Frieren: Beyond journey's end vol 8 by kanehito yamada

Illustrated by Tsukasa Abe

Frieren, Fern, and Stark have reached the Northern Plateau, and there are many fierce monsters around. Within the plateau is a corporation that has tried to help the flow of goods and protect the small towns from demons, but even their resources are stretched thin. It seems on Frieren’s last journey through the Plateau, she worked up a sizable debt to the Norm Corporation, so they work out a deal putting her to use in their mines. Once Frieren settles the score, they’re off again and they find a village decimated by a powerful demon, but Fern isn’t the only First Class Mage answering their call for help.

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There are some great little jokes in this volume that showcase Yamada's subtle sense of humor, and the punchlines are ones that will resonate with readers who also might play Dungeons and Dragons. The ending arc of this volume sees a return of characters from the Mage First Class volumes, and the team up and ensuing fight not only brought more depth to the demon world but gave some satisfaction to furthering character arcs of these recurring supporting characters. The final chapter had a cameo of Denken, who is one of my favorites from the Mage test volumes, so I'm looking forward to seeing him in the upcoming adventure.

Sara's Rating: 9/10
Suitability Level: Grades 7-12
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Reviews of previous volumes in this series: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3, vol 4, vol 5, vol 6, vol 7

Publisher: VIZ Media
Publication Date: June 20, 2023​
ISBN: 9781974738601​ (Paperback)

​Tags: Rating: 9/10, Suitability: Middle School, Suitability: High School, Manga, Fantasy, Iyashikei, VIZ Media