Girl from the other side, Vol. 3

とつくにの少女 / Totsukuni no shōjo #3

by Nagabe, Christine Minutoli (Translator)

Il cuore di Shiva si riempie di emozione quando si imbatte nella nonna da tempo lontana da lei... Ma il loro futuro appare avvolto nell'oscurità. Tra il nitrire dei cavalli e le voci basse e gelide che risuonano per le strade lastricate del regno interno, quale sarà il destino della bambina, ora tornata a casa?

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Comics, Horror, Fiction, Young Adult

178 pages, Paperback

First published April 10, 2017

About the author

Please also see ながべ.

He studied Fine Arts at Musashino University. At first, he was more interested in illustration, printmaking, and painting than in manga. However, when he considered the best way to make a living from his art, he decided to focus on the world of Japanese comics and trained himself, rather than the usual approach of working for several years as an apprentice to an experienced manga artist.

He was still a student when his first work, The Boss Is an Onee, was published. He soon attracted attention for his distinctive drawing style, his fantastical and melancholic plots, and his use of fantasy characters and anthropomorphic animals.

Reviews

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vibes: Immaculate
Shit: gettin real
Real?: body counts, Big Dog. Body counts
Terror: rising
Me: 😍😍😍
So here we come to volume 3 of the endlessly absorbing The Girl From the Other Side and it’s time to strap your seatbelts, folks, because the world building atmosphere gives way to action here and we are off like a rocket. I was already hooked but, whew, now I’m really on board for this wild ride of fairy tale fear and bittersweet companionship. Things take a quick turn and Shiva is suddenly back with her Auntie, torn from Teacher and we are about to get a closer look at the world inside the walls…

So turns out it’s shit in there. If you thought beasts in the shadowy woods were bad, wait until you find out what the humans are like. As we all learned in Scooby Doo, the real monster behind the mask is just some shitty rich dude and that holds true here as well, but he’s allegedly got holy words beamed down to him on his side. Sure, he too wants to break the curse and let me tell you, the curse is a’comin!

But, people being people, and governments being governments, it doesn’t turn out so great for anyone not inside the ruling class. For even in a contest with brick and mortar, wealth is still the greater wall. And those outside that are pawns ripe for sacrifice…

bummer, bruh

Well I am fully invested in this series and I cannot wait to read more. Which I’m going to do right now. Pick this series up, it slaps.

[Whitney Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series continues to be so cute and wholesome. It's my favorite art style of any manga I've ever read and I cannot wait for my library to get the next volumes in! It's difficult to review these individually because I find they're consistently easy, fun, and cute to read with an interesting world, so my review for this one doesn't really differ from the previous books other than it was a great, attention-capturing sequel.

[The Artisan Geek]

12/7/20
I really enjoyed this volume -- the series is just great, it's a perfect mix of mystery, wholesomeness and macabre. I'm glad to see the atmosphere still going strong after a good 15 chapters. I need more!!

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[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first two volumes were largely tone-building (as opposed to world-building), as we knew little of what was going on. Very atmospheric. But in this third volume there is suddenly a great deal happening. We don't know everything, but we know enough to know there is a struggle between the two worlds, and Shiva, The Little Girl (from the other side), seems to be in the middle of this struggle.

Shiva's aunt comes to the Outside to bring her home, with the help of some soldiers who informed her that they knew she was staying with The Teacher. Who is the real monster in this scenario, and who truly has Shiva's best interests at heart? What is this struggle really about, and what is "the curse" all about? We seem to know more, but can we trust what we know?

The drawing is the center of this series, and the creation of mystery, suspense, foreboding. Is it fantasy? Horror? Seems to be both, with a (hopeful) dose of sweetness.

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 stars
This is such a cute creepy fantasy manga

[Victoria ✮⋆˙ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The urge to fully catch up and read volume 4 now is strong

[Shaghayegh · Rating 4 out of 5]

این جلد برخلاف دو جلد قبل که مثل مقدمه و آماده‌سازی برای داستان اصلی بودن، پیش رفت. به برخی از سوالات خواننده که در هاله‌ای از ابهام بودن پاسخ داده شد و اما طبق معمول همیشه، باز هم با پایانی که رقم زد در خماری گذاشت.
مانگا در عین لطافتی که به واسطه‌ی شخصیت اصلی یعنی شیوا به وجود آورده، به خشونتی که ازش رهایی ندارن هم دچار هست. تقابل روشنایی و تاریکی، تلاش انسان‌ها برای یافتن منجی، ظلمی که در حق هم‌نوع میشه، شکل‌گیری رابطه‌ی عمیق با دشمنی که خطاب می‌کنن و موجوداتی که می‌تونی جدای از برچسبی که بهشون می‌زنن دوست داشته باشی.
روند آرومی داره که اتفاقات کم و بیش غيرمنتظره رو رقم‌ می‌زنه. در یک نشست هم میشه تمومش کرد و راحت‌خوان هم هست. در کل خوندنش خالی از لطف نیست و صبر می‌طلبه.

[Aida · Rating 5 out of 5]

پایان: ۱۴۰۳/۲/۲۶

اوففف اصلا پایان این جلد خیلی خوب بسته شد!!!
قشنگ آدم رو تشنه‌ی جلد بعدی خودش کرد!

[Jack Stark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This continues to be a masterpiece. The lore and mystery of who the Outsiders are and Shiva's origins continue to keep me hooked to every page. I don't really want to give a proper review as I couldn't do it without spoilers for vol 1 and 2. Just know, if you enjoyed vol 1 and 2, you will enjoy this. I think this is my favourite volume of the three I've read so far.

[Arghavan-紫荆 · Rating 4 out of 5]

My heart, Teacher is the gentlest gentleman to ever exist ♡

[Mizuki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, that's a fairytale series that is more than worthy of getting a decent live action movie adaptation!!!!!!

The story of the little girl and The Teacher continues, this time there are violent scenes despite the fairytale layout and what the royalties and the priest might want from the little girl is vaugely hinted at. The little girl's aunt is also turned into a Cursed One/black child so what will happen next after the MCs escape from the human's city? I'm so looking forward for the next volume!

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just absolutely love this story. The plot is fleshing out and some mysteries have been answered. But with everything answered comes more questions and more pieces of the puzzle that still need to find their places.

I adore Teacher and Shiva so very much and the setting is still so delightfully dark with fantastical.

Can't wait to continue this!

[Hirondelle (not getting notifications) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art is still very beautiful, moody medieval Europe style, Shiva is still very very cute, but after 3 volumes of 170 pages each, I am losing faith in getting story, plot play-off. We are hinted many things, a curse, two gods, Shiva is special, secrets, all ominous and all, but it all seems vague and capricious, teases rather than clues or hints about something solid. No closure to each volume - and I am not a reader for long rolling series without plot arcs or closure. 500+ pages, come on, it's enough time to tell us who, what either of the main characters really is.

I read the portuguese edition, nice paper and hand feel of the cover, but the translation of onomatopoeia sounds was just baffling. I think they were supposed to be sound effect creative translations, for all I understood, could have been random names of characters who had not showed up yet and are not reference anywhere else (but I think it was just the translator being creative...)..

The art REALLY is beautiful, it is a pleasure to turn a page and just admire the layouts, details, sparsity...

[Drew Canole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot picks up in this one and we finally meet the Aunt and the girl inadvertently causes chaos on the inside by spreading the curse. Or at least, I assume the girl is an asymptomatic carrier of the curse.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not gonna lie, doesn't feel like this storyline is really progressing anywhere...

[freddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-4.25? Probably my fave volume so far, though I wish they'd stop ending on cliffhangers - I need answers!! 😭

[Brooke (Books are my Favorite!!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where has the girl from the other side gone to? She went from the outside to the inside, untouchable.

There is a clear light/dark metaphor with themes of embracing the darkness with childlike wonder.

for fans of the Magus Bride

[Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out more manga and graphic novel reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...

A quiet fairy tale begins in a land distant and hazy where there are two kingdoms. The Inside is where humans cower worried the twisted beasts of the Outside will come a curse them with a touch. A young girl named Shiva lives on the other side, in a vacant village with a demonic guardian known only as “Teacher.” And so starts our tale... a little girl comes to rely on an inhuman beast...

The story comes to an explosive head in this volume as Teacher wonders what he should do and worries about Shiva. Her past has come back to haunt her and it doesn't turn out well! A pawn of those from the inside comes to a bad end because she allows them to use her...

The art... GAH the art says so much about the story... The pawn lives in a world of light while Teacher lives in a grey and dark world... but who is good?! Who is bad?! And more importantly who will do what is right for Shiva, our poor innocent little girl?!

I have to admit this was the most tense that I've felt with this series! I just don't believe that the pawn is as innocent as she pretends to be!! Teacher obviously cares for Shiva and goes out of his way to worry about and protect her and I don't want them to be apart from one another!!

The dialogue is so important in this manga. We learn so much about the pawn and Teacher through what they share with us and what they tell Shiva. Their motives come out and we see their authentic selves... As a series with so few characters and such a sparse style this element HAD to be gotten spot on and it was!

The Girl from the Other Side: Siúil, A Rún vol 3 ups the stakes for this little girl Shiva and her Teacher. Shiva is an innocent but that doesn't mean she's stupid... this is a little girl who feels the right keenly and when she can runs toward it full speed!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Authenticity
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tension
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Plot
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Art

______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my manga and graphic novel reviews in a special feature called Saturday Morning Cartoons...

[Elizabeth A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, I understand so much more with this installment of this fun Manga series. Things are starting to make more sense in this sweet and dark tale. The art continues to be lovely and I could look at these detailed pen and ink frames, with what looks like the crosshatching of a person not entirely sane, for hours. There's more action, and not as many tea parties in this one, but I think this is the best in the series so far. Since, there is not much I can say without spoilers, all I'll say is that I'm on board for the ride and cannot wait for the rest of the series to get published.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot thickens...

[Francesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Così confortevole e oscura allo stesso tempo, sto adorando questa storia 😤😤

[Milo (if lost, return to hot fictional character) · Rating 5 out of 5]

bro THE ANGST

[Ilana (illi69) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things start to really take off now. The first two volumes were introducing the professor in the form of a tall dark monster with horns neatly dressed and wearing an overcoat, and little Sheeva, a sweet blonde little girl with a turned up nose. The professor must never touch her or she will catch the malediction and become a monster too and he is scrupulous about caring for her as best he can.

The second volume introduces other dark creatures and the strange concept of the “mother”, strange because she is unseen, at the bottom of a crater under a lake, and when she speaks she is unintelligible to the professor, but sounds like a song. I couldn’t make out much of that second book, but you felt it was establishing some key concepts for the series.

Here, Sheeva’s old auntie returns to the forest of the “exterior world” to get the little girl and bring her back to her village. She is accompanied by armoured guards on horseback who repel the professors efforts to save Sheeva with volleys of arrows. We learn this is part of a larger plot overseen by the king and his counsel. A whole world opens up and takes the story to another level, apparently in alternative medieval times. The artwork is beautiful. Very dark when the professor is depicted, and the printing on cheap paper means the images sometimes get blotchy and difficult to read, but a light touch in the linework which is very fine.

[rachel, x · Rating 4 out of 5]

#1) The Girl from the Other Side, Vol. 1 ★★★★★
#2) The Girl from the Other Side, Vol. 2 ★★★★☆
#4) The Girl from the Other Side, Vol. 4 ★★★★☆
#5) The Girl from the Other Side, Vol. 5 ★★★★☆
#6) The Girl from the Other Side, Vol. 6 ★★★★☆
#7) The Girl from the Other Side, Vol. 7 ★★★☆☆

➸ Trigger warnings for abandonment, mass murder, murder & attempted murder, mass murder, torture (implied), arrow violence, kidnapping & captivity, fire.

Blog • Trigger Warning Database • Twitter • Instagram

[Jillian Reynolds (Jillian Loves Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I obviously loved this, and no one is surprised. But I was certainly surprised with the ending. I can't wait to continue this series in 2020!

[Neil R. Coulter · Rating 5 out of 5]

More goodness! How can this series continue being so good?

This volume adds more details and plot strands and groups of people and creatures working against (presumably?) one another. We get a few more hints of the history before the series began, but we still don't know--is Auntie really Auntie? Is Shiva who or what some people think she is (and what is that?)? What's in Auntie's book? What was Teacher before his transformation? What exactly happened when he found Shiva? Are the people and creatures who seem evil actually evil? Who is Mother?

Bring on volume 4! To quote Bob Wiley: "Gimme gimme gimme, I need I need I need I need!"

I hope when the series is complete, there will be a one-volume, large-format edition, so I can just grab one book, settle into a cozy spot, and read the whole thing, start to finish.

[Ettelwen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jak hodnotit dobrou mangu tak, aby jí neublížila naprosto tragicky odvedená práce nakladatele?

[Dev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another decent volume although I feel like every time we learn one small drawn out part of the plot and then it ends on a huge cliffhanger and I'm kind o getting to the point where I just want things to get moving faster. Still an interesting story with some great art though.

[Megan (ReadingRover) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What’s next?!?!?! I need to knoww!!! Poor Shiva. Reuniting with Auntie was nothing like she imagined. These books aren’t long enough!!!

[Gerardine Betancourt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this volume so much. My favorite so far. It was very atmospheric and super cute !!