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Reviewed by Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane Honestly, I love so much about the way Sand Chronicles presents its web of relationships that it's always a little hard for me to know where to start. The characters are beautifully three-dimensional, and Ashihara writes in a way that allows them to make plausible decisions and mistakes without the narrative either demonizing or excusing them. (The other characters can be a different matter, of course.) Volume 5 picks up three months after Daigo and Ann's last conversation, which ended with him telling her that he'll call her once he figures his feelings out. Three months is an eternity even in a stable long-distance relationship, and Ann is fully aware that, among other things, Shika has fallen in love with Daigo and intends to pursue him. This volume devotes most of its focus to different characters being interested in each other and figuring out their feelings, and it'd be easier to start drawing a diagram than to simply list them all, but that would be too spoilery and miss the point. This isn't a soap opera, and despite the layers of one-sided and mutual-but-difficult loves, the story never gets bogged down or hard to follow. Instead, it raises questions: what does "first love" really mean? What happens when the love you've always relied on isn't necessarily as steady as you thought--especially when it's you who's wavering? When is it time to back away from the relationship you want? And how do you keep living your life when you stop recognizing it? This series continues to be one of the best things I'm reading, hands-down. Volume 5 of Sand Chronicles includes a two-page glossary of terms and cultural notes at the end of the book. 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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