Seconds: 10/15/15

Seconds by Bryan Lee O'Malley is a graphic novel about a chef and restaurant owner who decides to take some magical short cuts to get the life she's always wanted. Katie runs a bustling restaurant, Seconds, but she wants to open up a new, larger restaurant in the center of town. It's a huge risk and she feels like she's being screwed over by karma and her contractor.

When Katie discovers some magic mushrooms that can give her a chance at a redo through time travel she starts unraveling her life one mushroom at a time.

But "all magic comes with a price, dearie" as Rumplestilskin loves to remind us in Once Upon a Time. And pay Katie does with her life spiraling more and more out of control. Sure, she gets her man, gets her new restaurant, but she loses herself, her friends, and her mind.

Seconds brings together story elements from a number of my favorite stories. First there's the Princess and the Frog, the Disney version, except instead of Tiana being swept into the curse, she brings it upon herself. Next there's Steins;Gate where time travel is a slippery slope and a difficult thing to undo. Finally there's the Hildafolk series, where it's a house spirit who brings all this trouble upon Katie because she doesn't follow the old traditions.

Five stars

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