I liked the premise for this one from the start, but the actual story itself blew me away in the best way, in part because I could really feel for Yatora that moment he found his ‘passion’ because I have felt that way about writing before.

In the beginning, it took a little to warm to Yatora, because he was kind of disconnected from everything happening around him, drifting through life, doing well but with no real passion for anything, and then he found art, and he really came alive, both to me as the reader and in his world and that was fantastic to see. The power in this manga is that he goes from someone who was almost effortlessly doing well, to one who had found the thing he wanted to do best in and having to work in it, and I truly appreciated how it was a journey and a struggle, with failings as well as successes, and that he had to work for his passion. That felt so real and made it so easy to emphasize with his efforts, and it made for an inspiring story, especially for anyone currently caught in a dip or rut, or who is testing out a new passion. The drive and feeling are there, and I feel that there is a lot to be taken from Yatora’s story, and this is only the first volume!

Fittingly for a manga about art, the artwork in this book is beautiful in and of itself and is paired with real artwork contributed by other artists, again adding that extra layer of realism and lifting the manga to the next level. It also never superseded the story itself, the two working perfectly hand in hand, alongside the characters to create a rich, well-balanced manga.

Aside from Yatora who really grew on me as a character, there was a fantastic cast of characters, all of whom were unique and distinct in their own ways. I absolutely loved the art teacher, who was incredibly supportive which makes all the difference when embracing a passion like this

There were a few places where the information about art and techniques felt a little heavy-handed, but it was by far outweighed by the beautiful art style, story and overall message of the manga. And for anyone wanting to dip their toe into art, this manga is informative and motivational in its own way.

This is a slower-paced, slice of life manga, but it was incredibly poignant, and I found myself enjoying it even more than I had expected. I will certainly be on the lookout for the rest of the series, and would certainly recommend to anyone who enjoys that kind of manga or who is looking for that little bit of inspiration.