A review by kit_moonstar
The Savior's Book Café Story in Another World (Manga) Vol. 4 by Reiko Sakurada, Oumiya, Kyouka Izumi

5.0

This cozy fantasy manga series is a delight.  It's very soft and has just the right amount of balance between the very domestic romance between Il and Tsukina and the various situations in the kingdom.  While it is a little light on worldbuilding, the setting works very well.  It's easy to get drawn into the story, and the pacing works well.  There were some plot twists which I did not see coming which is always nice.  It doesn't happen often with fantasy works for me anymore, so that was a nice bonus to an already strong story.  I don't read a lot of isekai, and I've struggled finding ones that I really enjoy, so that was a great bonus as well. 

 

Tsukina is a fantastic character.  I loved the fact that she wasn't interested in adventure at this point in her life, and when she learned that she didn't have a choice about going to another world, she asked intelligent questions and made a plan.  While some people might see her as a quiet and almost meek character, I appreciated that she knew what she wanted and what would make her happy and went after it.  While she does struggle with insecurity at times, she's pretty competent and rarely is actually helpless.  Her kindness turns out to be one of things that helps her forge her path in the world she's been transported to.  I also liked the fact that Tsukina is in her thirties and acts like it.  It's a great contrast to the other saviors that appear who are either in their teens or twenties. 

 

I really love the romance between Il and Tsukina, and they way that it's handled.  It's not a complicated romance, but both Il and Tsukina are new to relationships and neither of them are particularly bold about expressing themselves.  The pacing of the romance is great, and they seem to naturally grow into their evolving relationship.  The fact that the two of them communicate well and talk about issues when they come out was really nice as well.  It did look like there was going to be some love triangle shenanigans, but that situation did not go as expected, and I thought that it was handled really well.  I also appreciated the fact that Il has enough small flaws that he seems human.  He's one the better manga love interests I've come across lately. 

 

If you are looking for a cozy fantasy with a soft romance and a gentle vibe, this is the series for you.  It's complete at five volumes.  My library has it in the teen section, and you could easily give it to a middle school student, though I think it has great adult appeal as well.  This would also be a great manga series for someone who is new to the format as well.  Between the solid story, short length, and the fact that the story is complete, it makes for a great entry point.  I would recommend this to anyone who likes cozy fantasy and a gentle romance.  Five out of five stars.