The Haunted Bookstore: Gateway to a Parallel Universe Vol. 1

The Haunted Bookstore - Gateway to a Parallel Universe (manga) #1

by Medamayaki (Adaptor/Illustrator), Shinobumaru (Based on story by)

An atmospheric fantasy series for bibliophiles and fans of Japanese ghost stories–based on the light novels also published by Seven Seas!

Kaori lives in a bookstore where the boundaries between the mortal realm and the spirit realm are blurred. She spends her days in peace, selling books to otherworldly beings alongside her adoptive father, a spirit himself. But all of that is disrupted when a self-proclaimed exorcist stumbles into this ghostly utopia. Can Kaori embrace her better nature and help a man who’s vowed revenge against all spirits find his way back home?

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Comics, Supernatural, Paranormal, Young Adult

184 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 10, 2020

Reviews

[Jesse (JesseTheReader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was definitely not what I was expecting & I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I feel like there are so many things going on all at once that it's overwhelming at first. It feels like a bunch of short stories set in the spirit realm with plans for an overarching story to grow over time. I think I'll give volume #2 a shot to see if I want to commit or ditch this series!

[Paige · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really expecting more about a bookstore being haunted.

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

VIDEO REVIEW HERE: https://youtu.be/DHOTTsDihCY

I have been SO curious about this series and I finally decided to cave and buy it for an upcoming Top 5 Wednesday prompt so I could see what it was about.

And let me just say, it was AMAZING!

However, I think it's VERY important to note that this is NOT a spooky read, even if it has yokai and goblins. In fact, there was ZERO spookiness in this volume, which surprised me because despite that I heard everyone say the title is SUPER misleading (which I would also agree with). But the thing is, I think it's why I deeply enjoyed this first volume! It's a very relaxing and enjoyable read that has a variety of super interesting characters that are yokai, but without giving me the nervousness of potentially feeling scared. The art has very soft vibes that really make this an "atmospheric fantasy"!

I LOVED Kaori, the main female lead! I really liked how she rather be with the spirits in the spirit realm than the mortal realm because that's where she felt belonged, even if she was a mortal herself. When Suimei comes on page with ALL his grumpiness, I love how she tells him her dream and why she enjoys living where she does. It makes her a very endearing character, especially when it comes to the end because my heart totally broke for her!

And speaking of the end, for how grumpy Suimei is, he really redeemed himself by the end in how he reminded Kaori that she might be human in a spirit world, but that doesn't mean she needs to shut off her human emotions. I realize that's vague because there is a lot more to that scene, but it was one of my favorite scenes and has me excited to see what happens next! (I wasn't fond of Suimei through this volume AT ALL, so saying that feels like a big thing for me!)

I LOVED Kaori's dad and the raven twins! I also liked the doctor too! Lots of fun and wonderful characters!

Overall, I would definitely recommend this series if you're looking for a VERY slice-of-life fantasy with yokai and such! The art is gorgeous and it's a series I'm excited to continue!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been waiting for this manga for a long time. Unfortunately, it wasn't what I wanted...which was, obviously, a haunted bookstore. There is no haunted bookstore. There is a bookstore in another world where a human girl lives with her adoptive demon-dad. She has always lived there and all the demons in the other world are generally friendly and good people, so there's nothing spooky or dark or haunting about this book whatsoever. This is a heart-warming, feel-good, found-family slice-of-life kind of manga. It's not bad, it's just not what I wanted at all.

The art is quite good and there's one other thing I love about this manga, and that is the trans demon character. Nothing is made of it when she first appears. You can tell the character design has a muscular, masculine body type, but everyone uses female pronouns for her and nothing is said about her long, feminine hairstyle or the dress she wears until near the end of the manga when a new human comes to the spirit realm and gives her a glance. She responds to his quizzical look by saying, "Cute [dress], isn't it? Clothes don't care what gender you are. Though neither do we spirits, honestly... Everyone should wear what they like!" I love her and would consider reading more of this manga just to see more of this character. The rest doesn't really interest me much, though.

There are also two short stories at the end of the manga, the written kind, not illustrated. And the second of those features the trans demon, Noname. It discussed her crush on a villain and I really enjoyed that! Maybe I'd like the light novel of this series better?

[Gabriella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read.

This is the manga version of the light novel series. The art was lovely and easy to follow. Especially liked the visualization of the twins. The storyline was a bit confusing but maybe this is just because I'm thinking of the bigger picture in the written novel instead. All in all, interesting concept and a lot of backstories given.

[Steph ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5✨️

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title is kind of false advertising. This isn't so much a haunted bookstore as it is a bookstore in a world of spirits. Very different things. That expectation adjusted, it's a decent slice of life, found family story, especially if Spirited Away is your thing.

[Hanii Aburame · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghosts, tengu, goblins, and humans, oh my!

Starting out as light novel this manga centers around Kaori, a human who lives in the spirit world in a haunted bookstore ran by a struggling (yokai) author. One day she is led to a mysterious injured human boy, who her and the bookstores proprietor takes in and nurses back to health. Meanwhile Kaori takes odd jobs from the bookstore's patrons and travels all around the spirit realm helping its denizens.

As it sounds, the majority of this volume is setting up the world and characters, so not much goes on. There is a lot of cute and touching moments within its covers, making this a very relaxed read, perfect to snuggle up with or give a break from more dramatic series.

There's a lot of black ink used in the art, but it also feels unpolished and very sketchy adding an airy and light feeling balancing things out and giving it a mythical vibe making all the ghosts and glimmerflies seem almost real in their presentation. Also, I particularly like the written short stories in the back, they are one of the better written bonus stories I've read.

This is definitely a series I want to continue with, and when I venture into the world of light novels, this series will be at the top of my list.

Check out my bookstagram! @Witchy.Otaku

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sleeper hit. It was nothing like I expected, but I loved it. It had some gender queer tones, and low key reminded me of InuYasha, Vol. 1: Turning Back Time with the spirit realm. There wasn't much about the bookstore, it kind of took a background to the introduction of characters. I am hoping with the next book we will get more insight into the setting. I am really liking the direction of this. I think if you enjoy slow simmering fantasy manga like The Ancient Magus' Bride, Vol. 1 then you will probably enjoy this one too.

[Xiomy's Book Tales · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not gonna lie, the title was the reason I purchased this manga and I will say that I was so disappointed.

Like where and how is the bookstore haunted?

The beginning really did capture my attention, then it had these weird transitions and I was lost after a while.

Will not be continuing with this series and I'm so sad by it since I had high expectations.

[Erin Sharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Barely any mention of the bookstore and it is not haunted. I feel duped!

[Lilia Kas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Цікавий твір і мила історія! Тут є книги, містика, симпатичний хлопець і чудовий переклад. Сподіваюся і на романтичну лінію :)

[Lainy122 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fun idea, interested to see where it goes.

[Anno · Rating 4 out of 5]

not quite the haunted bookstore I excepted, but I liked it nonetheless. cute slice of life plus a well written trans character

[Roman Zarichnyi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Завжди цікаво почитати щось про книгарню чи щось у тому роді. А якщо вона й ще потойбічна, то цікавість до такого твору ще більше зростає. Коли я почав читати манґу «Наша потойбічна книгарня: Ворота до паралельного світу» Медамаякі, мої очікування щодо історії були пов’язані із життям навколо потойбічної книгарні. Що також передбачало, якусь легеньку і простеньку оповідь. Певні речі виправдали сподівання, інші ні. Але чи це добре, чи не дуже, давайте спробуємо розібратися.

Дівчина Мурамото Каорі живе у світі духів із дуже юного віку. Хоча вона людина, вона відчуває себе там, як вдома. Каорі залюбки допома��ає своєму прийомному батькові, потойбічному Шінономе, з його книгарнею, яка здає в оренду та продає книги різним духам, містичним створінням й іншого роду істотам. Вона мирно проводить свої дні, проводячи їх у компанії друзів і сусідів. Проте все змінюється, коли в їхній потойбічний притулок несподівано вривається самопроголошений екзорцист. Шірай Суймей, хлопець із заможної родини, який наразі не може використовувати свої здібності з невідомих причин. Він наважився піти в потойбічний світ, щоб знайти безіменну сутність із невідомою метою.

Каорі — дівчина з добрим серцем, яка, незважаючи на те, що живе в потойбічному світі, не має якихось особливих здібностей. Тим не менш, її люблять, і вона добре знає його звичаї, приховані стежки та секрети. На відміну від неї, Суймей навчився, лише боротися з духами та виганяти їх, але не взаємодіяти з ними як з особистостями. Через те, що його сили наразі не діють, він відчуває себе досить безпорадним, через що доволі дратівливим. Однак, коли Каорі показує йому потойбічний і знайомить його з не ворожими духами й істотами, а з іншою їхньою стороною, він починає потроху змінювати свої попередні уявлення.

З такою назвою, як «Наша потойбічна книгарня», я очікував побачити багато сцен із потойбічною книгарнею. Однак у цьому першому томі книгарня з’являється, лише кілька разів. Хоча манґа пропонувала захопливе дослідження японського фольклору та міфології, вона мене дещо розчарувала. Історія змістила фокус на подорожі персонажів через потойбічний світ, що, хоч і було інтригуюче, але не було тим, чого я очікував. Персонажі були цікаві, що додавало глибини оповіді. А описи потойбічного світу зачаровували. Але мені все ще не вистачало самої книгарні. Сподіваюся, що в наступних частинах ми будемо частіше повертатися до книгарні. І занурюватися в нудний побут усіх незвичних процесів, що там відбуваються. Вона усе ж таки потойбічна.

Ця манґа найкраще підійде для шанувальників спокійного фентезі. Хоча в наступних частинах історія має можливість розвинутися у більш динамічну сторону, враховуючи великий світ потойбіччя, яким головні герої можуть подорожувати. Але це побачимо згодом. Тому, якщо ви шукаєте щось простеньке, ненав’язливе, з потенційно великим світом та цікавими героям, то можете спробувати манґу «Наша потойбічна книгарня».

[Kathryn Catania · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am interested in the concept of this story but I feelmlike they rushed through parts. This seems to happen more often with manga that was a short story first. So I am hoping the next one is better. The back cover art is what forced me to buy this manga

[Alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

затишна манґа для тих, кому потрібне щось тепле та рідне. читаєш — і наче повертаєшся до хороших друзів, хоч і тримаєш цю роботу в руках вперше. нечасто читаю манґу, проте ця точно потрапила мені в серденько.

Каорі — людина, яка живе в потойбічному світі посеред аякаші (духів), працюючи в маленькій книгарні. одного дня вона знаходить в цьому світі пораненого хлопця — Суймея, теж людину. він екзорцист та тимчасово втратив свої сили. ця манґа — це замальовка різних ситуацій з їхніх життів, сповнена цікавих персонажів, приємної мальовки та дуже затишної атмосфери.

звісно ж, головною штукою в манзі є мальовка. тут вона дуже приємна та м'яка, так ще через одного персонажі — краші. тут вам і мила булочка Каорі, і закритий буркотун Суймей, і харизматичні близнюки-круки Тенґу (вайб близнюків Візлі), й кокетлива Незва. просто гортаєш сторінки та закохуєшся.

окрім приємної мальовки, самі історії теж дуже яскраві та затишні, плюс не встигаєш занудьгувати завдяки короткому формату. і вони точно не залишать вас байдужими! (особисто я сиділа та плакала через історію аякаші-цикад. невимовно щемко). дуже сподобалися дві додаткові текстові історії, такий формат мені до душі.

[Skjam! · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kaori Muramoto has lived in the spirit realm since she was very young. She feels at home there, even though she is a human being. Kaori loves helping her adoptive father Shinonome run his bookshop, which rents and sells books to various spirit beings. Her days are largely peaceful, spent with friends and neighbors.

One day, there’s a new human in the spirit world. Shirai Suimei is an exorcist from a wealthy family. For reasons he’d rather not discuss, Suimei is unable to use his exorcist abilities right now, and has come to the spirit world to seek out an unnamed being for motives that are unclear. He’s rather spoiled, kind of rude, and not good with emotions. But he’s willing to pay for a place to stay, so for now he’s living at the Haunted Bookstore.

This manga series is based on a light novel by Shinobumaru, and we’re very much in the early chapters here with plenty of mysteries and backstory to uncover.

Kaori is a kindhearted girl with no immediately obvious special abilities, despite her residence in the spirit world. She is, however, well liked there, and familiar with its customs and hidden paths. Suimei has only been taught how to fight and banish spirits, not interact with them as people. With his powers in abeyance, he feels kind of useless, and is irritable to say the least. He begins to open up just a bit as Kaori guides him around the spirit world and introduces him to spirits that aren’t attacking humans.

Recurring characters are Kinme and Ginme, tengu (crow) brothers who are carefree and love pestering Suimei. (A text story at the end of the volume focuses on this love.) Also important are Noname the apothecary and Nyaa the multi-tailed cat.

Interestingly, most of the bookstore parts of the story involve reading aloud to someone else. This is part of the theme of kindness. The most strikingly alien part of this first volume is when Hatsu and Sasuke the cicada children come by. They’re friends with Kaori, but there’s a time limit.

Another text chapter at the end has Kaori and Noname discussing love, and Kaori discovering for the first time that she might be open to romance. But she’s pretty sure not with the obnoxious Suimei.

The art is decent, though I think the humanoid spirits tend to be too prettified. Also, the nose shadows look wonky from time to time. The writing is okay but it’s difficult to tell if the story will take off in future volumes or just wander aimlessly until time to wrap up.

Content note: Kinme and Ginme don’t understand human emotions, so their teasing can cross the line. We see in flashback the Suimei was encouraged to suppress his emotions by his family. Junior high readers on up should be okay.

This volume is pretty average; you may want to hear how the rest of the series goes before investing. Best so far for fans of relaxed fantasy.

[BlerdyMama · Rating 3 out of 5]

SO, I picked this manga up based of the Cover, then after reading the synopsis gave it a buy.
Like many others, I expected a story about a young woman who lives/ works in a hunted bookstore. The story DOES take place in one, and sure Kaori the female lead resides and works there but its not really a part of the story like you'd assume, think "The Savior's Book cafe…" which is one I really recommend!!
One thing I love about this series is the character designs, the main female
character Kaori doesn't have the long hair or overly "cute" style like most
female characters in manga do. I appreciate this because it makes her more
relatable, and she looks her age too! I personally lover her hair and casual
style. I mean…she's a human residing in the spirit world, that makes her interesting Enough as is.
Another aspect of this manga I enjoyed was the spirits they encounter throughout the volume, we learn a small bit about that particular spirit without it taking away from the storyline/plot. It loosely reminded me of "Mushishi" except there's actually a plot here lol, and Kaori isn't really on a journey traveling, she's just living her normal life in the spirit realm reading stories to spirits, and giving them help when they need it.
So far I have 1 favorite character, Nyaa-San the cat spirit, and yes it’s everything you’d expect of a cat spirit lmao. Another interesting character is Noname the spirit who runs the Apothecary in the town. It’s said that when Noname arrived she told everyone she had no name, so that’s why they call her “No Name”. I believe Noname is perhaps trans, or non-binary? There’s a point when she says “ Clothes don’t care about gender, though neither do we spirits honestly” Which comes after Kaori introduces her with female pronouns.
Noname also has a more muscular male shaped build, which isn’t usually what you’d expect for a female manga character.Also, at one point a character is surprised when Noname wears a frilly outfit, responding with “But frills with THAT six pack?” and “don’t think so old fashioned” makes me believe Noname is biologically male, or was, since she is a spirit.
I forgot to add that the plot is a little slow to me personally, but not boringly so. It’s a nice relaxing read in my opinion, so if you’re intrigued definitely, take a peak or read a preview, and check it out!

[Kayt O'Bibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kaori seems like a normal high school girl...unless you follow her home to find that she lives in a realm of supernatural creatures, working in a bookstore with her adoptive father, a spirit. When an exorcist stumbles into their lives, Kaori is determined to make him see that the spirits he's vowed to erase are fully-realized people just like humans.

This is like, the epitome of it's fine. "Human who considers the yokai/supernatural world their home and must try to keep balance between yokai and humans" is a common-enough basis for a story. "Supernatural store" is also a common basis, but despite the title, this is not one of those stories—you know, the kind where you mysteriously find exactly what you're looking for or need? I like those stories, and this sounds like it would be one, but instead, the bookstore of the title is just...where Kaori and her dad work, and interact with other yokai who want to buy books, or make deliveries.

The focus is much more on the characters themselves, how Kaori is more comfortable with yokai due to being raised by and with them, and how she's trying to get the self-proclaimed exorcist (and similarly-aged teenager) who stumbled in to see that these aren't evil spirits who need to be killed.

It did not stand out to me as particularly strong or notable for anything, but since this is just the first volume, it may change in the future and give the story some weight. Definitely one to get from the library.

[Adam Stone · Rating 2 out of 5]

A muddily written (or possibly translated, I'm not knowledgable enough to spot the difference) fantasy story in the vein of Miyazaki. I've seen a bunch of manga titles recently that seem focused on retail establishments or restaurants that are links between worlds and/or dimensions. I figured the bookstore title would be the most appealing to me.

While I did like the coneceit, the writing was sloppy. We're just meting the main characters when a new character just appears on the final page of the first chapter. In the next chapter, the new character has already established himself as an injured nudge to the protagonist and the spirit that raised her. It's very Tell Tell Tell with very little showing.

I do appreciate that there is a magic cat who speaks like any other character and seems to have some sort of personality. Most of the manga titles I've read either treat cats like they talk in cutesy baby languages, or else they have no discernable characteristics apart from talking cat. I also like that there is a plot that can't be summed up by a five word sentence. But the characters just didn't grab me enough to keep me reading.

If you like magical manga, this might be a title you enjoy.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Дуже мила, затишна, неспішна манґа із симпатичними героями, яка має сподобатись тим, хто захоплюється міфологією. Вона складається з кількох окремих невеликих історій, абсолютно різних за своїм настроєм - від кумедних до щемких і печальних. Малюнок гарний, є кілька кольорових сторінок і парочка зовсім коротеньких оповідань наприкінці в якості бонусу. Круки-близнюки просто чарівні, але особисто моє серденько вкрала трихвоста балакуча кішка Пані Мнявка, коли запропонувала головній героїні кинути роботу, щоб цілими днями чесати їй спинку. З екшном, як розумієте, тут буде туго.
З мінусів - мені категорично не вистачило самої книгарні. Тобто, на обкладинці зображені заставлені книгами полиці, тайтл зветься "Наша потойбічна книгарня", ти чекаєш, що це і буде основне місце дії. Але насправді там відбудеться лише кілька сцен. Вимушена погодитись із Суймеєм, оця безкоштовна доставка - це якась дурня, всю атмосферу поламала))) Також хотілося б глибшого розкриття деяких героїв у наступних томах.

[Robin Pelletier · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a book lover, I bought this manga based off the title and the cover. I am not ashamed to admit it. However, this is less haunted bookstore and more haunted by her humanity bookstore worker. Which I was surprisingly okay with after you get over the mismatched title.

Kaori is a human in the realm of spirits. She lives with her demon adopted dad in a haunted bookstore. She's learned to navigate the ups and downs of each world over time. However, things start to change when she saves a self-titled exorcist who has crossed into the spirit realm in search of one particular spirit.

What I loved:
The plot
The humor
Life Lessons
The Raven Spirit twins

What I didn't love:
the misleading title
the weird way noses were drawn throughout the story

I will be adding this to my middle school manga collection!

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on the light novels by the same title, The Haunted Bookstore - Gateway to a Parallel Universe will appeal to teen manga readers who love anything supernatural or stories with a quirky cast of characters. The workings of the spirit world were somewhat unclear, and I found myself lost at points (I feel like this tends to happen when the manga is adapted from light novels).

After reading volume 2, I felt I had a better handle on what to expect - vignettes focused on specific spirits inspired by Japanese folklore + ongoing character development into the individuals who frequent the Haunted Bookstore.

When recommending to readers, I highly suggest you give them more than just volume 1 and encourage them to keep reading. I'm interested in seeing how the story develops!

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t read the original light novel, so I can’t say for sure if this is a faithful adaptation or comment on how it compares. but as a stand-alone manga, I really really enjoyed it! the artwork is gorgeous and the spirit world is especially vibrant. I loved the spirits we’ve seen so far, especially noname and the twins. the last chapters on the cicada spirits just about tore my heart out, though（ ; ; ）

I am loving the sweet relationship beginning to build between Kaori and Suimei, though I hope we get more of Suimei’s backstory soon. Nyaa is a perfect cat companion (the scene of him asking for breakfast was too funny). Definitely am going to keep picking this series up!!

[Moriah Venable · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw this on Seven Seas website and I could not wait to get my hands on it.

Kaori lives in a bookstore where the veil between the mortal realm and spirit realm are blurred.

Somehow a young man appears, and Kaori looks after him in a way. He has an opinion about spirits mostly because of his upbringing as an exorcists, but later learns that not all spirits are bad. There is one he is looking for. I wonder if we will know about that in the next few volumes.

I really enjoyed the ending where he consoled her.

I saw there were light novels for this so I am really excited to read those.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I believe this is a manga adaptation of a longer novel?
In terms of the manga, it was relatively enjoyable. The art is quite nice, and the artist uses a darker kind of background than other manga artists.

In terms of the story, I feel like we need more details to really get into the characters and the world. For example, why is this bookstore called a haunted bookstore? Why was Kaori adopted by spirits? What are some experiences she’s had of the spirit realm growing up? Essentially, I think this manga would’ve benefited from a stronger storyline.

[Yvensong · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up because of the title. Sad to say, it doesn't really deliver the promise of a haunted bookstore. Maybe it will later in the series?

The MC is a young girl who lives in the spirit world. In this volume, we encounter an injured boy, who is an exorcist. The MC and spirit who has raised her take him in. Throughout their time in this volume, they encounter several different spirits, and those encounters lean very heavily into heartwarming moments.

There are a few side characters that look like they would be interesting to follow, such as the twins.

[Crystal Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kaori works at a bookstore in the spirit realm. She travels back and forth between the spirit and human realm. An exorcist, Suimei, stumbles across the spirit realm in search of a certain spirit. Kaori decides to take him in as he searches, and in return he helps out at the bookstore for spirits.

It's a cozy and whimsical manga. The concept of a spirit lover being friends with or in a relationship with an exorcist is cute and comical. Will continue reading the series.