We'll Prescribe You Another Cat

This book is the sequel to We'll Prescribe You a Cat. These books offer four short fantasy stories about people in emotional pain. They find a mental health clinic while out walking around and step inside to ask questions. At the entrance to the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul in Kyoto they meet an irritable nurse who states the doctor had a cancelation and can see them immediately. After telling the doctor what's bothering them they are prescribed a cat to take home for ten days. 

The publisher's summary:

Though it’s a mysteriously located clinic with an uncertain address, it can always be found by those who need it. And the clinic has proven time after time that a prescribed cat has the power to heal the emotional wounds of its patients. This charming sequel introduces a new lovable cast of healing cats, from Kotetsu, a four-month-old Bengal who unleashes his boundless energy by demolishing bed linens and curtains, to tenacious and curious Shasha, who doesn’t let her small size stop her from anything, and the most lovable yet lazy cat Ms. Michiko, who is as soft and comforting as mochi.

As characters from one chapter appear as side characters in the next, we follow a young woman who cannot help pushing away the man who loves her, a recently widowed grandfather whose grandson refuses to leave his room, the family of a young woman who struggle to understand each other, and an anxious man who works at a cat shelter seeking to show how the most difficult cats can be the most rewarding. This moving, magical novel of interconnected tales proves the strength in the unfathomable bond between cats and people.

The book is about a Kyoto psychiatrist who prescribes a cat to every patient as a unique form of therapy for people with life problems. The prescription is always for ten days after which the cat must be returned to the doctor. This sequel is a little different as the patients are given cats with special medical needs. Food and litter are dispensed at the clinic along with a log that the patients must fill out every day with their cat's progress. The stories showcase the healing power of animals with a touch of fantasy thrown in for good measure. When the return to the clinic the logs are read by the doctor and he always says the patients did a good job taking care of the animal.

As the summary above states, only people in deep emotional pain can open the door to the clinic and this is where the fantasy comes in. Not everyone can see the alleyway where the business practice is located. Each cat has a litter box issue to be resolved and it is always about their poop mixed in with the litter. Ya'll know what that's like, right?  The real identity of the doctor and nurse are revealed in the last chapter. I was not expecting this surprise but it was a pleasant surprise.

This book was a delightful read, a perfect end to the stressful day I had. If you love cats, you will love it. 5 out of 5 stars.

Outer Lands

 

With the Winter Olympics on TV 24/7 I am behind in my reading plan for February. It's hard to turn the TV off. However, I thought I would review a few comics to at least post something on the blog. Outer Lands is my first comic review of the month. It was published in August 2025 by Darkling Entertainment. It's a Comixology Original comic with 125 pages of gorgeous graphics from Davide Gianfelice and a riveting story by Matthew Arnold. Colorist Luca Salce and Letterer Ed Dukeshire complete the artistic components.

The publisher's summary was rather simplistic for this complex plot: "When a young prince living in an Ancient Grecian world is exiled to a prison isle to keep him from assuming the throne, he unintentionally discovers a massive global conspiracy in this science-fiction fantasy mash-up."

There is much more to the story though. It begins as a historical fiction story set in ancient Greece and quickly moves into a post-apocalyptic thriller. The main character is Prince Heron who has just inherited the throne. Men working with his sister kidnap him and sell him into slavery. Sister Isadora then seizes his throne for herself. While Heron is in prison, he uncovers a global conspiracy concerning the lost city Atlantis. The world has been taught that the Atlanteans were a cruel warmongering people who enjoyed killing. However, this was not true. Heron and a few others read in forbidden books that they were peace-loving people. Heron is later lucky to escape his prison and sets out to find Atlantis. The narrative later explores themes of AI and the fear of nuclear war.

The plot was thrilling and the characters memorable. Heron is quite sympathetic because he lost his throne and quickly accepts his fate. Isadora is an intense villainess intent on keeping her brother far away from Greece. It's the only way she can maintain a hold on her crown. The Greek people are not happy with her though and there are frequent protests.

Parents, the story has no foul language nor are there sexy drawings. It's acceptable for children. I thoroughly enjoyed Outer Lands and highly recommend it to comic fans.

5 out of 5 stars.

Adora and the Distance

Adora and the Distance is a 2021 Comixology Original YA fantasy graphic novel following the epic adventures of Adora, a brave young woman of color who lives in a fantastical world with underground pirates, ghosts, and a mysterious force called "The Distance" which threatens to destroy it all.

Adora's adventures were magical as advertised. She is a nine-year-old adopted princess who left home to avoid being obliterated by the Distance. Her father Raphael assigns several of his employees to protect her throughout her travels. Her maid Esperanza, of course, travels with her as does Gregoire, Antonio from Roma, Jaffar from Arabia, Mur Rey from Turkey and El Moor. Along the way the group encounters bandits, puzzles and the walking dead whose homeland was destroyed by the Distance. The ending had a surprise twist that I did not see coming. I have debated whether I should explain the ending, which was quite profound. It's impossible to write a decent review without delving into the weighty issue the author gives us. Some reviewers have done so but I will not.

This comic is a must read. You will not be disappointed. There is no foul language, sex or violence so it is appropriate for young readers. 5 out of 5 stars.

The Fox Maidens

Robin Ha, author of Almost American Girl, is one of my favorite graphic novelists. Her 2024 graphic novel, The Fox Maidens, is based on a famous character from Korean mythology, Gumiho. The story takes place 400 years ago in Korea during the reign of the Joseon Dynasty and it was a fun read.

The publisher's summary:

Kai Song dreams of being a warrior. She wants to follow in the footsteps of her beloved father, the commander of the Royal Legion. But while her father believes in Kai and trains her in martial arts, their society isn’t ready for a girl warrior.

Still, Kai is determined. But she is plagued by rumors that she is the granddaughter of Gumiho, the infamous nine-tailed fox demon who was killed by her father years before.

Everything comes crashing down the day Kai learns the deadly secret about her mother’s past. Now she must come to terms with the truth about her identity and take her destiny into her own hands. As Kai desperately searches for a way to escape her fate, she comes to find compassion, and even love, in the most unexpected places.

Set in sixteenth-century Korea and richly infused with Korean folklore, The Fox Maidens is a timeless and powerful story about fighting for your place in the world, even when it seems impossible.

First of all, I cannot be more excited about a comic's illustration than with The Fox Maidens. The color palette is gorgeous. Most of the comic book strips are drawn and colored with cool tones of every color but with a splash of bright colors such as red. It's very appealing.

Concerning the writing, it is fast paced with compelling characters and an action packed plot. Kai is the main character. She is presented as a feminist by her desire to fight alongside the men in her village. She is fearful of marrying and having children and hopes that her parents won't force her into marriage. At the end of the story we see her love for another female character. Kai's mother, Meorhu, is a physically fragile woman with a surprising past as a fox maiden. She hopes that her daughter will be able to escape the same fate. Then there is Gumiho. Gumiho is the deadly fox spirit who destroys the lives of all the others with her magic. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this story but must say that the first half was more exciting. During this part of the story we read about Kai as a human being. Her life in the village depicted the type of life a girl in Joseon Korea would live. In the second half she becomes a fox and here we really see the fantasy aspect of the story. The author’s note at the end explains her inspiration for writing this graphic novel. I found it as fascinating as the story itself.

4 out of 5 stars.

After Lambana

After Lambana: Myth and Magic in Manila is a fantasy graphic novel that explores the world of Filipino myths.  It was published on June 7, 2022 by Tuttle Publishing. The author, Eliza Victoria, is an award winning writer in the Philippines and has published general fiction, science fiction, short stories and poetry. 

The publisher's summary:

Lambana--the realm of supernatural fairies known as Diwata--has fallen, and the Magic Prohibition Act has been enacted. To add to his troubles, there's something wrong with Conrad's heart and only magic can prolong his life. He teams up with Ignacio, a well-connected friend who promises to hook him up with the Diwata and their magical treatments--a quest that's not only risky but highly illegal!

On the shadowy, noir-tinged streets of Manila, multiple realities co-exist and intertwine as the two friends seek a cure for the magical malady. Slinky sirens and roaming wraith-like spirits populate a parallel world ruled by corruption and greed, which Conrad must enter to find the cure he seeks. He has little idea of the creatures he will encounter and the truths to be revealed along the way. Will Lambana spill its secrets and provide the healing balm Conrad needs? Or will he perish in the process?

I didn't enjoy this story much. While beautifully illustrated with bright colors, the story itself lacked suspense. The characters were not fleshed out at all. I did not either like them or dislike them. It was difficult to figure out what was going on and while I was reading I wondered why  I should even care about continuing it. I am not attracted to mythological stories and am completely ignorant regarding Filipino mythology so perhaps this was my problem. Still, myth stories need strong characters and plot to keep a reader interested.

No rating.

In the Flood

Trapped and separated by an apocalyptic rainfall, Mike and Clara, devoted husband and wife, have sworn to find their way back to one another.  Rising waters are threatening the dream home that Mike built but they quickly discover that the rain, and their predicament, is not what it seems. Clara was/is a singer who does magic tricks with cards. Her singing and tricks are half of the story. The main thrust of the story is whether they can they figure out the grand trick that's being played on them and overcome it to reunite.  In the Flood is a surrealistic comic by Ray Fawkes. Comixology has collected all of the installments of the series into one volume which they published in March 2022.  I obtained a digital copy of the book from them.

I have no idea what this story is about. There didn't seem to be any purpose for the storyline, if there is one.  While I was reading, I thought that I would figure out the plot toward the end of the book. I didn't. The art was done in manga style and I liked the color scheme of bright pink and blue.  The scenes with Clara were pink and those with Mike were blue. Other than that, I cannot comment any further on the book.  No rating.

The Binding

The Binding is set in a fantasy world where binders have the power to erase bad memories from clients who want to forget.  It took me awhile before I figured this out as our protagonist began his apprenticeship working on actual book binding covers. For some, being able to forget a traumatic event is a godsend. For our protagonist Emmett Farmer, his binding caused tremendous confusion and illness.  The story is written in three parts. The first part shows Emmet's current situation. The second delves into the past and shows how he ended up being sent away by his family.  The third part takes the story forward into his future and the resolution of the plot.

The book begins with teenager Emmett Farmer working in the fields of his family's farm.  A letter arrives that summons him to an apprenticeship as a bookbinder. This vocation arouses fear and superstition in his small community.  However, his parents feel that he cannot afford to refuse the offer.  He has been ill in the past year and the illness has caused the family to be embarrassed by his symptoms.  His father has difficulty understanding how this happened to Emmett because he had kept a pure home.  

Emmett has always been attracted to books, even though they are strictly forbidden.  His bookbinding master, Seredith, tells him that bookbinding is a sacred calling and that he was born to be a binder.  Under this old woman's watchful eye, Emmett learns how to hand-craft elegant leatherbound volumes. Each volume will capture a memory.  If you want to forget something, a binder can help you erase it.  The binders then place the memory inside a book, which the binders always store in a vault owned by the binder.  After Emmett has settled in his new occupation he discovers that one of the books in the vault has his name on it.  He has no idea that he was ever bound or what memory could have been erased from his mind.

This book was amazing.  It has parts of magic and gay coming-of-age that I normally don't like reading about but I could not stop reading this book.  The imaginary past of an alternate England in the 1700s was somewhat difficult for me to grasp.  Fantasy is not a genre that I read and it took some getting used to.  The idea that you can have someone erase a traumatic memory is appealing to me.  If binders were real, I might visit one.  To be technical, The Binding seemed sort of the "don't ask, don't tell" scenario currently playing out in the U. S.  When parents have their kid's memories erased, they leave their children with a sense that they have done something wrong but cannot be absolved of their wrong-doing. This cannot be comfortable for those who have been bound.

4 out of 5 stars.