From Our TBR Pile… New Recommendations! August 2025

We’re keen readers at Anime UK News, alternating between reading our own purchases to requested review copies and back again. Here, in the first of what (we hope) will be monthly articles, our reviewers share their first impressions of titles and volumes that are new – or new to them!

Is the Order a Rabbit? Volume 3 by Koi – reviewed by Ian Wolf

In this latest edition of the coffeehouse manga, we see Cocoa and her friends preparing for Christmas, helping Rize when she suffers a sprain, and the young-but-mature Chino getting jealous when she sees that almost everyone else in the gang appears in a magazine. The yon-koma strips continue to be entertaining and wonderfully drawn by artist Koi, with some colour pages thrown in too. Aside from one or two tiny niggles when it comes to things like the occasional use of a particularly small font size or a translation note that might be a tad too brief, the majority of Is the Order a Rabbit? continues to entertain, and the production staff of translator Giuseppe di Martino, letterer Rebecca Sze, and editors Shalini Arimilli and Carl Li do a decent job. It’s still a manga well worth reading. Score: 7/10

Fairy Cat Volume 1 by Hisa Takano – reviewed by Sarah

‘Now you see it, now you don’t!’

Kanade, a high school student who loves to draw, is amazed and delighted to find a tiny palm-sized cat on his chair – and then it disappears! However, he later finds it again, sleeping in his pencil case. Has he been adopted by the charming little creature? It’s said that if you tell someone else about a fairy cat, it goes away and never returns – but this one seems to respond to being called ‘Fluffy’ and likes to drink milk. One day, though, Kanade arrives at school and on opening his bag, realizes that Fluffy is inside! How can he keep her hidden from his classmates? Hisa Takano has created a delightful tale with exquisite drawings of the titular fairy cat. Will Fluffy’s influence help Kanade resolve the tensions at home? Volume 2 is due out in October. Translation is by Alethea and Andrea Nibley for Seven Seas Entertainment with lettering by Mercedes McGarry. A must-read for cat lovers!  Score: 8/10

7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to her Worst Enemy (Light Novel) Volume 7 by Touko Amekawa – reviewed by Darkstorm

Ever since the anime debuted last year, I’ve been diving into the light novels of this on-going time-loop Villainess story from Seven Seas Entertainment. Volume 6 however feels like a turning point, not only because Rishe now realises she’s in love with Prince Arnold, but also her 6th loop (the last life to be revealed on-page) is given attention here. Also the threat of war feels more tangible in this book, unlike previous schemes where Rishe is trying to help Arnold form alliances, rather than be enemies with the neighbouring kingdoms, to prevent future disaster. Arnold’s future self’s first big strides into war include combat-ready boats and armies, something that is explored in detail, alongside a new mystery. So we’re now reaching a crossroads: will Arnold still go ahead with the war? Or has Rishe done enough to change the course of destiny? It helps that the pair continue to have fantastic chemistry; they’re both layered characters that I love reading about. I’m very much looking forward to what Volume 7 can deliver now that the wedding is near, but are there still mysteries from Rishe’s past lives to uncover? Guess we’ll find out in 2026. Score: 8/10

Sword Art Online: Kiss and Fly Volume 2 by Reki Kawahara and Rico Bekko – reviewed by Demelza

Kirito and Asuna’s adventures continue in this second short story compilation. Kirito is left with unanswered questions from a previous quest, so he and his party explore parts of Alfheim Online they’ve never been to before to solve the mysteries left behind. And elsewhere we meet Yuuki, a girl on palliative care in the real world who’s looking for an adventure in the fantasy worlds that virtual reality offers. Mileage will vary on this one depending on how much you care about Yuuki, as most of the volume surrounds her story, but otherwise, this is still proving an entertaining read for long-term Sword Art Online fans. This Yen Press release is translated by Stephen Paul, with lettering by Viet Phuong Vu. The final volume, #3, is already available for those looking to carry on. Score: 8/10

Nukozuke! Volume 3 by Yugi Iro – reviewed by Sarah

It’s winter and Yuya has to rely on his two palm-sized cat-human nuko companions when he falls ill. How do Kei and Sasame cope? As spring approaches, Valentine’s and White Day means preparing and eating delicious treats – then summer brings strawberries! The nukos make a new canine friend in Ginjiro, the building manager’s dog (they can communicate with animals) – but then a strange young man with an eyepatch turns up at Yuya’s apartment. Why does he look so familiar? And what does he want with Yuya? Another amiable volume by Yugi Iro filled with chat-purrs about the everyday life of the nukos from One Peace Books is ably translated by Laura Egan with plenty of helpful translation notes. The fonts used however are not the best (no letterer is credited) and still result in an uneven reading experience. (Volume 4 is now also available.)  Score: 7/10

Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian Volume 2 (Light Novel) by Sunsunsun – reviewed by Demelza

After the events of Volume 1, Alya and Kuze have grown closer and become something resembling friends. Now Alya has her sights set on being elected student council president, and she has somehow convinced Kuze to run with her. However, they’re up against Sayaka, whom Kuze defeated for the position in middle school when he ran with his little sister. Ultimately, nothing is decided in this volume, and we spend most of it getting to know the current student council and preparing for what’s to come. Good as part of the bigger picture (at least I imagine so, having watched the anime), less interesting as a standalone read. Especially as I don’t care enough about the extended cast to be doing a student council election storyline right now. Translated for Yen Press by Matthew Rutsohn, who’s still doing well navigating the use of the Russian language, too. The English releases are up to seven volumes so far, and the anime is set to return for Season 2 next year. Score: 6/10

With our thanks to Yen Press, One Peace Books, Seven Seas Entertainment, Diamond Book Distributors and Turnaround Comics (Turnaround Publisher Services).