James Nicoll Reviews

2020’s A Bride’s Story, Vol. 13 is the thirteenth tankōbon in Kaoru Mori’s historical manga, which is titled Otoyomegatari in the original Japanese. The English translation of this volume appeared in 2022.

Mr. Smith, his new wife Talas, guide Ali, and guard Nikolovsky retrace Smith and Ali’s earlier journey across Central Asia in reverse. Old friends await, as do untoward developments.

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2017’s Delicious in Dungeon, Vol. 5 is the fifth tankōbon for Ryoko Kui’s secondary universe comedic ecological fantasy manga. Originally published as Danjon Meshi, Delicious in Dungeon appears in Enterbrain’s Harta. Volume 5 was translated into English in 2018.

Despite the long odds against success, Laios and his companions (half-elf mage Marcille, halfling security expert Chilchuck, and dwarf fighter Senshi) tracked down and defeated the red dragon that ate Laios’ sister Falin. Having retrieved the bits of Falin as yet undigested, Marcille has resurrected Falin. Victory all round, which may lead some readers to wonder why the series did not end with volume 4, rather than continuing for at least eight more volumes.

As Laios and company discover, there are some unforeseen complications.

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2015’s Frau Faust, Volume 1 is the first tankōbon in Kore Yamazaki’s fantasy manga series. The English translation appeared in 2017. 

Legend speaks of a natural philosopher named Faust who long ago made a compact with the demon Mephistopheles. The demon will fulfill Faust’s every desire, but only for a set span of years. When the time is up, the demon will claim Faust’s soul. That will be the end of the corporeal Faust, but not of his soul, which now must suffer eternal torment in hell.

Per author Yamazaki, legend misleads. Faust did indeed make that famous deal. However, Faust is not dead. Furthermore, Faust is not a man.

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2019’s Witch Hat Atelier, Volume Five is the fifth tankōbon in author/artist Kamome Shirahama’s Witch Hat Atelier fantasy manga series. Witch Hat Atelier (Tongari Bōshi no Atoriein the original Japanese) has been serialized in Kodansha’s Monthly Morning Two magazine since July 2016. The English translation of Volume Five appeared in 2020.

When last we saw our heroes, they were venturing into Romonon. The party had divided into: Coco, Tetia, and their teacher Qifrey in one group, and Richeh and Agott in the other. The first group finds itself in a dire situation, while the other is facing a challenge that is even worse. 

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2019’s A Bride’s Story, Vol. 12 is the twelfth tankōbon in Kaoru Mori’s historical manga, which is titled Otoyomegatari in the original Japanese. The English translation of this volume appeared in 2020.

Rather than a single storyline, this volume has a number of threads. However, a number of characters who previously never met before do encounter each other, thanks to the energetic Mr. Smith.

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Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Volume 2¹ is the second collection of the ongoing Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (Japanese: 葬送のフリーレ, Hepburn: Sōsō no Furīren) fantasy manga series. Written by Kanehito Yamada and illustrated by Tsukasa Abe, Frieren has been serialized in Shogakukan’s Weekly Shōnen Sundaysince April 2020. The English translation appeared in 2022. 

Accompanied by her young human apprentice Fern, elf mage Frieren journeys north, hoping to commune with the shade of a long-dead human friend, the hero Himmel. Between the pair and their goal lie thousands of miles, not to mention demon-infested northlands. Daunting? Frieren is an experienced demon fighter. She is a thousand years old … so what matters a few years of trekking?

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2017’s Delicious in Dungeon, Volume 4 is the fourth tankōbon collecting Ryoko Kui’s secondary-world comic ecological fantasy manga. Originally published as Danjon Meshi, Delicious in Dungeon appears in Enterbrain’s Harta magazine. Volume 4 was translated into English in 2018.

Our heroes — human fighter Laios, halfling lock expert Chilchuck, half-elf mage Marcille, and dwarven warrior gourmand Shenshi — return to the orc community they visited earlier, only to find the orcs gone. Vanished. There’s evidence that suggests the orcs left in a hurry. Whatever scared the orcs off must be formidable. Good news for our heroes!

Provided that whatever scared off the orcs is the monster for which the party is searching. 

Provided they survive encountering it.

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Kei Urana’s Gachiakuta is an ongoing dark-fantasy manga series. It has been serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazinesince February 16, 2022. 

Known to some (but probably not those who live there) as Heaven, the town idealizes order. Possessions are treasured as long as they are pristine. Flawed objects are sequestered until they can be discarded into the Abyss. The town treats its ​“tribals” much the same way. Tribals are the descendants of criminals; they are segregated in slums, apart from the good people of the town, until such time as cause is found to throw a tribal or two into the Abyss. 

Rudo’s father was a murderer, cast down ages ago. Rudo is a notorious trash scavenger, an egregious refuse recycler. With the exception of his beloved stepfather Regto and potential love interest Chiwa, everyone in the slums expects Rudo to follow in his father’s footsteps. Blood will always tell. 

When Rudo is found standing over Regto’s body, covered in Regto’s blood, Rudo is immediately arrested.

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Witch Hat Atelier, Volume Four is the fourth tankōbon in author/artist Kamome Shirahama’s Witch Hat Atelier fantasy manga series. Witch Hat Atelier (Tongari Bōshi no Atorie in the original Japanese) has been serialized in Kodansha’s Monthly Morning Two magazine since July 2016. The English translation of Volume Four appeared in 2019. 

This volume offers readers that for which they read fantasy manga: pop quizzes!

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2018’s A Bride’s Story, Vol. 11 is the eleventh tankōbon in Kaoru Mori’s historical manga, which is titled Otoyomegatari in the original Japanese. The English translation of this volume appeared in 2019.

When last we saw English researcher Henry Smith, he was in Ankara and surprised to encounter someone he had last seen in Central Asia. 

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