Reading is the height of entertainment for book lovers. Many genres and world-building are contained behind simple words to explore. However, looking at those words bundled together line after line is too much. Sometimes, our brains can’t compute that much information, and we shut down. Those lazy days might take over, but the want to read is still there. In such cases, why not read a manga series?
Manga offers easy reading. From the different art styles to the speech bubbles, manga makes reading engaging and quick. You don’t need to put effort into conjuring a character’s appearance or imagining their world. In manga format, it’s already given to you. In these next picks (all completed), reading will seem like a breeze, feeling the sense of productivity while still feeling those lazy moments. You will finish these in a day, guaranteed!
Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts by Yu Tomofuji
Humans and beasts have been enemies for centuries, fighting a war to end the other race. At the end of the war, an agreement was made. To show peace and goodwill between the two nations, the humans would send a sacrificial maiden for the king of the beasts to eat. Sariphi is the 99th sacrifice, but unlike other girls before her, she isn’t afraid of dying. This intrigued the current king of beasts, and instead of eating her, he decided to make her his future queen despite being human. Giving off Beauty and the Beast vibes with a few plot twists, this gorgeous manga will make you read from start to finish in one setting.
Can’t Stop Cursing You by Kensuke Koba
With only four volumes, you’ll wish for more. In a world where people can make contracts with dark entities to curse people to death, there’s bound to be a group of people to fight off the Curse Killers. Curse Breaker Saeyama works with the police in these cases, finding clues to who the Curse Killers are and stopping future deaths. With a power of his own, Saeyama finds the thrill in the hunt, not caring for anything else. With a genius and egotistical character, people will fawn over him and he traverses through many bloody cases.
The Savior’s Book Café Story in Another World by Kyouka Izumi, Oumiya
A slice of life isekai, Tsukina is transported into a fantasy world as a hero who’ll save the world. But she doesn’t want to do that. Tsukina’s a book nerd who just wants to read a good book, and she does just that. Opening up a book cafe, Tsukina lives her best life surrounded by books and is acquainted with a handsome man who’s also a book lover. She has what every reader could want, except she might have to be the hero she was called to be. It’s a rude disturbance between Tsukina and the cozy life we all wish for.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba by Koyoharu Gotouge
I can confirm it takes a whole day to read this series. My eyes stung from the tears and the strain this series gave me. From the dedication and spite that Tanjirou Kamado and other demon slayers have against the demons that ruined their lives to the pure hatred all have against the demon king Muzan Kibutsuji, it’s so beautifully awe-inspiring. A typical shounen manga of the main character off to end the big villain, this one will hit you in the feels with so much compassion and emotion that you’ll have a hard time putting every volume down.
My Hero Academia by Kohei Horikoshi
If you enjoy superhero movies like the MCU, you’ll love this series. An underdog story, you’ll cheer on Izuku Midoriya as he chases his dream to become a hero. Without a superpower in a world filled with powered individuals, it’ll be hard. With the heart of a hero who can’t stay away from trouble, Izuku rightfully attracts the attention of the number one hero of Japan, All Might, setting a motion course of events that’ll shake the hero world forever. With many highs and gutwrenching moments, that’ll make you check out the anime for sure.
Mashle: Magic and Muscles by Hajime Komoto
If Harry Potter and One Punch Man combined into something unique, then Mashle: Magic and Muscles is the result. Mashle is a boy without any magical abilities. In a world that ostracizes people without magic, Mashle is forced to hide from the world. But when he has the chance to change the minds of the world, Mashle enrolls in Easton Magic Academy to become a “Divine Visionary.” To compensate for this lack of magic, Mashle makes up for it with his insane brute strength which is the backbone of the series’ comedy. If you laugh at Mashle moving his legs back and forth so fast he passes for flying a broom, then this manga is for you.
Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya
Being able to turn into an animal by hugging the opposite sex at first is a running gag in Fruits Basket. After Tohru Honda starts living and knowing the Sohma clan after an unfortunate event, Tohru and readers soon learn that such an “ability” is more of a curse, and rightfully so. All cursed by an animal on the Zodiac calendar plus the forgotten cat, members of the Sohma Clan are scorned and mistreated for a curse they were born with. Carrying emotional baggage, each of the 13 Sohmas will receive comfort and simple wisdom from Tohru, the nicest anime character. However, even Tohru carries deep trauma she’ll need to face, but she won’t do it alone. You will cry from misery or pure joy in this amazing storytelling by Takaya.
Yu-Gi-Oh! by Kazuki Takahashi
Some might have grown out of the joy that’s the seriousness of fighting through a children’s card game, but Yu-Gi-Oh! at first was anything but child-friendly. Yugi Muto, a high school kid who loves playing games, completes an ancient Egyptian puzzle called the Millenium Puzzle and gets possessed by the puzzle’s inhabitant. Often named the “other Yugi” the spirit of the puzzle, also the king of games takes over as he challenges bad people to life-threatening games, delivering judgment based on the outcome of the games. Each game is unique to the perpetrator, making for an exciting time. After finishing the first volumes, you might even read the rest of what’s the Yu-Gi-Oh franchise today, dueling by playing a children’s card game.
Maid-Sama! by Hiro Fujiwara
The manga follows Misaki Ayuzawa, a strict high school student council president. She’s mostly strict towards the boys of her school due to her father leaving her family in poverty. Though a good reason, her hatred towards boys leads to her being called the “Demon President.” If the school knew Misaki works in a maid cafe, the backlash she’d receive would be catastrophic. Luckily Takumi Usui, the most suave boy ever to exist in manga and anime (standards have been raised because of him) is the only one who knows and keeps her secret. Love blossoms between the two, and though Misaki takes a while to get herself to admit her feelings, the manga carries itself due to Usui’s undying love for Misaki.
Even during those lazy days, your mind certainly won’t be with these choices. Which ones will or have you devouringly read? Let us know on Instagram, X, and Facebook!
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