Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 7 — Kamome Shirahama
I was bawling my eyes out in this volume. Volume 6 ended on a mysterious statement from Beldaruit to Coco regarding Qifrey, and here we finally get the answer: why Qifrey is so obsessed with finding the Brimmed Caps, what he lost to them, and what his true goal is. Beldaruit's explanation sends Coco into an emotional spiral, and watching her break down, crying out to Qifrey about how scared she was, broke me too. The way Qifrey comforted her showed how much he genuinely cares for her, and that was only reinforced earlier when Olruggio questioned whether Qifrey was keeping Coco around just to get to the Brimmed Caps. His words and actions proved otherwise. He's still scary, Qifrey, and there's clearly still something he's keeping to himself. But I can say with confidence that Coco's trust in him is not misplaced. There is a far more complex reason behind his actions, and I can't wait to uncover it. What stays with me most is Coco's choice: when given the chance, she chose to pave her own path to help those in need, and not just for her own sake.
Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 6 — Kamome Shirahama
This volume had me holding my breath from the very first page. Picking up right where Volume 5 left off, Qifrey, Olruggio, and the apprentices are summoned to The Great Hall by Beldaruit, one of the Three Wise Ones, and what follows expands the world far beyond the Atelier, giving us a deeper look at the witches, the ban, the Healing Spire, and the rules that govern it all. The way the girls passed their second test was amazing, their teamwork earning them passing in flying colors, and it was genuinely wonderful to watch. We also get a glimpse into Agott's background, her family, and why she's been pushing herself so hard to prove her worth, which made her feel so much more real. The bond between her and Coco is getting stronger, and Agott is slowly opening up to her peers. Beldaruit was such a fun and lovely character, and knowing he was once Qifrey's master makes me certain there's far more to him. With the tension between the wonder of magic and the control of it slowly building, I can't wait to see where this series goes.
The Silmarillion — J.R.R. Tolkien
Tolkien didn't just write a myth, he created one. The Silmarillion is the kind of book that makes you reconsider everything you thought you understood about Tolkien's world. It delves into the myth-building of Tolkien's world: from the music of the Ainur, the creation of Arda, and the coming of the Elves and Men, through the long and arduous wars with Morgoth and eventually Sauron, to how the Silmarils and the Rings of Power came to be. It was such rich and detailed world-building. It's amazing how all this creative, imaginative world was built by Tolkien, considering the years it must've taken him. It widened my understanding of the Tolkien legendarium and let me appreciate The Lord of the Rings, and even The Hobbit, on a deeper level. The Old English was hard, and sometimes I had to backtrack and re-read paragraphs, though that's not a detriment, and not the author's fault. Language has just evolved differently since. After this, I want to go back and re-read The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit again, and it will now be a far richer read than ever before.