Category: Short Stories

fantasy · Short Stories · Graphic Novels

Mooncakes – Suzanne Walker, Wendy Zu & Joamette Gil ★★★★

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Blurb; A story of love and demons, family and witchcraft.

Nova Huang knows more about magic than your average teen witch. She works at her grandmothers’ bookshop, where she helps them loan out spell books and investigate any supernatural occurrences in their New England town.

One fateful night, she follows reports of a white wolf into the woods, and she comes across the unexpected: her childhood crush, Tam Lang, battling a horse demon in the woods. As a werewolf, Tam has been wandering from place to place for years, unable to call any town home.

Pursued by dark forces eager to claim the magic of wolves and out of options, Tam turns to Nova for help. Their latent feelings are rekindled against the backdrop of witchcraft, untested magic, occult rituals, and family ties both new and old in this enchanting tale of self-discovery.

My Review; I’ve seen this a lot over on Bookstagram, and I am so glad I finally got to read it. Brilliant! Devoured it. I want more. The characters are amazing. Witches. Magic. Love. Friendship. It is a story of fighting against evil. Beautifully illustrated throughout in graphic novel format, an easy read. Highly recommend. Different read for me, but I really enjoyed it. Four out of five stars for me.

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fantasy · Short Stories

She and Her Cat – Makoto Shinkai & Naruki Nagakawa ★★★★

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Blurb; “It was the start of spring. It was raining. That was the day that she brought me home.”

This is the story of Miyu, a woman who lives alone with her cat, Chobi. As Miyu navigates the world of adulthood, she discovers both the freedom and loneliness that come with living independently, and Chobi learns of the outside world through her actions. Time drifts slowly for Miyu and her cat, but the harsh realities of the world soon catch up…

My Review; This is such a beautiful short story. If only cats could really talk to us, eh? It’s kind of four short stories in one, but they’re all linked together by the characters knowing each other or the cats/kittens being related. It shows us that cats bring comfort and joy but also that cats need their humans just as much as their freedom. Beautifully translated. Lovely read. Gorgeous illustrations at the beginning of each part. Highly recommend. A well-deserved four stars.

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chick-lit · romance · Short Stories

*BLOG TOUR* Blinded Me With Science – Tara September ★★★★

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Blurb; Opposites attract like a magnet to steel, or in this case, Emerson to Steel

Emerson Powers has been so focused on obtaining her science degree that she’s neglected the more social aspects of college life. With the new start of her junior year, she’s determined to fix that with a real hands-on lesson in biology. The assignment is simple enough—teach the rock star’s son how to be good, while he shows her how to be very bad. Two objectives, one outcome … will the lesson be love or heartbreak?

Steel is no longer the bad boy Emerson knew from prep school, and he’s set to prove it by helping Emerson complete her secret list of desired college experiences. And if he can convince her that they are meant to be together along the way, even better!

While teaming up on experiments, both in and out of the classroom, Emerson discovers a new side to Steel. Leaving her to question everything she thought she knew. Still, is it enough to forgive the past or just mere chemistry?

My Review; My first read of 2023 and a short one but a good one. This is book two in the love lessons series, but it read perfectly fine as a standalone. I’d say it’s a romance/ enemies to lovers. The story is told through Emerson and Steel, Emerson is starting over in a far new college with the hope of a new beginning. Enter Steel her high school jerk and of course, they get partnered together on an assignment which not only brings them together but also the chance to right the wrongs of the past. I really enjoyed this one, I will go back to read book one at some point. Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars.

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