The dawn of the Witch Host marks a significant turning point in the world of witchcraft. This mystical group, known as the Wotch, has emerged as a powerful force in the realm of magic. Their origin is shrouded in mystery, yet their influence is unmistakable. The Wotch Host is led by a council of powerful witches, known as the High Coven. These witches possess immense magical abilities and have dedicated their lives to serving the greater good. The High Coven is responsible for guiding and protecting the members of the Wotch, ensuring that their powers are used responsibly and for the betterment of the magical community.
The Dawn of the Witch, Volume 1
There s a weird obsession with oddly-placed, fanservice, though I don t object to some suggestive imagery, as a rule, but in The Dawn of the Witch it feels forced and wildly out of character. Kudo, my favorite from the opening manga volume, receives less time than the other main characters here, but his good qualities and tsundere nature are already shining through, while hints of Hort s depth of character she s very Yui Yuigahama-esque are already being dropped.
The High Coven is responsible for guiding and protecting the members of the Wotch, ensuring that their powers are used responsibly and for the betterment of the magical community. One of the distinguishing features of the Wotch Host is its focus on unity and collaboration. Unlike other magical organizations, which often operate in secrecy and isolation, the Wotch encourages its members to work together and support one another.
Review: The Dawn of the Witch, Volume 1
Magical academy stories sure have become popular lately, especially in the last five years or so. The Dawn of the Witch follows those same footsteps, but with a slightly unusual twist: rather than taking place in the school itself, it follows a group of students and their eccentric teacher on a special assignment that sees them travelling the world, trying to challenge the widespread anti-magic sentiment.
At the centre of all this is Saybil, a boy with no memories who was taken in by the school at a young age. Magic is the only world he knows and the only future open to him, but he’s also… terrible at it. With the lowest scores in the whole academy, his only hope of passing is to complete this special assignment. He’s joined by a few others: Hort, the top student who decided she needed a bit of extra credit anyway; Kudo, a reclusive “beastfallen”—half-human, half-beast—who’s a victim of frequent bullying and discrimination; and Loux Krystas, “The Dawn Witch”, whose childlike form, and petulance to match, belie the fact that she’s hundreds of years old and a powerful force to be reckoned with.
This special assignment is far from a simple field trip. This is a world where, due to the relatively recent memory of a great war, magic is despised by most of the populace and magic-users hunted by the church. The academy itself and surrounding villages are a bit of a safe place, where everyday meetings between mages and non-mages have helped to pave over prejudices and let the practical benefits of magic be shown, but the further afield you go, the more hated magic is. The aim of the assignment, then, is to travel the land, bringing regular folks into contact with magic, and helping to normalise its use and fight back the discrimination—but with witch hunters that even the church distances itself from out on the prowl, that’s a dangerous task.
This setup lends The Dawn of the Witch plenty of exciting possibilities for adventure, action, and humour. It’s like a magical road trip, where you never know what’s coming around the next corner. Each character comes with their own motivations, dreams, and baggage, complementing one another well and opening the door to plenty of interpersonal moments—both humorous and dramatic, but always with the humanity of its characters at its core.
That said, there’s a lot going on, and the pacing suffers for it. In the space of a single volume, we’ve got full character arcs for three different members of the cast, flashbacks to how everyone met and came together, the usual volume-one scene-setting, a handful of big twists, budding romance, and the sort of decisive battle that you normally wouldn’t expect to see until the end of a full story arc. It’s a lot to cram into 200-odd pages, and that means nothing really gets as much attention as it should. Moments that should be huge and shocking instead get glossed over in the space of a page or two; scenes that would be powerful given a proper build-up instead fall flat; what should be heartfelt moments lose impact without the necessary investment in letting readers get properly attached to these characters.
Tatsuwo’s art does a lot of heavy lifting to make up for those shortcomings in pacing, with detailed scenery and attention to the composition of each panel that does a fantastic job of setting each scene. Action scenes feel fluid and full of energy, and expressive characters bring a wealth of emotion to every page. Takashi Iwasaki’s vibrant character designs, too, overflow with personality. There’s a weird obsession with oddly-placed, fanservice, though—I don’t object to some suggestive imagery, as a rule, but in The Dawn of the Witch it feels forced and wildly out of character. Beyond the obvious aspect of titillation, good fanservice can inject a lot of character, humour, and cheeky fun, but here, it just comes across as a distraction—and in the case of Loux and her whole “she’s not really a child” thing, a rather uncomfortable one.
If you like a good magic academy story and can tolerate some crass, out-of-place panty shots, The Dawn of the Witch is a wild and enjoyable ride to take. There’s a little too much going on for one volume to deal with, and pacing suffers for that, but this is an intriguing world that’s home to some curious folk, with the potential for plenty more excitement going forward.
The Dawn of the Witch, Volume 1
Story: Kakeru Kobashiri
Art: Tatsuwo
Character design: Takashi Iwasaki
Publisher: Kodansha
Release date: 23 March 2021 (digital)
At the centre of all this is Saybil, a boy with no memories who was taken in by the school at a young age. Magic is the only world he knows and the only future open to him, but he’s also… terrible at it. With the lowest scores in the whole academy, his only hope of passing is to complete this special assignment. He’s joined by a few others: Hort, the top student who decided she needed a bit of extra credit anyway; Kudo, a reclusive “beastfallen”—half-human, half-beast—who’s a victim of frequent bullying and discrimination; and Loux Krystas, “The Dawn Witch”, whose childlike form, and petulance to match, belie the fact that she’s hundreds of years old and a powerful force to be reckoned with.
This sense of community is fostered through regular gatherings and rituals, where witches from all walks of life come together to celebrate their shared love of magic. The Wotch Host not only seeks to harness the power of witchcraft but also strives to deepen its understanding and connection to the natural world. Members of the Wotch often engage in rituals and practices that honor the cycles of nature, such as moon rituals and plant medicine ceremonies. This reverence for nature is at the core of the Wotch's belief system, as they believe that all forms of magic are interconnected and rooted in the natural world. Although the Wotch Host may appear to be a peace-loving and benevolent group, they are not to be underestimated. Their dedication to protecting the magical community and maintaining balance in the world is unwavering. The Wotch has been known to step in and intervene in situations where magic is being misused or individuals are being harmed. They are not afraid to use their powers to ensure justice and protect those in need. In conclusion, the Dawn of the Wotch Host signifies a new era in the realm of witchcraft. With their emphasis on unity, connection to nature, and commitment to the greater good, the Wotch Host has quickly become a formidable presence in the magical community. As their influence continues to grow, it is clear that the Wotch will play a vital role in shaping the future of witchcraft..
Reviews for "A Glimpse into the Mind of the Wotch Host Creator"
1. John - 2/5
I found "Dawn of the Witch Host" to be a disappointing read. The writing style was lackluster and the plot felt disjointed. The characters were underdeveloped and I couldn't connect with any of them. The pacing of the story was off, with slow moments interspersed with rushed action scenes. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and uninterested in continuing the series.
2. Emily - 1/5
I regret picking up "Dawn of the Witch Host". The book lacked originality and relied heavily on clichés. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to immerse myself in the story. The world-building was weak, with only vague descriptions that left me confused about the setting. Additionally, the climax of the plot felt anti-climactic and predictable. I couldn't find anything redeeming about this book and would not recommend it to others.
3. Sarah - 2/5
I had high hopes for "Dawn of the Witch Host" but was ultimately let down. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard to care about their fates. The plot had potential, but it was poorly executed with many plot holes and unexplained events. The pacing was inconsistent, dragging in some parts and rushing through others. I felt disappointed by the lack of resolution and found the ending to be unsatisfying. Unfortunately, this book did not live up to my expectations.