Bleach, Vol. 3 by Tite Kubo

Bleach, Vol. 3 by Tite Kubo

Bleach, 192 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Ichigo Kurosaki was a little boy when his mother passed away. One rainy day, Ichigo, whose ability top see the undead is a blessing and curse, tried to stop young girl from drowning in a nearby river. His mother, Masaki, ran after them, frantically trying to rescue her only son. Then everything went black, and Ichigo awoke only to discover his mother dead and the little girl gone.

It's the anniversary of Masaki's death, and the entire Kurosaki clan, along with former Soul Reaper Rukia Kuchiki, head to the cemetary to pay their respects. Sleeping demons rarely ever stay still and pretty soon Ichigo confronts the Grand Fisher, the Hollow that may be responsible for his mother's demise.

Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe

Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe

240 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

In 2014, Maia Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns, thought that a comic of reading statistics would be the last autobiographical comic e would ever write. At the time, it was the only thing e felt comfortable with strangers knowing about em. Now, Gender Queer is here. Maia's intensely cathartic autobiography charts eir journey of self-identity, which includes the mortification and confusion of adolescent crushes, grappling with how to come out to family and society, bonding with friends over erotic gay fanfiction, and facing the trauma of pap smears. Started as a way to explain to eir family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual, Gender Queer is more than a personal story: it is a useful and touching guide on gender identity—what it means and how to think about it—for advocates, friends, and humans everywhere.

While the Dark Remains by Joanna Ruth Meyer

While the Dark Remains by Joanna Ruth Meyer | 450 pages | 2025

Brynja spent her childhood as a captive performer in Tenebris, the imposing mountain palace of King Kallias. Every night she risked death for the king’s entertainment until his rebellious son, Prince Ballast, helped her escape. Now twenty, Brynja has never forgotten the brutal king. Or forgiven him. Under the cloak of a three-month-long Winter Dark, Brynja is returning to Tenebris for revenge.

Accompanied by a rival court, including the alluring Prince Vil, Brynja poses as diplomatic royalty to barter peace between nations. No one is better equipped to infiltrate the palace than Brynja―she remembers every hidden passage like a bad dream. But her quest to destroy Kallias is complicated by her feelings for Prince Ballast, whom she isn’t sure she can still trust. And Kallias’s own quest to mine a catastrophic weapon of war buried in the mountain’s heart will threaten them all, and force Brynja to face the darkest parts of herself.

The lives of everyone she loves depend on the choices she must make. So, too, does the fate of the world.

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

There was a lot to love here - court politics, an interesting pantheon, some top notch yearning, and a twist that genuinely shocked me (which feels rare these days). I would recommend this for anyone who enjoys romantic fantasy with a tiny bit of a dark bent.

Sweet Blood by Lola Glass

Sweet Blood by Lola Glass -- 522 pages

A werewolf showed up to investigate a murder in my office building—then bit me, and accused me of being the killer. When I'm proven innocent, he admits the truth: We’re soulmates. Unfortunately for both of us, I’m a vampire. Our people are mortal enemies, so we have no choice but to ignore the connection we share until it eventually fades. The only problem? His instincts won’t let him walk away, and he isn't trying to fight them. When I’m nearly offed by the murderer myself, all bets are off. My werewolf will take out the killer and make me his… or we’ll both die trying.

Snotgirl Vol. 4: Make It Make Sense! by Bryan Lee O'Malley and Leslie Hung (Illustrator)

Snotgirl Vol. 4: Make It Make Sense! by Bryan Lee O'Malley and Leslie Hung (Illustrator)

Snotgirl #16-20, 144 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Everyone's favorite queer, messy girl with terrible allergies is back in the fourth volume!

The hit Image Comics series returns! Fashion disaster Lottie Person is finally dating the girl of her dreams, but is she ignoring red flags? Romance, mystery and comedy collide in this thrilling continuation of cult hit SNOTGIRL!

Snotgirl, Vol. 3: Is This Real Life? by Bryan Lee O'Malley and Leslie Hung (Illustrator)

Snotgirl, Vol. 3: Is This Real Life? by Bryan Lee O'Malley and Leslie Hung (Illustrator)

Snotgirl #11-15, 136 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

The biggest fashion disaster in comics is back! Fashion blogger Lottie Person just wants to live up to her flawless online persona -- but why is real life so much harder?

Snotgirl, Vol. 2: California Screaming by Bryan Lee O'Malley and Leslie Hung (Illustrator)

Snotgirl, Vol. 2: California Screaming by Bryan Lee O'Malley and Leslie Hung (Illustrator)

Snotgirl #6-10, 136 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Lottie Person is a glamorous fashion blogger living her best life in L.A. — at least that’s what she wants you to think. CALIFORNIA SCREAMING finds Lottie putting the past behind her and trying to make the best of a bad situation — her life! Lottie’s new bestie is an emotional roller coaster: first she died, and then she killed someone. Who will Caroline hurt next, and what is her brother Virgil doing here? What secret is Detective John Cho seeking in the desert? Why did Cutegirl ghost her sister? Is Normgirl really going to marry Ashley? And what in god’s name did Sunny ever see in Charlene? These questions and many others may possibly be answered in SNOTGIRL, VOL. 2: CALIFORNIA SCREAMING!