Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Volume 1

November 1, 2021
Grades 7-12 Four adventurers return home victorious from slaying the Demon King, and after enjoying their rewards, Frieren, an elven mage, bids farewell to her companions and begins a new journey, to travel the world and learn as much magic as she can. Fifty years later, one of Frieren's companions tricks her into taking an apprentice, Fern. The two continue traveling, taking odd magical jobs, and it becomes clear that Frieren is clumsily trying to learn more about her companions. This methodical story picks up after the conclusion of most other quest stories, after the heroes go their separate ways, and readers are given a glimpse into one hero's search for some hard-fought peace. Abe's soft but detailed illustrations beautifully complement the overall calmness of Yamada's story. This volume has a bit of a slow start that might turn some readers off, but fans of slice-of-life stories might like one set in a fantasy world. Give this to fans of Hiromu Arakawa's Silver Spoon or Taku Kuwabara's Drifting Dragons series.

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Starred review from February 1, 2022

Gr 6 Up-Title character, the female elf mage Frieren, has done it! Along with the other three heroes in her party, she has defeated the demon king and reigned in an age of peace. So...what happens after such a venture comes to an end? For Frieren, who is hundreds and hundreds of years old (though she still looks remarkably young), she doesn't have any plans in particular. She's content living life serenely, absorbing as much knowledge as she can about magic. But when Frieren wrestles with the concept of mortality, something that, unlike mere humans, she doesn't have to fret over, she begins to mull life as she never has before. This is a leisurely paced manga that will make readers stop and ponder. The work is an incredibly unique concept for not only a manga, but any form of literature, and a super fresh take on the fantasy genre. Frieren is as relatable a character as readers are going to find. Artwork is solid, a very clean style that works well for this story. VERDICT Seeing Frieren's character development as she tackles the concepts of life and death is an especially pleasing experience. A beautiful read from cover to cover, this is highly recommended.-Joe Pascullo

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