The breathtaking artwork stands out immediately, especially the depiction of Edinburgh. Living near the city myself, I was genuinely struck by how beautifully the manga captures its architecture and atmosphere. The detailed cityscapes of familiar streets gave me a strong sense of nostalgia and even made me start planning another visit. It’s rare for a manga to evoke that kind of real-world connection so vividly, but this one absolutely succeeds in that regard. The story also begins on a strong note. The first three volumes offer engaging character development, particularly for Theo and Marie. Their growth feels natural and well-paced, drawing you into their journey andmaking you invested in where the story is headed.

Unfortunately, that momentum doesn’t hold. Around the latter half of Volume 3 and throughout Volume 4, the pacing becomes noticeably rushed. It feels as though the story is trying to compress too much into too little space, resulting in several gaps and missed opportunities. Key elements are left underexplored, most notably Theo’s backstory prior to being taken in by the London branch. This lack of context makes it harder to fully understand his character and emotional stakes.

The portrayal of the white witch as the main antagonist is another weak point. Rather than feeling like a compelling or formidable final villain, she comes across more as a chaotic and underdeveloped presence. She lacks the narrative weight typically associated with a “final boss,” and the story never quite builds that sense of anticipation or payoff. By the time the climax arrives, she comes off as a villain of convenience rather than a typical antagonist that you have been built up to dislike over time. She comes off as being misunderstood like Charles and seems like a minor antagonist of the story not a major antagonist.

Overall, Witch of Thistle Castle is a visually stunning manga with a promising start and strong early character work. However, its rushed conclusion and underdeveloped antagonist hold it back from reaching its full potential. It’s still worth reading for its art and atmosphere alone, but readers may come away wishing the story had continued to see further development of these fascinating characters.