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The brothers pursue fugitive May Chang to solve the mystery of why their alchemical powers were rendered inert while she and Scar continue to be able to wield them. Meanwhile, Scar enlists some unlikely help to delve into the secrets of his brother's alchemical knowledge. And the newest, most horrifying homunculus makes an appearance...!

183 pages, Paperback

First published March 22, 2007

84 people are currently reading
1730 people want to read

About the author

Hiromu Arakawa

355 books2,869 followers
Hiromu Arakawa (author: 荒川弘) is a Japanese manga artist, best known for Fullmetal Alchemist (鋼の錬金術師 Hagane no renkinjutsushi).
Her real name is Hiromi Arakawa (荒川弘美).

Arakawa was born and raised on a dairy farm in Hokkaidō.
She thought of being a manga artist since she was little. After graduating high school, she took oil painting classes while working on her family's farm. During that time, she also created dōjinshi manga with her friends and drew yonkoma for a magazine. After eight years she moved to Tōkyō and started out as assistant writer for Hiroyuki Etō.
Her debut as manga artist is in 1999 with STRAY DOG. In 2001 she started working on her famous and award winning series Fullmetal Alchemist, that soon gets a successful anime adaptation.
Other works include Silver Spoon (銀の匙 Silver Spoon, Gin no saji Silver Spoon).

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5 stars
5,724 (64%)
4 stars
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3 stars
718 (8%)
2 stars
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1 star
15 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 265 reviews
Profile Image for Elena Rodríguez.
1,189 reviews492 followers
February 10, 2022
"I told you before that I can’t wait to see your face smiling again…but I want to see everyone smiling".

De verdad. No quería ponerle la quinta estrella porque sentía que era un tomo de transición a los siguientes que aportarán la acción. Sin embargo, ha sido conocer a este gran personaje y enamorarme, lo juro. Dios es que los personajes femeninos en este manga son de los mejores que he leído en mucho tiempo. Como le pase algo no sé lo que voy a hacer. ¡Qué diosa!

“Race, ethnicity, gender, class…any type of prejudice on the battlefield can only lead to weakness and an increase in casualties. No matter what happens, no matter who is standing by your side, as long as you wear this uniform…you must be prepared to move quickly and decisively as you carry out your superior's order. We must be A SINGLE FORCE! Let nothing weaken our resolve!

Asimismo, vemos como a poco la autora nos va dejando un caminito lleno de enigmas en la historia. El día que exploten me va a dar un paro cardiaco. Si solo conozco una punta del iceberg de esta “verdad” no quiero saber que me encuentro en el resto. Tengo miedo.

“I guess I ask things like that...because I’m sick of my own ignorance”.

Por último, pero no menos importante, las citas y reflexiones de los personajes…cada vez mejor. No puedo sino compartirlas y sentir que estos personajes son más reales de lo que nunca me habría imaginado.

-Till we meet again.
-Till we meet again.
Profile Image for Caroline.
684 reviews966 followers
July 21, 2017
DAMN this series! Every single volume has such excellent endings! I always just want to keep reading. There was so much happening in this volume that had me super excited and on edge. I want to know more about the Red Lotus Alchemist and I want to know more about Briggs base in the North. I want to know more about Xing and the purification arts. Oh man I just have so many questions. Finding it really hard to pace myself with this series because I've just gotta keep reading.
Profile Image for Subham.
3,070 reviews104 followers
June 19, 2021
Great volume again!

As Ed listens to the whole Ishbalan story he firms his resolve to protect his bro and get their bodies back and help Roy in his dreams and so they have to find about the healing arts and he also meets the presidents son, goes north to Drachma border and meets Mira Armstrong whose testing his abilities and judging him. Its a strange thing but surely she wants him to succeed and then there is Red Lotus Alchemist vs Scar and Roy meets someone.

Great volume and its setting up big things to come in the future and challenges for Al will just increase! The art was pretty good again!
Profile Image for Rod Brown.
7,352 reviews281 followers
March 3, 2021
If this were a TV show, it totally feels like the first episode of Season Two. The characters are shuffled around, given new assignments in new settings and set up against new opponents while still trying to work toward their main goals from the first season. We are given a chance to explore the northern reaches of Amestris as the Elric brothers try to track down the fugitives May Chang and Scar.

As always, it's all about the characters. So many characters . . . (Running character count: 35)
Profile Image for Juho Pohjalainen.
Author 5 books348 followers
July 15, 2020
This is where Scar's character growth and eventual redeption hit their full swing. He's beginning to think in the larger scheme of things - no longer content with eliminating State Alchemists one by one (in fact he's sparing one even now!), he sets off to follow his brother's footsteps in figuring out the rotten core of the country they're in. And fight Kimbly, because fuck that guy in particular.

But I do like Kimbly. He's pretty obviously villainous and most likely irredeemable, but you get a good idea of his beliefs and can occasionally agree with him. And he's got style.

Maybe one coincidence too many, though, in getting the Elrics on their way north as well. Just a disguised general and a little foreign girl bumping at one another at a station. I think that could have been managed a little better.
Profile Image for Lashaan Balasingam.
1,475 reviews4,623 followers
September 8, 2021
An intriguing transition arc that sends these characters into the cold areas to the North, looking for answers, slowly setting themselves up on a collision course with unexpected people of interest.

This volume also introduces us to Louis Armstrong's sister and her fierce way to deal with trouble.

Also say hello to a new homunculi who paves the way (hehe) to deeper and darker secrets!

Yours truly,

Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
Profile Image for Anna.
271 reviews19 followers
March 1, 2017
Boh, non ho piú parole per descrivere quanto questa serie mi stia piacendo. Ho appena realizzato di avere ancora solo una decina di volumi da leggere e niente, sono già in crisi. Mi sono cosí affezionata alla storia e alla sorte non solo dei fratelli Elric, ma di ogni altro singolo personaggio. Una saga magnifica.
Profile Image for Laura A. Grace.
1,967 reviews308 followers
July 24, 2022
Excellent volume!!

I didn't realize who it was at first, but the opening page is hilarious!! Once I realized who it was, it totally made me laugh! (And the person who visualizes Al like that is definitely a ship I could get behind!)

It was fun being in a new setting! I'm looking forward to seeing more of it! While not nearly as fun, it was interesting seeing Kimblee. I'm wondering if he is from Xiang potentially because he loos a lot like Lin? Also wondering if maybe he is Pride? (While we see another Homunculi, I don't think that is Pride?) He is a scary character and his love for violence and death makes me so leery. *nervous laughter*

We got more Scar!!!! I can't get enough of him on page and SO excited to see that will be learning more about the purification arts! I'm VERY curious how their alchemy is different then the one the State Alchemists know! Also Scar is the man for telling May she shouldn't be wanting the Philosopher's Stone! Despite their "awkward" relationship/friendship, he really does look after her like a sister and love that about him.

I thought Fort Briggs to be a really interesting place, but was so glad to see a familiar face! Though I will saw Arakawa is AWESOME at making some read epic female characters! Like none of them are light weights, but all are feminine and embrace it while also being able to stand on equal ground with their male comrades. Its a really really cool thing to see in manga, especially for shonen manga!

The talk of race and discrimination is really powerful and sad in this series. It's become more prevalent and really admire Major General Armstrong in what she tells her assistant/right hand man. It shows a lot her character and while this quote was not spoken by her (it was Edward), it resonated with me nonetheless.

"When ethnicity is all you think about, there's bound to be confrontation but if we deal with one another as individuals, then it's possible to treat each other as equals."
Profile Image for Gustavo.
901 reviews16 followers
May 13, 2018
Este tomo es mucho más tranquilo que el anterior que fue bastante intenso, lo cual viene bien para tener un respiro en la historia. Todos se van al norte en busca del conocimiento de la Alkahestria, y encuentran a la hermana de Armstrong, y otro invitado sorpresa al final del tomo.

Me llamó la atención que en el tomo 14 dijera que esto se parece a una partida de ajedrez, y en este tomo esté Mustang diciendo que está en jaque y que tienen hasta a "su reina", aunque supongo que siendo una historia en la que cada bando tiene una estrategia, la referencia podría ser un poco obvia.
Profile Image for Francesca.
132 reviews29 followers
May 19, 2019
Pensare che mancano 10 volumi alla fine di questa meravigliosa serie mi fa male😭😍.
Profile Image for Tesutamento.
804 reviews1 follower
July 9, 2024
Geçiş cildi denebilir. Yeni karakterler, yeni mekanlar derken ileriye dönük bir kurulum yapıldığı açık. Olivier Armstrong ve Kimblee hikayeye yeni dahil olan karakterlerdi.
Profile Image for Becky.
866 reviews75 followers
August 23, 2016
Soooo..... Olivier is amazing.

Also "Col. Mustang is philandering again" is my favourite cover ever.
Profile Image for Aaron.
621 reviews4 followers
August 21, 2025
I think Major General Armstrong and Sir Integra Hellsing would get along real well. This volume also delivers Graman in granny drag and a Scar/Kimblee rematch ON A TRAIN.
Profile Image for Hannah.
75 reviews14 followers
August 2, 2021
I took a break and now struggling to remember what's happening in the series!
Profile Image for Zara.
481 reviews55 followers
July 8, 2023
Probably my favourite one so far.
Profile Image for Tiffany Michele.
Author 5 books19 followers
April 2, 2021
Not much to say that wouldn’t be spoilers! But one of my favorite scenes occurred and I’m a happy fan.
Profile Image for karla⁹ ⛈.
313 reviews50 followers
October 21, 2020
When ethnicity is all you think about, there’s bound to be confrontation. But if we deal with one another as individuals, then it’s possible to treat each other as equals.

major general armstrong step on me, i’m begging you.

Profile Image for Anna.
165 reviews2 followers
January 4, 2020
My queen, Olivier Mira Armstrong, finally makes her appearance!
Profile Image for Just a dreamer.
751 reviews25 followers
April 14, 2022
I had forgotten just how much I loved Col. Armstrong. She's amazing!!
Profile Image for lu ¿ aero.
219 reviews3 followers
June 15, 2023
allora ci sto capendo poco ma quel coso spuntato dal terreno fa paura
Displaying 1 - 30 of 265 reviews

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