One of the main reasons why the fantasy genre is so popular is because readers are able to relax and escape into alternate worlds. Often, these worlds are filled with magic, adventure, and intriguing storylines. This is why many beloved anime and manga series contain fantasy elements.
Similar to how the seinen genre is targeted towards adult men, the josei genre caters specifically to the interests of women from older teens to adults. The josei genre may not be as popular or as well-known as the shonen or seinen equivalents, but there are several fantasy josei manga, like Karneval, that are a must-read for fantasy manga fans across demographics.
10 Nai Searches For His Missing Friend And Investigates An Elite Group That Captures Criminals (Karneval)
Karneval follows the journey of a young man named Nai who's searching for his missing friend Karoku. The only clue he's able to find is a strange bracelet. With the help of Gareki, a young thief who saves Nai from monsters, Nai learns that the bracelet bears the insignia of Circus, an elite group who capture dangerous criminals.
The plot thickens when they meet up with the group who have no idea how Karoku came to have one of their identity bracelets. Together they journey across the world hoping to find answers about Karoku's relationship to Circus and what became of him.
9 Cecilia Lost Her Family, Friends, And Fiancé All Because Of Her Treacherous Half-Sister (I Wouldn't Date A Prince Even If You Asked! The Banished Villainess Will Start Over With The Power Of Magic)
Cecilia Bradley had a wonderful life until everything was taken away by her half-sister. She was exiled from her home country by her ex-fiancé, the crown prince, who made false accusations against her. Along with her mother, she fled to the neighboring country of Theophilus, where they disguised themselves to hide their identities.
She doesn't care that she has to now live as a commoner so long as she and her mother survive — even though her mother isn't grateful for that silver lining. Just when Cecilia begins to settle into her new life, her childhood friend appears and turns her world upside down. He helped orchestrate her banishment and also happens to be the crown prince of Theophilus.
8 Set Is Suspected Of Treason But Is Given A Second Chance At Life Just Before His Execution (The God Of Calamity Wishes For Naught)
The God of Calamity Wishes for Naught is a manga inspired by Egyptian mythology. In this manga, the God of War, Set, is yearning for conflict. He isn't happy with how his brother, Osiris, is running the country or the fact that he wants a world without war.
The two take a journey outside of the palace where Osiris is assassinated. Unfortunately for Set, he's suspected of treason for killing his brother and is sentenced to be executed. But before that happens, he ends up in a room with Osiris, who should have been dead, five years in the past. This manga is filled with mystery and drama and is well-worth reading.
7 Tomari Hinowa Is Forced To Become The Wife Of A Fluffy White Creature (Jingai-San No Yome)
Jingai-san no Yome is a highly unusual and controversial manga about a normal high school boy called Hinowa Tomari. He led an ordinary life until he was called into the principal's office where he’s informed that he has to become the wife of an unusual creature known as Kanenogi.
Even though he has many doubts about marrying this fluffy creature he knows nothing about, he decides to accept the marriage proposal. This manga follows the comedic and unusual lives of this unlikely couple as they navigate their new situation.
6 Endo And Kobayashi Become Gods To Characters In An Otome Game (Endo And Kobayashi's Live Commentary On The Villainess)
Endo and Kobayashi's Live Commentary on the Villainess is a unique and mysterious story about two broadcasters, Endo and Kobayashi, who jokingly broadcast an otome game that they were playing, which involves a tsundere lead character who they both love.
However, one of the game's characters can hear the two broadcasters and believes that they're gods. Thus, the broadcasters have a new goal: to make sure that everyone survives until the very end of the game. It's an incredibly funny and creative must-read manga.
5 Rahzel Is Kicked Out Of Her Home And Sets Out On A Whirlwind Adventure With A Brute And A Beauty (Dazzle)
Dazzle is an interesting older manga about a girl named Rahzel. As her father believes that she needs to see more of the world, he does the only thing he can think of to make that happen: he kicks her out. Not to be discouraged, Rahzel sees the silver lining in this and decides to set out on an adventure.
She also decides that she needs a traveling partner, and within moments, finds a silver-haired and red-eyed man called Alzeid. Together, along with a musclehead called Baroqueheat, they set out on a journey of a lifetime.
4 Sophia Is Reborn And Uses Her Knowledge Of Her Previous Life To Grow Stronger — Physically And Magically (Binbou Reijou No Kanchigai Seijo Den)
As a Baron, most people would assume that Sophia enjoyed a life of luxury. However, due to the hardships in her life, she decided to become an adventurer. By the twisted machinations of fate, Sophia perished in a dungeon, but that's not where her journey ends.
Sophia goes back in time and is reborn as a baby. On her fifteenth birthday, her father explains that he is very ill and she becomes an adventurer to pay for his medical bills. Thankfully, though, Sophia has the memories of her past life to guide her, which should make earning money and eventually retiring much easier — or so she hopes.
3 Merleawe Is Tasked With Impersonating A Famous Wizard To Save A Kingdom (Magical X Miracle)
Merleawe is a fourteen-year-old girl who just arrived in Viegald, the home of one of the best magic academies. She hopes that by attending this school, she can become a great wizard. Everything was going well until she was abducted by a knight called Vaith who has a favor to ask of her.
Vaith and his companions want Merleawe to pretend to be a missing boy called Sylthfarn, who just so happens to be the most famous wizard in the kingdom. Merleawe agrees to their request and begins to impersonate a boy she doesn't know for the sake of the people of Viegald.
2 Four Friends Discover The Joys Of Becoming Friends And Witches (The Story Of Witches And Cats)
The Story of Witches and Cats is an episodic older manga about the lives of witches. In this manga, when a witch turns thirteen, they must summon a cat guardian who will be with them, support them, and be their companion for the rest of their lives.
Suzu, Kei, Mary, and Nina are four witches who become friends at a magic school, a popular setting in both anime and manga. Together, they learn the ways of magic and the joys of keeping a cat guardian — and what it means to turn thirteen.
1 In Gothic Attire, The Black Bard Searches For An Empire That Disappeared Thousands Of Years Ago (Black Bard)
Black Bard is an older supernatural manga about a man known as the Black Bard. The titular protagonist is a wandering minstrel dressed in gothic attire who travels across a magical world with no final destination in sight. He takes each day as it comes and accepts the adventures that cross his path.
Along the way, he battles foes and saves those in distress, but no one knows of the troubles in his past. His days are filled with music and drama as he continues his quest to find the Crimson Empire that vanished thousands of years ago.
0 Comments