Title

To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts

Also known as: Katsute Kami Datta Kemonotachi e, かつて神だった獣たちへ, 한때는 신이었던 짐승들에게

by Maybe

Score from AniList: 67/100finished15 volumes120 chapters

ActionDramaFantasy

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During a protacted civil war that pitted the North against the South, the outnumbered Northerners used dark magic to create monstrous super-soldiers called Incarnates. Now that the war has ended, those Sacred Beasts must learn to make their way in a peaceful society, or face death at the hands of a Beast Hunter. Nancy Schaal Bancroft, the daughter of an Incarnate, turns to hunting the hunter herself. But once she catches up with her quarry, she discovers hard truths about the lives of these Sacred Beasts. (Source: Kodansha USA) Note: Includes 33 extra chapters.

Chapters available: 120
Type: Manga

Hoard Verdict

The StoryHoard editorial verdict

★ 4/5

A dark, sprawling war story in which a northern army turns forbidden magic against a stronger southern enemy, and the monsters, moral cost and fierce survival make it gripping from start to finish.

Pros

Bold, original war premise
Striking monster and magic designs

Cons

Violence and cruelty are intense
The war's politics can be dense

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Read the full take

During a protracted civil war that pitted the North against the South, the outnumbered Northerners used dark magic to even the odds. That premise is harsh and striking, and the series builds its story on the moral cost of a desperate army turning to forbidden power. The monsters they call forth are as frightening as the enemy they face.The strength is the imagination. The monster designs are memorable, and the war has a grim, lived-in weight. Each battle reveals a little more about what the Northerners are willing to sacrifice.The weaknesses are clear. The violence and cruelty are intense, and the political background can be dense for readers new to the setting. Readers wanting a lighter adventure will not find one here.Recommended for fans of dark war fantasy with bold, original ideas. Expect a harsh, gripping ride.