A messenger's duty is to care for and protect the god they've been assigned to. In order to complete these tasks, such messengers require wings. Shin, however, can't fly. His tiny, useless wings make him the target of ridicule and scorn among the other messengers and have kept him from being able to serve a god... until now. Determined to prove himself as a capable messenger despite his flightlessness, Shin accepts his assignment to a mysterious being on one of the nearby mountains. At first, it seems an easy task to keep his charge safe and happy — especially when the deity in question is just a cute, fluffy ball of fur. But things aren't always what they seem.
By Hagi
Series The God & The Flightless Messenger
Volume 1
Release Date 08.12.2020
Genre Boys Love
Age Rating 13+
Publisher Tokyo Pop
CW None
Rating ★★★★☆
My Review
Recently, I wanted to work on my backlog a bit- and me and a friend decided to read The God & The Flightless Messenger at the same time. Having no expectation, since one-shots can be a hit or miss- but wow I wasn't expecting it to be such a nice read!
The story kicks off with some insight into the life of Shin, who has faced a lot of struggles during his youth. Born with tiny wings, Shin was constantly bullied and teased for his appearance. The manga wastes no time introducing us to Shin’s backstory and showing the challenges he faced growing up. Despite being ridiculed, Shin never let the bullying fully break his spirit. He is quick to "attack" though- but it adds to the charm of his personality.
Early one Shin finally lands the job as a messenger for a big, fluffy god! He's a giant fluffball, both adorable and quirky! For food he inhales 'chaos', some sort of curse which makes other gods ill, but he enjoys it like Kirby. This god, named Baku by Shin, is a forgotten childhood friend. This is a popular trope in a lot of manga but it's well developed and feels natural in this story. They are immediately attached again and growing towards eachother, facing some challenges but overall it's positive story with a happy ending.
What I love most about The God & The Flightless Messenger is how naturally the story flows. There are no random plot twists that feel forced or out of place. Every event seems to unfold with purpose, and the pacing feels just right. You first get some character development and then the fluff starts- that's how I like my BL!
To be honest, I couldn’t find any flaws in the story. It’s a light and cute read, perfect for when you’re looking for something heartwarming.
