House of Five Leaves 3: Volume 3

Description

A many-sided tale of faith and betrayal, drama and intrigue, set in the world of old Edo. Reads R to L (Japanese Style) T+ audience. Masterless samurai Akitsu Masanosuke is a skilled and loyal swordsman, but his naïve, diffident nature has time and again caused him to be let go by the lords who have employed him. Hungry and desperate, he becomes a bodyguard for Yaichi, the charismatic leader of a gang called "Five Leaves." Although disturbed by the gang's sinister activities, Masa begins to suspect that Yaichi's motivations are not what they seem. And despite his misgivings, the deeper he's drawn into the world of the Five Leaves, the more he finds himself fascinated by these devious, mysterious outlaws. Just as Masa is settling into his new life as part of the Five Leaves, the gang’s spy, Matsukichi, vanishes. After discovering that the reticent Matsu’s disappearance is linked to an unresolved difficulty in his past, Masa decides to try to help him. To do so, he enlists the aid of the samurai Yagi. However, Yaichi, the head of the Five Leaves, is not at all pleased with Yagi’s involvement. It soon becomes clear that the two men share a common past—and that something dire has shattered the bond between them. Review: excellent series - If you have read any of Natsume Ono's other work you should know what to expect here. Deep, believable, well developed characters, tight storylines and a unique art style that is easy to follow and conveys a lot of emotion. This series is definitely worth looking into if you liked Not Simple, or Ristorante Paradisio, or if you just want a good period piece or good story in general. Review: Great story - A great story and fantastic art. A slow paced story about a skilled but social awkward samurai .... whats not to love!