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とつくにの少女 / Totsukuni no shōjo #7-9
The Girl from the Other Side: Siúil, a Rún Deluxe Edition III
The beautiful, critically acclaimed manga that was successfully Kickstarted into a feature-length anime! And don't miss our other manga in English from creator Nagabe.
In a land far away, there were two kingdoms: the Outside, where twisted beasts roamed that could curse with a touch, and the Inside, where humans lived in safety and peace. The girl and the beast should never have met, but when they do, a quiet fairy tale begins. This is the story of two people--one human, one inhuman--who linger in the hazy twilight that separates night from day.
Nagabe's haunting, bestselling manga series has captivated critics and general audiences from its debut to its conclusion, inspiring an animated short film and a successful crowdfunding campaign for a feature-length anime. Now enjoy the original manga tale in a series of four gorgeous, deluxe hardcovers containing the complete series, color inserts, and exclusive covers from Nagabe that will cast their magic over any bookshelf.
In a land far away, there were two kingdoms: the Outside, where twisted beasts roamed that could curse with a touch, and the Inside, where humans lived in safety and peace. The girl and the beast should never have met, but when they do, a quiet fairy tale begins. This is the story of two people--one human, one inhuman--who linger in the hazy twilight that separates night from day.
Nagabe's haunting, bestselling manga series has captivated critics and general audiences from its debut to its conclusion, inspiring an animated short film and a successful crowdfunding campaign for a feature-length anime. Now enjoy the original manga tale in a series of four gorgeous, deluxe hardcovers containing the complete series, color inserts, and exclusive covers from Nagabe that will cast their magic over any bookshelf.
544 pages, Hardcover
Published April 25, 2023
18 people are currently reading
554 people want to read
About the author
Nagabe
39 books912 followersPlease also see ながべ.
He studied Fine Arts at Musashino University. At first, he was more interested in illustration, printmaking, and painting than in manga. However, when he considered the best way to make a living from his art, he decided to focus on the world of Japanese comics and trained himself, rather than the usual approach of working for several years as an apprentice to an experienced manga artist.
He was still a student when his first work, The Boss Is an Onee, was published. He soon attracted attention for his distinctive drawing style, his fantastical and melancholic plots, and his use of fantasy characters and anthropomorphic animals.
He studied Fine Arts at Musashino University. At first, he was more interested in illustration, printmaking, and painting than in manga. However, when he considered the best way to make a living from his art, he decided to focus on the world of Japanese comics and trained himself, rather than the usual approach of working for several years as an apprentice to an experienced manga artist.
He was still a student when his first work, The Boss Is an Onee, was published. He soon attracted attention for his distinctive drawing style, his fantastical and melancholic plots, and his use of fantasy characters and anthropomorphic animals.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
December 31, 2023
Oy!! Wtf! Thank god I have book 4 or I’d be having a meltdown after that bombshell of an ending. This broke my heart and blew my mind 🤯
February 5, 2024
"I will become as monstrous as I must."
Whoa! I had no clue as to where this was going but I wasn't expecting that. This has to be my favorite in the series so far. ♥
Not sure if I'm ready for this to be over.
Whoa! I had no clue as to where this was going but I wasn't expecting that. This has to be my favorite in the series so far. ♥
Not sure if I'm ready for this to be over.
August 25, 2023
Ok, I need the last 3 volumes for yesterday!
This story is simply incredible.
The art is beautiful.
This is one of the best manga series out there and if you're not reading it, you're missing big time.
This story is simply incredible.
The art is beautiful.
This is one of the best manga series out there and if you're not reading it, you're missing big time.
March 1, 2024
The third volume of Nagabe's The Girl from the Other Side takes the story in a very different direction from the first two volumes, as the protagonists (Shiva and Teacher) are separated, and the latter appears to have literally lost his soul. There is less overt cuteness and more gloom in this part of the narrative, but the author manages to maintain a balance between those elements that is rare in the largely adolescent world of manga.
On the flipside, now that the story involves more adult human characters, the limits of Nagabe's visual skills begin to show, and his depictions of the human face in particular are very basic, a limitation in scenes that involve dramatic situations and dialogue. In the first couple of volumes, most humans were wearing armor, so this issue was not nearly so noticeable.
Despite that, I'm still deeply impressed with this series, and Nagabe's skills as a page designer remain second-to-none. The tone and sensibility of The Girl from the Other Side owes much to the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, and the author's ability to deliver a workable story rooted in those deep veins of the subconscious mind is what makes this series so worthwhile.
On the flipside, now that the story involves more adult human characters, the limits of Nagabe's visual skills begin to show, and his depictions of the human face in particular are very basic, a limitation in scenes that involve dramatic situations and dialogue. In the first couple of volumes, most humans were wearing armor, so this issue was not nearly so noticeable.
Despite that, I'm still deeply impressed with this series, and Nagabe's skills as a page designer remain second-to-none. The tone and sensibility of The Girl from the Other Side owes much to the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, and the author's ability to deliver a workable story rooted in those deep veins of the subconscious mind is what makes this series so worthwhile.
July 7, 2025
Okay okay… I did cry
July 4, 2024
Okay. Uh-uh. No. I can’t handle that cliffhanger. I must get my hands on the final book ASAP Dammit!
June 2, 2023
Once again the story and the art style are stunningly amazing! Eagerly awaiting the last one, can’t wait to see how this story ends!
September 26, 2023
Success! I've clawed my way through my mountain of school work to read this in a few hours.
First of all- how dare they end this on such a terrible cliffhanger.
Second of all- Amazing. I love this series and would give it 20 stars if I could.
10/10 Will cry again when I get my hands on the Deluxe Volume 4
First of all- how dare they end this on such a terrible cliffhanger.
Second of all- Amazing. I love this series and would give it 20 stars if I could.
10/10 Will cry again when I get my hands on the Deluxe Volume 4
July 23, 2023
This book flows so well, you can’t help but read on. I’m reading this with an open mind, you kinda have to with all the strange foundational concepts surrounding a fairly simple slice if life tale. Its both heartwarming and weird at the same time.
October 5, 2023
WHY MUST EVERY CHAPTER GET SADDER?????????? TEACHER CAN'T TURN INTO A TREE AFTER CUTTING THEIR SOUL OUT TO GIVE TO SHIVA! SHIVA CAN'T BE MURDERED BY A PRIEST!
literally crying my eyes out right now
literally crying my eyes out right now
November 5, 2023
Again, loved it, it's truly a masterpiece. This is probobly the on I liked the least because of some elements but still 10/10... THAT ENDING THO!!!!!! Fuck, It is such a big cliffhanger and I neeeeeed to read the last book asap
November 22, 2023
With how this book ended, everything else is on an immediate pause I NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT 😰
March 20, 2024
4.5
🤯
🤯
April 28, 2024
SCREAMING at the last volume HELP
November 11, 2024
That ending!! So happy I already have the fourth book
June 12, 2025
the backstory these volumes added was great and the ending of this one?!?! wild immediately went into the next set of volumes
August 31, 2023
what the FUCK
February 19, 2024
My favorite one in the series
April 30, 2023
Oh there were tears in this volume!!
The ENDING!
We got a lot more Lore in these volumes and I really did love that, although I still have a tonne of questions and I’m still unsure about things from the Lore perspective but it was still super interesting and I know the reveals are unraveling at the page intended. I LOVE this series, so unique, so comforting, so bizarre. I need to know what happens next because, how it ends!!! I’m not ok!
The ENDING!
We got a lot more Lore in these volumes and I really did love that, although I still have a tonne of questions and I’m still unsure about things from the Lore perspective but it was still super interesting and I know the reveals are unraveling at the page intended. I LOVE this series, so unique, so comforting, so bizarre. I need to know what happens next because, how it ends!!! I’m not ok!
May 8, 2023
This was an emotional rollercoaster for me. The relationship between the characters is great. Finally get to see more of the world and the ideology that was presented from the beginning. Things start making more sense in this one.
May 11, 2024
I am rating and reviewing this series as a whole.
Dark, mysterious, endearing, enchanting.
I see it this way: if the demon made itself into Shiva from Albert's soul, it makes sense that it would take the form of his daughter, a part of him and all he would have been thinking of at that crucial time when he was dying in the woods.
I think I understand the ending, while admittedly it was a bit confusing. There's a part that says,
"The inner and the outer. Two things that ought to be one. Two things that are each complete, yet cannot exist without each other. Things which cannot be separated, yet can never be together... but if you meet and can accept that suffering, the two may finally become one. In the end... That may be the curse."
The way I see it, this is the answer to all of our questions. When Shiva runs through the house as they come home the last time, we can't see her, but Albert knows she's there. They say they'll take a nap together, and Albert felt the cold of the snow, when he couldn't do those things before. At the end, he is becoming himself again. He is healing. Shiva will continue to dissolve into him and as his soul recovers, he will become human again, as she was. He'll break the curse, for himself, at least. I think he's aware now of Shiva as a part of himself, a part of his grief, a part of his daughter, a part of his wife, a part of the demon who cursed him. Even his being a doctor influenced her creation; she is a symbol of his willingness to survive and to heal. She is all of these things to him. The symbol of his carrying the baggage into the home at the end verifies this idea for me. He will carry all of it. He will remember it all. He will be Albert again.
This is all just my speculation but it's the way I interpreted it. I love this ending! And I love that it will keep me thinking for a long time.
I like the series' underlying tones. What it is to make a home. Grief. Survival. There are themes of discrimination and persecution. Accepting and loving someone for who they are and not the way they look. Finding joy in simplicity and abundance. There are so many. Ultimately it was a beautiful story that I'll be contemplating for a long time.
Dark, mysterious, endearing, enchanting.
I see it this way: if the demon made itself into Shiva from Albert's soul, it makes sense that it would take the form of his daughter, a part of him and all he would have been thinking of at that crucial time when he was dying in the woods.
I think I understand the ending, while admittedly it was a bit confusing. There's a part that says,
"The inner and the outer. Two things that ought to be one. Two things that are each complete, yet cannot exist without each other. Things which cannot be separated, yet can never be together... but if you meet and can accept that suffering, the two may finally become one. In the end... That may be the curse."
The way I see it, this is the answer to all of our questions. When Shiva runs through the house as they come home the last time, we can't see her, but Albert knows she's there. They say they'll take a nap together, and Albert felt the cold of the snow, when he couldn't do those things before. At the end, he is becoming himself again. He is healing. Shiva will continue to dissolve into him and as his soul recovers, he will become human again, as she was. He'll break the curse, for himself, at least. I think he's aware now of Shiva as a part of himself, a part of his grief, a part of his daughter, a part of his wife, a part of the demon who cursed him. Even his being a doctor influenced her creation; she is a symbol of his willingness to survive and to heal. She is all of these things to him. The symbol of his carrying the baggage into the home at the end verifies this idea for me. He will carry all of it. He will remember it all. He will be Albert again.
This is all just my speculation but it's the way I interpreted it. I love this ending! And I love that it will keep me thinking for a long time.
I like the series' underlying tones. What it is to make a home. Grief. Survival. There are themes of discrimination and persecution. Accepting and loving someone for who they are and not the way they look. Finding joy in simplicity and abundance. There are so many. Ultimately it was a beautiful story that I'll be contemplating for a long time.
January 6, 2024
The girl from the other side es un viaje emocional bastante agotador, agradezco haber llegado al final, a pesar de lo agridulce que es este, pero creo que encapsula a la perfección todo lo que representa esta historia.
Shiba se nos presenta como una niña del 'interior' que es abandonada en el bosque y queda a merced de extrañas criaturas de 'afuera' que pueden maldecirla. Lejos de eso, es acogida por un ser al que llama profesor, y quien la protege a pesar de que tanto las criaturas malditas como los humanos ahora quieren capturar a Shiba con tal de que se cumpla una profecía acerca del fin de la maldición.
La historia tiene un ritmo muy lento, un ritmo que asocio al campo y a los placeres simples del trabajo manual, muy acogedor, pero con un tono un tanto tétrico y que pone en énfasis en todo momento el bien contra el mal, lo bello y lo feo, los humanos versus los monstruos, en ese sentido podemos reducir la historia a lo más mínimo, una historia de blanco y negro y toda la complejidad que implica acerca la luz y oscuridad dentro de nosotros mismos.
A pesar de la sencillez de la historia, el mensaje es profundo y me quedé dándole vueltas un buen momento a esas últimas páginas, al ciclo de la vida y la muerte y lo que entendemos por luz y oscuridad.
Destaco el tremendo trabajo del mangaka porque me gustó mucho su estilo de dibujo, lo mucho que transmitían los personajes y el mensaje final de la historia, aún así siento que los primeros seis tomos fueron muy lentos y la historia no avanzaba, lo cual hace que el final, que es mucho más interesante, se sienta apresurado. Aún así, es una gran y bella historia.
Shiba se nos presenta como una niña del 'interior' que es abandonada en el bosque y queda a merced de extrañas criaturas de 'afuera' que pueden maldecirla. Lejos de eso, es acogida por un ser al que llama profesor, y quien la protege a pesar de que tanto las criaturas malditas como los humanos ahora quieren capturar a Shiba con tal de que se cumpla una profecía acerca del fin de la maldición.
La historia tiene un ritmo muy lento, un ritmo que asocio al campo y a los placeres simples del trabajo manual, muy acogedor, pero con un tono un tanto tétrico y que pone en énfasis en todo momento el bien contra el mal, lo bello y lo feo, los humanos versus los monstruos, en ese sentido podemos reducir la historia a lo más mínimo, una historia de blanco y negro y toda la complejidad que implica acerca la luz y oscuridad dentro de nosotros mismos.
A pesar de la sencillez de la historia, el mensaje es profundo y me quedé dándole vueltas un buen momento a esas últimas páginas, al ciclo de la vida y la muerte y lo que entendemos por luz y oscuridad.
Destaco el tremendo trabajo del mangaka porque me gustó mucho su estilo de dibujo, lo mucho que transmitían los personajes y el mensaje final de la historia, aún así siento que los primeros seis tomos fueron muy lentos y la historia no avanzaba, lo cual hace que el final, que es mucho más interesante, se sienta apresurado. Aún así, es una gran y bella historia.
October 17, 2024
4.75 stars!
This was wayyy better than the first 2! Dark, suspenseful, and shocking, yet still manages to be heart-wrenching. I love Teacher and Shiva so much, they went through hell in this book. This time I love that there was more lore than the last few, plus it answered quite a lot of my questions. The pacing felt faster as well. I enjoyed the coziness of the first 2 books, but there’s nothing like a tense story to get my heart pumping and my hand turning the pages. And that ending?? Jaw on the floor!!!
I loved this so much and NEED the last book like, yesterday! I can’t wait to see what happens to our beloved characters and how the plot resolves. Though the cover is a wintry scene and I wanted to save it for next season, I fear Imma have to read it before October ends oops
This was wayyy better than the first 2! Dark, suspenseful, and shocking, yet still manages to be heart-wrenching. I love Teacher and Shiva so much, they went through hell in this book. This time I love that there was more lore than the last few, plus it answered quite a lot of my questions. The pacing felt faster as well. I enjoyed the coziness of the first 2 books, but there’s nothing like a tense story to get my heart pumping and my hand turning the pages. And that ending?? Jaw on the floor!!!
I loved this so much and NEED the last book like, yesterday! I can’t wait to see what happens to our beloved characters and how the plot resolves. Though the cover is a wintry scene and I wanted to save it for next season, I fear Imma have to read it before October ends oops
December 30, 2024
Storywise, I would have rated it 4.5 stars but considering how I felt while reading this, I’m rating 3 or 3.5 stars because I was so upset when reading this. Usually, I would give a high rating for making feel so many emotions and good storytelling, but I don’t know why this time I just feel like rating it lower, maybe part of that is because it’s the holiday seas and I should be reading something happy (I should have known this would be sad, then I would have read something else and save this and vol. 4 for next year, but I didn’t expect it and because it’s the holiday season, it just made me feel worse to be reading something so sad at the end of the year).
Blog: nazreads.ca
Twitter: Naz_readsanime
Instagram: nazreads01, nazcosplay, nradesigns, charmedanimegirl01
Blog: nazreads.ca
Twitter: Naz_readsanime
Instagram: nazreads01, nazcosplay, nradesigns, charmedanimegirl01
August 21, 2025
Some creatures are blind or can call on others to attack what should be their kin. Why don’t heroines ever go for the dropped weapon? A bit more violent than I presumed which is good but I’m not surprised by any outcome with Shiva. It’s as I surmised from the beginning. My likewise guess is Teacher is also divinely protected in some way.
This is the most actiony volume yet. I didn’t see what was coming before the halfway point. From there on, things really pick up the pace finally! Emotionally invested. Things could go many ways. Not sure how this mean nine more volumes but…
Hopefully the girl running off from home will stop being the go to plot device. The end is another cliffhanger but one that’s actually thought-provoking. Nice religious symbolism throughout.
This is the most actiony volume yet. I didn’t see what was coming before the halfway point. From there on, things really pick up the pace finally! Emotionally invested. Things could go many ways. Not sure how this mean nine more volumes but…
Hopefully the girl running off from home will stop being the go to plot device. The end is another cliffhanger but one that’s actually thought-provoking. Nice religious symbolism throughout.
July 29, 2023
3.5
Bro???? I need to get my hands on the last two books cause what kinda ending is that?
Also, I swear to God! Shiva! He cares about you so much that he gave up his soul for you!?!
Shiva is totally Teachers child. All the signs point to it, and it would explain why Auntie found baby Shiva.
I like the background we are getting this book, very informative 👌🏻 The whole deep dive into the history of the curse and the Goddess of Darkness vs. God of Light stuff, very interesting! Also, the God of Light is hella selfish, he doesn't care at all about the people inside.
Finished 10:00pm
Bro???? I need to get my hands on the last two books cause what kinda ending is that?
Also, I swear to God! Shiva! He cares about you so much that he gave up his soul for you!?!
Shiva is totally Teachers child. All the signs point to it, and it would explain why Auntie found baby Shiva.
I like the background we are getting this book, very informative 👌🏻 The whole deep dive into the history of the curse and the Goddess of Darkness vs. God of Light stuff, very interesting! Also, the God of Light is hella selfish, he doesn't care at all about the people inside.
Finished 10:00pm
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2023
I skipped through a huge number of pages, the part where it was
only humans.
It was way too disappointing to read because
I hoped to see good religious people, bad ones, neutral, some diversity, some flavor
but no, "real" drama says they don't exist. maybe expressions lack in characters is
what made this whole thing worse.
I give this chunky baby 2 starts just because Vol.9 ended with the greatest cliffhanger,
dang I had to look online for vol10.
P\S: The art is unique and nice, suitable for calm but brutal horror.
only humans.
It was way too disappointing to read because
I hoped to see good religious people, bad ones, neutral, some diversity, some flavor
but no, "real" drama says they don't exist. maybe expressions lack in characters is
what made this whole thing worse.
I give this chunky baby 2 starts just because Vol.9 ended with the greatest cliffhanger,
dang I had to look online for vol10.
P\S: The art is unique and nice, suitable for calm but brutal horror.
September 27, 2023
My heart😭 I purposefully made myself wait until Fall to read this to match the cover with the Fall vibes. And I’m so glad I did❤️ But now my soul aches from this absolutely STUNNINGLY beautiful story💔 I need the last volume NOW. My heart can’t take the suspense. But simultaneously, I don’t know what I’m going to do when I finish this series🥺 literally DREADING that day. I know I’ll be absolutely heartbroken. I’ve cried in every volume so far, so I can’t even imagine the pain from finishing it and not having any more to read. Paiiiiinnnnnnnnn🥺😭
September 4, 2024
Dystopia binge count: 14
I’ve been wanting an excuse to finish The Girl from the Other Side and I realized… it’s basically a dystopia!
-Monsters appeared out of no where with no explanation
-Humanity on the brink of extinction
-Sudden unexplained and incurable illness
-Fenced in society
I’m counting it aaaannnd no one can stop me 🥰
This collection definitely has the most plot compared to the first 2, the most progression. Regardless I am in love with them all, they’re safe and comforting. Like a blanket and hot cocoa on a snowy day.
I’ve been wanting an excuse to finish The Girl from the Other Side and I realized… it’s basically a dystopia!
-Monsters appeared out of no where with no explanation
-Humanity on the brink of extinction
-Sudden unexplained and incurable illness
-Fenced in society
I’m counting it aaaannnd no one can stop me 🥰
This collection definitely has the most plot compared to the first 2, the most progression. Regardless I am in love with them all, they’re safe and comforting. Like a blanket and hot cocoa on a snowy day.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews