The Amberglow Candy Store by Hiyoko Kurisu

The Amberglow Candy Store by Hiyoko Kurisu, 193 pages

From the publisher: "In this charming, fable-like book from Japan, a fox spirit sells magical confections to troubled humans, only for them to get a little more than they bargained." 

Fable-like is an apt description. This novel weaves several threads of stories into a glorious tapestry. Unlike some other books in this genre, we get to spend some time with the spirit itself, and not just the affected humans. A delightful read and a credit to its genre. 

 

Tactics, v.1 by Sakura Kinoshita

Tactics, v.1 by Sakura Kinoshita

Kan is a folklorist who also happens to be an exorcist.  He sees yokai, or spirits.  But instead of exorcising them he befriends them and tries to help them.
This volume he finally meets the most powerful yokai of them all and names his Haruka.  This binds Haruka to Kan so that he has to do whatever Kan wants.  They work together to rescue several yokai on display in a show and then help a young man being chased for his father's work on hypnotism.
I enjoyed this manga.  It was fun to have a main character that cheerfully manipulated and blackmailed his "friends" into doing what he wanted them to do.  Yet he did because he truly wants them to be his friends.

Natsume's Book of Friends by Yuki Midorikawa

Natsume's Book of Friends by Yuki Midorikawa - 208 pages

Natsume sees yokai (Japanese spirits).  Turns out his grandmother trapped many yokai in her Book of Friends and they all want to be released.  So Natsume is slowly going through the book and releasing the yokai.

I did not like this manga.  Each story seemed like it was basically the same. There was no character growth or depth at all.  I'll definitely be skipping the rest of this series.

Kasumi, v.2 by Surt Lim & Hirofumi Sugimoto

Kasumi, v.2 by Surt Lim & Hirofumi Sugimoto - 216 pages

Kasumi accidentally frees the Forsaken Ones when she visits a shrine at her school.  Now she has to find the Priestess while keeping her powers a secret.

I was really getting into the story. I was looking forward to volume 3 which is previewed at the end of this volume.  However, it turns out the publisher went out of business and the third volume was never published anywhere.  Very disappointing.  It makes me wish I hadn't read these first two volumes of the series since it ends very abruptly in the middle of a giant plot between good and evil.

Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong

Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong  406 pages

In the Forest of the Dead, where the empire's worst criminals are exiled, twin sisters Moria and Ashyn are charged with a dangerous task. For they are the Keeper and the Seeker, and each year they must quiet the enraged souls of the damned.
Only this year, the souls will not be quieted.
Ambushed and separated by an ancient evil, the sisters' journey to find each other sends them far from the only home they've ever known. Accompanied by a stubborn imperial guard and a dashing condemned thief, the girls cross a once-empty wasteland, now filled with reawakened monsters of legend, as they travel to warn the emperor. But a terrible secret awaits them at court - one that will alter the balance of their world forever.

Atlantis Rising by T.A. Barron

Atlantis Rising by T.A. Barron - 371 pages

Promi is a thief that has finally been caught by the high priest of Ellegandia.  It is there that he discovers that the stories of magic are real, as is a prophecy that seems to be about him.  He gets caught up in a fight against the high priest and the spirit Narkazan who are trying to steal all the magic to take over both Earth and the immortal realm.
I really liked this book.  It is basically the story of how Atlantis came to be a mythical island in the middle of the ocean.  While it is a good book for kids, I really think teen boys would enjoy the series.  In fact, I'm already thinking of several in the teen book club to recommend it to.

After Eden by Katherine Pine

After Eden By Katherine Pine - 578 pages

Devi "suffers" from severe headaches, but she is about to find out that this is a warning system to let her know trouble is about to come her or someone that is close to her. While having one of these episodes she meets, Oz, the owner of a book shop she frequents often. Her world is then turned upside down. She needs to find out what has happened to her twin brother, but know one seems to know, even Oz, Devi's fallen angel. She is willing to do anything to get her brother back, but what to do when you find out you are not in God's grace.