Thank you Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me with an arc for review.

I am a Makoto Shinkai girly. Give me the anime. Give me the light novel. Give me the manga. I will eat it up. Suzume is no exception -- though out of all of the adaptations I've read, this doesn't sparkle quite as much as the others. While still stunning, and staying true to the story in the anime, there's something of a lack of urgency that was in the film. The film has so, so much forward motion and almost franticness at times, that this felt like it was verging on a slow burn.
That being said, I think that anyone who enjoys manga adaptations of their favorite films will enjoy this one.

Suzume was so good! I will say I have not finished the entire movie, but the manga is so so pretty, so if you liked the movie, you should read this! The art style is really dynamic and fun, I think a lot of people will enjoy studying all these meticulous brushstrokes. I can’t wait for volume 2!

**Suzume** is an exhilarating new adaptation of the Golden Globes-nominated film directed by Makoto Shinkai, the visionary behind *Your Name* and *Weathering With You*. This novelization offers a captivating expansion of the cinematic experience, bringing Shinkai’s imaginative storytelling and breathtaking visuals to life through richly detailed prose.

The story follows Suzume, a high school junior whose mundane life takes a dramatic turn when she encounters a mysterious stranger named Souta. Intrigued by Souta’s quest to find a particular door among the ruins of an abandoned resort, Suzume is initially unsure about his intentions. However, her decision to intervene and stop him leads her to inadvertently open a long-forgotten door that bridges the gap between reality and a fantastical realm beyond time and space.

The narrative brilliantly captures the essence of Shinkai’s film with its blend of magic, mystery, and emotional depth. Suzume’s journey from a normal teenager to an unwitting heroine is portrayed with nuance and vibrancy, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in her transformative adventure. The novel’s pacing mirrors the film’s dynamic rhythm, weaving together moments of introspection and heart-pounding excitement with skill.

The adaptation excels in translating the visual splendor of the film into evocative descriptions that engage the imagination. The world Suzume stumbles into is rendered with a vivid sense of wonder, filled with mystical elements and a sense of boundless possibility. The novel’s ability to convey the scale and emotional weight of the story enhances the reader’s connection to the characters and their extraordinary experiences.

Character development is another highlight. Suzume’s growth throughout the story is both compelling and relatable, as she grapples with the enormity of her newfound role and the challenges that come with it. Souta’s enigmatic presence adds an additional layer of intrigue and tension, driving the plot forward and deepening the narrative’s emotional impact.

**Suzume** is a must-read for fans of Shinkai’s films and newcomers alike. It captures the magic and emotional resonance of the original movie while offering a new dimension to the story through its rich and immersive prose. This adaptation is a testament to Shinkai’s storytelling prowess, providing readers with a thrilling and heartfelt adventure that lingers long after the final page.

Netgalley Review

Star Rating: ★★★★☆

I saw the show advertise. Still haven't watched it. Saw this pop up on NetGalley and thought what the heck. I enjoyed reading this, definitely plan to know more, because I think I know where some parts of the story are going to go and am going to have to read more and find out if I'm correct in my assumptions!

If you want a relatively short read, with an interesting plot line, nice artwork, and will be exactly what you have been needing to read to temporarily quench that reading thirst then this is the book for you!

Like always though, read it and decide for yourself

I love this movie! This manga is a very faithful adaptation of it. I feel like in a way it's too faithful, because part of what makes the movie great is its motion, physicality, and sound effects. The manga tries to copy these faithfully, and it ends up just feeling confusing and cluttered in the attempt. I wish that the manga had leaned in instead to some of the strengths of its own medium.

Thanks to Netgalley and Vertical Comics for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was an interesting and wholesome Manga. It has a mysterious stranger who gets turned into a chair, doors that lead to other world and talking cat in it. What more can you want? It's surprisingly funny at times too and the art style is adorable.

I really enjoyed this volume. I like that their mysterious situation is easy to follow so far and doesn’t feel overly explained or complicated. I was really invested in Suzume as a character. I felt that I learned a good amount about her personality and want to learn more.

Souta is super mysterious and the choice for his journey in this book is definitely a bold choice, which I mean in a good way. Not that invested in him as character so far but I’m interested in his journey and what we will learn about him in the next volumes.

The art was good, nothing spectacular like that of the anime movie, but I think it suits the story. I think this was a good introduction to this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this manga in exchange for my honest opinion!

I really enjoyed this one and would definitely read Volume 2! Thank you for the early read, I can't wait to pick up the rest.

i love the premise and the storyline, it’s very magical and somehow dark with the monster coming out without break, but sadly i didn’t felt any connection with the characters maybe because everything move so fast and i didn’t have the time to fully grasp the characters’ traits. the illustration is so pretty, especially the colorful ones in the beginning.

Published by Kodansha and available September 24, 2024, this is the first volume of the manga adaptation of the 2022 film of the same name, directed by Makoto Shinkai, most famous for Your Name. Full disclosure that at the time of this writing I haven't seen the movie, just read this first volume of the manga. It definitely feels like it's based on something and I think readers will get more out of it if they've seen the movie. On its own it didn't grab me and in parts was confusing, like I was expected to already understand everything happening. It probably works better in movie form.

"I wonder why it feels so awful. To be so powerless on your own. That you have to rely on other people to protect you."

✨𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐈𝐓:
Knowing it’s a Makoto Shinkai film and manga, I was super excited. I still can’t get over Your Name—I tear up every time I watch it, no matter how many times. So, I decided to check out the anime adaptation of Suzume and loved it. The graphics were really amazing, and I enjoyed it a lot. I was also shocked and thrilled to discover on NetGalley that the revised manga version of Suzume is set to be published in September. I just couldn’t contain my excitement to read this beautiful manga in advance.

Suzume follows Suzume Iwato and Souta Munakata as they close magical doors in abandoned places that were damaged by calamities. OMG! Souta is such a beautiful and charming man! I can’t help but root for him and Suzume as a couple. Even with their age gap, I’m hopeful there’ll be some romantic development between them. I can’t wait to see them together!

One thing I love about anime and manga is how they often include chance encounters and quirky situations. Daijin, the keystone god who cursed Souta, was both clever and adorable. I also loved the addition of social media; it was witty of Makoto Shinkai to include that in their journey to find Daijin.

Overall, I definitely recommend this to fans of Your Name and Makoto Shinkai.

✨𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄:
📌 RUIN PLACES
📌 A CAT WHO TALKS
📌 FOLKLORES
📌 A SUBTLE HINT OF ROMANCE
📌 NO SPICE

🖥️ GOODREADS REVIEW: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6731372244

💻 BLOG REVIEW: https://kimthebookdragon.wordpress.com/2024/08/05/arc-review-suzume-volume-1-by-makoto-shinkai/

This manga adaptation of the worldwide hit, Suzume, was a great return to the world. While it will definitely make you want to watch the movie, the manga tells the story succinctly with great art! For a more full experience, definitely watch the movie, but I think the story and characters are still given much life in the manga.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.75 stars

This first volume finally convinced me to get around to watching the actual movie it's based on. I'm not sure I would ever be able to dislike anything that came out of the creator of Your Name, but this has already sold me on the whimsy it's going to provide. I'm not sure the excellence of the film is going to translate the same to a manga format though. And I will say the story feels a little familiar, though not overdone.

Thank you to the publisher Kodansha Comics for providing an e-ARC for an honest review via NetGalley.

I really liked the art style of the book and the story itself was intriguing (even though I couldn't help but compare it to Noragami for some reason), but occasionally I found the plot a little confusing. Nevertheless, this was a solid start to a new series and I'm looking forward to reading more.

I've been eyeing Suzume since last year. Fortunately, it does not disappoint. Suzume talks about a girl (called Suzume) who is on a mission to help Saoto save her country from an epic disaster. I can't help but to become engrossed and intrigued with the story. It was such an easy read and I finished this in less than an hour. I wish volume two would come faster. Meanwhile, I might watch the anime version of this. It's a really manga and I highly recommend it to all the readers out there.

Mr. Mysterious Stranger grasped my attention on this one! I love Suzume! In fantasy mangas like this, I really love the journey. The tasks, the missions, and the adventure they go through to achieve their main goals. It gave me goosebumps!

3.75 Stars!

Everything that is written or created by Makoto Shinkai is magic!

I saw the film adaptation of Suzume last year in the movie theatres and fell instantly in love with it! I knew the novel came out prior to the film and that the themes of it were inspired by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, but I never knew that the mangas existed as well.

The art style in this manga is beautiful, this is a must read if one if a fan of the big screen adaptation!

I can't wait for the continuation of Suzume's manga!

An adorable vol 1 of the adaptation that's best viewed as a companion work for the film. The film was absolutely fantastic and the manga looks just as great. I loved the art a lot (especially the adorable sneaky little Daijin) - very dynamic and full of character. Looking forward to vol 2!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was sent a copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.....for a full review please see my Amazon and Goodreads accounts

I watched the movie so I was excited when I found the first volume of the manga on Netgalley. It was pretty much exactly like the movie. The writing was great. The artwork was awesome. I really enjoyed getting to read this in book form. Such a fun cute story. Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review!