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Reader’s Corner: Zom 100 (Vol. 17), Fool Night (Vol. 5), and Insomniacs After School (Vol. 10)
Love is in the air! For consorts, mermaids, mages–in-making, and villains and villainesses, too! We bring you the newest in romance manga and light novel in this week’s Reader’s Corner—but that’s not all! Just to balance things out, we throw in some tough hockey players, main-killing plants, and zombies, too. There’s a little of something for everyone in this week’s column!
If the Villainess and Villain Met and Fell in Love, Manga Vol. 3
The magic stone hunt is underway, and Brigitte is convinced that in her rematch with Yuri, she will win! Unfortunately for her though, Lisa has other plans for Brigitte and is determined to show everyone around her how horrible Brigitte is with a false accusation. Will their classmates believe Lisa’s words, and if so, what will happen to her fragile reputation now? I want to say that the magic stone hunt did not disappoint (which it didn’t!), but everything with Lisa was so much more unhinged than I expected! I fully believed she would do something, which is why Yuri gave her the hairpiece he did, but I was extremely caught off guard by how Lisa was almost unrecognizable. She made so many expressions that left me uncomfortable because of how dark and sadist they were, since I never would have expected her to go so far, even hurting herself to frame Brigitte. That was…something else…to say the least. When it comes to Brigitte specifically, I love how she made a new friend in this volume! Not only that, but how she is realizing she genuinely isn’t alone. Regardless of what rumors there are, she has people who believe in her and trust her. I was unprepared to get emotional seeing Brigitte break down due to everything that happened, but as Yuri said, she did so well! I am proud of her and hope that she continues to grow as a young woman! Granted, I want Brigitte and Yuri’s romance to continue to grow too!! Yuri is such a hard person to gauge because I think he does have romantic feelings for Brigitte, but dang it, where are the blushy faces, Yuri?! Give us readers some crumbs, please! I’m deeply thankful to know that the next volume is scheduled to be released this year because that mid-sentence of a cliffhanger was harsh! Why did it have to end right there?! Overall, I’m still deeply loving his series! ~ Laura A. Grace
If the Villainess and Villain Met and Fell in Loveis published by Yen Press.
READ Review ofIf the Villainess and Villain Met and Fell in Love: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2
The 31st Consort, Manga Vol. 1
All the ladies dream of being a consort to the upcoming king, but no one would want to be the thirty-first consort, as they will have the “worst” living quarters, the fewest maids, and the least amount of time to meet with the king. Yet much to Felia’s surprise, she finds herself becoming that thirty-first consort, despite the fact that she feels her brothers must have the wrong person in mind! Absolutely delightful! I read this digitally roughly a year before the manga license from Yen Press and was overjoyed this got picked up! I remember deeply enjoying what I read, and I enjoyed it even more this time around! Not only because I reread what I enjoyed, but because I read so much further this time, and it was just as wonderful as I had hoped! Now, it’s no secret that I love high school shoujo romances, but one thing I found deeply refreshing in this volume was the “older” characters. Both our leads are in their twenties (Felia in her younger twenties and Macron late twenties I believe), and Ifound their attitudes hit different because while there is drama in the palace, both of them are set in their ways. What I mean is that Felia is extremely determined in her actions and won’t let anyone put her down simply because she is a “country girl”; and Macron is equally determined, and I enjoyed his antics when trying to get out of seeing many of the consorts. (With how many of them acted, I honestly don’t blame him!) The romance is slow-going, but I don’t mean that in a bad way. Though they have technically only met once, both our leads really hit it off, and I feel they are more “attracted” to the other’s character than by looks alone. I love that! Overall, if you love heroines like Reirin from Inept Villainess and want a slightly “older” cast of characters in a non-magical fantasy setting, this is one I would highly recommend! I’m eagerly looking forward to seeing what happens next and hope volume two releases quickly! ~ Laura A. Grace
Mio and the gang met their goal of getting to Chiaki’s home before the introduction ceremony, only for plans to go awry and Mio and Chiaki’s engagement to be broken off. However, Mio realizes that her mission to unite humans and unhumans alike is not over, despite plans having changed. Goodness, did they change, because when the Dragon Elementsia appears and brings Mio and July to his kingdom, she’ll see a whole new way of life for unhumans that she’s never seen before! Another wonderful volume! I love seeing how much Mio has grown! She is so much more direct, confident in her worth and identity, and willing to stand up for justice no matter the risk or cost. Granted, that last one isn’t new for Mio throughout this series, but I never imagined that the new character we meet is definitely not for her! I mean he seems like he is, but I disliked him more and more as the volume went on and am not looking forward to seeing more of him! That is especially true in light of all the very sweet romance! Oh my goodness, the ship is sailing, and things are not going well because of outside circumstances! Just when she has solved the “mystery” surrounding Yuri’s mother (and had a very special moment with Yuri), she is faced with another hardship that leaves her far away from everyone she knows! That’s upsetting in itself, but it’s even more upsetting knowing what had happened beforehand between her and her Dad! It was a very unexpected moment that I didn’t think I would be excited about, but I found myself very emotional, thankful, and blinking back tears. Very beautiful! I’m definitely excited for the next volume, even though I am so sad it’s the last one! I will miss these characters because they have been so very wonderful, but I know it will end strong! ~ Laura A. Grace
In the Name of the Mermaid Princessis published by Shojo Beat, an imprint of VIZ Media.
Zombies in space? Why not?! Zom 100 takes the crew to a launching facility that is preparing to put civilians in space (you know, as best as they can with a zombie pandemic occurring). It’s as much fun as it sounds, with these chapters leading into the comedy-adventure material between arcs rather than on drama and tension. And it’s very welcome, because between the silliness that shines in the characters’ personalities and the really cool illustrations, I just ate up this volume. Like a zombie munching on brains. Yum. There is some connection, though, to the deeper mystery at the center of the series—the how and why—hinting that we’re maybe getting toward the final arcs of the manga (that plus the bucket list being almost completely filled out and mostly crossed off). Another excellent volume in a fun and often thoughtful shonen series! ~ Twwk
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead is published by VIZ Media.
Ivy is dead—or so it seems. In the world of Fool Night, nothing is as it seems, but one thing’s for certain: The leader of a growing anti-transfloration party is dangerous. The makeshift group including Kamiya and Hourai is trying to find a way to investigate his connections with Ivy, but they’ll have to navigate through danger and dead ends if they are to discover evidence and save their unit. Volume five of Fool Night also features a warm (well, as warm as it can be in this cold vision of the future) story about bodyguard Kanaeno, a character we’ve only learned a little about so far, and continued character growth for both Kamiay and Hourai. These bits demonstrate a shift from the first few volumes. The characters have become more likable, growing or displaying a conscience that wasn’t evident at first. It’s as if the mangaka and editor stepped back and considered what distinguished the series and what they could change to make it more accessible, and it was decided that the world-building and creative, atmospheric art had to stay—the moral ambiguity could go, or at least be bent. I think it’s a good change, because as much as the initial volume took hold of me, it was really going to be hard to fully embrace the series if there weren’t characters I could root for the possibility of a hopeful ending. I think other readers will disagree and be disappointed that Fool Night isn’t quite as uncompromising as it was at first. Despite this relatively optimistic volume, though, I’m sure that darker days and character deaths are ahead, so there’s likely to be enough grimness in this world to balance it out for most readers who’ve taken up the series. I think that’s a win for us all. ~ Twwk
The best part of Insomniacs After School is the silence—how it conveys emotionand the passage of time through panels that have little to no dialogue. They’re soft, meaningful, and moving. They tell us more, in fact, than the series’ arcs and as much as dialogue-heavy pages. Volume ten of Insomniacs After School is filled with quiet chapters, and unsurprisingly, it’s among the most charming and moving of the entire series. The most important plot points are Magari’s recovery from illness and the club preparing for transition after they eventually graduate, but what’s really important is seeing how the characters’ relationships with one another deepen over the course of these events. Schoolmates that once didn’t get along understand one another better now; anxiety-ridden characters become a little less anxious; and of course, Magari and Nakami grow closer. The series is drawing nearer and nearer to its conclusion, but it’s volumes like this that already feel bittersweet—as if I miss the characters already—even if we still have a way to go. ~ Twwk
Insomniacs After School is published by VIZ Media.
Okay, I think I got it down: three hockey brothers, the main character’s family, and Rou himself. I think I can keep track… Wait! There’s another team, too? And classmates? Oh boy, volume two hits us with the confusion of a ton of new characters as it shows the high school championship match between Oinokami and a start-up, as well as Rou’s tryout for the former. Thankfully, by the end of volume two, I not only got the characters down (Satoru Noda’s distinctive character designs certainly helped with that), but I also started really feeling that sense of “Go team!” that’s so necessary in sports manga. There’s a wackiness here, too (see the crazy coach and Rou’s fabulous t-shirt) that also associated with Noda’s series, and I’m here for that too. While the story itself isn’t blazing any new ground so far, the generic setup is still quite enthralling; Noda knows what he’s doing, and sports manga is popular for good reason—the temptation to just chomp up a story about underdogs, teammates, and personal growth speaks to us powerfully. I hope it continues, but I’m also hoping that something special will set Dogsred apart in future volumes. ~ Twwk
Secrets of the Silent Witch -another-: Rise of the Barrier Mage, Part I, Light Novel
No! Why must we take a break from stories about the wonderful Monica to focus on another Sage—one who, at the very least, I’m indifferent about, but if I’m being honest, I really don’t care for? Judging by this volume, maybe it’s to show us why we should care. The first of a two-part prequel, subtitled “-another-,” this volume delves into Louis’s origin story, from orphaned tough guy living in a brothel to his life as a student at Minveva’s Mage Training Institute. This first half of Louis’ tale is charming—as is his character. It’s captivating to read about how he becomes an aggressive but responsible Sage, keeping his “never back down” demeanor from adolescence right into adulthood, while making life-changing relationships along the way. It’s impossible not to root for Louis, even if we might squirm or wince at practically everything he does, from trying to swap out his mentor’s alcohol bottles for laxatives to headbutting a royal—and much more besides. Speaking of that royal, this volume is full of character appearances (and a couple of cameos) that help fill in material skimmed over in previous volumes of the series; almost all are woven into the story well and not just added on for fanservice. There are also some moments that really moved me in the volume—another surprise for a book that I initially thought was mere “extra” material. What’s also interesting is that author Matsuri Isora originally assumed that she would only be releasing one volume about the Barrier Mage, which would be the material in the upcoming book, skipping this one entirely! If she had, we would have been left that much poorer for it, because this volume is absolutely worthy of being a part of this wonderful, wonderful series. It’s worth picking up for any fan of Secrets of the Silent Witch! ~ Twwk
Secrets of the Silent Witch is published by Yen Press.
“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.
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