Lucas Blogs About Witch Hat Atelier Vol. 6

I like how the guy on the back cover is just casually flexing his ram chair. Like, "Why yes, the armrests are giant ram's horns, nbd!"

So, what's this book's deal?

Would you believe we're already up to volume six of Witch Hat Atelier?

You mean Kamome Shirahama's ongoing manga series?

The very same.

Yes, I would believe it, given that you have blogged about all the previous volumes.

Cool. Then let's just jump right in! Of course, anything from volumes 1-5 is fair game for TEH SPOILARZ! So, when we left off at the end of volume five, Euini had been saved, but Master Quifrey's confrontation with the Brimmed Cap Witches (the witches who violate the ban on performing magic on humans) has left him in dire need of medical assistance. Also, some Knights Moralis (Witch Cops) summon everyone from the atelier to the Great Hall (the seat of the witches' governemnt). While Quifrey recovers, Beldaruit, one of the witch elders, presents Agott and Richeh with an opportunity to make up for the test that the Brimmed Caps interrupted. And since he's so nice he also lets Coco and Tetia take the test as well. All they have to do is perform a spell that genuinely surprises him.

I take it that it isn't easy to surprise an elder magic user.

It is not. Each of the girls tries and fails to surprise him individually, but what if they worked together? I don't know, has that ever been successful in any kind of story aimed at younger readers?

Only all of them.

Oh, right. Anyway, this volume is more of a breather after the high stakes of volumes four and five. Sure, there is some movement in the larger plot. Coco comes one step closer to being a full-fledged witch, with access to the library that she'll need to find a spell to de-petrify her mother, but most of this volume is about the apprentices trying to figure out how to surprise Beldaruit.

So, a nice, chill volume.

 Yeah.

Seems a little suspicious that it's time to read something chill and wholesome just on time to review the week of Christmas.

Honestly, I'm not sure if I read this before or after Head Lopper, but yeah, it did seem more appropriate. But guess what the first blog of the new year will be about.

Will it be about Head Lopper?

I may well be about Head Lopper. But let's get back on track. So, as you may recall, my oft-repeated take on Witch Hat Atelier is that it's a fairly standard magic school story with beautiful artwork.

I do recall that, yes. But last time you said that you feel like that sells the series short, because the characters and world-building are pretty good.

I did say that. And it's still true. Shirahama's world and characters leap off the page not just because of her beautiful artwork, but because she imbues them with a life of their own. They may not be the most original creations, but Shirahama brings them to life so vividly that you can help but be drawnn in, like Coco, by the wonder of the magic all around them. So yeah, I still recommend Witch Hat Atelier to people who like fantasy, young adult fiction, and beautiful art. Oh, and Hypothetical Reader.

Yes, Lucas?

Have yourself a merry little Christmas. I know that the pandemic and distance from friends and family can make it hard to be cheery, but we'll have to muddle through somehow.

I always preferred the "hang a shining star upon the highest bough" version myself.

You're the worst, Hypothetical Reader!

‾\_(ツ)_/‾

Witch Hat Atelier Volume 6 by Kamome Shirahama (trans. Steven Kohler), Kodansha Comics trade paperback edition, 2020 (originally published in Japan as とんがり帽子のアトリエ (Tongari Bōshi no Atorie)), pairs well with sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows

Links:

Once again, should you be into that kinda thing, here are the mangaka's instagram and twitter feeds. (They're in Japanese)