THE GREAT DETECTIVE OF THE INNER PALACE IS BORN…?!
Maomao, a young woman trained in the art of herbal medicine, is forced to work as a lowly servant in the inner palace. Though she yearns for life outside its perfumed halls, she isn’t long for a life of drudgery! Using her wits to break a “curse” afflicting the imperial heirs, Maomao attracts the attentions of the beautiful Jinshi and is promoted to attendant food taster. But Jinshi has other plans for the erstwhile apothecary, and soon Maomao is back to brewing potions and…solving mysteries?!
I’m totally in love with this manga! It’s so much fun to read, and a great watch if you prefer Anime. I recommend it! Maomao is so much fun!
KEEP YOUR HANDMAIDENS CLOSE, AND YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER
Every time Rishe turns twenty, she dies and is reincarnated to the day her engagement is broken off. This time around, she winds up the fiancee of the man who killed her in her previous life: the crown prince of the Galkhein Empire, Arnold! Knowing from her past lives that Galkhein is on the path to war, Rishe is determined to prevent it. She starts by turning the royal villa into a training ground…for handmaidens! Will her unorthodox plans be enough to keep disaster at bay?
I love this one for Rishe’s openminded attitude, and her can-do policy. She knows her limits, and her strengths, and brings her ideas to life. This is a story to push your imagination. I still recommend it. February was a month full of manga volumes. So much life here.
Pent Up Thoughts is a remarkable collection of journaled thoughts, messages, and poems that shine a captivating light on the complex depths of mental health and self-care. This book beckons readers to take a soul-stirring voyage, delving into the complexities of anxiety, depression, self-love and acceptance, relationships, coping mechanisms, healing, and the widespread stigmas surrounding mental health.
Divided into six sections, each part sheds light on an indispensable angle of the mental well-being experience, beautifully intertwined with self-care, resilience, and hope topics. This collection seeks to provide solace, inspiration, and a sense of connection to those battling mental health challenges or searching for a deeper understanding of the human experience and themselves.
Instant Appeal: In an in-depth look at the crippling struggle through depression and anxiety, hope prevails, and infinite possibilities are born out of the persistence to keep going.
“With each step you take, a victory you gain/ and before long, the strength of your will reigns.” – James B. Agape, Pent Up Thoughts.
Pent Up Thoughts is a very intimate journey of self-reflection, a call to celebrate moments of self-love and learn how to practice self-acceptance. It is a brutal look at depression and anxiety and the cost it can ravage a mind. James B. says, ‘Managing anxiety and depression is not a battle to be won, but a journey to be embraced.’ Each small step forward is a triumph, every day, every minute, every second.
There are low moments in life. It has to be acknowledged. The negative emotional impact of these low moments happens to all of us. Some more than others, but the negative impact happens and it takes a toll. James B. argues, that if you or I are in one of those very low moments, and in a negative state, ‘…you don’t have to thug it out. It’s okay to reach out, and ask for help.’
It’s okay to not be okay. And when you’re not okay, it is absolutely right to reach out to someone you trust and say, “Hey, today has been really hard for me. Can we talk for a minute?” And when someone you love or know says this to you, take the time to listen. Don’t judge. Don’t even try to offer a solution. Just listen. What matters when you’re struggling is getting through the now and focusing on getting through today.
James B. says, “I think having genuine and deep conversations goes a long way toward forming better human connections.” It is surprising how many conversations we can have in a day, but the one that sticks with you is the one person who wants to know if you’re happy, or if you ate today.
Pent Up Thoughts argues that we should celebrate self-love, and self-acceptance, and embrace our vulnerabilities, quirks, and imperfections. Once we can achieve these things, we shall show up for those who are around us in our true authentic selves. And perhaps build better connections so that when someone taps our shoulder and says, ‘Hey, can we talk for a minute?‘ We can listen and provide an authentic human connection.
Favorite quote: Embracing your imperfections and vulnerabilities is a sign of true strength. It takes courage to show up as your authentic self and love yourself unconditionally. – James B. Agape, Pent Up Thoughts.
This book is perfect for anyone who would love to understand more about mental health, what it takes to get through a rough period, or even discover how to start a mental healing journey.
James B. Agape/Varlens / Auto ModeJames B. Agape/ Pent Up Thoughts
Connect with James B. Agape:
I purpose to keep writing and sharing my human experience. Should you wish to be part of the journey, feel free to share your email : )Reach him here. Instagram: James B. Writes
Leila Karani fell in love, thinking it was forever. She got pregnant and went to see her boyfriend, Nathan Njeru, thinking he would support her and their baby, but she was wrong. Nathan declared he did not love her anymore and instead urged her to abort their baby.
Eight years later, Leila is a single mother running a fabric and tailoring shop in Nairobi, and her daughter’s happiness is her only concern. When a Fashion Design opportunity comes her way, she unexpectedly encounters Nathan. Now, Leila must make a decision that will profoundly impact her daughter’s future, especially when she learns the truth about Nathan’s past actions.
Can Leila navigate the tumultuous waters of forgiveness and allow her heart to love a man she’s despised for so long yet still feels connected to?
This is a standalone and the first book will be printed in January 2025.
On a side note, I am low-key excited to finally be posting about a printed book available for purchase in my city, Nairobi! It was quite an amazing moment, and I’ve been smiling and feeling super excited when I think about it. Here’s to more and more books printed and available in Nairobi!
An Anthology of Insights and Lessons from the lives and experiences of women who lead.
The Way She Leads is an inspiring anthology that highlights the profound value of women’s leadership. Through a carefully curated collection of real-life stories and personal reflections, this book captures the unique experiences and journeys of women who have embraced their leadership potential. It is a testament to the value and impact that women bring to the table, whether in personal, professional, or corporate spaces. Each narrative offers invaluable insights on how women can harness their strengths, enhance their leadership skills, and unlock new levels of productivity and influence.
You can also get a copy at the upcoming Book Launch on November 1st, 2024.
Join the celebration at The Way She Leads Book Launch party on November 1st, 2024, at 2 p.m. EAT at the Trademark Hotel (Village Market) Nairobi.
The Launch brings together astute Women Leaders from various backgrounds to share Transformational Insights and Lessons from their Lives, Careers, and Business experiences. This meeting will provide an opportunity toNetwork, Connect, and Learn more about women’s Value and contribution in the different spheres of their work and lives. Meet, Connect, and experience the Phenomenal Women behind the Stories in the Book.
Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders…
Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.
But when you’re smaller than everyone else, and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away…because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.
With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.
She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.
Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.
Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.
Thoughts:
I fell into the hype! I had a great time reading this book. It is important to keep an open mind while reading it. The plot is a hero’s journey, and Violet is in an endless survive-and-win cycle. Fourth Wing delivers for me in terms of adventure and that delicious win-for-the-underdog. This book is suitable for 16 years and above. It has a lot of violence, much like The Hunger Games.
Popular Rei and shy Kira are worlds apart until one fateful day brings them together. Rei stumbles upon Kira in the harassing hands of her sleazy art teacher and saves the quiet girl from his clutches. And when the jock plants a kiss on a statue of Mars in the studio, Kira finds herself drawn in and even summons up the nerve to ask him to model for her!
This manga is a college romance. It is a fast read and strikes the right beats. I loved everything about it. It is a 90s creation, so expect the standard 90s period cliche tropes, but that is what is so fun about Mars.It does have these triggers: sexual harassment and bullying.
Sawako Kuronuma is the perfect heroine…for a horror movie. With striking similarities to a haunting movie character–jet-black hair, sinister smile, and silent demeanor–she’s mistakenly called Sadako by those around her. But behind her scary façade is a very misunderstood teenager. She is too shy to fit in, and all she wants to do is make some friends. But when the most popular boy in class befriends her, she’s sure to make more than just that–she’s about to make some enemies too!
This manga is to read for fun. If you’re looking to hook more emos on it…uh, don’t. Read it for fun! So, Just. Read. It. That’s it! It’s an awesome manga.
THE PRETTIEST BOY IN SCHOOL…ISN’T A BOY! Japanese-American track-and-field star Mizuki has gotten herself a transfer to a high school in Japan…but not just any school! To be close to her idol, high jumper Izumi Sano, she’s going to an all-guys high school…and disguising herself as a boy! But as fate would have it, they’re more than classmates…they’re roommates! Now, Mizuki must keep her secret in the classroom, the locker room, and her own bedroom. And her classmates–and the school nurse–must cope with a new transfer student who may make them question their orientation…Plus a bonus story, “The Cage of Summer”!
This little gem takes on the ‘Gender-bender‘ trope that was so popular in the early 2000s. Hana Kimi may not be so original. Mizuki is a girl who joins an all-boys school to chase a boy, which in our current social/cultural climate may seem a bit insane, but this manga was so entertaining that it made the list for how popular it was.
A family with an ancient curse…And the girl who will change their lives forever…
Tohru Honda was an orphan with nowhere to go until the mysterious Sohma family offered her a place to call home. Now, her ordinary high school life is turned upside down as she’s introduced to the Sohma’s world of magical curses and family secrets.
Fruits Basket is a shoujo manga at its best. The art is beautiful, and Tohru is cute and sweet. Her character is overly optimistic and makes Fruits Basket too sweet. She allows the reader to easily digest the darker nature of the relationships found in this manga. Fruits Basket tackles parental abuse and neglect and various painful issues in life. In truth, the essence of Fruits Basket is that all the characters are damaged in some way and end up together, creating a blended family.
Makena has been living in the shadows, evading her abusive past with her young son in tow, running every time it threatens to catch up. Then she crosses paths with David, a kind-hearted stranger who thaws the icy grip of fear around her heart. She faces a dilemma she never expected—to keep running or to confront her past head-on.
As their connection deepens, Makena finds herself torn between the safety of anonymity and the hope of a future filled with love and stability. But her ex’s relentless pursuit threatens to shatter the fragile peace she’s found, forcing her to confront the ultimate question. Is running away truly the answer, or is it time to stand her ground and fight for the happiness she deserves?
This is the story of one woman’s journey to break free from her past and embrace a brighter future. It is a powerful story of love, courage, and second chances.
About Mathitu Wairimu:
Mathitu Wairimu is a Kenyan writer born and raised in a small village near Nairobi. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education (English and Literature). She spends her time writing and working as a freelance web designer. She fell in love with reading and writing at a young age. Her introduction to romance novels was Mills and Boon when she was in high school. She longed for love stories featuring characters and places she related to, which inspired her to write such stories. This is her debut novel.
I’m so excited to share this upcoming book written by Mathitu Wairimu. Fugitive Heart is a romance novel published under Love Africa Press. It is now under Pre-Order here. This book is set to be released on August 27, 2024. If you love romance stories of women breaking free from a difficult past and finding happiness, you’ll love Fugitive Heart.
Let’s show it some love at the end of August 2024!
When her only friend, Makiko, accidentally offends F4 leader Tsukasa, Tsukushi boldly defends her. Enraged, Tsukasa puts the dreaded red tag in Tsukushi’s locker — a sign that she is now a target for the abuse of the F4 gang and the entire school. But when Tsukushi fights the gang with their own weapon, Tsukasa finds himself falling for her! Find Volume 1 Here.
Yōko Kamio is a popular Japanese manga artist and writer. She is most famous for Boys Over Flowers (Hana Yori Dango), for which she received the Shogakukan Manga Award in 1996. Her work has been translated and distributed in Asia, Europe, and North America.
Thoughts:
Hana Yori Dango has this amazing story that struck me at the first volume, and sort of held on to the last volume. Hana Yori Dango has 37 Volumes of story. I borrowed this manga’s volumes from a library in high school and would always look for the next volume like crazy. I loooved! the discovering days of Hana Yori Dango and the question of ‘Will it be Rui or Tsukasa?’ Oh, the angst! It was awesome.
Hana Yori Dango which translates to Boys Over Flowers is a story about a girl doing her best to achieve her dreams despite the adversity she faces in an elite school filled with affluent classmates. She has a fiery temper, and is very loyal to her friends, so when she sees her friends suffering she does her best to ease their pain and help.
When Tsukushi Makino joins an elite school and manages to make a friend, she feels compelled to stand up for her new friend when she gets in trouble. Through this encounter, Tsukushi ends up offending the biggest elite classmate of their school, Tsukasa Domyouji, the leader of ‘F4’.
Hana Yori Dango chronicles how Tsukushi survives through a severe hazing experience at the hands of ‘F4’ led by Tsukasa Domyouji. Her encounters with the four ‘F4’ members who rule the elite school’s student body, and how she changes Tsukasa Domyouji. Domyouji and Tsukushi’s story leads to an unforgettable romance, in between, she discovers her true path.
Hana Yori Dango has captured audiences worldwide. This manga is so popular that it has been turned into dramas across different Asian countries and Europe.
Tsukushi Makino has an endearing spirit. You want to root for her as she faces the many challenges in a school filled with affluent classmates, who are more privileged than her. At the same time, there is the discovery of Tsukasa Domyouji who may seem overprivileged, but it turns out he is drawn to Tsukushi because of her fierce loyalty and pure nature.
“I like to believe if I wear great shoes, they’ll take me to great places.” – Shizuka to Tsukushi, Chapter 10, Hana Yori Dango.
Hana Yori Dango is a great story to read, the art has a distinctive style and is quite easy to follow. However, if you prefer to watch, check out the following adaptations. My personal favorite remains the 2005 TBS Japanese Version. However, you can check out the following adaptations too.
There are amazing women artists in the world of Manga. Today, let’s discover more about Ai Yazawa, the memorable Nana and Paradise Kiss creator. Both mangas have adaptations into anime and live-action movies.
About Ai Yazawa
Ai YAZAWA (矢沢あい) is a Japanese manga author. Her pen name comes from Japanese singer Eikichi Yazawa, of whom she is a fan.
Yazawa started her manga publishing life in 1985; throughout 15 years of publishing, she wrote over ten series on Ribon magazine. While most of her manga continues to be published in Japan by Shueisha, publishers of Ribon and Cookie (in which Nana is serialized), series like Paradise Kiss now appear in other magazines such as Zipper, published by Shodensha.
Yazawa's most famous manga include Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai (I'm Not an Angel), Gokinjo Monogatari (Neighborhood Story), Paradise Kiss, and Nana. In 2003, she was awarded the Shogakukan Manga Award for Nana. Some of her manga works were made into anime, and live action movies too.
Yazawa's works are most popular among women and young girls. The storylines generally are centered on young women and their relationships, something with which her young fanbase identifies. The characters are always very stylish, and she is known especially for her hip sense of fashion. Yazawa herself attended a fashion school after high school but did not complete her studies there. Another key point is her strikingly unique, often rebellious characters, who tend to be juxtaposed against the more traditional ones.
Nana Komatsu is a young woman who’s endured an unending string of boyfriend problems. Moving to Tokyo, she’s hoping to take control of her life and put all those messy misadventures behind her. She’s looking for love and hoping to find it in the big city.
Nana Osaki, on the other hand, is cool, confident and focused. She swaggers into town and proceeds to kick down the doors to Tokyo’s underground punk scene. She’s got a dream and won’t give up until she becomes Japan’s No. 1 rock’n’roll superstar.
This is the story of two 20-year-old women who share the same name. Even though they come from completely different backgrounds, they somehow meet and become best friends. The world of Nana is a world exploding with sex, music, fashion, gossip, and all-night parties.
All Art by Ai Yazawa
The most endearing part of this story is the friendship that grows between Nana K. and Nana O. They are vastly different women, from their fashion style to their beliefs and their past. Despite boyfriends, career decisions, and an unexpected pregnancy, these two young women are determined to keep their friendship going. The most tragic thing about Nana is that it remains on hiatus after 21 volumes.
All Nana fans eternally hope that Ai Yazawa will one day complete this beautiful saga. Despite the hiatus, Nana has two compelling live-action movies (Available on Apple+ or Viki) and a very entertaining anime (Available on Netflix or where you get your anime fix). Nana is a great story to check out and the art is so beautiful, the characters come to life with every panel. Nana has mature themes and is recommended for ages 16- 18. Grade 10-12.
Yukari wants nothing more than to make her parents happy by studying hard and getting into a good college. One afternoon, however, she is kidnapped by a group of self-proclaimed fashion mavens calling themselves “Paradise Kiss.”
Yukari suddenly finds herself in the roller coaster life of the fashion world, guided by George, an art snob extraordinaire. In a glamorous makeover of body, mind, and soul, she is turned from a hapless bookworm into her friends’ exclusive clothing model.
Paradise Kiss has a truly tumultuous relationship between George and Yukari. The decisions they both make at the end of this five-volume series are realistic and very human. Yukari and George fall in love and must decide what to do with their relationship to fulfill their dreams and gain what they most want. Paradise Kiss has a live-action movie and an anime too.
Ai Yazawa has a fantastic body of work. Her art is always unique, and colorful, using sharp, elegant lines. She depicts stories rooted in a realistic world and characters that are easy to relate to. Check out her other work Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai (I’m No Angel).
Clamp, stylized as CLAMP, is an all-female Japanese manga artist group that was formed in the mid-1980s. Many of the group's manga series are often adapted into anime after release. The Artist Group currently consists of their leader Nanase Ohkawa, who provides much of the storyline and screenplay for all their works and adaptations of those works respectively, and three artists whose roles shift for each series: Mokona, Tsubaki Nekoi, and Satsuki Igarashi. Almost 100 million Clamp tankōbon copies have been sold worldwide as of October 2007. (Source: Amazon.com/CLAMP)
CLAMP has a long list of works often discoverable as Anime with a very distinctive art style. I first met them through Magical Knight Rayearth. This artist group has been a favorite since. Here is my list of three unforgettable favorite mangas by CLAMP.
Kimihiro Watanuki is haunted by visions of ghosts and spirits.
He seeks help from a mysterious woman named Yuko, who claims she can help.
However, Watanuki must work for Yuko to pay for her aid.
Soon Watanuki finds himself employed in Yuko’s shop where he sees things and meets customers that are stranger than anything he could have ever imagined.
I always love the art found in xxxHolic. I read the manga first before I watched the anime. The manga is much more detailed, so check it out if you get a chance.
Childhood friends Princess Sakura and Syaoran, the son of an archaeologist, become entangled in a series of events that force them to traverse through alternate realities on an action-packed and unforgettable adventure!
In the Kingdom of Clow, an archaeological dig unleashes an incredible power, causing Sakura to lose her memories. To save her, Syaoran must follow the orders of the Dimension Witch and travel alongside Kurogane, an unrivaled warrior; Fai, a powerful magician; and Mokona Modoki, a curiously strange creature, to retrieve Sakura’s dispersed memories! But first, there is a price to be paid…
Tsubasa is an adventure manga. Syaoran and Sakura end up on an unforgettable journey accompanied by their friends, Kurogane, Fai and Mokona. Syaoran works at getting stronger through each arc. This is an easy, fun read. You can also watch the anime if you prefer to watch it. The manga is full of gorgeous art pieces. Check it out when you can.
After moving from the countryside into the big city, poor college student Hideki Motosuwa finds himself down on his luck. All he wants is a good job, a girlfriend, and his very own “persocom” – the latest and greatest in humanoid computer technology.
Hideki’s luck changes one night when he finds Chi – an adorable, but seemingly broken, persocom thrown out in a pile of trash.
After taking her home, Hideki discovers that Chi is more responsibility than he expected – and that there’s much more to his cute new persocom than meets the eye.
Chobits is so memorable and another CLAMP production that pulled me into the world of manga. Chobits is a sci-fi story that tackles the theme of ‘what it means to be human.’ Hideki picks up Chi who is a persocom (humanoid computer) from a pile of trash and takes her home. Chobits explores their adventures as Hideki gets used to taking care of Chi. The Anime does have filler episodes, but the manga is so full of story and beautiful art and is definitely worth a read.
Chi from Chobits
CLAMP remains one of my favorite manga-kas. The artist group has a massive body of work. Once you fall into their manga world, you will definitely have discovered endless adventures. Most of CLAMP’s manga is available as Anime. So, if you prefer to watch instead of read, then check out the artist groups body of work here.
Stories and Book Talk 