The Mage's Manual for Making Amends

A sorceress must undo her seven most evil hexes—or lose her magic forever—in this cozy ode to cult classic fantasy epics from the author of The Henchperson's Guide to Unionizing.

Calengarth has two sorceresses: one light, one dark. The Queen, and her shadow. Queen Aurelia, beloved by the kingdom, mother to the charming Prince Gilbert; and the evil Imelda, loved by none, bastard child of the former king, known only for her horrible curses (including the curse that turned Prince Gilbert into an, ahem, small aquatic creature).

When Aurelia suddenly dies, Imelda finds herself powerless. Her sister has placed one last enchantment upon her: She must break seven of her most evil curses within one year and a day of Aurelia's death, or else lose her magic forever.

Magic is all Imelda has. Without it, she doesn't know who she is. So she reluctantly ventures out to break the curses, starting with her nephew's. But Imelda's attempt to break Gilbert's curse backfires, leaving him stuck as (a weirdly cute) half-human, half-axolotl hybrid. Desperate to return to human form, Gilbert joins Imelda on her quest, helping her break her curses in the hope that that she'll recover enough magic to break his. Joined by a sentient suit of armor and a ferocious alligator-turned-chicken, Imelda and Gilbert set out to right her past wrongs.

Yet Imelda soon begins to wonder whether power is what she truly wants, when it has brought her and those around her nothing but pain. Can she find a way to recover her magic, make amends to those she's wronged, and atone for her misdeeds—or is forgiveness truly out of reach for the wayward mage?

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs