A plethora of releases come out today, and we’ve got you covered, fam, with reviews of a number of them, including series about magical world receptionists, a witch engaged to a prince, and a couple of astronomy club students, as well as not one but two series about sea creatures! We’re also covering much more besides, so dig into our review below!

Ako and Bambi (Vol. 2) • The Eccentric Doctor of the Moon Flower Kingdom (Vol. 6) • I Want to Be a Receptionist in This Magical World (Vol. 4) • Insomniacs After School (Vol. 6) • The Remarried Empress (Vol. 7) • A Sinner of the Deep Sea (Vol. 1) • This Monster Wants to Eat Me (Vol. 1) • Unnamed Memory (Vol. 5) • You Are My Regret (Vol. 2)

A Sinner of the Deep Sea, Manga Vol. 1

Jo is a mermaid, who for the entirety of chapter one seems to be alone, just chilling in the ocean. This part of the story is a beautifully illustrated depiction of her swimming and playing with a couple of whales. After this rather charming character introduction, chapter two moves us into the plot: Jo returns to the merpeople city and hangs out with her good friend Ryuu; but later she discovers Ryuu has been locked up for breaking the cardinal rule of her civilization: she has fallen in love with a human and made him aware of her species. Jo considers whether or not to bust her friend out of jail, and the end of the volume suggests that such an attempt may be in the offing; but can Jo pull this off under the watchful and suspicious eyes of the mermaid Border Patrol? Folks, this is a fun story. Author and mangaka Akihito Tomi brings a lot of life to their images (though be aware there is a lot of female fanservice, both mermaid and human, including some mild nudity). The premise of a mermaid and human falling into a forbidden love is nothing new, but making the POV character the mermaid’s deadpan, eye-rolling best friend provides some freshness, and the twists and turns of the merpeople society are entertaining. I’ll be giving volume two a chance. ~ NegativePrimes

A Sinner of the Deep Sea is published by Yen Press.

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I Want to Be a Receptionist in This Magical World, Manga Vol. 4

Nunnally is furthering her training as a receptionist, and is finally at Soreyu! However, with the looming worries of ice witches disappearing and Nunnally being one herself, Rockmann goes out of the way to warn her. It hasn’t helped that there has also been an increase of demons roaming the mountains nearby… With things seeming bright despite Rockmann’s warning ringing in her ears, what will her future hold? Every time I feel on the fence if I want to get another volume, there is always something that makes me want to keep reading more volumes, and this volume was no exception! Ha! I feel like I’m deeply conflicted between wanting more of the story and the work Nunnally does, on the one hand, and on the other just wanting the whole volume to center around Nunnally and Rockmann, which leaves me conflicted on how to rate this. Ha! I feel the story and the plot are very interesting, but I often find myself accidentally getting “bored” because I love it when Nunnally and Rockmann bicker and are on the same page together. Those moments are honestly my favorite and the highlight of every volume, but this volume was very different from the others in that we saw real hurt and damage to a certain character. I was shocked to find myself tearing up because I was afraid of what would happen next, but then I was rolling my eyes later on. Ha! Thankfully the intense worry that I was feeling was short-lived, and a certain character in question is making some things known to the reader about their feelings with their smiles and how they’re acting. Hehe! Definitely another engaging volume, and like with volume three, I’m not sure where this series is going to go, but with how it ended, I think the future will indeed be bright! ~ Laura A. Grace

I Want to Be a Receptionist in This Magical World is published by Yen Press.

READ Reviews of I Want to Be a Receptionist in This Magical World: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3

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You Are My Regret, Light Novel Vol. 2

Oh boy. It’s clear to me now that when I spoke so highly of this series during my volume one review, I really overestimated it. What I saw then as Yuzuru’s “authentic” and “innocent” characterization as a young high school student reconnecting with his first love, I now see as being oversimplified and resulting in an obnoxious protagonist whose actions have implausible impacts on those round him. Take Kaoru, for instance, the reclusive, enigmatic literature club member who obviously harbors a crush on Yuzuru, and who takes center stage in volume two of You Are My Regret. There’s something going on with her at home, and despite her telling him multiple times to not get involved, Yuzuru is determined to get to the bottom of this! You know how there’s this idea that men are generally problem solvers and not so good at providing the subtle emotional support that women often rather need? Well, that’s Yuzuru x 1000, because he keeps forcing himself into Kaoru’s life over and over again in the most awkward and, from any reasonable objective, obviously unhelpful ways. And yet Yuzuru becomes an object of affection to multiple girls. If it didn’t make much sense why Ai was so into him in volume one, it’ll make even less sense when others feel the same way in volume two. And along the way, we get some seriously unoriginal “boy helps sad girl in need” scenes, as You Are My Regret, sweet as it was in volume one, sets itself up for it apparently actually is: a pretty hardcore harem series. Sigh. I misread Yuzuru as being authentically awkward in volume one; volume two makes it clear that the author just doesn’t know how to write teenagers or develop creative scenarios. If there’s a redeeming aspect to the volume, though, it’s Kaoru’s character: she’s appealing and dynamic. Oh, and the volume is brisk read; I would say that about 15-20 of the 180 pages are basically pages between chapters, so it’s even shorter than it first appears. And that’s helpful, because even at that length, it will feel too long. Really, this series is better left unread—and trust me, that’s a decision you won’t regret making. ~ Twwk

Read: You Are My Regret Vol. 1 Review

You Are My Regret is published by Yen Press.

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Ako and Bambi, Manga Vol. 2

As much as I enjoyed volume one of Ako and Bambi—and ultimately this volume, as well—I found the beginning and much of the rest of volume two to be confusing. You might feel the same as you dive into this supernatural tale of a young horror story writer (Bambi) and his nighttime companion (Ako) who is the happier, ghostly version of quiet, bullied student Yamashiro. Bambi and Ako lead a cast of characters that is considerably large for this early in the series, which is a major reason for the confusion I felt: Who is this again? What do they know about this case of one person splitting into two (think Rio Futaba from the Rascal Does Not Dream… series)? Can this character detect the supernatural? How about that one? Further adding to the complication is that several of the characters look very similar, sometimes by design (Ako’s sister is one, and her moving in with him is a major storyline in volume two), but sometimes not. I admit, though, that I’m willing to deal with the character design issues, since their cuteness and the overall aesthetic of the manga is a major part of why the series is so readable. And by about halfway through the volume, I gained a better footing and was no longer so confused—a relatively easy-to-follow plot helps clear things up. I also appreciated how each character receives a good treatment; they are on their way to being fully realized, and I don’t know if I would have expected that from a series that looks so simple and cute in its design. If you can make it through the early challenges of volume two, I think you’ll discover what I did: Ako and Bambi is an enjoyable and somewhat unique series in today’s manga landscape, and a story worth working through. ~ Twwk

Ako and Bambi is published by Yen Press.

Read Ako and Bambi Vol. 1 Review

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The Eccentric Doctor of the Moon Flower Kingdom, Manga Vol. 6

Koyou might have thought things would be boring with Prince Keiun gone, but things are just as lively as ever! From a client who seems angry about Koyou’s suggested treatment to Keiun discovering that the epidemic is much worse than they feared, everyone is staying focused and giving their all to help those in need! Another very wonderful volume that has me more and more pulled into this story! I loved the beginning and cheering for Koyou and how she has found the “muscle of brawn”! I, too, had my doubts, Koyou, if you could find those muscles, but I think the muscles were definitely top-tier! Ha! I really love how she is growing as a doctor and asking herself questions based on how her patient reacted to her sharing how she could heal him. You can tell she is totally stumped and very confused as to why the person isn’t happy when she says how she could treat him. I hope we continue to see more of these moments where she is growing and thinking about her actions! With Prince Keiun and everything that is happening, I was really shocked to see how bad the sickness is! It is ten times worse than anything I personally thought it might be, and I am hoping that there will be a cure that happens for and throughout the village. It definitely feels like the Sect is not doing anything, and I’m nervous for the next volume because I have an idea that they’ll let someone cure everyone and then take credit for it, saying it was something divine when it wasn’t. Plus, it doesn’t seem like they are doing anything. Yeah, someone could argue they are helping the people who are sick, but how come no one has been cured? I feel like that’s super telling that something bad is happening behind the scenes and that someone wants it to stay that way… ~ Laura A. Grace

The Eccentric Doctor of the Moon Flower Kingdom is published by Seven Seas.

^{READ Reviews of The Eccentric Doctor of the Moon Flower Kingdom: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5}

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This Monster Wants to Eat Me, Manga Vol. 1

Hinako is a middle school student and an orphan. Her relatives and friends mean well, it seems, but are caught up in their own lives, leaving Hinako to slip deeper into depression. She’s leaning toward suicide, finding herself drawn to the sea and considering jumping in. But then a creepy monster who—get this—wants to eat her shows up. Another person, Shiori, shows up to rescue Hinako; she seems like another student but in fact—get this—is another monster who wants to eat Hinako. Shiori, however, wants to wait until Hinako’s flavor matures, and so she sets about guarding Hinako from less patient monsters until then. And that’s about it. This premise doesn’t seem to really go anywhere. That’s all there is to this story, apart from Hinako’s reflection about how she wants Shiori to “grant” her death; there’s no hint that suicide might not be the right choice for her. There might be a redemptive story that will unfold in later volumes, but I’m not seeing it yet. And this volume was, for me at least, a little boring. So I won’t be continuing, although those who want a somewhat slow-burn horror/suspense story might find it worth a gander. ~ NegativePrimes

This Monster Wants to Eat Me is published by Yen Press.

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Insomniacs After School, Manga Vol. 6

Insomniacs After School makes such good use of quiet moments, often featuring panels without dialogue that convey scenes both peaceful and dynamic, small in scale and filling two-page spreads. These panels are fitting for a series with leads in Ganta and Isaki who, while talkative, aren’t experienced in love and don’t really know how to convey it. In many moments, they are quiet, unsure how to interact with one another and how to process their own feelings. In volume six, their relationship continues to develop on their club trip and in the absence of Isaki’s sister, their guardian who decides to ditch the duo. There’s such a serenity in these pages as Ganta tries to explain to Isaki how he feels after the kiss that ended volume five, but he is unable to at first; the arrival of their friends helps to express the joy the two feel toward each other and life, even if the latter is a little complicated for both, which in turn may make their romance challenging. But the twists and turns aren’t really the point here. Insomniacs After School is one of those nostalgia-filled romances that will remind you of your own—perhaps those that really happened in your youth and those you only wish would have. And even as tinged as it is with a little sadness (and hinting at a profound loss to come), the series is exuberant and joyful, as youth and young romance should be. ~ Twwk

Insomniacs After School is published by VIZ Media.

READ Reviews of Insomniacs After School: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5

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The Remarried Empress, Manwha Vol. 7

Navier has escaped the Eastern Empire and is now in her new home with her husband Heinrey. He may be rejoicing over the fact that the woman he loves is by his side, but not everyone is quite as eager or accepting. As Navier navigates between friend and foe, Rashta quickly rises in approval among the common people…and up the ranks as soon-to-be empress. I don’t think I’ll ever get over how stupid Sovieshu’s thought process is, especially in this volume when he’s over here saying, “I’m going to be petty by marrying Rashta and have a wedding first. That way Navier will get jealous and come back to me!” Yes, of course, Navier is going to think you still want her after marrying some other woman and come rushing back! Just please overlook my eye roll because how could I be so ignorant to think otherwise! Ha! In spite of his actions, this was another very good volume! It’s once again been interesting to rewind and reread this story when I’m caught up on Webtoons because I forgot how much Navier doesn’t reflect her emotions. And how much of a golden retriever Heinrey appears to be! Ha! It has been so wonderful seeing how Heinrey supports and stands by Navier’s side, specifically how much he loves and adores her. There is never a moment where we don’t see how deeply he cares for her, and I look forward to seeing Navier realize how deep his love is for her. I know it was very satisfying seeing her start to view him differently and be interested in him even if it was mainly physically. Ha! I am very excited to continue reading and seeing these two grow closer together! ~ Laura A. Grace

The Remarried Empress is published by IZE Press, an imprint of Yen Press.

^{READ Reviews of The Remarried Empress: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5 // Vol. 6}

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Unnamed Memory, Manga Vol. 5

Why does Tinasha reject Oscar so harshly and readily? Why is she training him so diligently? And what are the mages of a nearby country—and one particularly powerful one who may or may not be connected with them—planning? Although Unnamed Memory excels most when it lies in the comfortable but electric romance between Oscar and Tinasha, volume five demonstrates that the mystery in this tale, always imbued with a western fantasy tone, is also well-written. A little more of the larger story reveals itself in volume five, revolving around an unexpected figure, as dangers from outside the realm close in on Oscar. Meanwhile, Tinasha continues to seek a way to break the spell on Oscar while training him to fight against her; she also starts to grow distant from the prince. Why is that so? I’ve watched much of the anime adaptation (which speeds through the material so quickly that I dropped it before spoiling myself further), so I know where the story is headed, but it’s still quite enjoyable to read this manga version. The artwork, in particular, is absolutely gorgeous. What a beautiful work! And the story progresses at a much better pace than this season’s anime. I continue to highly recommend this series for fans of manga romance and western fantasy alike. ~ Twwk

Unnamed Memory is published by Yen Press.

READ Reviews of Unnamed Memory: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 3 // Vol. 4

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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.