圕の大魔術師 2 [Toshokan no Daimajutsushi 2] (圕の大魔術師 / Magus of the Library #2)

F.D. Gross

Rating: really liked it
What can I say, in between other larger novels, this next installment in the manga world has been a relaxing treat, following in the foot steps of Theo, the pointy-eared, Kafna bound boy. Many years has passed since Kafna arrived at this town to save the day, and it is because of their influence, a new spark of interest, already shadowed by his insane love for books, has caused him to take a journey of a life time. A pilgrimage to the central library where all students willing to take the test go. It is no easy task getting there, as he encounters book thieves and other potential students along the way. Theo also meets a wonderful new friend, a special rare creature that he saves from being sold off like some unwanted piece of property.

I can honestly say this is one of those few feel-good stories, where struggle and strife bound from many corners of the world, only to be conquered by life experiences and lessons taught by others. This is a coming of age story well worth reading. Towards the end of the book, Theo undergoes the grueling examination that lasts for three days straight, no sleep, and by relying solely on his determination, will he even have a chance at becoming Kafna. The story ends with the proctor indicating “Ok pens down, the test is over.” Did he have what it takes to make it? Won’t find out till book 3.

F. D. Gross

Dani

Rating: really liked it
This was so great! All the feels!
A unique fantasy traveling story packed with life lessons and friendship. The artwork is beautiful and detailed. I really can't recommend this sweet story enough! So happy I picked this up!

Nicolo

Rating: really liked it
The world building in this volume is amazing.

Theo has come to the age where he can take the kafna exam and goes on a journey to the central library city. Along the way, his stops exposes him to town and cities larger than his own and he meets new friends in the process. The reader get to travel along with Theo in a nigh immersive experience as the author describes each noteworthy stop with a wonderful illustration and backstory behind it.

This story is really good and the translation is even competent. If a blemish can be nitpicked, it would be the haphazard proofreading. It has one too many typos for my taste. But, that isn't enough to bring down the score. 5 stars.

Shu Wei Chin

Rating: really liked it
"If I don't turn the pages myself, my story will never unfold."

Are you kidding me with the *chef's kiss* quality of art this series upholds? Every page feels like cover art or poster material.


The detailed art, coupled with the worldbuilding as our precious protagonist, Theo journeys towards the Central Library to take the kafna (librarian) exam are just exquisite. I am increasingly invested in the history of this world, and kind, compassionate Theo is to be protected at all costs.

For a relatively simple plot premise, I think the author did a good job exploring themes such as prejudice and ignorance, friendship and family, as well as self-identity and confidence.

Catarina Prata

Rating: really liked it
And so my beautiful experience with this series continues. The second volume is as great as the first one, and I absolutly love how it explores themes that are directly connected with real life book selling, prejudice, relationships, wars, family and friendship. The characters are all greatly developed even in just two pages sometimes, and the stories are... beautiful.

Kirsten

Rating: really liked it
Superb. The art and story are even better than the first volume!

Katie Florida

Rating: really liked it
Theo and all the friends he meets along the way are so endearing!!

Allie

Rating: really liked it
Excellent! Great story and amazing illustrations.

Brittany

Rating: really liked it
I quite enjoyed Theo's journey to get to Aftzaak and all the people and creatures he met on the way. Its a story about learning and books as well as one of personal growth, friendship, and sticking up for those that can't stick up for themselves. The various locations themselves were beautiful and I wish I could visit all those libraries!

John Wiswell

Rating: really liked it
Volume 2 feels like a bridge book. Volume 1 gave us the events that changed Theo’s childhood and put him on the path to becoming a librarian and trying to make his magical world more caring. It was deeply charming. In Volume 2, we’re supposed to get used to him as a young adult who is headed to take the exam so he can enter the holy order of librarians.

Mitsu Izumi draws some beautiful locations for Theo’s trip. However, the chapter-length stories are stale. He’s helping bratty characters realize things about themselves, defending an injured animal, and so-on. These are important to showing the magic he’s learned and how he’s grown up. They’re also something I felt I had to get through to reach the next volume, where one expects his life will change based on whether he passes the exam or has to find another way to his dream. The series is still getting started. I look forward to where it goes.

Douglas Cootey

Rating: really liked it
Slow, but Steady.

Art: ★★★★☆
Story: ★★★☆☆

This was a competent volume, but it lacked the focus and power of the first volume. Groundwork was laid for future developments, and the future cast was introduced, but the journey felt like side-quests to me. Upon reconsideration, this series reminded me quite a bit of Bride's Story by Kaoru Mori. Exemplary art, sumptuous world building, and a story that sometimes feels like it's more about the world than the main character. That being said, I still enjoyed the book. I often grow bored of those chapters in manga between story arcs. This was no exception. It's more my failing than the book's.

Mir

Rating: really liked it
You'd think a well-built fantasy world that values books and a MC who desperately wants to be a librarian would be a homerun for me, but I'm not finding this series engrossing.

Catherine

Rating: really liked it

"Some wise scholar out there once wrote that the mental rules over the physical.
But if you ask me, no matter how far you take your mind, it'll always be a slave to your body.
When the body's tired, the brian falters." — Ganon Kyassit

Volume 2 tells Theo's story in a slightly different way. In Volumes 1 it was one big connected story of 7-year-old Theo ending when 13-year-old Theo leaves for Aftzaak. Volume 2 is multiple shorter stories linked together. His journey to Aftzaak and the Great Library, some of the people he meets along the way and the first part of the Kafna exam. We are given some of the gaps filled for what happened to Theo between 7-13, how he trained and the trials we went through. In the additional material, we are given all the seven landed races. Hyron, Rakta, Haupi, Kadoe, Kokopah, Creyak, Syrrana. Rakta is the most literate of the and in some ways the most likely to be Kafna. Sedona is Rakta, Theo is part Hyron, the pixie-like race we've seen is the Kokopah.

The first story A Sister to be Wed introduces Chaak a young Hyron girl fighting against her older sister's marriage to a Rakta. It's a way to show the differences between cultures. It's also the first time we see Theo use his mana (life force) and magic tied to it. Chaak is sort of a version of Theo in a way, hero worship and love for the older sister. It is a good open to the volume. In Two Book Bandits and a Girl Who Can't Get It Right Theo and his retinue stop in Itzamna so he can register for the Kafna, here he meets klutz and fellow applicant Mihona. Mihona is a character I totally relate to, just what can go wrong will go wrong with a passion for books. They meet in a very Theo way and have a bit of an adventure. A Roar Like Thunder introduces two new characters one highly important to future stories, one less so. Alv is a slight 13-year-old boy who is both book smart and street smart and often underrated. Uira is a Citlapol. Looks kinda like a rat but not, my impression is that she is albino. Like Chaak she triggered Theo's abilities to protect. Honestly, it's a fascinating chapter for the way it uses human nature, animals and book history. Make Haste, Long Ears gives us some of Theo's history and he finally arrives at Aftzaak, sees the library for the first time. It also introduces the complimentary term "amity child" (child of mixed blood), unlike a lot of what we see in this is a positive term. The Wings of the Tolling Bell Essentially a juxtaposition of the first exam (a five day written test) and some of his past. It is super effective. I can see it being something that people would do in that situation.

The library itself is lovely. I'm not going to discuss it because why spoil the surprise? And this has been built up so much. This is a series written for librarians, this one provides some papermaking history, one thing a lot of librarians love is libraries. The architecture, the organisation, the size and the scope of the collection. I will say it isn't what I expected architecturally. It is bigger, better. I really do recommend this to librarians and readers but librarians particularly. It is a fantastic and enjoyable world with an engaging story and likable characters that you want to see do well.

"Every man a scholar, Every woman a librarian." — History of The Kafna

A representative gif:

Holly Rose

Rating: really liked it
I've never enjoyed a manga this much before. This entire series so far has captivated and enthralled me entirely. It was all I could think about for hours after finishing it! I'm waiting in eager anticipation for the next volume, which I ordered immediately after finishing this one. This series is worth every single moment and more, I was distressed when I turned the page and it said, "to be continued..."
Here are some reasons why I love this series:
(yikes, I wrote about 450 words and then the page crashed and they didn't save.... so I'll try to rewrite what I can but it might be shorter...)
1) The art. Open up to any page and you'll know what I mean. There are some pages taken up completely by gorgeous, detailed portraits or landscapes that feel so vast it's immersive. The art is what originally grabbed my attention.
2) The characters. The protagonist is just the purest, sweetest, kindest, most adorable smol boy I've ever seen. And throughout the story, you get to see how he inspires and is inspired by others who come alongside him, then you get to know those characters and see their backstory and motives.
3) The universe. It is no question that a great deal of effort went into creating this world. There are several diverse races with their own traditions and traits, countless unique towns specializing in different trades and known for different aspects of their culture, and so much history that lay the foundation for the entire story.
4) The creatures. There are dinosaurs in this manga, but they're called "terrestrial lizards." That alone is enough to make me want to read it.
5) The humor. If you've watched any anime or read any manga, you know what I mean. The kind of humor where you expect one thing and the complete opposite thing happens, coupled with some hilarious facial expression or persona, that you can't help but laugh.
6) The message. Theo faces so many personal hardships and trials that you visibly watch him suffer over and struggle with, but you get to see the way he overcomes his doubts and fight with determination and the help of others. It's altogether inspiring and motivational and encouraging.
I recommend this to anyone who resonated with anything I mentioned above. It's such an easy read, too; it took me only a few hours, and it was worth every minute.

H

Rating: really liked it
The main character of this series has grown and is now attempting to sit the examination to become a kafna, the librarian of their world. He meets other potentials on the road to the city that contains the great library, including a rabbity-creature that seems to be more than it looks like. There are hints that he has a destiny and will change their world somehow.

Theo, the hero of the books, is a "child of amity," a term coined by a noted social scientist. It take the place of the harsh moniker of "half-breed." This newer term is used to imply that the birth of a mixed heritage child is a sign of progress towards global harmony. That is quite a nice thought, isn't it?

Throughout this series (only two volumes into it) are sentences that ring true, from pithy exclamations to wise observations. On a random page:

If you hear people jeering, you can take it as a sign that you're starting something big. If you ask me, a venture ain't grand enough unless someone out there is laughing at you!

This series is based on a character who wants to be a librarian. It is no surprise that there are tidbits about how to repair books or the organization and layout of a library sprinkled in the narrative. It just might make you look at your local library with a more discerning eye.