Lina Inverse arrives in English and she's still fully herself. Slayers Vol. 1 by Hajime Kanzaka—reviewed as a genre artifact and as a story that still holds its shape.
Author: Michael “Wavey” Peña
Haikyu Has Ended. I Will Love This Series for the Rest of My Life. | ESSAY
As of yesterday, July 19th--Monday the 20th in Japan--Haikyu's final chapter was finally published. I love Haikyu so much so, that it was really hard to put into words what this series meant to me up until this point.
My thoughts on J-Novel Heart’s current series lineup | REVIEW
Half a year into J-Novel Heart's launch, a roundup of the imprint's titles—what works, what's worth following, and where this new label fits in the light novel landscape.
Bleach: Can’t Fear Your Own World (Light Novel) Vol. 1 | REVIEW
Ryohgo Narita, the original author of Baccano and DURARARA!!, goes out of his way to craft an entertaining, intriguing, and emotionally affecting tale that takes place in the world of Bleach after the manga's final arc, with Hisagi himself in the eye of the storm.
Ascendance of a Bookworm, Part 2: Apprentice Shrine Maiden Vol. 2 | REVIEW
Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 2: Apprentice Shrine Maiden Volume 2 has to have been the most satisfying entry I've read of this series thus far. There is a level of emotional catharsis drawn from multiple events in the story that up to this point we've only gotten maybe glimpses of beneath the surface. Spoilers ahead for folks who have yet to read this volume or have only watched the anime.
One Piece: Stampede (Spoiler Free) | REVIEW
One Piece: Stampede in a New York theater with a room full of fans who know every frame. Spoiler-free review of the 20th anniversary film.
“So I’m a Spider, So What?” Vol. 5 | REVIEW
Kumoko's first saga ends here. So I'm a Spider, So What? Vol. 5 wraps the opening arc—and the convergence the series has been building toward finally clicks into place.
My Next Life As A Villainess: All Routes Lead To Doom! Vol. 1 | REVIEW
Before the anime, before the wave that followed it—My Next Life As A Villainess Vol. 1. The otome-game isekai that started something, reviewed fresh from J-Novel Club.
“So I’m a Spider, So What” Vol. 4 | REVIEW
Picked up at AnimeNYC a week before street date. So I'm a Spider, So What? Vol. 4 brings Kumoko to her biggest confrontation yet—and delivers.
On Yu-Gi-Oh! and Performance
On reinstalling Duel Links and what competitive card games reveal about performance, persona, and the difference between playing to win and playing to be seen doing it.