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聖女に嘘は通じない [Seijo ni Uso wa Tsuujinai] #1
You Can't Bluff the Sharp-Eyed Sister 1
A shrewd, young priestess-in-training is set a murder to solve in this new mystery manga from the creator of The Apothecary Diaries! By day, Chloe lives at a convent. By night, she's such a card shark, a holy knight ends up believing she has a rare, magical gift. What he doesn't know is, she just has sharp eyes and a quick wit--which she'll need when she's uprooted and dropped in the middle of a round of deadly palace intrigue!
In a sleepy countryside church, Chloe plays the part of a prim and naïve novice, studying to become a cleric. But when night falls, she sneaks out in disguise to win big money at cards! Despite her best efforts, word gets around, and one day a handsome young holy knight named Erald—known as a rising star in the capital—arrives to enlist her help. A murder two years ago threatens the stability of the kingdom, and Erald thinks this card shark in sister’s clothes can solve it using her charism—the rare blessing that allows someone to use magic. Little does Heraldo know, there’s nothing supernatural about Chloe’s winning streak. She’s just got a quick wit, and sharp eyes! Will that be enough to survive the den of devils that is the great church?
In a sleepy countryside church, Chloe plays the part of a prim and naïve novice, studying to become a cleric. But when night falls, she sneaks out in disguise to win big money at cards! Despite her best efforts, word gets around, and one day a handsome young holy knight named Erald—known as a rising star in the capital—arrives to enlist her help. A murder two years ago threatens the stability of the kingdom, and Erald thinks this card shark in sister’s clothes can solve it using her charism—the rare blessing that allows someone to use magic. Little does Heraldo know, there’s nothing supernatural about Chloe’s winning streak. She’s just got a quick wit, and sharp eyes! Will that be enough to survive the den of devils that is the great church?
160 pages, Paperback
First published September 29, 2023
2 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
September 17, 2025
I was very excited when I first heard about a new manga series from the creator of "The Apothecary Diaries", and even more so when I saw that's about a cleric main character investigating a murder. I'm not a big fan of the English title because it's just such a mouthful, but I was intrigued no matter what. Overall, I got a solid introduction to the story. We meet Chloe, a novice cleric who loves gambling and likes to relieve the local drunks of all their money. She's said to have the gift of great fortune, but she's actually just smart and good at reading people and memorizing cards. This attracts the attention of the paladin Erald who wants to place Chloe in a competition to become a so-called Blessed Sister. She may not have the magical gift that is necessary for that role, but she isn't meant to win anyway and is actually supposed to investigate a murder that happened two years prior at the same competition. This volume really only serves as an introduction, though. All the characters are presented, Chloe gets prepared for the contest and the site of the murder is visited. There are supposed to be tests later where Chloe has to compete against the other candidates who, unlike her, all have magical gifts, and I see much potential in that part of the story. The characters are interesting and Chloe does even have some similarities to Maomao from "The Apothecary Diaries". Both are smart young women of lower birth who are placed in a noble surrounding, and where Maomao is motivated by poisons, Chloe is motivated by money. That's also where the gambling part comes in and I was very keen on reading about that, but I can't say that it became super important to the story just yet. The whole church theme wasn't utilized much either. At least Chloe doesn't seem to be particularly faithful and I still have no idea what the clerics even believe in. The art was nice, but some backgrounds are noticeably empty and the character design is really nothing special in my opinion. Overall, I'm not sure if this series will develop in the direction that I would like best, but the competition and the murder mystery are interesting enough plot elements to keep me going and this was a decent first volume that's worth checking out.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2025
[Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for an ARC of this manga in exchange for an unbiased review.]
From the author of The Apothecary Diaries comes… The Apothecary Diaries, but with the serial numbers filed off and a change of setting to a kingdom where some people are born with special, badly named, magical gifts called charisms.
Chloe, a sharp-eyed holy sister with a love for money (versus, say, poison), is recruited by a handsome man of higher standing and joins forces with him and his stalwart second-in-command to solve a murder. Minor similarities, as you can see.
This does not hit the lofty heights of The Apothecary Diaries, which isn’t overly surprising since the latter is in my top five list of all-time greats. It doesn’t utterly embarrass itself, possibly excepting the weird blue squirrels, but mostly just gets by on the virtue of being a murder mystery, which I admittedly love.
It’s worth noting, however, that I do not especially love murder mysteries set in fantasy worlds because, as much as this opening volume goes to great lengths to set up its rules, there’s nothing you can’t technically do. That does affect my rating and enjoyment some.
Its suspect characters are also not especially compelling, minus the mysterious beauty who may or may not have the power to beguile men. The manga has to set so much up ahead of getting to the murder that the pace lags.
Which is saying something because even the set-up could use more heft. We don’t really get a good scene of Chloe in action during her usual after hours activity killing it at the card table. I think this is a bit of a missed opportunity because it would have made her a bit more interesting.
She demonstrates her skills to Erald, our male lead, in okay fashion, but this is one instance where a great flourish of manga showiness would have seriously benefited the story. The two of them have very mild chemistry, but this series doesn’t exist in a bubble and would probably fare better if it did.
There’s a nice turn towards the end when things finally start cooking, mystery-wise, but it takes its sweet time getting there. It’s clear that a lot of thought was put into the world, but I wish a comparable amount had gone into the story and characters. To be fair, that may get addressed in later volumes, but none of them really drew me in.
I’m not against the idea here, but there’s definitely a point where I kind of wished I was reading its counterpart instead. I’ll give it another volume because a good murder is always fun and there are some scattered chuckles. However, I could not shake, personally, how derivative it felt.
3 stars - this should totally be for me, yet it was fine and came up short based on the pedigree behind it. If the idea sounds appealing and you need another manga of this stripe in your life, well, you could absolutely do worse. A mild recommend.
From the author of The Apothecary Diaries comes… The Apothecary Diaries, but with the serial numbers filed off and a change of setting to a kingdom where some people are born with special, badly named, magical gifts called charisms.
Chloe, a sharp-eyed holy sister with a love for money (versus, say, poison), is recruited by a handsome man of higher standing and joins forces with him and his stalwart second-in-command to solve a murder. Minor similarities, as you can see.
This does not hit the lofty heights of The Apothecary Diaries, which isn’t overly surprising since the latter is in my top five list of all-time greats. It doesn’t utterly embarrass itself, possibly excepting the weird blue squirrels, but mostly just gets by on the virtue of being a murder mystery, which I admittedly love.
It’s worth noting, however, that I do not especially love murder mysteries set in fantasy worlds because, as much as this opening volume goes to great lengths to set up its rules, there’s nothing you can’t technically do. That does affect my rating and enjoyment some.
Its suspect characters are also not especially compelling, minus the mysterious beauty who may or may not have the power to beguile men. The manga has to set so much up ahead of getting to the murder that the pace lags.
Which is saying something because even the set-up could use more heft. We don’t really get a good scene of Chloe in action during her usual after hours activity killing it at the card table. I think this is a bit of a missed opportunity because it would have made her a bit more interesting.
She demonstrates her skills to Erald, our male lead, in okay fashion, but this is one instance where a great flourish of manga showiness would have seriously benefited the story. The two of them have very mild chemistry, but this series doesn’t exist in a bubble and would probably fare better if it did.
There’s a nice turn towards the end when things finally start cooking, mystery-wise, but it takes its sweet time getting there. It’s clear that a lot of thought was put into the world, but I wish a comparable amount had gone into the story and characters. To be fair, that may get addressed in later volumes, but none of them really drew me in.
I’m not against the idea here, but there’s definitely a point where I kind of wished I was reading its counterpart instead. I’ll give it another volume because a good murder is always fun and there are some scattered chuckles. However, I could not shake, personally, how derivative it felt.
3 stars - this should totally be for me, yet it was fine and came up short based on the pedigree behind it. If the idea sounds appealing and you need another manga of this stripe in your life, well, you could absolutely do worse. A mild recommend.
September 23, 2025
A new series from the creator of "The Apothecary Diaries"??? Count me in!! I really enjoyed the setting - a murder mystery wrapped inside a religious “competition” to become a Blessed Sister. These sisters are said to possess powers known as charisms (though the exact nature isn’t fully defined). Chloe, our sharp-eyed protagonist, doesn’t have one, so she has to rely on her keen observation and bluffing skills to get by while untangling the mystery.
The dynamic between Chloe and Erald, the paladin who hires her, reminded me a lot of MaoMao and Jinshi but thrown into a different world. Maybe that’s just me, but I still found their interactions fun. Overall, this was a unique and engaging first volume that kept me hooked. Definitely worth picking up!
Thank you to Kodansha Comics for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The dynamic between Chloe and Erald, the paladin who hires her, reminded me a lot of MaoMao and Jinshi but thrown into a different world. Maybe that’s just me, but I still found their interactions fun. Overall, this was a unique and engaging first volume that kept me hooked. Definitely worth picking up!
Thank you to Kodansha Comics for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
November 30, 2025
Not what I expected at all. It's at heart a murder mystery, with the whiff of a potential romance in future volumes. The MC h is rather money-hungry. Not sure if it is for a certain purpose or if it is money for money's sake. She had mentioned a book was worth a silver piece in the beginning, but that was only once, while her love/thirst for money came up often, the reason behind it did not. We saw a flashback where her presumably father had her memorize cards so he could use her to win money at gambling for his drinking when she was a small child, so that could be where the drive to get lots of money originated from and she never got past that. I'm assuming it will come up in future volumes, which I WILL be reading.
I'm also looking forward to the romance developing, hopefully organically and for the mystery to slowly be revealed.
4, ordered my own physical copy for my keepers shelf. stars!
My thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for an eARC of this book to read and review.
I'm also looking forward to the romance developing, hopefully organically and for the mystery to slowly be revealed.
4, ordered my own physical copy for my keepers shelf. stars!
My thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for an eARC of this book to read and review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2025
A new manga based on the original story by Natsu Hyuuga, the author of Apothecary Diaries. This is the third story by her that I’ve read and all have been very different, although each has a sharp-witted young woman as a lead.
Chloe is a nun by day and a card-sharp by night. She’s so succesful that people believe her luck is a charism, a blessing from gods. But in reality, she has an eidetic memory and she’s good at reading people. Nonetheless, when time comes to select new Blessed Sisters from among those who possess charisms to serve the Church, a young paladin, Erald, asks Chloe to participate. She tells him she doesn’t have a charism, but that doesn’t matter. He needs someone who can infiltrate the process and investigate who murdered his family’s previous candidate.
The first volume is mostly about Chloe preparing for the selection. She’s payed handsomely for it, something she cares very much about. She seems to be besotted with money, hence the gambling too, but although her backstory has a father who forced her to gamble for money, he isn’t around anymore, so I don’t really know why money matters so much to her. Maybe it’s revealed later; maybe it’s a hyperfixation like poison is to Maomao.
Chloe is a determined young woman, but she isn’t nearly as interesting as Maomao. Likewise, Erald is a nice man if a bit mercenary too, but not very memorable. The murder investigation doesn’t get far in the first volume. The volume ends in the middle of an interesting scene, but not with a cliffhanger. While this was a good start to the story, it was a tad lifeless. Art was good though, and I might continue with the series.
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Chloe is a nun by day and a card-sharp by night. She’s so succesful that people believe her luck is a charism, a blessing from gods. But in reality, she has an eidetic memory and she’s good at reading people. Nonetheless, when time comes to select new Blessed Sisters from among those who possess charisms to serve the Church, a young paladin, Erald, asks Chloe to participate. She tells him she doesn’t have a charism, but that doesn’t matter. He needs someone who can infiltrate the process and investigate who murdered his family’s previous candidate.
The first volume is mostly about Chloe preparing for the selection. She’s payed handsomely for it, something she cares very much about. She seems to be besotted with money, hence the gambling too, but although her backstory has a father who forced her to gamble for money, he isn’t around anymore, so I don’t really know why money matters so much to her. Maybe it’s revealed later; maybe it’s a hyperfixation like poison is to Maomao.
Chloe is a determined young woman, but she isn’t nearly as interesting as Maomao. Likewise, Erald is a nice man if a bit mercenary too, but not very memorable. The murder investigation doesn’t get far in the first volume. The volume ends in the middle of an interesting scene, but not with a cliffhanger. While this was a good start to the story, it was a tad lifeless. Art was good though, and I might continue with the series.
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 6, 2025
A gambling and money addicted priestess hired to investigate a murder at a convent because of her super-human perception (which she uses to win at cards) is a great premise. The execution here however is just okay.
The characters are okay, the magic is okay, the writing overall is okay, the art is good, but this one just didn't pull me in as much as I was hoping.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the review copy!
The characters are okay, the magic is okay, the writing overall is okay, the art is good, but this one just didn't pull me in as much as I was hoping.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the review copy!
September 19, 2025
Read: September 18th - September 19th
Format: E-book
Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This is a very fun little manga. It's enjoyable and has pretty art. Also, I like that it's approaching the plot at a mystery angle with bits of fantasy mixed in. And it's all hilariously tied together by Chloe's main motivator being money 😂😂I probably would have rounded down to 3 stars instead since it didn't super resonate with me, but then it introduced sacred creatures that are squirrels. How can I not round it up when there are adorable sacred squirrels???
Format: E-book
Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This is a very fun little manga. It's enjoyable and has pretty art. Also, I like that it's approaching the plot at a mystery angle with bits of fantasy mixed in. And it's all hilariously tied together by Chloe's main motivator being money 😂😂I probably would have rounded down to 3 stars instead since it didn't super resonate with me, but then it introduced sacred creatures that are squirrels. How can I not round it up when there are adorable sacred squirrels???
September 18, 2025
*I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Coming from the creator of the Apothecary Diaries (I haven't read this one yet) comes a thrilling new series following a priestess in training who gets herself wrapped up in a murder mystery!
There are so many things I loved about this manga, but the main thing that stood out to me was just how developed everything is despite this being only the first volume. Already, I love all the characters, the plot and the art style, which is gorgeous. This manga took me by surprise, exceeded my expectations and has me captivated and desperate for the next volume.
The kingdom of Mythos has a well structured magic system, in which some women are occasionally blessed with powers known as Charisms, they're rare, and every so often there's a trial for the most powerful women to be candidates in order to become Blessed Sisters, there's usually only two at a time.
During the latest trial, one of the candidates named Circo was murdered, and that's where our story begins two years later, when son of Count Biraz, Erald Biraz, hears of a woman known as the 'lady of great fortune'. This turns out to be none other than our main heroine, Chloe, who doesn't have a Charism like many believe, she's just really skilled and counting and reading people. Nonetheless, Erald hires her to help him sneak into the upcoming trial alongside his maid, Ines, to investigate the murder.
I absolutely love Chloe, she's cunning, intelligent and goal orientated- even if her goal is to just collect coins like Pokemon! We see a glimpse of her backstory, so it's easy to see why money motivates her. Erald is the picture of the handsome, confident Paladin who's rich and throws his money around to achieve his goals, but pretty quickly we begin to see the layers underneath. From their first meeting, Chloe and Erald have chemistry, and I will actually scream if they don't have a romance- I'm getting the hint that it's he falls first and harder thing, hehe.
The pacing is fast, there's mystery, comedy and hints of romance too, basically it's all the ingredients for a perfect story, and I can't wait to read the next volume when it's released. I can tell a lot of people are going to love this!
5/5 🌟
Coming from the creator of the Apothecary Diaries (I haven't read this one yet) comes a thrilling new series following a priestess in training who gets herself wrapped up in a murder mystery!
There are so many things I loved about this manga, but the main thing that stood out to me was just how developed everything is despite this being only the first volume. Already, I love all the characters, the plot and the art style, which is gorgeous. This manga took me by surprise, exceeded my expectations and has me captivated and desperate for the next volume.
The kingdom of Mythos has a well structured magic system, in which some women are occasionally blessed with powers known as Charisms, they're rare, and every so often there's a trial for the most powerful women to be candidates in order to become Blessed Sisters, there's usually only two at a time.
During the latest trial, one of the candidates named Circo was murdered, and that's where our story begins two years later, when son of Count Biraz, Erald Biraz, hears of a woman known as the 'lady of great fortune'. This turns out to be none other than our main heroine, Chloe, who doesn't have a Charism like many believe, she's just really skilled and counting and reading people. Nonetheless, Erald hires her to help him sneak into the upcoming trial alongside his maid, Ines, to investigate the murder.
I absolutely love Chloe, she's cunning, intelligent and goal orientated- even if her goal is to just collect coins like Pokemon! We see a glimpse of her backstory, so it's easy to see why money motivates her. Erald is the picture of the handsome, confident Paladin who's rich and throws his money around to achieve his goals, but pretty quickly we begin to see the layers underneath. From their first meeting, Chloe and Erald have chemistry, and I will actually scream if they don't have a romance- I'm getting the hint that it's he falls first and harder thing, hehe.
The pacing is fast, there's mystery, comedy and hints of romance too, basically it's all the ingredients for a perfect story, and I can't wait to read the next volume when it's released. I can tell a lot of people are going to love this!
5/5 🌟
September 28, 2025
Chloe is a cleric-in-training with a probably unhealthy obsession with gambling and card games, and winning them most of the time as if she has magic. Turns out she's just pretty skilled at reading people and playing them, and this lands her on a deal with a paladin who wants her help on solving the murder of a Vestal Maiden a few years ago.
This story was funny, and the worldbuilding aspect is amazing. I admit, the middle part, when the training montage happened, felt a little boring, but otherwise it was enjoyable. The characters are quite memorable and fun. The banter between Chloe and Erald is hilarious, and the mystery behind the murder keeps you hooked all the way. I also like how you, as a reader, are being kept in the dark about whether or not Chloe has actual powers (or Charism, as they call it) as well as Erald and some of the other characters. It just leaves you guessing till the very last page.
Can't wait for the next volume!
Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story was funny, and the worldbuilding aspect is amazing. I admit, the middle part, when the training montage happened, felt a little boring, but otherwise it was enjoyable. The characters are quite memorable and fun. The banter between Chloe and Erald is hilarious, and the mystery behind the murder keeps you hooked all the way. I also like how you, as a reader, are being kept in the dark about whether or not Chloe has actual powers (or Charism, as they call it) as well as Erald and some of the other characters. It just leaves you guessing till the very last page.
Can't wait for the next volume!
Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 16, 2025
(Note: i had been previously keeping up with fan translations that used some different translations for some of the universe specific terms) I wasn’t particularly fond of some of the terms, namely charism(s). It’s just a weird word that doesn’t align with something obvious in the real world (except maybe charisma, which doesn’t line up with anyone’s powers except maybe Salomé’s - but then the word feels like car-ism, which sounds like a nickname for jargon a car influencer would use).
In volume one, we really set the stage: who Chloe is, what her motivation is (money), and what her goal is (solve a murder!). We also get a little bit of humor and a little bit of worldbuilding. So it serves to be a very solid introduction.
Also, I’m a big fan of the art style. It’s detailed which is great to show subtle things about the world (like the clothing design and little expressions.
Can’t wait for the next one!
{Thank you Kodansha for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review}
In volume one, we really set the stage: who Chloe is, what her motivation is (money), and what her goal is (solve a murder!). We also get a little bit of humor and a little bit of worldbuilding. So it serves to be a very solid introduction.
Also, I’m a big fan of the art style. It’s detailed which is great to show subtle things about the world (like the clothing design and little expressions.
Can’t wait for the next one!
{Thank you Kodansha for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review}
Want to read
January 28, 2025I don't know anything about this one, but it was created by the same author as The Apothecary Diaries
September 24, 2025
Chloe is a novice cleric of the Albian Church, absolutely no one special at all (well except for being a bona fide card shark) which is why she is more than a little surprised when the son of the Birz family arrives at her church and offers her a job. A very lucrative job, there is a catch, of course though. Erlad explains that he has picked her specifically because of her skills as a card shark, which seem to mimic the Charisms, special innate abilities some women have, for her to infiltrate the Church as a candidate for the selection of Vestal Maiden Examination. All she has to do is use her skills to track down a killer. No big deal right?
This was way cuter than I expected especially since it revolves around a murder! Chloe is super funny and a straightforward person, while Erlad is much less straightforward. This makes for a great dynamic between the two of them. The way she explains her abilities to read people definitely sounds just a tad bit magical which is interesting to me as well. Especially once we discover that the Charisms could indeed simply be someone who has honed a specific skill to a fine point. I kinda liked that because while I love magic I love the idea of having characters that are just exceptionally good at what they do.
We barely dive into the backstory on the murder in this volume which is fine, however, what we do learn makes everything about it seem not just odd but almost impossible to have been committed in the manner it was. Which means there's just no way the Church can't be involved. Or at least it seems that way right now.
The art is truly beautiful! This would have been a fun read regardless but I feel like the art really put it over the top!
I will definitely be continuing this series. I didn't even realize I was looking for a manga murder mystery until I started reading this, but, yup it's been way too long since I came across a good one so I can't wait for vol 2!
As always thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for the eArc!!
This was way cuter than I expected especially since it revolves around a murder! Chloe is super funny and a straightforward person, while Erlad is much less straightforward. This makes for a great dynamic between the two of them. The way she explains her abilities to read people definitely sounds just a tad bit magical which is interesting to me as well. Especially once we discover that the Charisms could indeed simply be someone who has honed a specific skill to a fine point. I kinda liked that because while I love magic I love the idea of having characters that are just exceptionally good at what they do.
We barely dive into the backstory on the murder in this volume which is fine, however, what we do learn makes everything about it seem not just odd but almost impossible to have been committed in the manner it was. Which means there's just no way the Church can't be involved. Or at least it seems that way right now.
The art is truly beautiful! This would have been a fun read regardless but I feel like the art really put it over the top!
I will definitely be continuing this series. I didn't even realize I was looking for a manga murder mystery until I started reading this, but, yup it's been way too long since I came across a good one so I can't wait for vol 2!
As always thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for the eArc!!
October 1, 2025
I’m enjoying the You Can’t Bluff the Sharp-Eyed Sister! I find Chloe’s character to be intriguing, it’s funny and entertaining to see Chloe a young priestess be interesting and good at gambling. I like Chloe as a main character, her sharp eye ability is a fun aspect to the story and I’m excited to see her use it more expecially with the mysterious murder case she’s been recruited to solve. The plot is going in an intriguing direction, I’m curious to know more about the murder case but i’m also intrigued by the vestal maiden trials and these ladies charism abilities.
This first volume did a good job of introducing the characters and grabbing my attention with murder mystery. The art style of this manga is very pretty, the other ladies in the vestal maiden trials are all so stunning and I’m excited to get to know their characters. Some of my favorite parts of this manga is definitely Chloe liking to gamble and her love of money, she just seems like such a fun character. I also loved the introduction of each vestal maiden candidates, the character introduction art panel are so eye catching and very beautiful. Another thing I’m excited to see more of are the sacred beast! The scenes with them definitely intrigued me and now I’m curious to know more about how they are going to add/effect the story, they are cute creatures!
Aside from that I think I’m still on the fence about Erald, there isn’t really anything about his character that stands out to me and I just don’t particularly like him. I do like the lady in waiting Ines and I hope to see more of her character in future volumes. Thank you to the publisher for a early complimentary review copy of the book.
This first volume did a good job of introducing the characters and grabbing my attention with murder mystery. The art style of this manga is very pretty, the other ladies in the vestal maiden trials are all so stunning and I’m excited to get to know their characters. Some of my favorite parts of this manga is definitely Chloe liking to gamble and her love of money, she just seems like such a fun character. I also loved the introduction of each vestal maiden candidates, the character introduction art panel are so eye catching and very beautiful. Another thing I’m excited to see more of are the sacred beast! The scenes with them definitely intrigued me and now I’m curious to know more about how they are going to add/effect the story, they are cute creatures!
Aside from that I think I’m still on the fence about Erald, there isn’t really anything about his character that stands out to me and I just don’t particularly like him. I do like the lady in waiting Ines and I hope to see more of her character in future volumes. Thank you to the publisher for a early complimentary review copy of the book.
November 2, 2025
Ever read a manga and you go, "That was fine"? That's Can't Bluff here. It's just an okay manga.
It has a likeable lead in Chloe, a novice priestess who secretly uses her sharp observational skills and quick wit to win big at card games at night to earn money. This leads to the main conflict when she is approached by the handsome Holy Knight, Erald, who is convinced her success is due to a rare magical Charism.
He enlists her help to solve a two year old murder of a Vestal Maiden candidate that threatens the stability of the kingdom. Chloe, motivated by the promise of immense riches (a key part of her personality), agrees to infiltrate the central church as a Lady Saint candidate herself to investigate.
It has the romance brewing already between the pragmatic, card-shark Chloe and the earnest, noble Erald. It has decent comedic bits, often stemming from Chloe's money-grubbing realism clashing with the high-society intrigue.
I just feel like it feels SO by the numbers, a young girl with a secret is thrust into a political mystery, it doesn't do much with its cast or plot line. It's not nearly as a big hit as the creator's other manga (The Apothecary Diaries) that became a smash hit. And for good reason, the characters and plot, which centers on solving a murder via observation rather than magic, don't shine as bright as they should.
A okay manga. A 2.5 out of 5.
It has a likeable lead in Chloe, a novice priestess who secretly uses her sharp observational skills and quick wit to win big at card games at night to earn money. This leads to the main conflict when she is approached by the handsome Holy Knight, Erald, who is convinced her success is due to a rare magical Charism.
He enlists her help to solve a two year old murder of a Vestal Maiden candidate that threatens the stability of the kingdom. Chloe, motivated by the promise of immense riches (a key part of her personality), agrees to infiltrate the central church as a Lady Saint candidate herself to investigate.
It has the romance brewing already between the pragmatic, card-shark Chloe and the earnest, noble Erald. It has decent comedic bits, often stemming from Chloe's money-grubbing realism clashing with the high-society intrigue.
I just feel like it feels SO by the numbers, a young girl with a secret is thrust into a political mystery, it doesn't do much with its cast or plot line. It's not nearly as a big hit as the creator's other manga (The Apothecary Diaries) that became a smash hit. And for good reason, the characters and plot, which centers on solving a murder via observation rather than magic, don't shine as bright as they should.
A okay manga. A 2.5 out of 5.
September 23, 2025
*Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review*
I was so excited when I saw that “You Can’t Bluff the Sharp-Eyed Sister” was a manga adaptation of a story by “The Apothecary Diaries” series writer. Some of my favorite aspects of that series were the main character's investigative skills and how passionate she is about her special interest in poisons. Chloe the novice Sister is a similar type of character, with her passion being winning money in card games and being excellent at reading the tells in her opponents. Chloe is hired by the wealthy Cleric Knight Erald to go undercover as a Vestal Maiden candidate and solve a murder. I thought this first volume did well at setting up the premise and main characters. I thought the humor was pretty good, and I can see myself enjoying future volumes of the story. I’m curious about these cute little sacred beasts, I feel like they’re going to help Chloe uncover something important! I’ll be keeping an eye out for the next volume and sharing the series with fans of the writer’s other work!
I was so excited when I saw that “You Can’t Bluff the Sharp-Eyed Sister” was a manga adaptation of a story by “The Apothecary Diaries” series writer. Some of my favorite aspects of that series were the main character's investigative skills and how passionate she is about her special interest in poisons. Chloe the novice Sister is a similar type of character, with her passion being winning money in card games and being excellent at reading the tells in her opponents. Chloe is hired by the wealthy Cleric Knight Erald to go undercover as a Vestal Maiden candidate and solve a murder. I thought this first volume did well at setting up the premise and main characters. I thought the humor was pretty good, and I can see myself enjoying future volumes of the story. I’m curious about these cute little sacred beasts, I feel like they’re going to help Chloe uncover something important! I’ll be keeping an eye out for the next volume and sharing the series with fans of the writer’s other work!
September 29, 2025
This was a fun start to this new manga series, which follows a money-driven cleric tasked with solving a murder. The story is from the creator of "The Apothecary Diaries" and you see the same quirkiness from the main female character in her obsession with money as you do in the other series. I think it has a very enjoyable cast of characters, and I am excited to see where the investigation leads. I also enjoyed the fantasy setting of this book, and the added intrigue of the suspects being a part of a "contest" to become Vestal Maidens. I was given the chance to read this manga through NetGalley, and I hope it finds others who enjoy it as much as I did!
November 1, 2025
I like that we get a detective story but with a MC that does it all for a selfish (for now, it may actually not be 👀) reason.
We learn from the begining that our herione doesn't get that many clues and has to do most of the deduction by herself. We shall uncover the murder mystery as the series continues 🤭
Thanks Netgallery and publisher! ✨️
We learn from the begining that our herione doesn't get that many clues and has to do most of the deduction by herself. We shall uncover the murder mystery as the series continues 🤭
Thanks Netgallery and publisher! ✨️
September 25, 2025
This was such fun! Lovely art and a very clever heroine with an interesting plot.
The murder mystery aspect was unique enough to liven up the competition aspect. Volume 1 barely scratches the surface. I can't wait to read more.
Definitely recommended.
Also, the sacred beasts are adorable.
The murder mystery aspect was unique enough to liven up the competition aspect. Volume 1 barely scratches the surface. I can't wait to read more.
Definitely recommended.
Also, the sacred beasts are adorable.
November 7, 2025
Thank you Kodansha and NetGalley for the eARC!
This was such a good intrudoction to the story. We get to know our main protagonist Chloe, who looks sweet and innocent at first, but actually a very smart women, who can see through people's scheming and loves decive others as well. It was quite short indrutoction, but I already grown fond of her. The MMC Erald is a bit more mysterious, we didn't really get to know him yet, but he did really intriuged me, I can see myself rooting for him as well.
The plot is also have so much potential. It stars with a competition, which Chloe have to enter, while solving a murder mysteri as well. I'm sure the sequels will have many twist and turns and challenges for Chloe. I'm looking forward to countinue the series.
I also really liked the artwork.
This was such a good intrudoction to the story. We get to know our main protagonist Chloe, who looks sweet and innocent at first, but actually a very smart women, who can see through people's scheming and loves decive others as well. It was quite short indrutoction, but I already grown fond of her. The MMC Erald is a bit more mysterious, we didn't really get to know him yet, but he did really intriuged me, I can see myself rooting for him as well.
The plot is also have so much potential. It stars with a competition, which Chloe have to enter, while solving a murder mysteri as well. I'm sure the sequels will have many twist and turns and challenges for Chloe. I'm looking forward to countinue the series.
I also really liked the artwork.
November 11, 2025
I received this book from the publisher/Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
In this one we meet a nun/cleric named Chloe. She has a rare skill, she is really good at card games. At first you may think it is all about magic, or as they call it in this world, Charisms. But as we find out she is just really good at that stuff. Like, she can tell whichever card is lying upside down, she knows how many cards are left and which are in the pile, she can tell by looking at people what their card is, and more. She was trained (or maybe more said bullied) into learning things. I really loved Chloe and her love for money, she was such a fun character.
One day a holy knight appears at the convent that Chloe lives at and tells her he needs her. A murder has happened and he needs to her to infiltrate and find things out. Of course, I was invested. A murder mystery set in historical setting with nuns and such? Yes!
The training she undergoes to be able to go undercover for her mission was your standard lady etiquette. Walking with books on your head, how to behave at a tea party, and oh yes, which candidates were in the Vestal Selection with their ages and more. Along with the girl named Ciro, who was murdered and it is up to Chloe to figure out who did it. Plus, everything about the test that is going to happen and bits on the murder. I was definitely invested, this was so different from most manga with a fantasy setting and nuns/clerics/holy knights. I am also glad that we didn’t waste any time and just skipped time between information. I was already not looking forward to a whole volume of training, so I am glad that the skips exist.
We also find out why the murder was never solved. Magical reasons. Yup. A bit annoying I guess, but otherwise we wouldn’t have been here, haha.
I liked finding out more about the candidates and what makes them tick. Plus, reading more on what happened to Ciro and see Erald and Chloe discuss what could have happened. Finding out who found the body, and more.
The manga ends on a cliffhanger, so I am definitely curious what is going to happen next.
The art was really fun, I quite like the style!
I do have to say that while I did have fun reading this one and I flew through it, I did miss a bit of tension (I wanted more excitement), plus at times I just had a hard time connecting to the story and keeping active. My ADHD was definitely wandering.
All in all, I hope that the next volume comes out soon so I can keep on reading + I hope that in the next one there is a bit more tension/excitement over very much a lot of dialogue.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
In this one we meet a nun/cleric named Chloe. She has a rare skill, she is really good at card games. At first you may think it is all about magic, or as they call it in this world, Charisms. But as we find out she is just really good at that stuff. Like, she can tell whichever card is lying upside down, she knows how many cards are left and which are in the pile, she can tell by looking at people what their card is, and more. She was trained (or maybe more said bullied) into learning things. I really loved Chloe and her love for money, she was such a fun character.
One day a holy knight appears at the convent that Chloe lives at and tells her he needs her. A murder has happened and he needs to her to infiltrate and find things out. Of course, I was invested. A murder mystery set in historical setting with nuns and such? Yes!
The training she undergoes to be able to go undercover for her mission was your standard lady etiquette. Walking with books on your head, how to behave at a tea party, and oh yes, which candidates were in the Vestal Selection with their ages and more. Along with the girl named Ciro, who was murdered and it is up to Chloe to figure out who did it. Plus, everything about the test that is going to happen and bits on the murder. I was definitely invested, this was so different from most manga with a fantasy setting and nuns/clerics/holy knights. I am also glad that we didn’t waste any time and just skipped time between information. I was already not looking forward to a whole volume of training, so I am glad that the skips exist.
We also find out why the murder was never solved. Magical reasons. Yup. A bit annoying I guess, but otherwise we wouldn’t have been here, haha.
I liked finding out more about the candidates and what makes them tick. Plus, reading more on what happened to Ciro and see Erald and Chloe discuss what could have happened. Finding out who found the body, and more.
The manga ends on a cliffhanger, so I am definitely curious what is going to happen next.
The art was really fun, I quite like the style!
I do have to say that while I did have fun reading this one and I flew through it, I did miss a bit of tension (I wanted more excitement), plus at times I just had a hard time connecting to the story and keeping active. My ADHD was definitely wandering.
All in all, I hope that the next volume comes out soon so I can keep on reading + I hope that in the next one there is a bit more tension/excitement over very much a lot of dialogue.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
December 9, 2025
Thank you Kodansha for the advance copy!
I really like this, the art is incredible and honestly even as a 1st volume it's done a very good job getting the plot set up.
The first volume of manga is always so important because without having a good foundation to the story there's no incentives to picking up future volumes aside from the art alone. I won't lie either when I say that the author and artist definitely stood out to me and set my expectations when I picked this up. I saw "from the creator of The Apothecary Diaries" and was immediately sold, I actually didn't even read the description past that because I preferred to go in blind at that point. Seeing Yo Asami doing the manga for this new series is interesting because they did Owari no Seraph/Seraph of the End that I really loved the art for but the story didn't really sell me, it works out for me very well since they're doing the illustration for this. I wouldn't call it a dream team or anything, but it's a very good match!
In terms of story I like that it's seeded out for us and we aren't just immediately given the whole picture. Chloe is a very likable character, so is Erald (even though he's stupid but that's okay) and I love Ines as well (she reads as having some gap to her and I always love a gap with characters). One moment specifically that I really loved was seeing Chloe almost having a flashback to how she learned her gambling tricks and it seems like she's going to spiral just as Erald claps, bringing her back to the present moment and allowing for her to shake off that memory. It tells a lot about both of their characters and the illustration certainly sells that this was going to be a bad relived memory for Chloe. The overall plot of solving a murder is great because usually you have some idea of who it might be but they've done a good job with this volume not giving away any of that mystery and instead just giving us more questions (what do you mean that Count Birz didn't have the body of the teenage he put up to become a vestal maiden examined after she was murdered????), even giving us so little information about the other candidates is a very good move because as the reader I have no other inferences about them other than what I've been told by Chloe and Erald.
I for one am GREATLY looking forward to volume 2 and I wish the team great success in this localization! Here's hoping for a TV anime adaptation some day, I think this would fit into the current markets very well.
I really like this, the art is incredible and honestly even as a 1st volume it's done a very good job getting the plot set up.
The first volume of manga is always so important because without having a good foundation to the story there's no incentives to picking up future volumes aside from the art alone. I won't lie either when I say that the author and artist definitely stood out to me and set my expectations when I picked this up. I saw "from the creator of The Apothecary Diaries" and was immediately sold, I actually didn't even read the description past that because I preferred to go in blind at that point. Seeing Yo Asami doing the manga for this new series is interesting because they did Owari no Seraph/Seraph of the End that I really loved the art for but the story didn't really sell me, it works out for me very well since they're doing the illustration for this. I wouldn't call it a dream team or anything, but it's a very good match!
In terms of story I like that it's seeded out for us and we aren't just immediately given the whole picture. Chloe is a very likable character, so is Erald (even though he's stupid but that's okay) and I love Ines as well (she reads as having some gap to her and I always love a gap with characters). One moment specifically that I really loved was seeing Chloe almost having a flashback to how she learned her gambling tricks and it seems like she's going to spiral just as Erald claps, bringing her back to the present moment and allowing for her to shake off that memory. It tells a lot about both of their characters and the illustration certainly sells that this was going to be a bad relived memory for Chloe. The overall plot of solving a murder is great because usually you have some idea of who it might be but they've done a good job with this volume not giving away any of that mystery and instead just giving us more questions (what do you mean that Count Birz didn't have the body of the teenage he put up to become a vestal maiden examined after she was murdered????), even giving us so little information about the other candidates is a very good move because as the reader I have no other inferences about them other than what I've been told by Chloe and Erald.
I for one am GREATLY looking forward to volume 2 and I wish the team great success in this localization! Here's hoping for a TV anime adaptation some day, I think this would fit into the current markets very well.
September 30, 2025
3.5
This was a fairly interesting, if slightly perplexing, story. The main character is a nun who is also secretly a master card player, in a world where apparently being exceptionally good at something means you must have special powers. Except the nun doesn't have special powers, she's just a regular person....? The story plays a bit of a "yes, no, maybe" game on whether or not Chloe has special powers. Hearing the tale of a mysterious card player, a knight named Erald comes to find her, to ask her to help him solve a murder. This sets off the main plot, which I'm sure will be a very long, drawn-out murder mystery. I did find the story interesting, as I said before. But they feed your information ever so slowly, where, after a little bit, I can feel myself slowly disengaging. I think this is the type of story you would need to binge-read several volumes at a time to really keep engaged with the story, and also to not get confused about what is happening. I do enjoy Chloe as a character! She's very shrewd and knows the power of currency, but also clearly cares about others. She muses about the orphans the covenant cares for and if they're doing well in her absence. I also enjoy characters that are very intelligent, which Chloe is portrayed to be. She's more of a Sherlock Holmes type of character, if anything.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
This was a fairly interesting, if slightly perplexing, story. The main character is a nun who is also secretly a master card player, in a world where apparently being exceptionally good at something means you must have special powers. Except the nun doesn't have special powers, she's just a regular person....? The story plays a bit of a "yes, no, maybe" game on whether or not Chloe has special powers. Hearing the tale of a mysterious card player, a knight named Erald comes to find her, to ask her to help him solve a murder. This sets off the main plot, which I'm sure will be a very long, drawn-out murder mystery. I did find the story interesting, as I said before. But they feed your information ever so slowly, where, after a little bit, I can feel myself slowly disengaging. I think this is the type of story you would need to binge-read several volumes at a time to really keep engaged with the story, and also to not get confused about what is happening. I do enjoy Chloe as a character! She's very shrewd and knows the power of currency, but also clearly cares about others. She muses about the orphans the covenant cares for and if they're doing well in her absence. I also enjoy characters that are very intelligent, which Chloe is portrayed to be. She's more of a Sherlock Holmes type of character, if anything.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
December 11, 2025
I really enjoyed this manga! I've currently been working my way through The Apothecary Diaries, so when I saw this was from the same creator, I knew I had to snap it up.
Firstly, the art is beautiful, and secondly, I love the premise of the story -- a novice priestess-in-training who is secretly a card shark is tasked to infiltrate a holy selection process in order to help solve a murder mystery with a handsome, wealthy paladin at her side.
In this world, women can be blessed with a magical talent called a 'charism' -- believing Chloe to have the charism of good fortune, wealthy Erald Birz seeks her help to solve the murder of someone close to his family. However, he doesn't know that Chloe doesn't actually have a charism, just exceptional skill. Even when she demonstrates how she achieves her victories, he still employs her to help him -- speaking Chloe's language with plenty of gold!
Chloe is a great main character, and I like how we get insights into how she achieves her victories at cards. She's also very practical and down-to-earth, and it will be interesting to see how she will solve this mystery. Erald and Ines round out the rest of the trio, and I'm looking forward to learning more about their characters over time.
I'll definitely be buying a copy for my shelf, and can't wait for the next volumes!
Thank you Kodansha and NetGalley for this ARC! All opinions are my own.
Firstly, the art is beautiful, and secondly, I love the premise of the story -- a novice priestess-in-training who is secretly a card shark is tasked to infiltrate a holy selection process in order to help solve a murder mystery with a handsome, wealthy paladin at her side.
In this world, women can be blessed with a magical talent called a 'charism' -- believing Chloe to have the charism of good fortune, wealthy Erald Birz seeks her help to solve the murder of someone close to his family. However, he doesn't know that Chloe doesn't actually have a charism, just exceptional skill. Even when she demonstrates how she achieves her victories, he still employs her to help him -- speaking Chloe's language with plenty of gold!
Chloe is a great main character, and I like how we get insights into how she achieves her victories at cards. She's also very practical and down-to-earth, and it will be interesting to see how she will solve this mystery. Erald and Ines round out the rest of the trio, and I'm looking forward to learning more about their characters over time.
I'll definitely be buying a copy for my shelf, and can't wait for the next volumes!
Thank you Kodansha and NetGalley for this ARC! All opinions are my own.
September 25, 2025
Like many folks, I have really been enjoying the Apothecary Diaries and when I saw that there was a new murder mystery manga from the same creator, I could not resist!
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There are a lot of similarities between Sister and Apothecary, to the point where it does feel al little copy paste in a different setting, especially comparing Sister Chloe to Maomao (just replacing the obsession with booze and poison to money) and Erald the Paladin with Jinshi. Fans of the original story will get a kick out of these familiar beats but I was hoping for it to expand further from that. The fantasy elements do kick in near the end.
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The murder mystery element and worldbuilding are very intriguing and the cast is kept decently small enough to not pull from the main storyline, while still keeping the world big enough for intrigue.
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Ultimately, I enjoyed myself with this story and I am intrigued, I just hope that this story is able to stand on its own despite the similarity between its characters and Apothecary Diaries.
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*I received an eARC from Kodansha Comics & NetGalley. All opinions are my own*
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There are a lot of similarities between Sister and Apothecary, to the point where it does feel al little copy paste in a different setting, especially comparing Sister Chloe to Maomao (just replacing the obsession with booze and poison to money) and Erald the Paladin with Jinshi. Fans of the original story will get a kick out of these familiar beats but I was hoping for it to expand further from that. The fantasy elements do kick in near the end.
.
The murder mystery element and worldbuilding are very intriguing and the cast is kept decently small enough to not pull from the main storyline, while still keeping the world big enough for intrigue.
.
Ultimately, I enjoyed myself with this story and I am intrigued, I just hope that this story is able to stand on its own despite the similarity between its characters and Apothecary Diaries.
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*I received an eARC from Kodansha Comics & NetGalley. All opinions are my own*
December 17, 2025
I want to start by thanking NetGalley, Hyūganatsu and Kodansha Conics for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. You Can't Bluff the Sharp-Eyed Sister 1（聖女に嘘は通じない［Seijo ni Uso wa Tsuujinai］#1) will be out October 21st, 2025!
I absolutely love Hyūganatsu’s The Apothecary Diaries series so ran to read this as soon as I could because no one writes a single minded ambitious woman and her hopelessly irritating but lovable co-conspirator. Her style is clear through this story and starts off strong with a gambling cleric who regularly takes money from her parishioners who can’t beat her at cards.
This first volume sets up a murder mystery that poses to be a challenge to solve even with the fantasy element of this story and I’m curious to see how Hyūganatsu balances her carefully crafted mysteries with this new challenge of power scaling and world building. While I know she can deliver suspenseful twists and construct thorough hierarchies and family dynamics, I can’t wait to get my hands on the next volume to see how this mystery will begin to unravel and see just how closely this will follow the structure of TAD.
4/5
I absolutely love Hyūganatsu’s The Apothecary Diaries series so ran to read this as soon as I could because no one writes a single minded ambitious woman and her hopelessly irritating but lovable co-conspirator. Her style is clear through this story and starts off strong with a gambling cleric who regularly takes money from her parishioners who can’t beat her at cards.
This first volume sets up a murder mystery that poses to be a challenge to solve even with the fantasy element of this story and I’m curious to see how Hyūganatsu balances her carefully crafted mysteries with this new challenge of power scaling and world building. While I know she can deliver suspenseful twists and construct thorough hierarchies and family dynamics, I can’t wait to get my hands on the next volume to see how this mystery will begin to unravel and see just how closely this will follow the structure of TAD.
4/5
October 12, 2025
I was really excited to read this seeing as this was from the same creator of The Apothecary Diaries, Vol. 1 and I love that story so much!
However, I just couldn't get into this one as much. I can't tell if I had too high expectations or if I just wasn't vibing with the characters and plot as much. I loved the first chapter. Meeting Chloe, seeing how obsessed she is with money or "coins", and getting a glimpse as her every day life in the church. I even liked the Paladin, but the story fell flat for me. It didn't hold my attention and it was hard trying to get through the last half of this (I had to re-start about 3 times until I finally finished it today).
Overall, I'm grateful for the experience to have read this early and I hope this finds the right audience. Thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for the early access!
However, I just couldn't get into this one as much. I can't tell if I had too high expectations or if I just wasn't vibing with the characters and plot as much. I loved the first chapter. Meeting Chloe, seeing how obsessed she is with money or "coins", and getting a glimpse as her every day life in the church. I even liked the Paladin, but the story fell flat for me. It didn't hold my attention and it was hard trying to get through the last half of this (I had to re-start about 3 times until I finally finished it today).
Overall, I'm grateful for the experience to have read this early and I hope this finds the right audience. Thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for the early access!
November 27, 2025
You Can’t Buff The Sharp Eyes Sister is about a money-loving novice cleric who is hired to help a rich paladin solve a murder.
It was a fun little read, with the first volume being 4 chapters long. With only 160 pages, I went through it in a breeze. The tone is very informal, very casual, which makes it very easy to read. The art-style is easy on the eyes, but rather standard for a manga. The story itself is quite simple, though it has a delightful murder mystery vibe to it.
The writing leaves a little to be desired, as it could benefit from some deeper storylines. Right now, everything seems a little bit surface level. I would like to know more about Chloe’s backstory, how she came to the church. But the lack of details also invited to keep reading, and I would love to get my hands on the second volume. It keeps one curious.
An enjoyable and quick read!
Disclaimer:
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for a honest review.
It was a fun little read, with the first volume being 4 chapters long. With only 160 pages, I went through it in a breeze. The tone is very informal, very casual, which makes it very easy to read. The art-style is easy on the eyes, but rather standard for a manga. The story itself is quite simple, though it has a delightful murder mystery vibe to it.
The writing leaves a little to be desired, as it could benefit from some deeper storylines. Right now, everything seems a little bit surface level. I would like to know more about Chloe’s backstory, how she came to the church. But the lack of details also invited to keep reading, and I would love to get my hands on the second volume. It keeps one curious.
An enjoyable and quick read!
Disclaimer:
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for a honest review.
November 7, 2025
You Can't Bluff the Sharp-Eyed Sister is very much like the Apothecary Diaries in a sense. Feels like a Hyuuga series, haha! Our main character is a gambling sister living in a convent. She has a sharp eye and quick wits and thus the knight Erald wants her to become a priestess-in-training and solve a murder. He seems to think she has a magical gift, but we'll see where it goes. The series is only five books long and is based on a light novel. For me Chloe is not an approachable character though. Her character lacks depth and the humor feels superimposed. The idea in itself is interesting, but the characters weigh it down. I don't know if it's because this is shounen and not seinen?
The art looks good though and having a shorter series for once is refreshing too. I just wish there was more to this, since Hyuuga can do it. Now the manga felt lukewarm and tedious at best. I hope the mystery is at least well constructed, since that could help somewhat.
The art looks good though and having a shorter series for once is refreshing too. I just wish there was more to this, since Hyuuga can do it. Now the manga felt lukewarm and tedious at best. I hope the mystery is at least well constructed, since that could help somewhat.
November 7, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
This manga has such a unique and refreshing storyline, and I’m genuinely excited to continue the series. The artwork is absolutely stunning, major credit to the artist for creating such beautiful and expressive visuals.
The story is both mysterious and charmingly original, which I really appreciate since so many recent titles tend to follow similar plots. It follows a young priestess investigating the murder of a girl from several years ago, and I love her bold personality, especially how she’s willing to take on almost any job if the money’s right! (Relatable x3)
Overall, it’s an engaging start to what I hope will be an amazing series. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next! <3
This manga has such a unique and refreshing storyline, and I’m genuinely excited to continue the series. The artwork is absolutely stunning, major credit to the artist for creating such beautiful and expressive visuals.
The story is both mysterious and charmingly original, which I really appreciate since so many recent titles tend to follow similar plots. It follows a young priestess investigating the murder of a girl from several years ago, and I love her bold personality, especially how she’s willing to take on almost any job if the money’s right! (Relatable x3)
Overall, it’s an engaging start to what I hope will be an amazing series. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next! <3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2025
Sister Chloe has an eidetic memory, a talent that allows her to win big at her nightly secret gambling life. It's this memory that gets her recruited to go undercover as a Blessed sister candidate at the main church. Someone murdered a candidate three years ago at the last trials and Chloe must use her talents to find the killer before they strike again!
Chloe is an endearing and very down to earth character. She has a bit of a gambling addiction and a love of gold which makes her a more relatable and flawed sister rather than a perfect saint. Knight Erald is more of an enigma, but he wants to solve the murder for personal reasons.
The art was beautiful and I enjoyed the humor throughout. I enjoyed the mystery aspect and look forward to the next volume!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.
Chloe is an endearing and very down to earth character. She has a bit of a gambling addiction and a love of gold which makes her a more relatable and flawed sister rather than a perfect saint. Knight Erald is more of an enigma, but he wants to solve the murder for personal reasons.
The art was beautiful and I enjoyed the humor throughout. I enjoyed the mystery aspect and look forward to the next volume!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.
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