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(4.31/5)i'm really enjoying this, currently on volume 9
my reading speed is slow (can't do more than a volume a day even if i have all day for it). it's easy to get bored or tired when being this slow so the story being so gripping helps a lot with that, unlike reading a slice of life where not much happens i'm always looking forward to the next plot point
volume 1 is easier than the rest but the difficulty is certainly higher than anything i've read so far. still, i found it doable, i just wouldn't recommend it as a first manga
This is the first manga (series) that I wanted to keep reading even after I had exhausted my Japanese reading stamina. I would be reading for hours up until my brain just can't comprehend any Japanese whatsover and needed a break, and I would sit in frustration because I want to know what happens next but my brain is spent and wouldn't let me. I think this really helped to improve my reading endurance. Reading Japanese is very tiring but this is a rewarding read.
I really like the setting and the theme surrounding supernatural nobility in beautiful costumes living in a big castle with dark monsters lurking inside which reminded me of Vampyria by Victor Dixen. The interactions between the characters and the dynamic between シャドー/お影様 and 生き人形 are rather interesting. The main protagonist, エミリコ, is also adorable.
The story draws inspiration from western nobility, making it more familiar to me. I appreciate that all the characters have western katakana names like Kate, Oliver, Rosemarie, and John since I struggle with Japanese (kanji) names.
The first volume is a bit slow-paced, focusing on setting the scene for future action. Compared to the rest of the series, I found the first volume easier language-wise. Currently on the fifth volume, I consider volumes 2–5 to be of similar difficulty. I'm providing my LearnNatively comparisons based only on the first volume, not the entire series.— this might, for instance, explain why I'm the only one who deemed シャドーハウス to be easier than ルリドラゴン. If we were to compare the whole series, I would also say that シャドーハウス is harder than ルリドラゴン.
I think this is an interesting step-up in polite language compared to what you'd find in mangas set in high schools, without delving into hardcore formal 敬語. It's interesting to observe how characters use language based on their social hierarchy.
The manga contains some furigana but there have been many words that I needed to look up that the author didn't think warranted furigana ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯. You should also look out for the fact that in many cases, the furigana isn't actually a phonetic aid. For example, the speech bubble would show 私・俺・僕 when shadow nobles talk about themselves but since they make use of illeisms (the act of referring to oneself in the third person, using one's own name), you'll see a furigana spelling their name next to the first-pronoun kanji. It can seem a little weird but I've actually found it pretty convenient because I sometimes can't determine who's saying a certain speech bubble in mangas but this clears any ambiguity, so that's a nice side-effect. So, I'd recommend this manga to learners who've already read a full-furigana manga before.
With the help of a Japanese OCR program like KanjiTomo and a little less than 1 year of Japanese immersion under my belt, reading felt pretty fluid despite the somewhat frequent look-ups. Throughout the 5 volumes I've read so far, the grammar got tricky only two or three times.
All in all, an intriguing mysterious world with lovely and amusing characters.
Pro Tip: If reading digitally (the color version is awesome), make sure to use the 2-page view on your reader because there are multiple scenes throughout the series that span the width of 2 pages.
Enjoyed this manga quite a lot, very cute
Doesn't have furigana which can be seen as a pro or a con - it was definitely challenging for me, on the other hand I "learned" to approach (for me) unreadable characters (how to best look them up, how to handle, etc.)
Surely a plus for people who want to stop relying on furigana
Step-up manga from Yotsubato!
This manga features a maid's daily life with her master, who does not have a face. I feel that this is a good step up from the casual interaction in Yotsubato! since the maid often speaks formally. Despite this, these is a repeated use of vocabulary. The interactions between the maid and her master are very wholesome. Will definitely continue reading the entire series
Shadows House is a really interesting series. It starts off almost as a slice of life comedy about a servant and her master, with a little mystery and intrigue thrown in. However, as the series progresses the comedy is toned down and the mystery elements become the focus. There's a lot to love about this series, but the story and characters are really where it shines.
It's also worth mentioning that there is a full color digital version of the manga, which is what I've been reading since volume 3. The monochrome version is fine as well, but the full color version is quite beautiful. If you're not against reading digitally, I highly recommend getting the color version.
Perfect step up from beginner manga
Furigana is minimal but the text density is light and there is a lot of repeated vocabulary. The art is cute and the story is intriguing with mystery elements. I really enjoyed it! I think this would be a great manga for working on your kanji skills while not being too difficult.