James Nicoll Reviews

2014’s 7thgarden, Vol. 1 is the first tankōbon of Mitsu Izumi’s secondary universe fantasy¹ manga series. As Akuma no Boku, 7^thGarden was serialized in Shueisha’s Jump Square from August 2014 to March 2017, at which point it seems to have been effectively cancelled. The English translation came out in 2016.

Awyn Gardener is but a humble gardener, tending to his beloved mistress Marie’s garden (when he is not quietly committing acts of formidable derring-do to ensure his employer’s safety).

One day, Awyn falls into a deep hole.

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2024’s Magus of the Library, Volume Eight is the eighth tankōbon in Mitsu Izumi’s secondary-universe fantasy manga series (Toshokan no Daimajutsushi in the original Japanese). Magus has been serialized in Good! Afternoon since November 2017. The English translation of Volume Seven appeared in 2025.

Volume Eight begins with the heartening tale of how, when the continent was faced by an existential threat, the warring nations and their great magi united to defeat the threat. 

This is but a prelude to a crisis in which unity is very much absent, unsurprising as the inspirational tale related above is revealed to be a well-meant lie. 

Note: series protagonist Theo is present, but the plot is much less Theo-centric than in previous volumes.

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2023’s Magus of the Library, Volume Seven is the seventh tankōbon in Mitsu Izumi’s secondary-universe fantasy manga series (Toshokan no Daimajutsushi in the original Japanese). Magus has been serialized in Good! Afternoon since November 2017. The English translation of Volume Seven appeared in 2024.

Theo is a poor, mixed-race young man on his way to becoming a kafna, as librarians are known. He will be one of a legion of kafnas in the employ of the Great Library. Created in the aftermath of a continent-wide genocidal conflict, the Great Library preserves knowledge.

What does that mean in practice?

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2021’s Magus of the Library, Volume Six is the sixth tankōbon in Mitsu Izumi’s secondary-universe fantasy manga series (Toshokan no Daimajutsushi in the original Japanese). Magus has been serialized in Good! Afternoon since November 2017. The English translation appeared in 2021.

Avid bookworm Theo is prodigiously strong and nigh-invulnerable to magical influences, as revealed in the previous volume. Unfortunately for Theo, his chosen vocation is as a librarian (kafna). He is enrolled at the Great Library, which offers many employment prospects to graduates. But first Theo has to graduate. So far he’s on track to fail. His previous schooling didn’t prepare him for this extremely competitive institution.

Theo isn’t the only student struggling.

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2021’s Magus of the Library, Volume 5  is the fifth tankōbon in Mitsu Izumi’s secondary-universe fantasy manga series (Toshokan no Daimajutsushi in the original Japanese). Magus has been serialized in Good! Afternoon since November 2017. The English translation appeared in 2021.

In the last tankōbon, Theo learned that his mentor Sedona might be a raging racist. No mention of that in this volume. I suspect that this matter won’t resurface (but I could be wrong). In this tankōbon, Theo is fully absorbed in the struggle to succeed academically and become a licensed kafna (librarian). He is struggling.

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2021’s Magus of the Library, Volume 4 is the fourth tankōbon in Mitsu Izumi’s secondary-universe fantasy manga series (Toshokan no Daimajutsushi in the original Japanese). Magus has been serialized in Good! Afternoon since November 2017. The English translation appeared in 2021.

Having squeaked through his entrance exam, Theo begins his academic career in Aftzaak, City of Books.

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2019’s Magus of the Library, Volume 3 is the third tankōbon in Mitsu Izumi’s secondary-universe fantasy manga series (Toshokan no Daimajutsushi in the original Japanese). Magus has been serialized in Good! Afternoon since November 2017. The English translation appeared in 2020.

Having reached the fabled Aftzaak, City of Books, life as a kafna (librarian) stretches before Theo… provided he can pass the grueling entrance exams.

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2018’s Magus of the Library, Volume 2 is the second tankōbon in Mitsu Izumi’s secondary-universe fantasy manga series, Toshokan no Daimajutsushi in the original Japanese. Magus has been serialized in Good! Afternoon since November 2017. The English translation appeared in 2019.

Now a teen, Theo Fumis sets off to the big city, where he hopes to pass the Great Library’s entry exams. This is the first step towards becoming a Kafna, a librarian.

Adventures await on the road.

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2018’s Magus of the Library, Volume 1 is the first tankōbon in Mitsu Izumi’s secondary-universe fantasy manga series, Toshokan no Daimajutsushi in the original Japanese. Magus has been serialized in Good! Afternoon since November 2017. The English translation appeared in 2019.

Although he is but a young boy and impoverished at that, Theo provides his village with a valuable service. Being not merely from the slums but of mixed-heritage as well, the half-Haupi boy is a person at whom all may sneer, all may bully, without consequence.

Theo is relentlessly upbeat. Nevertheless, one aspect of his lowly status weighs on him. Children from the slums may not use the town library.

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