Christmas Gift Ideas: Books, Comics, and Manga

Christmas is just around the corner, and it's time to think about gifts that bring joy. For story lovers, we have a few tips on books, comics, manga, and other treats that will delight any fan of fantasy and graphic novels. Whether you're looking for epic sagas, thrilling gamebooks, or beautifully illustrated stories, you'll find something for everyone here.

Fantasy Treats

It probably won't surprise anyone that we're starting our fantasy book overview with the new Witcher. The Crossroads of Crows is a prequel to the entire famous series and a must-have for fans of the Continent. You can find out more in the review on our blog.

Witch Hunter is the first part of a dark fantasy trilogy about Mathias Thulmann, a devoted follower of Sigmar whose deeds are the stuff of nightmares for the citizens of the Empire. A popular short series for fans of Warhammer Age of Sigmar.

The Malazan Book of the Fallen is a series that ranks among the best in the genre. This truly (and we mean truly!) vast and brilliantly conceived epic saga is set in a perfectly realized world and brings a fresh, compelling voice to the realm of fantasy literature.

Sci-fi for Every Family

František Kotleta is clearly one of the most famous and prolific Czech authors. More than ten years after the release of the cult book Too Long a Swingers Party, he embarks on an informal continuation of the series featuring paranormal detective Tomáš Kosek. The series had four parts, and Tomáš's fate was sealed on Reunion Island in the future. And it is in the future that this new book, Cyberpunk Swingers Party, takes place.

Frank Herbert's Dune series is a work that has been written into the history of literature in golden letters. We have finally received a new edition of the Prelude to Dune series, which was worked on by Herbert's son and Kevin J. Anderson (among other things, a writer for The X-Files). They are action-packed, readable, and you no longer need to take psychedelics to understand the Prelude. :)

Our sci-fi selection is rounded off by the book One Day All This Will Be Yours - a bold new work by the award-winning author Adrian Tchaikovsky. A clever and witty story about time travel and paradoxes.

Cookbooks and Recipes

Thematic cookbooks are becoming increasingly popular. They combine geek culture with practical life. Among the most popular is our official Witcher cookbook, which offers 80 original recipes inspired by the world of Andrzej Sapkowski.

Right behind the culinary arts of the Continent in our popularity ranking is the World of WarCraft - Official Cookbook. In the book, you'll find over 100 recipes that even less experienced cooks can handle. And, of course, advice on how to decently substitute ingredients from Azeroth that are hard to find here.

Every lover of bunker life will appreciate the Official Fallout Cookbook! Inside, you'll find over 70 recipes inspired by the video game series, including tips for cooking in field conditions. There's nothing like cooking something good with a pinch of radiation!

Comics

The Little Witcher is a family-oriented comic anthology based on the Witcher game universe. It is a collection of short stories where Geralt appears as a "dad who fights monsters" and cares for young Ciri with all the tenderness and humor.

We have finally received the release of Alien comics. The Aliens are among us! Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Salvador Larroca have joined forces to create a brand-new story about the sci-fi monster that has been terrifying audiences for nearly half a century in the book Alien: Bloodlines. No one is safe. No one is innocent. And no one can hear you scream.

The comic Sláine: The Horned God has received the release it truly deserves. This comic was published nearly twenty years ago, and that release was a complete failure. Poor paper, translation, and lettering sank this legend. Thanks to the Crew publishing house, however, Sláine has a chance to set things right. And it's worth it, thanks in part to the magnificent artwork by the legendary Simon Bisley.

Manga

Manga is crushing the comic market, and there is always plenty to choose from. Dandadan is an original manga series that combines crazy sci-fi, ghost mysteries, and unexpected humor in a unique mix. Follow the story of high schoolers Momo and Ken, who get caught up in an incredible adventure full of aliens, paranormal phenomena, and epic battles.

Made in Abyss is a breathtaking story full of fantasy, mystery, and adventure for readers aged 15 and up. The Abyss is the world's last unexplored chasm, full of strange creatures and lost artifacts. Living in its town on the edge is a girl named Riko, who dreams of becoming a cave raider like her mother. Her life changes when she encounters a mysterious robot in the form of a boy during an expedition.

The manga Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End follows the story of the elf Frieren, who, after the defeat of the Demon King, outlives her human companions and sets out on a journey to understand what friendship and human emotions meant to her. It is a melancholic and poetic journey through the world after the end of a great adventure – about memory, loss, and finding meaning in time that flows differently for the immortal than it does for humans.

Gamebooks

Thanks in part to our Mytago publishing house, the gamebook renaissance continues. Gamebooks have carved out their place on the market, and more and more are being released.

The horror gamebook series Choose Cthulhu is ideal for readers who are new to gamebooks. You just read and make decisions. They don't use any statistics or RPG elements. It's a nice bit of bathroom reading. Lovers of madness and tentacles will be absolutely thrilled!

Another tip is this year's fresh piece from the world-famous Fighting Fantasy gamebook series – Secrets of Salamonis. Behind this classic fantasy adventure stands a legend of the gamebook genre, Steve Jackson, and writer Jonathan Green, known for his feel for atmosphere and well-thought-out game mechanics.

And finally, Dracula is coming! Vampire's Curse is a top-tier gamebook that offers an impressive 1000 references, making the book useful even as a tool for driving stakes into the chests of restless bloodsuckers. Uncover the gripping world of Bram Stoker's classic gothic horror novel in a completely new adaptation. Dracula: Vampire's Curse is a fascinating gamebook written by the popular author Jonathan Green.

author Karel Krajča