House of Five Leaves, Vol. 2

House of Five Leaves #2

by Natsume Ono

Masterless samurai Akitsu Masanosuke was persuaded to join the kidnapping ring “Five Leaves” after drawing the interest of its charismatic leader, Yaichi. At Yaichi’s prompting he becomes employed as a guard for Katsuraya, a house of ill repute. However, after succumbing to illness he withdraws to the country villa of Goinkyo, an associate of the Five Leaves, to recover. While there, he inadvertently learns more about the history of the gang—particularly the gruff but kind Ume—and about the cords that bind each of the members to their pasts. But the more Masa learns, the more the mysteries deepen…

Genres: Manga, Historical Fiction, Seinen, Historical, Graphic Novels, Comics, Fiction

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 27, 2007

About the author

Natsume Ono (Japanese name: オノ・ナツメ) made her professional debut in 2003 with the webcomic La Quinta Camera. Her subsequent works not simple, Ristorante Paradiso, and Gente (a continuation of Ristorante Paradiso) met with both critical and popular acclaim. In 2009 Ristorante Paradiso was adapted into a TV anime series. Her current series House of Five Leaves (Saraiya Goyou), also adapted into a TV anime series in 2010, is running in IKKI magazine.

(http://www.sigikki.com/creators/natsu...)

She also writes BL under the pen name of basso.

Reviews

[Miss Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay cool, the first volume wasn't a fluke. I'm really fond of Masanosuke with his social anxiety and straightforwardness and how that dynamic plays with the rest of the cast. Masa, what are you doing noticing we care about each other, that's not how this game is played! We are all pragmatic thieves and you ought to keep such observations to yourself. What a good cast. Ume comes off really well this volume with the revelation of his backstory; I approve of this trend of secretly good people. My fondness for Masa extends to being interested in his interests so I'm curious about Yaichi too. That's a pretty good trick for getting readers invested in an enigmatic charismatic character who has yet to do much, I'll keep it in mind. Craft a likeable main character and people will want what he wants! I'm glad my library took its sweet time getting this volume, now I have like five more already out to look forward to. 4 stars

[Noninuna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Masa is now on the fence about the job they're doing. He doesn't want to be involved with anything dirty but on the other hand, he also needs the money from the job or else, he would need to start doing hard labour job, which he knows he won't cope up with. I still enjoy it as the story progress. We got to see more of the secondary characters like Matsu, Ume, Otake, Kinu and Yachi & learned of their background story in this volume. And we also learned that these 5 people have their own reasons to be in the Five Leaves.

[eden˙⋆✮ · Rating 2 out of 5]

i'm so split on this. for the first half i was so bored, but then close to the ending i got interested again.

i think i'm mostly interested in masa as a character, and a little bit ichi, and then some in the two's relationship to each other.

it's definitely a well written story with cool and unique illustrations, i'm just not into it. i think... i kinda do wanna know more about masa & ichi, but i don't really care about all the other stuff... ah idk idk

[Alexis Hubsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Character 3.5| Setting 3| Plot 3| Art 5| Enjoyability 3.5

Overall Rating 3.6

Ono gives us more of a character study in these novels than an actual plot, which I'm fine with. I'm having trouble telling a couple of characters apart and it's getting easier as I read more, but boy was I confused earlier.

Slowly, I am learning more about Yaichi, but I can tell he's gonna be more plot-relevant.

I'm interested in where this is going.

[Bryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is too long ago to review the individual volumes, and as I said in my review of the first one, it is not so much any particular volume that I loved -- it is how it all comes together in the end, how the characters arc, the way that the assumptions I started with are not entirely false, but not entirely true either.

[Loz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still really love the sketchy art. Story is interesting. Will keep reading!

[Volkan · Rating 4 out of 5]

İlk kitabın yavaşlığı yok, hikâye derinleşiyor ve yeni karakterlerle daha keyifli hale geliyor. Aynı zaman da Japonya tarihine ait güzel bir okuma.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This continues to be wonderfully delightful, as we get more about Ume and also some insights in Yaichi.

[IneloquentAF · Rating 4 out of 5]

4

[Andrea Aguas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is way more enjoyable than the first one, although the tone and pacing remains the same. Both elements are up to my liking.

[ghadah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did Yaichi fall down the well or did he unalive himself? either way I feel sad for him he was a caring man

[Nathaniel R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The slow burn character drama is at it again. Making me very intrigued in this mangaka's other work. I've also fallen in love with her artstyle. It just feels calm and almost cozy.

[Rob Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent volume in a series that stands out for the brilliance of its spectacular simplicity.

[Utku Atasoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

ume’nin beş yaprağa nasıl dahil olduğu ve motivasyonu aslında karakterlerin özünde kötü değil de gururlu olduğunu gösterirken hikaye oldukça ilgi çekici hale geliyor

[Sara Ghotb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadly, I just don't enjoy this series :(

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loving the artwork very much! Plotwise, this time revealed a backstory about one of the members, the baldy, whom I adored. It's getting more suspense and I wanted to know more about the characters.

[kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are easily some of my favorite printings of any manga, the covers and backs of every volume are bold and stunning!

The art is brilliant, very fitting to the material and time period, it’s like brush strokes (maybe it is?). With the accompanying material, it has a comforting yet sinister quality I really dig. The style, the use of color tone, the storytelling communicated through the panels… is cinematic, its natural and intuitive. We get the full story without being overwhelmed. I kept stopping mid-scene to rave at my partner about how glorious the art is.

The characters are so expressive, the gradual changes in their appearances as they experience internal change is masterful. It’s easy to fall for the members of the gang, each have their own tightly held backstory, skillfully revealed as you move through the series. This isn’t high action, or a bunch of crazy heists, it’s more about the solitude and connections the gang forge in their ragtag found family.

[Shaun · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second volume, our main character gets more deeply involved in the lives of the members of the Five Leaves gang. We learn a little bit more about all of their various backstories by the main character's inquiries into their past lives. Each of the characters' reason for being involved in the gang are, as one could imagine, complicated.

[Lissibith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book. It's still slow, almost entirely talking with only a couple action-y scenes. But the story is starting to develop more deeply, as people begin to trust Masa, our main character, for his straightforwarness, his quiet and his principles. The strands that tie the Five Leaves together are starting to be revealed...

[Mikael Kuoppala · Rating 3 out of 5]

“House of Five Leaves” continues with another extremely slow but tonally rich volume, where we see our protagonist Masa, a shy and introverted Samurai, getting more and more involved in the business of a criminal league. Not much apparent is added into the mix with these chapters, but the series still manages to hold on to its tender tension and unique tone.

[sweet pea · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love this series and am easily drawn in to their world. none of the characters should be likeable. yet i like most of them. the illustrations are unique. her innovative use of panels and gutters keeps things interesting. still very into this story am i.

[Célia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aucune fausse note dans ce deuxième tome, fidèle en tous points à ce que laissait présager le premier opus. Les personnages prennent de l'ampleur et de la profondeur. Aucun regret d'avoir commencé cette série (courte de surcroit).

[Morbus Iff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bought alongside the Borders closing, the first was "eh" and the second was "meh".

[Softreflection · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confusing and slow

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very quiet, thoughtful series. I find the slow build here very soothing.

[Casseroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting more interesting. Drawings have grown on me. Great artwork.

[Krissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the art in this series. The story is engaging too. This volume was a little slow for my liking, but I'm looking forward to continuing with the series.

[Kala · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars