I have been a fan of Manga for probably about twenty years now and while I like all genres I have to say Fantasy, Science Fiction and Horror are my favourites. So when I read the blurb for The Spell Book Library I was incredibly interested. I have to say, once again, I was not disappointed. In fact before I even finished the e-arc I was pre-ordering the physical copies.

The story for a first volume was perfectly paced. We get enough information to understand the world, what is happening and who our protagonists are. I really love Yan and Tohru and can’t wait to find out more about both of them as we go forward.

The artwork is also really suited to the genre and story so far. I’ve loved the Spellbeasts we’ve seen so far and can’t wait to see what comes next. A few of the panels do have a lot going on but I didn’t really find it too much but I’m not sure if this will be different in the book format.

If you are a fan of fantasy manga like Cardcaptor Sakura this is definitely one to look into.

As always thank you to Kodansha Comics for the copy to review. My review is always honest and truthful.

Books that can capture beasts. A library that houses them. Children who try out to work in said library.

I absolutely loved this manga! Fabulous fantasy elements that made me want to read the next book. Fast paced and the illustrations are what we have come to expect from this illustrator - incredible!

I was a little confused at the start but soon worked out what was happening. I would have to rate it teen because of the language choice of the word ‘shit’ which is disappointing, as this would have been a fabulous year 5-6 read without it.

This was a really interesting series opener. I like the main cast of characters so far - Tohru is sweet but mysteries, and Yan is hilariously dumb and tough. Yan reminded me somewhat of Hatsuharu from Fruits Basket, who has always been a favorite character of mine. The magic and worldbuilding in The Spellbook Library is particularly strong. The world felt fleshed out in a short amount of time. I did occasionally have trouble following the speech bubbles; it could be unclear who was speaking. But I'm excited for the rest of this series, and very interested in Kodansha's Reader Portal! I will definitely be creating an account to follow along.

The story was intriguing and I liked the premise of the story. A world filled with magic, mythical beasts, and a magic library filled with books that summon monsters called spellbeasts--it's everything that I love in a good fantasy. The only problem I had with this was that I found the story hard to follow along at some points because the artwork was so chaotic. There was just so much happening in a panel that it was hard to follow along.

The ending left off on a cliffhanger, and the story is interesting enough for me to be interested in reading the next manga.

If you love books about books, this is for you. I would consider this cozy fantasy. The stakes are low but you read it for the chill vibes. This is set up at a magical book school. All you need to know is that there are magic and spells.

I recommend this to magical school fantasy lovers.

This was really excellent! The drawing was wonderful, of course, and each pane of the story was super clear, easy to follow. The story was really good. The world is really neat and this concept of magic is really original. I also really like the dynamic between the characters. This makes me want to read more manga!

The story begins with a somewhat confusing narrative but quickly recovers and gains momentum. Though initially a bit heavy-handed, the characters' personalities ultimately integrate smoothly into the storyline, adding depth and intrigue to the plot. As a book enthusiast and admirer of librarians, I was instantly drawn to the captivating premise of this manga. It was as if it beckoned me from the virtual shelves of NetGalley, and I'm glad I didn't resist the call. It was compared to Cardcaptor Sakura and Witch Hat Atelier, the former reminded me of my tender years, and the latter being my latest manga obsession.

The diverse backgrounds of Tohru and Yan serve as a compelling foundation for their mutual quest to gain admission at The Spellbook Library, and their differing motivations create a dynamic that enriches and keeps the story flowing. As they find common ground and work together towards their shared goal, the story delivers a subtle yet effective exploration of positive reinforcement and encouraging themes. The author's approach to these messaging elements is noteworthy, striking a balance between sincerity and subtlety. I also appreciated the thoughtful balance of good and bad, and the blend of serious introspection and playful sass.

This volume is set to be published soon, it ended up in a pickle that will have me preoccupied and in its clutches until I'm able to keep reading.

Fun read, maybe aimed at a younger audience than what I expected. I didn't find the characters very likeable...

3.5 stars

There are spellbooks that are magic and can trap dangerous magical beasts in them? Sign me up!

I thought that this volume was a pretty good start for the series. I'm very curious about the world and magic system... and Tohru, who is more of a supporting character, but there is something interesting there that I need to know more.

I will say that there were some silly parts and some character choices that were not things that I usually like, but that it definitely a preference. And I can get around that because of all the other things that I am curious about.

I really need volume 2.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with the E-ARC!

This manga was definitely a fun read! I enjoyed the story and the art of the spellbeasts but that’s all really.
The characters in this manga were not very likeable and I didn’t feel like I had any kind of connection to them to want to find out more about them.
I might pick up volume 2 to see how the story develops but it wouldn’t be a priority for me unfortunately.

It wasn’t really a manga for me, the beginning felt a bit messy, and it didn’t really interest me to be honest. I couldn’t get into the story much and I wasn’t fond of the art style.

Delightful little fantasy romp, but in all honesty I saw most of the plot points coming? However I've read several books/manga where that did not reduce my enjoyment in the slightest.
Was it a groundbreaking masterpiece? No. Was it bad? Absolutely not, it was lovely! So I'd say if you like this genre, you'll like this book.

Really cute manga, for fans of The Magus of the Library and all things books. I would say this definitely is on the younger/middle grade side

I absolutely adore Is Love the Answer? so when I saw this on Netgalley, I simply had to read it!

This volume was pretty much just setting the scene with regards to world building and introducing characters, with hardly any plot until the very end. That said, there are still a whole load of unexplained details (mostly about the main character) that make you need to read more because just who is he?

4/5! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

-.✦ This was very fast paced, but I loved it. The concept of a magical library and capturing beasts in books reeled me in. It almost took me back to my childhood of Digimon/Yugioh in a way with more magic haha.

-.✦ It had good humor, and I enjoyed the characters. It was a little confusing to see who was talking at what point, so hopefully continuing on that gets addressed. Overall, I would continue the series and thought this was a great start!

Thank you to Netgalley & Kodansha Comics for the arc!

Fast paced about a macig library and capturing monsters in books. Loved it! The characters are cute and I can't wait to read the next volume.

Thank you Netgalley and Kodansha comic for my ARC copy.

I absolutely adored this, I love the idea of a library full.of magical creatures and I'm so curious to find out what happens next with these characters.

Thank you Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this fun book. This was such an enjoyable, quick read full of adventure, magic, books, spellbeasts, and great characters. Stylistically, both graphic-wise and writing-wise, this book is very similar to the Witch Hat Atelier which I also love. Can’t wait for the next volume and highly recommend to any fantasy fiction lover.

"The Spellbook Library" Vol. 1 introduces readers to a world where books hold more than just words—they contain powerful spells and dangerous secrets. Yan, a former troublemaker turned aspiring librarian, is a compelling protagonist whose journey from a reckless youth to a determined Spellbook librarian is heartwarming and adventurous. His encounter with Tohru, a mysterious boy with a hidden agenda, adds a layer of intrigue that keeps the story engaging.

The manga excels in world-building, with the Spellbook Library itself depicted as a place of wonder and danger. The artwork complements the magical atmosphere with detailed illustrations of spell-beasts and enchanting library scenes. The dynamic between Yan and Tohru is another highlight, as their partnership evolves through shared challenges and discoveries.

While the story does follow some familiar tropes, it does so with charm and a unique twist on the magic library concept. The pacing is well-balanced, keeping readers hooked with action, mystery, and character development. However, the volume ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, leaving many questions unanswered—which, depending on the reader, can either heighten anticipation or cause mild frustration.

Overall, "The Spellbook Library, Vol. 1" is a delightful start to what promises to be an enchanting series. It offers a blend of adventure, mystery, and magic that will appeal to fans of fantasy manga. Uta Isaki has crafted a world that readers will want to explore further, making this first volume a solid introduction to the series.

Amazing.

the world and all the magic is really very intriguing, I was immediately intrigued by the protagonist and I'm curious to find out what the story is. This first volume is really cool.