We feature a slew of new releases in our reviews this week, including a side story manga volume of Goblin Slayer, the first volume of Sword Art Online Re:Aincrad, and the latest releases for Oshi no Ko, Zom 100, and Mint Chocolate. Others include a pair of other series premieres and an entry perfectly timed for MerMay. Scroll down to read our thoughts on these manga, manhwa, and light novels!

Gazing at the Star Next Door (Vol. 2) • Goblin Slayer: A Day in the Life (Vol. 1) • Hirayasumi (Vol. 1) • I’m Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness (Vol. 5) • In the Name of the Mermaid Princess (Vol. 2) • Mint Chocolate (Vol. 11) • Oshi no Ko (Vol. 6) • A Sign of Affection (Vol. 8) • Sword Art Online Re:Aincrad (Vol. 1) • True Love Fades Away When the Contract Ends (Vol. 1) • Unholy Blood (Vol. 2) • Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead (Vol. 14)

Goblin Slayer: A Day in the Life, Manga Vol. 1

The Goblin Slayer: A Day in the Life series is a manga adaptation of volume twelve of the gritty, dark fantasy Goblin Slayer light novels (as a helpful note at the end of the volume explains). The stories herein follow a number of the characters on adventures that are tangential to the main story, giving a reprieve from the intense action of the latter while creating a sense of the vaster world that Goblin Slayer takes place in. Thus the decision to adapt these tales into a manga side story instead of into the main manga series makes sense (as it did for the manga adaptation of LN volume four, Goblin Slayer: Brand New Day). Volume one includes a prologue, several stories (one per chapter), a prose short story, and an afterword from the mangaka, Daichi Matsuse (by contrast, the main manga series is drawn by Kōsuke Kurose). I enjoyed the prologue, which is basically a lighthearted account of how the adventures in the GS stories are effectively a tabletop gaming session held by the gods of that world. The stories themselves are more or less standard, if creative, fantasy fare; I did find myself wondering, “What happened to the ‘dark’ in ‘dark fantasy’?” That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the volume—on the contrary, after the initial chapter (some young adventurers facing a wyvern, in a kind of shonen-y fashion), the storytelling began to feel similar to that of Faraway Paladin, down to and including the Lord of the Rings allusions. In fact, by the time I finished the prose story, “Interlude: Of Her and Her,” I was ready to make the argument that Goblin Slayer is intentionally set in the far, far future of Middle-Earth! There’s even a riddle game (with very high stakes!) that echoes the one in The Hobbit. There was one NSFW scene early on (“We fell in the water, so we have to strip while our clothes dry!”), but so far nothing like the disturbing content of the main GS stories. All in all, this volume will appeal to those already invested in the world of Goblin Slayer and perhaps to those who might be interested in it but have been turned off by the grimdark aspects of the franchise. As a fan of the anime, I’ll be continuing with this one. ~ NegativePrimes

Goblin Slayer: A Day in the Life is published by Yen Press.

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Sword Art Online Re:Aincrad, Manga Vol. 1

“This might be a game, but it’s not something you play.” The original Sword Art Online light novels have been adapted into manga and anime, retold in the Progressive light novels, manga, and anime, and now readapted into the Re:Aincrad manga series. Yes, this is a new adaptation of the original LNs, not a retelling like the Progressive stories. Is another version worth it? I would say so! Reading its iconic first act, when thousands of gamers find themselves trapped in a virtual world where death is all too real, still sends shivers down my spine. There are some intriguing divergences from the anime: we are treated to a different, more extensive account of the first meeting between Kirito and Asuna (also absent from the light novels, I believe), as well as an account of Kirito fighting nepenthe monsters that is absent from the original anime and very different from the one in which these creatures were introduced in the Progressive anime. So if you enjoyed the original SAO in any of its forms, here’s a way to enjoy it again: different enough to entertain anew, yet fundamentally the same world and people we’ve come to know and love. ~ NegativePrimes

Sword Art Online Re:Aincrad is published by Yen Press.

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Hirayasumi, Manga Vol. 1

Opening volumes of manga series aren’t supposed to be like this; they aren’t supposed to make you fall in love so quickly with the main characters while bringing you to the point of tears not once but multiple times. But that’s exactly what Hirayasumi does with its tale of three souls—Hiroto, a former actor who lives life without worries; anxious art school student, Natsumi; and worn-out real estate agent, Tachibana. Natsumi moves in with her cousin, Hiroto, who inherits a home from “Granny,” the old lady he visited twice weekly before she died, forming a makeshift family with her. The scenes involving the duo are central to this lovely volume and the source of those tearful moments. But this isn’t a sad series; it’s full of life and encouragement, with volume one already featuring Natsumi overcoming rapidly consuming anxiety within her to achieve an important victory. I love the tone of Hirayasumi, which is so authentic to life; these characters (including a couple of other engaging supporting ones) each have their struggles but continue on in their own different ways—sometimes taking steps back, sometimes forward, and sometimes both. But through it all, there’s a feeling of hope and also a pervasive theme that no lives are mundane—we are all special, and the things that are important to us are indeed significant, despite how small they may seem. I can’t wait to see more of the everyday, special lives of Hiroto, Natsumi, and the rest in future volumes! ~ Twwk

Hirayasumi is published by VIZ Media.

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Unholy Blood, Manhwa Vol. 2

Following the death of the person Hayan cares about the most at the end of volume one, she sets out to take revenge on his killer, a so-called Angel of Death—but then it appears that the murderer is a pureblood like herself! Will Hayan be able to overcome such a foe? And when the hot, smart, and hot detective Euntae who helped a bit in the last volume shows up to aid her again, they team up to take down a pro-vampire mole in the police force—only to find that the corruption in the police runs far deeper and higher than they expected! Hayan and Euntae (did we mention he’s hot?) follow their leads to another Angel of Death—a vampire with the power to control minds… The action is back, folks! Lots of throwing vampires around and fists going right through bodies (because super-strength). But there’s some pathos in our adrenaline—we get a bit of nuance on the vampires: not all were turned voluntarily, and some are willing to give up their lives rather than harm others. And Hayan’s starting to realize her crusade for vengeance might cost her more than she thought it would, as she sees her adopted brother and sister weeping after she tells them she’s leaving. Finally, a flashback to when Fr. Michael was alive reveals that he warned her against hastily resorting to violence to resolve things, exactly as she is doing now: “A good deed that’s not properly thought out can very well turn into a bad deed for others.” In the context of the scene, it’s a warning against violence, but it also has broader applications—and in a future volume, these words will come back to haunt Hayan, and us, in a shocking way. (PS: It’s worth noting that the print volumes tone down the foul language of the webcomic, something I only realized after my review of volume one.) ~ NegativePrimes

Unholy Blood is published by Yen Press.

READ Reviews of Unholy Blood: Vol. 1

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I’m Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness, Manga Vol. 5

“Exacting revenge because it’s what you want will only hurt Charlotte more!” The time has come when Allen is going to profess his love to Charlotte on a date they’ve planned! Unfortunately, though, neither one of them planned for Charlotte to be kidnapped! As Allen fights to get her back, will he still be able to tell her how she feels for her? And if so, will she feel the same about him? This was such a fun and wild volume! The “villain” is one I never expected, and I honestly was so shocked and confused that it took me almost to the end of the battle before I understood what was happening! Ha! I’ll definitely have to reread the first half because I loved the conversation Allen and said “villain” had about getting revenge on behalf of Charlotte. It was very compelling because both felt they had the best interest in mind for her, but it was only Allen who was thinking of Charlotte’s feelings. Really really loved how that all unfolded! Plus the action was awesome! (And Lü’s expressions were absolute gold!) This volume also definitely had the moment I have been hoping for since the very beginning of this series, and goodness did it take my breath away! I had to read it twice because the scene was so beautiful, captivating, and was simply everything! The end was wonderful as well, and I love the series’ signature humor being very prominent in the last chapter! It was so much fun and made me laugh! Very excited for the next volume and seeing what will happen next because I think the ending of this volume sets up a lot of fun, but possibly dangerous, things to come!  ~ Laura A. Grace

I’m Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness is published by Vertical, an imprint of Kodansha.

READ Reviews of I’m Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4

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True Love Fades Away When the Contract Ends, Manga Vol. 1

Fiona has a problem. Her father wants her to get married, but she would rather be the noblewoman she is who pursues her passion for art. Her father disagrees. When Fiona overhears her father planning an arranged marriage on her behalf, she decides desperate times call for desperate measures! Plotting with a young man named Giles, they come up with the perfect plan: pretend to be lovers! Oh, how I loved this first volume! I feel it’s not often I pick up or read a historical feeling story or even a story with a female lead who is going against social norms with not wanting to marry, but this one had both! It felt refreshing and exciting and was even okay with the romance being a little slower so that I could really understand how passionate Fiona is about her dream to travel the world—and not only that, but also see Giles and why he doesn’t want to get married either. Shoutout to Giles’s best friend, though, because I love his character and how he is helping push things forward! I’m alllll here for his influence pushing Giles to be more daring despite having no experience with women! Ha! I have no doubts he will keep things exciting and help our leads slowly realize their feelings are genuine, because even if they aren’t in love yet, I do believe our “old boy” sees that these two are indeed a perfect match! This sounds weird to say, but I appreciated the translation of this volume because it really gave it a distinctive touch of feeling like I’ve gone back in time. It made my heart feel even more excited because it truly feels like a historical story by way of language and not just by the way they act. So, shout out to the translator! I very much like Fiona and am cheering for her and Giles both! Eagerly looking forward to getting volume two! ~ Laura A. Grace

True Love Fades Away When the Contract Ends is published by Seven Seas.

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In the Name of the Mermaid Princess, Manga Vol. 2

Mio and Yuri have escaped her kingdom, but things are not safe for either of them just yet! However dangerous it may be, though, Mio discovers new things about this new place, including that she has magical abilities?! I love this series so much! It’s so beautiful, heartfelt, touching, and oh-so-moving! Though this volume brings a lot more high stakes and danger for our sweet Mio! It’s interesting to see how this volume flips Mio’s world upside down. Granted, as soon as she left her homeland it was obvious things would be like that, but what I mean is that in volume one Mio just wanted to live peacefully with humans and become friends with them. She fully believed that humans and “unhumans” could live and thrive together, but when she meets a certain character, that idea is fully tested. This person warns that she cannot live with humans ever and that she needs to flee far away from them. They go on to say that she needs to live where she belongs, which is the ocean. These words challenge everything Mio believed, and my heart ached so much for her!! Just when she sees how her powers and abilities can be used in a way she deeply desires, she equally sees the devastation she can bring as well. As a result, the “guilt” seems to be eating her alive. Not only that, her self-pity consumes her, bringing tears to my eyes, but! I’m so thankful for the people she has met! From the doctor in the beginning, to the “mystery” character I won’t mention due to spoilers, to a “harsh” woman, and of course Yuri, Mio has a stirring and deeper longing to see her dream come true. She sees that it can happen and be possible! I deeply love this series and cannot wait for the next volume to be released! It certainly continues to exceed my expectations, and I would highly recommend it! ~ Laura A. Grace

In the Name of the Mermaid Princess is published by Shojo Beat, an imprint of VIZ Media.

READ: In the Name of Mermaid Princess Vol. 1 Review

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Mint Chocolate, Manga Vol. 11

Nanami and Kyouhei’s secret is out to their parents, who now know that they are dating! Deciding to be upfront and honest about their relationship, both Nanami and Kyouhei are shocked to learn that their parents have secrets of their own too! What will the new “normal” be like moving forward? Shoutout to this manga for not having dumb and naive parents! With how the last volume ended, it was no surprise that the “big reveal” was addressed immediately in this one. I can say I was honestly surprised by what unfolded! As a parent I really appreciated seeing a set of parents in manga think diligently about a situation that would affect their kids and simply put, not be stupid about the whole thing. Ha! Not saying every manga has oblivious parents, but I guess I wasn’t expecting to see and know how involved and mindful they were. It was refreshing, to say the least! The romance wasn’t as focused in this volume, but I loved seeing our “trio” (Nanami, Kyouhei, and Andou) hang out together! I also enjoyed seeing Nanami and Andou be in cahoots about a certain thing that happens because… that ending was something else! If I thought the last volume had a super dramatic cliffhanger, this one takes it to the next level! I have zero idea what is going to happen next because it feels like everything is about to hit the fan, and like Nanami, I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not. Her worry felt very real, and I definitely felt the same, though as a reader! Ha! Thankfully volume twelve comes out in October because I need to see what is going to happen next, but also I read this wayyyyy too fast and am sad that I don’t have any more story to read. Ha! ~ Laura A. Grace

Mint Chocolate is published by Yen Press.

READ Reviews of Mint Chocolate: Vols. 1-8 // Vol. 9 // Vol. 10

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Gazing at the Star Next Door, Manga Vol. 2

Chiaki feels that it has to be obvious to her best friend and crush, Subaru, that she likes him. Much to her dismay, though, Subaru acts like everything is fine after her blushing at their super close contact from the “incident” in volume one. Nevertheless, she is determined to just be a childhood friend. Too bad her feelings keep overflowing into every part of her life, especially when she talks to Subaru! This volume definitely lived up to the excitement I felt in volume one, but it also poured out alllll the angst! As someone who isn’t overly fond of angst, I sure enough was eating it up when reading this volume and had no problem with it! Ha! I’m not even fully sure of what to say because once again I loved every single moment. Chi’s internal struggle truly is “overflowing” into every part of her life, and she’s saying things and doing things that make her feel regretful. She doesn’t want to be mean or standoffish, but she feels so certain that her feelings can never be returned, and therefore must be buried deep in her heart. Yeah, how is that working out for you, Chi? Ha! I super love her, though, and find her story such a compelling one! I think because of what happened when she was sick, we now see how Subaru has feelings for her.  At least I hope I am right and not just wishfully thinking he does! Ha! I am already eagerly looking forward to the next volume and hope that Chi can move forward and make her feelings known! I’m scared to know if she’ll be able to or if she’ll be interrupted before having a chance to say something! Come on, Chi! You can do it, girl! ~ Laura A. Grace

Gazing at the Star Next Door is published by Kodansha.

READ: Gazing at the Star Next Door Vol. 1 Review

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Oshi no Ko, Manga Vol. 6

In the previous volume of Oshi no Ko, in which Aqua, Akane, Kana, and the rest began preparations for a 2.5D play, the focus was on how much the mangaka of the original work treasured her characters and story. In volume six, you get the sense that Aka Akasaka and Mengo Yokoyari feel exactly the same way about their own characters, and that love really shines through in this release. As the play moves closer to premiere and eventually does make it to stage, a minor character receives a backstory that will make readers care deeply for him; Aqua’s PTSD struggles, which ended the previous volume on a cliffhanger, are more fleshed out; and Akane and Kana, whose squabbles could have been reduced to mere jealousy, lead to greater character development for both. This is masterful storytelling. For a volume that relies so little on romance and has no shock value, as some others have, it’s telling that these chapters are still absolutely compelling. The plot is tight and navigated so well through so many characters, and the arcs fall so neatly in place among the overall story, that it makes me wonder: Why can’t other mangaka be so organized and thorough in their works? Oshi no Ko feels almost mechanical in how each piece, each dialogue, each character is vital in moving the story in the different directions it’s going to reach its conclusion, but it never comes across as distant or impersonal; it is absolutely absorbing. Those who are keeping up with the digital releases know of more controversial material ahead—which keeps me from making even bolder declarations—but even so, it goes without saying that even just six volumes in, we’re all experiencing a masterpiece. Oshi no Ko should not be missed. ~ Twwk

Oshi no Ko is published by Yen Press.

READ Reviews of Oshi no Ko: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5

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A Sign of Affection, Manga Vol. 8

Yuki has bared her heart to Itsuomi and says she wants to move in with him. Before that can take place though, Itsuomi wants to meet Yuki’s parents and show them he is the perfect guy for her. Not only that, Shin and Emma are taking a trip to the hot springs! What will happen between these two as Emma still overcomes her feelings for Itsuomi? This volume wasn’t quite as exciting as previous volumes, and I think a large part of that is because outside of the opening chapter, there wasn’t a huge romantic focus. Definitely a little bit of a bummer, but! I think this volume was very critical for Yuki and Itsuomi moving forward in their relationship, and whoa! This is the first time I have seen someone be so active in getting to know the parents of the person they are dating and get their approval of their relationship! I was extremely touched by the natural lengths Itusomi went through to befriend Yuki’s dad, but also how he knew something was up and that her dad wanted to talk to him about something important. I also say “naturally” because despite Yuki’s dad wanting to go to certain places with Itsuomi, it really did feel like Itsuomi was the one leading. Ha! One thing that was very rewarding was seeing Yuki open up and tell people her real feelings! While I loved her opening up to Itsuomi, even more, I loved seeing her open up to her mom and be able to tell her “thank you.” Overall, this isn’t my favorite volume of the series, but I think it was so beautifully written and very much surprised me! ~ Laura A. Grace

A Sign of Affection is published by Kodansha.

READ Reviews of A Sign of Affection: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5 // Vol. 6 // Vol. 7

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Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, Manga Vol. 14

Finally, Kencho gets a chance to shine! Our favorite naturist finally gets some sorely needed background in volume fourteen of Zom 100—and his story is well worth the wait, adding emotional depth to his character and the story overall. Even better, this story—which is sandwiched between the conclusion to the chimera arc and the launch of a new one—also involves the newest group member, Izuna, providing depth to her as well. The short storyline is a reminder that Haro Aso is one of our greatest manga writers, not only for his engaging plots but also because he builds backstories that make us care about the characters. On the former front, though, Aso has spent the last couple of volumes starting to divert the overall story, and here in volume fourteen, he drops critical information about the possible zombie vaccines and background about the virus (and perhaps the ultimate enemy in the series). The latter is particularly compelling, setting the series up for more of a conspiracy-style storyline than I had expected, and also sets the stage for what is certain to be huge action scenes further down the line. The more self-contained story in this volume is also excellent, featuring a fun fishing expedition (which feels really video game-like as the team “levels up” in equipment). All in all, another terrific volume in this excellent series! ~ Twwk

Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead is published by VIZ Media.

READ Reviews of Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5 // Vol. 6 // Vol. 7 // Vol. 8 // Vol. 9 // Vol. 10 // Vol. 11 // Vol. 12 // Vol. 13

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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.