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A review by ambarbaq
Delicious in Dungeon, Vol. 1 by Ryoko Kui
5.0
This is a review for the entire manga, not just volume 1.
This is has become not just my favorite manga, but really one of my favorite pieces of media. If I could wipe my brain and read it again I would do it immediately.
The world is so meticulously crafted, in only a way someone DEEPLY steeped in the genre could do it. Ryoko Kui is a master of her craft, she is so comfortable in the fantasy genre in a way you’d only expect from a veteran author. Her love for DnD, Wizardry and other fantasy RPGs permeated through every single panel of this story. Everything in this story has a purpose, and ties to the overarching themes. Life and death (certain magical races live longer), disruptions to ecosystems, class/race disparities, the world is built on these foundations and they are deeply interwoven into every part of it.
The art is wonderful, the first season of the anime was obviously beautiful as expected from Studio Trigger, but Kui’s art is next level. It’s rare that I prefer a manga to an anime in art direction, but Kui’s contemplative art style is perfectly suited for this dungeon delving adventure.
Surprisingly, in my opinion, Kui’s strength isn’t her art or world building (although the latter is very high up), but her character work. These have to be some of the best realized set of fantasy adventurers I’ve ever read. They all get a meaningful arc, and it will move you to tears. Marcille’s story in particular got me sobbing. She will forever be one of my favorite characters in media, certainly my favorite mage lmao.
I could go on and on about this story forever, I am in love with this manga. I want to get panels of it tattooed on my body, this isn’t even a figure of speech, my first tattoo is probably gonna be Thistle’s magic tome or Marcille’s staff (called Ambrosia), or maybe a cute walking mushroom.
6/5 stars lmao
This is has become not just my favorite manga, but really one of my favorite pieces of media. If I could wipe my brain and read it again I would do it immediately.
The world is so meticulously crafted, in only a way someone DEEPLY steeped in the genre could do it. Ryoko Kui is a master of her craft, she is so comfortable in the fantasy genre in a way you’d only expect from a veteran author. Her love for DnD, Wizardry and other fantasy RPGs permeated through every single panel of this story. Everything in this story has a purpose, and ties to the overarching themes. Life and death (certain magical races live longer), disruptions to ecosystems, class/race disparities, the world is built on these foundations and they are deeply interwoven into every part of it.
The art is wonderful, the first season of the anime was obviously beautiful as expected from Studio Trigger, but Kui’s art is next level. It’s rare that I prefer a manga to an anime in art direction, but Kui’s contemplative art style is perfectly suited for this dungeon delving adventure.
Surprisingly, in my opinion, Kui’s strength isn’t her art or world building (although the latter is very high up), but her character work. These have to be some of the best realized set of fantasy adventurers I’ve ever read. They all get a meaningful arc, and it will move you to tears. Marcille’s story in particular got me sobbing. She will forever be one of my favorite characters in media, certainly my favorite mage lmao.
I could go on and on about this story forever, I am in love with this manga. I want to get panels of it tattooed on my body, this isn’t even a figure of speech, my first tattoo is probably gonna be Thistle’s magic tome or Marcille’s staff (called Ambrosia), or maybe a cute walking mushroom.
6/5 stars lmao