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Manga Bookshelf

Discussion, Resources, Roundtables, & Reviews

Latest Picks

February 22, 2021

Pick of the Week: Affection, Romance & Rock ‘n’ Roll

February 15, 2021

Pick of the Week: Old Favorites and New Choices

LATEST FEATURES, ESSAYS, COLUMNS, ROUNDTABLES, & REVIEWS

February 27, 2021 By Sean Gaffney

Banner of the Stars: Destiny’s Refrain

By Hiroyuki Morioka and Toshihiro Ono. Released in Japan by Hayakawa Bunko. Released in North America by J-Novel Club. Translated by Giuseppe di Martino. I admit, I frequently have difficulty plowing through these books. I enjoy the plotting and characterization, but the writing is a bit on the dry side, not to mention all the bolded vocab. Usually I have a lot of banter between Jint and Lafier to hold me over, but in this book they appear less than they have in any of the others – and for good reason. If you ever looked at the massive Abh Empire and thought “wow, they seem arrogant, I wish they’d lose everything they have”, well, wish granted, my friend. We get an awful lot of dead cast members, though most…

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February 26, 2021 By Sean Gaffney

I’ll Never Set Foot in That House Again!, Vol. 2

By Milli-gram and Yuki Kana. Released in Japan as “Nidoto ie ni wa Kaerimasen!” by Overlap Novels f. Released in North America digitally by J-Novel Club. Translated by Emily Hemphill. Reading this immediately after The Saint’s Magic Power Is Omnipotent was probably a mistake, as the two series share much in common. At least the Saint is in her thirties, though. Chelsea’s age and emotional innocence are still front and center in this book, and it can sometimes be discomfiting. The complains once or twice about being treated like a child, but, well, she’s twelve, and honestly acts like she’s six much of the time. What matters most to her are Glen and delicious food, possibly not in that order. And, of course, she has a heart as big as…

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February 25, 2021 By Sean Gaffney

The Saint’s Magic Power Is Omnipotent, Vol. 3

By Yuka Tachibana and Yasuyuki Syuri. Released in Japan as “Seijo no Maryoku wa Bannou desu” by Kadokawa Books. Released in North America by Seven Seas. Translated by Julie Goniwich. One of the things that is difficult to admit for your average everyday light novel reader or reviewer is that we are unlikely to every be the savior of an entire world. The Saint, as seen here, has to deal with a bunch of difficult challenges to try not to advertise too much exactly who she is (especially now that the existence of the Saint, if not her identity, has been confirmed) while also trying to help as many people as possible by making many, many powerful potions, and also find the time to try to figure out how her…

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February 25, 2021 By Sean Gaffney, Michelle Smith, Anna N and Ash Brown

Manga the Week of 3/3/21

SEAN: March comes in like a lion with a pile of new manga, though sadly none of them are March Comes in Like a Lion. Get on that, Viz. MICHELLE: Seriously! ASH: Right?? SEAN: Airship debuts a new light novel with Drugstore in Another World: The Slow Life of a Cheat Pharmacist (Cheat Kusushi no Slow Life ~ Isekai ni Tsukurou Drugstore ~). It’s getting an anime in the summer, and gets an early digital release next week. Our hero reincarnates in a fantasy world with a potion maker ability, and treats various folks, including a werewolf girl who falls for him. ASH: I’m largely isekai-ed out, but this variation intrigues me. SEAN: Ghost Ship, meanwhile, has the 5th and final volume of Saki the Succubus Hungers Tonight. J-Novel Club…

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February 24, 2021 By Sean Gaffney

Invaders of the Rokujouma!?, Vol. 35

By Takehaya and Poco. Released in Japan as “Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!?” by HJ Bunko. Released in North America digitally by J-Novel Club. Translated by Warnis. You would think, now that we are at the 37th volume of this series (counting the two .5 books), that we would be finished with introducing new characters to add to an already overloaded cast, and yet. Coming to Earth to help our heroes with their battle against Ralgwin and his troops is another Princess, Nefilforna Canon Forthorthe. Honestly, there are so many people in this cast I’d like to pretend she doesn’t exist, but unfortunately, she’s Canon. (I’m so sorry.) She arrives and promptly proceeds to kick Koutarou’s ass in a mock battle – as he readily agrees, he only won the second time…

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February 23, 2021 By Sean Gaffney

ROLL OVER AND DIE: I Will Fight for an Ordinary Life with My Love and Cursed Sword!, Vol. 2

By kiki and kinta. Released in Japan as “Omae Gotoki ga Maou ni Kateru to Omou na” to Gachizei ni Yuusha Party wo Tsuihou Sareta node, Outo de Kimama ni Kurashitai” by GC Novels. Released in North America by Seven Seas. Translated by Jason Muell. Adapted by Brock Wassman. When I was younger I wrote stories, and a whole lot of them were what these days is referred to as “grimdark”. I killed off beloved supporting characters. I brought in cameos from other universes just to kill THEM off. I had the main couple become multiple murderers. But now I am older, and I gotta admit… I prefer happy endings, y’know? Grimdark can be exciting, and when you first create it you do feel sort of edgy and cool, but…

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February 22, 2021 By Sean Gaffney

Holmes of Kyoto, Vol. 3

By Mai Mochizuki and Shizu Yamauchi. Released in Japan by Futabasha. Released in North America by J-Novel Club. Translated by Minna Lin. One of the better things about this series is the way that it makes you look at art. And by art I don’t just mean paintings and sculptures, but also anything that is crafted with a purpose. In this book we see several times what it means to be a real artist, the sacrifices and mental anguish that sometimes need to be suffered to achieve this, and also the fact that imitations cannot, no matter how hard they try, get completely into the artist’s head. This is not to say that imitations are always invaluable – there’s a lithograph in this story that impresses everyone even though it’s…

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February 20, 2021 By Ash Brown, Sean Gaffney and Michelle Smith

Bookshelf Briefs 2/20/21

Chihayafuru, Vol. 24 | By Yuki Suetsugu | Kodansha Comics (digital only) – Hooray, I’m finally caught up again on Chihayafuru! This volume finds Chihaya and friends lending their support to Harada-sensei as he vies for the Master’s spot. It’s satisfying seeing Harada-sensei begin to make use of the intel Chihaya provided about the current Master’s weakness, but absolutely the best part of this volume is spending more time with reigning Queen Shinobu, learning how lonely she is, and seeing once again how much she really needs someone like Chihaya in her life. I deeply hope that after this we’re able to see the two of them communicating more and supporting each other. I also really appreciate that despite being this intimidatingly good rival, Shinobu is also written with such…

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February 20, 2021 By Sean Gaffney

I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level, Vol. 9

By Kisetsu Morita and Benio. Released in Japan as “Slime Taoshite 300 Nen, Shiranai Uchi ni Level MAX ni Nattemashita” by GA Novels. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Jasmine Bernhardt. One of the main reasons to read this series, aside from the fact that it’s a relaxing read where you can be reasonably assured that nothing terrible will be happening to anyone ever, is the push-pull characterization of the lead character, Azusa was an OL in Japan, and she’s subsequently been living for… well, over 300 years by now… in a fantasy world. And yet, of course, for the most part she does not remotely act her age, because her mental state has remained in as much of an unchanging mode as her physical one. This…

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LATEST POSTS – SITEWIDE

  • Banner of the Stars: Destiny’s Refrain
  • I’ll Never Set Foot in That House Again!, Vol. 2
  • The Saint’s Magic Power Is Omnipotent, Vol. 3
  • Manga the Week of 3/3/21
  • Invaders of the Rokujouma!?, Vol. 35
  • ROLL OVER AND DIE: I Will Fight for an Ordinary Life with My Love and Cursed Sword!, Vol. 2
  • Pick of the Week: Affection, Romance & Rock ‘n’ Roll
  • Holmes of Kyoto, Vol. 3
  • Bookshelf Briefs 2/20/21
  • I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level, Vol. 9

From the Archives

July 14, 2016 By Ash Brown

Adaptation Adventures: Mushishi

After revisiting and reviewing each volume of Yuki Urushibara's Mushishi for my horror manga review ...

[Read More...]

September 29, 2014 By Ash Brown

My Week in Manga: September 22-September 28, 2014

My News and Reviews Last week unintentionally turned into an Osamu Tezuka Week at Experiments in ...

[Read More...]

November 5, 2020 By Sean Gaffney Leave a Comment

Manga the Week of 11/11/20

SEAN: Need a distraction from the real world? There's manga. Ghost Ship gives us Parallel ...

[Read More...]

June 6, 2012 By Derek Bown 1 Comment

Combat Commentary: Fullmetal Alchemist Ch. 91-96 Armstrong(s) vs. Sloth

I don't often fall in love with fictional characters...okay, that's a lie, I do it all the time. ...

[Read More...]

January 1, 2013 By Sara K. 1 Comment

It Came from the Sinosphere: Full Count

Oh goodness. It's Giddens again. Story Li Ke (Ah Ke) is a young man who works at an ...

[Read More...]

More Posts from the Archives

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  • The NANA Project
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  • BL Bookrack: Wild Adapter
  • Off the Shelf: Tokyo Babylon
  • Please Save My Earth with Melinda & Michelle (at The Hooded Utilitarian)

DRAMA DIARY

By Anna N

Skip Beat! the drama

I recently marathoned 14 episodes of the Tawainese live action version of Skip Beat! which is airing now on ...

[Read More...]

By Anna N

Drama Diary: IRIS Episodes 1-5

I tend to watch mostly romantic comedies when I am viewing k-drama, but IRIS is a bit different. This is a ...

[Read More...]

MORE DRAMA DIARY

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