Review by Booklist Review
An isekai manga for cat lovers, this is a tale with humor and heart. Once a great sorceress, Madam Jeanne now lives in isolation in the forest. When she summons Torata, a cat from our world, to be a Guardian Beast, the pair don't quite hit it off. Neither Jeanne nor Torata entirely understands their new companion, but each of them comes with pain from the past, and that might wind up being what brings them together. Jeanne's reasons for escaping a world she once saved are heartbreaking, and the moment when Torata and Jeanne finally understand each other is narratively rewarding. The story plays with the tropes of cat and isekai manga to create something that feels familiar yet fresh. The pairing of an oversize and blundering cat with a curmudgeonly older woman with a past in heroism makes for several humorous situations. This will delight cat lovers and fans of stories like Frieren: Beyond Journey's End.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This endearing isekai with a furry twist, the English-language debut from Kashiwaba, launches a slice-of-fantasy-life series. Madam Jeanne was once a powerful sorceress who helped a dashing hero defeat a Demon King in the Kingdom of Grifford. But saving her world was only rewarded by fearful townspeople deeming her magic dangerous and "sealing it away." Decades later, she's shunned as a grumpy loner who's "always in a foul mood prone to complaining." Enter Torata, a cat from the "real world," who's hit by a truck and instead of dying, gets transported into Jeanne's realm--and tripled in size--when the sorceress summons a Guardian Beast. Humor and mischief ensue as the oversize feline gets used to her new home and cranky companion (in their opening scene, Torata balks at a meal Jeanne's cooked, demanding "my usual crunchies"), while more dramatic backstory fills in how Jeanne lost her glory. Pairing crisp visuals and an adorable, larger-than-life mascot, this will remind readers of Frieren and A Man and His Cat. While the premise isn't unique, the developing bond between Jeanne and Torta tugs on the heart strings. Cat fanciers will be curious to see what this duo gets up to next. (Jan.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 7 Up--One world was saved, and in another, a cat died. Now, an elderly witch named Jeanne from the surviving universe summons the late cat as a guardian beast, only to get something she didn't quite expect: In true feline fashion, the cat Mew isn't exactly compliant. There is, however, one shared trait that grounds their developing bond--they are both lonely after loss. Madam Jeanne, once savior to the world, now lives as the isolated witch in the Forest of No Return. She watches as people hero-worship her youth while simultaneously ostracizing her current, unrecognizable self as a "creepy old woman." Between this and timely, interwoven flashbacks, readers come to understand her personality immediately. Mew also has their motivations solidly established. While it looks like current events will force the characters to confront their pasts, Kashiwaba also sets up a story of finding comfort in others once again. Her art sincerely portrays each moment's emotional beat through character expression, framing, and pacing. This includes the childlike actions of the tabby to the gruff woman's desperate summoning. Overall, this first volume has a good balance of warmth, regrets, and humor. VERDICT For those who enjoyed the series "Frieren: Beyond Journey's End" and are looking for something less bittersweet, this healing isekai manga of unlikely friendship is one to recommend.--Rachel Forbes
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