We’ve got four reviews on tap this week. Michelle’s up first with Our Kingdom: Arabian Nights (DMP), Melinda praises the eighth volume of Shugo Chara! (Del Rey), Ken checks out the second volume of Soul Eater (Yen Press), and Connie enjoys the developments in volume five of Two Flowers for the Dragon (CMX).
By Naduki Koujima
Digital Manga Publishing, 200 pp.
Rating: Young Adult (16+)
This one-volume spin-off of Our Kingdom stars Raoul, a former supporting character of that series, as he attempts to recover from heartbreak by taking a trip to a swanky Middle Eastern resort. His plans go astray when he is captured by a good-hearted yet foolish prince named Ashif, who plans to use Raoul as a pawn to ensure his sister’s marital happiness.
Raoul is naturally upset at this turn of events and when his temper flares, he takes it out on Ashif in the form of some forcible groping. Unlike some other BL characters who engage in such behavior, however, Raoul wallows in self-loathing because of it. As they spend more time together, Raoul begins to develop feelings for Ashif, who is able to show him good qualities about himself and motivate him to become a better person.
Even without knowledge of Raoul’s time in the main storyline, his desire to move forward from those events is still appealing. So, too, are his uncertainties about Ashif. Being with the prince has helped ease much of Raoul’s bitterness, but their friendship is also a source of anxiety, since Raoul must overcome the compulsion to hang on too tightly to something he fears might slip away.
It’s too bad that the actual plot of the manga cannot support Raoul’s turmoil in any meaningful way, for it is the personification of flimsy and occasionally borders on ridiculous. Secondary characters offer little to the story, and I have absolutely no idea why Raoul’s little sisters are present, unless they are intended to be the comic relief. These flaws ultimately mean that the story isn’t as good as it might have been.
Our Kingdom: Arabian Nights is available now.
–Reviewed by Michelle Smith
By Peach-Pit
Del Ray, 192 pp.
Rating: T (13+)
In volume seven, Ikuto spilled the truth to Tadase about hiding out at Amu’s, sending Tadase running in anger and humiliation. With Ikuto now back in the clutches of Easter, Yoru is desperate for Amu to help, but she’s less than enthusiastic about being expected to save Ikuto once again when she’d rather be taking care of her own problems. Meanwhile, thanks to a visit with Kukai and his brothers, Tadase is reminded that sometimes people don’t say what they mean.
This volume is all about the complexities of growing up and being forced to recognize and respect the reality of life’s gray areas, including those within yourself. While Amu is facing the consequences of her lie being revealed to Tadase, Nagihiko is resigned to living with his, proving that maintaining a lie can ultimately be much more painful than being caught in one. Similarly, Tadase must learn that becoming the person he wishes to be means letting go of long-held grudges and viewing the people in his life (and even the events of the past) with fresh eyes.
From the beginning, Peach-Pit has used the series’ magical girl format as little more than a rough foundation for a much deeper story about trust and self-acceptance. The last couple of volumes have hit this theme hard, particularly in the way they’ve handled the subject of lying—why a person might choose to lie (or not) and what that really means. Unwilling to tell a simple morality tale, this series’ dedication to shades of gray underneath its cheery, bubblegum surface continues to make it a worthwhile read for adults as well as for young girls.
Volume eight of Shugo Chara! is available now.
–Reviewed by Melinda Beasi
By Atsushi Ohkubo
Yen Press, 192 pp.
Rating: Older Teen
The story in the second volume of Ohkubo’s Soul Eater picks up right where it left off, with the combines forces of Soul, Maka, Black Star and Tsubaki on the trail of Dr. Stein. Later, the quartet is introduced to Death the Kid and his weapons, the Thompson Twins, and Soul and Maka encounter a rather odd boy and his sword.
I have to admit I didn’t dislike this volume quite as vehemently as the first, but it’s still far from being a good read. Ohkubo’s introduction of ki chakra soul resonance as a power source for the various characters different abilities was so cliché that I couldn’t help but groan. Once again, the artwork is about the only high point in the book, though the lack of backgrounds in this volume is a bit disappointing given how snazzy they are when they actually appear. Still, the action sequences are a bit more interesting than they were in the previous book, particularly the first portion of the fight with Dr. Stein.
Frankly, I think one of the problems with the series at the moment is that it feels like typical shonen series trying to make up for the lack of substance with a heaping helping of style. Goofy behavior replaces interesting characters, bad humor is crammed in, and overreactions abound in an attempt to turn the wackiness dial up to eleven. Unfortunately, it’s just not enough. The most interesting bits come towards the end of the volume as hints are dropped that indicate some larger menace in on the horizon. Hopefully, this will give it some much-needed direction in future volumes, but it’s too little too late to make this volume anything other than a blah read.
Volume two of Soul Eater is available now.
–Reviewed by Ken Haley
Two Flowers for the Dragon, Vol. 5
By Nari Kusakawa
CMX, 188 pp.
Rating: Teen
After a sudden jump in the level of their relationship, Shakuya and Kuwan grow even closer as the hunt continues for Lucien’s assailant. The trail leads them to the long-dead “Oasis of the Damned” and straight into more trouble as both Kuwan and Shakuya’s father are kidnapped and a treacherous plot is revealed that devastates Shakuya.
While there has always been a serious thread through the plot of the entire series, I was surprised by the dark twist that occurs towards the end of the volume. There were hints that things would get serious, with Kuwan’s attack two volumes ago and the revelation of Lucien’s memories along with a near-death experience in his past, but I wasn’t quite prepared for the excellent overturn in this volume. Saying too much would be a spoiler, but what happens here does change nearly everything about the plot and character dynamics. I have always enjoyed the pleasant, light touch of the narrative and the likable goofiness between the three main characters, so the new darkness will take some getting used to, and it looks like the characters may take awhile to recover, too. I still liked it quite a bit, though. I also liked the introduction of additional dragon lore. The characters have obviously traveled to a foreign country, one with its own legend of the dragon and magic to go along with it. It should make for a very interesting final story arc.
Two Flowers for the Dragon is an excellent fantasy that’s not too heavy or detailed, which also makes it more youth-friendly, but it isn’t so simple that adults can’t enjoy it. It’s a joy to read, and more so every volume as the plot continues to build towards a conclusion.
Volume five of Two Flowers for the Dragon is available now.
–Reviewed by Connie C.
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