Manga Review: The Girl from the Other Side: Siuil, A Run, Volume 8, by Nagabe

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Seven Seas

Release Date: March 2020

Volumes: 9+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 7. 9.

Goodreads Synopsis:

WHEN ALL HOPE IS LOST

For Shiva’s sake, another life must be sacrificed. Teacher thought he had steeled himself to commit the deed, but perhaps some lingering trace of his humanity stilled his hand. Unable to harm others, he realizes the only recourse is to instead sacrifice himself. But what remains once the soul is gone?

Review:

Things take a drastic turn for the worst in this volume.

When Teacher sees just what's happening with Shiva, he makes a sacrifice that no one knew he had the option of, and it completely changes his status as outsider. It changes things for her, too, since suddenly he's not the teacher she knew, and everything is thrown in motion when they're attacked again. Shiva is forced to do quite a bit of growing up, here. It's a lot for her to take.

I don't have any idea how they're going to recover after this, and it's apparently going to be a little while for another volume. I'll be waiting anxiously.

Manga Review: The Girl from the Other Side: Siuil, a Run, Volume 7, by Nagabe

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Seven Seas

Release Date: August 2019

Volume: 9+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 6. 8.

Goodreads Synopsis:

OF MONSTERS AND MEN

Hounded by two transformed soldiers desperate for salvation and with Teacher reeling from revelations about his own forgotten former life, the past finally catches up to Teacher and Shiva. With danger closing in around them at terrifying speed, is there nowhere safe for them to live a normal life together…?

Review:

This feels like the first real fight in this series to this point. Separated, Teacher and Shiva have to face their own enemy and attempt to get out okay. It puts Shiva through a pretty dangerous, scary situation, when she's still getting over the previous traumas.

A surprise is thrown at us here. A surprise we've all been dreading, which pushes Teacher into some dark and dramatic acts. It pushes him to a new low, somewhere he's considering going only for Shiva.

It's unclear what they're going to do next. Teacher is struggling with what he thinks he needs to do and what options he actually has, given that there's no real way of knowing how this is going to turn out. There's no way of knowing what will work here.

This was a hard volume. It's harsh, more so than previous volumes have been. And it doesn't look like it'll be getting any easier any time soon.

Manga Review: The Girl from the Other Side: Siuil, a Run, Volume 6, by Nagabe

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Seven Seas

Release Date: March 2019

Volumes: 9+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 5. 7.

Goodreads Synopsis:

FAR FROM HOME

Pursued by soldiers, Teacher and Shiva left their home and searched for a new one in a distant hamlet. They thought to hide away there, but fate was not so kind to them. The cursed soldiers… The Insiders’ plans… Even Teacher himself. The mysteries surrounding them slowly begin coming to light…

Review:

Teacher and Shiva arrive at their new home in this volume. Shiva is still dealing with her mourning of her aunt, as well as her new feelings about herself. She's still processing and dealing with all of this. And during all of this, Teacher is given new doubts about his own history, how he's different from the the other outsiders, and what that might mean. He's starting to wonder about his past, since he doesn't remember any of it.

This is all leading to that terrible cliffhanger. This could be terribly bad for either of them, though I'm hopeful that they'll be okay.

Manga Review: The Girl from the Other Side: Siuil, a Run, Volume 5, by Nagabe

Rating (Out of 5): ~4.5

Publisher: Seven Seas

Release Date: September 2018

Volumes: 9+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 4. 6.

Goodreads Synopsis:

The Accursed Child

What Teacher feared most if true - the child Shiva has been afflicted with the curse of the Outsiders. Yet somehow, even touched by that blight, she remains human. How can it be possible? And what of the Insiders, and the revelation from their Holy Father? His divine words portend trouble for Shiva and Teacher alike...

Review:

There was a time when things seemed calm and relaxed—not any more, oh no no.

Shiva learns about her aunt rather quickly, which means that Teacher has to confess some things to her, like how he's been holding things back from her. Even for a little girl, she's very upset about this.

This is honestly one of the first true moments they feel like father and daughter. Shiva throws a fit, but understandably, and Teacher has to try to reason with her while in a crises, try to be reasonable but also firm, even when she starts to get to him. When they're yelling at each other and Shiva's locked him out of her room—one of my absolute favorite moments of this series so far. I laughed, it was adorable, but also so sweet, and real.

Near the end of the volume, they're off to a new place, somewhere they'll hopefully be hidden for a while, as we're learning more about what's different about Shiva.

This was a solid volume, and this series only gets better the more I read.

Manga Review: The Girl from the Other Side: Siuil, a Run, Volume 4, by Nagabe

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Seven Seas

Release Date: March 2018

Volumes: 8+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 3. 5.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH

Shiva's little white lie has had devastating consequences. While she reels from the shock of the horrific events that have unfolded, Auntie reveals to Teacher how Shiva came to live under her roof--and the cruel fate that awaits all who are afflicted by the curse.

Review:

Both Teacher and Shiva's Aunt seem to want what's best for Shiva, and thus they're both very distrustful of each other. Shiva's Aunt reveals how she came upon Shiva, but then the curse seems to be working on her differently than we've seen at this point, though that might be explaining some things as well.

It seemed like Shiva was getting a larger group, getting to form a family, but that seems too hopeful now.

This series is still very strong for me, and getting deeper.

Manga Review: The Girl from the Other Side: Siuil, a Run, Volume 3, by Nagabe

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Seven Seas

Release Date: 2017

Volumes: 8+

Spoilers?: Light.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 2. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Homecoming

Shiva's aunt has come to the Outside to bring her home, with several soldiers in tow. Alarmed at this show of force, Teacher tries to protect Shiva, but to no avail. Meanwhile, chaos threatens to engulf the small hamlet on the Inside. Where does Shiva truly belong?

Review:

Shiva's aunt has come, only nothing is as it seems, really.

This volume really upped the creepy factor. During most of this volume, I was wary and cautious and I didn't trust anything. Everything felt like a lie or a trick and I was scared for Shiva. She's just a sweet little girl, and all the adults are being terrible.

Unsurprisingly, this only leads to more devastation, and now Shiva is starting to think that it might be her fault, that she's causing more harm. It's awful.

Meeting her aunt opens new information, though, as it looks like there might be more to Shiva's story, and her significance with the curse, than we already thought there was.

I'm entranced with this series. I'm intrigued and purely enjoying it, and will be getting the next one very soon.

Manga Review: The Girl from the Other Side: Siuil, A Run, Volume 2, by Nagabe

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Seven Seas

Release Date: 2017

Volumes: 8+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Untouchable

To be touched by an Outsider is to become an Outsider. A clawed, black hand reaches out to touch Shiva's cheek in her sleep. The hand does not belong to Teacher. Who is this strange new Outsider, and what do its creepy murmurings about "mother" portend?

Enter a fantasy realm shrouded in mystery, in a dark fairy tale-like setting for fans of The Ancient Magus' Bride.

Review:

Shiva getting touched and almost-attacked by a different Other freaks Teacher out, but Shiva's curiosity is what makes them explore this potential solution. It's unclear how this Otherness is spread, but it's very apparent that it happens somehow, and each side has their own theories.

Meeting these new Others adds a new foreboding feeling to the book. They're very odd creatures, who even Teacher doesn't quite understand, though he tries. He wants to find a cure for this, and he wants to keep Shiva safe.

Meanwhile, the humans from the Inside know that Shiva is out there and believe she's dangerous. Thus, they're planning an attack.

This series is so good and yet sometimes hard to read. There's more darkness to it than I expected, and it's frustrating and sad at times. I just want Shiva and Teacher to be okay and happy, and all these people are trying to ruin it.

Manga Review: The Girl from the Other Side: Siuil, a Run, Volume 1, by Nagabe

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Seven Seas

Release Date: January 2017

Volumes: 8+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Once upon a time...

In a land far away, there were two kingdoms: the Outside, where twisted beasts roamed that could curse with a touch, and the Inside, where humans lived in safety and peace. The girl and the beast should never have met, but when they do, a quiet fairytale begins.

This is a story of two people--one human, one inhuman--who linger in the hazy twilight that separates night from day.

Review:

I cannot believe it has taken me so long to start this series. I heard all the good things about it, all the recommendations. No, I don't know what's wrong with me, honestly.

Shiva was an Insider, and she doesn't know why the town is empty now; all she knows is that this kind Outsider whom she calls Teacher is taking care of her, and her aunt should be coming to pick her up anytime now. So until then, she lives on happily with him, going around the village and finding food and things.

The dynamic of this just gets to me so hard. Teacher is living on in this little cottage, and he's taking care of Shiva, making food for her and making sure that she doesn't touch him. Because if she touches him, she'll be cursed. He doesn't believe anyone is coming for her, and he feels terrible and doesn't know how to tell her that.

Honestly, Teacher is extremely crush-worthy. I love him. He is the ultimate sweetheart, makeshift dad characters, and I love him. And then Shiva is a sweet little girl, happy to go on with her life, and Teacher just wants her to be innocent and happy for as long as possible.

There's clear dark tones throughout this. We discover why the Insiders left, and that they're hunting for the Outsiders, as their land is getting smaller as more villages are supposedly infected with the curse.

Even without the cliffhanger I want more of this series. I'm already a huge fan of Shiva and Teacher, and I want to see more of their story, whether it's slice-of-life or focused on the serious plot. I just want to read more of this. The artwork is gorgeous, the themes and tones of the story and characters are so good; I'm hooked.