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圕の大魔術師 [Toshokan no Daimajutsushi] #4
Magus of the Library 4
Theo w końcu rozpoczyna szkolenie na kafnę! Co więcej, ma okazję dokładnie przyjrzeć się, kto jeszcze zdał egzamin. Czy będzie to okazja do nowych przyjaźni, czy raczej nieustanny wyścig w drodze na szczyt. W końcu każdy z młodych adeptów będzie chciał wywalczyć sobie miejsce w wymarzonym departamencie. A w czym będzie chciał się wyspecjalizować Theo? W końcu ten wybór może zaważyć na całym jego życiu...
Kindle Edition
First published June 5, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
May 1, 2025
Having returned to this beautiful world of Magus of the Library, its been too long. Taking such a long stretch of a break in a manga series can leave certain details of the past slightly blurry. I was able to recover regardless, but to some disappointment. Not in the fact of the art panels (these consistently remain beautiful in their own respect) but in the direction of the story or lack of, unfortunately. Yes, Theo has arrived to the great world of Kafna, the academy where the masters of books train the new arrivals that passed the entry exam in the previous volume three. The lack of story is mainly due to the overwhelmingly, impossible to remember all character, roster list that is fired off from the very beginning of volume four. I ask why. Why because most of the some twenty plus characters introduced in the first two chapters seem almost identical in their appearances. Not only their faces, but the fashion seems too similar to one another as well. Not to mention that the author introduces not only their first names, but their last names as well. And they are not simplistic names either. How one could possibly remember all the names by the end of volume four is beyond me. Throughout the book, I think I remembered a couple individuals such as Theo's room mates and the one student who pulled a knife on his friend.
It was a good introduction to the scenery and setting of the grand library where they will be for the next year as trainees, but I felt the laundry list of characters introduced could have been featured sporadically throughout the book, at a slower evened pace. Ultimately what I found out was that I didn't care much for all these characters at one time and found it somewhat difficult to navigate forward. The desire wasn't there like it was for the first three volumes. I needed more Theo.
It's one saving grace however was redeemed towards the end of the book where a mystery from before was slightly hinted at, not revealed, and thus we are thrown into the ever wondering cliffhanger that forces consumers to buy the next installment. (No spoilers, apologies.)
Yes I still read manga. It's an excellent way to reset the mind in times of need.
It was a good introduction to the scenery and setting of the grand library where they will be for the next year as trainees, but I felt the laundry list of characters introduced could have been featured sporadically throughout the book, at a slower evened pace. Ultimately what I found out was that I didn't care much for all these characters at one time and found it somewhat difficult to navigate forward. The desire wasn't there like it was for the first three volumes. I needed more Theo.
It's one saving grace however was redeemed towards the end of the book where a mystery from before was slightly hinted at, not revealed, and thus we are thrown into the ever wondering cliffhanger that forces consumers to buy the next installment. (No spoilers, apologies.)
Yes I still read manga. It's an excellent way to reset the mind in times of need.
December 28, 2021
I have no idea how to start this, my mind is still just reeling over that ending…
Generally, this wasn’t my favorite in the series. There were way too many new characters introduced in rapid succession, it was impossible to keep them all straight. You could saw I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by all that. Although I understand, I much prefer how characters were introduced in the previous volumes, where they give you a chance to sit with them and get to know them and remember them and appreciate them. Now it’s like new information overload. Though I’m sure that’s what Theo was feeling in actuality…
Sumomo is wonderful. One of the few new characters I really did appreciate and admire (and remember). I can tell he’s going to be a really outstanding character. Sohn is precious and I love her. I want to see her face very much…
The pace seemed rather slow until the very last chapter, where, FINALLY,
I was happy for that little bit of excitement at the end. Hopefully the next volume will be easier to follow, and I’ll grow more familiar with all the characters. I’m hoping by the end, I’ll know every characters name by heart. If I could do it with My Hero Academia, I can do it with this. And hopefully by the end, they’ll be just as memorable.
Generally, this wasn’t my favorite in the series. There were way too many new characters introduced in rapid succession, it was impossible to keep them all straight. You could saw I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by all that. Although I understand, I much prefer how characters were introduced in the previous volumes, where they give you a chance to sit with them and get to know them and remember them and appreciate them. Now it’s like new information overload. Though I’m sure that’s what Theo was feeling in actuality…
Sumomo is wonderful. One of the few new characters I really did appreciate and admire (and remember). I can tell he’s going to be a really outstanding character. Sohn is precious and I love her. I want to see her face very much…
The pace seemed rather slow until the very last chapter, where, FINALLY,
I was happy for that little bit of excitement at the end. Hopefully the next volume will be easier to follow, and I’ll grow more familiar with all the characters. I’m hoping by the end, I’ll know every characters name by heart. If I could do it with My Hero Academia, I can do it with this. And hopefully by the end, they’ll be just as memorable.
April 24, 2021
I'm starting to worry where this is going. I started this series at the same time as Witch Hat Atelier and I was hoping for a similar adventures with learning sprinkled in "But in a library!" and instead this is going more of a typical magical school manga route. I love the lore and I love the worldbuilding but I do not love that this is swerving into a slow crawl through school rivalries. There are so, so so many characters introduced in this volume and the story I wanted the most: of the kafna kicking down the door of a local library and investigating it for library crimes (it's written more exciting than it sounds) get dropped after the opening teaser.
February 16, 2021
For my full thoughts on this, and other volumes I read recently, check out this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InU2a...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InU2a...
February 10, 2023
THEY REUNITED YES
I did not expect for Sedona to be that high up in the totem pole! This brought me shock, intrigue, happiness, sadness, annoyance. All the emotions brought forth made this book a real thinker for me!
I’m excited to read the next one
I did not expect for Sedona to be that high up in the totem pole! This brought me shock, intrigue, happiness, sadness, annoyance. All the emotions brought forth made this book a real thinker for me!
I’m excited to read the next one
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2021
L'histoire ne stagne pas, on avance doucement mais sûrement et différents éléments se mettent en place. D'ailleurs, ce que j'ai préféré dans ce tome-ci, ce sont les dernières pages : sa rencontre avec Sedona, la façon dont celui-ci se met en scène (*so extravagant lol*) et les dernières bulles qui nous donnent vraiment envie de lire la suite. Les dernières phrases que j'ai lues m'ont fait comprendre qu'on va avoir quelque chose de vraiment épique dans le futur, et j'ai hâte de voir (lire) ça !
June 13, 2022
O K A Y WOAHHH this is the plot twist volume!
These books cannot get published quick enough because oh does the plot thicken!
Theo's journey towards following his heart and passion despite the odds continue to inspire, and is actually such a good and comforting read for tough times.
I will never stop gassing up the absolute beauty of the art, here's an example from this volume:
These books cannot get published quick enough because oh does the plot thicken!
Theo's journey towards following his heart and passion despite the odds continue to inspire, and is actually such a good and comforting read for tough times.
I will never stop gassing up the absolute beauty of the art, here's an example from this volume:
July 8, 2021
As a library worker I may be biased, but this series just seems great. Even though the plot can drag a little at time the artwork is worth the price of admission.
October 31, 2021
Libraries amassers of memory galleries dedicated to history's thread and monuments to all life across time.
I finally got my hands on this volume of Magus of the Library, I was so excited when I saw that it was being transferred from the previous reader. This volume gets serious and by the end, everything changes. Essentially, no one is what you think. It's an intriguing ending that I guess I didn't see coming but I should have. The plot of this volume is fairly simple it is Theo trying to find his place in the system he is now in. And realising what he has to do excel and work in the library. The art is still lovely and the plot moves along and a decent place. It does start with a seemingly unrelated side story in which we meet the rather funny Kaz Blak. I'm not going to say while I like him that would ruin the fun. One thing that I do see in it is a great explanation of one underrated aspect of librarianship.
As with the previous volume the intervals between the chapters are all linked. They introduce Theo's classmates. These people, primarily women, are introduced in groups. These groups are done under titles The Banded Few, The Seaborn Souls, The Power of Smile, The Unyielding Majesty, The Harried Handlers, The Ends of the Spectrum, The Markedly Conspicuous and The Guiding Hands. Theo is in the The Banded Few with the only other two male trainees. Each one of these pages has a picture of the trainee and a brief rundown of them. The basic traits of them I mean. It will be very useful later I think. While the characters are distinct on the page, at least individual enough, there are a lot of them and their traits are going to be important.
Among these classmates are some familiar faces and plenty of new ones. I'm so happy that Alv is back. I really like him. He is so easily underestimated and I like his attitude. There is one classmate we haven't met yet "The 27th trainee of this incoming class. A girl yet to bet revealed for reasons that will eventually become clear." I can't think of any obvious reasons why we wouldn't have met her yet. Reasons that she would remain hidden. There is one very, very familiar name among the trainees and it wasn't until I was writing this review that I remembered why. The name is Sophie Schwimm, at 35 and she is the oldest of the trainees. The reason the name is familiar... Sophie Schwimm wrote Kafna of the Wind, the text Magnus of the Library is based on. That is just really interesting to me, this is lore within lore. Sophie survives the trials, training and exams being faced by the class now. I think it gives an idea of where she ends up after graduation too, either Archives or Personnel. I Sophie, I like her attitude and what she represents. Libraries are often a second career for their staff.
Information and control have always gone hand in hand.
Throughout time, the powerful have desired that commoners stay ignorant so that they may b more easily exploited in military recruitment and the collection of taxes.
Despots knew a single part could be enough to incite the populace's anger and quickly topple their regimes.
And in any effort to suppress the flow of information, control over the written word is key.
At times, texts were altered. At times, they were burned. ... it was said the whatever had control of the land's texts he's the reigns of the continent itself.
In the words of a certain Magnus...
"To protect a text...
...is to protect...
...the world itself" — Kafna of the Wind, Sophie Schwimm
A representative gif:
November 17, 2020
Coup de coeur énorme comme pour les 3 premiers volumes ❤️❤️❤️. Curieuse de savoir quel fameux destin attend Shio
February 9, 2025
Дочитала четвертий том і поки враження свіжі - вирішила написати коротенький відгук.
Що сказати? По-перше я вражена фіналом. ТИПУ ЩО ЦЕ БУЛО?? Не буду спойлерити, але сюжетний поворо�� виявився дуже неочікуваним. Тепер цікаво, що ж там в наступній частині.
Щодо головного героя: мені подобається, як Шіо не втрачає впевненості в собі, але водночас стикається з невдачами і абсолютно нормально реагує на них. Класно, що він розвивається та знаходить собі нові цілі. Я все ще не просікла, що це за особливе ставлення до нього від найвищої пані дракона, але може пояснять потім)
Єдине, що гальмувало моє читання - це величезна кількість другорядних персонажів. Я розумію, що молодих кафн і має бути багато, але чи хочу я читати про них усіх і дізнаватися їхні життєві історії? Ні.
Можливо, це жорстоко, але я сподіваюся, що в цьому сеттингу будуть якісь випробування і до кінця дійдуть не всі. Бо вибачте, але я всіх точно не запам’ятаю і співпереживати не буду.
Традиційно похвалю мальовку, адже те, як вдалося відтворити атмосферу Близького Сходу це просто 🤌🔥
Що сказати? По-перше я вражена фіналом. ТИПУ ЩО ЦЕ БУЛО?? Не буду спойлерити, але сюжетний поворо�� виявився дуже неочікуваним. Тепер цікаво, що ж там в наступній частині.
Щодо головного героя: мені подобається, як Шіо не втрачає впевненості в собі, але водночас стикається з невдачами і абсолютно нормально реагує на них. Класно, що він розвивається та знаходить собі нові цілі. Я все ще не просікла, що це за особливе ставлення до нього від найвищої пані дракона, але може пояснять потім)
Єдине, що гальмувало моє читання - це величезна кількість другорядних персонажів. Я розумію, що молодих кафн і має бути багато, але чи хочу я читати про них усіх і дізнаватися їхні життєві історії? Ні.
Можливо, це жорстоко, але я сподіваюся, що в цьому сеттингу будуть якісь випробування і до кінця дійдуть не всі. Бо вибачте, але я всіх точно не запам’ятаю і співпереживати не буду.
Традиційно похвалю мальовку, адже те, як вдалося відтворити атмосферу Близького Сходу це просто 🤌🔥
February 10, 2025
Мені дуже подобається ця історія. Я не так багато знаю книжок про книги та ще менше читала. Тому ця манга в саме серденько: світла, цікава та захоплива. Не дуже подобається майже повна відсутність нумерації сторінок. Доводиться шукати пронумеровану і вже від неї відраховувати ту, на якій зупинилася. Мені подобається головний герой і величезна інтрига довкола нього. Не дуже подобається, що Міцу Ідзумі заздалегідь натякає на те, яка доля його чекає, бо хотілося б більше таємниці. Магічні створіння - це окрема тема, яка цікавить в історії. Круто, що є різні племена, але звірятка мені все ж цікавіші, бо про них поки дуже мало відомо. А про різні етноси я навіть не беруся особливо запам’ятовувати, бо все одно не запам’ятаю назви. Ну і звичайно, чекатиму на продовження.
April 14, 2023
In this Volume, we are introduced to many characters and we start watching Shio's * journey after being accepted to become a kahuna. He finds difficulties, he makes new friends and his mentors are watching him closely. We also see Sedona again! I'm looking forward to the next Volume because this one didn't have any action. But overall it was great so I'm giving it 4★.
* Also, I just realized that the name has (of course) changed and in the English translation he is called "Theo" but in the French translation (that I'm reading), his name is "Shio".
* Also, I just realized that the name has (of course) changed and in the English translation he is called "Theo" but in the French translation (that I'm reading), his name is "Shio".
Read
November 5, 2020Je me suis jetée dessus! Je suis toujours aussi convaincue par le récit et le monde, tout me plait dans cet univers. Et les dessins!!
Ça va être long jusqu'au prochain tome! J'espère qu'on ne l'attendra pas aussi longtemps que celui-ci...
Ça va être long jusqu'au prochain tome! J'espère qu'on ne l'attendra pas aussi longtemps que celui-ci...
April 13, 2021
Again, are we surprised that I love the book about librarians? No. But this continues to be AH-mazing!
February 4, 2023
"Freedom of choice is absolute. The library will not tolerate anyone who infringes upon it, no matter who they are."
You go girl.
The intro to this book involving the librarian engaging in shelving bias really hits home in today's controversy surrounding removing books from libraries. This was written before that was a thing, but it really does hit close to home--in manga format.
So Theo is back in Aftzaak, having passed his exams and beginning his (long) road toward working at the Central Library. Upon arriving, he meets his fellow classmates and tutors, and is suddenly stricken with a bit of imposter's syndrome. All these people who have clear ideas of what they want to do and where they want to work, and all he can do is turn in a blank sheet of paper when asked where he wants to work at the library. It really hit close to home here, as well. Theo also meets up with the kafna who started him down this path, Sedona, and we get a bit of ominous hinting at the end that something isn't quite right.
I kind of didn't like having all these new characters to keep up with (and there's a ton introduced here), and it's super easy for me to get them confused. I'm hoping it becomes easier as we go along, or that maybe some of them are more important to remember than others, because as it is there's a lot going on here.
Still, my favorite manga series ever, thus far.
You go girl.
The intro to this book involving the librarian engaging in shelving bias really hits home in today's controversy surrounding removing books from libraries. This was written before that was a thing, but it really does hit close to home--in manga format.
So Theo is back in Aftzaak, having passed his exams and beginning his (long) road toward working at the Central Library. Upon arriving, he meets his fellow classmates and tutors, and is suddenly stricken with a bit of imposter's syndrome. All these people who have clear ideas of what they want to do and where they want to work, and all he can do is turn in a blank sheet of paper when asked where he wants to work at the library. It really hit close to home here, as well. Theo also meets up with the kafna who started him down this path, Sedona, and we get a bit of ominous hinting at the end that something isn't quite right.
I kind of didn't like having all these new characters to keep up with (and there's a ton introduced here), and it's super easy for me to get them confused. I'm hoping it becomes easier as we go along, or that maybe some of them are more important to remember than others, because as it is there's a lot going on here.
Still, my favorite manga series ever, thus far.
November 17, 2022
Va, las 5 estrellas. Me gustan las historias que se toman con calma para presentarse. Al final, aunque al principio del tomo 2, con el tema del viaje, no lo tenía tan claro, he disfrutado mucho tanto del examen, la pequeña excursión a lo pequeño Nils, el vistazo al pueblo y ahora ha sido una buena presentación + recuerdo de personajes. Bien por ahí.
July 8, 2025
Rentrée des classes pour les apprentis Kahuna.
Sofi Shuim ! Ce n’est donc pas une chronique du passé ! C’est la page qui m’a fait bondir pendant la lecture.
J’avais aimé Sedona dans le tome 1, mais là il/elle est carrément suspect… et ce livre, qui paraissait anodin prend une toute autre ampleur.
Je pensais que Magus of the Library serait une histoire toute tranquille et toute douce… mais le contexte est dur.
Je me suis bien plantée. J’aime ça.
Sofi Shuim ! Ce n’est donc pas une chronique du passé ! C’est la page qui m’a fait bondir pendant la lecture.
J’avais aimé Sedona dans le tome 1, mais là il/elle est carrément suspect… et ce livre, qui paraissait anodin prend une toute autre ampleur.
Je pensais que Magus of the Library serait une histoire toute tranquille et toute douce… mais le contexte est dur.
Je me suis bien plantée. J’aime ça.
July 1, 2021
Per quanto mi riguarda: lo scivolone narrativo che speravo di evitare. Detto questo è ancora un volume piacevole e confermo di averlo messo in casella per seguirne le vicende, spero che i miei timori si dimostrino infondati.
January 31, 2021
4,5
Mon préféré à date! Et quelle finale!
Mon préféré à date! Et quelle finale!
December 15, 2021
Another volume, another incredible read. These characters and their story is immensly powerful and I will be glad to continue their story as soon as possible.
July 23, 2022
Me he hecho un perfil en Storygraph. Si alguien está ahí que me diga su usuario y nos agregamos
September 10, 2022
I cracked why book one and book four both have higher ratings from me than books two and three did. Books one and four included Sedona, books two and three did not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2023
So many new characters were introduced!!! I'm beginning to love this world a lot ♡
June 3, 2024
Un bon tome, l’histoire avance. Il y a beaucoup de nouveaux personnages, ce n’est pas évident à retenir.
May 27, 2025
Логічне продовження, опис процесу навчання на одногрупників, але мало цікавих подій
May 4, 2022
le plot twist à la fin omd j'ai trop hâte de lire la suite
September 14, 2021
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. I have a few issues with this volume, but since this is the issue where Theo begins his kafna training I'm not sure how they could have been avoided.
First and foremost, we are introduced to a whole boatload of new characters at once, and it's hard to keep them all straight. It doesn't help that they are all dressed pretty similarly since they all wear the kafna uniforms. Some are more visually distinct than others, which helps me remember their face if not their name, but there are still a ton of others that all blur together. Even with the little splash pages introducing 3 or 4 of them at a time along with a few facts about each, there's still just too many characters to keep all or even most of them straight.
There are a few things going on in the background that are interesting, though. One: we've met Sophie Schwimm as a character. Although she's not particularly memorable so far, she stands out because she's already been set up as part of the meta-narrative framing device (how the manga claims to be based on 'Kafna of the Wind' by Sophie Schwimm). I had been wondering why they bothered with pretending it was based on a story by a person that doesn't exist, but it seems that since she's a character we may now get some answers to that. Cool.
The other thing that struck me is how even as Theo is bumbling around worrying about how all the other students seem so much more qualified and competent than he does, a lot of the officials and other Kafna seem to be quietly treating him like he's something special. He's halfway occupying Chosen One territory, but all the Kafna seem to be trying to treat him with a hands off approach by treating him as any other student and only discussing his unusual qualities when he's not around. We know he's got incredible mana, but not much more than that. I find Chosen One to be the laziest plot device there is, and tied for most annoying along with the dreaded Love Triangle. However, if that is indeed where this series is going, so far it's being handled well. It remains to be seen.
Really, other than the large number of characters that I'm having trouble distinguishing from each other, the only issue I have with this volume is that not a lot happens. There's some introspection and Theo worrying about whether he really can do this, and then some vague and mysterious comments around the fringes. The most exciting part is the bit at the end where
First and foremost, we are introduced to a whole boatload of new characters at once, and it's hard to keep them all straight. It doesn't help that they are all dressed pretty similarly since they all wear the kafna uniforms. Some are more visually distinct than others, which helps me remember their face if not their name, but there are still a ton of others that all blur together. Even with the little splash pages introducing 3 or 4 of them at a time along with a few facts about each, there's still just too many characters to keep all or even most of them straight.
There are a few things going on in the background that are interesting, though. One: we've met Sophie Schwimm as a character. Although she's not particularly memorable so far, she stands out because she's already been set up as part of the meta-narrative framing device (how the manga claims to be based on 'Kafna of the Wind' by Sophie Schwimm). I had been wondering why they bothered with pretending it was based on a story by a person that doesn't exist, but it seems that since she's a character we may now get some answers to that. Cool.
The other thing that struck me is how even as Theo is bumbling around worrying about how all the other students seem so much more qualified and competent than he does, a lot of the officials and other Kafna seem to be quietly treating him like he's something special. He's halfway occupying Chosen One territory, but all the Kafna seem to be trying to treat him with a hands off approach by treating him as any other student and only discussing his unusual qualities when he's not around. We know he's got incredible mana, but not much more than that. I find Chosen One to be the laziest plot device there is, and tied for most annoying along with the dreaded Love Triangle. However, if that is indeed where this series is going, so far it's being handled well. It remains to be seen.
Really, other than the large number of characters that I'm having trouble distinguishing from each other, the only issue I have with this volume is that not a lot happens. There's some introspection and Theo worrying about whether he really can do this, and then some vague and mysterious comments around the fringes. The most exciting part is the bit at the end where
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