Music, manga and books… What a season!
From music to books and comics. Everything geeky and what I love is covered in this blog.
Manga
Kingdom, Vol. 1 and 2 – Yasuhisa Hara
Xin’s quest begins when his friend Piao, another war orphan who shares his dream of becoming a great general, is taken away by a mysterious minister to the capital, and Xin is left to work and train on his own. But one fateful night, Piao returns bloodied and on the brink of death, with his dying words being for Xin to carry on their dreams and meet a certain person in a nearby village. Xin rushes to fulfill Piao’s final request, only to meet a boy who looks exactly like Piao. But this is no ordinary boy—it’s the king of Qin, Ying Zheng! And assassins are hot on his tail!
During the Tokyopop (Germany) panel Manga Comic Con in Leipzig this year they discussed many new upcoming comics they will publish in 2026. “Kingdom”, however, is their big title. 20 years ago the comic got published and reached over 120 million copies worldwide, but never got translated to German. Well, that was until now.
At first I wasn’t sure if I wanted to get it (it was already available at the con, but will be in store in April), although I do like to read works that shaped certain landscapes, in this case the comic world. And with a starter pack that contained the first two comics, two prints, poster and came with a tote bag for 10 euros I knew I had to get it. A publisher who puts that much work into a title must be a grand work of art.
Books
The Faraway Inn – Sarah Beth Durst
Sixteen-year-old Calisa is desperate for a change of scenery after her lying ex ruins her perfect Brooklyn summer. When her parents suggest she head to rural Vermont to help her great-aunt run her cozy bed and breakfast for a few months, she jumps at the chance.
But when Calisa arrives at the B&B, she’s shocked to find a rundown inn with only a handful of guests. And to make matters worse, upon meeting with her great-aunt it quickly becomes clear that Calisa was not invited. Auntie Zee is determined to keep anyone from messing with her beloved inn…even if it is clear she needs the help.
To earn her keep, Calisa sets to work fixing up the inn, enlisting extra help from the groundskeeper’s (handsome) son. But the longer she stays, the more it becomes evident that there is something strange about the B&B—and its residents. Something almost…otherworldly.
The inn is keeping a magical secret—but to protect the place she’s come to love, Calisa must unravel the truth of it, and her aunt, before it’s too late.
On April 9 the newest Sarah Beth Durst gets released! I have been obsessed with listening to the audiobooks, but this time around I am planning on getting the book. Because everytime when I listen to Durst’s books I get the feeling of wanting to annotate.
Behind Five Willows – June Hur
As the dutiful second-eldest daughter of a poor family, society would have Haewon believe that her only hope of a decent life is to marry well. But during a time of rampant government censorship and book banning, she instead works as an illegal book transcriber in order to make a little extra money. It’s dangerous work, but she loves it―especially when she gets to transcribe the work of her favorite author, known as Black Lotus.
When her older sister becomes smitten with a wealthy young gentleman, Haewon is roped into chaperoning them during their courtship. Which wouldn’t be so terrible… if it weren’t for the young man’s uptight and annoying best friend who also accompanies them.
As the only son of a noble, Seojun has a lot expected of him. Wealth. Status. Respectability. Certainly not frivolous and often illicit activities such as reading fiction. But Seojun loves to do something even more scandalous: writing. He’s kept his work secret from his father and friends, but with each passing day, the pressure of being his father’s son and the dispiriting actions of the government make Seojun question the purpose of it all. The only thing keeping him going are the encouraging letters he receives from his transcriber, known only as Magpie.
When his best friend falls hard for a girl of lower social status, Seojun finds himself forced to act as chaperone to the infatuated couple―along with the girl’s younger sister, who is as irritating as she is judgmental. But as Haewon and Seojun spend more time together, they begin to suspect they may have judged each other too quickly…
May 19 looks good with my dear auto-buy author, June Hur. I love the worlds she builds, the amount of research she does and I can’t wait to dive into a new novel of hers. Although, maybe not actually existing in the worlds she builds, cause as a reader I know how gruesome her books can get. On the brightside, this book reminds me a bit of the K-drama “Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung” which I absolutely adored!
Music
Springday was kicked off with BTS their grand comeback Arirang. I absolutely love the album and can’t wait to do my research on it. Not to forget, watch the documentary about their writers camp on Netflix.
Just a week later Raye put out THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE, an album that sounds like a theatrical experience. In four acts with each a season attached to it, that span the complexities of human emotion, Raye for sure takes you on a ride. Click Clack Symphony with Hans Zimmer must be one of my top picks of the album so far.
That’s the music that is/was on my wishlist that has already come out, now let’s talk about what still has to come out.
In April Laufey’s deluxe album, A Matter of Time: The Final Hour, will come out. It has been said that the album comes with four new songs and is an introspection about learning to live with one’s anxieties, embracing uncertainty, accepting the passage of time and finding calm after the storm.
Kiss of Life will drop their second single album named Who is she as well in April. In other K-pop news, I am kinda expecting Le Sserafim and Stray Kids to make a comeback in spring but nothing has been announced so far.
Someone who has announced their fourth album is Niall Horan. Right at the start of this season he dropped his latest single that will also be the title of his album, dinner party. This loverboy is ready to take the stage again with his new tour. Fingers crossed I can get tickets!
What is on your Geeky Wishlist?
Love,
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