Kui Ryoko is one of the most talented manga authors around! Not only does she have a talent for seamlessly switching from lighthearted comedy to emotional gravitas, Kui-san captures the full range of moods in her artwork. Her protagonists all have psychological depth and display both strengths and weaknesses, and she does this while playing with tropes of the fantasy genre rather than leaning heavily on them. Even the Big Bad (TM) of the storyline is a sympathetic character in their own way. Whether out of lived experience or copious research, Kui-san clearly has a deep grasp of human nature, as her cast displays the full range of human complexity. My only complaint is that the series has ended.