This week on Reader’s Corner, we feature the first volume of the Elaina the Wandering Witch spin-off, volume nine of both Helck and Drifting Dragons, an expectedly disappointing release from Io Sakisaka, and much more! Hit the links below to read our manga, manhwa, and light novel reviews!

Apparently, Disillusioned Adventurers Will Save the World (Vol. 4) • Drifting Dragons (Vol. 9) • Helck (Vol. 9) • I Want to End This Love Game (Vol. 2) • Overgeared (Vol. 3) • Riviere and the Land of Prayer (Vol. 1) • Sakura, Saku (Vol. 3) • Scribbles (Vol. 3)

Scribbles, Art Book Vol. 3

The third installment in mangaka Kaoru Mori’s eclectic sketchbook series kicks off with an intriguing peek into her process: early “story ideas” for A Bride’s Story, which take the form of winsome character sketches rather than text. From there, we jump immediately into a few pages of fanciful character designs inspired by Italian and Spanish dishes—Bruschetta is fun and flirty while Bagna Cauda is “ill-tempered and languid”—before spiraling into a dizzying array of thumbnails, croquis, and fully developed illustrations, included a few inked pages of manga that tell the origin story of the Scribbles series itself. There are relatively few maids this time around, and a much higher proportion of animals and random objects, jumbled together in often surprising juxtaposition. The horses are to be expected, but Mori’s excellence in rendering rats without reference material is unexpected and oddly charming. Mori’s banter, in the form of explicatory notes accompanying the bulk of the drawings, continues in all its unfiltered glory, providing insights into her likes and dislikes, and giving the distinct impression that she’s not really paying attention to what she’s saying as her commentary takes you places with such unexpected suddenness at times that you’ll find yourself burst out in laughter—sometimes the nervous kind! The volume is rated “Older Teen” with reason, as Mori can be a tad risqué and there are some nudes. Of all the volumes so far, I’ve enjoyed this the most, not just because the images are a little more diverse than the previous volumes’ sexy ladies and cute girls, but also because the illustrations in this collection capture a sense of movement that is really quite striking. All in all, another valuable addition to the art book collection! ~ claire

Scribbles is published in hardback by Yen Press.

READ Reviews of Scribbles: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2

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Helck, Manga Vol. 9

As we move nearer and nearer to the conclusion, it’s becoming harder and harder to read Helck—not because of some diminishing quality to the work, but because there’s so much tension for a series that started with such humor and continues to feature characters drawn in cute and cartoony ways. We love so many of these characters, and to see them approach the possibility of death and suffer in emotional and physical ways is just too much! And volume nine, in which Helck and Vermilion invade the human kingdom in an attempt to assassinate the king while another demon force attempts to destroy the Tower in the Northwest, continues to show just how unrelenting the story is now: heroes that refuse to give up are met by equally unyielding enemies; a favorite character is tortured; and a major cliffhanger ends the volume. In between are a number of great moments, including one featuring Vermilio revealing her powers and “Twigelion” playing a significant role, as I predicted in my volume eight review. There are still several volumes to go until Helck reaches its conclusion, and while I need more of this series in my life, I’m simultaneously not sure if my heart can take it. But like our heroes, forward and onward we go! ~ Twwk

Helck is published by VIZ Media.

READ Reviews of Helck: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5 // Vol. 6 // Vol. 7 // Vol. 8

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Riviere and the Land of Prayer, Light Novel Vol. 1

Riviere is not the protagonist; that would be MacMillia. But this is set in the Land of Prayer, the small island nation of Cururunelvia, which is rather difficult to pronounce even in your head, so it’s a mercy it has a nickname. It’s called the Land of Prayer because the magic that fills the atmosphere of the rest of the world is markedly absent here, and instead, the miracle working happens through “sancta”: objects infused with special power through prayer, albeit rather unpredictably. But like the old adage about being careful what you wish for, in Cururunelvia, you need to be careful what you pray for, because the answer is never quite what you intended. In fact, you might even call it a bit of a curse, which is where MacMillia and Riviere come in. You see, they do their utmost to track down dangerous sancta and lift curses, one case at a time, with occasional help from a certain ashen-haired witch trapped on the island (when she’s not too busy having a high opinion of herself, that is). Full disclosure, I picked this one up because of the word “prayer” in the title: I was curious to see what kind of magic system would be built up around prayer, and whether prayer would be treated simply as a synonym for ”magic“ or ”spell” or “incantation,” etc., or would actually inform the philosophy of the worldbuilding. And, well, I’m actually not sure. It’s distinct enough that I want to read the second volume to find out more, and it certainly has more substance to it than the magic system in the rest of this fictive world, which features in author Jougi Shiraishi’s main series (of which this is a spinoff), Elaina the Wandering Witch. Two more features mark this volume out positively from what I’ve read of Elaina: first, the narration is much more stable and isn’t hopping around constantly in a confusing manner. Second, the tendency toward perverted characters and subplots is absent so far, hurrah! That’s what turned me off continuing with the Elaina LNs after the anime (which I enjoyed). MacMillia’s self-deprecating, witty first-person narrative makes for a fun read! And when the POV finally switches to Riviere, it’s quite eye-opening, in a character-focused way—no plot twists to yank you to the edge of your seat or anything, but rather character insight that is subtly compelling and actually goes a lot further in convincing me to continue with the series than any plot bombshell might. That said, there is a nice overarching plot here too, tying together the short stories—also something I had found lacking in Elaina. This may well be a spinoff series that supersedes the original. So, here’s to volume two! May it arrive speedily. That’s not a prayer though, because I’m not willing to risk it being answered, at least not according to the rules of the Land of Prayer! ~ claire 

Riviere and the Land of Prayer is published by Yen Press.

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Apparently, Disillusioned Adventurers Will Save the World, Light Novel Vol. 4

Volume four of Ningen Fushin is the most fulfilling entry in this series so far. It satisfactorily balances so many significant plot points that I wasn’t sure this series could: substantial character growth (for Nick and Karan), emotional highs, a compelling self-contained story, and continued movement toward the bigger tale. That last one has bothered me up until now because the very title of the series insinuates big, big things, but despite the mention of a demon king and his worshippers (and an enemy in volume three related to them), I haven’t felt anything on an epic scale. But the needle is shifting here in what at first appears to just be another dive into a Survivor party member’s favorite pastime—in this case, Nick and his idol hobby. The group is tasked to defend Agate and the other idols as they approach a special anniversary concert, as “fake paladins,” imitating Nick and Tiana’s combo paladin that saved Agate way back in volume one, have been spotted at concerts and wreaking havoc. But through a storyline that could be cute and silly, the mythology of this series is expanded, the demon worshippers are given a great role and a more personal voice, and as I mentioned earlier, some of the party members are really given opportunities to grow. I was impressed by the quality and thoughtfulness of it all: it demonstrated to me that while some aspects of Ningen Fushin remain amateurish (particularly the often mechanical dialogue), the series is more than just a fun romp that doesn’t know where it’s going. It is headed to a clear destination and I am absolutely along for the ride! ~ Twwk

Apparently, Disillusioned Adventurers Will Save the World is published by Yen Press.

READ Apparently, Disillusioned Adventurers Will Save the World Reviews: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3

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Overgeared, Manhwa Vol. 3

When did Grid become such a loveable character? When did Overgeared find an emotional hook? And when did a compelling story start to develop? The answer to all three is in volume three, apparently, which is the best so far in this young series. Grid continues to be in his own little world, focusing on the effort needed to craft items that will garner him a profit, but larger things are happening in the game as an ambitious player begins to cause chaos in the world. Despite Grid’s best and selfish intentions, the gear he’s crafting and his own power are bringing closer and closer to the conflict. But not yet—volume three keeps Grid’s storyline mostly apart from the brewing war between a crazed cult and an alliance of nations, which is smart; the chapters here mostly focus on character development that happens not only by showing Grid’s determination (which we’ve already witnessed) but his care for family members and others around him (which we haven’t as much). That smaller story combines with the whispers of the aforementioned violent affair to create quite a captivating volume; I’m pleased by the direction this manhwa is headed, both in story and how well that story is being told. ~ Twwk

Overgeared is published by Yen Press.

Read Reviews of Overgeared: Vol. 1 // Vol.2

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Drifting Dragons, Manga Vol. 9

Typhon the Storm-Caller: an infamous ship-killing dragon which legends say sweeps across the sky with hurricanes in his wake and an unfathomable hatred for mankind in his heart. This ancient behemoth sank the original Quin Zaza, and Acting Captain Corocco may be the only man to ever cross Typhon’s path twice and live to tell both stories. The rest of the crew of the current Quin Zaza is just happy to have survived their first meeting with that monster. As ship and crew lick their wounds after the events of volume eight, Corocco throws down the gauntlet: anyone who wants out is free to leave with full back pay and no hard feelings, but he’s going after the Storm-Caller. And next time he meets that dragon will be either his or Typhon’s last day alive. Of course, the first step will be getting the Quin Zaza flying again, and that is going to require some costly repairs. Fortunately, friendly oddball aristocrat Brno Massinaga is in want of an expert crew for his next dragon research project—and money is no object when he wants something… As of writing, the Typhon arc is the longest single storyline in Drifting Dragons, and setting up an arc like that takes time. That’s largely what this volume does, laying the groundwork for the arc’s overarching objective of slaying Typhon, as well as kickstarting multiple connected subplots. Even the mini-arc about dragon research that provides most of this volume’s action is covertly setting important later events into motion. Looking back on it several years later, I’m genuinely impressed with how neatly Taku Kuwabara fit everything together. So yes, this is a “setup” volume rather than a “payoff” volume, and those aren’t the volumes that tend to become fan favorites in any series. But you don’t get memorable payoffs without proper setup, and that’s where the value of volume nine lies. . ~ WacOtaku

Drifting Dragons is published by Kodansha.

READ Reviews of Drifting Dragons: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol.3 // Vol.4 // Vol.5 // Vol.6 // Vol.7// Vol. 8

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I Want to End This Love Game, Manga Vol. 2

Volume two of I Want to End This Love Game isn’t quite as cute as volume one, but that’s okay—and in fact, I think that’s the point. Yukiya and Miku continue to play their “love game,” in which each tries to tempt the other into actually falling in love with them. The game is getting a little more intimate and uncomfortable because, as we already know from volume one, Yukiya and Miku actually are in love with each other and don’t really want to do something that’ll harm their relationship. But don’t worry—these chapters don’t turn heavily toward fanservice, nor do they rely on sexual situations to turn up the heat for readers. Instead, there’s a lot of sweetness here, and the pair treat each other with a respect and care that’s unexpected for a couple of teenagers playing this dangerous game. Volume two also brings in flashbacks to their earlier childhood and features a chapter that is really a beautiful meditation on how an older brother needs to change his role toward his younger sister when she starts wanting to spread her wings. So while this outing isn’t as addicting or incredibly cute as the first, it’s more meaningful and demonstrates that the series has the potential to succeed long-term. Hopefully, this love game won’t be ending anytime soon. ~ Twwk

I Want to End This Love Game is published by VIZ Media.

READ I Want to End This Love Game: Vol. 1 Review

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Sakura, Saku, Manga Vol. 3

Of the short list of mangaka I count myself as a dedicated fan of, Io Sakisaka is the one who frustrates me the most. At her best, she captures youth beautifully as she creates voluminous levels of angst, all illustrated with simple, beautiful panels. But at her worst, Sakisaka’s plots are mechanical, featuring characters whose actions and thoughts just aren’t realistic—even for the world of shoujo. Her female characters’ selfish decisions and male characters’ abrasiveness often make them hard to pull for. These issues rear their ugly heads in volume three of Sakura Saku, in which a straightforward romantic path for Saku and Haruki becomes complicated by her best friend’s ex (and in a way that you won’t expect until you realize, oh yes, this is romance manga) and Iryu, an unsympathetic classmate and possible new rival for Saku’s affections. The storyline gets a little stupid and frustrating in this volume and—again, as is typical of Sakisaka—disingenuous. So why continue the tale? Well, as obnoxious as her characters can sometimes be, the mangaka provides insight into them that adds complexities you don’t always get to see in relatively short-running shoujo series. And the artwork remains lovely too, a tender accompaniment when the story feels a bit too much. I’m likely to stay on this ride until the end, but if you’re not used to Ao Haru Ride and the messier portions of Love Me, Love Me Not, the bumps along the way may lead you to decide to get off at an earlier stop than you had originally intended. ~ Twwk

Sakura, Saku is published by Shojo Beat, an imprint of VIZ Media.

READ Reviews of Sakura, Saku: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2

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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.