Wordspells

[riari]

Loveless: A Review.

I have just finished reading the first volume of Loveless. And here's my lousy attempt at a review.

Loveless Vol. 01
ISBN: 1-59816-221-7
Publisher: Tokyopop

Loveless is a manga about words, spell battles, and a murder mystery. The main character is twelve year old Aoyagi Ritsuka. Seimei, Ritsuka's older brother, was murdered and left in Ritsuka's classroom. Ritsuka, having transfered to a new school, has only been there for a day before he meets up with a friend of Seimei's, Agatsuma Soubi. In the process of taking photos, making memories as Ritsuka calls them, a bond is made and a spell battle fought. Soubi, as it turns out, was Seimei's Fighter Unit and he and other Fighters can engage in spell battles fought with words. There's hints that this Septimal Moon has murdered Seimei. And Septimal Moon wants to bring Ritsuka in and is sending pairs of people to do so.

This manga is interesting in the way it presents its characters. Ritsuka is depressed (withdrawn) and unsure of himself. He only has memories from he was ten and forward. The psychologists watching his session debate whether it is a personality switch or something so shocking happened to him in his past that made him forget the years before. Ritsuka wants to see more of Soubi but he doesn't want to see him at the same time. He's conflicted. Ritsuka also doesn't believe that he himself is Ritsuka. That the "Aoyagi Ritsuka" of before will come back. This is driven into him daily as his mother insists that he isn't Ritsuka.

Agatsuma Soubi is enigmatic. He confuses Ritsuka. Ritsuka believes Soubi is twisting his words and lying to him. Soubi loves Ritsuka and as his Fighter he will obey any command that Ritsuka gives. Soubi knows more of Septimal Moon but is forbidden to say anything of it. And he's only eighteen but he's already lost his ears. Before you go "wha..?", the cat ears and tail are a symbol of virginity.

There's a relationship between Ritsuka and Soubi right now is one of Master and Servant, Sacrifice and Fighter. Sacrifices takes the restrictions and damages that the Fighters dish out. Soubi already loves Ritsuka and Ritsuka both doesn't want to like but he does likes Soubi.

Tokyopop did pretty good with the presentation. There's even a nice color plate in the beginning. I don't like the font that they're using for the title, but that's me. And I'm not sure of the translation choice for Septimal Moon. (Is that what Nanatsu no Tsuki translates to? I thought it was Seven Moons. I guess it means the same though. Hmmm.) Word of warning though, Ritsuka's thought bubbles are tiny, so you might have to bring the book closer to read those. That will improve over the next few volumes but I think volume one had the worst amount of small text to read. And there is lots of text, some of it a bit close to the binding.

Overall, its a good series and one that I'm waiting impatiently to get the newest volume to. (I have the five volumes in Japanese and the sixth on its way soon.) Also, read the epilogue written by Christine Boylan. She's the English Adapter according to the credits but she puts the whole words have power idea better than I can.

Thank you for reading through the rambling. ^_^

Comments

[lantyssa.livejournal.com]

I think Seventh Moon would be a better translation. Since that sounds more like a title than a name to Western thinking though, they probably opted for Septimal.

Can I borrow it some time, please? I am curious about the series.

[riari.livejournal.com]

Sure! I told Justin he could borrow it, so feel free to read it too. ^_^ I'll bring it up tomorrow.

I'm not sure what Septimal Moon is really, but it does seem more of a group than an actual person. I still think of it in the Japanese words though than the English translation of it. ^_^ That's what I get for watching the anime/listening to the audio dramas. :>

[lantyssa.livejournal.com]

Yeah. There are plenty of names I would rather they leave untranslated.