Manga Review: Vinland Saga, Book 2, by Makoto Yukimura

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Release Date: 2014
Volumes: 17+
Spoilers?: No.
Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble.
Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

ENGLAND AT WAR

The foolish King Ethelred has fled, and Askeladd's band is one of hundreds plundering the English countryside. Yet victory brings no peace to the elderly Danish King Sweyn, who worries that his untested, sensitive son Canute will never be ready to take the throne. The king's attempt to force his son to become a man places the young prince within the grasp of the gleeful killer Thorkell! Whoever holds Canute holds the key to the thrones of England and Denmark – and Askeladd has his own reasons for joining the fray!

"With its rich visual details, emotional pull and strong characters, this historical epic is an instant winner." - Anime News Network

Winner of the Japan Media Arts Awards Grand Prize for Manga and the Kodansha Manga Award

From the acclaimed author of Planetes

Review:

I must say that it has taken me way too long to get around to reading this series. It’s definitely worth picking up, for sure, and I need to hurry that up.
Askeladd is leading his band of Vikings around, invading territory and killing people and stealing. They’re all very unashamed of it all, and quite terrible, too. Askeladd knows what he’s doing, though, and is smart about it. It doesn’t shy from how terrible they are, though, and what they do to the people in the villages that they take.
Thorfinn is tagging along with him, having made a deal. Thorfinn is a good fighter, but he’s simply waiting till he’s better, getting stronger until he can beat Askeladd. I do think that Thorfinn needs to work on the smarts, though, as he’s not that good at tactics yet.
We meet a few new characters, but I’m not sure who’s going to be sticking around. I do want to see more of Ylva, though, because she’s a great character.
I’m hoping to pick up the next one soon. I really need to catch up with this series.

Wishlist Thursday[125]: Vinland Saga, Book 6, by Makoto Yukimura

Vinland Saga 6 by Makoto Yukimura

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: September 22, 2015

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

Volume: 1. 7.

Add on Goodreads.

RightStuf Synopsis:

As Canute plots to become ruler of the entire Danish world, Thorfinn's only ambition is to see a harvest profitable enough to buy his own life back. But the fates of prince and slave will come together once again, as Canute plans to seize Ketil Farm from its kindhearted master. What sinister tricks does the have up his sleeve, and could they dash Thorfinn's hopes for freedom? Meanwhile, Einar's infatuation with Arnheid takes an unexpected turn when her former husband - an escaped slave - barges onto the farm, insisting she run away with him...

Why?:

I will admit to falling so behind on this series. But I’m intending to catch up soon, because it’s definitely a series worth reading. It’s beautiful, the storyline so interesting and violent and complex. I’m not even a fan of historical, but the Vikings have me intrigued. Plus, hardcover editions with a color page? They’re so gorgeous.

There was a pause before this volume is being released, and now the sales on this volume and the next will decide whether more will be released. I’m not even caught up and I don’t want this series discontinued. The price has been low on Amazon lately, and I hope that it does well.

Also, I love the cover of this volume. It's intense and beautiful.

Is this on your list?

Manga Review: Vinland Saga, Omnibus 1, by Makoto Yukimura

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: October 2013

Volumes: 14+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

FOR HONOR AND VENGEANCE

As a child, Thorfinn sat at the feet of the great Leif Ericson and thrilled to wild tales of a land far to the west. But his youthful fantasies were shattered by a mercenary raid. Raised by the Vikings who murdered his family, Thorfinn became a terrifying warrior, forever seeking to kill the band's leader, Askeladd, and avenge his father. Sustaining Throfinn through his ordeal are his pride in his family and his dreams of a fertile westward land, a land without war or slavery...the land Leif called Vinland.

Review:

I have heard a lot of good things about this series, so of course I had to pick up a volume. It is definitely a pretty volume, hardcover with color pages—very nice to look at and hold. That in itself has made me want to collect the series.

The first chapter did not really pull me in, to be honest. It mostly had me confused—and I’m not sure if that was getting thrown into the Vikings world so fast, or if I just wasn’t in the right mindset. Because I took a break before reading any more of the volume, and when I got back to it, I was pretty hooked.

The artwork is very pretty, and very realistic. And going with that, the Vikings are pretty brutal. They’re violent, and they’re not afraid to be.

We meet a few characters at the beginning of the volume, mainly Thorfinn and Askeladd. Thorfinn is a young adult, and he’s a mentally wounded guy out for revenge. Askeladd is the leader of his troop, and a very strong warrior. And then we get thrown back to Thorfinn’s past, and we meet his family and see why he’s so wounded inside.

And honestly, I really enjoyed reading Thorfinn’s past. It’s very real, and heartfelt, and also horrible. His family and his village is great, and I really hope that we get to see more of them, especially his sister Ylva.

That arc seems to end at the end of this volume, and I am really interested to see where the story goes next. There are a lot of possibilities for the plot, and I’m excited. I’m impressed, and looking forward to picking up the next volume.