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Reviewed by Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane Ian and Rin used to just see spirits. Now Ian is one. Using the Fairy Cube, Ian must figure out how to stop the lizard-spirit Tokage from taking over his life and destroying any chance he has of resurrection. At three volumes, Fairy Cube is a much tighter story than Kaori Yuki's sprawling Angel Sanctuary (and, I presume, than The Cain Saga/Godchild, although I haven't read those and have been told that they're more coherent than Angel Sanctuary). Yuki hasn't lost any of her touch, though; this is a lush, layered world that blends her imagination and a dense, intricate cosmology with Irish faerie lore. The artwork is delicate and gorgeous, which comes as no surprise to anyone who's read her work before. In this middle volume, Ian and Rin discover some unexpected allies (such as the Irish grandmother of the dead boy whose body Ian is currently possessing), and come to a deeper understanding of just what's been happening around them. Unfortunately, the stakes are higher than they'd realized, and the fate of the world--at least, the world as they know it--may be in their hands. As with many modern stories about faerie, the encroachment of human technology and civilization into nature hasn't gone unnoticed. But things are still intensely personal for the main characters: Ian learns more about his family history and his own identity, and why Tokage hates him so fiercely, while Rin is drawn more and more deeply into the conflict. Kaori Yuki crams an insane amount of detail into her stories, and it's interesting to see that condensed into such a short series. Having only three volumes to work with doesn't keep her from filling it with plot twists, conflicting loyalties, and complex alliances; as a result, it's sometimes a little hard to follow what's going on, but there's never a dull moment. Volume 2 of Fairy Cube includes a gallery of bonus illustrations, featuring the front-piece art from the individual chapters. Review copy provided by VIZ Media. Interested in writing for MangaLife? We're always looking for talented reviewers and columnists, so drop us a line! Charles Webb Editor-in-Chief, MangaLife.com |
1 September 2010
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