I’m currently hooked on a new anime: The Secrets of the Silent Witch. The main character, Monica Everett, is a prodigy who mastered unchanted magecraft—simply because she’s too shy to chant spells out loud in front of people. And honestly, that premise alone has me obsessed.

Like Monica, I completely freeze in front of a crowd. Small groups I can manage, but a room full of people? Intimidating. Back in elementary school, my mom and teachers pushed me to join oratorical contests. Twice, I walked on stage, stood there, and never said a word. By high school, I avoided the whole ordeal by skipping class on speech day, only to deliver my piece later one-on-one with my teacher. In college, I needed my best friend in the room during my thesis defense just so I could look at her instead of the judges—otherwise, I would’ve failed.

So yes, in that way, I deeply relate to Monica.

But beyond the relatability, the anime itself is just delightful. The story is engaging, the characters are fun, and the animation is beautiful. It’s lighthearted, charming, and the kind of series that makes you smile while you watch.

My best friend introduced me to The Apothecary Diaries anime. I became engrossed in it after watching it on Netflix. I love its blend of historical, detective, and romance fiction. Initially, the romance was minimal, with a primary focus on the female lead's investigative skills and her fascination with poison. Her adoptive father instilled in her a curious nature. After the second season started showing, and I was forced to watch one episode a week, I finally gave in and decided to read through the manga. Then, I realized the light novels have more chapters than the manga and anime. I just finished Volume 7 of the LN, but due to budget constraints, I will have to read one volume per month from here on out.

My best friend hates the fact that the female lead, Maomao, will eventually fall for Jinshi (sorry for the spoilers!). I'm reading spoilers myself! But I am all for it! I see it now as more romance than historical and detective fiction. I hope they do end up together, despite Jinshi's being an apparent heir to the throne. When I have time, I'll delve more into details! I'm just here to gush over this series for now!

My cousin messaged me one day and recommended the Solo Leveling anime on Netflix. A friend had previously recommended it, and I have marked it for future viewing. My cousin’s recommendation prompted me to go and watch it finally. And I liked it and enjoyed watching it.

But it’s an ongoing series. Ha! That’s the dilemma. I was frustrated by the lengthy wait for the next season. For that reason, I decided to read the webtoon. I have heard many people saying they are excited to see the Jeju Arc animated, and I agree; that would be amazing to see.

My first impression of the webtoon is that the art is just mind-blowing. I was wowed. The storytelling was excellent, but towards the end, after the Jeju Arc, when he had gained so much strength and power, it felt a bit burdensome. He carried all the responsibility on his shoulders, leaving me exhausted. And I know the title is “solo” leveling. The title itself is a giveaway. But I wish he had companions, too. He does have friends and family, allies even, but not when he’s fighting. I would have understood if he wanted to do it on his own to obtain the cure for her mother, but afterwards, after he got the cure and after he gained strength, power, and the respect of his peers, I thought he’d be more open to collaborations. I just felt so sad for his character. It was a bit of a downer ending. I won’t spoil it, but there are two types of clichés: the welcome kind and the not-again type.

Would I still watch the anime, though? Yes! The action sequences are still worth it.