Manga Review: Children of the Whales, Volume 5, by Abi Umeda

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: July 2018

Volumes: 13+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 3. 6.

Goodreads Synopsis:

In this postapocalyptic fantasy, a sea of sand swallows everything but the past.

In an endless sea of sand drifts the Mud Whale, a floating island city of clay and magic. In its chambers a small community clings to survival, cut off from its own history by the shadows of the past.

The people of the Mud Whale have fought off the forces of the Allied Empire—for now—and their only hope for continued survival is to find an ally from beyond the Sea of Sand. So when the bombastic Captain Rochalízo sails his ship alongside their island, Mayor Suou is ready and eager to befriend the stranger. But even if Rochalízo can offer asylum, they have no way to navigate. That is, until the mysterious Aíma begins unlocking the Mud Whale’s secrets for Chakuro…

Review:

Some new inhabitants arrive on the Mud Whale at the start of this volume. They're a bit brash and rude, though they clearly have few options. The Mud Whale inhabitants make an equally bad impression at the beginning, and it's questionable whether they can help each other or if one has bad intentions.

Lykos has been acting weird for most of this volume, and we find out why at the end. She reveals something about the Mud Whale that is not good. It makes sense, as they are all cursed to live there, but it makes things even more complicated. And more interesting, to me.

As the islanders figure out more about how to control the island, they equally discover unsettling truths about the island and themselves. Sprinkled among that are thoughtful moments, and beautiful scenes.

I don't mind this series, and even enjoy parts of it, though I'm only somewhat following.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!