The Elegant Courtly Life Of The Tea Witch Vol 2 Review

 

Writer: Ameko Kaeruda

Artist: Yorifuji

Translators: Motoko Tamamuro & Jonathan Clements

Letterer: Tom Williams

Publisher: Titan Manga

Price: $12.99

Release Date: April 8, 2025

 

Remy Pullis and Princess Stella Mira Estasio are on a date. The King’s young daughter talked the Tea Witch into this treat, and she revels in her first day outside the palace walls. As Stella wanders among the stores and vendors’ stalls, Remy tries to keep up with the girl. But the Princess is indefatigable, and she brings happiness wherever she goes. Is Remy right to be worried about the Princess’ safety? Why would anyone in town want to harm Stella? Let's brew some tea, leap into The Elegant Courtly Life Of The Tea Witch Vol 2, and find out!

 

Story

The war is over, but people have long memories. And for every winner, the war has created plenty of losers. Remy knows this well. She has already helped her friend Alicia protect the palace grounds against magical intrusion. Now, amid the friendly townspeople who benefit from the proximity to Shtora Castle, Remy sees danger everywhere. So, the Tea Witch steers Princess Stella toward Misha's magical bookshop.

 

Unlike Remy, Misha didn’t opt for life in the palace after the war. But like her, he was one of its heroes. Now, he seems content surrounded by his beloved books. Still, Misha worries about the future of Shtora in The Elegant Courtly Life Of The Tea Witch Vol 2. He has heard reports of court mages buying banned books about the magic weaponry used in the war. Misha runs the best bookshop in town. So why aren’t they coming to him?

 

 

 

When they return to the palace, Remy decides to be more proactive. The Tea Witch cannot bear the idea of anything happening to Princess Stella. She mixes more with the ministers, clerks, and mages at court, which grabs people's attention. But it allows her to hear the royal gossip.

 

In The Elegant Courtly Life Of The Tea Witch Vol 2, Remy fears for Princess Stella's future. The King is in poor health and wishes his daughter to wed a strong suitor. Balian Mella Durendal, the Mage of Flames Effulgent, has made no secret of his ambitions. The master of fire magic plans to make Princess Stella his child bride. This political marriage is more about securing Shtora’s future than Princess Stella’s happiness. So, in Ameko Kaeruda’s story, Remy Pullis vows to do everything she can to protect Stella from being trapped in a loveless marriage. Or worse, become Balian's tool to accomplish his ambitious plans.

 

 

 

Art

Yorifuji shows Princess Stella’s adoration as she explains what first drew her to Remy. The Tea Witch lays out an array of appetizing foods on a tower overlooking the town. Yet she blurs when she senses danger. Then Remy grabs her teapot and aims it in the direction she senses danger from.

 

The art in The Elegant Courtly Life Of The Tea Witch Vol 2 portrays the sedate and regal attire of the court officials, Misha's contentment amid his impressive collection of books, and Remy surprising everyone as she walks toward the Council chambers for the daily Mages assembly. The glamorous scenes often shift to caricatures as Princess Stella, Remy Pullis, and others express the intense emotions associated with friendships, achieving their goals, and political struggles.  

 

 

 

Tom Williams casts large uppercase letters into dialogue balloons, narrative boxes, or unadorned backgrounds. He conjures balloons into different shapes to suggest emotions and tense situations. The characters' dialogue and thoughts enlarge but never shrink.

 

Motoko Tamamuro and Jonathan Clements' translated sound effects help us hear Misha's excitement at Remy's arrival, the royal guards collapse, and the background chatter as Remy disturbs Council proceedings. The translators help us feel Remy’s magic blasting on the battlefield amid a glimpse into her past. Thanks to Titan Manga for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Princess Stella is too young to understand the love that binds two people together in happiness for life. Yet even as the Princess adores the court mage who serves her tea each morning, she prepares to make a noble sacrifice. In The Elegant Courtly Life Of The Tea Witch Vol 2, Remy Pullis decides to return her young friend's affection. But to do so, the Tea Witch must engage in the dangerous world of politics. Protecting Stella could cost Remy and her friends everything.

 

Rating 9.8/10

Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 1 Review

 

Writer & Artist: Yako Gureishi

Translators: Motoko Tamamuro & Jonathan Clements

Letterer: Ayoub Bensidi

Cover Artist: Yako Gureishi

Publisher: Titan Manga

Price: $12.99

Release Date: December 18, 2024

 

When the forest guardian finds a shackled child, something in her sad eyes touches his internal mechanisms. The metal man frees the Human girl. He packs supplies, puts on traveling clothes, and escorts her out of the forest. Where is the metal man taking her? And why did he give the Human girl a hooded cape adorned with horns? Let’s grab our walking sticks, leap into Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 1, and find out!

 

Story

The first town they visit proves pivotal in the traveler's burgeoning relationship. The child knows her name is Somali but little else. The metal man knows about civilization but lacks experience with those living outside his forest. The inhabitants clamor to meet the forest guardian. They may live in a town. Still, they revere the woodlands for their life and vitality.

 

Toad Ma offers them free food, hoping to fill her restaurant with curious customers. The forest guardian tells them he is searching for Humans. Some townspeople recall Humans for sale in the marketplace. Toad Ma ate one once but prefers other foods. When the townspeople inquire about Somali, the forest guardian introduces her as a Minotaur. The locals don’t question his declaration. Still, a False Cat with five eyes thinks she smells delicious.

 

After finding no trace of Humans in the town, the forest guardian and the girl continue their journey. In Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 1, the metal man has limited funds for their journey, so he buys an old map. The seller warns him that some landmarks may have vanished. Sadly, the golem gets lost following the obsolete map. The pair end up in a Relict Forest. The only healthy plants sprout from the giant animal carcass of the former guardian. The gray trees and white leaves remind the metal man of his sacrifice. By escorting Somali on a mission to find her parents, he condemned his forest to wither and die.

 

Yako Gureishi shares the wonder this odd couple feels for each other. The girl delights in the taste of food and each discovery. The forest guardian claims he has no feelings. Yet he argues with her, tends to her wounds, and grows unsettled when she expresses pain. She calls him Dad and holds his hand while they walk. They meet other people in the forest as they search for clues to her heritage. One shares his tale about leaving home and carrying on the skills his mother taught him. Others practice magic and commune with fairies. The forest guardian learns new skills and gets more in tune with his feelings through interacting with others.

 

Art

Yako Gureishi doesn't waste time launching into Somali and her protector’s story in Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 1. One page reveals a forlorn child in chains, and a metal man kneels before her. On the next page, they wear traveling clothes and cloaks, and the golem has given Somali lace-up boots. While the golem felt free to expose his inner workings in his forest, he strides through the land like Aragorn.

 

The Forest Guardian brings the girl into a walled city. Plants and giant mushrooms grow in the narrow streets. Trees and bridges shelter people going about their day. Mammals, reptiles, and birds wear clothes and hats. A woman with six arms waits tables and gifts Somali a three-eyed fish on a plate.

 

The golem can appear as fearsome as the alligator and dinosaur-like citizens who walk upright and wear clothes. He wears a lace-up mask over his face and hides the large eye in the center of his "face." After Somali wanders off and he hurries to find her, the golem suggests she hold one of his metal fingers with her tiny hand. She may wander to explore the animals and plants, but Somali returns to walk or sit beside him. When she cuddles beside him, he rests his hand on her back as she sleeps.

 

Motoko Tamamuro & Jonathan Clements translate the uppercase dialogue that inhabits balloons and the background. Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 1 concentrates more on character interaction and growth than action. Still, the rattle of wheels through the forest alerts the golem to danger. And when someone removes her hood, Ayoub Bensidi’s sound effects help you feel the Forest Guardian's inner turmoil. Thanks to Titan Manga for providing a copy for review.

 

 

Final Thoughts

Compared with the giant animals that guarded their forests, golems seem immortal. But everything has its time. The metal man in Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 1 has protected his forest for hundreds of years. Now, he has a new purpose. He wants to travel and reunite a lost child with her parents. Leaving the only home he has ever known, the golem explores nearby forests, towns, and villages. As he searches for the endangered Humans, the golem gets a chance to learn and grow, just like the girl he protects.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol 1.

Welcome To Ghost Mansion Vol 1 Review

 

Writer, Artist & Cover Artist: Nebukuro

Translators: Motoko Tamamuro & Jonathan Clements

Letterer: Ayoub Bensidi

Publisher: Titan Manga

Price: $12.99

Release Date: January 29, 2025

 

Kaori Shinonome spent her youth supporting her parents. She didn't have time for friends or money for hobbies. Now, Kaori wants to make a life for herself. So, when she finds an affordable apartment building, Kaori buys it. It's a fixer-upper, but she can rent the best units while repairing the rest. Will apartment ownership help Kaori enjoy life more? Or will her dream become a nightmare? Let's grab a bottle of sake, strap on our proton packs, leap into Welcome To Ghost Mansion Vol 1, and find out!

 

Story

Trouble threatens her dream when someone calls from Jellyfish Estate Agents. The prospective renters claim a ghost reached out and touched them. They can even show Kaori a photo of the ghost on their phone. Shocked, Kaori thinks of the sixteen apartments she hopes to rent and her 35-year mortgage. Suddenly, instead of rental income flooding in, Kaori wonders how many jobs she must undertake to avoid going bankrupt.

 

Unlike Peter, Ray, and Egon, Kaori Shinonome doesn’t know how to capture and remove ghosts. Might a butterfly net and insecticide eradicate her ectoplasmic squatters? Desperate for help, she visits a nearby shrine for help in Welcome To Ghost Mansion Vol 1.

 

Like her apartment complex, the shrine has fallen into disrepair. As she prays, Kaori notices children playing. But when they try to leave, one chases and transforms them into monsters. Perhaps Kaori identifies with the children forced to play, as circumstances forced her to work while growing up. Still, she grabs the net she purchased and races after the ghost pursuing a child.

 

In Welcome To Ghost Mansion Vol 1, Kaori captures the ghost. As she talks with Kamikiri, Kaori realizes the ghost is lonely. No one cares about Kamikiri anymore. Few visit the shrine, and no one maintains it. Like any successful businessperson, Kaori transforms a problem into an opportunity. If Humans don't want to live in Shinonome Mansion, Kaori will fill it with ghosts, demons, and monsters. Kaori can help them find jobs so they can pay her rent. While the ghosts discover what they enjoy doing, Kaori can restore her apartment building and discover the life her busy childhood denied her.

 

Art

Nebukuro’s ghosts resemble the possessed souls from horror movies. Their mouths enlarge and fill with sharpened teeth. Mouths sprout from other parts of their bodies. One even wears his head upside down. Then, there is the ghost that sits before a computer and slips on headphones. As he operates a call center, a mouth on his chest stretches into an open mouth smile.

 

Ghosts and humans often spring into action in Welcome To Ghost Mansion Vol 1. But Nebukuro never obscures the action with direction lines, explosive power, or sound effects. The action can be heartbreaking, such as when a ghost tortures itself by reliving its moment of death every day. Then there is the angry artist who never found an audience for her work.

 

Amid all the action, characters shine as they struggle to solve their problems. Perhaps the most troubled is Tsuzumi Kusakabe. The High Schooler comes from a family of exorcists and is anxious to prove herself. Yet Shinonome Mansion is in her territory. Instead of discouraging ghosts from haunting her apartments, Kaori keeps making friends with them!

 

Ayoub Bensidi writes large, uppercase letters into narrative boxes, dialogue balloons, and empty panel space. Off-panel dialogue appears in balloons with thick borders. Thoughts appear inside jagged ones. Sound effects may demand concentration, but it's worth slowing the pace to enjoy Welcome To Ghost Mansion Vol 1 a little longer. Thanks to Motoko Tamamuro and Jonathan Clements for translating Nebukuro’s story and Titan Manga for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

When Kaori Shinonome pins her hopes on renovating an apartment building, she dreams of a carefree life sustained by investment income. Instead, Kaori discovers a life filled with hard work and friendships she didn't have time for in her youth. So what if they are ghosts? Whether living or dead, everyone gets a shot at happiness in Welcome To Ghost Mansion Vol 1.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Welcome To Ghost Mansion Vol 1.

 

To check out the next installment see my Welcome To Ghost Mansion Vol 2 Solicit.

Shadows Of Kyoto Vol 1 Review

 

Writer, Artist & Cover Artist: Yumeya

Translators: Motoko Tamamuro & Jonathan Clements

Letterers: Jessica Burton & Cale Ward

Publisher: Titan Manga

Price: $12.99

Release Date: January 14, 2025

 

Kyoto was the capital of Japan for a thousand years. Now, it is a tourist attraction. But the shrines and graveyards of the historic city still throb with life, if not the kind all visitors expect. How does Kyoto greet its visitors? And should you accept her offer to tour its ancient sites? Grab your guidebooks, leap into Shadows Of Kyoto Vol 1, and find out!

 

Episode 1: The Hour Of The Ox: Story

Haruki Aono visits the Kifune Shrine. He live streams that visitors gain the power to curse others at the Hour Of The Ox. As he offers sacrifices with a leering smile, he promises to show his viewers something scary. Then, Kotone appears. As she offers to show him the heart of the ancient capital, viewers give him more positive feedback.

 

In this first story in Shadows Of Kyoto Vol 1, Kotone gives Haruki what he requests. Her actions shock him. Yumeya delves into an ancient practice associated with Kifune. Like the Alfred Hitchcock movie Rear Window, it reminds readers of the cost of voyeurism.

 

Episode 1: The Hour Of The Ox: Art

Haruki carries his phone on a selfie stick. He brings tools like a shovel and hammer to frighten his viewers. While following the ancient rituals, his manners convey disrespect. So when Kotone clutches his shoulder, Haruki jumps.

 

The night darkens further when Kotone reveals The Shadow Side. Near trees covered in straw effigies, Haruki wonders if Kotone is seducing him when she leans closer. But after she whispers, she bites his ear. Then Kotone shows Haruki something his viewers will never forget.

 

Episode 2: Breaking Off: Story

Kagimoto cannot pay his rent. So he visits a shrine. He plans to use the offerings as seed money to win more. Then Kotone offers to give Kagimoto a tour. The Yasui Konpiragu is a break-off shrine. You write a wish, crawl through a hole, and leave your wish behind. Kagimoto writes that he wants to break off with the bailiffs pursuing him.

This second story in Shadows Of Kyoto Vol 1 tackles our links with others. The Yasui Konpiragu shrine promises to help people break off old ties and establish new ones. But when people try to do the first but not the second, they distance themselves from other people and the gods who protect them.

 

Episode 2: Breaking Off: Art

Kotone holds Kagimoto's hand. When he squeezes through the hole, he lands on her. Kotone likes being close to him. As he leaves his note, hands reach through the wishes tacked to the shrine to clutch him. When Kagimoto later decides to sever all connections with others, a short string illustrates the inevitability of connections, whether or not they are the ones you choose.

 

Episode 3: The Riverbed Of Death: Story

Hina and her boyfriend visit a secluded cemetery. She longs for excitement. But when Hina lowers her top, he covers her up. He reminds her that Buddha is watching, then hurries to examine the grave markers. Yearning for the thrill of sex in this exotic place, Hina kicks over a memorial to insects.

 

Kotone offers to guide the couple around Nenbutsu-Ji. She shows them six Jizo statues that promise to cleanse sins. Hina does not believe in the gods and claims she has no sins. Then she remembers another time a yearning for gratification overrode her respect for others.

 

Episode 3: The Riverbed Of Death: Art

Kotone clings to her male visitor in this third story in Shadows Of Kyoto Vol 1. Hina fumes as the tour guide attempts to rob her of her financial security. Her boyfriend kneels amid the graves of children as Hina remembers her sins. Then night falls, her boyfriend is gone, and two boys appear with Kotone. The boys rush toward Hina. Their faces glow with adoration. Hina wraps them in her arms. But like Hina, the boys want more than an embrace.

 

Episode 4: The Field Of Birds: Story

Hazuki is a model friend and guardian. She looks over her classmates as they visit Kiyomizu-dera. Yuka is intrigued by this aura of perfection. The outsider discovers that Hazuki is cruel to the girls in her inner circle. While Yuka films Hazuki wielding power over her schoolmates, Kotone watches her. When Hazui notices their interaction, Kotone tells them about the balcony they stand on.

Episode 4: The Field Of Birds: Art

In this final story in Shadows Of Kyoto Vol 1, a white silhouette leaps off the balcony clutching an open umbrella. Unlike Mary Poppins, the Edo Period visitor made a wish and took an Indiana Jones-style leap of faith. Hazuki and her friends smile, except for Shiori, who they are hazing.

 

A shadow falls on Kotone as she smiles with the others. Corpses litter the ground below. Yuka drops the phone she secretly used to record Hazuki and her friends. Then, a transformation makes Hazuki emulate the weakness she disdained in Shiori.

 

Lettering

Black uppercase letters haunt dialogue and thought balloons of varying shapes and sizes. Dark revelations appear as giant white words in black balloons. Words also hover in panels. Screams rock fields with serrated edges. Translated sound effects help us hear screams and accompany scenes of body horror. Thanks to Titan Manga for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

The dead outnumber the living in Kyoto, and Kotone is our guide to their stories and lives. With a smile and perhaps a giggle, Kotone will lead you by the hand into forgotten history and traditions. Share your secrets, and she will reveal how this ancient city still speaks to people today in Shadows Of Kyoto Vol 1.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

To look inside, see my preview of Shadows Of Kyoto Vol 1 earlier this week.

The Elegant Courtly Life Of The Tea Witch Vol 1 Review

 

Writer: Ameko Kaeruda

Artist: Yorifuji

Translators: Motoko Tamamuro & Jonathan Clements

Letterer: Tom Williams

Publisher: Titan Manga

Price: $12.99

Release Date: January 1, 2025

 

Remy Pullis revels in her quiet life at court. While the other mages oversee government departments, Remy works alone. She never attends council meetings in the great hall. Instead, Remy concentrates on what she does best. What happens when Princess Stella takes a liking to Remy? Will having a royal friend make Remy's life even easier? Or will it upset the delicate balance of Remy's life? Let's brew some tea, leap into The Elegant Courtly Life Of The Tea Witch Vol 1, and find out!

 

Story

War rocked the enchanted kingdom of Shtora. When the war ended, military leaders won knighthoods, and the king appointed his magical defenders to positions in the royal court. While some mages oversee administration, security, or defense, Remy works in the palace gardens. She contemplates everyone's needs and brews tea from the plants available. The other mages spend their mornings discussing the problems of their departments. Remy enjoys the tranquility of nature and the artistry of her friend Alicia's manicured garden.

 

Yet trouble lurks in The Elegant Courtly Life Of The Tea Witch Vol 1. Princess Stella Mira Estasio is awed by Remy’s talents. While Remy enjoys a relatively carefree existence, guardians attend to Stella’s needs. They take such good care of her that Stella has never even left the palace grounds. But when all her father's advisors gather each morning, Princess Stella realizes she can sneak down to the garden and enjoy a friendly chat with Remy.

 

In Ameko Kaeruda’s story, this isn’t something Remy wants. The palace tea witch discourages the Princess from visiting her regularly. Remy asks her repeatedly not to address her by name. But Stella is young. Stella cannot understand that bestowing friendship will place Remy under scrutiny and create jealousy among the other court mages.

 

Remy has lived through one war. Although she isn’t supposed to use her magic to affect others, Remy sees frustration in the new government and uses her enchantments to reduce others’ tensions. So she avoids the spotlight as much as possible in The Elegant Courtly Life Of The Tea Witch Vol 1. The last thing the carefree Tea Witch wants is to get sucked into struggles for power in the new government.

 

Art

While the frowning government ministers fill the pews inside the council chamber, they gripe about Remy’s absence while dismissing her contributions. Yorifuji shows Remy brewing tea in the royal garden and savoring her drink. Yet she grits her teeth when Princess Stella bustles into Alicia's carefully tended garden in a billowing dress adorned with bows and frills. Stella's eyes shine brighter than the jewels on her crown. The Princess' radiant smile distracts from the long hair surrounding her like a regal cape.

 

Yorifuji shows Remy's preparations and how she wields her pot to work her magic. The tea witch walks past the desks of frowning administrators, leaving relaxed smiles on their faces after they drink her brews. The art also reveals the minor ways in which Remy works her enchantments. When Remy grows frustrated or frightened, the magic can burst out of her explosively in The Elegant Courtly Life Of The Tea Witch Vol 1. Yet when Alicia requests her aid, Remy wields her magic through her pot to protect the royal garden from danger.

 

Tom Williams casts large uppercase letters into dialogue balloons, narrative boxes, or unadorned backgrounds. He conjures balloons into different shapes to suggest emotions and tense situations. The characters' dialogue and thoughts enlarge but never shrink.

 

Motoko Tamamuro and Jonathan Clements translate the Japanese sound effects to help us hear the background chatter rise as Princess Stella speaks with Remy at a garden party and the tea witch's retreating footsteps. The translators help us feel Remy’s magic blasting through Alicia’s maze of hedges. Thanks to Titan Manga for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Life settles down when war ends, and the leaders of Shtora fight to secure the peace in The Elegant Courtly Life Of The Tea Witch Vol 1. As the court mages threaten to draw Remy into their intrigues, the tea witch discovers dangers threatening her life, the princess’ future, and the nation’s new regime.

 

Rating 9.5/10

 

To look inside see my preview of The Elegant Courtly Life Of The Tea Witch Vol 1.

 

For information on the next book in the series see my solicit for Vol 2.