A review by kkierstenn_
Chronin Volume 1: The Knife at Your Back by Benjamin A. Wilgus

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.