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Otherside Picnic Light Novel #3
Otherside Picnic: Volume 3
Autumn has arrived. Having narrowly avoided the curse of the Kotoribako, Sorawo and Toriko are back to exploring the other world. With boxed lunches in tow, the two take their agricultural vehicle for a leisurely drive across grassy terrain, deal with the problems caused by Sorawo's kouhai at university, and hang out at cognitive scientist Kozakura's house. Naturally, bizarre entities and Satsuki Uruma's shadow are watching their every move. And just what is Urumiluna, the greatest threat they’ve ever encountered? Don’t miss the third volume of the girls' tale of survival, where feelings they can't show each other collide!
202 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 20, 2018
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130 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 3, 2021
The Otherside is a source of hauntings both literal and figurative. Toriko hasn’t seen a trace of her missing friend Satsuki, but only because Sorawo’s been keeping them all from her. As the two young women continue to pursue different things, the Otherside intrudes upon reality once again and this time things will be more dangerous than ever...
Ah, I love this series. It blends a nigh-Lovecraftian level of bizarre world building with an engaging cast and just enough light romance to nudge it along. For what is tantamount to an anthology of creepy stories it leverages its overarching plot line quite well by adding in bits and pieces during these standalone tales.
One particular wrinkle with this series is the stupid amount of danger the girls put themselves in on a consistent basis. With Toriko’s pursuit of Satsuki it makes a certain amount of sense, but we see this time that Sorawo actually has reasons beyond ‘Toriko is there’.
In fact, Sorawo truly arrived this volume. She’s always been interesting, but by the time we learn that she didn’t just escape from a cult in her youth, she escaped from a cult, it explains so much of her distrust and desire to be alone most times.
This also informs her desire to escape to the Otherside and when we see her old self resurface towards the end, it’s a real badass moment (not to mention, what stops this progression is expectedly sweet).
The stories are all pretty good. The first one involves the maiden voyage of their new transportation and this one’s suitably ‘this is fun and now in a blink it is terrifying’ although it involves Sorawo and Toriko being a LOT less cautious than I think they should be in the scenario.
The second brings back the karate kouhai and introduces a friend of hers. This one is interesting - I wasn’t sure we’d be seeing much of Karateka again - and it goes to some weird places. The way Sorawo solves the dilemma at the end is more than a little disturbing.
The last story is the longest and leads on from
the previous. It is tense as hell and one of the creepiest mind control stories I’ve ever read - I actually flipped ahead in the book because I was so stressed it wouldn’t turn out okay.
I don’t even like mind control stories as a rule, but the first-person perspective, poor Kozakura, the in-story revelations (most twisted family dynamic this month goes to...), the shoe drop moment towards the end (the first one, the second one is more ‘about damn time’), and a finale that feels a lot like when they open the Ark of the Covenant at the end of Raiders except the Ark is a malevolent lunatic here, really elevate it into the stratosphere.
It’s probably going to kill when it’s animated.
My only quibble is that I liked the story being focused on the bizarre, otherworldly nature of the Otherside and I don’t know that the series needed, as they say, a Big Bad. It was just fine as a loose fitting of ghost stories, unified by the burgeoning relationship between our leads. It’s not bad - I clearly was a big fan of that last chapter - but I don’t know that I wanted it to go that way. I reserve the right to grump in future.
4 stars. Whether I necessarily approve of the story direction or not, that last chapter’s an absolute nail-biter with as sweet a line to go out on as I can imagine. This series has laid a lot of groundwork and watching it all pay off is ever so satisfying.
Ah, I love this series. It blends a nigh-Lovecraftian level of bizarre world building with an engaging cast and just enough light romance to nudge it along. For what is tantamount to an anthology of creepy stories it leverages its overarching plot line quite well by adding in bits and pieces during these standalone tales.
One particular wrinkle with this series is the stupid amount of danger the girls put themselves in on a consistent basis. With Toriko’s pursuit of Satsuki it makes a certain amount of sense, but we see this time that Sorawo actually has reasons beyond ‘Toriko is there’.
In fact, Sorawo truly arrived this volume. She’s always been interesting, but by the time we learn that she didn’t just escape from a cult in her youth, she escaped from a cult, it explains so much of her distrust and desire to be alone most times.
This also informs her desire to escape to the Otherside and when we see her old self resurface towards the end, it’s a real badass moment (not to mention, what stops this progression is expectedly sweet).
The stories are all pretty good. The first one involves the maiden voyage of their new transportation and this one’s suitably ‘this is fun and now in a blink it is terrifying’ although it involves Sorawo and Toriko being a LOT less cautious than I think they should be in the scenario.
The second brings back the karate kouhai and introduces a friend of hers. This one is interesting - I wasn’t sure we’d be seeing much of Karateka again - and it goes to some weird places. The way Sorawo solves the dilemma at the end is more than a little disturbing.
The last story is the longest and leads on from
the previous. It is tense as hell and one of the creepiest mind control stories I’ve ever read - I actually flipped ahead in the book because I was so stressed it wouldn’t turn out okay.
I don’t even like mind control stories as a rule, but the first-person perspective, poor Kozakura, the in-story revelations (most twisted family dynamic this month goes to...), the shoe drop moment towards the end (the first one, the second one is more ‘about damn time’), and a finale that feels a lot like when they open the Ark of the Covenant at the end of Raiders except the Ark is a malevolent lunatic here, really elevate it into the stratosphere.
It’s probably going to kill when it’s animated.
My only quibble is that I liked the story being focused on the bizarre, otherworldly nature of the Otherside and I don’t know that the series needed, as they say, a Big Bad. It was just fine as a loose fitting of ghost stories, unified by the burgeoning relationship between our leads. It’s not bad - I clearly was a big fan of that last chapter - but I don’t know that I wanted it to go that way. I reserve the right to grump in future.
4 stars. Whether I necessarily approve of the story direction or not, that last chapter’s an absolute nail-biter with as sweet a line to go out on as I can imagine. This series has laid a lot of groundwork and watching it all pay off is ever so satisfying.
November 24, 2025
the most i've ever cried at a love confession
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2020
definitely my favorite volume so far! i'm having a delightful experience reading about sorawo and toriko's adventures against the supernatural and i can't wait for more.
June 10, 2023
Higher stakes, more Satsuki mystery, and Sorawo and Toriko grow closer
The stakes are raised yet again, more is uncovered about Satsuki, and through all the terror experienced by Sorawo and Toriko, their bond increases.
Basically, if you liked the last volume, you'll like this one too. More of Sorawo's backstory and motivation is fleshed out in a way that's both sympathetic and logical, e.g. why she's so desperate to hide the sightings of Satsuki from Toriko, aside from jealousy. The climax also brings out another side of her, forcing her to encounter a dangerous situation that echoes past trauma.
Toriko is a bit less fleshed out, perhaps because she's only seen through Sorawo's perspective, but her actions are logical, and there's a slow but definite change in how they relate to one another that, while heartwarming, also makes it much scarier when either is in trouble.
Some new characters are introduced, both friend and foe, along with the reappearance of Migiwa and "Karateka". Kozakura is (unwittingly) again made part of their various adventures, and she seems to undergo a bit of character development as a result.
The pacing is well-done, and while it's technically episodic in the various encounters they have, it all feels like it's progressing somewhere, however terrifying the destination.
My only gripe, if any, is that due to the sometimes large amount of dialogue and inner monologue during encounters, I thought, "why are you still talking? isn't there a youkai or bakemono running at you right now?"
I can't wait to see where volume 4 goes.
The stakes are raised yet again, more is uncovered about Satsuki, and through all the terror experienced by Sorawo and Toriko, their bond increases.
Basically, if you liked the last volume, you'll like this one too. More of Sorawo's backstory and motivation is fleshed out in a way that's both sympathetic and logical, e.g. why she's so desperate to hide the sightings of Satsuki from Toriko, aside from jealousy. The climax also brings out another side of her, forcing her to encounter a dangerous situation that echoes past trauma.
Toriko is a bit less fleshed out, perhaps because she's only seen through Sorawo's perspective, but her actions are logical, and there's a slow but definite change in how they relate to one another that, while heartwarming, also makes it much scarier when either is in trouble.
Some new characters are introduced, both friend and foe, along with the reappearance of Migiwa and "Karateka". Kozakura is (unwittingly) again made part of their various adventures, and she seems to undergo a bit of character development as a result.
The pacing is well-done, and while it's technically episodic in the various encounters they have, it all feels like it's progressing somewhere, however terrifying the destination.
My only gripe, if any, is that due to the sometimes large amount of dialogue and inner monologue during encounters, I thought, "why are you still talking? isn't there a youkai or bakemono running at you right now?"
I can't wait to see where volume 4 goes.
February 21, 2022
Picked this up because I caught up with the manga (File 8) and was eager to read more of the story. Found the latter files towards the end more interesting, as well as the characters, more specifically Sorawo in this vol. The writing was appealing to me as well. Might pick up the JP version in the future.
spoilers ahead !
spoilers ahead !
April 11, 2021
Another fantastic entry into the series. The tension in this series keeps getting bigger. While it can feel formulaic at times I never fail to be entertained by each new story arc.
This novel however ups the stakes quite a bit when it comes to a new antagonist. The mystery of what happened to Satsuki continues to deepen. Although the more the book reveals the more I wonder just what kind of person she was even before going to the Otherside.
More story, more creepy tales, more amazing horror!
This novel however ups the stakes quite a bit when it comes to a new antagonist. The mystery of what happened to Satsuki continues to deepen. Although the more the book reveals the more I wonder just what kind of person she was even before going to the Otherside.
More story, more creepy tales, more amazing horror!
October 4, 2023
My comments in my reviews of the previous two volumes still apply. Another great volume that holds up and doesn't feel repetitive.
I continue to be impressed at how well the pacing and development is done.
I continue to be impressed at how well the pacing and development is done.
March 29, 2023
Truly gripping
September 29, 2024
File 11, 'nuff said.
November 4, 2025
My favorite volume so far! The story was so engrossing, I couldn't take my eyes of it. I didn't even want to eat or drink...
August 8, 2022
I liked that volume, but I also felt it was not as good as the previous two volumes. The monster of the week formula of the series can get a bit repetitive, and I did not like the last story very much. I felt that Luna and her cult were not as scary a villain as the entities of the Otherside. Ultimately, none of the stories felt as scary or interesting as the ones in the first two volumes.
The overall plot is still good though. It is obvious Toriko and Sorawo are in love with each other at this point, but do not know what to do about it. Sorawo is too shy and closeted, and Toriko is conflicted between her feelings for Sorawo and for the missing Satsuki. Sorawo is also slowly becoming a better person under Toriko's influence. The two girls are getting better at dealing with the Otherside and growing closer together, but Sorawo is hiding the fact that she knows what happened to Satsuki, and that Satsuki turned into an Otherside monster stalking Toriko. Sorawo is doing it both out of jealousy towards Satsuki and in a misguided attempt to protect Toriko, but that ends up spectacularly blowing in her face at the end.
The overall plot is still good though. It is obvious Toriko and Sorawo are in love with each other at this point, but do not know what to do about it. Sorawo is too shy and closeted, and Toriko is conflicted between her feelings for Sorawo and for the missing Satsuki. Sorawo is also slowly becoming a better person under Toriko's influence. The two girls are getting better at dealing with the Otherside and growing closer together, but Sorawo is hiding the fact that she knows what happened to Satsuki, and that Satsuki turned into an Otherside monster stalking Toriko. Sorawo is doing it both out of jealousy towards Satsuki and in a misguided attempt to protect Toriko, but that ends up spectacularly blowing in her face at the end.
May 10, 2022
A great volume. I liked the delve into Sorawo’s past, and the supporting cast is always fun. I also appreciate how Sorawo continues to be oblivious to how obviously Toriko has a crush on her.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews