“On her eighteenth birthday, shut-in Sena Shirai gathers her resolve and steps out into the world for the first time in a long while—only to be hit by a truck! Reborn as a witch in another world, she is only able to master two spells: Explosion and Destruction. With the nearby villagers fearful of her powers, she resigns herself to an isolated life once more…that is, until a mysterious boy collapses on her doorstep!” (Yen Press)
Toeing the line of predictability, “A Reincarnated Witch Spells Doom” presents a classic fantasy/isekai with the expected beats, doing little to distinguish itself. The ‘hook' is simplistic, the characters predictable, and the conflict in the inaugural release minimal. However, the series still leaves a favorable impression due to an understanding of the fundamentals of storytelling and a sharp visual direction.
While the characters are typical, there is a consistent sincerity and innocence to both Sena and her (potential) prince charming, Keith. Their fated meeting and subsequent openness to one another are handled in a way that establishes Tail Yuzuhara's confidence in building relatable personas. Moreover, a tinge of tragedy makes empathy for Sena's predicament come naturally–it is not overly sappy, and the tease of great power leaves plenty of potential for solid character development.
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Sena, undeniably, is the real star here, and those who admire complex female leads in their manga should find themselves attracted to her delicate balance of insecurity, hopefulness, and potential. Consequently, seeing how the shy, troubled witch develops as a character through understanding her magical gifts and finding romance is appealing. The closing pages of the first volume introduce a new character who will have a considerable impact on Sena–it is the perfect tease for the next release.
Visually, where the series excels in its ability to capture little moments experienced by Sena that exude romantic charm and wonderment, and while the artwork is not consistently impressive, plenty of panels exemplify Sora's skill as a visual storyteller. Through Sena's perspective, brief reflections on the past or present pace the book in a comforting way that creates a positive flow. In addition, Sora's panel work offers lovely single and double-page layouts that are perfectly expressive and emotional.
Ultimately, “A Reincarnated Witch Spells Doom” leaves a decent impression by understanding the fundamentals and a featuring a romantic visual presentation. Yet, the series' success will rest on later volumes and whether Sora & Tail Yuzuhara can add needed intrigue that will push the story into something more significant than it currently is.
Casual manga fans should wait and see how reception grows with subsequent releases, while die-hard fantasy fans who love a romantic tinge should check this one out and experience the progression with each release.
