Witch Hat Atelier Vol. 9

とんがり帽子のアトリエ [Tongari Bōshi no Atelier] #9

by Kamome Shirahama, Stephen Kohler (Translator)

AT THE BORDERLINE

With their magic contraptions in hand, Coco and her friends head to Ezrest for the annual festival, Silver Eve! The cobblestone streets of the crown city are lined with vibrant tents, and visitors from across the land partake in reunions and greetings anew. Here, witches, royals, the Knights Moralis, and even the Three Wise converge—each party carrying with them their private motivations and powerful histories. However, the bright lights and merriment lure in the uninvited as well…

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

174 pages, Paperback

First published July 21, 2021

About the author

Kamome Shirahama (白浜鴎) is a Japanese manga artist.

Reviews

[rain]

im so amazed by the way this manga makes me feel blissfully happy one moment and thoroughly distraught the next. nobody's doing it like kamome shirahama.

[may ➹ · Rating 4 out of 5]

felt a little less cohesive/complete comparing to other volumes, but I absolutely loved the introduction of the grey shades of the debate about forbidden magic and who these magic laws serve

[Livresse de Lola · Rating 5 out of 5]

J’ai dévoré ce tome ! J’ai aimé voir toutes ces inventions magiques et suivre l’intrigue dans ce festival qui fait rêver. Le traitement des agressions sexuelles est fait avec une extrême justesse qui m’a réchauffée le cœur et a apporté une nouvelle dimension à ce manga.

C’est toujours aussi doux et cocooning mais les questionnements de Coco me laissent pleine de questions sur l’évolution de ce personnage par la suite.

En tout cas : j’ai hâte !

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The theme this time is "blame." Who is to blame for the laws that kept Tartah and Coco from helping Custas to walk on his own again? Why is there such a drive to blame the victims of other assaults, as happened to Luluci in her apprentice days? Is it as black-and-white as everyone makes it out to be? Shirahama is canny enough not to paint all of these cases with the same brush, because the answer isn't likely to be clear-cut at all when the chips are all down.

[Igel :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING!!!!! THE ART IS GORGEOUS , THE CHARACTERS ARE COMPLEX, THE MAGIC SYSTEM IS SO UNIQUE AND CREATIV, THE STORY IS INTERESTING AND ALSO DIVES INTO DEEP TOPICS!!! I LOVE ALL THE VOLUMES SO MUCH , BUT THIS ONE WAS THE BEST SO FAR! 🥹 THIS SERIES GETS BETTER WITH EVERY VOLUME!!! 🥹🥹🥹💗💗

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

A stunning Silver Eve filled with visual delights as well as plot action and character work. Some featured moments were with Ollie, Custas, and the Knights Moralis take-down.

5⭐️💫🌟✨☀️

[Maia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Art-wise, this is one of my favorite manga series of all time. I also adore the main cast of little witch students and their teachers. However, the series has introduced so many side characters at this point that I'm having a hard time remembering who they all are and having any emotional investment in them from volume to volume. I wish the would stick a bit more closely to Coco and her education, because all of the fantasy politics might lose me.

[b. ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

every volume of witch hat atelier is a gift and this might be my favorite volume so far

the suspense building up, the moral dilemmas of a world where magic exists but not everyone has equal access to its powers, the discussions on sexual assault and victim blaming, the subtle foreshadowing and intricate character development

kamome shirahama >>>>>>

[Elena Coorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Como siempre, una de las mejores historias de magia que he leído. Mi colección favorita de lejos.

[nikki | ཐི༏ཋྀ​​݁ ₊ ݁ . · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.25★

shit is getting real 🫨

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of the book is a boring slog as the regular cast just chatters at each other as they get ready for a big festival and then we cut to gloomy political conversations between knights, head witches, and a king.

The noodling finally gives way to some more dramatic events, first with a flashback story about sexual harassment and victim shaming that put me in mind of First Aid Kit's You Are the Problem Here. The closing pages finally started to directly and violently address the big lie and hoax behind the nature of witches around which the whole society is built. I wouldn't mind seeing the series push harder into that area.

[Alexa (Alexa Loves Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

2025 Review: There are some really fun, lighter parts to this tale (the Golden Eve and Silver Eve festivals look really fun!) but this volume is a reminder of the heavier parts of this story. I do think we’re getting to point where we’re questioning how the world’s rules are set up, and the ethics behind sharing/not sharing knowledge.

Also find it interesting/nice that there’s a chapter marked with a trigger warning too! That’s thoughtful.

2022 Review: I just love this manga series a whole lot.

[agi]

coustas let me give you a little forehead kissy come on come here mwah

[Strawberry Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Je veux la suite 😭😭❤

[Lucille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Je suis impressionnée, vraiment un tome qui me donne envie de discuter de tout les sujets abordés et la manière dont ça a été fait ! En plus beaucoup d'éléments qui viennent étoffer l'univers/le worldbuilding.

[Rodger’s Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️ oooh the meta plot thickens…. 👀👀

[Lucía Cafeína · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 <3
No puedo con la belleza de cada ilustración, de cada diseño de personaje, es que AHHHHHH <3 de lo más precioso que he visto.
Por otro lado, cada vez nos vamos sumergiendo más en la oscuridad, en los problemas, y en el drama que se avecina y estoy que me muerdo las uñas.

[Manoek (manoeksbooknook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 ⭐

[Mary Catelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

They go to the fair. Spoilers ahead for the earlier ones.

Some Coco being amazed, some the girls showing off their contraptions -- Agott is forbidden to use hers in the procession -- an interlude involving the king and politics, and another with a Knight Moralis -- and Coco's past, and the recruitment of Custas in the last volume, have some immense plot consequences.

[No' · Rating 5 out of 5]

Encore un super tome ! L'histoire continue de gagner en maturité tandis que l'intrigue s'épaissit. Un chapitre est consacré à la question d'agression sexuelle dans le cadre du milieu professionnel, et je l'ai trouvé écrit et illustré avec efficacité et sensibilité.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh this one just stepped the series up to a new LEVEL

[inouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

OVERALL RATING : 5/5
PLOT : 4.5/5
CHARACTER : 5/5
WRITING : 5/5

SAGA :
L'Atelier des Sorciers, Tome 1 4/5
L'Atelier des Sorciers, Tome 2 4/5
L'Atelier des Sorciers, Tome 3 4/5
L'Atelier des Sorciers, Tome 4 5/5
L'Atelier des Sorciers, Tome 5 4/5
L'Atelier des Sorciers, Tome 6 4/5
L'Atelier des Sorciers T07 4/5
L'Atelier des Sorciers, Tome 8 5/5
L'Atelier des Sorciers T09 5/5

DATE : 19/12/21

MY REVIEW:

“Why does everyone else just assume we all see the world the same way?!”
― Kamome SHIRAHAMA, とんがり帽子のアトリエ 3 [Tongari bōshi no Atelier 3]

🇬🇧. / 🇺🇸 (& MORE) VERSION :
Once again a real pleasure to read, surely one of my favorite books from the beginning!! I can’t wait to read more:)

VERSION 🇷🇴 /🇫🇷 & MORE :
Encore une fois un vrai plaisir à lire, sûrement un de mes tomes préférés depuis le début!! J'ai trop hâte de lire la suite :)

[Colleen Earle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in this series that hasn’t been a 5 star for me. It’s a set up book which is fine, but it means that we don’t get as much character development and fun times.
Looking forward to the next volume!

[bratzargenta · Rating 5 out of 5]

no me voy a cansar de repetir lo mucho que me gusta este manga. Aborda problemáticas reales y son bien ejecutadas. Es queer, cozy, emocionante, muestra las dos caras de la moneda, los distintos puntos de vista de los brujos y no-brujos, etcétera. Me encanta.

[emma! · Rating 5 out of 5]

chat we’re cooked

[emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is definitely my favourite volume so far i loved all the plot twists

[Dario Boen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterclass.

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

― 4.5 Stars ★★★★ 1/2
Witch Hat Atelier has continued to astound me not only with the storytelling and artwork, but the world building, which is delved into even more within Volume 9, easily one of my favorites! The Silver Eve arc has only just begun, yet I'm left with many questions as to the chilling, morally grey sides of magic within this world. The artwork as always is phenomenal and the plot leaves you eager to read the newest volume.

The Silver Eve festival has commenced and the apprentices, alongside Qifrey, Olruggio, the Knights Moralis, plus some surprising cameos from past characters & a couple new ones, continues to show the magic from so many sides all which add to the impeccable layers of worldbuilding that Shirahama has laid the groundwork for thus far already 9 volumes in.

I loved getting to know more about the actual world in which the people live (Zozah Estus / The Peninsula) alongside rulers of other nations and how they rely on knights & witches for help throughout the changing seasons. On the other-hand, I appreciated the deep dive into more from the Knights Moralis and how they're perceived as their job is to "[wipe] the slate" of those who discover the secrets of magic or use it for nefarious purposes.

Shirahama's method of storytelling no doubt is through her artwork and with each volume, I adore examining the paneling, pages and presentation of her art in how it tells this magical story. My favorite panels were definitely these: (27-31): not only did the chapter start in the form of a legend of Silver Eve, but the introduction to the Silver Eve arc begun without a single word only Coco, Qifrey & the other apprentices taking in the Golden Eve festivities as if turning to the newest page in a book. Another moment definitely included the intricate details nearing the end of the volume with Coustas and his new magical legs from a Brimmed Cap witch, but also the emotional moments of Coustas's anger towards Tartah and Coco's "betrayal" and why he chose to side with the witch...chills!! the artwork was superb as always

As the witches head towards the crown city for Silver Eve, Qifrey always makes time to impart new lessons for the students, such a taking the sights around them. Particularly though, this volume focuses more on the surrounding cast as they attend the festival such as the Knights who are briefly stopping by at the royal castle, where we learn more about the other rulers (especially King Deandreldy), who require the witches & the knights for protection in the coming seasons.

The underlying plot threads here seem to building for some interesting developments among not only the royals, but other witches who come in contact with the Knights Moralis leading into Volume 10, I can't wait to see what happens!

What stuck with me most about this volume though was the varying perspectives on magic and especially duty of witches in this particular start to the arc & I'm not sure how long this one will be, but I'm thoroughly invested to see what happens to Coco + the others as it continues!

Witch Hat Atelier Vol. 9 takes risks by delving into many threads that further expand on the intriguing world of witches and magic that Shirahama has created so far! The Silver Eve festival arc makes for a story full of subtle, but intricate worldbuilding, fleshing out of more characters, and the intricacies of the magic system + setting we've been immersed in as a whole. I can't wait for Volume 10 to know whether some plot threads I'm invested in, will be delved into! Each volume leaves you instantly enamored with the magical world, the characters & so much more.

[Cozy Reading Times · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series continues to be an absolute delight. Matching expansive, imaginative world building with lovable, interesting characters and deep discussions about ethics and morality, it offers one the whole palate of what makes a good story - not to menti9n the gorgeous art style. It's a series both cute and dark in turn but still well balanced and well constructed.
A definite favourite and a series I wish would never end.

[Coralie • spellboundchapters · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

The slow pace didn’t really bother me in previous volumes as I like this universe and these characters so much, but I feel like it could move a little bit faster now… I'm loving the fact that it’s getting darker and more intense, yet Luluci’s whole backstory was discussed with such delicacy.
Can I just say, I so appreciate that her SA didn’t feel gratuitous at all — and the fact that the author not only warned the reader beforehand, but also made it so that you could skip this part if you wanted to without it impacting your comprehension of the rest of the story? This is how it’s done!!! + the fact that the real plot twist of this volume for me was seeing that the Knights Moralis actually believed Luluci and Ellien and punished their abusers speaks volume 🤧 I feel like Kamome Shirahama just created a whole new standard for me and confirmed she’s my favourite manga artist. ♥️