Daemons of the Shadow Realm, Vol. 2

黄泉のツガイ [Yomi no Tsugai] #2

by Hiromu Arakawa

ANCIENT DAEMONS AWAKEN TO FIGHT A NEW BATTLE IN AN AGE-OLD WAR!!

Yuru’s quiet life comes to a sudden, bewildering end when his mountain home is attacked…by none other than his twin sister Asa! Forced to assume the role of Daemon Wielder, Yuru manages to escape with the help of his new allies. But while they seek to keep him hidden, Yuru seeks answers, a search that puts him on a collision course with Asa and her mysterious co-conspirators, the Kagemori clan…

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Comics, Supernatural, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Action

176 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2022

About the author

Hiromu Arakawa (author: 荒川弘) is a Japanese manga artist, best known for Fullmetal Alchemist (鋼の錬金術師 Hagane no renkinjutsushi).
Her real name is Hiromi Arakawa (荒川弘美).

Arakawa was born and raised on a dairy farm in Hokkaidō.
She thought of being a manga artist since she was little. After graduating high school, she took oil painting classes while working on her family's farm. During that time, she also created dōjinshi manga with her friends and drew yonkoma for a magazine. After eight years she moved to Tōkyō and started out as assistant writer for Hiroyuki Etō.
Her debut as manga artist is in 1999 with STRAY DOG. In 2001 she started working on her famous and award winning series Fullmetal Alchemist, that soon gets a successful anime adaptation.
Other works include Silver Spoon (銀の匙 Silver Spoon, Gin no saji Silver Spoon).

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yuru is a direct character, so he makes a beeline toward the girl claiming to be his real sister. It's getting harder and harder to tell the good guys from the bad guys as a new faction comes into play while the previous two factions each seem to have their own share of angels and devils. So it's a bit of a muddle plotwise, but the action and strong central characters and their frequently cute or humorous daemon servants are carrying the day so far.


FOR REFERENCE:

Contents: Chapter 5. Jin and Yuru -- Chapter 6. Hare and Tortoise -- Chapter 7. The Kagemori Clan and the Unknown Assailants -- Chapter 8. Loyalty and Hostility -- Cowshed Diaries. The Tale of Vast Japan -- Impeccable Service -- Social Studies -- Wrap Party -- [Assailants' Daemons] -- Gabby's Recuperation Room -- Translation Notes -- Author Commentary

[Ame-lit D’Arroult · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ce deuxième tome est clairement un cran au dessus du premier. On y retrouve autant d'action mais avec un déroulement plus claire. J'ai été beaucoup moins perdue que dans le premier tome, tout se met doucement en place. Les personnages sont approfondis notamment Asa que j'ai adoré découvrir ou encore Jin. On a même quelques révélations de faites . Sans parler de cette fin en cliffhanger vraiment terrible. Le scénario se met bien en place même si on retrouve des idées classiques comme les démons ou les jumeaux prophétiques. Je trouve que cela est bien mené par l'autrice et que l'histoire est vraiment très prenante. Maintenant je désespère juste de la sortie du prochain tome !

[Roman Zarichnyi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Другий том ще міцніше затягує у незвичний світ манґи, де давні традиції стикаються із сучасністю, а між двома світами стоїть хлопець, який лише починає розуміти власну роль у великій гри. Після подій першого тому Юру опиняється перед необхідністю діяти швидко. Він має знайти Асу, бо лише вона знає правду про їхнє походження та причину руйнування селища. І хоч вони близнюки, стає все очевидніше: вони наче дві протилежні стихії, день і ніч, що рухаються назустріч одна одній.

Другий том значно активніший: пастки, таємні маєтки, зіткнення з новими цуґаями. Все це створює відчуття постійної небезпеки. Юру вперше по-справжньому стикається зі світом технологій і сучасності, і ця його щира, майже дитяча розгубленість додає історії легкого гумору. Але Аракава не забуває й про темніші ноти: за кожною посмішкою ховається тінь, а за кожним боєм відчуття, що хтось невидимий смикає за ниточки.

Особливе задоволення приносить розмаїття цуґаїв. Кожен новий дух — це маленьке відкриття. То хитромудра черепаха, то спритний кролик, то похмурі створіння невідомого походження. Аракава майстерно грає на контрастах, підкреслюючи тему дуальності, яка проходить крізь усе, від сили духів до самих близнюків.

Аса у цьому томі теж постає більш детально. Її рішучість, дивна наївність щодо брата і водночас холодна впевненість починають вибудовувати складніший образ. Стрімко зростає інтрига навколо їхнього минулого, а нові персонажі лише додають питань.

Візуально манґа залишається на високому рівні. Динамічні бої, виразні обличчя, продумані дизайни цуґаїв і невловима авторська іронія роблять читання справжнім задоволенням.

Другий том гарно розширює світ, підсилює ставки й обіцяє ще глибші розкриття далі. Якщо перший спалахнув вибухом несподіванок, то другий — це крок у хащі невідомого, яке хочеться дізнатися.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bdubs "What Is Happening" Horn

[India (IndiaReadsALot) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great way to kick off my 30 volumes in 30 days! Such a great series, cannot to see what is next in store!

[Khari · Rating 3 out of 5]

荒川先生のユーモアがやっぱり最高。

妹の癖は可愛いし、兄のリアクションが面白い、そして皆の突っ込みはいい。読むのは楽しい。でも、無料期限が終わった。。。ま～～～た待つことが始まった。

[David Moralishvili · Rating 5 out of 5]

The anime for this is going to be so fucking good.

[Ilaria Massariol · Rating 5 out of 5]

È UNA BOMBA! PAZZESCO!

[Autumn Vitacco · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Jesus Flores · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pues avanza, aunque recibimos algo de información, pues tampoco es acá gran cosa

SPOILER


Aparte Yuru con eso de irse a la casa así sin más, si es muy de cliché de manga

3 stars

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably missing some tags, but I'm trying to see if I can squeeze in a few more books before year's end, haha.

I'm... still not sure what to make of this series. I'd forgotten a lot of what happened in book 1, though Asa having a brother complex feels really weird. Like, I didn't get that impression from her in the first book, I think. Maybe I forgot? (I doubt it but will not check just yet.)

I do kind of admire that Arakawa has been able to work on SO MANY GOOD titles, though some of that may be that some of them ended, vs.—say—One Piece or Naruto going for in the HUNDREDS of volumes(!!!). So... I *really* want to like this, but this volume in particular feels like Arakawa's take on Jujutsu Kaisen.

It's not bad, if so! Certainly it's a little more coherent (and funny... for now?) than Jujutsu Kaisen is, certainly at the point Jujutsu Kaisen is at the moment. I will likely retract my like if this goes down the same "Everybody dies now" path. Arslan is heading there, too, but it also involves LITERAL WAR, so I kind of expect that.

Definitely recommended for anyone who liked the first volume. Less recommended as a starting point; there really aren't any "reminders" that Yuru and Asa came from a literally isolated village with no advance knowledge of the contemporary world, hence his confusion about things like contemporary archery equipment and "dragons" (airplanes).

[Sunread26 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chronique complète :
https://sunread26.wordpress.com/2023/...

Extrait :
Pris dès sa sortie, la suite de Tsugai continue sur la lancée du premier, avec de l’humour, mais aussi des moments plus sombres dont Arakawa maîtrise depuis longtemps la réalisation. Les caractères des différents personnages sont toujours dans une certaine simplicité afin de ne pas complexifier trop vite la série. Même si elle donne l’impression de commencer un peu vite, en réalité, je trouve que tout va assez doucement, c’est juste qu’il faut bien introduire les personnages importants.

Yuru se retrouve, avec ses Tsugai, dans un parking souterrain, et finit par tomber dans un piège. Je ne sais pas dire s’il est courageux ou idiot, mais foncer dans le tas, sans réfléchir, alors que ni toi, ni tes Tsugai ne connaît le monde actuel, ce n’est vraiment pas malin. Dera et Hana ne tardent pas à remarquer son absence, et décident donc de le retrouver via les Tsugai de Hana. En attendant, un combat se lance entre les Tsugai de Yuru et les ennemis. Les pauvres, ils en prennent pour leur grade avec l’arrivée de nouveaux Tsugai. Une tortue pouvant modifier son poids, et un petit lapin agile et rapide, c’est tout ce qu’il faudra pour mettre un peu à mal les gardiens cardinaux. Eux qui étaient présentés comme très puissants, ne semblent pourtant pas l’être par moment… Est-ce qu’une partie de leur pouvoir est encore endormie ? Je ne pense pas que l’ignorance sur les évolutions technologiques joue en leur défaveur, c’est vraiment étrange.

In fine, Yuru finit par partir avec le groupe, notamment parce qu’il souhaite en apprendre plus sur ses parents. Asa ne souhaite pas lui mentir, et lui dira donc toute la vérité, aussi mauvaise soit-elle. D’ailleurs, elle répondra à toutes ses questions, et sa naïveté face à son frère est assez étrange, en décalage par rapport à ce qu’elle dégageait lors du tome précédent. Ils sont vraiment à l’opposée l’un de l’autre. Mais mon personnage préféré, pour le moment, reste celui qui a pour Tsugai le lapin et la tortue (désolé, mais le truc n’a pas une tête de lièvre). Il semblerait que beaucoup cherchent à obtenir les jumeaux, reste à savoir qui sont vraiment les alliés dans tout ça… Le groupe d’Asa ne semble pas méchant, mais rien ne dit que c’est le cas de tous et du chef.

[...]

[Valérie Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'aime vraiment cette mangaka. Elle sait créer des monstres horrifiants. Les grands vilains sont encore invisibles, mais on les devine déjà qui manipulent l'arrière-scène, et n'hésitent pas à sacrifier leurs pions.

J'aime ses héros aussi. Ils sont difficiles à décrire, car ils sont loin du cliché du "garçon un peu idiot et inexpérimenté, au grand coeur" et de la "fille intelligente qui soigne". Le frère Yuru est au contraire fort habile avec les armes, redoutable au combat (tome 2). Et sa soeur Asa a déjà démontrée sa puissance et sa détermination (tome 1).

Arakawa sait mettre de l'humour également: que l'on pense aux surprises de Yuru devant le monde moderne; aux demandes d'affection d'Asa; ou aux tsugaï (mention spéciale au lièvre et à la tortue). Ces touches de sourire sont nécessaires, car comme dans Fullmetal Alchemist, les combats sont violents, et les victimes nombreuses.

On commence tout juste à dévoiler l'histoire des jumeaux, et c'est très intrigant. Vraiment une série fascinante, d'une mangaka expérimentée qui sait comment raconter et dessiner!

[Philip McCarty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a step up from the previous volume, but still feels a bit like we are in a very prologuey stretch. A lot of characters spend a lot of time explaining things, and I still feel like I don't quite know what is going on besides, magical twins are desired by cool warring factions. Thankfully, the style, action, and characters make the book a lot more enjoyable. In this volume, Haru fights Jin and co. and decides to visit Asa at the compound where she lives. Then we find out that their parents after escaping the village, disappeared on a flight to Okinawa, their mother's home. A mysterious group of mercenaries then show up and attack the compound before Asa uses blood to make one of the pairs her own so they can find out what's going on. Once they tidy things up, she informs Haru that she died once at the hands of a Higashi Village assassin. When she explains it, Haru thinks back on how he too was attacked by one.

I feel like if I was reading this monthly it'd be annoying. But the manga volumes are fun and exciting, and so far I'm really liking the whole cast of characters.

[Brooke Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not realize this series was by the same crator as Fullmetal Alchemist but it makes sense! There was something familiar about it but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

I’m here for Yuru and Right and Left! Jin seems interesting too, but that’s pretty much the extent of my interest in the characters so far…except maybe the mysterious swordsman. Hopefully I don’t get lost in the growing cast of characters because I just have trouble remembering large casts.

Yuru is an absolute badass! I want more of him fighting! And his straightforward personality’s got me hooked! I’m pretty invested in the main storyline with my fingers crossed that things don’t go too off the rails before we get to the end, whenever that is.

[I don’t normally stumble across a series that’s fairly new and this one only has 6 volumes so far. It makes it feel like it’s taking forever for them to get to where I live. I guess it helps with the excitement though!]

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75/5
'Daemons of the Shadow Realm Volume 2 continues on the great momentum of the first volume. Yuru has been captured by people that appear to be his enemy at the beginning of the volume but Yuru quickly learns that they are the people who have been harboring his twin sister. He decides to go along with them if it means seeing his long lost twin.
I really appreciated Asa's introduction and her dynamic with Yuru. Her fascination with the brother she hasn't seen for years feels warranted but also leads to some funny moments. Arakawa does an exceptional job of balancing character moments, action, and comedy. We get a few interesting world/character nuggets that feel like they will be further expanded on in the future.
It's painful to have to wait for volume 3 because this series is that good.

[Katheryn Haskell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this, even though I still don't really know what's going on xD

I like how much of a balance between talking and fighting there is. There is no question that this is a Shonen, but unlike most Shonen (looking at you Kaiju no. 8) it takes a bit to get through causes it not JUST fighting. There's more to digest, and I appreciate that.

I also like how varied the characters are, which should come as no surprise considering who wrote this. But on the same token, the twins have some obvious similarities, there's a dense backstory, even if the reader isn't aware of what it is at this point, it's obvious that it exists.

I can see this turning into another FMA for me. I am very invested, even with how little has been explained about how the world works and such.

[Cornerofmadness · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was much better paced that the opening volume. Yuru has tracked down his sister Asa and her clan while leaving behind his guardians. His daemons Left and Right are with him. Asa creeped me out with her enthusiasm upon meeting him and it seemed to do the same for Yuru.

Naturally enemies attack and that's mostly what this volume is about, them fighting each other first (and Yuru is a hard core bad ass) and then with each other against the common enemy. There is a lot more to learn about this world and I do like Yuru so I'm looking forward to more though I'm still on the fence about this one. I'm hanging in there because it's Arakawa's.

[cloudshead89 · Rating 3 out of 5]

C'è ancora parecchia confusione. I due gemelli prima sembrano nemici ed ora amici.
La famiglia Kagemori sembra non avere intenti omicidi verso Yuru, ma ancora non si capisce dove vogliono andare a parare. I due finiscono per trovarsi sotto lo stesso tetto, dai Kagemori.
Yuru cerca principalmente i gentiori scomparsi, Asa rivela di essere morta una volta per mano di un sicario di Higashimura.

Nel prossimo volume dovrebbe esserci qualche spiegazione maggiore sul passato di Asa e del suo potere. Da verificare come prosegue la storia.

I disegni sono puliti come sempre, un pò troppe vignette con dialoghi lunghi che creano confusione nelle tavole.

[Nazish Ahmed (Nazish Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arakawa never disappoints. I loved vol. 1 and I enjoyed this one as well. And of course I have always loved Fullmetal Alchemist, it’s my number 1 favourite manga series, actually series ever, not just in manga, and Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood is my most favourite anime ever. The only other series I have read by her is Silver Spoon, but I have only read vol. 1 so far and it was 4 stars.



Blog: nazreads.ca
Twitter: Naz_readsanime
Instagram: nazreads01, nazcosplay, nradesigns, charmedanimegirl01

[Cait · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm enjoying a lot of the elements being presented here, including the characters and the pair magic system. Asa and Yuru's estranged relationship is especially cute and I'm really excited to see how their sibling relationship develops. That said, there's just sort of a fire hose of exposition right now and it's a lot to absorb. On top of that, I fully understand why we can't get all the answers right now, but what little we've gotten feels lackluster. I need everyone to sit down and take stock so I feel like I have a solid foundation before we soldier ahead.

[The Book Dragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confrontation! Yuri goes to hunt down his “sister” to find out what happened to their parents. But instead we get even more confusion about who is trustworthy. Because Asa firmly believes that the Kagemori are good people, but Yuru is on team Tadera.

Then a third party attacks and we get to see a whole bunch of paired daemons (apparently they’re a bit like Pokémon, but you get two-for-one) and the mystery only deepens. (My money is on Asuma, he’s shifty; and I have a feeling some of the mercenaries will be recurring characters.)

As always, Left and Right are a treat~

[Drake Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Similarly to last volume, very solid as we are setting the foundation for our story. Nothing has been to insane or ground breaking but very good story telling, art design, and a concise, but rather short manga volume.

To focus on some of the other qualities, the four chapter volumes are definitely interesting as a decision since they are smaller than most other series. The little extra comic strips have been super fun as well. As a big monster guy I love the monster designs, especially Gabriel but I think that’s a given.

[Hoppipolla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Al principio no entiendes absolutamente nada, ahora tampoco JAJA pero es que te van dando la información de los misterios por cuenta gotas y las conversaciones con los personajes son súper encriptadas. Yuru y Asa me parece que son la leche y bueno, tiene un poquito el humor que tenía Fullmetal, a mi siempre me ha gustado, si sois de los que no le econtrasteis la comedia pues xD

En general yo creo que merece bastante la pena leerlo al menos.

[Katharine · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent second volume! Questions raised in the first volume are answered, but not before raising more questions. The action scenes were excellent. As Arakawa's specialty, this volume had a great blend of gory action, comedy, and heartfelt moments. It starts the main character on the path that I think will be the overarching "quest" of the entire series. I look forward to volume three!

[Raxia L. Lavoisier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me encanta la manera ligera en la que se lee este manga. Las ideas, los personajes, la acción. Es un no parar de succesiones que te hace seguir la trama totalmente predispuesto a lo que venga.

Cada vez que cojo un tomo me sorprende lo bien que se lee. Y si ya conocéis a la autora y os gusta, ya sabéis.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

Just two volumes in and already so many characters to love, so much fun world-building (the pairs concept gets even cooler in this instalment!) and so many little mysteries! Wish I had the entire series in my hands right now because I'm already convinced this is going to be a fave.

[moonela · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPOILER!

Hiromu Arakawa nunca decepciona, u estilo de dibujo limpio y nítido. Drama, comedia y acción.

Me encanta la insistencia de Asa por abrazar a Yuru.

Pensaba que Asa era malvada, pero pues parece que no lo sé… ¿serán los padres los verdaderos villanos? (No sería la primera vez que Arakawa haría eso jejeje)

[Оксана Лесіцька · Rating 5 out of 5]

Чомусь не можу перестати порівнювати цю історію із Покемонами) Цуґаї дуже різні, від милих до страшних, і мають цікаві здібності. Звісно, пара кіт-пес мої улюблені.
Брат стає все брутальнішим, а сестра навпаки м’якшою. З антагоністами нічого не ясно, але всі ті герої вже сформували цікаву співпрацю. Забути їх буде важко.

[Minnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

Besser als Band 1, der Humor und die Action Szenen waren toll. Allerdings bin ich von der Gesamthandlung immer noch verwirrt und viele Fragen werden nicht beantwortet 😔 ich hoffe das regelt sich in den nächsten Bänden.