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Nandi and the Castle in the Sea
"Nature often seems subject to the whims of mankind, but in looking at the big picture, one may find the opposite to be true."
In the past, whenever there was a threat to the people of Crescent Island, they would receive a blessing in the form of two Gems — one Red, and one Blue.
The Red Gem would grant it's holder incredible powers, and near-immortality. However, the Gem would unleash a great, dark temptation within the bearer, to keep the power for themself. Thus, the bearer of the Blue Gem had but one responsibility; to hold their counterpart responsible. If both Gems were not returned to their rightful place, there would eventually be grave consequences for all.
In the present day however, the island is ruled by Verden, who bears the Red Gem, and has done so for the last 30 years. No one seems to know what exactly happened to the Blue Gem, or where it even is. Verden has opened Crescent Island's borders to the world, welcoming travelers from all over to experience the island's wonders, which include exotic wildlife. homes in the trees, and a mysterious black castle that juts out of the sea, just off the shore.
Our tale follows a young local boy named Nandi, who spends his days with his crew, catching waves and hustling tourists on the beach. Nandi is generally content with this tranquil lifestyle. Whenever he's in the water, though, he gets a strange feeling, as if the castle is calling out to him...
In the past, whenever there was a threat to the people of Crescent Island, they would receive a blessing in the form of two Gems — one Red, and one Blue.
The Red Gem would grant it's holder incredible powers, and near-immortality. However, the Gem would unleash a great, dark temptation within the bearer, to keep the power for themself. Thus, the bearer of the Blue Gem had but one responsibility; to hold their counterpart responsible. If both Gems were not returned to their rightful place, there would eventually be grave consequences for all.
In the present day however, the island is ruled by Verden, who bears the Red Gem, and has done so for the last 30 years. No one seems to know what exactly happened to the Blue Gem, or where it even is. Verden has opened Crescent Island's borders to the world, welcoming travelers from all over to experience the island's wonders, which include exotic wildlife. homes in the trees, and a mysterious black castle that juts out of the sea, just off the shore.
Our tale follows a young local boy named Nandi, who spends his days with his crew, catching waves and hustling tourists on the beach. Nandi is generally content with this tranquil lifestyle. Whenever he's in the water, though, he gets a strange feeling, as if the castle is calling out to him...
368 pages, Paperback
First published November 11, 2024
2 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 28, 2025
If you are deciding if this book is worth picking up, I 1,000% recommend it.
Not only is this manga in beautifully done in full color, the story was also absolutely amazing. It had a little bit of a slow start with the middle section having a more slice-of-life feel that I found myself wondering when the gems would come back. However, this added to the character and world development so that when the ending finally came, it was completely heart-wrenching. I have so many feelings. I highly recommend. It is a perfect one-shot manga to read if you want a beautiful story, gorgeous artwork, and don't want to invest a lot of time in a large series.
There were a few points of negatives that I noted throughout; however, it was not enough to warrant removing a star as they seemed to be easy mistakes. First off, there were a few places where the text was hard to read. One that stands out had the word too large for the speech bubble so the rest of the letters were lost in the dark background. Another spot had black words printed on a dark background so I could barely even tell they were there.
Outside of that, the largest issue was near the end where the red and blue gems came back into the story. The antagonist was known to have the red gem the whole time; however, when the main character enters the cave where the gems are kept, both the blue and red gems were portrayed as being there. This did not make logical sense as the red gem should not have been there at all as it was in the possession of another character. It was drawn this way in several panels during this scene. Like I said, I think these are small oversights and did not detrimentally take away from the reading experience too much so I didn't want to take away a star. I would do 4.5 stars if possible for these errors, though.
Not only is this manga in beautifully done in full color, the story was also absolutely amazing. It had a little bit of a slow start with the middle section having a more slice-of-life feel that I found myself wondering when the gems would come back. However, this added to the character and world development so that when the ending finally came, it was completely heart-wrenching. I have so many feelings. I highly recommend. It is a perfect one-shot manga to read if you want a beautiful story, gorgeous artwork, and don't want to invest a lot of time in a large series.
There were a few points of negatives that I noted throughout; however, it was not enough to warrant removing a star as they seemed to be easy mistakes. First off, there were a few places where the text was hard to read. One that stands out had the word too large for the speech bubble so the rest of the letters were lost in the dark background. Another spot had black words printed on a dark background so I could barely even tell they were there.
Outside of that, the largest issue was near the end where the red and blue gems came back into the story. The antagonist was known to have the red gem the whole time; however, when the main character enters the cave where the gems are kept, both the blue and red gems were portrayed as being there. This did not make logical sense as the red gem should not have been there at all as it was in the possession of another character. It was drawn this way in several panels during this scene. Like I said, I think these are small oversights and did not detrimentally take away from the reading experience too much so I didn't want to take away a star. I would do 4.5 stars if possible for these errors, though.
January 23, 2026
A beautiful saga full of fun strong characters with beautiful artwork
August 21, 2025
This book is so beautifully crafted from the very first page. The story is both magical and meaningful along with gorgeous illustrations that really pop out and grab your attention. The worldbuilding is vivid and enchanting describing the journey that Nandi embarks on. It’s perfect for both young readers and adults, carrying a sense of inspiration that lingers after finishing. The story felt magical and I can’t wait to see what this author creates next.
July 2, 2025
What an amazing story. It is incredibly well written and the art is amazing. I even have a print of the front cover framed on my wall that I got from Anil at a convention. I felt truely connected to the characters and while the last few chapters were fast pased and insane all of the emotion, high stakes, and loss, hit home and hit hard. I can't wait to see what Anil, Sheryl, and Slow Comics does next! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
August 8, 2025
Nandi and the Castle in the Sea completely swept me away. This graphic novel is part fantasy, part steampunk, part coming-of-age adventure, and all-around stunning. The world-building is super creative without feeling overwhelming. Crescent Island has its own history, myths, and even political tension, but it’s all told in a really approachable way. You get swept up in the mystery without needing a giant info-dump.
Also, words can’t describe the art! Every page is full color and absolutely gorgeous. It really adds depth to the story and makes the island feel alive. I found myself pausing to soak in the illustrations before turning the page.
What I loved most, though, is that the story has a lot of heart. Nandi is such a likable main character—curious, loyal, and not afraid to dive (literally) into the unknown. His relationships with his friends and his connection to the sea made me care deeply about where his journey was headed.
This feels like the beginning of something bigger, and I really hope there’s more to come. It’s hard to believe this is a debut—Anil Serpin clearly poured a lot of love and detail into this book.
Highly recommend if you’re into beautifully illustrated fantasy adventures with a touch of mystery and a lot of soul.
Also, words can’t describe the art! Every page is full color and absolutely gorgeous. It really adds depth to the story and makes the island feel alive. I found myself pausing to soak in the illustrations before turning the page.
What I loved most, though, is that the story has a lot of heart. Nandi is such a likable main character—curious, loyal, and not afraid to dive (literally) into the unknown. His relationships with his friends and his connection to the sea made me care deeply about where his journey was headed.
This feels like the beginning of something bigger, and I really hope there’s more to come. It’s hard to believe this is a debut—Anil Serpin clearly poured a lot of love and detail into this book.
Highly recommend if you’re into beautifully illustrated fantasy adventures with a touch of mystery and a lot of soul.
August 10, 2025
Nandi and the Castle in the Sea is an imaginative, beautifully executed graphic novel that showcases the power of gentle heroism, environmental storytelling, and visual narrative. If you’re drawn to nuanced characters and worlds that feel both magical and grounded, this is a rare gem. Highly recommended!!!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews