Another: Episode S/O is essentially a side story that takes place during the events of the original Another novel. As I was reading, I thought I had a pretty good idea of where the story was going—but the ending genuinely caught me off guard in a good way.
The story is framed as something Mei Misaki is telling Koichi Sakakibara, which is shown through interludes and at the end. However, Mei feels more like a side character in this volume, as the main perspective is told from the point of view of the “ghost.” It references many of the characters, locations, and the curse from the original novel, so having read the first book is definitely recommended.
There are even more Stephen King and movie references this time around, which adds a fun layer for horror fans. Toward the end, the book briefly mentions what happens to some of the characters, but the explanations are vague. I really would’ve liked to know more about their outcomes—it felt a bit unsatisfying to just gloss over their fates.
One thing that makes this volume stand out is the short manga included at the end. It serves as a prequel to the original novel, and it’s honestly rare (and cool!) to see a novel include manga within the same book. Seeing the characters in manga form was a nice bonus. That said, it contains major spoilers, so if you haven’t read the original Another, be careful.
Physically, the book is another beautiful hardcover, just like the main novel. Unfortunately, there are still no illustrations throughout the story itself, which is a bit of a letdown. The story is engaging, and I’m curious to see how it connects to the sequel, especially since it introduces a few new characters who will return (based on the blurb for Another 2001). I’m also hoping we get more closure on the characters with unsatisfying endings in the next volume.
If you enjoyed the original novel, I definitely recommend checking this one out.