Manga Review
I've finished "Black Bird Vol. 13" by Kanoko Sakurakoji.
Product Description
Reads R to L (Japanese Style), for audiences T+.
There is a world of myth and magic that intersects ours, and only a special few can see it. Misao Harada is one such person, and she wants nothing to do with magical realms. She just wants to have a normal high school life and maybe get a boyfriend. But she is the bride of demon prophecy, and her blood grants incredible powers, her flesh immortality. Now the demon realm is fighting over the right to her hand ... or her life!
Sho’s plans to plunge the world into chaos continue as he targets the Eight Daitengu, hoping to strip his brother Kyo of all his protectors. And now Sho has Hoki, whose secret past makes him easy prey.
Can Hoki stand up to Sho, or will his efforts to aid Kyo backfire?
About the Author
Kanoko Sakurakoji was born in downtown Tokyo, and her hobbies include reading, watching plays, traveling and shopping. Her debut title, Raibu ga Hanetara, ran in Bessatsu Shojo Comic (currently called Betsucomi) in 2000, and her 2004 Betsucomi title Backstage Prince was serialized in VIZ Media's Shojo Beat magazine. She won the 54th Shogakukan Manga Award for Black Bird.
Product Details
Paperback: 200 pages
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (March 6, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1421541777
ISBN-13: 978-1421541778
My Review:
In this volume Sho has Hoki as a prisoner and Kyo and the Eight Daitengu must rescue him. Hoki is in bad shape when they finally find him and needs to be looked after. I'm surprised that Sho didn't kill Hoki. Hoki wants to be by Kyo's side and decides he failed Kyo and shouldn't be at his side. Kyo lets Hoki know he can be by side.
Kyo and Misao are at the compound and are getting frisky when Misao tells Kyo that should take up in their room. She runs to the room and goes in but when Kyo gets there Misao isn't anywhere in the room and he realizes she is inside Sho's forcefield.
Meanwhile Misao is looking inside the room and realizes she is somewhere other than her room. She looks around and sees Sho injured and he sees her too. Her rushes over to her and starts talking to her and asking her to stay with him. Misao starts thinking and realizes she can't leave Sho and wished it was like when they were kids. She finally tells him no and Sho says fine and is starting to walk away when he collapses. Misao rushes over and says to herself , "I'm sorry Kyo" for betraying you! and lets Sho drink from her. He drinks more than he should and when he finally stops Misao is starts to faint. He picks her up and sprouts his wings and flies off.
Kyo and the Eight Daitengu are on the search for Misao when the villagers take Kaede prisoner and ask her where Sho is. She doesn't know while a couple of the Eight Daitengu go scouting and spot their enemies leaving or else slaughtered.
Then Sho arrives where Kyo and the Eight Daitengu are with Misao. He admits he feels stronger and he slaughtered his former allies. Misao awakens and apologies to Kyo for betraying him by letting Sho drink her blood.
Sho and Kyo then start fighting with Kyo winning even though he's still hurt from the previous issue. Then it looks like Sho cuts his own arm off at the end.
The cover is gorgeous as usual and the artwork is beautifully done.
We see a different softer side to Sho trying to convince Misao to stay with him even though she won't love him. He almost had me convinced that he can be a good guy.
I was waiting for a fight between the two brothers and it didn't really disappoint though it was short and brief.
4/5
Thanks Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me this manga to review, greatly appreciated!
Other manga in series:
1. Black Bird Vol. 1
2. Black Bird Vol. 2
3. Black Bird Vol. 3
4. Black Bird Vol. 4
5. Black Bird Vol. 5
6. Black Bird Vol. 6
7. Black Bird Vol. 7
8. Black Bird Vol. 8
9. Black Bird Vol. 9
10. Black Bird Vol. 10
11. Black Bird Vol. 11
12. Black Bird Vol. 12
13. Black Bird Vol. 14 - Jun 5, 2012
