If you're like me you probably have very little knowledge of Asian mythology. While this book won't tell you everything by any means, it does provide a picture into the world of Japanese myth. We meet a variety of spirits and get a glimpse of their abilities. Anzu is a solid character, dealing with grief and a desire to belong, unsure of who she even is anymore. We see these struggles reflected in characters in the spirit realm as well. With detailed illustrations that use color and light to the perfect degree this is a book that lends itself to frequent re-reading.

I’m kicking myself for not reading this sooner, because the publisher gave me an advances review copy, and I just slept on it. If you have any love of Japanese mythology and monsters, this is a delight. Foreground, background, everything is full of detail, whether explained (most often) or not.

Anzu feels isolated as the new girl in town, sure that this place will be full of the same close-minded bullies as her last home. But, before she gets the chance to meet anyone, a strange dog steals a keepsake from her dead grandmother. Anzu gives chase, and follows the dog right into Yomi, the Realm of Darkness, the Shinto otherworld/afterlife. Anzu must escape before sunrise, or she, too, will join the dead and lost.

Every way Anzu turns, she recognizes a creature or aspects of a legend told to her by her grandmother. She’s always surprised at this, explaining something like “is that XYZ creature, that does XYZ?” This is great for us, as readers, especially those who aren’t experts on the mythology. At the same time, we’re not talked down to. This isn’t a story for babies. Descriptions are brief, but pertinent. It’s a great balance, and leaves enough unknown to hopefully spark the interest of younger readers.

The story plays a little loose with Shinto tales, but, to be fair, there’s often contradictions within the stories themselves, so the alterations are all pretty reasonable.

I’ll definitely be pushing this pick on my niblings!

In ANZU AND THE REALM OF DARKNESS, we meet Anzu, who is feeling out of place after the loss of her beloved grandmother and her family’s recent move. During Obon, a time when families traditionally pray to their ancestors, Anzu doesn’t feel like participating in the celebration. Instead, she leaves her home and notices a strange dog watching her. The dog takes the necklace her grandmother gave her from her neck and an angry Anzu pursues the animal to get her necklace back. This unwittingly leads Anzu to Yomi, the Shinto underworld, where she encounters the Queen of Yomi. If Anzu doesn’t act quickly to escape the evil queen and rebuild the gate to her world, she’ll find herself stuck in the underworld forever.

A rich tale rooted in Japanese folklore, this graphic novel will draw in readers with action, adventure, and anime style art. Anzu’s journey to self-acceptance remains at the center of the story as folklore elements build around her. A detailed glossary at the end of the book will help readers build additional knowledge about the folklore included in the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of the book to read and review.

This story begins with a girl feeling like they don’t belong anywhere. When they see a mysterious looking stray dog, they follow them and wind up in a magical place. Someone greets them and appears to be happy to give them a place to belong. Turns out they have nefarious plans for Anzu, and she needs to find a way home before it is too late. Along the way she runs into a relative, one who helps her discover a part of herself long forgotten. Once this story comes to a close, life for Anzu will be changed forever.

This was a fantastic Japanese-inspired fantasy graphic novel with beautiful illustrations with themes of self-love and acceptance woven throughout.

A sweet middle grade graphic novel about family tradition and being proud of your cultural identity. Anzu has moved with her family and is introducing herself as “just Anne” to other children. She misses her grandma and when a necklace her grandma gave her is stolen by a “stray dog,” she chases it only to land in the Underworld. She must find a way to heal a rift between worlds and get home before Queen Izanami takes her into her graveyard of child spirits. This was fun, and similar to other books I’ve read such as Ghost Book, The Hills of Estrella Roja, and Up to No Ghoul. I think there are a lot of similar books like it, but it’s good to have cultural representation.

This is a solid 3.5 for me. Mai K. Nguyen’s illustrations are great, as always! I love the style and attention to details, as well as the more unusual color palette of orange, green and purple (made it feel appropriately otherworldly). Something about the story didn't quite click for me in the first half; It was difficult to get attached to characters when the beginning had what felt like such a sudden shift, though I see this possibly making more sense for the intended age range. I liked the resolution in the second half, as well as all the details of folklore packed in throughout. The prevalence of Anzu’s connection with her grandmother became clearer over the course of the book and helps to ground the story at the end.

A bit like Spirited Away, main character Anzu unwittingly finds herself lost in Yomi, the Shinto underworld. She must find the right gate and leave before losing herself. This was a fun book, full of folklore, myths, and the culture surrounding Obon, a Japanese festival. The art is stylized and charming, the color palette really adds to the setting, as most of the book takes place in Yomi. Anzu is a bit of a frustrating character, much like Sen in Spirited Away she struggles with change and being herself, but she has a great character arc that leaves her in a better place by the end. This is a great single volume graphic novel, and a satisfying story to read.

Anzu and the Realm of Darkness is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel about figuring out who you really are. The story is rich and full of lore and culture and adventure.

While avoiding holiday festivities, Anzu follows a stray dog that leads her into a magical underworld called Yomi. To get back home she must break a curse, free the spirits of other lost children, and reach the gate home before sunrise or she will be stuck in Yomi forever.

Anzu and the Realm of Darkness is the perfect book for any age to read, especially during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Anzu and her family have just moved into a new home on the last night of the Obon festival. Unfortunately, Anzu will do almost anything to fit in with the other girls in her class at school, including changing her name and avoiding family celebrations. But when her prized necklace is stolen by a dog and she winds up following the dog to Yomi, the two unlikely companions are catapulted into a great adventure to return Anzu to the realm of the living before time runs out. This entertaining graphic novel blends traditional Japanese mythology with the very real feelings of middle grade adolescence. The images are presented in limited color palettes, and each one features strong emotions and intriguing details that connect readers more deeply with the story. Any reader who has felt the need to assimilate to another culture will empathize with Anzu’s experience, and there is a beautiful journey Anzu follows as she seeks self-acceptance. Filled with word bubbles, onomatopoeia, colorful characters, and strong feelings, this book is one that reads quickly while leaving room for contemplation as well. There are no chapter headings in this book, which makes it flow smoothly from one scene to the next, but it does make the book difficult to put down. Nonetheless, the story is accessible to middle grade readers, and it provides opportunities for youth to walk in the footsteps of another person who is navigating complex emotions. At the end, a glossary helps to clarify some of the characters referenced within the book. This graphic novel is one that will be enjoyed by readers interested in both Japanese culture as well as the age-old journey to finally accepting oneself within the complexities of the greater world.

Anzu struggles with self confidence and feeling different from her school mates. The person who used to boost her up, her grandmother, has died, and Anzu just wants to be the same as the other girls. She lets them call her Anne, instead of Anzu, but it doesn't feel right. Once day, she follows a strange dog and winds up in the land of the dead. In the world of Japanese Shintoism, there are many gods and tricksters in the underworld, and Anzu needs to get back to the land of the living or she will be stuck there forever. Can she find the strength to be her true self and truely appreciate her culture?

Anzu is pulled into the Shinto underworld (Yomi)- a place she has heard stories of from her now deceased obaachan (grandmother). Once there she faces creatures she never would have believed were real as she races against the clock to find her way back to the human realm before being stuck in Yomi forever.

This was an enjoyable read but doesn't stand out among the crowd of fantasy graphic novels. It was solid and I will likely purchase it for my middle grade library but I wouldn't recommend it if on a limited budget.

This was an amazing story of a young Japanese American girl who doesn't feel like she fits in with the other kids at her school. After her family moves, she feels even more alone and wishes she could just disappear. She ends up chasing a black dog into the Yomi realm, where she makes the ever foolish mistake and eats some of the food of the realm. This means that she is cursed and needs to figure it out before she is lost in Yomi forever. With the help of the black dog, who is the gatekeeper of the realm, Anzu gains the confidence to be herself and help set the realm of Yomi to right. The author says this is a mix of Japanese and Vietnamese cultures and is filled with such delightful and scary creatures. The artwork is amazing with many pale greens and purples that blend perfectly. A great story for any child trying to figure out how to be themselves. Loved it.

This was a really fun read. I learned a lot about Japanese folklore by being "thrown into" the story rather than having it explained. Such a wonderful message about just being you without being preachy or heavy handed. It took the main characters time but they each came into their own in their own timing. I did not realize when I downloaded the title that it was a graphic novel however I was thrilled to find that it was. I think that could be marketed a little better.

I loved this book. I loved the story and learning about the belief system within the book. The art was amazing, and it was a great story about bravery and friendship. Anzu's story and her journey to get back to her family is beautifully told, and it was a great book.

This was an easy 5 star. I adored everything about this. It gave me everything I wanted and more. The art is absolutely stunning with so much attention to detail. Nearly every page could be it's own little work of art.
The story really does give me all those wonderful vibes that watching any Studio Ghibli movie does. You could certainly compare this one to Spirited Away although Anzu has it's own unique story and characters.
I think this graphic novel can be enjoyed not only by kids in the middle grade age group, but also teens and adults! This is definitely one of my favorite graphic novels I've ever read and I'll be looking forward to more from the author!

*Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group for letting me read an ARC of this book through NetGalley!*

Anzu and the Realm of Darkness
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ .5 (4.5/5) or 8.85/10 overall

Characters - 8
Anzu and Limbo were incredibly likeable and relatable characters. It was easy to root for them and enjoyable to see their interactions. Most of the side characters were fleshed out enough and had some personality to them. However, I do wish we had gotten to see a bit more of the real-world characters.

Atmosphere - 10
Coming into reading this book, I had no clue that it was a graphic novel, but the art did not disappoint. Each panel had a sense of life and movement that added so much more to the story than just the words could express. The backgrounds were beautifully detailed, while not becoming too busy or hard to follow.

Writing - 9
The writing in throughout the story was reasonable and interesting. It helped to explain key elements and elaborate on the characters' emotions well.

Plot - 9
This story was incredibly unique and entertaining. While the shift to Yomi did seem a bit abrupt, the rest of the plot had a good pace that pulled me in and made me keep reading til the end.

Intrigue - 9
The premise and cover of this book originally drew me in to want to read it. After realizing it was a graphic novel, I became that much more excited to start because the cover is so pleasing to look at. I was intrigued the whole way through and nothing felt too predictable.

Logic - 8
The book was reasonably logical. There were a few points that struck me as a bit odd, but I was able to look past them and have a good time reading this book anyway.

Enjoyment - 9
I was thoroughly entertained by this book. It was incredibly unique, with amazing art and dynamic characters. I would've given this book 5 stars were it not for a few minor points that dampened my enjoyment. :)

Anzu and the Realm of Darkness
is a fun fantasy graphic novel about Anzu, a young girl who is missing her grandmother and feeling out of place in her life. Then a strange dog steals her grandmother’s necklace and Anzu chases him right into another world. She gets taken in by the death goddess of Yomi, who may not have the best intentions, and she’ll have to use all her bravery and wit to find her way back home.

Anzu’s story is one of identity and being true to yourself and your history, while shaping who you want to become. It is also a story of finding friendship and remembering your family. These ideas are present and wrapped in a wonderfully illustrated spirit world filled with yokai, night markets, and spooky magic. The characters, even the background characters, are well designed and full of expression. This read is great for anyone looking for a Spirited Away type adventure.

This was such an awesome story infused with Japanese folklore and mythology! I really loved Anzu, she was a grand protagonist for this middle grade graphic novel. I liked how she fought back and saw through Izanami's tricks. I liked how she worked with Limbo and freed others like herself who were trapped by Izanami.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalkey for letting me review this book. Anzu is having a rough time with the new move and her new school. She learns who she can trust and can’t as the novel progresses. When she took a bite of food in the spirit world, it reminded me of all the other myth books I read that says never eat or drink anything in the spirit realm.