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mogojojo1013's review
5.0
In the year 2045 time travel has already been around for some time, only accessible to an elite group of scholars. Now, they have begun opening that up to students, allowing them to travel back in time to assist in their research.
Mirai and Kuji were selected to join a group that travel back to Japan in the 1800s, and their research goes smoothly until the locals begin to take notice. Now they are both stuck in a time that is not their own, and they have to try and make it back to their own time without making too much of a mess of the past.
This was a very very good book. The illustrations fit the style of the story, though I do wish that color had been added. The story is great, full of mystery and suspense. Violence is very present throughout as this was a time of turmoil in Japanese history, but not so much that it ruins the story.
Mirai and Kuji were selected to join a group that travel back to Japan in the 1800s, and their research goes smoothly until the locals begin to take notice. Now they are both stuck in a time that is not their own, and they have to try and make it back to their own time without making too much of a mess of the past.
This was a very very good book. The illustrations fit the style of the story, though I do wish that color had been added. The story is great, full of mystery and suspense. Violence is very present throughout as this was a time of turmoil in Japanese history, but not so much that it ruins the story.
lezreadalot's review
4.0
Science fiction and historical Japan? Say! No! More!
This was a really well-paced, super engaging read; I devoured most of it during what could have been one of the dullest car rides of my life, and instead turned out to be a great day, because long after I got to where I was going I was thinking about Mirai. Time travelling babe of my HEART. She's pragmatic but brave but realistic but kind, and has got a GREAT jawline, so I'm pretty much in love. I adore time-travelling stories where the protags find themselves thrown into, and influencing momentous events. This novel is like a love letter to teenage me; this era was one of my hyper-fixations, after a history class, a couple books and my nth time rewatching the RK anime. But I love that I don't know exactly what's going to happen next, or what should be happening next (admittedly, I don't think if that's just showing the paucity of my knowledge, or if the author is deliberately drawing on lesser known events in history) and that's genuinely exciting. I'm really looking forward to the next book/conclusion!
P.S. Mirai/Hatsu 4ever but Gilbert can stay too.
This was a really well-paced, super engaging read; I devoured most of it during what could have been one of the dullest car rides of my life, and instead turned out to be a great day, because long after I got to where I was going I was thinking about Mirai. Time travelling babe of my HEART. She's pragmatic but brave but realistic but kind, and has got a GREAT jawline, so I'm pretty much in love. I adore time-travelling stories where the protags find themselves thrown into, and influencing momentous events. This novel is like a love letter to teenage me; this era was one of my hyper-fixations, after a history class, a couple books and my nth time rewatching the RK anime. But I love that I don't know exactly what's going to happen next, or what should be happening next (admittedly, I don't think if that's just showing the paucity of my knowledge, or if the author is deliberately drawing on lesser known events in history) and that's genuinely exciting. I'm really looking forward to the next book/conclusion!
P.S. Mirai/Hatsu 4ever but Gilbert can stay too.
kkierstenn_'s review
2.0
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐
This was a really…interesting graphic novel. The premise is really fascinating and the story had a lot of potential but unfortunately I was a bit disappointed. I did also have the second one from the library so I am currently continuing with the series as it is only a duology. Although I will keep reading this series, I don’t necessarily recommend it.
Plot: ⭐ ⭐
Mirai Yoshida is stuck in Japan of 1864 where she is most definitely not supposed to be. Mirai is an undergraduate student studying Japan and as this novel is set in the future, they have access to time machines. Students studying Japanese history are able to access a time machine so that they can travel and do observations of the past as it is literally happening.
While she is in the past, a mishap occurs and she ends up getting stuck with no way back to the present day. She befriends Hatsu, a tea mistress who believes that Mirai is a samurai that can help escort her safely to where she needs to go. They then both slowly uncover each other's secrets and try to work together to get Mirai back home.
I thought that this was a really interesting concept but unfortunately the plot just felt super uninteresting at times especially because the character development was lacking. Graphic novels are difficult sometimes because you’re telling a story through dialogue and images. However, if done correctly, there can still be those key elements that traditional novels have.
It was just really difficult to connect to the characters and therefore it was hard to care what happened to them.
Art: ⭐
I think that this novel’s biggest downfall was that the art just really wasn’t that great. All of the characters look the same. They really do and therefore it’s really hard to tell them apart. They also hardly have any variety when it comes to facial expressions, action scenes weren’t done well, and the environments were pretty plain. Art is the key element to a graphic novel. If it falls flat…well the story is kind of screwed.
jazzypizzaz's review
4.0
With graphic novels/comics, it seems like either I can't get into it and then question the point of the entire medium, or I'm drawn in and enticed to devour it all at once. This one was the latter. I'm intrigued by the plot and setting (the best way to bother with historical fiction is through time travel imo) and eager for my hold on the second one to come through. With the art, I really liked how the panels allowed time to breathe, simple and spaced out. Character expressions, however, seemed flat or awkward. I also don't understand why either of the women liked Kuji to begin with since he only ever seems like a butt, or what Kuji's whole deal was with his history obsessions, why he cares so much about the antiquated factions of the conflict.
kmfeeney's review against another edition
5.0
I have no idea where I heard about this book but I'm glad it showed up at the library with my name on it.
A fun and interesting time travel gone wrong story. Beautifully drawn. The backgrounds and scenery 😍
A fun and interesting time travel gone wrong story. Beautifully drawn. The backgrounds and scenery 😍
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)