oliviak07's review
3.0
Another case of immediately judging the book by it's cover (which could you blame me, fellow visualists), Alison Wilgus's "Chronin, Vol. 1: The Knife at You Back" was nothing to detest, but it did not blow me away either. Instead, I felt myself feeling rather approving of the first in the series, but not enough to immediately tell everyone about it.
If it was the illustrator's goal to make everyone monotone when it comes to appearance (and even gender) I appreciate it for the equality and cohesiveness needed to right the wrongs of their time traveling adventure, but it did take some time truly identify a character as soon as they entered a page. Maybe it is on my personal part of being a budding reader of the genre, and if it is it can only get quicker in time!
I am curious about the rest of the series, but I am not going to track it down immediately. I am sure that Wilgus has something enticing in store for her readers, and for that I am continuously fascinated.
If it was the illustrator's goal to make everyone monotone when it comes to appearance (and even gender) I appreciate it for the equality and cohesiveness needed to right the wrongs of their time traveling adventure, but it did take some time truly identify a character as soon as they entered a page. Maybe it is on my personal part of being a budding reader of the genre, and if it is it can only get quicker in time!
I am curious about the rest of the series, but I am not going to track it down immediately. I am sure that Wilgus has something enticing in store for her readers, and for that I am continuously fascinated.
epersonae's review
5.0
Maybe there's an extra layer that I might've gotten if I were knowledgeable about either manga or Japanese history, but a thoroughly enjoyable tale nonetheless. It unfolds in a really satisfying way, gradually revealing the connections between the characters, the way that time travel (yes, I enjoyed a time travel story!) plays out through the plot. Lots of emotional and plot tension, and of course lovely art, with expressive faces and delicate landscapes. Will definitely be getting book 2!
jhstack's review
3.0
An interesting time travel/historian tale, but some of the art (characters/backgrounds) left something to be desired, even with the manga inspiration. (e-galley via NetGalley)
eyelit's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
tylepard's review
4.0
A young woman in a time-traveling program at a New York university in 2045 dresses as a samurai and gets stuck in 1840s Japan.
jmanchester0's review
3.0
What just happened? You know I hate cliffhangers - and since this is a duology, I should have realized there was a major to be continued.
I‰ЫЄll just have to wait until the next issue to find out what happens.
The Madison Mega Marathon Goodreads Group January 2019 was to choose a book by it‰ЫЄs cover‰Ы_so I thought I might pick up this comic from Netgalley, because the cover looked really cool - old and new; ancient samurai in the digital age?
This was interesting, if a bit hard to follow. The art wasn‰ЫЄt bad - but it wasn‰ЫЄt my favorite either. But it was good enough and interesting enough to want to find out how it ends.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for a copy in return for an honest review.
I‰ЫЄll just have to wait until the next issue to find out what happens.
The Madison Mega Marathon Goodreads Group January 2019 was to choose a book by it‰ЫЄs cover‰Ы_so I thought I might pick up this comic from Netgalley, because the cover looked really cool - old and new; ancient samurai in the digital age?
This was interesting, if a bit hard to follow. The art wasn‰ЫЄt bad - but it wasn‰ЫЄt my favorite either. But it was good enough and interesting enough to want to find out how it ends.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for a copy in return for an honest review.
nwhyte's review
3.0
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3495734.html
It's an interesting story of Japan just before the Meiji Restoration, with a woman from 2042 masquerading as a samurai and a time-travel screw-up potentially erasing our version of history. The plot is intriguing enough, and has some good gender-bending twists, but I'm afraid I found the art (also by the author) rather deficient; it was difficult to tell several of the key characters apart, and they sometimes seemed rather awkwardly posed, which rather distracted me from what was going on.
It's an interesting story of Japan just before the Meiji Restoration, with a woman from 2042 masquerading as a samurai and a time-travel screw-up potentially erasing our version of history. The plot is intriguing enough, and has some good gender-bending twists, but I'm afraid I found the art (also by the author) rather deficient; it was difficult to tell several of the key characters apart, and they sometimes seemed rather awkwardly posed, which rather distracted me from what was going on.
glassesgirl79's review
4.0
A super quick graphic novel telling the story of two college grad students from 2045 who find themselves stuck on 1846 Japan. Mirai and Kuji were classmates as well as a couple who were chosen to participate in a pilot program which allow them to travel back on history. Initially, their experience was going well until a differing of opinions between Mirai and Kuji to break up. After their break up, Kuji returns to 1864 Japan and begins a relationship with tea mistress Hatsu while Mirai disguises herself as a man and works in Japan doing delivery work.
Hatsu likes Mirai and asks her to act as her bodyguard during a trip to Kyoto. While Mirai says no at first, she soon relents and accompanys Hatsu. During their first night of travel, Hatsu discovers that Mirai is actually a woman and is furious with her and this act of betrayal. As the two women retreat to their room to argue, they are ambushed by a group of men. It is during this attack that Mirai and Kuji reunite.
Hatsu, Mirai and Kuji are all confused regarding how they all connect and therefore, Mirai and Kuji explain to Hatsu that they are from the future and how they ended up in the past. Although Hatsu is apprehensive, she decides to believe them due to how ridiculous the story they tell is.
While Mirai longs to return to her present time, she is unable to do so since she and her classmates were ambushed then killed and her time travel beacon was lost in the river during the attack. Mirai and Kuji make a pact to meet in Kyoto is twenty four days and then part ways. As Mirai and Hatsu continue their journey to Kyoto, Mirai saves a Englishman from being killed and he then joins their traveling party to Kyoto.
Once Mirai and Kuji meet in Kyoto, it becomes apparent the Kuji is there to change history while Mirai wants to go home. Only time will tell which person will get what they want and regardless, whatever decision that’s made will not only effect 1846 but the future as well.
This was an enjoyable read although I would have appreciated a note a the beginning of the book to let the reader know that conversations on brackets (e.g <>) means that the characters are speaking in English.
Hatsu likes Mirai and asks her to act as her bodyguard during a trip to Kyoto. While Mirai says no at first, she soon relents and accompanys Hatsu. During their first night of travel, Hatsu discovers that Mirai is actually a woman and is furious with her and this act of betrayal. As the two women retreat to their room to argue, they are ambushed by a group of men. It is during this attack that Mirai and Kuji reunite.
Hatsu, Mirai and Kuji are all confused regarding how they all connect and therefore, Mirai and Kuji explain to Hatsu that they are from the future and how they ended up in the past. Although Hatsu is apprehensive, she decides to believe them due to how ridiculous the story they tell is.
While Mirai longs to return to her present time, she is unable to do so since she and her classmates were ambushed then killed and her time travel beacon was lost in the river during the attack. Mirai and Kuji make a pact to meet in Kyoto is twenty four days and then part ways. As Mirai and Hatsu continue their journey to Kyoto, Mirai saves a Englishman from being killed and he then joins their traveling party to Kyoto.
Once Mirai and Kuji meet in Kyoto, it becomes apparent the Kuji is there to change history while Mirai wants to go home. Only time will tell which person will get what they want and regardless, whatever decision that’s made will not only effect 1846 but the future as well.
This was an enjoyable read although I would have appreciated a note a the beginning of the book to let the reader know that conversations on brackets (e.g <>) means that the characters are speaking in English.
etienne02's review
2.0
Disappointment of the year? Might be! What I thought would be an amazing fantasy/science-fiction story about samurai finally end up being a contemporary book about sexually diversity with a slight touch of science-fiction. Not what I was going in for. Maybe I was badly inform. I mostly goes in book that pick my curiosity not knowing too much to not get spoiled in any way but I should have background check this one a bit deeper. I won't continue and regret buying it... I should't forget to mention that I really like the art style, kind of minimalist blank and white, but truly pretty, that was the best element of the book for me!