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There are a lot of things to like about the isekai shojo manga series In Another World, My Sister Stole My Name. The characterizations are interesting. The concept of two sisters both being spirited away and treated as “saints” in the other world is a new twist on the concept. Especially since one seems to be the antagonist. Its cliffhangers between volumes are executed very well. But one of the other reasons this is such an interesting one is highlighted in the fourth volume. We’re constantly not only seeing what Ichika (aka Karen) is going through, but also her fiance Prince Noah, her sister Karen (going by Ichika there), and Prince Cecil due to the use of various viewpoints at certain points in the story.
Editor’s Note: There will be spoilers for volumes 3 and 4 of the In Another World, My Sister Stole My Name manga below.
As a quick refresher, Ichika in our world found a mirror artifact that allowed her to communicate with a prince who went by the name of “Cecil” in another world. She told her sister Karen about it. One day, her sister Karen vanished. Then, Ichika disappeared and discovered both she and Karen had been transported to the world on the other side of the mirror where they appeared as saints. Except Karen is going by the name “Ichika” and using her identity there, and she’s engaged to Prince Cecil. “Ichika” tells everyone there that Ichika is her sister “Karen,” and as the second saint is engaged to Cecil’s younger brother Prince Noah. Except it turns out Noah is the prince she talked to, as he used his brother’s name out of insecurity. The third volume ended with Noah realizing and confirming that “Karen” is really the Ichika he knew and fell n love with, and that Ichika’s “Cecil” was Noah the whole time.
Now, what really helps volume four start strong is Kotoko used this installment of the In Another World, My Sister Stole My Name to explain things from Noah’s side. We see why he lied about his own identity and pretended to be “Cecil.” We get the backstory of what it was like for him to talk to Ichika and how that helped him. We see what it was like for Noah for “Ichika” to appear and Cecil to be the one engaged to her. It also shows why he reacted the way he did in earlier volumes of the series and offers insights into not only Karen in an antagonistic role, but Cecil himself. So much valuable information is presented at once, but it’s in a way that feels natural and doesn’t seem shoehorned into the story. The execution is such that it almost feels like Ichika is gaining this information as we do.
There’s also another example of this perspective shift and how valuable it can be later in the fourth volume of In Another World, My Sister Stole My Name. At an event, we see both Cecil and “Ichika” and Noah and “Karen” deal with courtly life and an incident that involves both saints’ powers. But as a result of this, we’re also seeing Cecil and “Ichika” as they notice the change in the relationship between the other pair. Most importantly, it closes out on another fantastic cliffhanger and a promise of more scenes from Karen’s perspective as she deals with her own revelations.
In Another World, My Sister Stole My Name is such a strong shojo series for so many reasons, and the way in which it tells the story from different characters’ perspectives is a prime example. Those additional viewpoints really enhance the narrative. Especially since they’re naturally woven into things. So these asides don’t feel unnatural. They feel like helpful insights with valuable information.
Volumes 1-4 of In Another World, My Sister Stole My Name is available now, and Yen Press didn’t share a release date for volume 5 of the manga yet.
