The books Southern indie booksellers are recommending to readers everywhere!

Manga

15 Minutes Before We Really Date, Vol. 1 by Perico

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15 Minutes Before We Really Date, Vol. 1by Perico
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So Cute! A cute, easy-to-read story about two childhood best friends deciding to date each other and the awkwardness of learning to see each other as more than friends. Animation is super adorable. I will definitely be reading all the next ones that come out and will be crossing my fingers that this gets picked up for an anime series because I will 100% watch it.

15 Minutes Before We Really Date, Vol. 1 by Perico, (List Price: $15, Yen Press, 9781975368951, November 2023)

Reviewed by Stephanie St. John, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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Doom Breaker Volume 1 by Blue-Deep

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The Prince & The Apocalypse by Kara McDowell
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Wow! Blown away! This has so much potential! I love the setting, concept, action, art direction, everything! I am so excited to keep up with this series!

Doom Breaker Volume 1 by Blue-Deep, (List Price: 19.99, WEBTOON Unscrolled, 9781990259883, July 2023)

Reviewed by Ethan Davis, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida

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Gunhild, Volume 1 by Fred Tornager

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Gunhild, Volume 1 by Fred Tornager
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A fresh, creative, and colorful reimagining of Norse mythology. This story has heart and the motivation Gunhild has to become a God is inspiring! I hope to see much more of this world and these characters!

Gunhild, Volume 1 by Fred Tornager, (List Price: 13.99, Rockport Publishers, 9780760381915, July 2023)

Reviewed by Lana Repic, E. Shaver, booksellers in Savannah, Georgia

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My Special One, Vol. 2 by Momoko Koda

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My Special One, Vol. 2 by Momoko Koda
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How heartwarming!! I love how this manga doesn’t use melodrama and shallow angst to delay the characters from finally dating. These two are people with their own quirks and problems that slowly come to understand what they want and how they feel for one another, and it is so so cute.

My Special One, Vol. 2 by Momoko Koda, (List Price: 9.99, VIZ Media LLC, 9781974736911, May 2023)

Reviewed by Lana Repic, E. Shaver, bookseller in Savanna, Georgia

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Elden Ring: The Road to the Erdtree, Vol. 1 by Nikiichi Tobita

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Elden Ring: The Road to the Erdtree, Vol. 1 by Nikiichi Tobita
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I knew that someone was writing a comedy manga around the world of Elden Ring, but I didn’t know it was going to hit this level of scale! Following the journey that everyone who played the game also had, except this tale takes the world and twists the situations into joking situations. Very clever idea. I hope this is able to be continued until the conclusion.

Elden Ring: The Road to the Erdtree, Vol. 1 by Nikiichi Tobita, (List Price: 13, Yen Press, 9781975364892, May 2023)

Reviewed by Ethan Davis, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida

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Wolf Girl and Black Prince, Vol. 1 by Ayuko Hatta

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Wolf Girl and Black Prince, Vol. 1 by Ayuko Hatta
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I watched this anime several years ago, and I have to say they did an excellent job adapting the manga. I don’t know why I enjoy it so much — the love interest is incredibly toxic, and the main character is a total mess, yet I find myself rooting for them anyway.

Wolf Girl and Black Prince, Vol. 1 by Ayuko Hatta, (List Price: $9.99, VIZ Media LLC, 9781974737529, May 2023)

Reviewed by Amber Brown, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina

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Sunbeams in the Sky, Vol. 1 by Monika Kaname

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Sunbeams in the Sky, Vol. 1 by Monika Kaname
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A cute romance with a slight twist! I like that there’s some light suspense mixed in. The main character’s trauma feels very natural and I wonder how they’ll sort out the incident in later volumes.

Sunbeams in the Sky, Vol. 1 by Monika Kaname, (List Price: 13, Yen Press, 9781975352318, April 2023)

Reviewed by Lana Repic, E. Shaver, bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles (Manga): Volume 1 by Shibamura Yuri

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Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles (Manga): Volume 1 by Shibamura Yuri
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Rio is a young orphan living in the slums of the kingdom of Beltrum. When he is stricken with a high fever, he dreams of a different world where he is called Haruto. When Rio wakes up from his fever, he realizes he is two people in one, both Rio of the slums and Haruto, from the other world. When Rio is forced to rescue a kidnapped princess, his troubles get even worst. When the nobles find the young princess with Rio, they accuse him of kidnapping, but after the princess awakens, she tells of how Rio saved her. As a reward, he is granted acceptance into the Royal Academy of Beltrum. An act that upsets the kingdoms noble people, who feel he does not deserve this prestigious reward. Whether he succeeds or not, is all up to him and his new professor, Celia. Perfect manga for fans of The Irregular at Magic High School, Magic Knight Rayearth, or Snow White with Red Hair.

Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles (Manga): Volume 1 by Shibamura Yuri, (List Price: $15.99, J-Novel Club, 9781718353442, February 2023)

Reviewed by Gretchen Shuler, Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina

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The Witcher: Ronin (Manga) by Rafal Jaki

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The Witcher: Ronin (Manga) by Rafal Jaki
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I had been anticipating The Witcher Ronin for months and pre-ordered it. I was super excited to see Geralt as a ronin and the book didn’t disappoint in that regard. I loved the new Japanese yokai we got to explore in this Manga but with the familiar storyline we all know and love. I was expecting a little more for the book, so that made me a bit sad, but I overall enjoyed what we did get to see in this first installment.

The Witcher: Ronin (Manga) by Rafal Jaki, (List Price: $19.99, Dark Horse Manga, 9781506733500, December 2022)

Reviewed by Cass W, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

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Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion, Vol. 2 by Whale

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Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion, Vol. 2 by Whale (Original story by Milcha)
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While I’m always here for a slow burn, I can’t help but adore how sweet and tender Noah is towards Raeliana. We often see male romance protagonists in this sub-genre come across as cold, stubborn, and belligerent, which has its own charm, but this is a swoon-worthy change of pace. True to form for this sub-genre, Raeliana is a strong-willed and capable leading lady that never fails to entertain! I can’t wait for volume three!

Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion, Vol. 2 by Whale (Original story by Milcha) (List Price: $20, Yen Press, 9781975341107, November 2022)

Reviewed by Lana Repic, E. Shaver bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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Afro Samurai Vol.1 by Takashi Okazaki

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Afro Samurai Vol.1 by Takashi Okazaki
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This was epic. I absolutely can’t wait to get more into this series. Gave me Black Swordsman Arc vibes from Berserk. I hope to see Afro develop more and maybe gain something to care for instead of being purely based on revenge. The setting in the end also gave me Fountainhead Palace vibes from Sekiro.

Afro Samurai Vol.1 by Takashi Okazaki, (List Price: $19.99, Titan Manga, 9781787739000, November 2022)

Reviewed by Ethan Davis, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida

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Berserk Deluxe Volume 11 by Kentaro Miura

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Berserk Deluxe Volume 11 by Kentaro Miura
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This is the best series of all time, hands down. Absolutely gorgeous artwork, incredible world-building, and intense developments. Berserk is about trauma and how you can overcome that trauma. There will always be hardships and the only thing you can do is keep moving forward. I will always recommend this series to everyone. Character development is unmatched. Berserk has inspired so many other creative works of art, and it fully deserves recognition. 11 out of 10

Berserk Deluxe Volume 11 by Kentaro Miura, (List Price: $49.99, Dark Horse Manga, 9781506727554, July 2022)

Reviewed by Ethan Davis, Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida

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Rooster Fighter, Vol. 1 by Shu Sakuratani

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Rooster Fighter, Vol. 1 by Shu Sakuratani
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Rooster Fighter is a mad little manga about a rooster who kills demons. This inherently silly premise is played straight and hilariously so–the art and the fights are often epic and without gags: The gag is the premise itself. It’s a wonderful manga for people who don’t take things too seriously. Or keep chickens.

Rooster Fighter, Vol. 1 by Shu Sakuratani, (List Price: $12.99, VIZ Media LLC, 9781974729845, August 2022)

Reviewed by Alex Mcleod, The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, Alabama

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