media log 2026

#status_ongoing

These are all the books, movies, and shows I've finished in 2026. Sorted in reverse chronological order.

my star rating system

★★★★★: I enjoyed this, I recommend it, and I would read/watch it again.
★★★★: I enjoyed this, I recommend it, but I likely won't read/watch it again.
★★★: I enjoyed this, but I wouldn't recommend it.
★★: I did not enjoy this, and I definitely wouldn't recommend it.
★: I did not enjoy this, and I would warn others about it.

currently in progress

Witch Hat Atelier, Season 1
Witch Hat Atelier (Manga), Vols. 10-current

mary: an awakening of terror

Media: Book
Author: Nat Cassidy
Genre: Horror
Date Finished: 2026/08/26
More Details: WorldCat Entry
Rating: ★★★
Comments: I liked the unique theme of this one (anti-patriarchy, menopause/peri-menopause issues), but some elements of the story felt rushed or underdeveloped. It was quite gory and shocking, but wouldn't say this was very scary.

peerless, vol. 5

Media: Book
Author: Meng Xi Shi
Genre: Light novel, Romance
Date Finished: 2026/08/17
More Details: Seven Seas Entertainment Page
Rating: ★★
Comments: As much as I loved this series, the ending fell pretty flat. The first few books are worth reading IMO, but don't expect much overt romance from the MCs.

backrooms

Media: Movie
Genre: Horror
Date Finished: 2026/07/24
More Details: [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backrooms_(film)
Rating: ★★★★
Comments: For a film that's simply about rooms that break the rules of reality, this movie did a good job of building up tension and keeping the plot interesting. The cinematography was excellent too. Even in scenes outside of the backrooms, the spaces seemed uncomfortably cramped or awkward.

the case files of jeweler richard, vol. 9

Media: Book
Author: Nanako Tsujimura
Genre: Romance
Date Finished: 2026/07/16
More Details: Seven Seas Entertainment Page
Rating: ★★★★★
Comments: This series is a notorious slow burn, and this volume particularly so. However, the final chapter made it worth it. It's a been a while since I've giggled and squealed like a fan girl as I did when reading it.

the apothecary diaries, season 2

Media: Anime
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: 2026/07/12
More Details: Wikipedia
Rating: ★★★★★
Comments: While this season had its slow moments as it stretched some plot points across multiple episodes, it was cool to see scenes from the book play out with beautiful artwork and music.

witch hat atelier (manga), vols. 1-9

Media: Manga
Author: Kamome Shirahama
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: 2026/07/10
More Details: Wikipedia
Rating: ★★★★★
Comments: I don't even have the words to explain how much I adore this series. I love the magic system and world building in this series. And while the main characters are children, the series does not hesitate to tackle ethical dilemmas and complicated societal issues. Nothing in this series is completely black or white, good or evil.

the scum villain's self-saving system, vol. 3

Media: Book
Author: Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
Genre: Light Novel, Romance, Comedy
Date Finished: 2026/07/02
More Details: Seven Seas Entertainment Page
Rating: ★★
Comments: I'm a big fan of MXTX's other work (Heaven Official's Blessing, Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation), but this series is really hard to swallow. While I understand it's intended to be a satire, I don't feel it executes it very well. Personally, there were a lot of moments that felt unfunny or uncomfortable.

ne zha (rewatch)

Media: Movie
Genre: Family, Animation
Date Finished: 2026/06/27
More Details: [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ne_Zha_(2019_film)
Rating: ★★★★★
Comments: This film was one of the first Chinese animation films I've ever seen, and it's one of my favorites. It's a kid-friendly movie, so it's got a good dose of slapstick jokes and toilet humor, but don't let that deter you from watching it. The story's got a lot of heart and will tug on your heartstrings.

the apothecary diaries, vol. 5 (reread)

Media: Book
Author: Natsu Hyuuga
Genre: Light Novel, Drama
Date Finished: 2026/06/18
More Details: J-Novel Club Page
Rating: ★★★★★
Comments: Maomao goes on an expedition in the west! I enjoyed discussing this one for my book club, even though it had some eyebrow-raising moments.

milky☆subway: the galactic limited express

Media: Movie
Genre: Comedy, Animation
Date Finished: 2026/06/09
More Details: Wikipedia
Rating: ★★★★
Comments: When I finished this, my first thought was, "That felt like a long short film," which makes sense given that it originally ran as a 12-episode web series. Charming characters and plenty of funny moments.

nope

Media: Movie
Genre: Horror, Sci-fi
Date Finished: 2026/06/09
More Details: Wikipedia
Rating: ★★★★★
Comments: I'd heard a lot of good things about this film, and I'm pleased to say that it really delivered! Very cool creature design and a great daylight horror.

the platform (el hoyo)

Media: Movie
Genre: Thriller
Date Finished: 2026/06/05
More Details: Wikipedia
Rating: ★★★★
Comments: Great high-concept, dystopian thriller with a hefty dose of political-economic commentary. One day, I'd love to dig into folks' analyses about this one.

the true true story of raja the gullible (and his mother)

Media: Book
Author: Rabih Alameddine
Genre: Drama
Date Finished: 2026/06/05
More Details: WorldCat Entry
Rating: ★★★
Comments: The interactions of Raja and his mother gave some humor and lightness to the story despite the heavy topics of civil war, Israeli occupation of Lebanon, and the 2020 Beirut explosion.

goat

Media: Movie
Genre: Family, Animation
Date Finished: 2026/06/04
More Details: Wikipedia
Rating: ★★★★
Comments: I picked this up mainly for an easy, comfy watch to run in the background. Good film overall, but I felt that the pacing was a bit too fast. Some significant moments of the film felt like they breezed past, not allowing enough time to really soak in.

it's what's inside

Media: Movie
Genre: Sci-fi
Date Finished: 2026/05/31
More Details: Wikipedia
Rating: ★★★★
Comments: If you like the Knives Out series, you might like this one (but don't expect it to be quite as clever). I'd recommend this one for a chill movie night.

the director: a novel

Media: Book
Author: Daniel Kehlmann
Genre: Historical fiction
Date Finished: 2026/05/28
More Details: WorldCat Entry
Rating: ★★
Comments: I was surprised by how popular this book was. To me, it read as if it was trying really hard to be highbrow.

greenteeth

Media: Book
Author: Molly O'Neill
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: DNF
More Details: WorldCat Entry
Rating: -
Comments: It had a very charming beginning, but quickly devolved into a bland D&D adventure with low stakes and zero tension.

EDIT: I later learned that this was a "cozy fantasy," which explains the low stakes. I suppose I'm not the type of reader for this kind of work.

something very bad is going to happen

Media: TV Series
Genre: Horror, Drama
Date Finished: 2026/05/23
More Details: Wikipedia
Rating: ★★★
Comments: This had a refreshing plot line and a satisfying ending, but I think it ultimately suffered from convoluted details and plot holes.

copper coins, vol. 1

Media: Book
Author: Mu Su Li
Genre: Light Novel, Fantasy
Date Finished: 2026/05/21
More Details: WorldCat Entry
Rating: ★★
Comments: This series has an interesting premise (a mysterious monk, a dragon-turned-paper effigy, and a ghost scholar getting caught up in adventures), but this first volume was ultimately just "OK."

tasokare hotel

Media: Anime
Genre: Mystery
Date Finished: 2026/05/12
More Details: Wikipedia (All episodes available on YouTube.)
Rating: ★★★★★
Comments: I didn't have high expectations for this since it's based of a visual novel for Android/iOS, but it was surprisingly good; the main character is charming and headstrong, and she really carries this whole series.

fahrenheit 451 (reread)

Media: Book
Author: Rad Bradbury
Genre: Sci-fi
Date Finished: 2026/04/30
Rating: ★★★

peerless, vol. 4

Media: Book
Author: Meng Xi Shi
Genre: Light Novel, Romance
Date Finished: 2026/04/22
Rating: ★★★★

trigun: stargaze

Media: Anime
Genre: Action
Date Finished: 2026/04/12
Rating: ★★★★★

the god of the woods

Media: Book
Author: Liz Moore
Genre: Drama, Mystery
Date Finished: 2026/04/06
Rating: ★★

peerless, vol. 3

Media: Book
Author: Meng Xi Shi
Genre: Light Novel, Romance
Date Finished: 2026/04/01
Rating: ★★★★

i'm starting to worry about this black box of doom

Media: Book
Author: Jason Pargin
Genre: Mystery, Action
Date Finished: 2026/03/07
Rating: ★★★

the apothecary diaries, vol. 4 (reread)

Author: Natsu Hyuuga
Genre: Light Novel, Mystery
Date Finished: 2026/03/04
Rating: ★★★★★

ranma 1/2, season 2 (2025)

Genre: Anime, Comedy
Date Finished: 2026/02/26
Rating: ★★★

the scum villain's self-saving system, vol. 2 (reread)

Author: Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
Genre: Light Novel, Romance
Date Finished: 2026/02/05
Rating: ★★★

the apothecary diaries, vol. 3 (reread)

Author: Natsu Hyuuga
Genre: Light Novel, Mystery
Date Finished: 2026/01/15
Rating: ★★★★★