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かげきしょうじょ!! [Kageki Shōjo!!] #1
Kageki Shôjo!!, vol. 1
Acompaña a Sarasa en su camino al estrellato en la secuela de la obra maestra Kageki Shôjo!! Season Zero.
Desde que era pequeña, Sarasa ha querido interpretar el papel de Óscar, de la obra La rosa de Versalles, junto a la compañía Kouka, un grupo compuesto solo por actrices muy parecido a la Talarazuka. Pero antes de lograrlo, tiene que asistir a la Escuela Kouka de Artes Musicales y Dramáticas. Mientras aprende canto, baile e interpretación, Sarasa se hace amiga de las demás chicas de su curso, incluida su compañera de habitación, la tranquila ex J-idol, Ai. Aunque a Sarasa se le da muy bien hacer amigos, también se gana muchos enemigos por su honestidad y sus grandes ambiciones.
¿Podrá mantener su actitud alegre y lograr el sueño de alcanzar el estrellato?
Desde que era pequeña, Sarasa ha querido interpretar el papel de Óscar, de la obra La rosa de Versalles, junto a la compañía Kouka, un grupo compuesto solo por actrices muy parecido a la Talarazuka. Pero antes de lograrlo, tiene que asistir a la Escuela Kouka de Artes Musicales y Dramáticas. Mientras aprende canto, baile e interpretación, Sarasa se hace amiga de las demás chicas de su curso, incluida su compañera de habitación, la tranquila ex J-idol, Ai. Aunque a Sarasa se le da muy bien hacer amigos, también se gana muchos enemigos por su honestidad y sus grandes ambiciones.
¿Podrá mantener su actitud alegre y lograr el sueño de alcanzar el estrellato?
163 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 5, 2015
12 people are currently reading
285 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
March 6, 2025
Qué cortito comparado con el tomo 0! Me ha dejado con infinitas ganas de seguir🩷
July 13, 2021
Sarasa and Ai are roomies and both in the one hundredth class of the Kouka Acting Troupe. Their entire class is chomping at the bit to get started on their careers, but if they aren’t careful they just might get a taste of real life at the school faster than they’re expecting.
This book is like the shojo version of Fame (kids, ask your parents). The second you say ‘girls attending a performing arts school’ you probably get a particular genre and feel in mind and this series won’t disappoint (let me be clear - I do think that ANY gender in a performing arts school ends up like these girls do).
First off, I do think this book and the reader are done dirty by being labeled as volume 1. If you read this without the benefit of the Kageki Shojo!! The Curtain Rises prequel series you are missing what I would consider critical character development, particularly as it applies to Ai, who has minimal presence this volume but is quite a lot more than we see here.
There’s a nice cast page but it’s barely enough and I think you would find a lot of the girls very thinly drawn. Honestly, the first section gives a far more elaborate look at how the school works than any of the characters. I like that there are males in this world and I like that the teachers have presence, but being put forth as a first volume is a stretch.
Ultimately, I think your enjoyment of this book comes down to how annoying you find Sarasa, whose positive attitude would probably send Pollyanna screaming for the hills. She’s unendingly cheerful and positive… to a point. But up to that point she is unquestionably a bit much to take at times - I felt bad for her classmates.
In fact, the major story arc of this volume revolves around the first year acting classes being nothing but lectures (the boredom here is palpable) and the revolt lead by Sarasa to change things. Not that anybody asked her, of course.
While the way this gets sorted out owes itself to a massive plot contrivance that I don’t like, the whole thing is a massive showcase for Sarasa’s character. The art in this book’s really great, but between Sarasa’s acting and impressions and some dynamite yelling this whole thing really comes to life.
There’s also a very compelling bit of history given to somebody who would otherwise come across as every jackass college professor with tenure that I’ve ever known and goes a long way to making his character work. I just wish the way we got to all this wasn’t so trite, even if parts of this section are as funny as they are sad.
And the end result sees the girls getting some acting exercises and the result is… not quite what I expected and in a good way. When the rug is utterly pulled out from under Sarasa it shows the benefit of a teacher’s keen eye, but it also pays off a ton of very subtle storytelling that’s been seeded through the volume.
Everything that happens to Sarasa here, and a lot of what happens to the others acting with her (the twin thing is a neat twist), is informed by what came before and their aspirations and experiences. It all makes sense in a way that a well-written book should. We end with, well, not exactly a cliffhanger, but a shift in things that does make me very keen for the next volume to show up.
4 stars. That narrative contrivance is a whole chapter and while it’s a good chapter (and provides some excellent history of the troupe) it does irritate me that that’s how a major situation gets resolved. But this is a very good continuation of the story and it even promises some welcome recognizance of how much Sarasa can be, so a high recommendation.
This book is like the shojo version of Fame (kids, ask your parents). The second you say ‘girls attending a performing arts school’ you probably get a particular genre and feel in mind and this series won’t disappoint (let me be clear - I do think that ANY gender in a performing arts school ends up like these girls do).
First off, I do think this book and the reader are done dirty by being labeled as volume 1. If you read this without the benefit of the Kageki Shojo!! The Curtain Rises prequel series you are missing what I would consider critical character development, particularly as it applies to Ai, who has minimal presence this volume but is quite a lot more than we see here.
There’s a nice cast page but it’s barely enough and I think you would find a lot of the girls very thinly drawn. Honestly, the first section gives a far more elaborate look at how the school works than any of the characters. I like that there are males in this world and I like that the teachers have presence, but being put forth as a first volume is a stretch.
Ultimately, I think your enjoyment of this book comes down to how annoying you find Sarasa, whose positive attitude would probably send Pollyanna screaming for the hills. She’s unendingly cheerful and positive… to a point. But up to that point she is unquestionably a bit much to take at times - I felt bad for her classmates.
In fact, the major story arc of this volume revolves around the first year acting classes being nothing but lectures (the boredom here is palpable) and the revolt lead by Sarasa to change things. Not that anybody asked her, of course.
While the way this gets sorted out owes itself to a massive plot contrivance that I don’t like, the whole thing is a massive showcase for Sarasa’s character. The art in this book’s really great, but between Sarasa’s acting and impressions and some dynamite yelling this whole thing really comes to life.
There’s also a very compelling bit of history given to somebody who would otherwise come across as every jackass college professor with tenure that I’ve ever known and goes a long way to making his character work. I just wish the way we got to all this wasn’t so trite, even if parts of this section are as funny as they are sad.
And the end result sees the girls getting some acting exercises and the result is… not quite what I expected and in a good way. When the rug is utterly pulled out from under Sarasa it shows the benefit of a teacher’s keen eye, but it also pays off a ton of very subtle storytelling that’s been seeded through the volume.
Everything that happens to Sarasa here, and a lot of what happens to the others acting with her (the twin thing is a neat twist), is informed by what came before and their aspirations and experiences. It all makes sense in a way that a well-written book should. We end with, well, not exactly a cliffhanger, but a shift in things that does make me very keen for the next volume to show up.
4 stars. That narrative contrivance is a whole chapter and while it’s a good chapter (and provides some excellent history of the troupe) it does irritate me that that’s how a major situation gets resolved. But this is a very good continuation of the story and it even promises some welcome recognizance of how much Sarasa can be, so a high recommendation.
May 14, 2022
This one caused a mental "That's more like it!" after the mild disappointment of Kageki Shojo's vol. 0, "The Curtain Rises."
It's less eccentric and more of a polished, prototypical shoujo story, and one can certainly argue that that can also mean that it has less "soul." It does make me wonder about the degree of influence the editorial staff of the canceled magazine that vol. 0 was serialized in, and that of its current home Melody, had on the feel and direction of this story.
Gone are the "teenage issues of the week" from the previous volume--and good riddance. The only thing that comes even close to that is a very short scene in which Ai . It did somewhat add to the already heavy load of grimdark past for her, but it was also far less so than the (CWs) of earlier chapters.
I really liked the general arc of this volume, where the girls advocate for getting experience in actual acting as opposed to classroom lectures. And after that, how their newbie performances all stumble, each girl's in her individual way. Sarasa's natural talent causes her to have a setback rather than easing her path!
Readers will almost certainly have to make their way through "The Curtain Rises" for this "first volume" to make any sense, or at the very least not overwhelm them with an already established cast of characters. That's unfortunate, because otherwise I'd say it was skippable. It's heartening to see how well Kageki Shojo improved in such a short period of time. It's getting very close to causing the girly starry shoujo eyes like Sarasa has on the cover. I was on the fence about reading more of this before, but now I'm all in.
It's less eccentric and more of a polished, prototypical shoujo story, and one can certainly argue that that can also mean that it has less "soul." It does make me wonder about the degree of influence the editorial staff of the canceled magazine that vol. 0 was serialized in, and that of its current home Melody, had on the feel and direction of this story.
Gone are the "teenage issues of the week" from the previous volume--and good riddance. The only thing that comes even close to that is a very short scene in which Ai . It did somewhat add to the already heavy load of grimdark past for her, but it was also far less so than the (CWs) of earlier chapters.
I really liked the general arc of this volume, where the girls advocate for getting experience in actual acting as opposed to classroom lectures. And after that, how their newbie performances all stumble, each girl's in her individual way. Sarasa's natural talent causes her to have a setback rather than easing her path!
Readers will almost certainly have to make their way through "The Curtain Rises" for this "first volume" to make any sense, or at the very least not overwhelm them with an already established cast of characters. That's unfortunate, because otherwise I'd say it was skippable. It's heartening to see how well Kageki Shojo improved in such a short period of time. It's getting very close to causing the girly starry shoujo eyes like Sarasa has on the cover. I was on the fence about reading more of this before, but now I'm all in.
July 31, 2021
It's kind of a disservice to the read to publish this as volume one, because it isn't actually the first volume. Make sure you read Kageki Shojo!! The Curtain Rises for the full introduction to all the characters. I think this book would feel very different without all that background. I would probably find Sarasa a lot more annoying, because she's very, um, exuberant. This volume is rather less dramatic than the previous one had been, though it's also much shorter. I also felt like this one focused more on the acting side of kouko. But I think what I most liked was the brief but emotional history of the oldest member of the faculty.
August 7, 2023
This review will be for the whole series; read at your own risk.
Read 2 volumes
Volume 1 is not really volume 1. I went into it blindly and could clearly tell I was missing some major exposition. The story is fine so far but I’m not sucked in. It felt like the book held me at arms length since I didn’t read the prequel, which is apparently not optional.
Read 2 volumes
Volume 1 is not really volume 1. I went into it blindly and could clearly tell I was missing some major exposition. The story is fine so far but I’m not sucked in. It felt like the book held me at arms length since I didn’t read the prequel, which is apparently not optional.
September 5, 2025
Could use a little bit more context, but overall a very cute story!! I’m excited to see where it goes. :)
September 8, 2025
SO amazing, SO cute. i loved it. great characters, unique plot, fun vibes. must read for anyone trying to read more shoujo
July 27, 2021
Guaranteed feel-good, wholesome content about young girls at a professional theatre academy.
The Kouka Acting Troupe school is dedicated to training the next class of professional Takarazuka, all-women theatre actors--basically a particular style of Japanese musical theatre. (I recommend looking up the Rose of Versailles musical as a reference.)
And here we meet our two protagonists in a much, much larger cast of characters: Ai is a former teen idol jaded by her career as the object of affection & creepy obsession of faceless, possessive fans, and Sarasa is a super tall super nerd who loves (LOVES) Kouka theatre and dreams of playing the star role of Oscar in the Rose of Versailles show someday (see why I recommended it?).
What I love about the series so far is that (1) it's basically a continuation of its prequel series ("Kageki Shoujo! The Curtain Rises" aka the one with a single exclamation point instead of two) about Ai and Sarasa's growing friendship in spite of vastly different personalities, (2) the campus setting is perfect because it gives us a large cast of characters who each feel like real teens with different upbringings, personalities, and approaches to new challenges, and (3) we get to see the girls work through problems and band together so they can grow and become fast friends! What more can I ask for?
The "cliffhanger" at the end of this volume isn't so much a cliffhanger as a twist we should have seen coming. Without spoiling too much, it's a note about one of the characters' approaches to acting and showmanship, and it tells us that she's going to have to dig deep in a real way if she wants to reach her goals. I loved how it didn't feel contrived and made perfect sense, but also the fact that this challenge stems from a perfectly valid approach to acting being unsuited to another. There's no wrong answer. We just have to see if our protagonist can make the switch... unless she finds a secret third option?
Highly recommended as a series I've been looking forward to for a year now. Perfect for fans of campus stories, coming-of-age stories starring girls, and theatre enthusiasts who want to see a refreshing and practical take on how much work and passion goes into becoming a triple threat (acting, singing, and dancing).
The Kouka Acting Troupe school is dedicated to training the next class of professional Takarazuka, all-women theatre actors--basically a particular style of Japanese musical theatre. (I recommend looking up the Rose of Versailles musical as a reference.)
And here we meet our two protagonists in a much, much larger cast of characters: Ai is a former teen idol jaded by her career as the object of affection & creepy obsession of faceless, possessive fans, and Sarasa is a super tall super nerd who loves (LOVES) Kouka theatre and dreams of playing the star role of Oscar in the Rose of Versailles show someday (see why I recommended it?).
What I love about the series so far is that (1) it's basically a continuation of its prequel series ("Kageki Shoujo! The Curtain Rises" aka the one with a single exclamation point instead of two) about Ai and Sarasa's growing friendship in spite of vastly different personalities, (2) the campus setting is perfect because it gives us a large cast of characters who each feel like real teens with different upbringings, personalities, and approaches to new challenges, and (3) we get to see the girls work through problems and band together so they can grow and become fast friends! What more can I ask for?
The "cliffhanger" at the end of this volume isn't so much a cliffhanger as a twist we should have seen coming. Without spoiling too much, it's a note about one of the characters' approaches to acting and showmanship, and it tells us that she's going to have to dig deep in a real way if she wants to reach her goals. I loved how it didn't feel contrived and made perfect sense, but also the fact that this challenge stems from a perfectly valid approach to acting being unsuited to another. There's no wrong answer. We just have to see if our protagonist can make the switch... unless she finds a secret third option?
Highly recommended as a series I've been looking forward to for a year now. Perfect for fans of campus stories, coming-of-age stories starring girls, and theatre enthusiasts who want to see a refreshing and practical take on how much work and passion goes into becoming a triple threat (acting, singing, and dancing).
August 2, 2023
Since she was a little girl, Sarasa has always wanted to perform.
To achieve her goal of becoming a famous actor, she enrolls into the Kouka Acting Troupe—a renowned, all-female acting troupe that trains its members in all aspects of the performing arts with the goal of showcasing just a select few standout performers.
Sarasa beat out many other applicants to be accepted into this school. That said, she’s not an inherently competitive person—just a passionate one. Upbeat and personable, she hopes to make some friends while at school.
But, the girls who enroll at Kouka all have dreams. They all have passion. Not everyone wants to be friends.
Amongst so many young and passionate people, tensions are bound to arise.
Will Sarasa manage to keep her upbeat and kind demeanor through all the personal and academic challenges she must face in order to achieve her dreams?
So, I’m not a big theatre person but I’m really enjoying this thoughtful and engaging little series~
We’ve got a cast of young female characters who all have their own passions and motivations—they’re all distinct personalities with big dreams and lots of anxieties. Each of their individual journeys make for gripping reads. I found myself rooting for these different girls, hoping for their successes.
More, I find the interpersonal relationships between these girls to be so very dynamic and captivating—and, so very fraught at times. I believe this story does a stellar job at appreciating the nuances of the tenuous and complex relationships that develop between teenagers, particularly teenage girls. It’s delightful when those relationships are depicted realistically rather than sensationally.
This story is quite thoughtful and seems to have s lot to say about not just the craft of acting but about the many ways in which young people are also learning to navigate how they and their actions are perceived.
Definitely recommend! If you are looking for a more thoughtful, coming of age series that features and explores the interior lives of young female characters, I’d suggest giving this series a try~
To achieve her goal of becoming a famous actor, she enrolls into the Kouka Acting Troupe—a renowned, all-female acting troupe that trains its members in all aspects of the performing arts with the goal of showcasing just a select few standout performers.
Sarasa beat out many other applicants to be accepted into this school. That said, she’s not an inherently competitive person—just a passionate one. Upbeat and personable, she hopes to make some friends while at school.
But, the girls who enroll at Kouka all have dreams. They all have passion. Not everyone wants to be friends.
Amongst so many young and passionate people, tensions are bound to arise.
Will Sarasa manage to keep her upbeat and kind demeanor through all the personal and academic challenges she must face in order to achieve her dreams?
So, I’m not a big theatre person but I’m really enjoying this thoughtful and engaging little series~
We’ve got a cast of young female characters who all have their own passions and motivations—they’re all distinct personalities with big dreams and lots of anxieties. Each of their individual journeys make for gripping reads. I found myself rooting for these different girls, hoping for their successes.
More, I find the interpersonal relationships between these girls to be so very dynamic and captivating—and, so very fraught at times. I believe this story does a stellar job at appreciating the nuances of the tenuous and complex relationships that develop between teenagers, particularly teenage girls. It’s delightful when those relationships are depicted realistically rather than sensationally.
This story is quite thoughtful and seems to have s lot to say about not just the craft of acting but about the many ways in which young people are also learning to navigate how they and their actions are perceived.
Definitely recommend! If you are looking for a more thoughtful, coming of age series that features and explores the interior lives of young female characters, I’d suggest giving this series a try~
July 5, 2023
Coup de coeur pour cette série qu'il est préférable de commencer par l'épais volume Kageki Shoujo!! Saison 0 pour bien comprendre d'où viennent chacun des personnages. La mangaka a changé de magazine de publication entre la "saison 0" et ce "tome 1". Si vous commencez par celui-ci (ce fut mon cas), ça se comprend bien aussi, mais je crois qu'avec la saison 0, c'est encore mieux.
J'ai adoré la profondeur qu'on donne à chacune des filles rencontrées. Ai, d'abord, dans le tome 0, dont le passé d'enfant et d'idole, est dépeint avec détails, ce qui permet de comprendre son manque de confiance envers les autres. Puis l’étincelante Sarasa, toujours pimpante, fascinante à suivre parce qu'elle est aussi talentueuse, mais dont on approfondit l'histoire pas si facile au tome 2.
Cette série présente bien deux mondes: les femmes de la troupe Takarazuka (ici renommée Kôka), véritables artistes formées à la dure qui jouent tous les rôles sur scène (hommes et femmes); et aussi le monde du kabuki qui est l'envers, avec ces hommes qui sont en charge de tous les rôles, mais qui sont soumis au même type de discipline... Sans le dire frontalement, on peut y lire une critique de ces frontières genrées très strictes et des épreuves que doivent traverser dès leur jeune âge, les aspirants artistes. Ça reste fascinant de les suivre évoluer à travers tout cela, et former des liens entre elles.
Le dessin est très juste, il faut de la maîtrise pour communiquer à travers des pages de papier la magie de la danse, le théâtre, le chant, le kabuki, la magie de la comédie musicale, avec tout l'aura du moment et l'émotion d'un vrai beau spectacle.
Il y a 11 tomes publiés en japonais, la série est toujours en cours, et j'ai pu en lire 2 en français. J'espère vivement pouvoir lire la suite bientôt!
J'ai adoré la profondeur qu'on donne à chacune des filles rencontrées. Ai, d'abord, dans le tome 0, dont le passé d'enfant et d'idole, est dépeint avec détails, ce qui permet de comprendre son manque de confiance envers les autres. Puis l’étincelante Sarasa, toujours pimpante, fascinante à suivre parce qu'elle est aussi talentueuse, mais dont on approfondit l'histoire pas si facile au tome 2.
Cette série présente bien deux mondes: les femmes de la troupe Takarazuka (ici renommée Kôka), véritables artistes formées à la dure qui jouent tous les rôles sur scène (hommes et femmes); et aussi le monde du kabuki qui est l'envers, avec ces hommes qui sont en charge de tous les rôles, mais qui sont soumis au même type de discipline... Sans le dire frontalement, on peut y lire une critique de ces frontières genrées très strictes et des épreuves que doivent traverser dès leur jeune âge, les aspirants artistes. Ça reste fascinant de les suivre évoluer à travers tout cela, et former des liens entre elles.
Le dessin est très juste, il faut de la maîtrise pour communiquer à travers des pages de papier la magie de la danse, le théâtre, le chant, le kabuki, la magie de la comédie musicale, avec tout l'aura du moment et l'émotion d'un vrai beau spectacle.
Il y a 11 tomes publiés en japonais, la série est toujours en cours, et j'ai pu en lire 2 en français. J'espère vivement pouvoir lire la suite bientôt!
April 23, 2023
I haven't picked up a new manga series since probably 2008, and I found this in a Little Free Library near me and I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't realize there was a prequel when I got this, but since it was free I just decided to go for it. Still not sure if I missed anything major in the other volume. But I don't think you really need to read that other book to get the gist of it.
I think I will probably continue to read this series, but I wouldn't prioritize it right now, nor would I be upset idt if I never got around to it.
Super cute and super funny. Loved the FMC and her quirkiness and how she is just so pure of heart in her goals. She's just a good MC I feel. And the side characters all stood on their own. It's definitely something I'd have loved in high school.
I also liked how the book is narrated from the POV of the FMC's friend. I thought that was pretty cool. Overall, just a really fun read, and would def recommend.
I think I will probably continue to read this series, but I wouldn't prioritize it right now, nor would I be upset idt if I never got around to it.
Super cute and super funny. Loved the FMC and her quirkiness and how she is just so pure of heart in her goals. She's just a good MC I feel. And the side characters all stood on their own. It's definitely something I'd have loved in high school.
I also liked how the book is narrated from the POV of the FMC's friend. I thought that was pretty cool. Overall, just a really fun read, and would def recommend.
July 1, 2025
(at this point I've read the first 10 volumes, this review sort of covers broad swath impression of the series thus far)
nothing like a sparkly energetic character-driven series about a niche interest (basically a special feeder school for the equivalent of Takarazuka, aka completely female theater troupe). it's funny (like laugh out loud ha ha dumb jokes) and it also manages to pack an emotional punch. it's about theater kids and about the Craft of Acting. what MORE can you want?? ok maybe to let women do kabuki or have some more exploration of the gender of it all. but besides that.
each volume has an extra side story about one of the large cast of characters which I will say tend to vary in terms of how much I like them. not all of the side characters are of equivalent interest (for me, I do not care for the twins). but the emotional throughline is good.
also like...... this isn't gay canonically (I don't think), but the vibes are very strongly there.
bye
nothing like a sparkly energetic character-driven series about a niche interest (basically a special feeder school for the equivalent of Takarazuka, aka completely female theater troupe). it's funny (like laugh out loud ha ha dumb jokes) and it also manages to pack an emotional punch. it's about theater kids and about the Craft of Acting. what MORE can you want?? ok maybe to let women do kabuki or have some more exploration of the gender of it all. but besides that.
each volume has an extra side story about one of the large cast of characters which I will say tend to vary in terms of how much I like them. not all of the side characters are of equivalent interest (for me, I do not care for the twins). but the emotional throughline is good.
also like...... this isn't gay canonically (I don't think), but the vibes are very strongly there.
bye
January 29, 2022
Since the story follows girls training and aspiring to be part of a female theatrical group, I was interested to see how theatrics could play out on page and I was pretty impressed and found myself getting lost in the stories of those who were so involved in their dreams of the stage. There were some very touching moments, alongside some funny ones. There was a very poignant set of panels and pages at about pages 70-72 following an interaction of one of the protagonists and an teacher who started out as a huge fan of the troupe as she herself is. Very moving and my favorite parts of this first volume. I am eager to read more!
February 21, 2025
Primer volum infinitament més interessant que no pas l'introductori (Seazon Zero), que a part de ser llarg en excés gairebé no mostra cap progressió de personatges. Aquí se'ns mostra el passat de la Sarasa, d'on neix la seva passió pel teatre musical que contagia fins i tot al més tossut dels professors i com el kabuki influeix en la seva manera d'actuar. Se centra molt en la protagonista i no tant en les seves amistats o l'amor, però suposo que ja aniran estirant el fil en les properes entregues. M'ha semblat molt més amè i no descarto seguir llegint els volums que estiguin disponibles a la biblioteca digital.
September 22, 2021
3.5* First off, you absolutely have to read The Curtain Rises to understand even a lick of this. That may seem obvious but considering they call this “volume 1” I wanted to make that distinction for those who may be unsure. Secondly, this was the teeniest little volume. As such, there wasn’t much to it. The Curtain Rises was massive and gave way to large bouts of story telling and character development. The end of this volume was great bc we see some critique on Sarasa but the beginning was slow. However, I really adore this series more than I ever thought and can’t wait to keep reading.
January 15, 2023
*2 Stars*
Content warning: Mild sexism.
What is this volume #0 nonsense? If you label a book "volume #1," that is the one I'm going to logically start with, so why must you do this to me?
Word of caution to anyone else out there: This is not the beginning of the story. Volume #0 is NOT a prequel. I spent half the book confused, and then when I caught the rhythm of it, I still wasn't horribly impressed. I was missing too much context, and frankly, I've just read BETTER. Two stars for the artwork.
Content warning: Mild sexism.
What is this volume #0 nonsense? If you label a book "volume #1," that is the one I'm going to logically start with, so why must you do this to me?
Word of caution to anyone else out there: This is not the beginning of the story. Volume #0 is NOT a prequel. I spent half the book confused, and then when I caught the rhythm of it, I still wasn't horribly impressed. I was missing too much context, and frankly, I've just read BETTER. Two stars for the artwork.
July 23, 2021
I’m glad to see this series continuing on. That being said, I definitely recommend reading the prequel first. Otherwise, you miss out on getting to know the main group of girls. You might not feel as “attached” to the characters if you skip it.
I love how bubbly Sarasa is. I usually get annoyed by characters like that but I like her! But Ai is the one I’m most interested in. I can see major character development for her in the future.
I love how bubbly Sarasa is. I usually get annoyed by characters like that but I like her! But Ai is the one I’m most interested in. I can see major character development for her in the future.
September 7, 2024
I was so lost by this one. This might be volume 1, but it did not feel like a first volume. You're kind of dropped in expecting to know most of these characters and their backstories and relationships already.
There's a prequel manga to this, but with it being a prequel, I thought I should read at least part of the main series first? Apparently not.
It's an interesting premise and I liked the acting portions, but it took so long to build to that point that I struggled until then.
There's a prequel manga to this, but with it being a prequel, I thought I should read at least part of the main series first? Apparently not.
It's an interesting premise and I liked the acting portions, but it took so long to build to that point that I struggled until then.
February 7, 2025
I was given this book a bit ago, but only just now got around to reading it. I think I'm missing the prequel, so if I go back to this series, I'll probably go back to the prequel. I enjoy reading about the characters, but where I missed the prequel I definitely think there's something I'm missing about these characters without it. I really enjoyed the background and I could see myself following their journey further.
October 10, 2025
Oh, so this isn't the first volume -- whoops. Even so, I actually did like how we just jumped right into their world of this-is-not-but-so-is-takarazuka. I don't know much about the theatre group, so I was very interested in learning about it here.
Sarasa and Ai are very cute, and I am liking all their interactions and inner conflicts that we got to see in this not-first-but-first volume. Def gonna check out vol. 0 when I can!
Sarasa and Ai are very cute, and I am liking all their interactions and inner conflicts that we got to see in this not-first-but-first volume. Def gonna check out vol. 0 when I can!
December 30, 2021
Make sure you read Kageki Shojo The Curtain Rises before you read this volume. The first year girls are bored with their acting lectures and want more practical experience. Can they get the school to change up their traditional curriculum to make things more engaging? An absorbing story with lots of characters to learn about and hopefully see growth and friendships deepen in future volumes.
January 23, 2022
I had absolutely no clue what was happening in this for about half of the book. I blame the publishers for marketing this as volume 1 when apparently it isn't really! Is Ai in love with Sarassa? Who is Sarassa's boyfriend and why do we only see him once? What even is the history of this school? I'm so fucking confused.
October 6, 2022
This might be the cutest series I've read in a long time, and that's saying a lot because there's some great ones coming out recently! I'd definitely put this in my new top 10 for the art and characters alone, Sarasa is a legend and I love her energy, but the actual information about the acting scene is also insanely cool. Definitely one that I'm keeping an eye on, I love this so much.
March 19, 2023
this story continues to delight while sprinkling in harder topics amidst all the fun of the stage. i was surprised just how well the emotional beats hit me, and look forward to continuing the series. hopefully most of the stalker stuff with ai's character has been dropped, as that was the main issue I had with volume 0.
February 8, 2025
The perspective of this series is fascinating. I expected since Sarasa is the main/front cover character it would be from her perspective, but most of the narrative is from the eyes of her roommate, Ai. I find some of the characters to be a little annoying but they're still fun to read about and I definitely want to continue the series after this initial taste.
February 10, 2025
Character 3.5| Setting 3| Plot 3| Art 4| Enjoyment 3.5
Rating: 3.4
This was a cute volume and explored the girls trying to act out Romeo and Juliet! Not much really goes on in this volume, Sarasa has a birthday and is basically told that just copying other actors is not how to make it as a Kouka actor.
I am excited to learn where the manga is going to be going!
Rating: 3.4
This was a cute volume and explored the girls trying to act out Romeo and Juliet! Not much really goes on in this volume, Sarasa has a birthday and is basically told that just copying other actors is not how to make it as a Kouka actor.
I am excited to learn where the manga is going to be going!
April 7, 2022
This was an interesting start to the series. I am not fully sure about the characters or plot yet, though I do like the artwork. I think I will have to try reading another volume before judging fully and deciding whether to continue or not.
June 9, 2022
An entertaining story of a girl in theater school, determined to be a star. In Manga style, it is hard to follow the line of dialogue at times. Also the characters are hard to keep straight and pronouns they use don't always translate quite right. Enjoyable and unique story, though.
January 26, 2024
Hace poco os traje un volumen introductorio de Kageki Shojo!!, aunque no es indispensable leérselo, pero, sí es muy necesario si queréis saber si os queréis hacer con esta saga o no.
A mí es una serie que me entretiene un montonazo, con mucha chicha y que voy a seguir gozando.
A mí es una serie que me entretiene un montonazo, con mucha chicha y que voy a seguir gozando.
April 12, 2024
Una buena historia de este peculiar teatro interpretado en exclusiva por mujeres. En esta escuela, las protas, no sólo se formarán, tendrán que luchar con la presión, sus expectativas y nervios para conseguir sus sueños. Buen dibujo, buen guion y gran historia que solo cada de comenzar.
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