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Phantom Tales of the Night #2
Phantom Tales of the Night, Vol. 2
"That is your secret, isn't it?"
Murakumo Inn welcomes the troubled masses, human or otherwise. But its curious innkeeper accepts only one form of payment: a being's deepest secrets. Tonight's visitors are a beautiful snow phantom, a researcher of the supernatural, and...a baby?!
Come witness the fantastical tales spun at this mysterious inn.
Murakumo Inn welcomes the troubled masses, human or otherwise. But its curious innkeeper accepts only one form of payment: a being's deepest secrets. Tonight's visitors are a beautiful snow phantom, a researcher of the supernatural, and...a baby?!
Come witness the fantastical tales spun at this mysterious inn.
198 pages, Paperback
First published June 27, 2017
17 people are currently reading
227 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
February 26, 2025
Unsurprisingly, this volume turned out to be much more enjoyable than the first one. Since the main characters were already introduced in volume one, we were now able to delve deeper into their inner thoughts and learn more about who they are and how they came to work for the owner.
The individual stories, which at first seem random, are starting to intertwine with one another and we are beginning to see how different guests are related to each other and/or the owner (or employees). They all have this underlying sadness to them that's subtle at first but when you think about them 20 minutes later you realize just how tragic they are. They all point out some flawed thinking or misunderstanding in both humans and monsters. It's no surprise that the secrets that the owner collects are all grounded in sadness, worry, or shame.
The tone of this volume is darker than that of the previous one, though there were a few moments between Butterfly and Spider that had me laughing. They have this sunshine/grump dynamic that's hard not to find hilarious. The manga itself gives off these weird Gothic fiction vibes that I'm not used to seeing in manga.The owner is just as mysterious as ever and I still haven't figured out whether he is good, bad, or neither. He seems to be totally motivated by collecting and maintaining secrets, and the things he does that make him appear cruel seem to be in service of those motivations. But okay, what he did to the slayer when he was a kid was a little messed up, but his family has been trying to destroy him for hundreds of years so...payback? 🤷😕
4 well-earned stars
The individual stories, which at first seem random, are starting to intertwine with one another and we are beginning to see how different guests are related to each other and/or the owner (or employees). They all have this underlying sadness to them that's subtle at first but when you think about them 20 minutes later you realize just how tragic they are. They all point out some flawed thinking or misunderstanding in both humans and monsters. It's no surprise that the secrets that the owner collects are all grounded in sadness, worry, or shame.
The tone of this volume is darker than that of the previous one, though there were a few moments between Butterfly and Spider that had me laughing. They have this sunshine/grump dynamic that's hard not to find hilarious. The manga itself gives off these weird Gothic fiction vibes that I'm not used to seeing in manga.The owner is just as mysterious as ever and I still haven't figured out whether he is good, bad, or neither. He seems to be totally motivated by collecting and maintaining secrets, and the things he does that make him appear cruel seem to be in service of those motivations. But okay, what he did to the slayer when he was a kid was a little messed up, but his family has been trying to destroy him for hundreds of years so...payback? 🤷😕
4 well-earned stars
February 8, 2025
The art style is simple breath taking. In this volume we learn more about worldbuilding and about certain characters pasts what I really appresiate as much as how quickly the stories turn to dark/ horror themes. I am so invested in this series
3.5 stars for butterflies
3.5 stars for butterflies
April 28, 2025
Wieder eine wunderbare Sammlung von Kurzgeschichten - einige davon ein wenig horrorig, einige andere einfach nur traurig (Ich sag nur: Katzengeist ;_;). Die Zeichnungen sind schön creepy, die Storys auch teilweise wieder vernetzt, und wir bekommen ein paar weitere Hintergrunsfetzen für die Charaktere zu kennen.
Auch mein innerer Fujoshi hat unfassbar viel Spaß, da einfach alles irgendwie shipbar ist.
Aber es gibt MAL WIEDER einen Schreibfehler. Das ist jetzt der 2te Manga bei den Neuerscheinungen im April, wo das der Fall ist. Offenbar jagen die Lektoren die Texte echt nur noch durch eine KI zum kontrollieren *genervt*.
Auch mein innerer Fujoshi hat unfassbar viel Spaß, da einfach alles irgendwie shipbar ist.
Aber es gibt MAL WIEDER einen Schreibfehler. Das ist jetzt der 2te Manga bei den Neuerscheinungen im April, wo das der Fall ist. Offenbar jagen die Lektoren die Texte echt nur noch durch eine KI zum kontrollieren *genervt*.
April 21, 2023
This might as well be one of my favorite mangas. I like how the author weave the words, showing how ppl (and other beings) view the world.
As they say, some secrets are better left unknown
As they say, some secrets are better left unknown
August 6, 2020
4.5/5 stars. Yet another intriguing volume. This one was even darker, dare I say, than the first volume. But I did love that we got to see how each enigma is starting to intertwine with another. We also see how some enigmas are consequential to the previous or the next enigma or how it relates to another character. We’re really setting up for an intriguing revenge story-line which I can only wonder how it will end.
First we get a woman who previously asked Owner to take her secrets so she will be protected from her husband.
After her husband dies, she goes back to Owner to give her secret. Her children all grew and were old enough to live alone. She loved her husband. His secret was that he loved her as well. They both thought it was one-sided but in reality they both loved one another, just never told the other. Kind of a sad ending to that one.
I love how innocent Owner looks in one moment and one second later they’re sinister as hell. That’s so badass that they can take the form of whatever they wants to be and whatever is convenient at the time.
Second, was a guy and his best friend who used to investigate Youkai’s. But after he talked to Owner, he realized he was more afraid of his friend who he did research with. He let Owner have his shadow.
A baby? This guest is a baby? It’s a baby, babies don’t have secrets.
The absolute look of horror on Butterfly and Spider when Owner left them to deal with the baby lol, they’re live we’ve no experience whatsoever.
So we know that Butterfly is made of literal butterflies. But he used to linger around bodies when Owner picked him up. He doesn’t really understand human emotions but he knows how to do human-like things. Which I think makes him very interesting.
They find out the baby is not fully human. Its little legs were made of petals or something that disintegrated :(
Interestingly enough, Butterfly seems to feel empathetic to the baby. Wanting to ensure it will live. It becomes clear that Butterfly wants the baby to live, so it can experience feelings before it dies. The baby is made of flower petals (cherry blossom petals to be exact) similar to how Butterfly is made of butterflies. Apparently trees develop consciousnesses over time, behaving human-like. Hence the baby.
Butterfly goes to the tree in a desperate attempt to get it to save the baby. But right before his eyes, the baby disintegrates entirely. Butterfly seems nonchalant, and mostly concerned because he failed and will get scolded by Owner. I think he feels the human emotions that Owner tells him he should understand since he inherits a human-like body. He does understand sorrow and joy, he just doesn’t grasp it tight enough or fully understand. He brushes off his emotions to move on. I’m actually sad that Butterfly had clutched at Owner screaming, “Tell me our meaning for being born into this world!”
Which mirrors exactly what Butterfly screamed at the tree when he’d been holding the baby.
“You have to tell them! Tell them that there must be some kind of value in trying to live in this world!”
So... that means that Butterfly could have saved the baby if only the baby had been told that he had a purpose in living and holding on. Just like he had been told, that is the reason he lived.
Owner explains that one should not be told what their worth or meaning is. That is not something that can be taught. It’s something you discover yourself.
Next, while Butterfly and Spider are cleaning, one of the lamps breaks on its own and the flame escapes. Owner requests the help of The Bone Monk, to help them fix the broken lamp and bring the flame back.
The guy keeps telling Butterfly and Spider that they’re spineless and not good enough. This kind of ticks them off and they tell him to mind his business, they have their reasons to be with Owner.
The Bone Monk helped a girl whose parents didn’t want her to have a pet cat, he ground the cat’s bones to make a lantern, so she could see her cat whenever she wanted. But the girl eventually got over the cat and even ignored it when she ran into it in the street, that made the cat’s life span die out.
The Bone Monk stayed with Owner like Butterfly and Spider currently are. But Owner let him go because he was strong enough to live without Owner at his side. The Bone Monk insists the world would be boring without Owner in it, and wants them back in his life. But Owner knows The Bone Monk would eventually move on, just like the girl moved on from her love of her childhood cat. The Bone Monk confesses he envies that Butterfly and Spider are Owner’s companions. And is kind of emo he was not a good enough companion in the first place. He acknowledges that perhaps there is nothing or no one that can end Owner’s loneliness. And Owner just smiles, this whole interchange reminded me of another character who had a similar reaction when saying he didn’t have friends while flashing the biggest smile.
Let’s be honest the biggest enigma is Owner themselves. Like, I want to trust them but they’re the epitome of a morally-grey protagonist... but to be entirely honest it’s part of what I love as I read this story. Their behavior changes so suddenly one moment they’re warm and soft the next they’re harsh and merciless. I don’t know what they’ll do next.
So now we meet a kid whose father is presumed dead. His story intertwines with the two friends who did research on Youkai’s. His family talked to them. Anyway, Owner takes the kid to their inn, and offers to provide a safe place for him to rest and he can come back as many times as he’d like until he’s an adult. Owner seems kind of sweet to the kid, and the kid and them seem to grow a bond over time because the kid visits Owner often.
Yikes... that’s messed up. The person that killed the kid’s father was Owner, and they made him eat his own father... yeah, holy shit.
Wait- OH SNAP. This kid is the man we met in the first volume, Slayer is the name we knew him by. Oh so the hatred for Owner really runs deep for Slayer. Not only did he kill his father but they made him eat his father for years. He doesn’t want to catch him because of his family tradition, but also and especially because, he is the monster that killed his father. And he swore revenge. Owner let him live and Slayer intends to use the most of that.
We get art of all the characters up until that point and they all look so intriguing and mysterious.
Basically, yes, this is super intriguing and only getting more and more interesting as we go on.
First we get a woman who previously asked Owner to take her secrets so she will be protected from her husband.
After her husband dies, she goes back to Owner to give her secret. Her children all grew and were old enough to live alone. She loved her husband. His secret was that he loved her as well. They both thought it was one-sided but in reality they both loved one another, just never told the other. Kind of a sad ending to that one.
I love how innocent Owner looks in one moment and one second later they’re sinister as hell. That’s so badass that they can take the form of whatever they wants to be and whatever is convenient at the time.
Second, was a guy and his best friend who used to investigate Youkai’s. But after he talked to Owner, he realized he was more afraid of his friend who he did research with. He let Owner have his shadow.
A baby? This guest is a baby? It’s a baby, babies don’t have secrets.
The absolute look of horror on Butterfly and Spider when Owner left them to deal with the baby lol, they’re live we’ve no experience whatsoever.
So we know that Butterfly is made of literal butterflies. But he used to linger around bodies when Owner picked him up. He doesn’t really understand human emotions but he knows how to do human-like things. Which I think makes him very interesting.
They find out the baby is not fully human. Its little legs were made of petals or something that disintegrated :(
Interestingly enough, Butterfly seems to feel empathetic to the baby. Wanting to ensure it will live. It becomes clear that Butterfly wants the baby to live, so it can experience feelings before it dies. The baby is made of flower petals (cherry blossom petals to be exact) similar to how Butterfly is made of butterflies. Apparently trees develop consciousnesses over time, behaving human-like. Hence the baby.
Butterfly goes to the tree in a desperate attempt to get it to save the baby. But right before his eyes, the baby disintegrates entirely. Butterfly seems nonchalant, and mostly concerned because he failed and will get scolded by Owner. I think he feels the human emotions that Owner tells him he should understand since he inherits a human-like body. He does understand sorrow and joy, he just doesn’t grasp it tight enough or fully understand. He brushes off his emotions to move on. I’m actually sad that Butterfly had clutched at Owner screaming, “Tell me our meaning for being born into this world!”
Which mirrors exactly what Butterfly screamed at the tree when he’d been holding the baby.
“You have to tell them! Tell them that there must be some kind of value in trying to live in this world!”
So... that means that Butterfly could have saved the baby if only the baby had been told that he had a purpose in living and holding on. Just like he had been told, that is the reason he lived.
Owner explains that one should not be told what their worth or meaning is. That is not something that can be taught. It’s something you discover yourself.
Next, while Butterfly and Spider are cleaning, one of the lamps breaks on its own and the flame escapes. Owner requests the help of The Bone Monk, to help them fix the broken lamp and bring the flame back.
The guy keeps telling Butterfly and Spider that they’re spineless and not good enough. This kind of ticks them off and they tell him to mind his business, they have their reasons to be with Owner.
The Bone Monk helped a girl whose parents didn’t want her to have a pet cat, he ground the cat’s bones to make a lantern, so she could see her cat whenever she wanted. But the girl eventually got over the cat and even ignored it when she ran into it in the street, that made the cat’s life span die out.
The Bone Monk stayed with Owner like Butterfly and Spider currently are. But Owner let him go because he was strong enough to live without Owner at his side. The Bone Monk insists the world would be boring without Owner in it, and wants them back in his life. But Owner knows The Bone Monk would eventually move on, just like the girl moved on from her love of her childhood cat. The Bone Monk confesses he envies that Butterfly and Spider are Owner’s companions. And is kind of emo he was not a good enough companion in the first place. He acknowledges that perhaps there is nothing or no one that can end Owner’s loneliness. And Owner just smiles, this whole interchange reminded me of another character who had a similar reaction when saying he didn’t have friends while flashing the biggest smile.
Let’s be honest the biggest enigma is Owner themselves. Like, I want to trust them but they’re the epitome of a morally-grey protagonist... but to be entirely honest it’s part of what I love as I read this story. Their behavior changes so suddenly one moment they’re warm and soft the next they’re harsh and merciless. I don’t know what they’ll do next.
So now we meet a kid whose father is presumed dead. His story intertwines with the two friends who did research on Youkai’s. His family talked to them. Anyway, Owner takes the kid to their inn, and offers to provide a safe place for him to rest and he can come back as many times as he’d like until he’s an adult. Owner seems kind of sweet to the kid, and the kid and them seem to grow a bond over time because the kid visits Owner often.
Yikes... that’s messed up. The person that killed the kid’s father was Owner, and they made him eat his own father... yeah, holy shit.
Wait- OH SNAP. This kid is the man we met in the first volume, Slayer is the name we knew him by. Oh so the hatred for Owner really runs deep for Slayer. Not only did he kill his father but they made him eat his father for years. He doesn’t want to catch him because of his family tradition, but also and especially because, he is the monster that killed his father. And he swore revenge. Owner let him live and Slayer intends to use the most of that.
We get art of all the characters up until that point and they all look so intriguing and mysterious.
Basically, yes, this is super intriguing and only getting more and more interesting as we go on.
October 28, 2025
Vol. 1 ★★★☆☆
A series that's meant to be dipped in and out of. This volume strikes a good balance between standalone stories and ones that expand on the backstories of characters as well as the lore of the universe. In addition to the ambiance, I also enjoy the banter between Butterfly and Spider. My favorite story is definitely the last chapter; I totally understand why Saejima hates the owner so much.
A series that's meant to be dipped in and out of. This volume strikes a good balance between standalone stories and ones that expand on the backstories of characters as well as the lore of the universe. In addition to the ambiance, I also enjoy the banter between Butterfly and Spider. My favorite story is definitely the last chapter; I totally understand why Saejima hates the owner so much.
December 25, 2023
I well and truly cannot be stopped now.
April 25, 2021
I love this series so much!! The art of course is amazing, I could stare at it forever! I feel like the plot and characters are also great! I really liked seeing one of the characters from the first volume came back in the last chapter. Can't wait to continue this series!!
January 29, 2023
Creepy and weird but so good. It's like twilight zone but with monsters. Sometimes the stories don't make sense until the end and some stories are paused and will pick up in another volume. Love the artwork too. The covers are gorgeous. Definitely want to read more.
January 1, 2023
i stg this series is if i put all my interests into a big soup cauldron and this is what came out
June 18, 2023
We dive further into the plot as we are introduced to more characters who will be playing a bigger role in chapters to come and a brief, yet crucial, look into Owner’s past from not too long ago.
September 10, 2024
read time: 57 minutes
March 9, 2021
This is a strange manga series all around however this volume hurt my heart, and my head, a bit. I had to reread it to make sure I caught all of what happened, because as stunning as the artwork is, certain things appeared confusing.
I am deciding not to continue this series though; my interest simply is changing to a different genre. This does seem like it’ll be great series for those that do continue to read the volumes.
I am deciding not to continue this series though; my interest simply is changing to a different genre. This does seem like it’ll be great series for those that do continue to read the volumes.
December 15, 2025
4.5 confused in the beginning but loved the rest
May 23, 2022
Welcome Back to the Murakumo Inn
Love this series!
We start back at the mysterious Inn where the innkeeper is only known as Owner. He meets with Snowlass who has come to fulfill a promise. One she made many years back with the owner before her marriage.
A marriage that was frowned upon and even Owner warns Snowlass it will not be happy one. Yet she goes through with it because it is something that needs to be done. Her story is bittersweet but beautiful.
The next guest at the inn is Kiabara, a man focused on the study of Yokai. Only we see the story play out through the eyes of his partner, Inamura. He is going through his late partners things. Along with some of his curious students.
Inamura is after something specific that he knows is hidden within Kiabara's things. They had both also been after the famed Inn with the Owner. But never got close to either. One question the story asks. Is a yokai worse than a human or a human worse than a yokai?
Did you know that babies could be guests at the inn? Well neither did Spider or Butterfly when they discover the young one. We get to see a little more into Butterfly and Spider. Primarily Butterfly within this story. How he came to meet Owner and be. "Tell me the meaning of being born into this world."
On another day, while actually doing work around the inn,Spider and Butterfly hear a plink. Upon investigation they are soon chasing after a flame that has escaped. The lantern flames being secrets Owner has collected. With the help of The Bone Monk, much to Spider and Butterfly's dismay, they follow the flame.
The trio don't much care for one another. Right down to The Bone Monk insulting the two with why Owner allows them to live. They may not like one another but when Butterfly and Spider fight for a single cause? Watch out.
The last story. . . Has quit the twist and I love it! We met him in the previous book but now we get to see and understand why Slayer HATES Owner. The story has a really big twist and it is intense. We meet Slayer as a boy and Owner stumbling upon him.
Phantom Tales of the Night is a very dark series. It is horror with some gruesome themes and panels. The stories are dark, though a few would be considered light hearted. Light hearted, not fluffy and cute by any means. There is some comedy within the choas.
I love this series personally. It is horror but not over the top, stomach turning. Do enjoy the read and give the author some stars!
Love this series!
We start back at the mysterious Inn where the innkeeper is only known as Owner. He meets with Snowlass who has come to fulfill a promise. One she made many years back with the owner before her marriage.
A marriage that was frowned upon and even Owner warns Snowlass it will not be happy one. Yet she goes through with it because it is something that needs to be done. Her story is bittersweet but beautiful.
The next guest at the inn is Kiabara, a man focused on the study of Yokai. Only we see the story play out through the eyes of his partner, Inamura. He is going through his late partners things. Along with some of his curious students.
Inamura is after something specific that he knows is hidden within Kiabara's things. They had both also been after the famed Inn with the Owner. But never got close to either. One question the story asks. Is a yokai worse than a human or a human worse than a yokai?
Did you know that babies could be guests at the inn? Well neither did Spider or Butterfly when they discover the young one. We get to see a little more into Butterfly and Spider. Primarily Butterfly within this story. How he came to meet Owner and be. "Tell me the meaning of being born into this world."
On another day, while actually doing work around the inn,Spider and Butterfly hear a plink. Upon investigation they are soon chasing after a flame that has escaped. The lantern flames being secrets Owner has collected. With the help of The Bone Monk, much to Spider and Butterfly's dismay, they follow the flame.
The trio don't much care for one another. Right down to The Bone Monk insulting the two with why Owner allows them to live. They may not like one another but when Butterfly and Spider fight for a single cause? Watch out.
The last story. . . Has quit the twist and I love it! We met him in the previous book but now we get to see and understand why Slayer HATES Owner. The story has a really big twist and it is intense. We meet Slayer as a boy and Owner stumbling upon him.
Phantom Tales of the Night is a very dark series. It is horror with some gruesome themes and panels. The stories are dark, though a few would be considered light hearted. Light hearted, not fluffy and cute by any means. There is some comedy within the choas.
I love this series personally. It is horror but not over the top, stomach turning. Do enjoy the read and give the author some stars!
June 7, 2020
Phantom Tales of the Night Story & Art By Matsuri
Official Synopsis:
"That is your secret, isn't it?" Murakumo Inn welcomes the troubled masses, human or otherwise. But its curious innkeeper accepts only one form of payment: a being's deepest secrets. Tonight's visitors are a beautiful snow phantom, a researcher of the supernatural, and...a baby?! Come witness the fantastical tales spun at this mysterious inn.
Genres: Horror, Japanese Folklore, Dark Fantasy, Psychological Horror, & Supernatural/Paranormal
Book Style: Manga (Japanese Comics - Read Right to Left)
I decided to read Phantom Tales of the Night Story & Art By Matsuri Vol.2 because I wanted to read something creepy and I've already read volume 1. Once I started reading I was creeped out but intrigued to keep reading then I fell in love once I finished it! This story follows a guy named Sasaki Tokihito who is running away from "something" then winds up in the mysterious Murakumo Inn where supernatural & human beings stay if they are troubled. The three people running the Inn are Owner, Butterfly & Spider who welcome Sasaki in to help him and try to gain his deepest secrets. But it turns out that the Owner reviled that Sasaki been dead all this time living an illusion and now has to figure out things as a youkai spirit in limbo and also keeping his newfound secret as a youkai. This volume mostly focuses on other characters to set up the story before we really get to know Sasaki more later on. My favorite parts of the story are when we get to find out about a researcher of the supernatural which turns out to be Slayer's father named Kaibara; but he went missing due to his secret of being shadow less. Later the Owner gained Slayer's trust when he was a child because his father went "missing" so he won't be lonely but it turn out to be something ever sinister because during this time the Owner was giving him one of the most inhumane secrets to have so this is why Slayer wants his revenge with the help of Sasaki to take the Owner down. This book had some sadder chapters that made me cry but they gave great lessons also showed more characters that the Owner is involved with. I really liked how the author is showing us what the Owner is capable of doing before getting into the main plot of the story with Sasaki's character also showing some backstory for secondary characters to get to know them more. I love how you can feel the eeriness while reading this and it just gives you the chills! The artwork is beautiful and frightening also very clear to see which helps with the creepiness factor. I can't wait to read Phantom Tales of the Night By Matsuri Vol.3 because I want to find out what is going to happen between Sasaki Tokihito, Slayer and Murakumo Inn! I'll recommend this book to people who like Japanese Folklore or Horror and want a scary read!
Official Synopsis:
"That is your secret, isn't it?" Murakumo Inn welcomes the troubled masses, human or otherwise. But its curious innkeeper accepts only one form of payment: a being's deepest secrets. Tonight's visitors are a beautiful snow phantom, a researcher of the supernatural, and...a baby?! Come witness the fantastical tales spun at this mysterious inn.
Genres: Horror, Japanese Folklore, Dark Fantasy, Psychological Horror, & Supernatural/Paranormal
Book Style: Manga (Japanese Comics - Read Right to Left)
I decided to read Phantom Tales of the Night Story & Art By Matsuri Vol.2 because I wanted to read something creepy and I've already read volume 1. Once I started reading I was creeped out but intrigued to keep reading then I fell in love once I finished it! This story follows a guy named Sasaki Tokihito who is running away from "something" then winds up in the mysterious Murakumo Inn where supernatural & human beings stay if they are troubled. The three people running the Inn are Owner, Butterfly & Spider who welcome Sasaki in to help him and try to gain his deepest secrets. But it turns out that the Owner reviled that Sasaki been dead all this time living an illusion and now has to figure out things as a youkai spirit in limbo and also keeping his newfound secret as a youkai. This volume mostly focuses on other characters to set up the story before we really get to know Sasaki more later on. My favorite parts of the story are when we get to find out about a researcher of the supernatural which turns out to be Slayer's father named Kaibara; but he went missing due to his secret of being shadow less. Later the Owner gained Slayer's trust when he was a child because his father went "missing" so he won't be lonely but it turn out to be something ever sinister because during this time the Owner was giving him one of the most inhumane secrets to have so this is why Slayer wants his revenge with the help of Sasaki to take the Owner down. This book had some sadder chapters that made me cry but they gave great lessons also showed more characters that the Owner is involved with. I really liked how the author is showing us what the Owner is capable of doing before getting into the main plot of the story with Sasaki's character also showing some backstory for secondary characters to get to know them more. I love how you can feel the eeriness while reading this and it just gives you the chills! The artwork is beautiful and frightening also very clear to see which helps with the creepiness factor. I can't wait to read Phantom Tales of the Night By Matsuri Vol.3 because I want to find out what is going to happen between Sasaki Tokihito, Slayer and Murakumo Inn! I'll recommend this book to people who like Japanese Folklore or Horror and want a scary read!
April 19, 2021
"Even though one might say, "I don't want to ever be parted from this," or "I would die without this," if they were actually to lose that person or object, they can manage surprisingly okay without it in their life...and will find something else to focus their attention on. No matter how many times you take it away..."
I’m glad I decided to pick up the second book. This one was much more exciting to read, and it seemed to dive into the lives of the main/reoccurring characters more. While the first seemed like it was telling a different story each time, the chapters blended nicely in this volume. I don’t read horror of and sorts. I feel restless after I get scared and thoughts haunt me. This series isn’t that scary to me, at least, not yet. I like dwelling in the characters minds, and this volume had a lot more of that. It may be unsettling, but honestly not frightening. So, if you don’t like horror, this book may still be okay for you to read. Other than that I love the characters. The owner, butterfly, and spider, even the bone mage, all peak my interest. And the art is gorgeous, of course. I honestly had to find the artist, and searched for about a half an hour to find their twitter.
June 29, 2020
This was fun. More or less the same concept of the last one, we still follow the proprietor of an inn. He who eats secrets. It's an interesting thing to read and see how it's executed. This volume had a several main stories and not necessarily one that it started and ended with. We did get more information about the one who sends the curses and at the end (in the enigma drawing in the end) a mention of some of the characters in the previous volume. I hope they'll show back up again.
The first volume took some getting used too and felt a bit strange at times. The storytelling wasn't fully there yet and as a non-Japanese person, I'm not necessarily well versed in the world of youkai. I know a little bit like I do of most mythologies (more about some than others), but not enough to make it through those without the explanations in the back.
Even if I did know some stuff about youkai and more about Japanese history I think I'd still have enjoyed the extra hints and sometimes details added.
Almost all of the translations notes are incredibly short, but I feel like the way they are done does add to the story. I'm happy it's not randomly thrown in with asterisks like in some other mangas.
A low 4-star this one will get
The first volume took some getting used too and felt a bit strange at times. The storytelling wasn't fully there yet and as a non-Japanese person, I'm not necessarily well versed in the world of youkai. I know a little bit like I do of most mythologies (more about some than others), but not enough to make it through those without the explanations in the back.
Even if I did know some stuff about youkai and more about Japanese history I think I'd still have enjoyed the extra hints and sometimes details added.
Almost all of the translations notes are incredibly short, but I feel like the way they are done does add to the story. I'm happy it's not randomly thrown in with asterisks like in some other mangas.
A low 4-star this one will get
December 31, 2022
Art excellent, as it always is with this type of manga. Started off slow, but it got really interesting when it starts giving little sneak peeks of the main characters' backstories. Butterflies potential "curse/secret" being related to instantly forgetting the feelings of sorrow was a very interesting and chilling theory, I hope more comes of it. I honestly hope it comes to some kind of confrontation with Owner.
I love getting background story of Owner; I thought it was cute that Bone Monk had some kind of unrequited feelings for Owner, and I loved Owner's brief hesitancy of comforting the human yokai researcher. I ESPECIALLY loved the reveal that Owner played a hand in rising to power the human yokai hunter introduced on the previous book. Raising the hunter from a child to adulthood was so cute it made the reveal very tasty. 10/10 love it.
I love getting background story of Owner; I thought it was cute that Bone Monk had some kind of unrequited feelings for Owner, and I loved Owner's brief hesitancy of comforting the human yokai researcher. I ESPECIALLY loved the reveal that Owner played a hand in rising to power the human yokai hunter introduced on the previous book. Raising the hunter from a child to adulthood was so cute it made the reveal very tasty. 10/10 love it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2025
The second volume of Phantom Tales of the Night is more of what I enjoyed the first time around. The drawings are still gorgeous and heavily detailed and the owner of the inn is still surprisingly cruel, which made this nearly as entertaining a read as the first volume. This said, there is definitely a noticeable shift here to be more focused on worldbuilding. I enjoyed getting some more details about the relationships between various recurring characters as well as insight into their strange origins, but I have to acknowledge it made for a slightly less fun read. The first story also feels fairly weak and doesn't tie into the others as well as I'd like. Thankfully, those that follow are all great.
November 11, 2023
Just can’t get into it.
The problem for me is how much skipping around there is between chapters. I will say there was a bit more cohesion in this volume than the first, but at the end of the day, it’s really just a bunch of tales. That’s it. They introduce new characters, make such beautiful panels for pages and pages and then kill them off before the end of the chapter. It really just feels like they took so much time on the art that they ran out of space to properly end it.
Maybe I’ll go back to it just to see what else happens, but I think I’m good on this series for now :/
The problem for me is how much skipping around there is between chapters. I will say there was a bit more cohesion in this volume than the first, but at the end of the day, it’s really just a bunch of tales. That’s it. They introduce new characters, make such beautiful panels for pages and pages and then kill them off before the end of the chapter. It really just feels like they took so much time on the art that they ran out of space to properly end it.
Maybe I’ll go back to it just to see what else happens, but I think I’m good on this series for now :/
August 3, 2024
Better than the first volume which makes me excited to see if they just keep getting better! Of course the art is stunning and that’s initially keeps drawing me in but also the horror like feel and the writing makes me stay! I love how we are seeing the characters stories intertwine with each other! Also getting to see more that the owner IS a bad guy! So far I know I’m supposed to think he is bad but I didn’t see it until the ninth enigma which I SCREAMED! Seeing the reason the slayer from volume 1 disliked him so much was worth it!
December 7, 2019
I really have no idea what to think about Owner. I keep wanting them to be good but they keep proving that they really, really aren't and I am unsure as to whether I should keep hoping or just roll with it. I love it. I love that I have no idea where this is going, or even how I should feel about certain events. It is so interesting having a morally grey, maybe even morally black, yokai as the MC.
March 26, 2020
These books seem to simply be a strange adventure ride. Don't look for heavy plot, it's the strange day in the lives of these beings and who they affect. I do appreciate the most unexpected character that was treated as nonbinary and was given they/them pronouns. (I want to avoid spoilers so I'm being vague on purpose) I guess technically Owner has no gender either. I'm sad I'm just adding that and letting it click. It's definitely creative, imaginative and the art is amazing.
June 5, 2022
i actually finished it last night, but was too sleepy to update it lol. every time i think there is a wholesome moment, it gets morbid real quick. i did enjoy the fact that everything is beginning to connect and that we are getting to know the characters more. i’m looking forward to what the reat of the series has to offer !
October 17, 2022
2.75!
i like this volume’s collections of stories better than the last! my fav prolly was the first one (the snow lass and ogre) w/ the cherry blossom baby being my second (we see more of butterfly and spider’s character). pretty episodic series with an underlying thread connecting it all together.
i like this volume’s collections of stories better than the last! my fav prolly was the first one (the snow lass and ogre) w/ the cherry blossom baby being my second (we see more of butterfly and spider’s character). pretty episodic series with an underlying thread connecting it all together.
November 5, 2023
I am thoroughly enjoying this series. Each “enigma” comes with a twist. Some of them reveal more about “Owner”. Others reveal information about Butterfly and Spider. And still others are about those whose secrets have been collected...or all of them. I love seeing the chracters slowly unfold. Not to mention, the artistry is beautiful. The cherry tree in this one is stunning.
January 1, 2024
*3.5
This series continues to have stunning art and a cool yet confusing premise. We get a bit more info about the world we are in, but it's all still fairly mysterious. Which I can appreciate.
I like the anthology style, and I love how quickly the stories turn dark. I am definitely interested enough to keep going. It seems like it'll be a fun series.
This series continues to have stunning art and a cool yet confusing premise. We get a bit more info about the world we are in, but it's all still fairly mysterious. Which I can appreciate.
I like the anthology style, and I love how quickly the stories turn dark. I am definitely interested enough to keep going. It seems like it'll be a fun series.
February 8, 2022
3.5
I am absolutely in love with this series after reading the last chapter in this volume. The backstory as to why one character hates the Owner. I love the spooky, horror vibes this manga gives me.
I am absolutely in love with this series after reading the last chapter in this volume. The backstory as to why one character hates the Owner. I love the spooky, horror vibes this manga gives me.
January 24, 2025
More dark secrets come to light in this second volume, including the owners dark link to his self proclaimed foe, the slayer. While not a gore kind of horror, there is plenty of unique and strange body horror and other weirdness to satisfy fans of the eerie.
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