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Pick of the Week: Searching for My Perfect Manga

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ASH: Blade of the Immortal certainly isn’t a new series, the deluxe edition being at least the fourth time it’s been released in English, but this is probably(?) the last time I’ll be able to make it my pick, and so I will! One of the first manga I ever read and made a point to start collecting (and then recollecting), the series continues to hold significant meaning for me.

SEAN: I wasn’t able to watch the anime of Bocchi the Rock! because Bocchi’s social anxiety was a bit too much for me with sound and motion. I’m hoping that on paper it will be more tolerable, so Bocchi is my pick this week.

MICHELLE: I’m a little iffy on the premise of Searching for My Perfect Brother, but it *is* josei and I like the cover, so I suppose it can have my (admittedly tentative) endorsement this week.

ANNA: I have similar feelings as Michelle about Searching for My Perfect Brother, but I am a little curious to check it out.

The Apothecary Diaries, Vol. 9

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By Natsu Hyuuga and Touko Shino. Released in Japan as “Kusuriya no Hitorigoto” by Hero Bunko. Released in North America by J-Novel Club. Translated by Kevin Steinbach.

I may not mention it often in these reviews, possibly as I’m distracted by all the crime solving, political dealings, and Maomao slowly learning that she can rely on others for things, but The Apothecary Diaries can also be a comedy, and it has some very, very good jokes. This is possibly the funniest volume of all, featuring a new character (we’d seen her a bit before, but she’s in full flower here) who is here solely to be hilarious, and it works. Honestly, some of the humor is fourth wall breaking to an extent, be it Chue pulling little flags of the nations out of her sleeves (I hope we see some doves or rabbits next book) or En’en pulling out fans with “:Go for it, Yao!” written on them to cheer her on when she’s trying to earnestly get her point across. Unfortunately for Yao and En’en, we may not see them for a volume or two, as The Apothecary Diaries is going on a world tour.

After the stunning events of the last volume, Maomao is now being forced to learn surgery on the fly in order to tend to Jinshi’s brand and make sure that it doesn’t get infected. This will require more knowledge than she has, so she’s forced to go to her adopted father, who presents her with an impossible problem to solve… well, it would be impossible for Maomao by herself, as she doesn’t care about things that don’t interest her, but with Yao and En’en also there, she’s able to discover it (and learn more about Luomen’s somewhat tragic past). Now she’s learning how to be a surgeon the hard way, especially since women aren’t allowed to be surgeons, but everyone is politely ignoring it given who her father is, who her adopted father is, and who her not-yet-lover is. All of this is to prepare for a sea voyage, as Jinshi is being sent to the West to see what’s going on with Gyokuyou’s older brother.

It has to be said, a lot of the appeal of this series is “weak-willed men are led around by the nose of strong women”, and if you like that, this is also the volume for you. Basen’s older brother Baryou is so ill and apathetic that Chue basically has to “do all the work” in order to get a child (and she’s being asked for a second one, so asks Maomao not to bother her at night). As for Jinshi, he and Maomao are sort of being cagey around each other after the last book, and it lasts until the end of this one, when Maomao finally snaps and tells Jinshi that if he’s going to be so manipulative that he brands himself to get her to stay with him, the least he can do is actually manipulate her properly, rather than being half-assed about it. Jinshi’s response to this is that he wants her to slap him, which is a bit too masochistic for my tastes, but certainly fits his character.

I didn’t even get to talk about Yao, who is fantastic in this book, though I fear she’s going to be a lot less happy because she lacks Maomao’s connections. In any case, this is a good read, especially if you’re waiting for the anime to debut later this week.

Tearmoon Empire, Vol. 10

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By Nozomu Mochitsuki and Gilse. Released in Japan as “Tearmoon Teikoku Monogatari” by TO Books. Released in North America by J-Novel Club. Translated by Madeleine Willette.

This volume starts off with something we have rarely seen in this series: the actual beginning of a new story arc. For some reason or another, the author and publisher of this title are very bad at making climaxes in this series happen at the end of the volume itself, so we have the next book start with the climax instead or an epilogue chapter rather than the next arc. But here, at last, we start off with something new: Mia, Rafina, and company headed off to Equestria, there to meet up with the chiefs who make up that nomadic people. Or at least, they are until Mia and Rafina, our for a ride, are beset by bandits. The head of the bandits turns out to be the daughter of one of the tribe leader, and there’s a good reason that her people are reduced to this: a poor harvest means they’re hard up for food. Something that Mia understands all too well…

I’ve been complaining about the narrator for a while now, so it’s time I turned around and mentioned the points where I do appreciate it. The manga doesn’t really use a narrator, making Mia far more sympathetic, but the new anime adaptation (which so far is excellent) is definitely playing it up. It was a highlight of the early books, but grew a bit wearying as we began to see Mia genuinely growing as a person. Where it works best in this book is when it’s looking at everyone else’s thoughts – seeing Ludwig or Rafina staring at Mia talking about what is inevitably food, and thinking that this is the point when they realize that she’s not a great sage but a massive faker… and then they leap to a different conclusion to support their own love for Mia, and the narrator is disappointed once more. This is funny as hell.

Bel, as always, gets little to to in this volume, but for a change what she does get is fantastic. We haven’t paid quite as much attention to her past… which is to say, the Bad Future #3… in a while, but that does not mean that she isn’t constantly dwelling on it, especially given that her entire existence is something of a secret. But now she’s best friends with Citrina, and may finally be able to reach out and make promises without getting her hopes dashed by everyone promising to come back and then dying on her. (There is some mild subtext between her and Citrina, which I’m content to ignore, partly as they’re both 10 and partly as I’m sure it’s unintentional, but…) She also says she’s going to tell Citrina about her secrets when they get back to the Empire, which should be very interesting if it happens, and might be the start of a new arc.

But first we have to end this arc, which of course does not neatly wrap up here. Is Abel’s sister irredeemably evil? Can Mia possibly win a horse race riding a horse the narrator repeatedly compares to Mia herself? And did we just see the start of a Rafina x Malong ship? The next book is… for once, not that far away! Also, go watch the anime.

Surviving in Another World As a Villainess Fox Girl!, Vol. 2

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By Riia Ai and Mucha. Released in Japan as “Scenario Nante Iranai! Rival Chara no Kitsunekko” on the Shousetsuka ni Narou website. Released in North America by Cross Infinite World. Translated by Miki “Zombie” Zuckerman.

I will admit, my memory is not that great. I’m fine when a book comes out so frequently that I can retain everything easily, like Bookworm. But when a series catches up, it can be a struggle for me to recall what was happening before, or who the minor characters are. And this goes double for when it’s been a year since the first volume, as I’ve forgotten almost ALL the main characters. All I recalled from the last book was the basic plot, and the two “reincarnated from Japan” characters. I also recalled they mentioned that the “heroine” would be appearing soon, something that filled them with dread. Well, she’s here, and her annoying, obviously evil behavior was making me twitch, and reminding me that the writing and characterization in the first book were not the best. But we then got to the twist, and I also remembered that yeah, the author’s ideas are what’s worth remembering. They work well.

Miku is settling in at the guild, and going on fun errands with Macro, who talks bluntly but she can see the good in him. Unfortunately, she’s almost immediately kidnapped and taken off in a cart. There she meets Laura, a Sound Butterfly girl who can combine her powers with Miku’s to help them escape the gang’s clutches! Back at the guild, it’s revealed to Miku that Laura is the heroine of the game that Claire has always said this is, and that means that Miku is that much closer to dying… especially since Miku has finally realized that she’s fallen in love with Macro! And Laura suddenly declares that she too is in love with Macro (after, oddly, declaring that she’s in love with Ektor and then backtracking on it), and is so sad that she’s going to have to win his heart and have Miku tragically lose! Is Laura really as evil as she seems?

No, thankfully, though it took me a while to cotton on. I’ve seen this sort of heroine before, in I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss, and I assumed Laura was similar to Lilia, in that she can’t see the events as anything but achievements in a game. And to be fair, Laura is doing her level best to be as evil-sounding as possible, just to turn everyone against her. Laura’s true identity works much better, and also allows Miku to be able to change her fate and survive. That said, this book still has a Miku-shaped hole in the middle of it. She’s very nice, and I admired her resolve towards the end, but she’s just not as affecting to m as she should be. The same applies to Claire and Ektor, whose not-romance is thuddingly predictable in the best “Th-there’s no way I’m interested in this jerk!” way.

This is the final volume, so I will not have to stretch my memory come next October. I do recommend reading the series for its interesting take on “villainess” books and point of view, but it feels like a series by someone whose writing still has room to improve.

The Do-Over Damsel Conquers the Dragon Emperor, Vol. 3

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By Sasara Nagase and Mitsuya Fuji. Released in Japan as “Yarinaoshi Reijō wa Ryūtei Heika o Kōryaku-chū” by Kadokawa Beans Bunko. Released in North America by Cross Infinite World. Translated by piyo.

When I was younger and more emo, I would sometimes write things that I knew people would hate just because I wanted to amuse myself watching their reaction. Not my finest moment, let me tell you. Sarasa Nagase is not quite that bad, but there’s a sense when reading this series that she knows that no one wants to deal with the fact that Jill is 11 years old (10 in the first two volumes). the characters in the book are disgusted by it. Judging by the afterword, the readers are not very happy with it either. So of course, it is ground in our faces throughout this book how these two are over the moon for each other but Jill is so, so underage. It’s a shame, because otherwise this would be a terrific LN series to recommend, especially if you like kickass women, because Jill does kick ass. But any time you have to say “she’s not 11 technically”, that’s not great, Ryan.

Having won over two of his family, Hadis is still dealing with the fallout of everything else that happened in the second book. Everyone just seems to default hate him, and he can’t introduce Jill as the Dragon Consort because it will come out that she’s from Kratos and cause even more uproar. Into this mess wander more family members: Natalie, the second princess, who has low self-esteem but is otherwise the most normal and put-together of the royals; Frida, the young third princess, who is shy but also very good at magic; and, most importantly, Vissel, Hadis’ older brother, and one of the few people that he trusts. Which makes it a shame that, as Jill knows from her prior life, Vissel will be the big betrayal that leads to Hadis finally snapping. How’s Jill going to solve THIS mess?

To be honest, mostly by hitting things. The villainess books as a genre run the spectrum of different types of heroines, some of them crafty and long-term planner sorts, some of them massive improvisers, and some who rely on their large pool of allies. And then there’s Jill, who has never mean a problem she cannot beat the shit out of. She is definitely on the “dumb muscle” side of the equation, which is sometimes a problem, but honestly, “straightforward talk and occasional violence” genuinely seems to be the way to go in this case. She also claims that she’s absolutely terrible at romantic things, and so is Hadis, but the two of them make up for any conscious effort by pure subconscious effort – they don’t so much flirt as scream their passion at each other at massive volume. Which is adorable, of course, but… again, Jill is 11.

There’s several more books in the series out in Japan, but after three in a row over the last six months, which is highly unusual for Cross Infinite World, it appears we’re taking a break before the next one. If you can get over its biggest hurdle – and I don’t blame you if you can’t – this is worth reading purely for Jill’s force of personality.

Manga the Week of 10/18/23

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SEAN: At last, it’s finally getting chilly in the mornings again.

ASH: Finally!

SEAN: We start with Airship, which has 3 print titles: Failure Frame: I Became the Strongest and Annihilated Everything With Low-Level Spells 8, Monster Girl Doctor 10 (the final volume), and Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation 24.

There’s also an early digital release for A Tale of the Secret Saint 4.

Dark Horse has the 10th volume of Blade of the Immortal: Deluxe Edition. It’s the final volume.

ASH: I’ve been gladly double-dipping to upgrade to the deluxe version. (My wallet will appreciate the break, though!)

SEAN: Ghost Ship has Who Wants to Marry a Billionaire? 6 and Wicked Trapper: Hunter of Heroes 3. And in Ghost Ship-adjacent mature titles, we also see Love is an Illusion! 4 and Succubus and Hitman 5.

One debut from J-Novel Club, in their Heart line. Fiancée No More: The Forsaken Lady, the Prince, and Their Make-Believe Love (Konyaku Haki no Sono Saki ni: Suterare Reijō, Ōji-sama ni Dekiai (Engi) Sareru) It’s another Cinderella story, with the heroine’s ability to read people’s emotions causing her issues, especially since the Prince is trying to pretend he’s madly in love with her.

ASH: Uh oh. Awkward!

SEAN: Also out: the 9th Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill manga volume, The Coppersmith’s Bride 3, Death’s Daughter and the Ebony Blade 6, Formerly, the Fallen Daughter of the Duke 4, I Surrendered My Sword for a New Life as a Mage 4, Now I’m a Demon Lord! Happily Ever After with Monster Girls in My Dungeon 6, Only I Know That This World Is a Game 2, the 3rd Peddler in Another World: I Can Go Back to My World Whenever I Want manga volume, VTuber Legend: How I Went Viral after Forgetting to Turn Off My Stream 6, and When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace 8.

ANNA: I imagined that this block of text was one manga with a really, really, long title.

ASH: All in good time.

SEAN: Kodansha Books has the 4th volume of The Dawn of the Witch.

Kodansha Manga has a print debut for a book they’ve been releasing digitally: Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister (Amagami-san Chi no Enmusubi), a Weekly Shonen Magazine romcom, features a guy trying to get into medical school who’s offered a place to stay at a shrine… provided he marry one of the three hot shrine maidens who live there.

Also in print: Blue Lock 9, Parasyte Full Color Collection 4, and The Seven Deadly Sins Omnibus 12.

ANNA: Going to remember to pick up Blue Lock for the fans in my house.

SEAN: Digitally the debut is Searching for My Perfect Brother (Watashi no Tadashii Onii-chan), a josei title from Be Love. A college student who was separated from her brother by divorce has been searching for him… he used to help her sleep, and she’s been suffering from insomnia. She gets closer to a co-worker at her part-time job, who reminds her of her brother… but he has a very big secret.

MICHELLE: Hm.

ANNA: Yeah, I dunno, but I also am always curious about new josei.

ASH: Likewise.

SEAN: We also see Boss Wife 7, Gamaran 14, Issak 3, and Mr. Bride 9.

There’s a new manga from One Peace Books. It Takes Two Tomorrow, Too (Futari Ashitamo Sorenarini) is a seinen title from Kurage Bunch. It’s one of those ‘watch the sweet couple’ titles, as we see them having lived together for two months.

ASH: I’ll be giving this one a closer look soon.

SEAN: Two debuts from Seven Seas. Dungeon Friends Forever (Dungeon no Osananajimi) is a Romcom from my nemesis’ spinoff, Comic Alive+. As you can likely tell, it combines a dungeon crawl and the childhood friend romance genre.

A Stepmother’s ‏Märchen, aka The Fantasie of a Stepmother, is another Tapas webtoon put out in full color. A beleaguered mother, whose stepchildren grew distant and cold with her after their father died, finds herself back in time to the day her husband was buried. Can she try to mend the relationship with her stepchildren?

Also from Seven Seas: Dragon Goes House-Hunting 9, Gap Papa: Daddy at Work and at Home 3, Hunting in Another World With My Elf Wife 4, I Think I Turned My Childhood Friend Into a Girl 4, Kageki Shojo!! 10, My Deer Friend Nokotan 4, Reincarnated as a Sword 11, Servamp 19, and Versailles of the Dead 5 (the final volume).

ASH: Oh! I should catch up with Versailles of the Dead.

SEAN: No debuts for Viz, but we do see Asadora! 7, Boy’s Abyss 3, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End 9, Golden Kamuy 30, Love’s in Sight! 4, Mission: Yozakura Family 7, Record of Ragnarok 8, Spy x Family 10, Twin Star Exorcists 29, and Undead Unluck 13.

Yen On has two debuts. If the Villainess and Villain Met and Fell in Love (Akuyaku Reijō to Akuyaku Reisoku ga, Deatte Koi ni Ochitanara: Nanashi no Seirei to Keiyaku Shite Oidasareta Reijō wa, Kyō mo Reisoku to Kisoiatte Iru Yō Desu) combines so many current trends. Weak-to-strong, magic academy, villainess, broken engagements, etc.

The other one, The Lawyer in Shizukuishi Sleeps with a Wolf (Shizuku-ishi-chou no Horitsuka wa Ookami to Nemuru) looks like it’s BL but isn’t. It’s about two brothers, one of whom turns into a wolf for mysterious reasons, and their struggles with justice (the brother who does not turn into a wolf is a cop). I’ve heard this is pretty good. I think it’s a one shot.

ANNA: OK, I’m a little curious about this.

ASH: I could be pretty easily convinced to give it a try.

SEAN: We also get Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian 4, High School Prodigies Have It Easy Even in Another World! 9, My Happy Marriage 5, and Sasaki and Peeps 5.

The big debut for Yen Press is Bocchi the Rock!, a 4-koma that spawned a cult hit anime in fall of last year! Hitori wants to be a popular rock guitarist. She’s got the skills, but she also has terrible social anxiety, and that’s where the comedy comes in. It runs in Manga Time Kirara Max.

ASH: I shouldn’t be surprised, but I somehow missed that it started as a 4-koma.

SEAN: Yen Press is also releasing a new, fancy, awesome edition, CLAMP Premium Collection Tokyo Babylon. That said, I’m not reading this again. It ran in Wings, meaning I can resurrect my ancient joke of calling its genre “whatever Wings is”.

MICHELLE: I do love it, and am happy new readers might discover it, but I already own it twice over.

ANNA: Every time a new edition of a CLAMP title comes out, an angel with black wings sheds a tear for X/1999 being unfinished.

ASH: Alas, it’s true.

SEAN: Minato’s Laundromat (Minato Shouji Coin Laundry) is a BL title from Gene Pixiv. A man who runs a laundromat finds that one of the high school kids who frequents the place is gay.

Sasaki and Miyano Official Comic Anthology is what it sounds like.

Also from Yen Press: Angels of Death Episode.0 6, Breasts Are My Favorite Things in the World! 7, The Case Study of Vanitas 10, Cheeky Brat 8, Coffee Moon 4, Dead Mount Death Play 10, For the Kid I Saw in My Dreams 11 (the final volume), From the Red Fog 5 (also a final volume), Goblin Slayer Side Story II: Dai Katana 5, Hi, I’m a Witch, and My Crush Wants Me to Make a Love Potion 3, In Another World with My Smartphone 10, Kowloon Generic Romance 5, Laid-Back Camp 14, Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story 6, Mint Chocolate 9, Murciélago 22, She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat 3, So I’m a Spider, So What? The Daily Lives of the Kumoko Sisters 6 (also also a final volume), The Summer Hikaru Died 2, Triage X 26, and a 3rd artbook for Yana Toboso Artworks Black Butler.

MICHELLE: I still need to read Kowloon Generic Romance and The Summer Hikaru Died!

ASH: Same! And I’ve heard such good things about both of them.

SEAN: So much manga, I’m starting to feel like Bocchi. What manga makes you anxious?

Accidentally in Love: The Witch, the Knight, and the Love Potion Slipup, Vol. 2

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By Harunadon and Eda. Released in Japan as “Koisuru Majo wa Elite Kishi ni Horegusuri o Nomasete Shimaimashita: Itsuwari kara Hajimaru Watashi no Dekiai Seikatsu” by DRE Novels. Released in North America by J-Novel Heart. Translated by Arthur Miura.

I have to give this book credit. I finished it and it kept me reasonably entertained, despite doing literally everything wrong that it could possibly do. First off, it was going to be hard to begin with. The first volume was very much finished. Done in one. So a second (and, it would seem, a third) seems like overkill. But, I get it, new novel imprint, please produce content. Secondly, the title, which is entirely about the events in the first book, makes about as much sense as The Ideal Sponger Life when it comes to future books, right? Wrong. What if we used ANOTHER love potion! And of yes, the forgotten, slightly evil childhood friend is here too. Plus, Charlotte is back. Remember the girl who says loins constantly? She’s still saying that, more than ever, and she’s also playing detective and being watched over by a guy who I know is being shipped with her but I’m ignoring that. Despite ALL this: not too bad.

Cecily and Zeke are now in love, and she’s met his family and gotten their approval to get married. Her mother also approves, though she seems to be constantly smirking about something. Now she just has to get her father’s approval, which is likely to be a problem, as he’s one of THOSE fathers. This also means that she has to go back to her witch village, which she supposedly can’t return to for another year. But her mom says it will be OK, so…? To add to all this, Charlotte decides she’s going to come with her, mostly as she feels lonely without Cecily. This means Alphonse, her guard, and Maria, her maid, also tag along. This trip has gotten much bigger. Still, they all arrives, and things seem to be going well… till her childhood friend Cain arrives. Turns out he’s also a witch… and he’s just dosed her with a love potion!

Despite all my whining above, most of this is handled pretty well. Except the loins thing. Still annoyed about that. But Cain is an antagonist without slipping over into pure evil, and his motivations are mostly “a childhood thing I dreamed of for ten years has been smashed to bits by reality”. The love potion may have Cecily says she loves Cain and want to spend all her time with him, but that’s ALL that it does, and when Cain, out of frustration, DOES try to kiss her, she’s able to resist it. As with the first book, true love wins out over dosed love. Cecily and Zeke are, frankly, a bit too wet and soppy for my taste, but that is the genre that I am reading, so I suppose I can forgive it. And while Charlotte may act more like a 7-year-old than a 14-year-old, her “detective” bits were pretty cute and funny.

There’s a third book on the way, which I assume will have the second wedding, back in the capital. I do wonder how they’ll work a love potion into it, though… In any case, this was decent, despite (waves hand aimlessly) everything about it.

An Introvert’s Hookup Hiccups: This Gyaru Is Head Over Heels for Me!, Vol. 4

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By Yuishi and Kagachisaku. Released in Japan as “Inkya no Boku ni Batsu Game de Kokuhaku Shitekita Hazu no Gal ga, Dō Mitemo Boku ni Beta Bore Des” by HJ Bunko. Released in North America by J-Novel Club. Translated by Satoko Kakihara.

As I was reading this book and looking at the inner illustrations, I am reminded that the core audience for this is meant to be guys, and most likely guys trying to relive their past high school history only with much better luck with women. As such, the art is very reminiscent of old-school visual novels: try not to show the guy at all, and if you do show him, make it as little as possible. That can’t quite be done here, because so much of this art is “the perfect date”, which involves things like our young couple making the ‘heart’ sign with their hands, but it mostly fits, as do the covers. The Introvert is the reader. The Gyaru is what we’re here for. Well, that and the happy ending, which this book drags out as long as possible but eventually gets to.

Well, Yoshin and Nanami have finally gotten to the one-month mark, and they’re both ready to confess their terrible, terrible secrets. But before that, they have one last date to go on… or rather, two dates, which they insist is the same date. The first day is her choice, and we see them go to a sweets-themed amusement park, where they see chocolate made, go on train rides around the park, and take cute pictures of each other. The next day is his choice, and they go to a petting zoo, getting to deal with sheep, monkeys, polar bears, and many others, and take cute pictures of each other. Then they go to a shrine, where both basically pray for the gods to watch over them as they confess their terrible, terrible secrets. Finally, we get to the following day at school, where Nanami leads Yoshin to the spot she confessed to him… and says it was all a lie.

I will admit, this book can be a bit trying at times. It is so sweet it’s almost sickness inducing. Not only are Yoshin and Nanami adorable together in the eyes of the reader, everyone else in the book thinks so too. Amusement park employees squee over them. Little kids point out how they’re holding hands. Old folks who’ve been married for fifty years say that the two of them already feel like they’re married. All of this despite the fact that, until the end of the book, kisses on the cheek is as far as they’ve gone. Even the confession, where Nanami admits she asked him out on a dare, and Yoshin admits that he overheard this and knew, is framed adorably, with a “Gift of the Magi” quality to it as they both beg each other for forgiveness and affirm their love. Heck, they talk a lot in this book about what they’ll do when they have kids. These two have it bad for each other.

So yes, this is good, but a bit much at times. What’s worse, there is a 5th book, so we get even more sweetness without the pull of “they’re secretly sad because they think they’ll break up”. What could possibly happen now? Licking ice cream off each other’s face? Who knows?

The Deer King, Vol. 1

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By Nahoko Uehashi and Masaaki Yamamoto. Released in Japan as “Shika no Ō” by Kadokawa Bunko. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Cathy Hirano.

I was not originally planning to read this book, as I have sort of given up on any license that is basically “we got this because there’s an anime movie version of it”, and most folks saw this when the movie came out two years ago. But then I saw it was from the author of the Moribito series, and I recalled a lot of friends were very much into that series, so I thought I would give it a shot. I’m glad I did, as it’s a very different kettle of fish to the standard “what if we were transported to another world?” fantasy novel that you see these days. The Deer King is a more fantasy kind of fantasy book, exploring a world where, over two centuries ago, a plague ravaged the land. Now that plague has returned, and doctors are desperately trying to figure out how it’s spreading and how to cure it. Meanwhile, one of our two main characters has it, and instead of dying he seems to be changing.

The book is divided between two protagonists, alternating their stories. Van is a rebel leader who was captured and has now been sentenced to work in the salt mines as a slave. Suddenly the mine is invaded by wild dogs – and those who are bitten go into convulsions and die. Van does not die, though, but seems to gain some sort of unworldly connection with something instead. He takes the one survivor – a toddler who was also bitten but did not die – and escapes, trying to find a place to stay. Meanwhile, a doctor, Hohsalle, has discovered that an ancient plague is returning, seemingly brought about by being bitten by wild dogs/wolf hybrids. Is all of this somehow being deliberately engineered in order to kill off the conquerors? and can Hohsalle find a cure or a vaccine while also negotiating troubling politics?

The double viewpoint can be frustrating – this 350-page book is divided into sixths, with Van getting part 1, 3, and 5, and Hohsalle 2, 4, and 6. Just as you’re getting into the narrative from one protagonist, it switches to the other. That said, I also appreciate the different viewpoints. Van can be difficult to like, despite the fact that he’s clearly meant to have the audience’s sympathy – it’s not quite clear what he’s become after being bitten, but the general sense is that if he ever gives into it and stops trying to be human, Bad Things will happen. Which, um, makes it a bit of a problem that Yuna, the little girl he rescued and then adopted, has been kidnapped. As for Hohsalle, his care as a doctor is excellent, and he clearly wants to save people, but he’s also rather casual and flippant about the other aspects of life. We frequently follow his bodyguard and straight man, Makokan, just for a more down-to-earth viewpoint.

Still, the plot was interesting enough that I’ll read the second volume. recommended for those who like high fantasy combined with race-against-time thrillers.

Pick of the Week: Ice Guys and Sentai Guys

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SEAN: It’s a new season of anime, and several of my favorites are finally getting a chance to shine. As such, my dual pick of the week is the 9th volume of The Apothecary Diaries and the 2nd manga volume of Tearmoon Empire. Go watch the anime, please.

MICHELLE: Super Morning Star looks like fun, so that gets my vote this week!

ASH: Had I not completely misremembered its release date, Nejishiki would have definitely been my pick last week seeing that it collects some important and influential alternative manga touchstones. But if I am to limit myself to this week’s releases, I’ll have to admit that I am rather curious about The Ice Guy and the Cool Girl.

ANNA: I’m also intrigued by The Ice Guy and the Cool Girl, so I’ll make that my pick as well.