Noragami: Stray God, Volume 12: 08/31/22

Noragami: Stray God, Volume 12 by Adachitoka (2015) marks my return to reading this manga series after a four year hiatus. I was with my youngest at the library and happened to see that they had a bunch of the volumes I still haven't read and decided to grab four of them. At this point I don't know if I will go back for more volumes straight away. That's not a statement against the series, just my own disinterest in binge reading.

You'll notice I've skipped reviewing volumes six through eleven which covers Yato's time in the underworld and the disquiet among Bishimon's family. All of this is covered in Noragami Aragoto.

Volume 12 sets into motion a plot arc that recontextualizes the series so far. We will learn Yato and Nora's history and their relationship to Koto. We will also learn more about Hiyori's family and their ties to the Far Shore, though this only starts in earnest in volume 14.

The inciting incident is Nora spreading the notion that there is a Gods' Secret. She's ambiguous as to what knowing it will do and makes it too tempting a riddle to leave alone. Hiyori, Yukiné, and one of Bishimon's shiki are all affected by the conundrum.

The majority of this volume is an extended flashback into the life and times of a young vengence spirit named Yaboku and the stray before she was one. There's a third shiki, Sakura, through whom we learn the truth behind the Gods' Secret. It's not a pretty one. In fact, it's rather depressing, especially thinking of what could happen if Yukiné were to learn it.

Four stars

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