A review by books_and_fairy_lights
Shuna's Journey by Hayao Miyazaki

adventurous reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

It was really great to read Miyazaki's work as a manga/graphic novel (especially as it's the only one he made). The illustrations were stunning and the storytelling masterful. It was, 100%, a quest narrative, but one done really well, with everything flowing pretty swiftly without anything being rushed.
The themes are very Miyazaki too (relation to the environment, greed, ...), and so are the protagonists (strong female, nuanced and ambi uous "hero"). There was no clear cut moral, but rather observations and reflections, from which the reader can take whatever they want, which makes for a super interesting and definitely enjoyable read.
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