Manga Review - 'Aria of the Beech Forest, Vol. 1' by Yugiri Aika

Another day, another cosy witchy manga.

So far, there is nothing particularly groundbreaking or spectacular about 'Aria of the Beech Forest, Vol. 1' - it won't be adapted into an anime any time soon - but it is a nice escapist fantasy to dive into for an hour. Its main hooks and driving points are its comedy, its mystery element, its autistic-coded, sheltered, naïve witch protagonist who lives in the woods, a cute talking white wolf, and its tea cosy atmosphere and aesthetic, complete with, ahem, tea (from a clear glass tea set), herbs, bread, pancakes, cooking, dishes, fireplaces, and sprinkles of witchcraft thrown in here and there.

It's an episodic, slice-of-life witch and nature fantasy tale, similar to 'Flying Witch' and 'A Cat from Our World and the Forgotten Witch', and even a bit of 'The Girl From the Other Side: Siúil, a Rún', 'Witch Hat Atelier', and Natsuki Takaya's 'Liselotte & Witch's Forest'. It is also set in Ireland in modern times, which may come as a surprise to some readers.

I won't spoil anything else - from any magical elsewhere - but I hope my above description gives a general idea of what 'Aria of the Beech Forest' is about, and to whose tastes it'll suit.

Plus, if the young redhaired and green-eyed witch Aria is not the cutest girl character in the manga, then a literal little girl character in it - a little sister archetype who is not annoying - definitely is. And seriously, that wolf is absolutely effing precious, and I want to cuddle him and take care of him, and this is coming from a cat person.

Overall, 'Aria of the Beech Forest, Vol. 1' is a light(ish), cute, funny, witty, sometimes irreverent manga, for the forest, herbal and kitchen witch in us all. It is not as innocent, sweet, adorable, gentle, quiet, or benevolent as it first appears. There is an underlying sneakiness, darkness and tragedy in the first volume. Again, it may surprise you in many ways...

It could become something truly ethereal and enchanting later down the line. But for now, it is yet another addition to my witchy bookshelf, manga or no.

Final Score: 3.5/5