Ansehelm's
Book Shelf!
A small but ever growing collection of manga, guides, and illustration books
Books are ordered by author last name for manga and by series for guides/illustration books!
click on books for more info on them!
Daemons of the Shadow Realm
by Hiromu Arakawa
I haven't read very much of it yet, and not much is out, but GOD do I love Arakawa's work. Her art and story telling is to die for.
Owned Volumes: 1-2
Read Volumes: 1
In an isolated village, two twins were born, separated by day and night. It is years later, and while the older brother Yuru has become a hunter of animals, his sister Asa has been locked away in a cage, ordered to perform a special duty that prohibits her from meeting more than a few select individuals.
On an otherwise inconspicuous day, a group of armed men riding in helicopters, referred to as "dragons" by the citizens, assaults the village in search of Yuru, killing everyone else on sight. When Yuru attempts to meet up with Asa and flee, he finds a dead body instead—on top of that, the person who killed her claims to be Yuru's true twin sister.
Before the woman can capture him, Yuru is rescued by a man named Dera, an outsider who frequently visits the village. However, it is not long before the two are cornered. In a last-ditch effort, Dera makes Yuru give a gift to the deity of the village, summoning a pair of "tsugai" whose existence is bound to reveal the truth behind these chaotic events.
From My Anime List
Fullmetal Alchemist
by Hiromu Arakawa
Ah, a classic. One of the first series I obsessed over and the first manga I ever owned. Still absolutely adore this series! I also own one of the light novels, but have not read it yet.
Owned Volumes: 1-27 (complete box set)
Read Volumes: Completed
Alchemists are knowledgeable and naturally talented individuals who can manipulate and modify matter due to their art. Yet despite the wide range of possibilities, alchemy is not as all-powerful as most would believe. Human transmutation is strictly forbidden, and whoever attempts it risks severe consequences. Even so, siblings Edward and Alphonse Elric decide to ignore this great taboo and bring their mother back to life. Unfortunately, not only do they fail in resurrecting her, they also pay an extremely high price for their arrogance: Edward loses his left leg and Alphonse his entire body. Furthermore, Edward also gives up his right arm in order to seal his brother's soul into a suit of armor.
Years later, the young alchemists travel across the country looking for the Philosopher's Stone, in the hopes of recovering their old bodies with its power. However, their quest for the fated stone also leads them to unravel far darker secrets than they could ever imagine.
From My Anime List
Fullmetal Alchemist The Complete 4-Panel Comics
by Hiromu Arakawa
The sillies!!
Owned Volumes: 1
Read Volumes: Completed
This complete collection offers the beloved four-panel comic strips from the graphic novel series and bonus strips from the anime DVDs of Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, as well as rare strips from Japan!
From My Anime List
Chainsaw Man
by Tatsuki Fujimoto
I recently got into this mangaka. He has another series (Fire Punch) and a few one shots. I haven't read Fire Punch yet but I have read a couple of his one shots and even wrote a review for one of them (Goodbye, Eri). Chainsaw Man is very good and the Anime has some great music and animation!
Owned Volumes: 1-12, 14
Read Volumes: 11
Denji has a simple dream—to live a happy and peaceful life, spending time with a girl he likes. This is a far cry from reality, however, as Denji is forced by the yakuza into killing devils in order to pay off his crushing debts. Using his pet devil Pochita as a weapon, he is ready to do anything for a bit of cash.
Unfortunately, he has outlived his usefulness and is murdered by a devil in contract with the yakuza. However, in an unexpected turn of events, Pochita merges with Denji's dead body and grants him the powers of a chainsaw devil. Now able to transform parts of his body into chainsaws, a revived Denji uses his new abilities to quickly and brutally dispatch his enemies. Catching the eye of the official devil hunters who arrive at the scene, he is offered work at the Public Safety Bureau as one of them. Now with the means to face even the toughest of enemies, Denji will stop at nothing to achieve his simple teenage dreams.
From My Anime List
Goodbye, Eri
by Tatsuki Fujimoto
An very good one shot that I wrote a review of (which you can read here). I loved it when I first read it and have been looking forward to buying it. I can't believe I found it at my local Walmart!
Owned Volumes: 1
Read Volumes: 1
Suffering from a terminal illness, Yuuta's mother asks him to film her last moments, which he does. From her radiant smile when she is with her family to the times when sickness ravages her body in the hospital, he records hours upon hours of footage. After her passing, Yuuta compiles her life into a movie to screen at his school, deciding to add a bit of fantasy to the ending of his film, Dead Explosion Mother, with a literal explosion!
Following the backlash caused by his supposedly tone-deaf portrayal of his mother's death, Yuuta trudges to the hospital roof to take his own life—but there, he meets a girl named Eri. Captivated by his film, Eri requests Yuuta to make a new one that will blow the previous out of the water and prove his critics wrong. The movie they set out to make will stand apart by blurring the line between fact and fiction. And of course, it wouldn't be a Yuuta film if it didn't have his personal flavor—just a dash of fantasy.
From My Anime List
Look Back
by Tatsuki Fujimoto
Another good oneshot from the creator of Chainsaw Man! I read it at the same time as Goodbye, Eri, and it was very good!
Owned Volumes: 1
Read Volumes: 1
Fourth-grader Ayumu Fujino regularly draws four-panel manga for her school newspaper and is lauded as having the best artwork in her class. One day, she is asked by her teacher to turn over one of her manga slots in the school newspaper to a truant student named Kyomoto. When Kyomoto's manga pops up alongside Fujino's, it receives high praises for its detailed artwork, making Fujino furiously jealous.
Refusing to be beaten by someone who barely attends school, Fujino devotes herself to learning to create manga. As time goes on though, her goal of outshining Kyomoto seems to only get further and further away, and Fujino, now in sixth grade, eventually gives up and quits making manga.
Graduation day arrives, and Fujino is asked to deliver Kyomoto's graduation certificate to her. Through chance, the two end up coming face to face, and their unexpected meeting will end up having consequences far beyond what either of them could ever predict.
From My Anime List
I Hear The Sun Spot
by Yuki Fumino
I have only read one chapter of this so far, but it was interesting enough to pick up an a physical copy!
Owned Volumes: 1
Read Volumes: 0
Kouhei Sugihara lives in a world of total isolation due to him being hard-of-hearing. However, when the loud and boisterous Taichi Sagawa comes into his life, Kouhei discovers that Taichi's voice alone shines as bright as the sun. Easily misunderstood by most people, Taichi is taken aback when Kouhei notices his good-natured personality. Taichi's valiant personality urges Kouhei to demand more for himself, pushing him into the lively world that he had always yearned to live in. Through this, Taichi helps Kouhei find a community of people who are willing to listen and understand, though they might have to repeat themselves more than once. Through the ups and downs of living in two very different worlds, Taichi and Kouhei find a connection that transcends all barriers and runs deeper than just a regular friendship.
Hidamari ga Kikoeru is a touching story about loneliness, self-respect, and finding a bond through the commonalities that we all share as people.
From My Anime List
Demon Slayer
by Koyoharu Gotouge
I haven't read much yet, but it's pretty good! I decided to pick up the first volume for my collection, despite reading the series at the library I work at.
Owned Volumes: 1
Read Volumes: 4
Ever since the death of his father, the burden of supporting the family has fallen upon Tanjirou Kamado's shoulders. Though living impoverished on a remote mountain, the Kamado family are able to enjoy a relatively peaceful and happy life. One day, Tanjirou decides to go down to the local village to make a little money selling charcoal. On his way back, night falls, forcing Tanjirou to take shelter in the house of a strange man, who warns him of the existence of flesh-eating demons that lurk in the woods at night.
When he finally arrives back home the next day, he is met with a horrifying sight—his whole family has been slaughtered. Worse still, the sole survivor is his sister Nezuko, who has been turned into a bloodthirsty demon. Consumed by rage and hatred, Tanjirou swears to avenge his family and stay by his only remaining sibling. Alongside the mysterious group calling themselves the Demon Slayer Corps, Tanjirou will do whatever it takes to slay the demons and protect the remnants of his beloved sister's humanity.
From My Anime List
Delicious In Dungeon
by Ryoko Kui
A well written and beautifully illustrated series. I'm 100% going to be buying the rest of the series when I can afford it! It's so good and I look forward to watching the anime with my siblings.
Owned Volumes: 1-2
Read Volumes: ??? (finished)
After the Golden Kingdom is sunk underground by an insane magician, its king emerges, promising all of his treasure to any who defeat the magician, before crumbling to dust. Guilds are spurred on by this promise, traversing the labyrinthine dungeon in search of the magician. Laios, the leader of one such guild, encounters a dragon that wipes out his party and devours his sister Falin. Despite having lost the entirety of their supplies and belongings, Laios along with Marcille, an elven healer, and Chilchuck, a halfling thief, immediately reenter the dungeon, determined to save Falin.
Time being of the essence, Laios suggests the taboo of eating the monsters of the dungeon as a means of gathering supplies. Upon the preparation of their first meal in the dungeon, they are stopped by an onlooking dwarf named Senshi. An enthusiast of monster cooking, he helps them prepare their monster ingredients for safe consumption. After learning of Laios' circumstances, Senshi expresses his desire to cook a dragon and joins their guild, thus beginning their food-filled foray into the dungeon together.
From My Anime List
The Summer Hikaru Died
by Ren Mokumoku
A unique slice of life / horror series. I am currently caught up with what has been posted on Mangadex and am impatiently waiting for more chapters!
Owned Volumes: 1-2
Read Volumes: ???
Best friends Yoshiki and Hikaru have been stuck together like glue for most of their lives. Living in a small village and being the only children their age, the two boys find solace in each other's company. Their friendship seems picturesque at first glance, but Yoshiki has noticed a shift in Hikaru's demeanor ever since one fateful summer.
The "Hikaru" that sits beside him now is nothing like his friend. Despite his physical appearance and memories remaining exactly the same, Yoshiki knows something is amiss and that the Hikaru he once knew is gone. When he brings this up, Hikaru partially transforms into an otherworldly being, threatening to kill Yoshiki if he cannot accept it—while also professing its love for him.
Wracked with grief and unable to let go of his best friend, Yoshiki struggles to move on with his life as he finds himself getting closer to the new Hikaru. At the same time, strange occurrences begin to plague their village, bringing unsettling chaos.
From My Anime List
Magi
by Shinobu Ohtaka
A favorite series of mine! unfortunately, it's difficult to find well-priced volumes so I only have a couple books so far.
Owned Volumes: 1, 3, 7, 13
Read Volumes: 36
Fourteen years ago, mysterious buildings called "Dungeons" started to rise in various places around the world. Within these dungeons, powerful beings called djinns rule over. When a person successfully conquers the dungeon, the djinn offers their immense strength in the form of Metal Vessels, recognizing him or her as a worthy king candidate. Adventurers from many empires and kingdoms venture into the dungeons in search of their bountiful treasures and the power of djinns. However, to travel through them is not an easy task, and only Magi—legendary magicians who choose kings and develop countries—can guide people through.
After being trapped in a room for most of his life, a young Magi named Aladdin finally sets out on a journey to explore the world along with his friend, a djinn named Ugo, who he can summon from his flute. Through a series of fateful encounters, Aladdin meets new various friends and allies, and together they begin an adventure that will change the fate of the world.
From My Anime List
Orient
by Shinobu Ohtaka
A series by one of my favorite Mangaka! I haven't read any of it yet, but I am very excited to!
Owned Volumes: 1-3
Read Volumes: 0
Five years ago, Musashi made a promise with his friend Kojirou Kanemaki that once they grew up, they would become samurai, form a league, and go on demon-slaying quests. But since then, things have changed. With demons now being praised and worshipped by society, the samurai are shunned and disgraced.
Afraid of revealing his dream of becoming a samurai, Musashi blends into the town's dogma by becoming a miner while secretly polishing his swordsmanship. Meanwhile, despite being a direct descendant of a samurai, Kojirou gives up on his promise to his old friend. However, after saving Musashi from a near-death experience, his perspective shifts. Although still conflicted, Kojirou embarks on a journey with Musashi in the hopes of figuring out his true feelings.
Fighting against all odds, the duo dives headfirst into the unknown world of beast-slaying, not knowing what life has in store for them. Now astride iron horses, the 15-year-old heroes plan to restore the tarnished reputation of the samurai and purge the world of demons.
From My Anime List
Summertime Rendering
by Yasuki Tanaka
A very thrilling horror series. I loved every second of it!
Owned Volumes: 1-3
Read Volumes: 13
After his parents died, Shinpei Ajiro lived with the Kofune sisters, Mio and Ushio, but he has since moved to live on his own in Tokyo. But after Ushio drowns while trying to save the young Shiori Kobayakawa, he returns home to mourn her departure. However, bruises around Ushio's neck bring her cause of death into question.
Taking a step back, Shinpei becomes convinced there must be another explanation. Dangerous entities roam among the islanders, and a vision of deceased Ushio asks him to "save Mio" as her final request. He is certain that something is afoot—and Ushio's death is only a piece of the puzzle.
With the help of Mio and various others, Shinpei struggles to forge a future in which he, his friends, and family can stay alive. But the more he investigates, the more impossible such a future seems. This darkness infiltrates his home island. Just how much more suffering will he go through before finding the right path to save it all?
From My Anime List
Dragon Quest
Encyclopedia of Monsters
Illustrations and information on various monsters from the Dragon Quest series. It's in Japanese. I really need to study more so I can actually read this.
Delicious In Dungeon
Adventurer's Bible
Illustrations and bonus comics by Ryoko Kui. Kui's art is gorgeous as always!
Dragon Quest
Illustrations
Illustrations from most of the Dragon Quest games. I believe it stops off at DQ X. Most (if not all) of the illustrations are by Akira Toriyama, the mangaka behind Dragon Ball.
Fullmetal Alchemist 20th Anniversary Book
by Hiromu Arakawa
Art, comics, and behind-the-scenes illustrations for Fullmetal Alchemist
