“Whoever Steals This Book” vol. 2 official synopsis from Yen Press: “The “books’ curse”—an ancient hex that activates when a volume is stolen from the massive library known as Mikura Hall. Its power has transformed the town of Yomunaga into a storybook world not once but twice! And the person tracking down the serial novel-napper is none other than the heir to the collection, Mifuyu Mikura! Having stopped the crook in their tracks during the first round, she must now venture inside the Black Book, a gritty noir novel thick with intrigue and rife with gunfire…This time, can she unmask the thief for good?!”
Read our review of “Whoever Steals This Book” Volume One First
The first volume of “Whoever Steals This Book” left a favorable impression of an artist and author working in tandem to create something wholly original, while playing with familiar genre tropes by hopping between fictional worlds inspired by classic literature. While the first volume gave us an adventure based on classic fables, the second entry sees Mifuyu Mikura and her fox/human companion Mashiro navigate a gritty noir and a dystopian sci-fi landscape.
Both of these genres are explored under the premise of getting lost/absorbed into a book. The tone of the series shifts seamlessly into the new worlds. The gangster prohibition-era-inspired genre sees the town’s familiar faces morph into hardened criminals or strict authority figures, making for a rather intense journey into another world. Even more shocking, the dark fantasy setting of the second half of the manga sees a social disparity where workers toil away in darkened mines, shifting through the excrement of an ancient monster looking for a rare power source. Compared to the previous volume, the work has a dark tone.
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Despite this, the book stays noticeably optimistic, with Mifuyu and Mashiro’s friendship as the foundation of normalcy and the means to explore the importance of camaraderie in these bleak landscapes. The development of the two also helps further the stories, with Mifuyu slowly working through her childhood trauma and her tenuous relationship with books as the two open up more to each other. One gets the impression that the bizarre, reality-shifting adventures of the two become more inexplicably connected to Mifuyu’s personal growth as a person with each new adventure. It is a familiar approach to storytelling, but one which Nowaki Fukamidori & Kakeru Sora pull off exceptionally well.
The work also has a flair that would make perfect fodder for the screen. If given the proper attention and audience, this is foreseeable in the future of “Whoever Steals This Book,” and there is a certain appeal in getting in on a series so early that has the potential to see tremendous success. Speculative, yes, but the themes the story explores against the backdrop of wild fantasy landscapes seem perfectly apt for an anime reminiscent of Miyazaki-inspired youthful wonderment.
The only slightly disappointing element from the initial volume, as speculated in my first review, is that the art style does not vary much when switching between genres. Notably, the noir-inspired atmosphere does not attempt to evoke the likes of Ryuichi Ikegami or Katsuhiro Otomo. Instead, Sora makes slight tweaks to immerse the reader in the world without completely re-envisioning their artistic approach. The visuals remain solid, with Sora’s work being wonderfully expressive and showing sharp attention to detail; it just would have been interesting to see the visuals pushed into different genres as much as the story.
For those who like to get more content from the manga they read, one noticeable attribute that solidifies itself in the second volume is just how text-heavy “Whoever Steals This Book” is. This extends the reading time to about double what most expect. While this could bog down the work in some series, the writing adds depth and never seems to crowd the visuals. Conversely, Sora also knows when to give the readers a break and cut to a double spread free of dialogue (like above). It is a complimentary and appreciated balance.
The only fault of “Whoever Steals This Book” lies in how tailored it seems to honor classic fiction. While this seems odd to point out, given that we are speaking of a book, the work will appeal to those with an all-consuming love of the written word, both in manga and literature and across genres. While grounded in familiar tropes, the work is not entirely reminiscent of many other manga titles, which may prove slightly off-putting for those who want a solid foundation of storytelling in a singular narrative style. It is abstract, not confusing, but again, there is a need to accept the lack of a solid foundation as worlds fold in on each other.
Those who love manga and literature will find “Whoever Steals This Book” to radiate a particular warmth, even through its darker scenarios. It will nicely fill a niche for many readers, becoming a cherished series that will, hopefully, see an adaptation at some junction.
