From Our TBR Pile… September 2026

With a distinctly autumnal feel to the air, September is here – and if the weather has turned a little rainy, it’s good for the parched gardens and gives us an excuse to stay in and catch up on our reading…

The God-Slaying Demon King Volume 4 by Ezogingitune (story), PIG3rd (art), TEDDY (Character Designs) (Square Enix Manga) reviewed by Demelza

Hiram has managed to defeat one of the Four Generals of the Demon Army, Wolgan. But unwilling to go quietly, Wolgan summons Hiram’s adoptive daughter, Philffy, who has become a vessel for the Demon God’s spirit. Now on a rampage, Hiram must find a way to stop Philffy before his friends come to harm, but understandably he doesn’t want to kill someone he considers family. Perhaps with the help of Lumiere and his dragon companion, he’ll be able to save her life… This is a very action-heavy instalment of the series, which does nothing to dissuade me that the series is entirely style over substance, but once again I find myself drawn into PIG3rd’s adaptation. And the story is moving! Philffy is an interesting character in her own right that’s been teased since the beginning of the series, so I’m happy to see her properly introduced at last. If you’ve followed along so far, then I think you’ll be satisfied with what this volume has to offer. If nothing else, the art continues to be very impressive. Score: 7/10

Bocchi the Rock! Volume 3 by Aki Hamazi (Yen Press) reviewed by Demelza

Bocchi and the other members of Kessoku Band have set their sights on participating in the Unidentified Riot teen music festival. With some magnificent prizes in the offering for the winning band, this is the perfect opportunity to get their name out there. But faced with the tense atmosphere of competing against other bands and a whole host of unfamiliar people, Bocchi is already starting to crumble under the pressure! The popular anime adaptation only covered the first two volumes of the series, meaning this offers entirely new content for readers. The 4-koma style of the series doesn’t really give any of the music scenes time to shine, which is a shame when that is such a heavy focus of the volume. However, this is still the cast we know and love, and there are plenty of comedic moments to leave a smile on your face. Score: 6.5/10

The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten Volume 4 by Saekisan (Original Story), Wan Shibata (Art), Suzu Yuki (Adapted By), Hanekoto (Original Character Designs (Square Enix Manga) reviewed by Demelza

Amane and Mahiru have survived Christmas, despite Itsuki and Chitose finally finding out about their friendship. Now it’s New Year, and the two are spending the break peacefully. At least until Amane’s parents decide to visit, eager to check in on their son and see Mahiru, whom they’ve become quite fond of. Time continues to pass relatively slowly in the world of Angel Next Door, but it’s still entertaining to watch over our leads as they grow closer to one another. And now that Amane’s friends know about their relationship, it changes the dynamic at school, which keeps things relatively interesting. Complete with a short story by the original author, this continues to be an engaging way to experience the story in shorter chunks than the original light novels. Score: 8/10

Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun Volume 21 by Osamu Nishi (Vertical) reviewed by Noemi10

Iruma and his classmates all reached Rank 4 or higher in the Music Festival, the minimum rank needed to keep using the Royal One classroom. With the end of this arc, which shows movement from villainous demons that will undoubtedly affect Iruma, the author Osamu Nishi treats the readers to some short, funny stories which are non-essential to the continuation to the main story. A few demons around Iruma become the protagonists, including Lied, Ameri and even Professor Shichiro. Although the side stories are enjoyable, I’d wish to see a faster approach to the main plot and how Iruma will deal with what’s to come, especially if a certain character makes his reappearance… as friend or foe? Score: 7/10

Hitting Rewind with You Volume 4 by Hanamaru Kira (Kodansha) reviewed by Noemi 10

Wakaba and Fumito are finally a couple after their confessions, and Wakaba cannot wait to do everything that she has ever dreamed to do when she got a boyfriend—from going on dates and trips to trying to seduce him… in her naïve and funny manner. The more I read about their love story, the more I find Fumito full of green flags as a boyfriend. He wholeheartedly accepts Wakaba as she is, even her strange ways. Their interactions are innocent and clumsy, but I cannot wait to see they will grow in their relationship and as people. This volume also includes notes and interactions from the author, which at times makes it seem like an annotated text. Score: 8/10

With our thanks to Kodansha, Yen Press, Square Enix Manga, Vertical, Diamond Book Distributors UK and Turnaround Comics (Turnaround Publisher Services).