#soara

Hello, hello~! I'm very happy to finally share my translations for the Tsuki Kagetsu pamphlet~

Tsuki Kagetsu is onmyouji-themed, and its world is filled with mysterious forces, spirits, and the people who keep it in control. It has pretty dark undertones too, which is really enjoyable and offers a lot of food for thought in terms of theories and headcanons!

Lore-wise, it is implied to be very political, but aside from bits and pieces shown through the characters' lores, it doesn't dive too deep into it. (Although I wish it did LMAO)

Either way, it establishes a strong lore while still leaving some stuff up to interpretation so fans can have fun with it~! Like with every other AGF theme, I am once again saying that I wish to see it adapted on stage someday, too! (I have not given up on Picatrix stage yet...!😂)

Thank you to Rakuen for helping me get my copy~!

Notes, and masterpost under the cut, enjoy~!

Sky Blue Love Song

So with the popularity of fantasy series that are actually pretty hard fantasy and not just isekai fantasy in manga and anime recently. Particularly, series like Dungeon Meshi, Frieren, and Witch Hat Atelier, I wanted to personally spotlight a lesser known series in that same high fantasy genre that gave me a similar vibe. Soara and the House of Monsters

So the premise: Soara is an orphan who was raised to do battle in a war between man and monsters, but never got the opportunity to before peace was declared. Without a purpose in life, she meets a dwarf, Kirik, who builds homes for monsters. Displaying the gorgeous/imaginative art of the series.

Each "arc," if you want to call it that, often involves Soara and Kirik's party coming across a stereotypical fantasy race and their often run down or depressing lair where they can live. Kirik resolving to then build that creature their dream home. This is because monster have been motivated to steal from humans because what they desire is a home. Comfortable accommodations instead of the squalor they're trapped in. Through building these homes, Kirik makes a place where they can be happy and avoid trying to take from humans.

Now if that sounds a little like discussing how people are inclined to do bad things when society may not allow them to have a comfortable place in life, that's because it is. Despite its comedic tone, a key component of the series is Soara herself coming the grips with the prejudice that was instilled into her as someone raised to fight against monsters. But also her own hang ups of not having a home to call her own.

While I won't say it pushes the envelop of fantasy manga like the artistic tour de force of Witch Hat Atelier or the melancholic beauty of Frieren, it's still a creative fantasy series with likable characters with some great art. Following a compelling protagonist as she both has her comedic moments, badass moments, and moments of decoupling the prejudices that were instilled into her. Soara and the House of Monsters is a great little series.