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beneaththetangles · 2 years

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Reader’s Corner: Cat + Gamer, The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady, and When a Cat Faces West

You Like Me, Don’t You? Vol. 1

This high school romcom is…wildly uneven in terms of quality. On the one hand, it’s got: the stereotypical loser guy (Soukichi) and popular girl (Kasumi) combo in a literature club; cliché, forced romcom scenarios; wonky or missing punctuation; sentence fragments; capitalization errors; ambiguity; tacky emphasis on the female lead’s breasts; misspellings; and awkward phrasing. On the other hand, this story is sometimes cute, funny, genuine, and thoughtful. The two leads are both bookworms, and Soukichi also has a published novel. This opens the doors for some interesting discussions pertaining to writing, editing, and publishing, as well as the enjoyment and evaluation of books. There’s also an amusing section where they talk about how Japanese and western dating conventions compare (or at least what they believe about “western” dating). But in the end, as much as I want to be fair to this book’s good points, You Like Me, Don’t You? felt like a slog that I had to force myself to finish reading. I can’t really recommend it. ~ jeskaiangel

You Like Me, Don’t You? is published by Tentai Books.

My Dress-Up Darling, Vol. 5

After the anime dropped last season, it felt like everyone was talking about My Dress-Up Darling. As someone who has been reading the manga for a while, I feel like Aslan yelling at the White Witch about how much I already know about it. But, anyway. Volume starts starts with Marin and Wakana finishing up one cosplay and moving on to another. Marin wants to play a succubus character from a cute chibi slice of life series, and Gojo is wracking his brain to come up with a good design for the costume. Along the way, the two spend more time together, leading to so many cute moments, including a lot of I wuv him‘s in Marin’s head. It is just adorable. However, much like the anime and the previous volumes, this is still a bit of an ecchi series, with Marin modeling some tight and/or skimpy outfits. Despite the drawbacks, the series is special for the slow burn chemistry between the leads, which is incredibly sweet and so much fun to read. I was shocked at how much I enjoyed volume one, and am equally shocked at how much I am still enjoying the series. Looking forward to volume six dropping this summer! ~ MDMRN

My Dress-Up Darling is published by Square Enix Books.

I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss! (Manga), Vol. 2

If I could, I would give this volume a glowing 10 out of 10 stars! I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss! feels like peak fiction for the villainess isekai / otome game subgenre, though I am absolutely blown away at how original this story is! Truly, this second volume swept me off my feet with its unpredictability and fun. Aileen continues to avoid all the “red flags” so that her bad ending won’t come to pass, but as she is kicking off her new business and gathering information on different events around her, she doesn’t realize that another character also has memories of a past life. Things definitely just got a whole lot more interesting! I love so many things about this volume. For starters, the “lackeys” (especially Isaac!) made the beginning so enjoyable, and Isaac is such a great character that I would have no qualms about him and Aileen becoming a thing—they make an excellent team! Also, the slow burn “romance” between the main leads is so good! I’m hoping that this manga will end on a happy note because I really don’t know what is going to happen, but I need this ship to sail! (King Claude is just so soft!) Again, I am just head over heels about this series. I definitely recommend it as a must-read! ~ Laura A. Grace

I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss (manga) is published by Yen Press.

When a Cat Faces West, Vol. 1

If you enjoy workplace slice of life with a fantasy/sci-fi twist and a dash of mystery, detailed backgrounds celebrating down-at-the-heels urban chic punctuated by tropical plant life, and toe beans, then this is the series for you! In less niche terms, this is a delightful new series from Yuki Urushibara, the creator of Mushishi, set in a Japan where a nebulous shimmer known as ‘flow’ wreaks havoc on reality, descending on a place and causing it to double, mirror, travel backward in time, or disappear altogether, and often doing the same to the people who stumble across its foggy bounds. Although it’s not clear whether flow is scientific or spiritual in origin, what is certain is that it plays off the unconscious thoughts and emotions of people, and that cats are quite sensitive to it. Hirota is an underemployed flow detective of sorts who helps people navigate the sporadic wrinkles in reality. Flow naturally dissipates after an unpredictable period of time (though Hirota is actually pretty good at predicting its lifespan), but a return to normalcy can also be sped along if the emotions that partnered with it to produce the weird and wonderful are dealt with. Hirota is aided in his work by Shacho, his (unfaithful) white cat, and new hire Chima who, although aged thirty-five and a former OL, looks instead to be a rather severe twelve-year-old, thanks to the effects of flow. The emphasis of the storytelling in this first volume is on the relationships between the three flow experts (human and feline alike), and the people they meet. The artwork is gorgeous and compelling enough to lose yourself in, while the characters are very well fleshed out and ring true—even (or especially) Shacho! Also, the bonus pages at the end of the volume are hilarious. In all, this is a charming, gently humorous, and relaxing series, with enough intrigue to convince me that I’ll be following this one for some time to come. ~ claire

When a Cat Faces West is published by Kodansha.

The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady (manga), Vol. 1

In the great mix and match in the world of isekai stories, this particular one pairs a young woman—the princess Anisphia, who regains her memories after being reincarnated in a fantasy world and who uses them to create advanced technology in her new life—with another—Euphyllia, who does seem to belong to this world, but is in a perilous state after being publicly rejected as the betrothed of the crown prince. There is no male harem awaiting Anisphia or Euphie; instead, the former is singularly focused on the latter, whom she rescues from the prince’s false accusations, literally flying off with her and turning her into a research assistant. That bit there is the “new” element that the writer brings into this work. No, it’s not much, barely a novelty really, and unfortunately, the writing isn’t particularly sharp or comedic in the manga either. Although Anisphia is incorrigible, she doesn’t stand out from other heroines. Euphie manages a little better, however, and particularly toward the end of volume one when readers are privy to her self-reflection on how she’s bottled away her emotions. Still, these early chapters are bland, and the would-be yuri romance isn’t compelling either. Perhaps the light novel on which this manga is based fares better, though that would surprise me, for the best element of this particular volume are the wonderful illustrations. Otherwise, this is one isekai you can skip—though not to worry: With all the (mostly) same storylines and character types out there in the genre’s landscape, I’m pretty sure you’ll be able to find a story about a character reincarnated into another world that’ll hit you just right. ~ Twwk

The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady (manga) is published by Yen Press. Volume one releases on May 24th.

Cat + Gamer, Vol. 1

Riko has gained a reputation at work for doing exactly what she needs in an efficient manner and not an iota more, completing all her assignments and leaving by 5:00pm on the dot each day, often at a mad rush. While her co-workers wonder what the reason could be, we nerds all understand: Riko just wants to get home to game! But her routine is about to be shaken up when she agrees to take in a stray kitten, and through ownership of her first pet, Riko will learn and grow in unexpected ways, shaking up her usual plans of applying RPG stratagem to real life. After the initial framework is set, volume one of Cat + Gamer takes place almost exclusively in Riko’s apartment as she plays with and cares for her new kitty. There’s a fun balance between her gamer personality / way of thinking, and the ways she has to adapt her thought patterns, learning all sorts of new things as she cares of her new cat (in bonus chapters, the action of the preceding chapter is hilariously reframed from the cat’s perspective). A simple series—both in composition and art—Cat + Gamer is just three volumes long, which seems to be just about right for a manga that is meant to evoke a peaceful feeling and deliver cute humor. It’s the perfect series to basically do with what Riko herself does with games: take a break from the world and relax. ~ Twwk

Cat + Gamer Volume 1 (manga) is published by Dark Horse Manga and releases May 24th.

Satoko and Nada, Vol. 3

While Satoko and Nada is a fun series, I also appreciate how the mangaka doesn’t shy away from addressing questions and concerns that I think are commonly voiced not only in Japanese society, but also in America. In volume three, this is achieved through two new characters that we meet (briefly) as they raise what I think are valid concerns about who Nada will marry one day. Nada’s own apprehensions (and those of her friends as well) about her fiancé are well handled and thoughtfully addressed. I was worried for Nada, too, and while I love her cheerful self, I have also liked seeing her more reflective side. I also thought it interesting that Christianity is a lot more present in this volume than the previous two. While it’s been shown that one friend, Miracle, attends church, this time Satoko is also shown volunteering at a Christian camp and experiencing Christian community. This series is deeply respectful of the various religions and cultures it depicts, and I honestly think this is one of my favorite things about it! I’m nervously excited for the next volume because it’s the final one, and I am really hoping that it will not end on a sad note. While I am happy for Nada and her fiancé, and about how Satoko has made new friends, I don’t want these ladies to part and go their separate ways, so to speak. Can’t they just continue to be happy roommates forever?! ~ Laura A. Grace

Satoko and Nada is published by Seven Seas.

Modern Villainess: It’s Not Easy Building a Corporate Empire Before the Crash, Vol. 1

Have you ever wished for a reincarnated-as-a-villainess light novel that trades all the customary romance / comedy / fantasy elements for a tale of corporate and political intrigue set in 1990s Japan? Well have I got good news for you! Protagonist Runa is the scion of a powerful zaibatsu (a wealthy business-conglomerate-owning family, defunct in our world but still around in the game’s), as well as an otome game’s villainess. Her story is heavily grounded in late twentieth and early twenty-first century economic and political history, and the author provides helpful notes at the end of each chapter to explain various terms and references. Now reborn and living as a child in the 1990s after having died sometime during or after the 2008 recession in her first life, Runa proceeds to use her knowledge of the world’s future to try to change the course of history and save her game-world Japan’s economy from collapse. Between a lecture on the nature of money, business dealings involving billions of yen, her Swiss bank account, shell corporations, mergers, hedge funds, elections, the Russian mob, and kindergarten (among other things), Runa just doesn’t have time for the content you probably expect from the villainess genre. This volume held my interest, but just barely. If a story about big business and international commerce based on recent history sounds good, check out this volume. Just don’t go into it like I did, expecting it to be anything like other books in the reincarnated-as-a-villainess genre, because you’ll be thoroughly disappointed. I think I’ll set it aside, give it another chance sometime in the future (this time with more accurate expectations), and see if that makes the story less off-putting to me. Then I’ll decide then whether I want to continue the series. ~ jeskaiangel

Modern Villainess: It’s Not Easy Building a Corporate Empire Before the Crash is published by Seven Seas.

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Reader’s Corner is our way of embracing the wonderful world of manga, light novels, and visual novels, creative works intimately related to anime but with a magic all their own. Each week, our writers provide their thoughts on the works their reading—both those recently released as we keep you informed of newly published works and older titles that you might find as magical (or in some cases, reprehensible) as we do.

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beneaththetangles · 2 years

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Reader’s Corner: Cat + Gamer, The Bride of Demise, and Romance of the Imperial Capital Kotogami

Epic wars, yokai, budding romances, and a kitty mark the releases our writers cover for this week’s column. The reviews include a couple of first volume releases—The Bride of Demise and The Iceblade Sorcerer Shall Rule the World—along with continuing volumes of other works and even a one-shot period piece light novel.

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Chitose is in the Ramune Bottle, Light Novel Vol. 2

Chitose is in the Ramune Bottle continues to perplex in volume two, featuring strong characterization for its titular character and a satisfactory conclusion, but also filled with a lot of mediocre and even discomforting material. Take, for instance, the entire first half of this volume, in which Chitose embarks on a fake romantic relationship with one of his friends (I could name her, but she’s as equally bland as the next girl in this series, so it hardly matters) to scare off a would-be stalker. We’re privy to his thoughts, which seem to confirm that this story will be about little more than defining infatuation as “love.” But about halfway through, Chitose explains to a just-introduced character what he thinks it means to be in love: it involves sacrifice, hardship, conflict, and authenticity—all things he and his friends tend to avoid. But as he also explains to Tomoya, he is also aware of this shortcoming: Chitose’s “harem” is filled with selfish kids whose “kind” actions are more self-serving than other students believe them to be. There are a few striking conversations, and a pretty smooth ending, but they’re few and far between. Instead, most of the novel features Chitose’s interactions with and thoughts about the various girls in his group, who are barely distinguishable from one another except by archetypal superficialities. At various times, I wondered if that was actually the point—that the author, Hiromu, doesn’t mean for the characters to stand out yet, both to build them up through their own arcs and to make a statement about superficial relationships. But ultimately, the banal conversations and unoriginal “romantic” situations suggest that Hiromu just doesn’t do high school romance particularly well. And while I appreciate the strength he does ultimately give this volume’s main female character, he also sometimes pulls the story into disappointing directions: at one point, Chitose pretends to sexually assault her to force her to become stronger (a common tactic these days, it seems, based on a similar situation in the Classroom of the Elite anime this season). To this, she responds that she’s leveled up, calling Chitose (albeit with some sarcasm) her “hero.” Yikes. The idea that his “girlfriend” needs to learn to move forward from trauma and stand up for herself is sound, but the execution is thoughtless, the character is too superficial, and the situation doesn’t ring true—something that could be said for too much of this volume and series so far. I hope the weaknesses improve as the volumes move forward, because there’s some great content in Chitose is in the Ramune Bottle—there’s just not enough. ~ Twwk

Chitose is in the Ramune Bottle is published by Yen Press.

READ: Chitose is in the Ramune Bottle Vol. 1 Review

The Iceblade Sorcerer Shall Rule the World, Manga Vol. 1

Sometimes a generic series is exactly what you need. Ray White, ordinary and non-noble incoming student to the prestigious Arnold Academy, is of course not normal at all. He’s the “Iceblade Sorcerer,” a powerful magic user who was vital in a war three years prior. But he’s at the academy to enjoy his youth—beginning, of course, by forming a party (including a roommate/best buddy and a romantic interest) and facing a dangerous challenge in their first test. Yes, this volume resembles dozens of other similar fantasy series, including Dawn of the Witch and Didn’t I say to make my abilities average in the next life?! But the volume also knows it isn’t covering new ground: like its laid-back protagonist, it’s okay just going along with it. (And frankly, with how quickly things develop in these first sparse panels, it feels as if the writer knows that there isn’t much creative about these opening chapters and is hoping to make it quickly through the perfunctory material to get to the real tale.) The artwork for this manga adaptation of a light novel is similarly unpolished but functional, and the frequent and goofy humor lands pretty well. The volume is a fast read, a reasonable way to spend 15 or 20 minutes; I enjoyed the characters, snickered at the laughs, and wondered whether references to The Ancient Magus Bride (another magician named Ainsworth) and Fullmetal Alchemist (a powerful Bradley family and an Armstrong who also likes to take off his shirt and talk about his muscles) were intentional or lazy. Ultimately, it doesn’t really matter, because this volume is mostly fluff, and if you expect as much, this just might be the pleasant read you’re looking for. ~ Twwk

The Iceblade Sorcerer Shall Rule the World is published by Kodansha.

Romance of the Imperial Capital Kotogami: A Tale of Living Alongside Spirits, One-Shot Light Novel

In the Taisho period Japan of a parallel universe, Pokemon yokai are caught have their stories recorded in pokeballs books called Kotogatari by trainers Narrators, who can then call upon the power of these Kotogami to neutralize further yokai. Office worker Akari (coincidence, but funny!) hates stories like the legends and folktales recorded in Kotogatari. Why? Good question—one she herself has trouble answering. But when a rampaging yokai demolishes her apartment, she finds herself reluctantly involved with spirits, forcing her to confront her curious aversion to fanciful tales. This one-shot volume is a fantasy mystery in a historical setting; contrary to most Cross Infinite World releases, the only “romance” here is in the literary sense of that word, so don’t pick this up expect anyone to fall in love. I enjoyed this story both for its historical setting and the mystery, which did a marvelous job of being just simple enough that I could catch some clues and feel smart, while still keeping secrets from me till the end. And no, it’s not actually similar to Pokemon; that’s just me being silly. Recommended. ~ Jeskai

Romance of the Imperial Capital Kotogami: A Tale of Living Alongside Spirits is published by Cross Infinite World.

A Silent Voice, Manga Vol. 3

A Silent Voice is one of those unique series for which there really are not enough words to fully reflect your thoughts and feelings. Despite the personal turning point I reached in volume two (no longer strongly disliking Shoya), volume three was far from easy to read. In another attempt to befriend Shoko, Shoya unexpectedly finds himself in a position not only of being befriended but also of being the key player in Shoko forming new friendships with old classmates. Some reunions he creates will bring a smile to your face, while others leave a more-than-bitter taste in your mouth. Thankfully, the plot twist at the end took that awful taste out of my mouth! (Well, mostly, I think.) While I know this volume was more about focusing on Shoko and her encounters with old classmates, I absolutely loved seeing how Tomohiro and Shoya’s friendship has grown! In fact, the way that Shoya was so vulnerable when he told Tomohiro he was the only friend he could talk to really pulled at my heartstrings. On the flip side, there was one character that we meet who I did not like! I don’t care what this character’s reasons are, but it was wrong of her to want to see Shoya the way he used to be. Shoya is a totally different person now, and I was so glad that he stood his ground, telling her he didn’t want to be like her and have a dirty mouth. Despite my anger at this new character near the end of the volume, I still really enjoyed this installment and am very curious as to what will happen now that we have met these new classmates. ~ Laura A. Grace

A Silent Voice is published by Kodansha.

READ: A Silent Voice Reviews: Vol.1 // Vol. 2

Cat + Gamer, Manga Vol. 2

Ever seen a cat in berserker mode? If you’ve owned one, I’m sure you have, but what Cat + Gamer does so well is to get us get us thinking of a kitty’s actions in the language of gaming. Riko, the titular gamer, sees the world through the lens of games, and that’s where most of the humor in Cat + Gamer comes from as, chapter by chapter, she interacts with and learns more about her new kitten, Musubi. While the series is neither uproariously hilarious nor deeply affecting, it is a relaxing, cute read, and volume two is better than the first, settling nicely into the pattern of 1) Musubi causes a problem 2) Riko finds her cute and irresistible anyway 3) Riko discovers something new about cats. Each chapter’s final page, which shows a scene from the preceding material but from Musubi’s point of view, is an adorable addition. The entire volume, in fact, exudes a sweet energy in every panel. And that’s exactly the kind of manga, I think, that could find a place in many readers’ bookshelves—though as Riko learns, beware of displaying anything you like because they might just become your kitty’s next plaything. ~ Twwk

Cat + Gamer Volume 2 is published by Dark Horse Manga.

READ: Cat + Gamer Vol. 1 Review

The Bride of Demise, Light Novel Vol. 1

There’s a whole lot going on in Bride of Demise. The sci-fantasy adventure dabbles in cyberpunk, is tonally grimdark, and takes place in a post-apocalyptic school setting. Combining elements of Starship Troopers, The Terminator, Re:ZERO, and The Executioner and Her Way of Life, this ambitious series is a thrilling read—though it tries too hard to be too many things at once. The prologue (and shorter intros before each chapter) do a wonderful job of introducing the dark fantasy elements of a world in which much of the population was killed off by “kihei.” Kihei are creatures who combine organic and mechanic elements and are immensely dangerous, even to soldiers—most of whom are students attending a school that offers a number of different tracks for studying or learning to fight these enemies of mankind. Kou, our protagonist, is not in the combatant track—until a mission gone awry leads to him “marrying” the mysterious and powerful White Princess, which leads the pair to a secret class at the school and missions of epic proportion. In fact, volume one turns the dial up to 100 from early on. Keishi Ayasato has so much story to tell and so much ground to cover that he skips months at a time, jumping from major event to major event. He ultimately brings the tale together in a compelling and surprising finale, though like the rest of the volume, it’s a bit rushed. So to with the relationships in this book, particularly between the brides and grooms, who are supposed to have bonds that run deep and intimate. But the only bonding moments between Kou and the White Princess are in either action sequences or lofty words of love that unfortunately come across as rather melodramatic and mechanical. The dialogue is clunky and stilted, and the climactic emotional scenes aren’t quite as fulfilling as they should be. A shame, because Ayasato has an inventive mind and weaves a pretty tight tale that should land better than it does. Here’s hoping that volume two, which can’t possibly pass the heights of action in volume one (can it?), lets this story and its character breathe a little before throwing them into more daring and violent adventures. ~ Twwk

The Bride of Demise is published by Yen Press.

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“Reader’s Corner” is our way of embracing the wonderful world of manga, light novels, and visual novels, creative works intimately related to anime but with a magic all their own. Each week, our writers provide their thoughts on the works they’re reading—both those recently released as we keep you informed of newly published works, and those older titles that you might find as magical (or in some cases, reprehensible) as we do.

#Manga #Light Novels #Chitose is in the Ramume Bottle #Chitose kun wa Ramune Bin no Naka #The Iceblade Sorcerer Shall Rule the World #Hyouken no Majutsushi ga Sekai wo Suberu: Sekai Saikyou no Majutsushi de Aru Shounen wa Majutsu Gakuin ni Nyuugakusuru #Romance of the Imperial Capital Kotogami: A Tale of Living Alongside Spirits #Teito Kotogami Romantan Kinrou Otome to Oshikake Juusha #A Silent Voice #Koe no Katachi #Cat + Gamer #Nekogurashi no Gamer san #The Bride of Demise #Shuuen no Hanayome #Reader's Corner #Articles #Author: TWWK #Author: Jeskai Angel #Author: Laura A. Grace

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