Mr Ripley’s Enchanted Books: Paulina Palacios – As Yubooh Slumbers, Vol. 1 – Graphic Novel Book Pick (October 2026)

Yubooh has always believed in magic. Her best friend, Salvia, insists Saturn Academy is *just* a prestigious school. Then the lights go out, and nobody’s pretending anymore.

Tiny problem: Yubooh has no magic at night. So when she sleeps, her classmates become an unpaid night-shift bodyguard squad — and something called the Code Fish alarm starts ringing. Gorgeous anime art, floating fish, and a heroine who is both the mystery and the liability. Cozy, creepy, and utterly charming — read it in one sitting, then panic about Volume 2.

Look, I picked up As Yubooh Slumbers, Volume 1, thinking, “Sure, another boarding school, another plucky heroine who believes in magic.” I put it down thinking, “WHY IS NOBODY TALKING ABOUT THE CODE FISH?”

**The good stuff:**

– Friendship as the actual plot. Not a garnish. The whole thing.

– Mystery that keeps you flipping pages like you’re being paid per plot twist.

– Humor that lands, even when the shadows are doing their ominous looming thing.

– Emotions. Real ones. Sneaky ones. The kind that ambushes you on a Tuesday.

**The not-so-good stuff:**

– There’s no age rating listed, so you’ll have to do that classic “I’ll just read a bit to check” dance. You’ll be checking for a while.

– It’s Volume 1. Which means it ends. Which means you’ll be furious. Which means you’ll pre-order Volume 2. The system works.

Verdict: Part cozy magic school, part sleepover horror, part “everyone protect the oblivious new girl.” If you’ve ever wanted a book where the stakes are high, the friends are loyal, and the school alarm is named after a fish, this is it. Buy it, gift it, then text your friend at 2 a.m. about Esteban. 💫

Published by Tokyopop Press Inc (20 Oct. 2026)