By the Grace of the Gods Manga Volumes: 14 in English (16 in Japan)
Here’s the quick answer: as of June 2026, By the Grace of the Gods has 14 English manga volumes available, with 16 volumes published in Japan. The series is ongoing, so more volumes are on the way.
If the term “isekai” is new to you, it’s a Japanese word meaning “another world” — it describes stories where a character is transported or reborn into a fantasy world. That’s exactly what happens here. The manga is based on the light novel by Roy — a light novel being a short, illustrated Japanese novel that often serves as the original source material for manga and anime adaptations. The manga artwork is by Ranran. It’s been serialized (released chapter by chapter) in Manga UP!, a digital manga magazine app from Square Enix, since November 2017. The English edition is published by Square Enix Manga & Books.
The English translation has been steadily catching up, currently sitting about two volumes behind the Japanese release.
If you’re planning to collect the whole run, fourteen volumes is a very manageable starting point — not too short to feel incomplete, and not so long that it’s intimidating to jump into. Each volume runs roughly 180 pages, so you can read one in a single sitting.
Complete English Volume List
Below is the full list of all 14 English volumes. The table includes Japanese release dates where available. Note that the JP release date for Volume 13 was not available at the time of writing — the dash indicates missing data, not a missing volume. All 14 volumes are published and available in English. The English editions typically release several months after their Japanese counterparts.
| Volume | JP Release | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vol 1 | June 2018 | Series begins — Ryoma is reborn into a fantasy world and discovers his talent for taming slimes in a quiet forest |
| Vol 2 | October 2018 | Ryoma begins interacting with the local townspeople |
| Vol 3 | April 2019 | Ryoma’s slime skills attract wider attention |
| Vol 4 | October 2019 | Town life expands, new friendships form |
| Vol 5 | April 2020 | Ryoma’s business ventures take shape |
| Vol 6 | December 2020 | Further community building and everyday developments |
| Vol 7 | June 2021 | Continuation of Ryoma’s daily life and adventures |
| Vol 8 | February 2022 | New challenges and slime discoveries |
| Vol 9 | September 2022 | Ryoma’s world continues to grow |
| Vol 10 | March 2023 | More community connections and crafting |
| Vol 11 | October 2023 | Story continues with new encounters |
| Vol 12 | March 2024 | Expanding Ryoma’s role in the community |
| Vol 13 | — | Ongoing storyline developments |
| Vol 14 | March 2025 | Latest English volume, released June 16, 2026 |
A few things to note about the release pattern:
- The manga first began serialization in Japan in November 2017, with the first collected volume published in June 2018. It has been running for about eight years now.
- Japanese volumes have released at roughly a 4–8 month cadence, though the gap between volumes can vary.
- The English editions currently trail Japan by about 2 volumes, which is a pretty small gap as manga translations go. You won’t be waiting forever for new content.
- Volume 14, the most recent English release, came out on June 16, 2026.
What Is By the Grace of the Gods About?
By the Grace of the Gods — known in Japanese as 神達に拾われた男, roughly meaning “The Man Picked Up by the Gods” — is an isekai series with a premise that starts familiar but goes somewhere genuinely relaxing.
A middle-aged Japanese office worker (called a “salaryman” in Japan — think of a white-collar employee grinding through long hours at a corporation) dies and is reincarnated into a fantasy world by three benevolent gods. Rather than becoming an overpowered hero or charging into world-ending battles, he — now a young boy named Ryoma Takebayashi — ends up living alone in a forest, where he discovers a passion for taming slimes.
Yes, slimes. And not in a combat-heavy way. Ryoma figures out that slimes can be incredibly useful — cleaning, construction, pest control, you name it. His quiet forest life eventually leads him to a nearby town, where his unusual skills and kind nature help him build connections and start small businesses.
The tone here is what sets this series apart. If you’ve seen the term “slice-of-life” before, that’s exactly what this is — a story focused on everyday, low-drama moments rather than epic battles. The conflicts are low-stakes. Nobody’s trying to destroy the world. The appeal is watching Ryoma find happiness in small accomplishments, build relationships with good people, and live the peaceful second life he never had.
If you enjoy series like Campfire Cooking in Another World or Farming Life in Another World — two other isekai manga built around peaceful, everyday activities rather than fighting — this hits a very similar mood. It’s comfort food manga — warm, gentle, and genuinely pleasant to read. The kind of series you pick up when you want to unwind rather than get your adrenaline pumping.
That said, it’s not without substance. The story touches on themes of loneliness, overwork, and finding meaning in life — Ryoma’s past as an overworked office worker isn’t just backstory filler. It gives his peaceful new life real emotional weight. Readers who’ve experienced burnout or workplace exhaustion may find his second chance surprisingly resonant.
Is the Manga Still Ongoing?
Yes, the manga is still ongoing. It’s currently serialized in Manga UP!, with no announced end date.
Here’s where things stand:
- Japan: 16 volumes published
- English: 14 volumes published (from Square Enix Manga & Books)
- Gap: 2 volumes — meaning English readers are relatively close to caught up
- Release pace: New Japanese volumes come out roughly every 4–8 months
The source material — Roy’s light novel series — is also still ongoing, which means the manga has plenty of story left to adapt. There’s no indication the series is wrapping up anytime soon.
The series also has an anime adaptation (an animated TV series based on the same story). The anime aired for two seasons and is available on streaming platforms like Crunchyroll. If you watched the anime and want more of Ryoma’s story, the manga is a great way to continue — it covers material beyond what the anime has adapted so far, and it lets you enjoy Ranran’s artwork at your own pace. For viewers wondering where to pick up after the anime, starting from Volume 1 is recommended since the manga includes details and scenes the anime skipped.
For collectors, the ongoing status is worth keeping in mind. You can comfortably start collecting now knowing that new volumes will continue to arrive, and the two-volume gap between English and Japanese releases means you won’t be left hanging for long stretches.
Where to Buy By the Grace of the Gods Manga in English
The English volumes of By the Grace of the Gods are widely available through major retailers. You can find both physical and digital editions without much trouble.
Physical copies are available at retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The series is published in standard single-volume format — each book is one volume, roughly the size of a small paperback (about 5 × 7.5 inches), which is the typical manga size you’ll see on bookstore shelves. There are no collected editions (multiple volumes bundled into one thicker book) or deluxe versions currently known for this series, so you’re collecting volume by volume.
Digital editions are available for all released volumes through platforms like BookWalker (a digital manga store popular with manga readers, no subscription required — you buy individual volumes) and other major digital storefronts including Kindle and Kobo. If you prefer reading on a tablet or phone, digital is a great option — and it saves shelf space if you’re collecting multiple series at once.
The latest English volume — Volume 14 — released on June 16, 2026, making it a solid time to jump in or catch up if you’ve fallen behind.
By the Grace of the Gods, Vol. 14
Starting Your Collection
For anyone starting from scratch, fourteen volumes at standard manga retail pricing is a reasonable investment. Since there are no box sets or collected editions available, you’ll be picking up individual volumes. A good approach is to grab the first volume or two to see if the tone clicks for you before committing to the full run. You can find Volume 1 by searching for “By the Grace of the Gods Vol 1” at any major book retailer. Given how gentle and easygoing this series is, most readers know pretty quickly whether it’s for them — and for the right reader, it’s incredibly easy to keep going.
One helpful note: if you’re buying physical volumes, check availability before assuming every volume is in stock. Older volumes in ongoing series sometimes go through brief periods where they’re temporarily out of stock while the publisher prints more copies. Digital editions don’t have this issue, so they’re a reliable backup if a specific volume is hard to find in paperback.
Is This Series Right for You?
By the Grace of the Gods is best suited for readers who want a calm, feel-good reading experience. If you’re looking for intense action or high-stakes drama, this isn’t the right fit. But if you want a story about a kind person building a quiet, fulfilling life in a fantasy world — with an absurd amount of slime-related creativity — this series delivers exactly that.
Whether you’re a fan of relaxing isekai stories looking for your next cozy read, an anime viewer who wants to continue Ryoma’s story on the page, or someone brand new to manga who wants a friendly entry point, By the Grace of the Gods is a wonderfully warm series that’s easy to collect and even easier to enjoy. Grab Volume 1 and see for yourself — Ryoma and his slimes are waiting.