Norie Yamada

This review was originally written for the website ListerX.com, which is now defunct. It can also be found on my blog, The Graphic Librarian.

Cover
Tokyopop has done an excellent job with this first cover. Admittedly, it has a lot to do with the amazing images selected for both the front and back. However, the pale and dark blues chosen for the color scheme blend beautifully with the pictures, although outlining the volume number in green lessens the effect a bit. I also like the font that was chosen for the series title; it's vaguely playful, with just a swirl of the fantastic mixed in, which fits perfectly with the story's themes. On the back a lengthy summary has been sacrificed to include a beautiful picture completely uninterrupted by text. For the full-length description you have to flip to the inside front cover instead - a small price to pay considering how wonderful the image is.

Artwork
There are two words that come immediately tom mind when seeking to describe Kumichi Yoshizuki's art style - utterly adorable. She has a real knack for taking each character to an almost ultimate level of cuteness without going overboard. I also really liked the attention that was paid to body proportions and character poses. It's obvious that the manga-ka has really studied hard to perfect the exact positioning needed for each individual frame. Another thing I found pleasing was the way the characters' hairstyles always stays true to each character, while staying wonderfully dynamic. The hair also maintains visible motion in conjunction with the movements of the character. Sometimes it's really obvious and other times it's very subtle, but it really adds to the realism of the illustrations.

Plot
**Possible Spoilers Warning**
Like most first volumes, the storyline for the manga is excruciatingly episodic, with very little revealed about anyone other than Yume Kikuchi, the main character. Yume lives in a world that looks very much like our own, the only difference is that in her world magic is a common practice, although not everyone sees value in it. Yume herself is a young apprentice-in-raining who wants to follow in her mother's footsteps by becoming a powerful, full-fledged Magic User. She travels to Tokyo to begin her training, which involved helping those around her to achieve their hearts' desires. The only problem is that, like most humans, not all of them are exactly sure what it is they want. Nevertheless, with each case Yume finds that not only can she help the people around her, but she can learn from them, as well. A has-been soccer star teaches her that money isn't always the answer, a heartsick cabaret dancer shows her that love really can conquer all, and an old woman with a lifetime of regrets helps her understand that even the most unassuming days in life should be cherished to the fullest. Yume finds ways to help each one, even if she's sometimes a bit unconventional in her methods. However, throughout it all, doubts continue to swirl through the young girl's mind. Does she really have what it takes to be a Magic User, and if so, will she ever live up to her mother's name?

Content Warnings
Language = None that I noticed; if it exists, it's very mild.

Violence = None.

Nudity = There are one or two shower &/or 'clothes changing' scenes, but in all cases what should be covered, is covered.

Sexual Situations = None.

Ratings
Cover - 8/10 - Excellently done with only a few minor nit-picks on my part. Congrats, Tokyopop!

Artwork - 8/10 - Beautiful and enchanting - just as the title suggests.

Plot - 7/10 - Definitely episodic, but possibly hints at more to come.

Overall - 7.5/10 - This is a great "feel good" manga, although it does have a sad moment or two. Nevertheless, the story still evokes an overall feeling of light-hearted joy.… (mehr)

Overall I was pretty disappointed. The book itself is really thin, being only 130ish pages long. The story is tagged as being a cross between Harry Potter and Sailor Moon, but I really didn't see any likeness to either. The art is very pretty, but is very simple. The panels and layout are overly boxy compared to other manga, and can make it confusing at times about who is talking. This manga just feels different. It actually looks more like an OELmanga, then a standard shoujo one. I'm glad I had a 25% off coupon, because it wasn't worth the $9.99 MSRP… (mehr)