Volumes: 5/5 (Complete), OOP but not hard to find
Shoujo
Genre: Romance, Exorcists, Reincarnation
Note: the plot unfolds with many deliberate twists, but honestly, it’s also kind of a confusing, disjointed messy read. So there are two summaries, one summary for volume 1 to spoil nothing, and one for the overall series that contains mild spoilers to help new readers make sense of the story.
Summary: (Volume 1) Tamaki is the reluctant heir to a line of Exorcists. In this world, those who are consumed with negative emotions, Jashin, turn into Jaki, a sort of demon that can kill others with a thought. An incomplete Jaki can be turned human again, but a full Jaki can only be killed. He tries to learn how to master his abilities while he faces his first two Jaki, Mitsuru-chan, an old childhood friend of his and Asahi’s (his girlfriend), and Souichi, a bullied and sick boy who loves butterflies. In the end, the Gekka reveal themselves- those who have been turning people into Jaki. But for what end?
Mild Spoiler filled summary (highlight to read)
One thousand years ago, there lived a special woman, Suigekka, who could use spiritual magic. She had two brothers by her side, Hira and Saga who both loved her. After her death they both sought to carry on what they perceived as her will and their children split into two family lines. One family became a corrupting influence, that uses Black Magic to get revenge for Suigekka, and the other family became a line of purifying Exorcists that defends humans from Black Magic.
A number of those drawn by a sort of fate gather together: Tamaki, the curent Exorcist heir, the branch families that support the Exorcist with supportive spells, and the Gekka, their enemies. Asahi, Tamaki’s girlfriend, has a secret connection to the two families. And finally, Hira who has managed to use magic to stay alive for a thousand years. All to gather in a final conflict to finally put an end to the story that started so long ago.
Review: The story isn’t bad, but this is Natsuki Takaya’s debut work (of Fruits Basket fame), and it really shows. The beginning is kind of confusing and the story is a bit bogged down by leaving all the Exorcist related terms untranslated. It’s sort of rough and disjointed. That whole plot summary (the second one) is pieced together by a lot of flashbacks and dramatic reveals.
But if you’re willing to slog through the messy story, with a large cast, it is moderately rewarding. Without spoilers, I would say it’s a story about Love, Tragedy, Revenge and then finally Redemption.
I would say the part that really stayed with me was the ending, it was new and refreshing from what I expected, from what is at heart, a story about revenge. I also really appreciated the added epilogue that details what happened to all the other characters after the end of the story, it was a nice touch.
Recommended: This one will probably be of most interest to Fruits Basket fans, if they want to see how her style evolved. As a story on it’s own merits, it’s got it’s moments but overall felt really rough. But it’s somewhat rewarding to read as well.
Age Rating: PG for some violence and deaths.
Other Works by this mangaka (from most to least popular): Fruits Basket, Fruits Basket Another, Twinkle Stars, Liselotte & Witch's Forest, Tsubasa: Those With Wings. Songs to Make you Smile
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