✾Manga✾

My small collection of physical manga. Whenever I really like a manga, I like to own the physical version. Sadly, a lot of stories I loved do not have an official English translation. My love for saccharine oneshots and anthologies is a curse, really.
I am mostly a shoujo romance fan, but sometimes other genres worm their way into my good graces. There are a couple of manga that I bought on a whim when I saw them at the bookshop, and ended up keeping.

Alice in the Country of Hearts - Love Labyrinth of Thorns

Volumes Owned: 1 (complete)

Based on the otome game by Quinrose that I have yet to devote more time to...
This manga is a cute oneshot that focuses on Alice and the Clockmaker. The plot mostly centers around them dealing with their issues as a couple. It all ends well, and makes for a nice read.

A Man & His Cat

Volumes Owned: 1-6, 9

This manga is so lovely! The protagonists are a widower and his adopted cat, Fukumaru. Most of the manga is made of cute little snippets of their daily lives, which are very relatable for cat owners, and over time other characters' and their pets get introduced. My only fear is that the series will end with either of them passing away.
I am currently missing volumes 7 and 8, and so I have yet to read volume 9, which I do own. For some reason, there was a price increase, so I am waiting to see if I can get them second-hand.

Beasts of Abigaile

Volumes Owned: 1-4 (complete)

A story about a girl who discovers werewolves are real after apparently being turned into one...only to find herself imprisioned alongside of them. I liked the protagonist, and while the male lead's personality is not my type, I appreciated his character growth. The side couple was also quite memorable. As for the plot, it was darker than I expected, but not in a bad way.
I came across this series when I saw the second volume for sale on Vinted. Of course I bought it, since the love interests are kemonomimi. =) The art is beautiful. The ending was a bit rushed, but I still liked it.

Bleach

Volumes Owned: 22, 31, 33-35, 40-41, 69-70, Unmasked Character Book

Although I am usually prefer shoujo, I became obsessed with this series and kept reading it for years until its completion. The story has to do with shinigami ('gods of death') protecting the world from hollows, who are something like lost souls that became monsters.
I am mostly a fan of the Arrancar Arc, but I also enjoyed the final arc. The final epilogue felt out of place and unneccessary, though. Either way, I will not be collecting all the volumes because there are 74 of them and I am not made of money... I mostly focused on getting the ones that feature my favorite characters and stories within the manga.

Clover

Volumes Owned: 1 (complete)

The story of this manga centers on Sue, a girl who has spent her life in a cage due to her special powers. At the start of the story, she is finally allowed to leave to visit a deserted amusement park, accompanied by a guard.
I have only really read this manga once. It is a tragedy, which I dislike, and I have to wonder why they gave the main male character the worst design. Still, I cannot help but keep this manga because of how beautiful and detailed the art is. It's enough to just stare at it, regardless of the story.

Grimm's Manga Tales

Volumes Owned: 1 (complete)

An anthology inspired by classic fairytales. Each chapter is a different story. Most of the them are romances, but not all.
I came across a scanned version of this manga online and I immediately wanted to have it. I love oneshots and fairytales and fluffy romance with happy endings. The art is also quite pretty. I think this was the most expensive out of all my manga, but I regret nothing.

I'm the Villainess, so I'm Taming the Final Boss

Volumes Owned: 1-3 (complete)

An otome isekai tale following a protagonist who tries to change her fate by befriending the final boss of the original game. Drama and cuteness ensue. The protagonist and male lead are amazing, and the villains are absolute trash one can truly root against. A great short shoujo series.
Apparently, the anime adaptation butchered the story and the characters... I have not watched it, as I either watch an anime or read the original manga - it feels redundanct to do both. Still, I can wholeheartedly vouch for the manga version!

In the Name of the Mermaid Princess

Volumes Owned: 1-3

The story of a princess who had the misfortune of being born in a kingdom that hates demi-humans and runs away to see the world and maybe change things. The themes are heavier than one might have guessed from the cutesy art style, but it is still an adorable story. The main character is naive, but understandably so, given her upbringing.
This series is currently being published in English, so I am collecting the volumes as they are released. I really enjoy the style of the covers. They even look beautiful on the bookshelf!

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!

Volumes Owned: 1-4

Having popularized the otome isekai genre, this manga follows a reincarnated protagonist who wants to avoid dying. Due to personality, she ends up endearing herself to all of the characters around her, but is too oblivious to notice there is no longer any risk of them causing her demise. Although this can be frustrating to the reader, I enjoy the light-heartedness and the interactions between characters.
To be honest, I first got interested in this series because the protagonist has the same name as me. I am currently on a break for collecting new volumes, mostly because this is popular enough that I may able to get them second-hand for a lot less.

That Wolf Boy is Mine

Volumes Owned: 1-4 (complete)

The protagonist moves away after being ostracized at her former school, and quickly befriends a group of classmates who turn out to be animal shapeshifters. The story is a blend of slice of life and low fantasy, with a low-stakes plot, and romance and friendship themes.
Someone named this manga when I asked for short manga recommendations, and I thought it was the perfect suggestion because it has kemonomimi characters. I ended up liking it too! The protagonist stands up for herself even if that gets her in trouble, and the male lead is very sweet. I do wish there were more cute moments between the two of them, though.

The Knight Captain is the New Princess-to-Be

Volumes Owned: 1-4 (complete)

A story about a female knight-captain (in a country where only men typically become knights) who becomes engaged to her childhood friend, the prince. Each volume sees them face and overcome a different challenge together. There is also a separate oneshot as part of the first volume.
Honestly, I love this manga. It has nice art, it's sweet and fluffy, and I love the main couple. I am sad it is over, but it is perfect as it is. 10/10 Would recommend.

The Ring 0: Birthday

Volumes Owned: 1 (complete)

Pertaining to the famous "The Ring" franchise, this oneshot shows the backstory of Samara/Sadako, the ghost in the well. She was plagued by her supernatural powers, despite trying to live a normal life. The outcome is of course tragic, but somehow I did not mind it - maybe because I expected it from the beginning.
The art style is not my favorite, but it is good. The story is compelling, including the doomed romance. I thought the repetition of the lines from the play was particularly striking.

✾Manga✾