Review | Tune in to the Midnight Heart Vol 1 by Masakuni Igarashi

At the end of a difficult day, the haughty but purehearted rich kid Arisu found his only solace in the voice of another girl his age, who hosted a livestream under the pseudonym “Apollo.” Then, one day, the broadcasts stopped. Arisu has dedicated the years since then to finding Apollo’s true identity, and he’s narrowed it down to one particular high school. He transfers in as a student and figures it’ll be a cinch-but then discovers it could be any of the girls in the broadcasting club! And the real Apollo isn’t talking for reasons of her own! These four girls have no use for Arisu’s personality, but they each harbor dreams of using their voices to build a career, and they sure could use his money… Can the blunt and blustering Arisu buy his way into the club’s good graces, and find the real girl attached to his dream voice?

Rating: 3 out of 5.

I found this start to a manga series really cute, but a bit too over the top for me. I like the overall premise with Arisu trying to locate Apollo and found his reminiscing about their conversations really heartfelt, but then his reasoning for wanting to locate her kind of ruins that. His attitude towards life and his place in his family is just a bit much, but I do like the setup so far of his interactions with the girls in the broadcasting club and getting to know who they actually are a good progression and very authentic. It’s cute and a bit goofy and I hope as it continues it gets a little deeper into the more heartfelt matter as their relationships develop.

Happy reading!

Review | The Lost Sunday by Iléana Surducan

From creator Ileana Surducan (Nor’s Holiday) comes The Lost Sunday—her Eisner Award–nominated, all-ages tale about the need for free time in the midst of our busy, everyday lives.

Nina lives in a dusty town haunted by the six angry wolves of the week—Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Each day brings never-ending chores and drudgery. Legend speaks of a seventh day to rest—Sunday—but everybody knows an evil witch stole it and keeps it locked away. When Nina finally says enough is enough, she sets out on an ambitious quest for rest, but will she be able to vanquish the witch and bring back the lost Sunday?

Inspired by old folklore and fairy tales, this story shines a magical light on a present-day burnout and the importance of leisure. A great read for kids and adults alike!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I was utterly charmed by the whimsy of this story. The inspiration from old folk tales is definitely present, but the art style and storytelling are unique to themselves. It was such a sweet read as we follow Nina through her explanation of the world she lives in (and the lack of Sundays) and then her subsequent quest to discover what has happened to Sunday and try to get it back. I loved the author’s use of color palettes which perfectly accented the different story beats and plot points, taking the world from a darker place to a vibrant and colorful landscape.

Thank you to Oni Press for the copy of the book through Netgalley. Happy reading!