YET!!) // Absolutely a fun time. There is so much detail about this world that the author wonderfully doles out with each volume, the characters are amazing and wonderful (and I love that we get to know more about other parties in the dungeon too!), the art style is lovely and I WANT TO EAT EVERYTHING, and it’s just so inventive. I would have never thought you could use golems as walking fields for crops, or that living armor hides a delightful secret, or that you could make ice cream by swinging your exorcism jar through a bunch of ghosts. THIS BOOK JUST UGH if you love RPGs or D&D or FOOD check it out.

Rating: 5/5

Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson

Sneak Peek Thoughts // With a title like Undead Girl Gang, and a protag that is a fat Mexican Wiccan trying to find out who murdered her friend, hell yes I’m intrigued. I’ve only read the first several chapters so far, and although Mila’s voice (such snark at her friend’s funeral) was jarring at first, the writing was strong and pulled me along. This truly is like The Craft meets Heathers with a dash of the best kind of teenage quip-filled dialogue (I’m actually thinking of One Day at a Time (2017)). And while I loved Mila’s voice, I’m super in love with Riley and all of the little glimpses through Mila’s memories of her and can’t wait to see if my feelings change after she gets resurrected. I can’t wait to keep reading!

Fave quote: “Most magic is just telling the universe you’re thankful to be here.”

Thank you to Netgalley for the sneak peek.

Do you like reading manga? (I’m very sporadic with what I pick up.) Have you read any of the above?