The Failure at God School, Vol. 1

Gr 6 Up–While it may feel like modern-day Japan, this world is one where gods live among humans. Most are known as Himiko, or people who possess any kind of power. But those with a unique blend of power and character are granted the revered title of “god.” When lead character Nagi earns a late admittance to Kannagara Academy to try and become a god herself, she finds that it’s not going to be easy at all. This first volume is a solid start to this fantasy series. Worldbuilding is impressively done, and readers will easily understand the alternate universe and its nuances as the plot goes on. The character development is also admirably extensive; not only do readers gain insight about Nagi but they also learn of her family history and background info on a number of her classmates, who make up a portion of side characters. The second half of the story leans on narrative tropes, with Nagi having to work her way up from behind the eight-ball compared to the rest of her peers. Nevertheless, this opening volume is an enjoyable one, and readers will find themselves immersed in a magical journey from the jump.