Welcome to Litsy!

Several people struggling with feeling stuck in a rut find their way to a pop-up cafe run by knowledgeable cats with gentle advice. Adorable and whimsical. I loved the drinks and foods described and the way every story was connected. Some of the women received strange dating advice that put me off a bit. This was one of my recent #Roll100 picks @PuddleJumper

During an excursion for revenge on the knights that burned his goddess, her followers, and his home, Raef discovers a man trapped inside of a frozen box who upends the dismal reality Raef has lived in for more than a decade. Absolutely a new favorite. Outstanding world building and character development. Vivid character emotions, and fun relationship development. #LGBTQIA

This manga is off to a good start when a boy finds himself tricked into delivering food to the village's creepy protector and discovers purpose in supporting him. I'm really enjoying the character development, relationship building, and the slow introduction we are getting to their world. Looking forward to picking up volume 2. #Manga #LGBTQIA

I went in with low expectations for this beautiful guys piece, but it's pretty charming and the art's lovely. The tone reminded me of Native American animal stories where animal characters are often anthropomorphic. It was a bit weird that there were no female characters, which is common to this genre. I enjoyed seeing some of the chatacters' pasts already and hope the next volume dives into more world and character building. #manga #LGBTQIA

Haru, a little blueberry-shaped bird, helps their best friend, a piglet named Yama, on an unexpected quest to do away with an immensely evil object. The pacing is a little off, but I absolutely love this first book. The characters are fun, the dialogue is charming, and the post-apocalypse setting is interesting. I enjoy that the characters don't fully understand their quest. The lighthearted but dark tone reminds me of Rice Boy.

This month's #WithTheBanned read is not gentle. It takes on internalized and external racism, generational trauma, and the harm of lack of diverse representation in media. It's a stunning read, but review the content warnings. The end includes an excellent afterward by the author that delves into her choice to explore these themes through the lense of such a traumatic, unaverage case. I was disappointed in what she equates homosexuality to.

My last read of 2024! This office romance and healing journey is a fun read, and I enjoyed the characters. The story shows anxiety and deals with childhood trauma and ptsd as well, and the publisher setting was fun. I felt like the pacing was a bit off throughout the book, and found some dramatic scenes a little unrealistic such as what hospital staff would allow. Do check the content warnings. #LGBTQIA #MentalHealth #OfficeRomance

A charming middle grade graphic novel with diverse characters, fierce women in stem, and a thrilling supporting setting filled with science tiptoeing around in the realm of sci-fi. I felt like this was a little rushed or like some of the plot points were a little over dramatic for the characters, but sometimes that‘s just how middle grade graphic novels are. This book ends with a delightful list of women in STEM. #Comics #WomenInSTEM #STEM

A pretty satisfying cozy fantasy! I enjoyed the characters and their journey to putting together their new bar venture. I did want a bit more flavor as far as Rhoren‘s transition from living in the mountains all his life to living down by the sea goes. #LGBTQIA #CozyFantasy

I absolutely adored this magical book following two indentured young men as they try to find clever ways to circumnavigate their magically fueled contracts of indenture. Between the shady Untermarkt where supernatural beings buy and sell things like luck, dreams, and destiny, the delightful characters, the bells, LGBTQIA+ rep, the twisty plot, and vivid descriptions, I don‘t know what I loved most! This might be my top 2024 book. #Magic #LGBTQIA