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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.
illyanarasputin's review against another edition
4.0
Give this a read!
Solid historical fiction story! Reads smooth and fun. Have the second one right next to me, going to pick it up right now so I can figure out what happens.
Solid historical fiction story! Reads smooth and fun. Have the second one right next to me, going to pick it up right now so I can figure out what happens.
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!
sailsgoboom'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.
sistermagpie's review
5.0
I really liked how this time travel story--like the art--is essentially simple and straightforward. The implications of the events (messing with the space/time continuum!) are huge, but the story itself is nicely contained among the characters in the story, all of whom I really liked. I don't know a lot about Japanese history, so I appreciated how information was given to me in a way that felt organically sparse while still telling me what I needed to know.
Definitely on the edge of my seat for volume II!
Definitely on the edge of my seat for volume II!
aquavenatus's review
4.0
The volume of this new series about the cautions surrounding time travel should not be missed by readers and fans of both graphic novels and manga. Alison Wilgus presents an excellent story in "Chronin: Volume 1: The Knife at Your Back." Anyone who enjoys reading about anything Japanese should read this book.
After the introduction, the story goes on to follow a samurai who doesn't behave like a samurai. Given the era and the circumstances, Minoru Yoshida manages to blend into Edo, Japan in 1864. When he is approached by a local woman to be a bodyguard during a brief journey, he accepts not realizing that all of his secrets will be revealed.
Readers will enjoy the blend of the two art styles, Eastern and Western, the author uses throughout this series. While this type of story has been told before, the gender bending and the culture of the time eras are what drive the narrative more than the cliched "stuck in the past with no way to get home" storyline readers have gotten used to. Yet, readers will enjoy this book because it's the first in a series, and they will crave the next volume.
Alison Wilgus provides a different narrative in this historical fiction comic, but there will be just as much emphasis on the culture and the events of the past as there will be on the characters we meet throughout the narrative. If the story doesn't capture your attention, then the artwork will. I hope the author sticks with the way she tells the story because I'm already looking forward to the next one, and I don't want to be disappointed.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
After the introduction, the story goes on to follow a samurai who doesn't behave like a samurai. Given the era and the circumstances, Minoru Yoshida manages to blend into Edo, Japan in 1864. When he is approached by a local woman to be a bodyguard during a brief journey, he accepts not realizing that all of his secrets will be revealed.
Readers will enjoy the blend of the two art styles, Eastern and Western, the author uses throughout this series. While this type of story has been told before, the gender bending and the culture of the time eras are what drive the narrative more than the cliched "stuck in the past with no way to get home" storyline readers have gotten used to. Yet, readers will enjoy this book because it's the first in a series, and they will crave the next volume.
Alison Wilgus provides a different narrative in this historical fiction comic, but there will be just as much emphasis on the culture and the events of the past as there will be on the characters we meet throughout the narrative. If the story doesn't capture your attention, then the artwork will. I hope the author sticks with the way she tells the story because I'm already looking forward to the next one, and I don't want to be disappointed.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.