Somali and the Forest Spirit Vol. 1

"Top 10 Must Read Manga of 2024" - Publishers Weekly

For fans of cozy and pastoral fantasy and the eponymous hit anime on Crunchyroll. This is the adventure of a lifetime as a kindly forest guardian golem sets out to protect a young human girl from a world of goblins and oni!

Explore a world from the hit anime of the same name, a world ruled by goblins, spirits, golems, and all types of strange creatures… but not humans, who were nearly persecuted to extinction for their reckless disregard of the natural world.

When a golem, a guardian of the forest chances across a young girl lost in the woods, he vows to take care of her… despite his life coming to an end. He must find other humans for her to live with, but in a world that despises them, is that even possible?"Reminiscent of Nagabe’s The Girl from the Other Side, this series, with its lush nature art and creative creature designs, offers enchantments all its own. Fantasy readers will be transported." Publisher's Weekly

"Wholesome and adorable ... Even in darker thematic moments, the characters and exquisite art will resonate with readers." School Library Journal

"The artwork is simply beautiful and the story is sweet." Kabooooom

"This manga is a must for lovers of slow-paced, cozy fantasy. Yako Gureishi’s art is lovely... And of course, if you enjoyed the anime, this is a must-read." OTAKU USA Magazine

"If you're a fan of the wildly popular Frieren, then this will almost certainly be up your street, but its appeal stretches to anyone who enjoys vividly realised fantasy worlds and gentle adventure." Mainly Manga

"I implore you: go buy this book. It had that ‘oh this is something special’ feeling from page 1 and that feeling only grew as I read it." Manga Tak! Podcast

"The gorgeous art is going to be an instant attraction, but anyone appreciating some pastoral tranquillity in their comics is going to follow Somali's journey into Vol. 2" The Slings and Arrows

"This story is absolutely breathtaking." GamingTrendYako Gureishi is a manga creator, known for her series Somali and the Forest Spirit and Kojirase Holic.