Gyo by Junji Ito

Title: Gyo

Author: Junji Ito

Publisher: VIZ Media 2002

Genre: Manga Horror

Pages: 398

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Where I Got It: Library

The floating smell of death hangs over the island. What is it? A strange, legged fish appears on the scene... So begins Tadashi and Kaori's spiral into the horror and stench of the sea. Here is the creepiest masterpiece of horror manga ever from the creator of Uzumaki, Junji Ito. Hold your breath until all is revealed.

Something's rotten in Okinawa...

I had been waiting for this volume for weeks. Many Junji Ito fans put the Gyo collection among his top works. I started reading with no notion of what this one would be about. Thankfully the horror starts very quickly and does not let up throughout the entire collection. The creep-factor was turned up very high for this story. Seriously, it even got a bit gross for my tastes. But I loved the strange background story of why walking fish start to appear all over. I loved following Tadashi' and Kaori as they live in the horror. I truly could not put this one down until I reached the end!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao

Title: Water Moon

Author: Samantha Sotto Yambao

Publisher: Del Rey 2025

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 384

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf; Cover Lover - Frame Worthy Design

Where I Got It: Bought it

On a backstreet in Tokyo lies a pawnshop, but not everyone can find it. Most will see a cozy ramen restaurant. And only the chosen ones—those who are lost—will find a place to pawn their life choices and deepest regrets.

Hana Ishikawa wakes on her first morning as the pawnshop’s new owner to find it ransacked, the shop’s most precious acquisition stolen, and her father missing. And then into the shop stumbles a charming stranger, quite unlike its other customers, for he offers help instead of seeking it.

Together, they must journey through a mystical world to find Hana’s father and the stolen choice—by way of rain puddles, rides on paper cranes, the bridge between midnight and morning, and a night market in the clouds.

But as they get closer to the truth, Hana must reveal a secret of her own—and risk making a choice that she will never be able to take back.

Everyone once in a while, I really want to fall into a super atmospheric fantasy book. I was something that moves a bit slow and feels like you are in a dream. I don’t want it to be action packed, but have a plot that moves somewhere. And I want it to be a book that I keep thinking about interactions and passages days and weeks and months later. This is that book for me this year! Ultimately this is a story about choices. Hana, Kei, and everyone else in this book wrestle with choices made and choices given up throughout this quest story. I have written down so many quotes from this book. I cannot wait to really dive into some of these quotes and questions at the retreat in two weeks.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Enchantra by Kaylie Smith

Title: Enchantra (Wicked Games #2)

Author: Kaylie Smith

Publisher: Forever 2025

Genre: Fantasy; Horror

Pages: 448

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Romanceopoly - Wedding Season

Where I Got It: Library

Spice Rating: 5

Welcome to Enchantra. There’s only one rule: Never, ever trust your heart.

When Genevieve Grimm’s mother is killed, Genevieve wants answers nobody can give… until she receives an invitation to Enchantra, a cursed palace filled with temptations and illusions.

Arrogant and dangerously handsome, Rowin Silver meets her at the door and refuses to let her inside. But Genevieve finds her own way in… And soon realizes her mistake.

Enchantra is a twisted labyrinth of marble and thorns, where Rowin’s family are trapped forever in a deadly game. Now, Genevieve must win or die.

Rowin offers her a deal. They can compete together… if they convince everyone watching that they’re desperately in love.

Genevieve knows she can’t trust Rowin, but she’ll do whatever it takes to survive. As they hunt and hide together, Genevieve tries to ignore the desire burning between them. She absolutely cannot fall for this man. Cannot forget that she’s only pretending to be in love.

The sequel to Phantasma and we get to see Genevieve navigate a horrifying situation. Thankfully we have moved beyond Phantasma to focus on another “game” within the same world. I dislike Genevieve in the first book, but she grew on me during this one. Her pretty exterior hid a spine of steel and a stubborn streak a mile long. It was nice to really dive into her character and see her navigate an unknowable game. Rowin was a great foil for Genevieve and an even better foil for Knox. I loved how immediately the two of them teamed up to win the games and help the Silver family. We also get all the wonderful new characters within the Silver family. I cannot wait to see it Smith writes a book focused on Sevin. He’s definitely a favorite of mine. The plot was fast paced. The romance was sufficiently angsty and full of sexual tension. The games were bloody and scary. And the sex scenes were very open door and lots of fun. Loved this one!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 12

Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 11

Author: Gege Akutami

Publisher: VIZ Media 2020

Genre: Comics

Pages: 192

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!

In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna were lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!

And more action in Shibuya Station! We get to see how the good guys start to break down the barriers and infiltrate the place. We get to make some great connections between the curse workers and the sorcerers. I loved Mei Mei and her brother the most in this volume. Such secrets within that family, just like all the sorcerer families. I cannot wait to see how this giant situation gets resolved.

Jujutsu Kaisen

• Volume 1

• Volume 2

• Volume 3

• Volume 4

• Volume 5

• Volume 6

• Volume 7

• Volume 8

• Volume 9

• Volume 10

• Volume 11

• Volume 12

• Volume 13

• Volume 14

• Volume 15

• Volume 16

• Volume 17

• Volume 18

• Volume 19

• Volume 20

• Volume 21

• Volume 22

• Volume 23

• Volume 24

• Volume 25

Next up on the TBR pile:

Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 11

Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 11

Author: Gege Akutami

Publisher: VIZ Media 2020

Genre: Comics

Pages: 192

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!

Despite the crowd of civilians and transfigured humans, Satoru Gojo is able to defeat the cursed spirits at Shibuya Station. But it’s a trap! The cursed spirits possess a special item that can even seal the all-powerful Gojo! Meanwhile, an unlikely ally suddenly contacts Yuji Itadori, who is on his way to the station!

The event at Shiuya Station is really lasting many many chapters! Normally I would not like this in my comics, but in this case, it totally works. We get to learn more and more about our cast of characters. We get to see how their pasts dictate their choices in the current timeline. We get to see more of their skills and learn more about jujutsu overall. I’m still a huge Gojo fan even when he’s at his most annoying and egotistical. There’s something about him that really draws you in as a reader.

Jujutsu Kaisen

• Volume 1

• Volume 2

• Volume 3

• Volume 4

• Volume 5

• Volume 6

• Volume 7

• Volume 8

• Volume 9

• Volume 10

• Volume 11

• Volume 12

• Volume 13

• Volume 14

• Volume 15

• Volume 16

• Volume 17

• Volume 18

• Volume 19

• Volume 20

• Volume 21

• Volume 22

• Volume 23

• Volume 24

• Volume 25

Next up on the TBR pile:

Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 9

Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 9

Author: Gege Akutami

Publisher: VIZ Media 2020

Genre: Comics

Pages: 192

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!

Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto have been assigned a mission to escort the Star Plasma Vessel to Master Tengen. When they’re ambushed by Toji Fushiguro, a mercenary known as the Sorcerer Killer, will Gojo and Geto survive? And will this be the turning point where Gojo becomes the world's strongest exorcist while Geto embraces a life of ruin and rebellion?

This volume carried so much emotional weight. Get to see the great dynamic between Gojo and Neto and then the twist in their friendship. What is going to happen when Gojo realizes exactly who is behind the present day troubles? Plus we get to learn more about Toji Fushiguro. My favorite scene was the one between Megumi Fushiguro and Gojo. Loved seeing a young Megumi interact with his future mentor. And we get some great action sequences!

Jujutsu Kaisen

• Volume 1

• Volume 2

• Volume 3

• Volume 4

• Volume 5

• Volume 6

• Volume 7

• Volume 8

• Volume 9

• Volume 10

• Volume 11

• Volume 12

• Volume 13

• Volume 14

• Volume 15

• Volume 16

• Volume 17

• Volume 18

• Volume 19

• Volume 20

• Volume 21

• Volume 22

• Volume 23

• Volume 24

• Volume 25

Next up on the TBR pile:

Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 8

Title: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 8

Author: Gege Akutami

Publisher: VIZ Media 2020

Genre: Comics

Pages: 192

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Where I Got It: Library

In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna have been lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!

Yuji Itadori and his classmates are fighting two of the three reincarnated Cursed Womb: Death Paintings brothers. Meanwhile, Megumi Fushiguro loses consciousness after finally defeating a special grade curse that possessed a Sukuna finger! Whoever wins the fight between Itadori and the brothers will be the one to secure the prized finger!

Um… we get a giant flashback story within this volume of the story. We get a sorta conclusion to the curse story started in volume 7 and then everything switches. My star rating is really based on the flashback section featuring a ton of characters. I literally gasped when Gojo’s classmate showed up. I am so interested in how their partnership turns in the intervening years. I am so deeply invested in this entire story now. I cannot wait to see how this plays out.

Jujutsu Kaisen

• Volume 1

• Volume 2

• Volume 3

• Volume 4

• Volume 5

• Volume 6

• Volume 7

• Volume 8

• Volume 9

• Volume 10

• Volume 11

• Volume 12

• Volume 13

• Volume 14

• Volume 15

• Volume 16

• Volume 17

• Volume 18

• Volume 19

• Volume 20

• Volume 21

• Volume 22

• Volume 23

• Volume 24

• Volume 25

Next up on the TBR pile: