“A family of “faceless” nobles reside in a secretive mansion alongside their living dolls, who act as both servant and face. Although Kate Shadow and her living doll, Emilico, hope to be one such pair, their impending “debut” and its possible consequences have cast an ominous cloud over their blissful existence. Strange monstrous creatures roam the halls, while rumors of discarding defective dolls circulate…Fearful of losing her place at the house, Emilico struggles to learn exactly what it means to be a Shadow's face!” (Yen Press)
The inaugural volume of “Shadows House” posed an intriguing mystery, a world where darkened soot-emitting figures were served by a class of dolls. The series opened with a focus on establishing the relationship between Kate and her doll Emilico, the two living together attempting to figure out how to interact. Simple in content, yet utterly fascinating, the lead into the subsequent volumes would decide the tone and if the book held value beyond its evoking curiosity from its unique premise.
The subsequent volumes, thankfully, prove that Somato has crafted a wholly original work in both visual and story, both building the lore and developing the mystery of the society built on dolls and nobles. Notably, the developing relationship between Emilico and Kate is used to navigate the politics and social structure of the castle, with Emilico's empathy and personable attitude towards Kate creating conflict that upsets the status quo. The system in place is strictly structured, and while a few dolls deviate from the expectations, the rules are integral to understanding the world Somato has crafted.
Developing the story in volumes 2 & 3 covers the ‘trials' of the dolls to test their worthiness of caring for their noble counterparts, challenged in both etiquette and reasoning. These two challenges prove invaluable in trying to piece together the lore and the relationship between the two classes while also serving to endear the reader more to Emilico, whose selflessness and bursting personality stand out in the, otherwise, spiritless and strict society. As a continuation of what started in the inaugural release, the series only improves with each entry.
The art of Somato leaves a strong impression with its ability to balance light and dark. Consequently, “Shadows House” seems tailored for the manga format ingeniously, giving the impression that the artistic approach could have been established before the story itself–the play of light versus dark is beautifully presented throughout the pages. There is also a kawaii aesthetic that helps keep the tone light, despite the persistent dreariness of the world covered in soot.
The physical releases from Yen Press speak well to the aesthetic of the book, as the patterns used on the colour pages that contain images of the characters in frames feel pulled from the castle walls within the book. Furthermore, that the addition of quick bits of information on the cast help to keep the reader up to speed between releases is appreciated, given the inherited analogous character designs. The only negative, given the strong artistic direction, is that slightly larger volumes would have been appreciated for the series. This feels like a slightly missed opportunity to present a work with a unique visual presence in a more complementary size, especially when considering a title of similar intrigue and style from Yen Press, “Coffee Moon“, being positively presented in a larger format.
“Shadows House” is one of those series that feels poised for cult status given time, since its unique approach to visuals and story make it a stand-out yet its peculiar premise may also limit wide appeal. It would be difficult to blindly recommend without a base understanding of what someone enjoys in the medium. Still, those willing to seek it out and give it a chance should. The only caveat with the series rests in what is left unexplained, and a story of this ilk having the potential to drop everything it built up with a mishandled conclusion. If Somato can stay the course, this should be an unforgettable and unique series.
