jazzyjan94's review
5.0
This review appears on my blog: https://confessionsofabookwormweb.wordpress.com/2020/09/09/mini-reviews-6/
Children of the Whales is an interesting fantasy post-apocalyptic manga. This was a great introduction to the series, I loved getting to know Chakuro and the rest of the people that live on the Mud Whale and how their lives are shaken up by the arrival of Lykos, who’s existence is surprising to the people on the Mud Whale and could be a threat to their very existence. 5/5 Stars.
Children of the Whales is an interesting fantasy post-apocalyptic manga. This was a great introduction to the series, I loved getting to know Chakuro and the rest of the people that live on the Mud Whale and how their lives are shaken up by the arrival of Lykos, who’s existence is surprising to the people on the Mud Whale and could be a threat to their very existence. 5/5 Stars.
jenglandk's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
raccoonsinatrenchcoat's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
khazal_k's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
helterskelliter's review
4.0
“I write for the future.”
The Mud Whale drifts in an endless sea of sand.
It is a floating island, home to a little under 600. On this island city, there are those who don’t possess special powers and those who possess magic—called thymia. The magic users have reduced life spans while those without magic live long lives, becoming elders of the community eventually.
Emotions are strictly forbidden. Leaving the Mud Whale except on scouting missions is forbidden—and dangerous. The sand dunes could easily swallow you whole without proper preparations.
Rule-breakers are sent to the “belly” of the island.
Chakuro is the Mud Whale’s archivist. He records the community’s stories, careful not to be too sentimental. Mainly, he records lives and deaths. He is also a thymia user—but not so great at it. Because he has a reduced life span, he wants to ensure he leaves as many records as possible for those who will come behind him.
The prior generations left so few records.
When the Mud Whale comes across another floating island suddenly, they send a scouting team. On that mission, they discover the other settlement mostly abandoned, save for one girl. She’s very weak but clearly skilled in using thymia.
When the girl is brought back to the Mud Whale, the elders immediately sequester her. They question her and quickly discover she was a soldier—was supposed to be one. Her emotions are subdued, her skills sharp. She begs to be returned to her island. Warns of coming danger.
Chakuro wants to know all about this girl. Who she is and the world beyond the Mud Whale.
But, what may be uncovered?
This is a beautiful and comprehensive start to a series. The world is expansive and the characters are distinct, offering different insights into the human condition. Already, I can see this series shaping up to be a profound one.
Definitely recommend for anyone who likes high fantasy stories with a slant towards exploring the human condition~
The Mud Whale drifts in an endless sea of sand.
It is a floating island, home to a little under 600. On this island city, there are those who don’t possess special powers and those who possess magic—called thymia. The magic users have reduced life spans while those without magic live long lives, becoming elders of the community eventually.
Emotions are strictly forbidden. Leaving the Mud Whale except on scouting missions is forbidden—and dangerous. The sand dunes could easily swallow you whole without proper preparations.
Rule-breakers are sent to the “belly” of the island.
Chakuro is the Mud Whale’s archivist. He records the community’s stories, careful not to be too sentimental. Mainly, he records lives and deaths. He is also a thymia user—but not so great at it. Because he has a reduced life span, he wants to ensure he leaves as many records as possible for those who will come behind him.
The prior generations left so few records.
When the Mud Whale comes across another floating island suddenly, they send a scouting team. On that mission, they discover the other settlement mostly abandoned, save for one girl. She’s very weak but clearly skilled in using thymia.
When the girl is brought back to the Mud Whale, the elders immediately sequester her. They question her and quickly discover she was a soldier—was supposed to be one. Her emotions are subdued, her skills sharp. She begs to be returned to her island. Warns of coming danger.
Chakuro wants to know all about this girl. Who she is and the world beyond the Mud Whale.
But, what may be uncovered?
This is a beautiful and comprehensive start to a series. The world is expansive and the characters are distinct, offering different insights into the human condition. Already, I can see this series shaping up to be a profound one.
Definitely recommend for anyone who likes high fantasy stories with a slant towards exploring the human condition~
jackierabbit's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
lauraleamariereads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
hue's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
Oh my, I'm so excited! I tried the anime years ago but it didn't really click but the manga is SO much better! The plot is interesting and layered, the world is so strange and unique, the explanations are so worth it and not the least info-dumpy. And the art is so beautiful it's insane. Definitely going to devour this as quickly as I can.
Spoiler
Also, the ending was just as traumatic as I remembered from the anime lol.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, Gun violence, Murder, Terminal illness, and Violence
readingrobin's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is one of those first volume manga that absolutely leaves you hanging at the end, where you're practically desperate to get to the next volume to get either answers or to see the fallout of the ending. The world of the manga is intriguing, taking place on a moving island amidst a sea of sand, inhabited by people who are able to wield magic powered by their emotions. It's a mystery as to how they got on this island, one that the manga will eventually explore, which is introduced very compellingly.
altlovesbooks's review
5.0
I started this series a few years ago, but with college I fell off a lot of manga series that I had been following, and I'm only now going back through and catching up. This is one that I had been meaning to revisit and finish for a while now, because the art and story were both incredibly unique. I don't know if Abi Umeda has any artbooks or anything out there, but I would absolutely purchase them if so.
This particular series starts out following Chakuro, a young archivist for the Mud Whale, a floating community of several hundred residents adrift on an endless sea of sand. Most of the residents are marked, people able to wield magic (or "thymia") that is heavily influenced by the user's emotions. Because of this, emotions are reined in, kept in check, and otherwise frowned upon by most of the residents. Chakuro chronicles the day-to-day happenings on the Mud Whale for future residents, as all people considered marked live short lives. The Mud Whale happens upon a small island, and Chakuro accompanies a small band of residents to go scope it out for potential salvage opportunities. It's there that we're introduced to a mysterious young girl that seems to recognize the Mud Whale, but who is immediately detained by the elders. The arrival of this young girl has a dramatic impact on the residents, however...
I thought the story was unique, and while it does have a bit of a slow start (almost a slice of life story, albeit in a unique environment), I think the cliffhanger ending more than makes up for it. I also thought the art style was incredible, as I'm a sucker for wide shots, full page shots, and great scenery. There's quite a lot of mystery packed into the story already, and I'm excited to unpack this complex story!
This particular series starts out following Chakuro, a young archivist for the Mud Whale, a floating community of several hundred residents adrift on an endless sea of sand. Most of the residents are marked, people able to wield magic (or "thymia") that is heavily influenced by the user's emotions. Because of this, emotions are reined in, kept in check, and otherwise frowned upon by most of the residents. Chakuro chronicles the day-to-day happenings on the Mud Whale for future residents, as all people considered marked live short lives. The Mud Whale happens upon a small island, and Chakuro accompanies a small band of residents to go scope it out for potential salvage opportunities. It's there that we're introduced to a mysterious young girl that seems to recognize the Mud Whale, but who is immediately detained by the elders. The arrival of this young girl has a dramatic impact on the residents, however...
I thought the story was unique, and while it does have a bit of a slow start (almost a slice of life story, albeit in a unique environment), I think the cliffhanger ending more than makes up for it. I also thought the art style was incredible, as I'm a sucker for wide shots, full page shots, and great scenery. There's quite a lot of mystery packed into the story already, and I'm excited to unpack this complex story!