とつくにの少女 11

とつくにの少女 / Totsukuni no shōjo #11

by Nagabe, ながべ

行って、愛しきひとよ。そっと静かに旅立って。

ふたり過ごした石造りの家も、やがてはすべて塵に。
軋む床も、煤けた暖炉も今は全て懐かしい。
時は等しく皆に降り注ぎ、避けることは決して出来ず。
世界だけが変わらず続いていくだろう。
ただ、何もかも忘れ往くなかで、私達の末期に残るもの。それこそが――。

朝と夜――その深い断絶の宵に佇む、ふたりの御伽話。その辿り着く先、これにて完結――。

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Comics, Horror, Fiction, Mystery

186 pages, Paperback

First published April 9, 2021

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

[Marquise · Rating 3 out of 5]

So here it is, the final volume in the series, and it left a bittersweet taste in my mouth. Sweet because there's a happy ending after a fashion for Teacher and Shiva, and bitter because there's no real closure. The curse is still unbroken, the explanation for its existence is still mostly a mystery, and there's been no clue as to how it can be broken, if it can be in the first place.

It's a profoundly unsatisfactory conclusion to the story, that leaves too much to speculation, and giving us that ending for the main leads almost feels like we readers have been thrown a bone for consolation. I'm left more sad than anything, because I had expected a better wrap-up given the arc of Shiva in the Inside with the king, that had led me to believe there would be a solution to the curse and further, clearer explanations as to its nature and the Outsiders.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, it's over with volume 11, and as (at a glance) almost everyone seems to say, the ending is ambiguous, confusing, and unsatisfying. So many unanswered questions about the curse, the Mother, and so much more. The first two issues involve Teacher's own speculation about what is going on, and is frustrating for him but also for us. At least Teacher and Shiva eventually get to meet again, and their situation seems to be somewhat resolved, but only somewhat.

So, what are we left with: Ten volumes of mystery and atmosphere where we love the artwork and love the gentle relationship between Teacher and Shiva, in a world of humans and. . monsters, of good people and bad, but as with some ofter recent fantasy series (such as Gideon Falls), volume eleven, the big finish, falls flat. I recommend you pick up any volume for the art alone. It's very intriguing, the magical feel of it, but the world-building? I'll read other reviews for insights.

Looks like there will be a twelfth volume of side stories.

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all] · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not crying you’re crying…while watching me cry. Okay fine but holy shit. I loved this series so so so so so much but all good things must come to an end and, well, uhhhhhh, it could have been a better ending. A lot is left unexplained and the way this wraps up is going to haunt me for awhile. Teacher and Shiva were too lovable for it to just sort of fizzle out this way without a further exploration of the curse and we still don’t know if it is even possible to have a resolution for it. Gonna be sad looking at trees now. This volume got a lower rating but overall this was such an enjoyable series that really got under my skin in the best of ways. The art has been extraordinary too and you may catch me with a Teacher tattoo someday soon. And while this end made me sad, I’m mostly just sad to be leaving this incredible world behind. Thanks for a banger of a series, Nagabe. This ending was a bit of a disappointment but I lived through LOST and I can live through this.

[JillyQ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed this story up until here, especially the gorgeous art. And not that I didn't necessarily enjoy the ending..? But I feel like I'm too confused to properly feel anything about it.

So Shiva was the physical embodiment of his soul, whom he loved and did anything to protect, and then was reunited with it, and decided to remain that way because....self-acceptance? And then he lies down in his favourite field...and naps...or dies/becomes a tree? Because........fate? What's the overall message here exactly? I feel like the ending should have been more profound, but instead it lost me.

I need someone to explain it to me, explain it to me like I'm five.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still don't know what the hell just happened but the art was nice

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series ended exactly as it should have. It doesn't answer questions, it is fatalistic, and the world is hazy in a way. The ending lives up to this standard. I understand people being disappointed with the ending, but I never expected a resolution. This ended like ASOUE did. Ambiguous, unresolved, and with questions still unanswered. I feel the manga set that up clearly leading to the ending. It ended as I expected. Having answers or breaking the curse was not a possible ending for the fatalistic atmosphere this manga set.

[buket · Rating 4 out of 5]

even though the ending was confusing, it was a beautiful journey <3

[kerrycat · Rating 5 out of 5]

this series is so sad but incredibly meaningful, and I have a hard time even talking about it without crying. the final volume was a roller coaster ride - devastating and hopeful, with life-altering, forever decisions at hand: "To meet is to cause each other unhappiness, to cause strife and suffering, just like it did for us. That may simply be the fate of this world. But if you can meet and can accept that suffering, the two may finally become one. In the end, that may be the curse."

I feel like this is an incredibly poignant story for those of us who have lost someone we love so much we thought we couldn't live without them, but of course, we would never wish to avoid our grief by never having had them in our lives at all. it really digs into the heart of emotional connection and bonds within relationships - the undercurrent throughout the story of fear that leads to persecution and the creation of outcasts.

the art perfectly carries these emotions, not only through expression but also with the use of light. I'm not an artist and can't speak to technique, but whatever is going on here suits the story seamlessly.

if you're looking for a series with depth and humanity - this is it.

[Victoria ✮⋆˙ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am trying so hard not to cry right now omg…the ending…I’m so sad this series is over

[Mizuki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Premise: The Girl from the Other Side is a sweet, slightly gloomy but engaging fairy tale about a little girl in white (named Shiva) and a humanoid horned black beast (named Teacher) living in a small cottage among the wood, in a world which is divided as Inside and Outside, Cursed and Uncursed.

The people from the Inside fear the Cursed Ones (black and beastly humanoid creatures who wander in the woods) from the Outside, so they protect themselves by surrounding their towns with a great wall to keep the Cursed Ones and their Curse out. But at the outskirt of this wall, live an oblivious little girl who stays with her Teacher and all they have ever wanted is to live in peace.

Short Review:

So the mystery of the Teacher and Shiva is revealed!!!!!

The artwork is as charming as always! The revealing of the secret of who the MCs really are is satisfying as well!!! The ending....it takes bittersweet to the next new level!!!!

Here we are, at the end of this journey and there are some answers to who the little girl Shiva really is, who the Teacher once used to be and what's the purpose of the Dark Children and what their mysterious 'Mother' (a fallen goddess, I guess?) is up to; I am okay with the explanations and I like the Teacher's painful backstory as well.

I am also impressed by how Shiva (the changed version of her, and she reveals to the Teacher that she, as a Black Child, changed Teacher from an Insider to a Black Child like her when he was close to dying by giving him part of her flesh, and she took his Soul for herself in return and by turn giving shape to Shiva the little girl) interacts with the Teacher as both of them try to make sense of their new reality. Those interaction scenes are heartbreaking and I really do like the scene with Shiva and the other Black Children 'go back' to Mother's lake.

I guess not everyone would like the ending as Teacher lives on with Shiva's spirit still inside him, I guess? but it's still a fine ending to this awesome series!

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending was kind of a let down.

[Ignacio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hay algo evocador en esta resolución; cómo Nagabe fuerza a reinterpretar parte de lo leído, lo que sugiere sobre estrategias de defensa frente a la pérdida o la angustia. También, evidencia sus limitaciones como historietista para contar este final. El relato ha devenido en una narración torpe contada sin la convicción ni el deleite que mostró cuando todo era promesa y misterio.

[Ken Yuen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure if I understood this story. So many questions left unanswered

[fonz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cuando se encuentra en su zona de confort dibujando lo que se le da bien, el grafismo de Nagabe es exquisito; trazo, composición de viñetas, diseño de página... el último capítulo de este volumen es un poco el compendio y culmen de su estilo y resulta muy bonito (aunque en otras ocasiones, como en la representación de los seres humanos sufre más). Lamentablemente, esta historia de ruptura del yin-yang cosmológico-espiritual de un universo fantástico y la forma de reponerse ante la pérdida, no ha logrado interesarme en ningún momento y menos aún con el ritmo reumático con el que cuenta las cosas. A ratos y, sobre todo en la conclusión, parece que Nagabe no sabe muy bien qué hacer con la historia. Tampoco me parece que represente de forma interesante la relación entre el doctor y Shiva, sus escenas son terriblemente sosas (sólo hay que compararlas con el primer tomo de "Historia de una novia" donde se construye una relación entre dos personajes en un principio ajenos de forma amena y emotiva) y no me ha llegado la relación de dependencia y angustia emocional entre los dos protagonistas. Finalmente, punto positivo por la referencia a "Siúil, a Rún", una de las más bonitas canciones del folklore irlandés, sobre todo en la versión de Clannad. La relación del contenido del manga con el tema musical (el lamento de una mujer por su amante que marcha a la guerra) no pasa de tenue más allá de la posible intención evocar un tono o estado de ánimo, pero oye, muy buen gusto.

[Drew Canole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what a wonderful ending. It left things up to interpretation - or maybe it didn't? My interpretation is that the different possibilities for the end doesn't really matter.
Shiva is either a distinct entity (in the form of the child or Outsider) or just part of the Teacher - It's all the same.

A masterclass in comics and perhaps the single best (reasonably short) contained story I've read in manga.

[Etienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like I anticipated, it was fantastic! Sad and emotional, but a good ending (even if we might get side stories.. the main story is truly final). We learn what was left to be learn and we get good closure for the characters. Great story, different in many aspect from the majority of manga and a story I deeply love!

[kristyn ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“good night, albert”
“good night, shiva”

my sweet babies, i love this series with my whole being 😭

[Tayjah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y’all I’m sobbing as I’m writing this deadass. This was the sweetest book ever and that ending was soooo 🥹

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Needed the closure of the bonus story in vol. 12 to feel better about this ending. 3.5 stars

[Clara (clarylovesbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I really don't know how I feel about the ending and my rating will probably change once I'll understand it a little bit better. This manga was so good and the relationship between Shiva and the Teacher is one of the most heartwarming and adorable I've ever read, but the ending was so confusing and it took me completely by surprise. It left me with so many questions.

[Francesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarò forse controversa, ma amo i finali ambigui

[ಥ_ಥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

some reason this volume felt shorter then the others.
mixed feelings on the ending. i felt like it's a lot unresolved.

[Ollie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well well well wasn't this underwhelming lol
احتمالا حوصله داشته باشم بیام ریویو بنویسم براش بعدا.

[Carlo Bugni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ora ricordo il mio nome.
Potresti chiamarmi?

Manga eccezionale, dalle atmosfere al design dei personaggi, dalle scene più horror a quelle di straziante tenerezza.
Tutti i volumi stanno tra le quattro e le cinque stelle. Magari a volte c’è un po’ di verbosità (soprattutto gli ultimi volumi e in particolare le scene ambientate nel mondo interno), ma non c’è un solo personaggio che non resti impresso.

Lo stile di Nagabe, poi, risulta inconfondibile anche quando disegna un cespuglio isolato. Fortissima personalità, pur con tratti poco dettagliati.

Leggo che molte recensioni si lamentano del finale che non risponde a tutte le domande. Spoiler: non è quello il punto. Il punto è la relazione tra i due protagonisti: una volta che loro hanno chiarito quello, tutto il resto non ha più alcuna importanza. Perché dovrebbero mettere ulteriormente a rischio la loro esistenza per rispondere alle curiosità del lettore?
Ok che il lettore è voyeur sempre e comunque, ma anche meno curiosità morbosa e meno cupidigia nello sguardo possono aiutare.

[Aimé · Rating 5 out of 5]

El final de la historia.
Por lo que he visto, hay gente disgustada por el hecho de que algunas de las grandes preguntas han quedado sin responder y, en cierto sentido, puedo comprenderlo, pero al mismo tiempo creo que Nagabe buscaba contar otras cosas.
Está la Maldición, sí, pero este es ante todo un cuento sobre un monstruo maldito y una niña pura que tratan de comprenderse y protegerse el uno al otro, da igual lo que haya que sacrificar en el camino.
Eso es precisamente lo que yo le pedía a esta historia y me lo ha dado con creces.
Sumado al bellísimo arte que le acompaña, aquí tenemos un melancólico cuento de hadas que logra cautivarte tan solo con sus personajes.

[Intissar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This manga series fueled the part of me that is enchanted and obsessed by gothic fairytales, but it also filled my soul with beautiful, cozy vibes. I hated how empty and hollow I was left feeling upon finishing it. I have read so many manga series, but this one was truly on another level: The art was terrific, the plot was unique, and the characters were interesting in ways I can't begin to put into words. However, although the ending seemed a bit rushed and many questions I had were left unanswered, I still loved how things turned out to be.

[Pablo Mallorquí · Rating 4 out of 5]

Con el tomo 11 acaba La pequeña forastera y en general, pese a los altibajos de la trama, la conclusión es satisfactoria. Nagabe consigue dotar de emoción y contención a la relación del doctor y Shiva y lo consigue tanto con las palabras como con los silencios que se amplifican con el dibujo expresionista del autor. Quizá no hacen falta once tomos para contar esta historia, pero se lo perdono por ese aroma único y melancólico que tiene esta obra. Un manga diferente con un dibujo que está en otra liga.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure how to explain what makes this such a beautiful series. Certainly the way it plays with ideas of "us" and "them" is part of it, as is its use of Celtic folklore and a traditional Irish folk song. I think, though, that what ultimately makes it work is how incredibly human it is. Heart, soul, and body all come together to make up one whole, no matter how far apart they may be in reality.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful series.

A sad, hopeful and turbulent tale about an insider (a little girl named Shiva) and an outsider (a creature known as Teacher). I don't know how to explain this series, but it was thoroughly enjoyable, even up to the somewhat confusing, ambiguous ending.

I'd still recommend this series 100%

[Met · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un piccolo gioiellino anche nel suo finale. Una storia che si presta a una decriptazione vera e propria, vorrei rileggerla tutta d’un fiato per rimettere insieme tutti i pezzi. Stile che non dimenticherò facilmente.