sophia’srecommendations

synopsis: coco has always dreamed of being a magician but unfortunately, magicians are born, not made. or so they think. after secretly seeing qifrey, a magician, cast a spell, she tries magic herself and ends up turning her mother into stone. determined to fix her mistake, she embarks on a journey to reverse the spell.

review: the world building is very detailed and rich, slowly revealing dark plot points. the art is charming, the characters' emotions are portrayed very well and overall a very whimsical read. i like how the struggles of the characters are portrayed, and how no decison they make is black and white. if you like studio ghibli films, you may want to check this work out.

synopsis: second-year high school student yatora yaguchi is bored with his normal life. he studies well and plays around with his friends, but in truth, he doesn't enjoy either of those activities. bound by norms, he secretly envies those who do things differently.

review: it's a very timely work. it talks a lot about the ups and downs of living, especially as a teen or young adult. every time i read this work, i admittedly self-insert as the MC because of how relatable he is. the characters and situations seem like they would actually happen irl. and given that it's an art focused manga, not only is the art amazing, it also showcases a lot of known and unknown artists alike, which helps their exposure.

synopsis: with a passion for richly textured japanese rock, first-year high school student chihiro hatono steps into the world of the light music club, new guitar in tow. but what awaits her behind those doors...? a drama of unfiltered youth and musical ambition takes the stage!

review: get your music recs here! if you like j-rock or anything pop punk adjacent, the music in this manga will definitely pique your interest. the MC is very earnest, charming and sincere, making you want to root for her. there's nothing groundbreaking about it; it's very much a casual read. in all honesty, the possibility of this having an anime adaptation is far off because of the numerous music rights of licenses or idk... whatever is needed to use the music when it airs. which is unfortunate, but i'm still holding out hope.

synopsis: after the golden kingdom is sunk underground by an insane magician, its king emerges, promising all of his treasure to any who defeat the magician, before crumbling to dust. laios touden, the leader of one such guild, encounters a dragon that wipes out his party and devours his sister, falin.

review: when i first read this, i thought it was very DND-esque, which already got me hooked. there's a good balance between comedy and serious themes as well. the world building is actually incredibly complex and dense. the fact that there are intricate details on the ecosystem and biology of both the dungeon and the monsters dwelling tells you that so much thought and love went into making this story. i would 100% erase my memory just to read it for the first time again.

synopsis: sentenced to death, ninja gabimaru the hollow finds himself apathetic. after leading a blood-soaked life, gabimaru believes he deserves to die. however, every attempt to execute him inexplicably fails. finally, sagiri yamada asaemon, a fledgling member of a famed executioner clan, is asked to take gabimaru's life; yet sagiri makes no move to kill him as requested.

review: the art is breathtaking, especially page spreads of the island backgrounds. i for sure thought that it would get the same treatment as jujutsu kaisen or chainsaw man because of its typical good vs. bad shounen trope, but it didn't garner the same popularity, which was a shame. this work has a lot of dark themes, gorey art, and a lot of self-exploration for the characters. many consider the MC (big wife guy, we love to see it) as a mary sue, but i think he's quite well developed and balanced. if you like action and thriller, this is definitely a must read.

synopsis: the inhabitants of a certain wealthy town think nothing of throwing objects away. however, their waste is priceless to rudo, a resident of the town's slums. despite the constant warnings from his adoptive father regto, rudo spends his days searching for reusable materials that would otherwise be sent to the giant disposal area known as the pit.

review: the plot is unique and refreshing, having your most valued item being your weapon? it would be cool to see more unconventional weapons being used in fights. the art is very grunge and punk, which sort of reminds me of skull girls, guilty gear and soul eater. the MC is so likeable, what with the way he's eager to help with his strong sense of justice. in a world full of people who disregard people or objects as if they were nothing, he displays care and appreciation for both. the world building is interesting with the sphere and the ground, and the mystery shrouding the vital instruments.