KAMUI Volume 2

When Atsuma defeats an atanan and saves NOA cadet Anzu, he gains both unwanted fame and a follower. Despite an unwillingness to respond to Anzu's admiration, Atsuma relents and takes her to NOA's annual ball. But there are some who see Anzu as a way to strike Atsuma where he is most weak. With NOA's annual ball approaching, their plan could unleash a devastating reaction.

Atsuma is a teenage hero infused with the mystical properties of an ancient sword, a gift that comes in handy during his quest to reclaim the stolen sacred spirit of his village. Falling in with NOA, a group of similarly empowered youths, Atsuma is immersed in a volatile live fire-training exercise that confronts him with a powerful evil spirit, a conflict won by his potent spell casting. Smitten by the dashing newcomer, NOA cadet Anzu pursues Atsuma and ends up as his date to the organization's annual ball, an event that will culminate in a plan to strike down Atsuma when he least expects treachery. The second volume in this shoujo series is a fairly fast-paced hybrid of teen romance and X-Men histrionics supplemented with highly stylized artwork that gene-splices the pretty figures common in girls' manga with the trappings of many other entries in the sci-fi/action genre. Setting and backstory are both given short shrift. For a novice reader it could be a frustrating ride since its success is dependant upon having read the previous installment. There is a sparse recap at the beginning, but it is difficult to follow the material based on such cursory notes. (Feb.)
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