**GUEST POST** Steph: Musical characters I relate to

Hi! I’m Steph and I’m doing a guest post today. I have always loved musicals, and there are three that I really connect with for some reason or other.

Amelie from Amelie

This is a musical that didn’t get a long life on Broadway, and it ran in the UK for a bit. The show follows a woman named Amelie from the time she is a child, up until her adult life. As the musical progresses we see Amelie grow from a girl who was told to stay home from school and be home schooled by her parents, to a woman who learned to live on her own. There is one song in the musical called Times Are Hard for Dreamers, and from the first time I heard this, I knew that I would love this show. I’ve always been a dreamer, and I’ve always loved helping people. Amelie was the first character I found that really embodied helping people and being kind to other people. Amelie is kind to others, and will go out of her way to help people. I believe I have these qualities as well, and while Amelie and I both love people, we’re also introverts who prefer smaller groups, or one-on-one interactions.

Sonya from The Great Comet

Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 is a musical that is also lesser known in the grand scheme of musical theatre. The musical still had a great run. Sonya is the cousin of the principal character Natasha Rostova. From the time I first heard the cast recording, and I fell in love with the show as a whole, but especially Sonya, because again she was a lot like me. Sonya is kind, and would do anything for those she loves. We see this in her song.  I personally relate to Sonya because I also love to help people, and I would do most anything for my friends. Sonya’s solo called Sonya Alone, really spoke to me on a personal level.

Emma Nolan from The Prom

The Prom is a newer musical, and one of the two accessible ones on this list because of the Netflix movie that came out last year. Emma Nolan is an out lesbian who wants to take her girlfriend Alyssa to the prom. Alyssa is not out yet, and she doesn’t think her mom, who is the head of the PTA, will not understand when Alyssa comes out. The story has a happy ending, but it also discussed heavy topics. I relate to Emma because even though people tried to stop her, Emma kept on fighting, and I believe I’m one of those people that keeps on fighting as well.  Emma is also a kind soul who accepts everyone and doesn’t let people bring her down. I relate to this as well.

Eliza from Hamilton

Hamilton is another musical that was released as a movie last year, but that movie is called a pro shot, because it was taken from the stage. Eliza is Hamilton’s wife, and the one who kept going he died. Eliza is a hopeless romantic, as we see in the song Helpless, and I relate to this. I too would like to find romance someday. Eliza is helpful and she continues to fight for what Alexander Hamilton believed in after he died, at least in the context of the musical.  I would say that I will fight for the people I love much like Eliza did. Eliza is kind and non-judgmental, these are qualities I see in myself.

 

If you would like to follow my blog for more musicals or book related content you can find me -  https://paigesofbook.blogspot.com/. Books and Quills magazine is how I connected with Carmen. Check out that website-  https://booksandquillsmag.com/.

The Queen of Ieflaria (Tales of Inthya #1) by Effie Calvin

The Queen of Ieflaria by Effie Calvin
My Rating: ★★★★

When Princess Esofi of Rhodia imagined traveling to Ieflaria, she imagined it’d be to wed Prince Albion. Instead, she finds herself traveling there after he dies in a terrible accident and securing an engagement to the next in line to the throne: Princess Adale. Adale wants nothing to do with the engagement, especially because she never fancied herself as the future queen of Ieflaria, but her people need Esofi and her ties to Rhodia before dragons take them out once and for all.

Told in rotating perspectives, we follow Esofi and Adale as they come to terms with Prince Albion’s death and the situation it has put them both in. Esofi is saddled with a princess who doesn’t want to become queen or marry her while grappling with a kingdom that has been forsaken by magic. Meanwhile, Adale is battling a guilty conscious from her involvement in her brother’s death while dreading a marriage she never asked for and a future crown she doesn’t want. I think they’re both interesting and very different characters, so it was fun to watch them fall in love and grapple with several misunderstandings.

I also think that the world building is excellent. I don’t read a lot of high fantasy novels, but I was quite interested in this one due to it being an LGBT novel on top of involving dragons. It was so neat to see the world these characters come together, seeing their individual struggles with the gods and religion itself, and watching them discover that they didn’t know as much about dragons and other entities as they thought.

It’s also a fairly short read with a total of seven chapters and just under 200 pages, so I am truly amazed by how much world building and character development there is. I honestly feel like it was a much longer read in all the right ways. It never felt information heavy either, which is amazing considering how many fantasy elements there are. 

That said, I do think that it ended abruptly. I think it could’ve done with at least one more chapter because it seems like there’s a chapter or two missing. So much was going on and then it was suddenly over without much warning. It feels a bit like I watched all but the last 20 minutes of the first season of a new television show. Otherwise, I’m quite excited to check out the next in the series and I hope that future installments don’t end as abruptly as the series opener.

Mochi Magic: 50 Traditional and Modern Recipes for the Japanese Treat by Kaori Becker

Mochi Magic: 50 Traditional and Modern Recipes for the Japanese Treat by Kaori Becker
My Rating: ★★★★★

I’ve eaten various foods using mochi over the years, so I was excited to buy this book when my friend recommended it to me. I had no idea about the wide range of foods once can make with mochi or the history behind mochi, so I found this to be an interesting read. Plus, each recipe made me want to rush off and make it, especially the ones I’ve never tried before.

Inside, you’ll find a bit of history about mochi, how to make it from scratch, the differences between traditional and modern mochi, and the basics of making mochi. I was quite interested in the history as well as learning something new about Japanese culture. I also had no idea what mochi is made from, so that was neat to learn and I’m looking forward to making some of the recipes included.

There’s a nice variety of recipes and a few different ways to make mochi, such as hand-pounded, steamed, and microwaved. It was interesting to learn the differences between the flavor and texture between each method as well as what’s easier based on the amount you want to make. There’s also beautiful photos of each finished product and comprehensive instructions on what to do. I can’t wait to try some of these recipes starting with making my own mochi ice-cream.

Haru's Curse by Asuka Konishi

 
Haru's Curse by Asuka Konishi
My Rating: ★★★★

I received a copy from Kodansha Comics through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When Natsumi’s sister dies from cancer, her life loses meaning. Haru was everything to her and now that she’s gone, Natsumi wants nothing more than to join her sister as soon as possible. It’s why she agreed to start dating Haru’s fiancé, Togo. Natsumi wants to visit the places they went together and try to become closer to her sister before she joins her. What she didn’t expect was to develop her own romantic feelings for her sister’s fiancé.

I picked up this book knowing it’d be a sad one, and I was not surprised. Having lost a close family member to cancer not long ago, I completely understood what Natsumi and her family were going through in the present as well as the flashback scenes. It was quite heartbreaking to follow Natsumi as she watched her sister deteriorate and eventually pass away from cancer. The rest of the book is the aftermath where we see that Natsumi has a cheerful personality while being depressed underneath it all. It was interesting seeing her character development as well as her struggles with coming to terms with her feelings for Togo.

The only thing that confused me is that it occasionally seemed like Natsumi and Haru had different biological mothers, but then it’d turn out that wasn’t the case. I’m not sure if that’s a me thing or if that has something to do with the translation of those panels, but it did throw me through a loop the first two times it came up. Otherwise, I quite enjoyed this book and wish there was more, but the open ending makes complete sense.

Star⇄Crossed!!, Vol. 1 (Star⇄Crossed!! #1) by Junko

Star⇄Crossed!!, Vol. 1 by Junko
My Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy from Kodansha Comics through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Azusa lives and breathes for her idol, Chika, from Prince 4 U. Now that she has front row tickets to see him, she’s about to have the best day of her life. At least, that’s what was supposed to happen. When a freak accident results in both of their deaths, they meet each other in heaven as God informs them that they weren’t meant to die. It was all a mistake and He’s returning their souls to their bodies. Unfortunately for them, there’s a bit mix up and they wake up in each other’s bodies.

We follow Azusa, who believes all her good deeds has earned those front row tickets to see her idol. She aims to be the perfect student, peer, friend, and family member. When she swaps places with her idol, Chika, she enters a whole new world. Not only is she internally fangirling hard, but she’s now tasked with pulling off interviews and performances whenever they swap places at a bad time. It all goes well until it doesn’t, which is absolutely hilarious.

I’ve seen a few body swap movies growing up and thought they were hilarious, so of course I was all over this. I usually see body swaps presented with family members switching places and such, so having a fan and her idol switch places is an excellent and hilarious twist on this age-old comedy plot. I was not in any way disappointed and found myself laughing from beginning to end.

I’m interested in learning more about Azusa and Chika as the series continues. We don’t learn a lot about Chika in this volume, but there was a lot going on and we primarily follow Azusa. What we know about Chika is mainly through her eyes as a fan, so I am interested in learning more about him while seeing what kind of character development is in store for Azusa. I am definitely picking up the next volume because this was a fun and hilarious read.

The Hello Kitty Baking Book: Recipes for Cookies, Cupcakes, and More by Michele Chen Chock

 
The Hello Kitty Baking Book: Recipes for Cookies, Cupcakes, and More by Michele Chen Chock
My Rating: ★★★★

I’ve been a huge Hello Kitty fan since I was a kid, so I was extremely excited when I saw this book. Hello Kitty recipes? Sign me up! While the book has primarily Hello Kitty recipes, there are also a few other Sanrio characters included. I’m extremely happy with this book as well as the range of adorable baked goods that are bound to be delicious.

The recipes are broken up into three sections: cookies, cakes and cupcakes, and pies, treats, etc. Each recipe has photos of the finished product along with tips and tricks and ideas on different ways to customize them. The baking instructions are extremely clear and easy for readers to figure out if they are ready to make the item based on their skill level. While there are not photos showing the different steps to baking and decorating each item like I see in other books, there are detailed instructions.

I do think that it’s odd for the basic baking how-to chapter to be in the back of the book rather than the front, but it is very informative for new bakers. I also think that it also shows some visuals that will help newer bakers, especially with decorating. All in all, it is a cute book with a variety of cute recipes that I’m excited to make.

Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World by Rachel Ignotofsky

 
Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World by Rachel Ignotofsky

My Rating: ★★★★

When I saw this book, I knew I had to pick it up because I love to read books about women in history. This book specifically covers women in science, and its target audience is children and pre-teens. The overall layout of the book is beautiful. Every woman featured has some artwork depicting them in addition to small drawings and other details pertaining to their accomplishments. I thought it was such a great set up for readers.

Because of the target audience, the information provided about each person is brief and to the point. We learn when they were born, who they were, what obstacles they faced, and what they accomplished. It has the perfect amount of information that will teach its readers without overwhelming them. Plus, it has a glossary for its readers with a small drawing next to each term.

One of the things I like about this book is that it also encourages readers to pursue their dreams. At the end, there is a section briefly covering more notable women in a graph across two pages. The final notable person basically says that the next notable science could be the reader, which really left me feeling very positive when I’m not even the target audience.

My only complaint is that the text can be hard to read because it is primarily a small gray font on different color backgrounds. I read the ebook, so thankfully I could just zoom in on the text, but it was still a little difficult to read at times. That said, I don’t know how difficult it may be to read a physical copy of this book due to the font size and shade choices. 

**GUEST POST** Sabrina's Top Three Light Novels and Manga for Fantasy and Paranormal Lovers

I’ve heard you can tell a lot about a person based on their anime and manga tastes. I’m not exactly sure if it’s true, but I want to try it. The titles I am about to mention are a compilation of my favorite manga and light novels. I have listed my top three favorites as well as three honorable mentions you may also enjoy.

 

There are certain elements I keep in mind when suggesting stories. Would this person like semi-complex magic systems? Mid to high-tech technology? Darker stories that explore human nature? Fantasy settings in an urban or contemporary fantasy world?

 

If it is a yes to any of the questions, then I think you would like at least one if not all the titles. Without any further ado, here are my top three titles for fantasy and paranormal lovers.

 

 

 

1. Mahouka Koukou No Rettousei (The Irregular At Magic High School)

Author: Tsutomu Satō

Available: Light novel, Manga

I was first introduced to the light novel by a friend. He recommended it to me because of my love for magic systems and school-based settings. It did not disappoint me. You still get a feel of a typical Japanese high school life. Though the story’s setting is in the far future, the clothes, technology and buildings have a familiar modern day feel.

 

What I love most about this manga is the balance of science and magic. The way they use magic as a scientific concept is both intriguing and imaginative. It reinvents classic spells such as energy blasts and flying magic. It’s one of my most highly recommended light novels to read for those who need a little inspiration for futuristic-type stories that are not apocalyptic.

 

2. Karneval

Author: Tōya Mikanagi

Available: Manga

I first saw this as an advertisement for an upcoming season line-up. The premise intrigued me enough to watch the anime. By the end of the season, I was so hooked I went to read the manga to learn what happened next. Like Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei, I love the blend of science and magic. Though Karneval leans more towards fantasy then science fiction, the high tech objects, like flying ships, still dazzled me.

 

I would consider Karneval as a mid-fantasy world because of their array of different mythic like creature. The naming of said creatures rolls off the tongue easily and are unique in their creation. If Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei didn’t exist, then Karneval would be my number one.

 

3. Mahoutsukai no Yome (The Ancient Magus’ Bride)

Author: Kore Yamazaki

Available: Manga

For lovers of dark fantasy and the supernatural, my last recommendation is Mahoutsukai no Yome. This manga’s most alluring aspect is its fantastical settings and its magical creatures. Not every humanoid or magic user is inherently good, nor is every antagonist evil. I like that it’s not afraid to show the dark sides of magic. Regardless of the user’s intentions, there are often at times dark consequences to every spell.

 

Another aspect that I like about this manga is the blending of its fantasy worlds with reality. You can almost forget that the story’s setting is in a modern era. It's more magical scenes often happen primarily away from its urban population. The settings help explore how magic can make or break a person and their relationships. For those who want to explore the mysteries of magic and its wonders, I would recommend this manga.

 

 

Honorable Mentions

Though these are not Japanese light novels and manga, I still highly recommend them. I still wanted to mention them for their amazing stories. These stories are available to read for free on wuxiaworld.com. A word of warning, don’t let the sheer number of chapters scare you away from diving in. The chapters themselves are bite-size and leaves you wanting more.

 

1. Rebirth of the Thief Who Roamed The World by Mad Snail

2. Tales of Demons & Gods by Mad Snail

3. TranXending Vision by Li Xianyu.

 

What about these stories has pulled me in as an avid fan? These titles have been a source of inspiration for my own fictional worlds. They are everything I love writing about when creating new settings and scenes. With all that said, I hope you enjoyed my small list and will give one of these titles a try.

 

Sabrina K Mercury is a fantasy and paranormal author. You can find her blog at SabrinaKMercury.com.

Be sure to check out BooksandQuills Mag here.