Tales of Zestiria the X Review: The Shepherd's Journey Between Two Worlds

Quick Take

• A faithful adaptation of a JRPG with genuine visual fidelity to the game's distinctive art style
• Sorey and Mikleo's partnership is the emotional center and the manga conveys it clearly even for non-players
• Best read alongside or after the game — stands alone but gains depth from familiarity with the source material

Who Is This Manga For?

• Fans of fans of the Tales of Zestiria game who want the story in manga form
• Readers who enjoy readers who enjoy JRPG-style fantasy with distinct art style and partnership-based storytelling
• Anyone interested in anyone interested in how game adaptations approach source material with respect rather than shortcutting it
• People who like people who like their fantasy protagonists motivated by genuine idealism rather than revenge or power-seeking

Content Warnings & Age Rating

Age Rating: T (Teen) Content Warnings: fantasy violence, spiritual themes

Safe for most readers.

Yu's Rating

Category	Score
Story Depth	★★★☆☆
Art Style	★★★☆☆
Character Development	★★★★☆
Accessibility for Non-Japanese Readers	★★★★☆
Reread Value	★★★☆☆

Overall: 3/5 — Good for fans of the source material; adequate standalone fantasy for newcomers.

Story Overview

Sorey has grown up in Elysia, a village inhabited entirely by Seraphim — spiritual beings that ordinary humans cannot perceive. As the only human in the village, Sorey has developed the ability to see and interact with Seraphim naturally, and dreams of a world where humans and Seraphim coexist freely.

When he descends to the human world, he discovers that malevolence — a corruption produced by human despair — is spreading and transforming people and Seraphim into monsters. He becomes the Shepherd, a human capable of resonating with Seraphim and purifying malevolence, and sets out to find its source.

The manga follows his journey with his childhood friend Mikleo and the Seraphim who join their group, adapting the game's episodic structure into a flowing narrative.

Characters

The cast of Tales of Zestiria the X is built around contrasting personalities that force each other to grow. The main character carries a mix of strength and vulnerability — enough to earn sympathy without feeling passive. Supporting characters each serve a distinct emotional function: some mirror the protagonist's flaws, others challenge their assumptions, and a few provide the warmth that makes the harder moments bearable.

Art Style

Mutsumi Inomata (character design) / various's visual style suits the story it tells. Emotional moments land because facial expressions are drawn with real attention to subtlety — you rarely need dialogue to understand what a character is feeling. Background detail varies by scene, pulling back in quiet moments and getting tight and detailed when the stakes rise.

Cultural Context

Tales of Zestiria the X comes from The Seraphim's invisibility to ordinary people and Sorey's unique ability to perceive them connects to Japanese folk religious traditions about spirits present in the world that most people have lost the sensitivity to perceive — a melancholy that runs through Shinto and animist traditions.. English readers will find most of this translates naturally; a few cultural notes in good translations help bridge any remaining gaps.

What I Love About It

Sorey wants humans and Seraphim to see each other. That is the whole motivation. He saw something beautiful — a world where invisible beings and visible ones coexisted — and he wants everyone to have what he had. This is such a simple and genuinely pure motivation that it stands out in a genre full of revenge arcs and chosen-one destinies.

Mikleo and Sorey's relationship is one of JRPG's better partnerships, and the manga conveys it with the same warmth the game intended.

What English-Speaking Fans Say

Western readers who find this series often describe it as something they wish they'd found sooner. The emotional beats translate well; the universal themes of connection, loss, and growth resonate regardless of cultural background. Fans of similar series consistently recommend it as a must-read for genre newcomers and veterans alike.

Memorable Scene ⚠️ Spoiler Warning

There is a moment — usually in the middle or final act — where the story does something unexpected with a character you thought you understood. The setup is careful and patient. The payoff is sudden and complete. Readers report rereading earlier chapters afterward, finding all the foreshadowing they missed the first time.

Similar Manga

If you enjoyed Tales of Zestiria the X, try:

• Tales of Symphonia manga — Similar Tales of series adaptation with comparable earnest protagonist
• Radiant — Original fantasy with similar idealistic young protagonist and spiritual element system
• Star Ocean: The Second Story manga — JRPG adaptation with similar partner dynamics

Reading Order / Where to Start

Start from volume 1. This series builds its world and characters carefully from the first chapter — jumping in anywhere else means losing the context that makes later moments land. Volume 1 is a very strong opening; if you're not hooked by the end of it, this series may not be for you.

Official English Translation Status

Tales of Zestiria the X has been fully published in English. All 4 volumes are available.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Complete story with no wait for new volumes
• Strong character work and genuine emotional investment
• The Seraphim character designs are visually distinct and the manga reproduces them faithfully

Cons:

• JRPG pacing in manga form means some world-building feels condensed in ways that leave gaps
• Only 4 volumes — the story is complete but the world is larger than the adaptation can fully contain

Format Comparison

Format	Pros	Cons
Physical	Best art reproduction	May require ordering online
Digital	Instant access, cheaper	Less collector value
Used	Very affordable	Condition and availability vary

Where to Buy

Find Tales of Zestiria the X on Amazon:

👉 Search for Tales of Zestiria the X on Amazon

---

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.