A total rush for manga fans seeking something off the beaten path.
Battles and intrigue ensue in this sequel.
Jumping in right where Volume 1 of this manga series dropped off, this latest entry shows that opposing factions are still vying for control of young Sano’s mysterious powers, encapsulated in his ebony arm known as Arodihs, the Arm of Merlin, God of Sorcery. There’s a new arrival: dark-skinned, pigtailed Opal Wantmore, a plucky girl with a curious pedigree who is seeking a lost tourist. A rebel faction plans to overtake Newgarth, the young sorcerers’ guild, and they have nefarious intentions for the fates of Sano and Arodihs that leave Black Bottom Island and the realm of Eden on the edge of ruin. Oguguo’s graphic fantasy ratchets up the intensity with frenzied fight scenes and high-octane action culminating in more teasers and burning questions for later installments. Presumably to flesh out subsequent entries, a bewildering number of characters are introduced (some literally dropped from the sky), but with its action-driven plot, this may be little more than a quibble. Included is a short glossary that helps to explain some of the intricacies of Sano’s world; hopefully this will be expanded in later volumes. Manga otaku should find much to enjoy in the diverse cast of characters and intricate plotting. The black-and-white illustrations depict main and secondary characters with both dark and light skin tones.
A total rush for manga fans seeking something off the beaten path. (Manga. 12-16)Pub Date: Nov. 8, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-7603-7691-1
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Rockport Publishers
Review Posted Online: Sept. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
A lushly written story with an intriguing heart.
After praying to a Fate for help, Evangeline discovers the dangerous world of magic.
When her father passes away, Evangeline is left with her cold stepmother and kind but distant stepsister, Marisol. Despite inheriting a steady trust in magic, belief in her late mother’s homeland of the mystical North (where fantastical creatures live), and philosophy of hope for the future, her dreams are dashed when Luc, her love, pledges to marry Marisol instead. Evangeline desperately prays to the Prince of Hearts, a dangerous and fickle Fate famed for his heart that is waiting to be revived by his one true love—and his potentially lethal kisses. The bargain they strike sends her on a dark and magical journey throughout the land. The writing style fluctuates from clever and original to overly verbose and often confusing in its jumble of senses. While the pervasive magic and concept of the Fates as a religious system add interest, other fantasy elements are haphazardly incorporated without enough time devoted to building a cohesive world. However, the themes of love, the power of story, family influence, and holding onto belief are well rounded and add depth. The plot contains welcome surprises, and the large cast piques curiosity; readers will wish more time was spent getting to know them. Evangeline has rose-gold hair and, like other main characters, reads as White; there is diversity among the fantasy races in this world.
A lushly written story with an intriguing heart. (map) (Fantasy. 12-16)Pub Date: Sept. 28, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-26839-6
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
Fast-moving and intriguing though inconsistent on multiple fronts.
Kids endure rigorous competition aboard a spaceship.
When Babel Communications invites 10 teens to participate in “the most serious space exploration known to mankind,” Emmett signs on. Surely it’s the jackpot: they’ll each receive $50,000 every month for life, and Emmett’s mother will get a kidney transplant, otherwise impossible for poor people. They head through space toward the planet Eden, where they’ll mine a substance called nyxia, “the new black gold.” En route, the corporation forces them into brutal competition with one another—fighting, running through violent virtual reality racecourses, and manipulating nyxia, which can become almost anything. It even forms language-translating facemasks, allowing Emmett, a black boy from Detroit, to communicate with competitors from other countries. Emmett's initial understanding of his own blackness may throw readers off, but a black protagonist in outer space is welcome. Awkward moments in the smattering of black vernacular are rare. Textual descriptions can be scanty; however, copious action and a reality TV atmosphere (the scoreboard shows regularly) make the pace flow. Emmett’s first-person voice is immediate and innocent: he realizes that Babel’s ruthless and coldblooded but doesn’t apply that to his understanding of what’s really going on. Readers will guess more than he does, though most confirmation waits for the next installment—this ends on a cliffhanger.
Fast-moving and intriguing though inconsistent on multiple fronts. (Science fiction. 12-16)Pub Date: Sept. 12, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-399-55679-1
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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