Manga Monday: The Abandoned Reincarnation Sage Volume 1

Author/Artist: Kurikaramaru and Miraijin A
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Released: April 5, 2022
Received: NetGalley

Yep! It’s another reincarnation tale, which I can’t get enough of. I’m going to blame My Next Life as a Villainess for that one. The Abandoned Reincarnation Sage Volume 1 is the latest in a long line of manga with this trend.

Once upon a time (actually, not that long ago), Belamus was a revered sage with great power. So excellent were his skills that he decided to cast a spell, one that would force his spirit to reincarnate. Only, things don’t go quite as planned.

While Belamus was born with all his memories, he was powerless to stop his father from abandoning his newborn form in the middle of the woods. That could have been the end of the story had a kind Goblin family not taken him in.

Hrm. On the one hand, I like this concept. On the other hand, I didn’t enjoy The Abandoned Reincarnation Sage Volume 1 as much as I had hoped. Part of the problem is the pacing. We didn’t get to know Belamus before he died and was reincarnated. Likewise, we don’t really get to know him until he’s around five, at which point we’re already seeing everything that makes him unique.

The result is a shallow connection to his character, at least initially. Maybe further volumes would help grow this connection; I’m not sure. What I do know is that it did have some funny moments, which helped to carry it along.

Another bright side to The Abandoned Reincarnation Sage Volume 1 is the artwork. It’s colorful and highly detailed, meaning that there is more than enough to keep the eyes busy as you work your way through it.

Thanks to Kodansha and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.