There are a ton of great titles slated for release this year, and I, as someone with the memory of a fly, need a way to keep up with them all. So at the beginning of each month (except this January, obviously), I’ll post an entry that rounds up the top three new releases on my reading list.
Juana and the Dragonewt’s Seven Kingdoms Vol. 1
Original Title: 竜の七国とみなしごのファナ
Author: Kiyohisa Tanaka
Date: January 16, 2018
Publisher: Seven Seas
Buy: Amazon
From the publisher:
In a fantastical future ruled by dragonewts, human dominance is a thing of the past. Despite humanity’s extinction, Nid, a young dragonewt with a passion for ancient history, makes a startling discovery: a young human girl who calls herself Juana. Together, the unlikely pair sets out to explore the strange world of the Seven Kingdoms.
Although I’ve yet to pick up a physical copy of Juana, I’ve read the original work via pixiv comics. Normally, I’m not really into creature-centric stories, but there’s something about Tanaka’s style that really appeals to me. Maybe it’s the dragons wearing top hats or the awesome coloring (I’m a sucker for watercolor illustrations, as you’ll learn). Either way, I need this book on my shelf, like now.
orange -future-
Original Title: orange
Author: Ichigo Takano
Date: January 21, 2018
Publisher: Seven Seas
Buy: Amazon
From the publisher:
Experience the world of orange from a whole new perspective, as the fate of the present and future timelines unfolds from the point of view of the ever-cheerful third wheel, Suwa Hiroto. Reuniting years later in college, Suwa and Naho’s lives have been forever scarred by their experiences in high school. They say time heals all wounds, but sometimes, time is not enough.
I legit screamed when Seven Seas announced they were releasing the sequel to orange.
If you’ve had the experience of dealing with loss and broken friendships in your early twenties, this book is for you. With Suwa as our subject this time around, we get to see what was going through his mind as the events of orange played out. I want to say so much more, but I don’t want to spoil anything! Maybe in another post…
Kiss Me at the Stroke of Midnight Vol. 3
Original Title: 午前0時、キスしに来てよ
Author: Rin Mikimoto
Date: January 30, 2018
Publisher: Kodansha
Buy: Amazon
From the publisher:
Hinana prizes her reputation as a serious high school student, too focused on getting into college to pay attention to boys. But she’s a secret fairytale romance freak, sneaking away from her studies to see A Roman Holiday and tucking pop idol magazines into her textbooks. When her celebrity crush comes to her school to film a TV episode, she has to pretend to be totally uninterested even as she desperately tries to get close to him. However, she’s not the only one who’s not what she appears… her dreamboat isn’t just a pretty face either!
Rin Mikimoto’s work is phenomenal. Ever since I read Kyou no Kira-kun last year, I’ve been hooked. Kiss Me at the Stroke of Midnight (or “Zero Kiss,” as it’s called in Japan) is no different. It’s definitely not for everyone, as I can only imagine how some readers might feel about a twenty-something guy flirting with a high school girl, but if you’re into that kind of thing, then Zero Kiss is pretty good.
What manga releases got your attention this month?
Hakutaku 
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