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Amongst Us #1
Amongst Us, Volume 1
How do you know when you've found your other half? Is it because she can make you feel all warm and fuzzy with all the hugs, snuggles, and kisses? Or is it because she's on your level in food fights, got your back in third-wheeling your friend, and knows exactly how to bribe you? Whatever it is, these two soulmates know they have already found the one for them.
Amongst us is a slide of life comic about the mundane lives of Veloce and Blackbird -- an eccentric couple with strange chemistry, striking personalities, and unhesitating love for each other.
Amongst us is a slide of life comic about the mundane lives of Veloce and Blackbird -- an eccentric couple with strange chemistry, striking personalities, and unhesitating love for each other.
112 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2020
5 people are currently reading
384 people want to read
About the author
Shilin Huang
12 books52 followersI'm a freelance illustrator and spend most of my time working on my series, Carciphona (:
Carciphona: http://carciphona.com
Homepage: http://shilin.net
Twitter: http://twitter.com/okolnir
Bookshop: http://shilin.storenvy.com
Deviantart: http://shilin.deviantart.com
Tumblr: http://okolnir.tumblr.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/ashenray
Facebook (Carciphona): http://facebook.com/carciphona
Carciphona: http://carciphona.com
Homepage: http://shilin.net
Twitter: http://twitter.com/okolnir
Bookshop: http://shilin.storenvy.com
Deviantart: http://shilin.deviantart.com
Tumblr: http://okolnir.tumblr.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/ashenray
Facebook (Carciphona): http://facebook.com/carciphona
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
February 16, 2024
I FINALLY GOT THE PHYSICAL COPY OF THE GRAPHIC NOVEL THE DEDICATION TO HER FIANCEE THE AUTHOR WROTE IS MAKING ME CRY I WANT TO EAT IT
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this is my one of my favorite sapphic romances of all time and my current obsession its not an exaggeration
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this is my one of my favorite sapphic romances of all time and my current obsession its not an exaggeration
June 6, 2021
129820672941429150/5 stars hoLY SHIT, losers, strap in bc i have no idea how to write a good review and convey why you should read this but i'm gonna try anyway
i owe my life to my wonderful, gorgeous, amazing mutual (does she consider me a friend? hopefully, because i'm in love with her) anyways the amazing lin chuchu recommended this to me and if you have no idea what Amongst Us is about he made a pretty superb carrd giving you a rundown of the comic (which pretty much nailed the coffin of "sloane being obsessed with this comic and contemplating basing her entire personality off Blackbird" shut). not necessary to read by any means, but honestly, think it helped me dive into the story better and it doesn't ruin anything, so that's a plus!
now listen. for me, slice of life works solely in fanfics that can be read in less than 10 minutes. anymore than that it gets boring or my slice-of-life supply is just awful but also like, this slice-of-life had a plot. and it was fantastic. i normally decide about 1/3 through a book what it's rating is going to be, but sometimes, but hardly, it fluctuates. let me just say that the only book right now next to Amongst Us on my favorites shelf is Howl’s Moving Castle and while reading that it was going to be a 4-star until the ending. i am in no way trying to be elitist by saying what i'm about to say, i'm just extremely picky, but i have never once read a book where i knew within two minutes that it was going to be 5 stars...
buT OH MY GOD
BLACKBIRD AND VECOLE had mE SOLD (specifically the birthday cake scene, more specifically the panel where Vecole joins in the singing. on that note, every panel that focused on vecole's eyes had me swooning)
just thinking about their tenderness and their goofiness and their old couple-ness makes my heart go Tender and Soft
my new comfort character is Blackbird, I can't decide if I want to be her or kiss her, she's so funny all the time
i'm in love with Meron, i would die for her, i would take a bullet for her, pls she's so sweet. like i've seen characters and been like "softie" but then i met Meron and i was like nvm, She is the only Valid One. and im sorry, her entire scene with Desair is just so cute alkghflakjgb
if you love the energy of Blackbird + Veloce, you'll also love Kris and Ceint bc it's the opposite end of the same spectrum if that makes sense (yes, it does)
i mean, if you're not already sold, there's more:
1. tender moments yes! but so many goofy moments! so many moments that make you feel fuzzy!
2. they are dating, they are in love, they would set the world on fire for each other but they are competitive and constantly nag
3. this book is perfect for a plane ride, a rainy day, a beach read, a late night i-cant-fall-asleep read, and most certainly a healing read
4. a sapphic read that doesn't center around sapphic pain/struggle! i call that a Major Win
5. amazing art??? detailed backgrounds???
6. lots of rep?? own voices??
7. flashbacks with lesbian crushing?? but like you know they get together so it's okay
8. a really Good Fucking Time literally for free! FOR FREE!
9. on a serious note, this was such a carthartic read and i'm so grateful it's come into my life when it has. (tw within the spoiler: brief mentions of homophobia both external and (intensely) internal) i needed this book so much. ive read sapphic/lgbt+ books so full of hope that i cried but they were so full that it made me ache bc yknow maybe i would never feel that hope? but this... this just... it was there, they're just living, you know, and they're getting to live, and no ones stopping them, and they're so happy and that... like the only word i can thinking of is powerful, which is so beyond cliche, but it is, anyways back to the raving before i start crying while writing a review, that would be embarrassing....
istg i love this book so much i will be saving up all my life earnings to buy all the print editions once i am out of the house. i almost want to gatekeep it from my irl friends and never let them read it, so i don't have to risk hearing ppl say bad things about it. but YOU, you should read it. right now. like now. it's a click away
i owe my life to my wonderful, gorgeous, amazing mutual (does she consider me a friend? hopefully, because i'm in love with her) anyways the amazing lin chuchu recommended this to me and if you have no idea what Amongst Us is about he made a pretty superb carrd giving you a rundown of the comic (which pretty much nailed the coffin of "sloane being obsessed with this comic and contemplating basing her entire personality off Blackbird" shut). not necessary to read by any means, but honestly, think it helped me dive into the story better and it doesn't ruin anything, so that's a plus!
now listen. for me, slice of life works solely in fanfics that can be read in less than 10 minutes. anymore than that it gets boring or my slice-of-life supply is just awful but also like, this slice-of-life had a plot. and it was fantastic. i normally decide about 1/3 through a book what it's rating is going to be, but sometimes, but hardly, it fluctuates. let me just say that the only book right now next to Amongst Us on my favorites shelf is Howl’s Moving Castle and while reading that it was going to be a 4-star until the ending. i am in no way trying to be elitist by saying what i'm about to say, i'm just extremely picky, but i have never once read a book where i knew within two minutes that it was going to be 5 stars...
buT OH MY GOD
BLACKBIRD AND VECOLE had mE SOLD (specifically the birthday cake scene, more specifically the panel where Vecole joins in the singing. on that note, every panel that focused on vecole's eyes had me swooning)
just thinking about their tenderness and their goofiness and their old couple-ness makes my heart go Tender and Soft
my new comfort character is Blackbird, I can't decide if I want to be her or kiss her, she's so funny all the time
i'm in love with Meron, i would die for her, i would take a bullet for her, pls she's so sweet. like i've seen characters and been like "softie" but then i met Meron and i was like nvm, She is the only Valid One. and im sorry, her entire scene with Desair is just so cute alkghflakjgb
if you love the energy of Blackbird + Veloce, you'll also love Kris and Ceint bc it's the opposite end of the same spectrum if that makes sense (yes, it does)
i mean, if you're not already sold, there's more:
1. tender moments yes! but so many goofy moments! so many moments that make you feel fuzzy!
2. they are dating, they are in love, they would set the world on fire for each other but they are competitive and constantly nag
3. this book is perfect for a plane ride, a rainy day, a beach read, a late night i-cant-fall-asleep read, and most certainly a healing read
4. a sapphic read that doesn't center around sapphic pain/struggle! i call that a Major Win
5. amazing art??? detailed backgrounds???
6. lots of rep?? own voices??
7. flashbacks with lesbian crushing?? but like you know they get together so it's okay
8. a really Good Fucking Time literally for free! FOR FREE!
9. on a serious note, this was such a carthartic read and i'm so grateful it's come into my life when it has. (tw within the spoiler: brief mentions of homophobia both external and (intensely) internal) i needed this book so much. ive read sapphic/lgbt+ books so full of hope that i cried but they were so full that it made me ache bc yknow maybe i would never feel that hope? but this... this just... it was there, they're just living, you know, and they're getting to live, and no ones stopping them, and they're so happy and that... like the only word i can thinking of is powerful, which is so beyond cliche, but it is, anyways back to the raving before i start crying while writing a review, that would be embarrassing....
istg i love this book so much i will be saving up all my life earnings to buy all the print editions once i am out of the house. i almost want to gatekeep it from my irl friends and never let them read it, so i don't have to risk hearing ppl say bad things about it. but YOU, you should read it. right now. like now. it's a click away
March 8, 2024
Carciphona AU. Gorgeous art, lovely and cozy.
July 26, 2023
Veloce and Blackbird live a quiet, modern life in an indeterminate city. This is not their story, but it is also very much their story. I swear that makes sense.
I’m likely as not to give this book a short shrift, not because of the quality, but because of how brief it is, clocking in at a scant 119 pages. That befits its nature as a webcomic that has been given a collected edition, which also means lovely colour pages throughout.
What is sort of told to you by the synopsis is that this is the story of two characters who are, in the original fantasy work known as Carciphona, an assassin (that’s Blackbird) and a sorceress (that’s Veloce, obviously). Here, they’re young lovers quietly slicing their way through life.
I had to kind of hunt around for that tidbit, as Seven Seas has released the spin-off, but not the original work that introduced them. Which is a choice, but do you need any knowledge to get the most from this story? I’m going to say, frankly, no, you don’t. To its credit.
Don’t expect any great revelations here - this is two people in love being goofy with one another and it actually works really well. Whether intentional or not, assuming you have some foreknowledge of the characters seems to eliminate the need to show how they came to be and just how they are. It’s really a relief.
We see them coming back from a trip and just moseying through life as they bounce off each other, clearly getting on one another’s nerves, but clearly loving one another all the same. Veloce is the more reserved one with dubious fashion knowledge, Blackbird is entirely more outgoing.
And they’re good characters whose interactions I quite enjoyed. There’s no driving plot, but time moves forward in each comic and they flow quite seamlessly from one to the next. Other characters show up, clearly a bit of fan service from the comic, but they fit right into the vibe masterfully.
I love the way the story doles out its little tidbits of plot, such as they are, and the way we learn about the characters. It hasn’t got the slightest whiff of stakes, but I enjoyed the heck out of this to a degree I had not expected. I’m more than happy to see more of this and the art’s a treat too.
I think my only reservation is that brevity; this is pricy for the content you get, but dang if I didn’t get a lot of enjoyment from it. It’s a really good depiction of a relationship (and the foreword is a lovely statement on why it is).
3.5 stars - if you have familiarity with the characters and wanted them to be dating more, you might as well just give it five stars because you’re set. For the rest of us, I am balancing precariously with my rating, but I think the way it encompasses the simple pleasures of being with somebody special is worth a rounding up.
I’m likely as not to give this book a short shrift, not because of the quality, but because of how brief it is, clocking in at a scant 119 pages. That befits its nature as a webcomic that has been given a collected edition, which also means lovely colour pages throughout.
What is sort of told to you by the synopsis is that this is the story of two characters who are, in the original fantasy work known as Carciphona, an assassin (that’s Blackbird) and a sorceress (that’s Veloce, obviously). Here, they’re young lovers quietly slicing their way through life.
I had to kind of hunt around for that tidbit, as Seven Seas has released the spin-off, but not the original work that introduced them. Which is a choice, but do you need any knowledge to get the most from this story? I’m going to say, frankly, no, you don’t. To its credit.
Don’t expect any great revelations here - this is two people in love being goofy with one another and it actually works really well. Whether intentional or not, assuming you have some foreknowledge of the characters seems to eliminate the need to show how they came to be and just how they are. It’s really a relief.
We see them coming back from a trip and just moseying through life as they bounce off each other, clearly getting on one another’s nerves, but clearly loving one another all the same. Veloce is the more reserved one with dubious fashion knowledge, Blackbird is entirely more outgoing.
And they’re good characters whose interactions I quite enjoyed. There’s no driving plot, but time moves forward in each comic and they flow quite seamlessly from one to the next. Other characters show up, clearly a bit of fan service from the comic, but they fit right into the vibe masterfully.
I love the way the story doles out its little tidbits of plot, such as they are, and the way we learn about the characters. It hasn’t got the slightest whiff of stakes, but I enjoyed the heck out of this to a degree I had not expected. I’m more than happy to see more of this and the art’s a treat too.
I think my only reservation is that brevity; this is pricy for the content you get, but dang if I didn’t get a lot of enjoyment from it. It’s a really good depiction of a relationship (and the foreword is a lovely statement on why it is).
3.5 stars - if you have familiarity with the characters and wanted them to be dating more, you might as well just give it five stars because you’re set. For the rest of us, I am balancing precariously with my rating, but I think the way it encompasses the simple pleasures of being with somebody special is worth a rounding up.
December 21, 2025
2.5 stars
this was a decent little slice of life graphic novel, wasn’t bad by any means, it was well written for a graphic novel and the art was super cute but the humor was not for me at all and i feel like there was no storyline being followed so i was a little bored. i couldn’t get into the characters and therefore couldn’t really get into their relationship, and the flirting wasn’t anything cute to me. i might continue the series butttt not anytime soon
this was a decent little slice of life graphic novel, wasn’t bad by any means, it was well written for a graphic novel and the art was super cute but the humor was not for me at all and i feel like there was no storyline being followed so i was a little bored. i couldn’t get into the characters and therefore couldn’t really get into their relationship, and the flirting wasn’t anything cute to me. i might continue the series butttt not anytime soon
May 20, 2024
Sometimes sweet, sometimes emotional, sometimes funny slice of life story
September 2, 2020
I wasn’t so sure what to expect when I heard Shilin had created a slice-of-life romance between Veloce and Blackbird, fated enemies in her main fantasy series, Carciphona. All I knew is that I needed it. The dynamic between them as a couple comes across so well in Amongst Us! The writing and the art are both gorgeous, and I found myself either laughing or swooning at something on each page. I’d personally recommend reading Carciphona first, in order to catch all the little nuances (and why wouldn’t you? It’s excellent AND free), but you can definitely still read and enjoy Amongst Us, regardless.
March 3, 2025
i love when women
June 8, 2025
It’s so readable- bite-sized slices of life and I’m then left wanting more!! ❤️❤️❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2021
not sure where volume 1 ended and volume 2 began but i read all of it, loved it and am super excited for more
keeping-in-mind
May 2, 2024
June 12, 2020
If you're like me, you've been following Shilin Huang's Carciphona for years and are already in love with these characters. But even without previous exposure, Shilin's artistic style and character expressions convey much with few words.
Despite their little squabbles, you can tell Veloce and Blackbird love each other deeply. You can see it when they look at each other, and in the sweet little moments throughout their day. If anything, their bickering reinforces the stability of their relationship, and these instances are balanced out by moments of genuine affection or sexual tension.
The volume ends with a peek into how Veloce and Blackbird meet, and the sense of longing that comes through from Veloce already has me impatiently awaiting the next volume.
Amongst Us is a breath of fresh air. With gorgeous artwork, lovable characters, and a pairing to passionately root for, this is a must-read slice-of-life series I can't wait to read more of!
Despite their little squabbles, you can tell Veloce and Blackbird love each other deeply. You can see it when they look at each other, and in the sweet little moments throughout their day. If anything, their bickering reinforces the stability of their relationship, and these instances are balanced out by moments of genuine affection or sexual tension.
The volume ends with a peek into how Veloce and Blackbird meet, and the sense of longing that comes through from Veloce already has me impatiently awaiting the next volume.
Amongst Us is a breath of fresh air. With gorgeous artwork, lovable characters, and a pairing to passionately root for, this is a must-read slice-of-life series I can't wait to read more of!
December 30, 2023
this is so cute i can’t wait for more of blackbird and veloce. i definitely was a bit lost for a bit of the beginning of the story but they it started piecing together and i just love it 😭 i should have read it earlier. i give it a 4⭐️ too too cute😮💨
February 26, 2024
Cute slice of life graphic novel about a couple and their everyday life. I loved the scene where Blackbird bought a birthday cake even though it wasn't her birthday because she wanted the cake. So relatable!
April 30, 2025
This is such a cute sapphic manga. It depicts slice of life of Veloce and Blackbird. There isn’t much story in volume 1, but it seems like we will see how they got together in volume 2.
The art is really pretty, and I definitely want to read more volumes.
The art is really pretty, and I definitely want to read more volumes.
October 23, 2020
My favorite characters, gorgeous art, perfect panels (and comical ones). I cant help but gush over this so much.
November 15, 2020
kermet phone cuddling .jpg
June 7, 2021
Holy fuck the lighting is beautiful and the chemistry is out of this world
June 21, 2021
This Carciphona AU is super cute and I highly recommend reading it, even if you're unfamiliar with Carciphona itself. I found Carciphona after reading and enjoying this, in fact.
June 27, 2021
#41 ongoing
my heart, always waiting for the updates on this one.
my heart, always waiting for the updates on this one.
July 6, 2021
Still waiting with anticipation for a volume 2 physical release
July 26, 2021
I love it so much
September 25, 2021
Emo sapphic slice of life. Just my cup of tea! I love this! Read it so quickly and now that I'm up to date I'm sad...
December 31, 2024
A pretty cute slice of life but it didn’t really capture me
March 25, 2025
Am I a lesbian Becauss of Shilin Huang? Probably not. But early exposure to Carciphona was certainly a catalyst! Seeing the girls happy makes the baby-middle-schooler part of my heart sing. :D
May 17, 2025
i think love is the look veloce gave blackbird when she sing happy birthday to her to tease her
May 30, 2025
3,5
The art carries the whole thing
The art carries the whole thing
December 17, 2025
Cute, slice-of-life sapphic romance
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews