Reviews for A Returner's Magic Should Be Special

I don't read a ton of manhwa because after you read a few they all feel kinda the same, but this one for sure is one of the best. I can't say that anything it does is super unique but in the general power fantasy manhwa environment I think it's almost more impressive that it can do a concept that's been done so many times and still do it very well. Desir is not your typical overpowered mc. He's so underpowered yet overpowered. He's an anti mage and you get to see him use his knowledge and planning to win fights, not winning with brutestrength. Overall if you're looking to read another manhwa after Solo Levelling this is your next best option.

Excellent mawha, it has become my favorite. The fights are getting cooler with each arc and the design is very good. In addition, the story is very interesting and the "dungeons" of this work are very different from other Korean manga. But the best of all the work is the protagonist. He is not overpower, but he uses his intelligence to be stronger than the others, this is very cool. And besides, he is a very well built character, MC is a good person, but if the situation calls for someone tougher and more manipulative, he takes on that role without any problems. I recommend give a chance,my favorite manwha.

No Spoilers, just story feeling of momentum summary: 1. Beginning: its AWESOME 2. Middle of series: Still really Good 3. Climax: TAKING TOO LONGG and some ass-pulled information. 4. Ending: What the hell is going on. Unfortunately its one of these kind of reads with a more confusing end to wrap up on. You also kind of get heavily information bombed alot more then usual compared to before. Usually talking to magic concept explanation toward the big final battles so do brace for that. Manhwa is also different from LN ending if you want to explore on that too separately, All in all i still think it isworth your time to read. Especially for the binge readers. As its very likely that the strong starting initial hype from the first half of the series will carry you through the arcs of the later sections even if they are a bit needlessly extensive.

When I first started reading it, I was shocked at how good it was. I was confused because I felt the score of this Manhwa didn't fit with the quality of the work I was reading. I wondered if the story would break down later on and cause the show to fall apart a bit and I was right. I thought the beginning of this manhwa was incredible. Some might say it's cliché and overdone and I can understand that but I still thought it was really good anyways. The middle chapters were alright as well but as it got towards the ending, around 200+,it started getting messy and confusing. It felt hopeless for the characters for many many chapters in a row. The story went through a couple different antagonists and many times, it felt impossible for the characters to win against them, but somehow, they always managed to barely survive. It just felt depressing and unrealistic for a large portion of the chapters. The characters would be completely drained of mana, bodies destroyed, blood coming out of their eyes and stuff, and right at the last second, someone would unlock a new ability that helps them win. It wasn't believable.

While the concept of this manhwa is nothing new, the MC's powers creates a very interesting dynamic between his "weaker" self and the more "powerful" peers he has to navigate around. Desir's goals are very clear and he strives to reach them constantly without it becoming something akin to an MMO grind. The rest of the characters also have very interesting arcs which develop naturally throughout the story. The plot is nicely paced and the world-building is very rich and impressive overall. The art is nothing special- expect a typical manhwa art. This is a highly enjoyable series which, while not being a must-read, wouldget an enthusiastic nod from anyone who's been following it.

I "only" read 150 of the 268 chapters, so read my review with some scepticism. Pros: - It is colored, decently drawn, decent effects and distinguishable characters. - The concept of redoing your life (even in a high magic society) is compelling. - The character motivations are pretty clear and defined. Cons: - This is technically no an isekai, but it does follow a lot of the power fantasy tropes. - The compelling twist of the main character Desir having prior knowledge due to having lived this life already, is quickly abandonned by his action changing the time line. - The mahnwas go to surprise mechanic, is that Desir knows something the readerand his companions doesn't, uses this knowledge to win an encounter and then explain the details after. This gets stale rather quickly.

Conclusion:

- I rated this a 4/10, thus putting it in my "slob" range of 4-6. I will never finish it, reread it or remember it as anything worthwhile. After reading Solo Leveling (which I rated 6/10 and recommended) I can say that I am probably not the target audience for the modern eastern power fantasy, but I did enjoy Solo Leveling more than this, which is why I won't recommend it. If you are an above average enjoyer of isekais, then this title might sate your hunger.

So we start with the typical protagonist who regress through time and is given an opportunity to keep his memories and change his previous past mistake and the future. The story is your typical training, high school arc before it gets to the meat of the actual plot. A lot of cliche are used but not abused. Sadly, I fail to see anything really special about that protagonist and his teammate as the story telling and world building start to crumble the more the story progress. Power scaling will start to take a turn to some chinese wuxia/xianxia with nothing making sense. It is like saying, look ateverest the tallest mountain, then suddenly everest isn't the tallest mountain but it another new one and this goes on and it becomes absolutely ridiculous.

Which makes the protagonist and friends strength means nothing, their training effort are rendered useless and just plot armor and plot convenience will save the day. This is a showcase that the author is getting lost and is scared to actually make Desir feel actually strong.

He is a regressor, he will be in an advantageous situation but it never really comes to play.

World building is all over the place, a lot of things are left un-explained.

Character growth is rendered pointless due to bad plot and power scaling.

Without really spoiling, imagine the bullies winning all the time except when a non-sense power of friendship will save the day.

The first ARC stays "solid" aka 150+ chapters afterwards beyond, things start to become ridiculous and non sensical. It feels it should have instead reached a final conclusion and a nice epilogue with some side stories to give a closure to this actual arc. Or move the story to a new timeline with new protagonist and with our main heroes being a legacy of the past. Like Avatar series or The legend of Heroes.

The first arc deserve a solid 7/10 enjoyement.

The new second arc deserve a solid 2/10 for throwing everything established in the first arc into the garbage.

Let's see how I start writing this, I like manhwa in general, but let's start now: The idea of ​​​​reincarnating in the past with all the memories is already something typical but the truth is that I like it, it's like the Isekai, it doesn't matter that it's an Isekai what matters is that it adds something different to the normal, with that said step. to the following: The world of shadows seemed very original to me, the truth is that the problem is that while you read the last thing you want is for them to make one because it's very boring how it's being implementedand I appreciate that the author didn't make many shadow worlds throughout the story

The magic system is also good, the magic circles thing is something typical but the main character to overcome his genetic risk life instead of having powers given to him.

The characters are all very good and others very bad, I really don't like Pram and Romántica, they seem too childish to me but the characters that I do like are Desir and Crow Mask, the rivalry of these two is the best of the first part, Zod is one of the best characters in the manwha and finally the last antagonist Priscila does her role of hating her well but it bothered me that her followers were so OP when they are characters that came out of nowhere.

And finally the ending, I think I should lower it to 7 just for this, you can't do something so sneaky and cowardly like not choosing the main character's partner at the end leaving it as an open ending when there are many who were really waiting for that moment in the manwha, you had 2 options, either you make an ending with each one or you stick with one, not something as cowardly as leaving it there.

I'm giving it a 7/10 because of that cowardly ending, the worst thing is that it's going to ruin the anime if they base the anime 100% on the manhwa

The original novel deserves an 8/10 at least because Romantica doesn't appear in the epilogue and Desir ends up with Adjest at the end.

translated: A unique work. Among the action stories, this is definitely one of the most creative. I love the arcs that take place in the shadow world, and how they were written. The art is also to be praised, always maintaining a high standard, worthy of scenes to be framed. In particular, the final course did not go the way I wanted. However, it did not disappoint in any way, it was impeccable and very exciting. 10/10 Idioma original: Uma obra única. Dentre as de ação, esta é definitivamente uma das mais criativas. Adoro os arcos que se passam no mundo das sombras, e como foram escritos. A artetambém é de se elogiar, mantendo sempre um padrão elevado, digno de cenas a serem emolduradas.

Particularmente, o rumo final não seguiu da forma que desejava. Porem não decepcionou de forma alguma, se mostrou impecável e muito emocionante. 10/10

A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special is one of those rare manhwa that hooks you immediately with its premise and keeps delivering chapter after chapter. The story follows Desir Arman, a mage who, after witnessing humanity’s defeat in the Shadow Labyrinth, is sent back in time to his academy days with all his memories intact. This “second chance” narrative sets the stage for a thrilling blend of strategy, magic, and character growth. What sets this series apart is its clever use of magic and world-building. Instead of relying solely on flashy power-ups, Returner’s Magic emphasizes wit, preparation, and teamwork. Desir’s intelligence and resourcefulness make him anunusually compelling protagonist, especially compared to the typical overpowered hero trope. His relationships with his friends—Romantica, Pram, and others—are heartfelt and bring real warmth to the story, giving weight to the stakes beyond just survival.

After reading 200 chapters it feels like a complete waste of time. If you just want mindless action then I suppose it is "ok", but beyond that I would stay far far away from this trash. The story is a total mess. In 200 chapters not a single thing has been explained. Portals give you crystals because leveling up blah blah blah... This has been done so many times before it's ridiculous. The story is so incoherent and boring I honestly don't think even the author cares what's happening anymore. Should we start paying attention to the story when everyone reaches level 999? And the worldbuildingis atrocious. Do regular people even exist in this world? Entire countries are introduced 1 page before a battle and then never brought up a again. It feels like 99% of this series is just sword flashes. This is what happens when you extend a series 5 years after it should have ended. If Solo Leveling is a 7/10 then I would put this at 2/10.

This series starts off really good. It was the series that I followed along with solo leveling. Coming back to it years later I am disapointed. The narrative has no direction. Character arcs are simply forgotten. Our kind protagonist starts torturing people, even when unneeded. The villian has no motivation. The magic and combat system got explained at the end of the series. It's one of the biggest messes I've read. Why are we introducing new characters. When we aren't even developing on the original cast of characters from chapter 1. Then killing them.The main problem I have is the protagonist has a power level that scales variably to whatever opponent he is facing. And the same thing happens over and over again.

The world has no rules.

It is a very underrated manhwa. Story starts slow, but it explains scales in a well manner. All the villains are well introduced and the way the villains scale is in a very good manner. The plot twists are crazy, special the last ones, which turn the story upside down. All characters are unique and make the story much more pleasing. The manhwa excels in its use of time regression, allowing the protagonist to leverage his past experiences to outmanoeuvre enemies and solve problems in clever ways. The stakes feel real, and the looming threat keeps tension high. Desir is a refreshing protagonist—not overpowered in raw strengthbut incredibly resourceful. His battles rely on tactics, teamwork, and deep magical knowledge rather than brute force, making victories satisfying.

The manhwa’s art is clean, detailed, and dynamic, especially during magical battles. The spell designs and fight choreography are visually impressive.

The story progresses steadily, mixing academy life, political intrigue, and large-scale battles without feeling rushed or dragged out.

A Returner's Magic Should Be Special is a must-read for fans of strategic fantasy and time-travel stories. With its intelligent protagonist, compelling world-building, and stunning artwork, it stands out in the crowded regression-manhwa genre. While it has some familiar elements, its execution and character depth make it highly enjoyable.

A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special – Spoiler-Free Review Visuals (Art & Style): 8/10 The art is solid. While the style isn’t particularly unique, it’s clean, consistent, and appealing to look at. Backgrounds and character designs feel cohesive, and the effects during fight scenes complement the action well without becoming overwhelming. Pacing & Panelling: 5/10 The series starts off at a comfortable pace, but by the end things move far too quickly. It feels like the author rushed the later arcs, missing opportunities to further develop the story and certain characters. With more time, the emotional payoff at the conclusion could have landed much harder. Story & Writing: 6/10 The premiseis intriguing, built around the idea of second chances—using hindsight and past knowledge to try and change the future. While this foundation gives the series weight and initially feels fresh, the writing struggles to maintain that momentum. Over time, it leans on familiar patterns, becoming more generic, and the rushed pacing makes the ending feel unsatisfying compared to the strong start.

Characters: 7/10

For a series in this genre—where side characters often feel disposable—this one does a decent job. The MC’s party and a few side characters are given enough attention to matter, and some emotional moments hit because of that investment. That said, the narrative leans far too heavily in favour of the MC towards the end, undermining the balance that earlier arcs built.

Enjoyment: 6/10

I really enjoyed the series early on. I’m a sucker for fantasy and a good power-trip story, and while it leans into “trashy fun,” it scratches the right itch. As the pacing picked up and the story turned more generic, my enjoyment dipped, but overall it still offered a solid ride with a decent cast and world-building.

Final Verdict: 6/10

I wanted to love the ending, but it just didn’t click. Predictability is expected for the genre, but the rushed pacing and lack of proper character development spoiled the conclusion for me. It’s a fun one-time read with an interesting premise, but not something I’d revisit.

The good: The story starts great. I especially love the characters' development. The world-building took its time. I started with this manhwa but then switched to the novel right after the third arc, then back to the manhwa. The manhwa author took some creative liberties with his adaptation. I'm glad to see his art improve during serialization. Now for the bad: The manhwa author took his freedom too far, too many chapters, story, and plot changed significantly. Usually, I appreciate creative freedom as long as it can be tied together nicely at the end, but I don't understand why. I know this manhwa author can craft agood story; his storytelling is great! However, either because he is indecisive, too biased, or too lazy, the story of A Returner's Magic Should Be Special deserves a good ending.

Yes, the ending should conclude the story, whether it’s good, bad, or bittersweet. A Returner's Magic Should Be Special is all about Desir and his companions, so we should see how their story concludes. instead we got nothing.

Thanks to the A Returner's Magic Should Be Special manhwa, I’ve come to love this story, but I would 100% avoid any further adaptations by this manhwa author.

Just for those that watched anime and plan to read the manga and wonder why such a low score 1. chapter 1-50 almost perfect,characters are believable and fleshed out as much as possible,i would call it the academy ARC 2. chapters from 50 to around 160,still pretty good but you can feel like they are skipping some content and it's sad that the shadow worlds are just a backdrop plot device 3. 160 to 210,no longer the story it started as,pulling some weird shit but it's at least a finish for the story so you won't get an axed manga 4. 231 to 269 :why are we still here,justto suffer?

i really wanted to like this especially after i saw that not all the shadow realms could be solved with just fighting,but then it just became a backdrop to some "Evil organization" and it's basically not a spoiler but still gonna say beware of spoilers but obviously the big bad all the time was the church,this probably sums up the ending the best.

So, I just completed the Manhwa. This way, being more fresh in the mind and being able to read it all in little time, I have good memory about the it for now. This is just my opinion, loving Isekai and fantasy series: The good parts - Lots of characters, most of them have a good background; - As a regression history, the main character uses his "final knowledge" to get stronger right from the start and do things differently; - There are twists in the story, the MC doesn't know everything and that makes the history more interesting and surprising; - There is no "sex appeal" to make anycharacters more interesting, its all about the main characters having their own personalities and living together;

- In the end, its not everything perfect, what makes the history more believable for me;

The bad parts

- Although the main characters and some others got good development, others will fill very lacking in development;

- The villains are strong, but at some point it looked like the last one didn't actually know anything about its own powers, and moreover, how the hell so many of its followers had its own powers that were so fundamentally different from the rest of the whole world... (almost like Naruto/Boruto's Alliens...)

- The end may be unsatisfying for some people;

- The way demons are introduced in this story and their own history, have little depth. They were very powerful, but the history makes it feel like it was easy to seal them, in some way.

I will give a 7 of 10 for this story, since it hooked me from the start. It is not perfect, but worth the read nonetheless.

Ignore all the window dressing on this story, it's mostly battle Shonen. The story seems very ambitious at first. It develops multiple relationships, has multiple levels of mystery, a fantasy element, a SF/gaming element, a fighting element, an element of horror/suspense...they basically want to do all the genres. It works for a while too. Unfortunately, it doesn't hold up in the long run. Shonen style fighting takes over the story to the point that relationships just stop developing. Its rather predictable stuff following Shonen power scaling conventions. It goes on too long with this same pattern and repeats itself too many times.There are so many interesting ideas here that just don't get developed and possible discussions that just don't happen. Relationships that are either completely static or jump ahead without any development at all. The author seems to have gotten bored with the characters outside of fighting and power scaling. The wasted setup/potential is disappointing. Battle Shonen is what the author is interested in. All the other stuff is only there for window dressing.

Although the series starts off as a 7 or 8 it drops to a 4 as it progresses. It's a five on average. Readable if you like the battles.

I read a lot of power fantasy books and this one has to be the worst by far. The story is alright, time travel to the past to prevent a future event seen it before. The art is passable, nothing special though. But the characters are some of the most basic 2d characters I've ever seen. You got a genius who has little aptitude in magic besides like cancelling spells for some reason (The reason exist but I forgot since I dropped it a while ago), a blue-haired femboy who is good at using a sword, a flat-chested tsudere who can use magic decently (She isthe most unbearable character imaginable), and a kuudere who is good at everything those. The side characters are a bit better but still don't have any depth behind what they do.

If you want to read a power fantasy in a magical medieval setting just read Mushoku Tensei or The Beginning After the End they are better in every way.