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シャドーハウス [Shadow House] #1
Shadows House, Vol. 1
In the depths of a murky mansion lives a group of enigmatic nobles known as...the Shadow family. With no visible features to speak of, these mysterious aristocrats employ living dolls to act as their “faces.” Kate and Emilico are one such pair of mistress and servant, dwelling in their own little world and learning from each other bit by bit with every new day. But in a house of locked doors, living according to rules from no apparent source—how long can their blissfully peaceful existence truly last...?
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 18, 2019
39 people are currently reading
945 people want to read
About the author
Somato
133 books25 followersAn alternative way to credit Mangaka combo ソウマトウ, as seen on certain editions, namely Italian, Spanish, and English.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
April 6, 2023
Shadows House has such an interesting premise, but falls a little flat with the characters. I read this one for the April 2023 30 in 30. 3.5 Stars
Shadows House, Vol.1 focuses on this elite family that is nothing but shadows. To be better received by the world (we can't really see their faces) they become paired with living dolls that become a mirror image of their emotions. The story primarily focuses on Kate and Emilico. Kate is the shadow and Emilico is the living doll.
What Worked: I was completely enthralled by the world building and possibilities that this story creates. This is a family primarily made of shadows which means that they literally have no faces. But the shadows seem to be soot so when they touch anything it automatically gets dirty. When they get angry, the give off even more soot. So even though the dolls serve as their faces, they are also responsible for keeping their mansion and personal living quarters clean. Emilico spends most of her day cleaning after Kate. The amount of dolls it takes to make their living situation work is unbelievable and it made me feel like there are some great opportunities for the creator in terms of storytelling. I'm curious to know why the shadows are the way they are and whether they could ever change.
What Didn't Work:Emilico and Kate were both a mess. Emilico was annoying at times even though I felt for her during certain situations and Kate is just an ass. They make a very unlikely pair and I could potentially see the friendship between them growing, but they took me out of the story quite a bit in this first volume. It wasn't enough to deter me from reading the next volume, but I'm hoping that the character development gets a tad bit better.
Overall, this was a solid read and I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes next.
Shadows House, Vol.1 focuses on this elite family that is nothing but shadows. To be better received by the world (we can't really see their faces) they become paired with living dolls that become a mirror image of their emotions. The story primarily focuses on Kate and Emilico. Kate is the shadow and Emilico is the living doll.
What Worked: I was completely enthralled by the world building and possibilities that this story creates. This is a family primarily made of shadows which means that they literally have no faces. But the shadows seem to be soot so when they touch anything it automatically gets dirty. When they get angry, the give off even more soot. So even though the dolls serve as their faces, they are also responsible for keeping their mansion and personal living quarters clean. Emilico spends most of her day cleaning after Kate. The amount of dolls it takes to make their living situation work is unbelievable and it made me feel like there are some great opportunities for the creator in terms of storytelling. I'm curious to know why the shadows are the way they are and whether they could ever change.
What Didn't Work:Emilico and Kate were both a mess. Emilico was annoying at times even though I felt for her during certain situations and Kate is just an ass. They make a very unlikely pair and I could potentially see the friendship between them growing, but they took me out of the story quite a bit in this first volume. It wasn't enough to deter me from reading the next volume, but I'm hoping that the character development gets a tad bit better.
Overall, this was a solid read and I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes next.
April 22, 2021
Recensione su Chibiistheway
Un primo volume intrigante con grande potenziale psicologico per i personaggi. Oltre all'aspetto paranormale emerge il forte senso di identità e di umanità. Non sono rimasta folgorata dalla storia perché succede ben poco in questo primo capitolo, spero che andando avanti vengano spiegate le dinamiche e le origini della famiglia Shadow
Un primo volume intrigante con grande potenziale psicologico per i personaggi. Oltre all'aspetto paranormale emerge il forte senso di identità e di umanità. Non sono rimasta folgorata dalla storia perché succede ben poco in questo primo capitolo, spero che andando avanti vengano spiegate le dinamiche e le origini della famiglia Shadow
January 13, 2024
Los Shadow son un clan que vive al estilo de la nobleza. Son bastante particulares: no tienen rostro y sus cuerpos desprenden hollín en determinadas circunstancias. Como sirvientes tienen a unas muñecas vivientes que se encargan de mantener limpias sus dependencias y que además les sirven de “cara”.
En este tomo conocemos a los Shadow y a las principales protagonistas de la historia: la señorita Kate y su muñeca viviente, Emiliko. Es un tomo bastante introductorio, pero la historia promete.
En este tomo conocemos a los Shadow y a las principales protagonistas de la historia: la señorita Kate y su muñeca viviente, Emiliko. Es un tomo bastante introductorio, pero la historia promete.
February 19, 2021
Après plusieurs passages en librairies où j'avais pu feuilleter ce manga j'ai finis par craquer fin janvier et le lire début février. La famille des Shadows font appel à des poupées pour pouvoir exprimer leurs émotions vu qu'ils sont dénudés de visage et de toutes expressions. Emilico est la poupée de l'aristocrate de Kate. Elle va devoir apprendre toutes les expressions de sa maitresse tout en nettoyant à la perfection de les traces de sui que laissent les Shadows du à des contrariétés.
L'ambiance est très particulière et pour le coup j'y trouve un clin d'œil à Tim Burton. C'est à la fois sombre, triste, gothique et les décors sont incroyables. Il s'agit d'un premier tome introductif mais il est dans ce que je classe d'addictif et de prometteur pour la suite :)
L'ambiance est très particulière et pour le coup j'y trouve un clin d'œil à Tim Burton. C'est à la fois sombre, triste, gothique et les décors sont incroyables. Il s'agit d'un premier tome introductif mais il est dans ce que je classe d'addictif et de prometteur pour la suite :)
April 7, 2021
Okay, I'm hooked. This is so original and enthralling. Original because it's a colored manga, which I've never encountered before, as well as Mystery, Supernatural, and Gothic Fantasy. And that combination is *chef's kiss*
There's also some Horror? Or so I've read. I haven't really noticed any blatant horrific elements yet but maybe it will be a more subtle, creeps-up-on-you type of horror (my favorite kind). I can see the potential. Something is very Off in this house. Under all the fluffy moments and optimistic Emilyko being her cute self is an undercurrent of unease and wrongness. I can't wait to read more and find out what's going on because I am very suspicious of this whole Shadow noble/Living Doll thing that's going on. 👀
There's also some Horror? Or so I've read. I haven't really noticed any blatant horrific elements yet but maybe it will be a more subtle, creeps-up-on-you type of horror (my favorite kind). I can see the potential. Something is very Off in this house. Under all the fluffy moments and optimistic Emilyko being her cute self is an undercurrent of unease and wrongness. I can't wait to read more and find out what's going on because I am very suspicious of this whole Shadow noble/Living Doll thing that's going on. 👀
March 20, 2023
Sooooo…as I stated before when starting this manga. Meh I’ve read some manga. And this, to me, seemed to be the least interesting plot design that I’ve seen. The cover certainly attracted me. And i would assume that is one of the main tactics in book sales. The synopsis was intriguing, but after diving in, I kept turning pages to figure out exactly what the point of reading it was for. Honestly , I’m usually not a negative reviewer, but this particular book seemed shallow. It was like standing in a shallow River waiting for the water to rise to finally go rafting. But my bum never lifted from the rocks and I was cold the whole time.
Maybe there will be redemption later in the series? I may check out more once I run out of other manga.
2/5 stars
F. D. Gross
Maybe there will be redemption later in the series? I may check out more once I run out of other manga.
2/5 stars
F. D. Gross
August 21, 2023
To be honest I’m not really sure how to feel about this one I kinda like the concept but you kinda worry about the living dolls cause they really don’t seem to have any form of life or will of their own so what happened to them if they didn’t have their master or the mansion anymore to take care of would they just wander off into the wilderness and get destroyed or it just seems like they’re more of a prisoner than any Else all in all I’m not really sure if this is really for me.
June 7, 2021
Tomo muy introductorio, hay mucho por descubrir y pinta bien. Resulta un pelín inquietante
July 30, 2022
Where the brightest lights shine the darkest shadows gather.
What a splendid book. Not only is there a full color intro but we get to see some extra art in full color showing Kate Shadows and her living doll Emilico. In the mean time the story is still building but I like the character interactions even though one half of the conversations often enough come from a member of the Shadows clan who seem to be a type of nobility but are probably not human due to having no noticeable features seeing as their bodies are completely black like living shadows and produce soot in various increments depending on any given situation.
Other interesting things to take into question are the mysterious origins of the various dolls that look and often act so lifelike like Emilico who is Kate's personal maid and face to the shadowy noble girl as well as the strange and spacious Shadows house itself with who knows what kind of incredible scientific devices set inside a Victorian styled time. Eventually I believe the truths will come out and we will see if this strange new story becomes more like a Steam Punk adventure or perhaps a nightmarish horror in the end. :)
What a splendid book. Not only is there a full color intro but we get to see some extra art in full color showing Kate Shadows and her living doll Emilico. In the mean time the story is still building but I like the character interactions even though one half of the conversations often enough come from a member of the Shadows clan who seem to be a type of nobility but are probably not human due to having no noticeable features seeing as their bodies are completely black like living shadows and produce soot in various increments depending on any given situation.
Other interesting things to take into question are the mysterious origins of the various dolls that look and often act so lifelike like Emilico who is Kate's personal maid and face to the shadowy noble girl as well as the strange and spacious Shadows house itself with who knows what kind of incredible scientific devices set inside a Victorian styled time. Eventually I believe the truths will come out and we will see if this strange new story becomes more like a Steam Punk adventure or perhaps a nightmarish horror in the end. :)
July 4, 2020
Qué historia tan intrigante... Es al más puro estilo Somato: tenemos un personaje principal de lo más adorable que nos cuenta su día a día; tenemos también una historia de fondo que nos van mostrando (más bien insinuando) muy sutilmente hasta que nos engancha por su misterio...
Las ilustraciones, como siempre, tratadas con mucha cura, hacen que nos quedemos embobad@s página a página.
Hace que queramos saber más y que nos preguntemos cuál es el futuro de nuestras protagonistas... ¡Tendremos que esperar al próximo tomo para descubrir un poco más!
¡Espero que os haya gustado mi reseña!
Mireia
Las ilustraciones, como siempre, tratadas con mucha cura, hacen que nos quedemos embobad@s página a página.
Hace que queramos saber más y que nos preguntemos cuál es el futuro de nuestras protagonistas... ¡Tendremos que esperar al próximo tomo para descubrir un poco más!
¡Espero que os haya gustado mi reseña!
Mireia
January 20, 2021
Very intrigued.. I will need to read more about it to be able to really get an opinion on this.. but it’s a great start!
October 11, 2023
Emilyko is so adorable. I love her!
November 21, 2021
Really like the art and also the concept of the story. Hope it will develope nicely
April 30, 2024
tôi đã mê em từ chiếc bìa, quá hợp gu
August 12, 2024
Gespannt wo es hinführt ,bisher noch etwas seicht und unspannend
September 24, 2021
Personally too cutesy for me to even call it a horror tbh..
January 15, 2023
Je pensais que j'allais surtout aimer l'esthétique du manga, mais j'ai hâte d'en apprendre un peu plus sur le l'histoire de cette famille sans visage...
April 13, 2024
I'm very intrigued. I was recommended this series by a friend and I'd put it off till a couple more volumes were out, but I'm very happy that I finally decided to pick it up and can't wait to continue with the rest of the series. There is a very ominous atmosphere the mangaka has brilliantly created with the artwork alone. After getting a sense of the environment and the two main characters I'll be going on this journey with, I can't wait to learn more about this world and to see more of the amazing artwork this manga has in store.
June 19, 2020
2.5/5
J’ai le tome 2 donc je lirais la suite mais pour le moment je ne suis pas emballée tant que ça.
J’ai le tome 2 donc je lirais la suite mais pour le moment je ne suis pas emballée tant que ça.
May 14, 2021
In una strana villa vivono dei nobili senza volto fatti di ombre. È il casato Shadow che, incapace di poter mostrare ogni loro espressione ed emozione, si serve di bambole presta-volto dalle fattezze umane e modellate a somiglianza di ogni singolo individuo della tenuta.
Ma chi sono realmente queste ombre? E quali segreti nascondono?
“Shadows House” è una recentissima uscita J-pop. Una storia apparentemente innocua, ma così densa e complessa, che punta tutto sul mistero e sull’inquietudine.
Ammetto che ad aver attirato la mia attenzione sono state principalmente le ambientazioni in stile epoca vittoriana e i disegni di questa misteriosa fiaba gotica, ma devo dire che la storia mi ha piacevolmente sorpresa sotto ogni punto di vista.
Questo primo volume funge innanzitutto da introduzione al mondo di “Shadows House“, ma lascia già ben intendere l’enorme potenziale che nasconde. La narrazione parte lenta, tuttavia il mistero che le aleggia intorno, la mancanza di informazioni e gli elementi soprannaturali instillano nel lettore un avida curiosità che lo porta a volerne saperne sempre di più. O almeno è quello che è successo a me.
I disegni sono dei veri e propri gioiellini: puliti, raffinati e cupi, li ho trovati perfettamente in sintonia con le atmosfere della storia. Inoltre, ho apprezzato tantissimo i personaggi e la loro caratterizzazione. Sono davvero impaziente di scoprire come evolveranno i rapporti tra loro e se ci sarà un’evoluzione.
Concludendo, posso affermare che questo primo volume mi ha davvero soddisfatta, soprattutto perché già dalle prime pagine affronta temi profondi con delicatezza e semplicità: la ricerca di sé stessi e del proprio posto nel mondo, e l’importanza di avere una propria identità.
Ma chi sono realmente queste ombre? E quali segreti nascondono?
“Shadows House” è una recentissima uscita J-pop. Una storia apparentemente innocua, ma così densa e complessa, che punta tutto sul mistero e sull’inquietudine.
Ammetto che ad aver attirato la mia attenzione sono state principalmente le ambientazioni in stile epoca vittoriana e i disegni di questa misteriosa fiaba gotica, ma devo dire che la storia mi ha piacevolmente sorpresa sotto ogni punto di vista.
Questo primo volume funge innanzitutto da introduzione al mondo di “Shadows House“, ma lascia già ben intendere l’enorme potenziale che nasconde. La narrazione parte lenta, tuttavia il mistero che le aleggia intorno, la mancanza di informazioni e gli elementi soprannaturali instillano nel lettore un avida curiosità che lo porta a volerne saperne sempre di più. O almeno è quello che è successo a me.
I disegni sono dei veri e propri gioiellini: puliti, raffinati e cupi, li ho trovati perfettamente in sintonia con le atmosfere della storia. Inoltre, ho apprezzato tantissimo i personaggi e la loro caratterizzazione. Sono davvero impaziente di scoprire come evolveranno i rapporti tra loro e se ci sarà un’evoluzione.
Concludendo, posso affermare che questo primo volume mi ha davvero soddisfatta, soprattutto perché già dalle prime pagine affronta temi profondi con delicatezza e semplicità: la ricerca di sé stessi e del proprio posto nel mondo, e l’importanza di avere una propria identità.
October 30, 2023
Welcome to a house full of shadows.. and their puppets.
I saw the anime when it aired and just loved the show so much. It gets quite dark with each passing episode and it was fab. So when I saw that the Manga Cult (German publisher) was releasing the manga series in Germany I was so excited! I could finally read the manga while waiting for the next season of the show.
And just like the anime this one starts off very calm and easy. There are some hints to things to come, but for most it was just easy days. We meet a girl named Emilico who works in the house. She cleans Lady Kate’s room + is her face. Her face I hear you say. Yes, each puppet had a shadow that looks like them. Or well, I should say each shadow has a puppet that looks like them. The purpose of these puppets is, next to at the moment cleaning and making sure that all the soot is gone (shadows expel soot, mostly depending on their moods), to be the face and the expressions of the shadow person. As you can see on the cover, Kate’s face is not really one you can see. And that is where Emilico comes in. Well, eventually at least. In the start of the series Emilico is mostly trying to figure things out, clean up the soot, make sure everything is sparkling, and learns all about the House and about her mistress, Kate.
I love Emilico. She is so happy, so joyful. I love that despite all the hard work and that she doesn’t seem to have many memories of anything prior, she goes at it with vigour and is eager to learn more about Kate. At times she is a bit much though, haha, her heart is in the right place so she means well, but sometimes she just goes a bit too far. But she always makes sure to apologize and make things right again, which is sweet. I loved how she tried to make Kate laugh, it is not easy to see if a shadow is laughing or smiling, and I love how Emilico gave it a try.
And I love Kate as well. You would think that she is stand-offish given her status, but in fact she is not at all. OK, sure, sometimes she acts a bit uppity, but for most she is there for Emilico, making sure she eats well, making sure that she is happy, figuring out what makes Emilico ticks, and even tries to help her learn how to read.
Because I saw the anime I know how things will go. I know what the puppets actually are (and there are plenty of hints in this volume as well) along with several of the secrets of the house. We do get a few hints, including seeing that soot is just not only soot but that you really need to clean it properly. We meet a couple of other puppets and their masters/mistresses. I am very excited to see if the manga and the anime are close to each other or if there are scenes we didn’t see in the anime. I am excited to see some of my favourite (and some scary moments) to appear in the manga.
The art was just so pretty and I really love the style~
All in all, I will have to get the next book ASAP, maybe by the time this review goes up (it is now the 19th) I will have purchased it~ I would highly recommend this first volume (plus be sure to also check out the anime).
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I saw the anime when it aired and just loved the show so much. It gets quite dark with each passing episode and it was fab. So when I saw that the Manga Cult (German publisher) was releasing the manga series in Germany I was so excited! I could finally read the manga while waiting for the next season of the show.
And just like the anime this one starts off very calm and easy. There are some hints to things to come, but for most it was just easy days. We meet a girl named Emilico who works in the house. She cleans Lady Kate’s room + is her face. Her face I hear you say. Yes, each puppet had a shadow that looks like them. Or well, I should say each shadow has a puppet that looks like them. The purpose of these puppets is, next to at the moment cleaning and making sure that all the soot is gone (shadows expel soot, mostly depending on their moods), to be the face and the expressions of the shadow person. As you can see on the cover, Kate’s face is not really one you can see. And that is where Emilico comes in. Well, eventually at least. In the start of the series Emilico is mostly trying to figure things out, clean up the soot, make sure everything is sparkling, and learns all about the House and about her mistress, Kate.
I love Emilico. She is so happy, so joyful. I love that despite all the hard work and that she doesn’t seem to have many memories of anything prior, she goes at it with vigour and is eager to learn more about Kate. At times she is a bit much though, haha, her heart is in the right place so she means well, but sometimes she just goes a bit too far. But she always makes sure to apologize and make things right again, which is sweet. I loved how she tried to make Kate laugh, it is not easy to see if a shadow is laughing or smiling, and I love how Emilico gave it a try.
And I love Kate as well. You would think that she is stand-offish given her status, but in fact she is not at all. OK, sure, sometimes she acts a bit uppity, but for most she is there for Emilico, making sure she eats well, making sure that she is happy, figuring out what makes Emilico ticks, and even tries to help her learn how to read.
Because I saw the anime I know how things will go. I know what the puppets actually are (and there are plenty of hints in this volume as well) along with several of the secrets of the house. We do get a few hints, including seeing that soot is just not only soot but that you really need to clean it properly. We meet a couple of other puppets and their masters/mistresses. I am very excited to see if the manga and the anime are close to each other or if there are scenes we didn’t see in the anime. I am excited to see some of my favourite (and some scary moments) to appear in the manga.
The art was just so pretty and I really love the style~
All in all, I will have to get the next book ASAP, maybe by the time this review goes up (it is now the 19th) I will have purchased it~ I would highly recommend this first volume (plus be sure to also check out the anime).
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
April 29, 2023
Le tome 1 de la série est un peu léger, mais c'est la mise en place de cet univers.
J'ai lu, jusqu'ici, les 7 premiers tomes (et regardé l'anime) et j'ai bien accroché. Les réponses aux questions originelles se dévoilent peu à peu, les personnages développent leur caractère et les luttes de pouvoir se mêlent à la résistance contre les Shadows.
Mais tout est loin d'être résolu et j'ai hâte de lire la suite.
J'ai lu, jusqu'ici, les 7 premiers tomes (et regardé l'anime) et j'ai bien accroché. Les réponses aux questions originelles se dévoilent peu à peu, les personnages développent leur caractère et les luttes de pouvoir se mêlent à la résistance contre les Shadows.
Mais tout est loin d'être résolu et j'ai hâte de lire la suite.
October 5, 2022
I know I write a lot of things 5 stars but for this I wish I could give it 10, it was amazing! Just the right amount of depth and gave off the perfect amount of wonder!! It deserves much more love and recognition than it has!!
June 12, 2023
Typiara ma swojego klona w postaci czarnego gówna jakiejś słomy smoły, wieprzu pieprzu Kij go wie osad jakiś i ich tam jest więcej normalnie i ona tam jest taką niby służącą dla tego jej cienia i inni też tak mają hehehehehhe🤯🤯
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February 13, 2021intrigada
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