A review by helterskelliter
Land of the Lustrous 1 by Haruko Ichikawa

4.0

In a far, distant future, our world has changed drastically.

After several cataclysmic meteor impacts and another couple millennia, the world is now a watery wasteland, inhabited largely by crystalline beings known as the Lustrous. They draw energy from the light and their gemstone bodies can be put back together if broken.

There is one threat to that can break them — the Lunarians. These creatures want to turn these living gems into decorations.

Most of the harder gems are warriors. Diamonds are at the forefront while softer gems stay behind at the compound.

Phosphophyllite “Phos” is one of the weakest gems.

They are tasked with not fighting but recording a natural history of the current world and the gems that call it home.

It seems like a pointless task.

But, as Phos embarks on this journey, they discover that their fellow gems have their own secret desires. Like Cinnabar, a gem whose skin secretes a silver venom, keeping them isolated from the others.

Phos can’t help but find themselves fascinated with Cinnabar, the gem no one can touch…

This is a wildly bizarre fantasy story for readers who enjoy tales that are truly peculiar. This almost reads be like a fever dream at points. I really like it!