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クジラの子らは砂上に歌う [Kujira no kora wa sajō ni utau] #2
Children of the Whales, Vol. 2
Algo precioso y olvidado largo tiempo atrás, subsiste entre la arena, oculto bajo el barro...
Los jóvenes de la Ballena de Arcilla, la enorme isla barco que vaga a la deriva por un interminable mar de arena, sueñan con descubrir un mundo más allá del inhóspito desierto. Chakuro, el archivista de la nave, impulsado por su insaciable curiosidad, quiere dar respuesta a los enigmas de la isla, y Ôni, líder de los topos de las Entrañas (una banda de jóvenes conflictivos), huir de ella. La mayor parte de los habitantes de la Ballena muere en torno a los 30 años; ambos tenían depositadas sus esperanzas en el mundo exterior, pero lo que se aproxima es su condena.
Los jóvenes de la Ballena de Arcilla, la enorme isla barco que vaga a la deriva por un interminable mar de arena, sueñan con descubrir un mundo más allá del inhóspito desierto. Chakuro, el archivista de la nave, impulsado por su insaciable curiosidad, quiere dar respuesta a los enigmas de la isla, y Ôni, líder de los topos de las Entrañas (una banda de jóvenes conflictivos), huir de ella. La mayor parte de los habitantes de la Ballena muere en torno a los 30 años; ambos tenían depositadas sus esperanzas en el mundo exterior, pero lo que se aproxima es su condena.
192 pages, Paperback
First published April 16, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
March 2, 2018
Check out more manga and graphic novel reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...
As the second volume of a manga this volume continues the storyline started in the previous volume. I have comparable feelings toward it as I did for the first volume. THERE WILL BE MINOR REFERENCES TO PREVIOUS VOLUME - read with care... See my review of volume one...
In an endless desert floats the Mud Whale, an island city of clay moving by magic, containing a small community where most die young their life spans cut short by their own magic. Chakuro diligently chronicles their lives... This all changes when he meets a young girl and they are suddenly attacked by an Empire! What will be the citizens of Falaina do?!
The pace of this dystopian manga slows slightly as we look in on all the different characters we were so expertly introduced to in volume 1! I didn't mind this turn of events as they EACH play a part in resisting the outcome of this attack... We get to see up close and personal what different groups of people decide to do!
Chakuro is drafted into the fight in defense of his friend. Ouni and the outcasts step up when they are attacked on their side. Suou is drafted to bring order to the people. Lykos must decide which side she will fight on! And we meet new characters on the opposing side with a connection to the mud whale!
I was really amazed at how personal and intimate this story suddenly became. Instead of Chakuro providing the main link between these people this time we get to see them all working together in their own ways. A couple minor characters step up and they are really fascinating!! This sudden focus on the other characters around Chakuro totally dispelled the minor worry I had from the previous volume!!
I really felt for Lykos but that was amplified when I realized (through the volume) the extreme powers that she is proposing to pit herself against!! AND THE ART characterized the Empire so well!! And the fight scenes were even better... GAH!!! The art is just so, so gorgeous... I NEED to have the volume for myself so I can really pour over the individual frames... But the harlequin army is truly special!!
I really enjoyed the end of the volume... it is a bit of a cliffhanger but the best part was I DIDN'T guess where it was going even though the foreshadowing was really excellent from the previous volume!! That's just how I like my plot, tense and surprising with tons of feels!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Authenticity
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tension
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Plot
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Art
BOTTOM LINE: I'm raring to see what happens with this dystopian fantasy war!! Let's do it!!
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. This has not influenced my opinion.
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You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my manga and graphic novel reviews in a special feature called Saturday Morning Cartoons...
May 23, 2020
The art is lovely but I don’t think I’m liking the plot very much, I’ll give 1 more volume a go and see...
August 2, 2018
4.5 stars.
Guyyss it got even better!
I already love these characters so much, even though we haven't gotten to know all of them super well yet, and I'm so glad there's plenty more volumes to get through because nothing here is rushed, it's all super well-paced, and the story is so cool, and none must die or I will cry.
Why isn't this talked about more?
Guyyss it got even better!
I already love these characters so much, even though we haven't gotten to know all of them super well yet, and I'm so glad there's plenty more volumes to get through because nothing here is rushed, it's all super well-paced, and the story is so cool, and none must die or I will cry.
Why isn't this talked about more?
June 8, 2024
The artwork is really gorgeous, on every page. They are the perfect vehicle for this so sensitive story.
The Children of the Whales is really full of emotion and you can't help but care immensely about the characters.
The Children of the Whales is really full of emotion and you can't help but care immensely about the characters.
June 22, 2024
AHHHHHHHHH
August 29, 2022
It’s a very odd exercise to attempt reconciling this series’ lushly beautiful visuals with the violence and grim dark things happening on the page. Same for the characters who seem split between the kind and naive type to cruel and sadistic. All deliver this with beautiful angelic faces though. The fast pace enables this to be an uncomfortable page-turner that’s hard to look away from. This volume slows down a lot unfortunately, it starts with a bang, continuing volume 1’s action but slow down to a crawl and ends before anything can happen .
April 26, 2020
It’s back to the Mud Whale! Volume 2 of Children of the Whales. Come to find out that all the residents aboard the mud whale are actual descendants of criminals, which unbeknownst to its citizens, have been charged with extermination after 93 years! What?! How unfair. Seriously. And now all these innocents are being slaughtered. There seems to be a thing called a Nous that seems to be the driving heart of the desert ships (mud whales) and is this structure, which feeds off the emotions of its residents, that the elders wish to target for an unimaginable plot end to this particular volume. Can Chakaro save them all? A simple archivists who’s main talent is from write....
February 24, 2019
4.5 ★
This manga is full of absolutely stunning artwork that I just can’t get enough of! The world itself is intriguing and I’m really enjoying the story so far. Can’t wait to pick up the next one!
This manga is full of absolutely stunning artwork that I just can’t get enough of! The world itself is intriguing and I’m really enjoying the story so far. Can’t wait to pick up the next one!
August 14, 2019
The low grade here reflects my struggle to read manga, not the book itself.
I struggle to distinguish between different characters in live action, so I'm finding it really hard to follow stylized characters from a culture different to my own. This is a failing on my part, not on the author's.
If this is a kind of story telling that works with your brain, then I would highly recommend this series.
I struggle to distinguish between different characters in live action, so I'm finding it really hard to follow stylized characters from a culture different to my own. This is a failing on my part, not on the author's.
If this is a kind of story telling that works with your brain, then I would highly recommend this series.
October 25, 2021
2,5 cunfused stars
I'm debating giving this 2 or 3 stars. Because it really confused me, and while a lot happened, not enough happened plot wise
This story picks up where the other one ended. We are trust into a battle scene where a lot of stuff is happening.
Overall I was very cunfused about this story, but the artwork was beautiful. I don't know if I wanna pick up the next volume in the series
I'm debating giving this 2 or 3 stars. Because it really confused me, and while a lot happened, not enough happened plot wise
This story picks up where the other one ended. We are trust into a battle scene where a lot of stuff is happening.
Overall I was very cunfused about this story, but the artwork was beautiful. I don't know if I wanna pick up the next volume in the series
June 23, 2020
Der Band fährt definitiv die von 0 auf 100 in weniger als 20 Sekunden-Schine. Und ich mag es.
Im Vergleich zum ersten Band finde ich in etwas weniger emotional, aber mir gefällt es sehr gut, wie den Ereignissen genug Raum gegeben wird, sich voll und ganz entfalten.
Und ich bin sehr auf den nächsten Band gespannt. Das Ende fällt für mich definitiv in die Kategorie mieser Cliffhanger.
Im Vergleich zum ersten Band finde ich in etwas weniger emotional, aber mir gefällt es sehr gut, wie den Ereignissen genug Raum gegeben wird, sich voll und ganz entfalten.
Und ich bin sehr auf den nächsten Band gespannt. Das Ende fällt für mich definitiv in die Kategorie mieser Cliffhanger.
March 31, 2022
3.5*
Was this cliffhanger really necessary? 😭 Okay Abi Umeda, you have my attention haha, I’m gonna give this series a go!
Plot picked up a little bit compared to volume 1 but not enough to my liking and I don’t really care about the characters so far… 😬
Was this cliffhanger really necessary? 😭 Okay Abi Umeda, you have my attention haha, I’m gonna give this series a go!
Plot picked up a little bit compared to volume 1 but not enough to my liking and I don’t really care about the characters so far… 😬
June 16, 2024
This series is just so good OH MY GOD. The art style is incredibly beautiful, the character are so interesting and this plot won't let you breathe for a second. Also, shout out to me for reading volume 1 over 18 months ago but still remembered what happened. Love that for me.
April 30, 2018
La storia si sta facendo MOLTO interessante! 😎
Spero però che l'autrice chiarisca alcune cose relative al passato dei nostri protagonisti...
Spero però che l'autrice chiarisca alcune cose relative al passato dei nostri protagonisti...
January 18, 2019
4.5 ⭐️ this is just getting more intense and I’m loving it. It definitely is taking me for a ride i wasn’t expecting, some of it is scary but it’s also very heart touching. The art and words stick to u like glue and I’m invested in this manga so bad.
February 23, 2022
The excitement sorta fell off for me in this one, i had nuestras feelings towards it, i may read the 3rd one later
March 12, 2024
4,5/5 Un bon deuxième tome qui lève des mystères et en pose d'autres. Et avec toujours une fin en cliffhanger, c'est pas très gentil
July 16, 2024
Me voilà toute triste...
September 21, 2024
Les dessins polalaa 🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻
Par contre je sens que je vais encore plus chouiner que pour l'anime 🥲
Par contre je sens que je vais encore plus chouiner que pour l'anime 🥲
November 25, 2024
hermoso
December 21, 2023
I'm hooked. The art is gorgeous. The story is so heartbreaking and intriguing.
September 19, 2024
Y'all I am RIPPING through these, currently on volume 8 as I update this. Boy it is sad though.
January 18, 2019
The second volume of Children of the Whales continues where the first left off - them being attacked by some Empire. Seems like the place they were exiled from came back to finish them off, and at first, I thought it may have been because they were thymia users, but soldiers of the imperial army also use thymia. Now, the residents of the Mud Whale have to fight for their life, and they are given a respite, but time for them is going to run out soon with decisions being made by the council of elders.
The short lives of the thymia users play a role in the politics of the Mud Whale, as the power lies with those who don't use thymia (longer lifelines). But the protectors are the outcasts, and they manage to fight back and hope to stop the decisions of this council. Also, the girl they picked up? She starts talking a bit about what life is outside, and we also get to know little about the imperial army that attacked them. The story is more dynamic this time around, with more pieces in play.
The artwork continues to be impressive, but I am hoping for clarification on how the clothing and appearance of the Empire and the Mud Whale are so different considering they have had less than a century of separation. Overall, a sequel that is better than the first book.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Viz Media LLC, via Edelweiss.
The short lives of the thymia users play a role in the politics of the Mud Whale, as the power lies with those who don't use thymia (longer lifelines). But the protectors are the outcasts, and they manage to fight back and hope to stop the decisions of this council. Also, the girl they picked up? She starts talking a bit about what life is outside, and we also get to know little about the imperial army that attacked them. The story is more dynamic this time around, with more pieces in play.
The artwork continues to be impressive, but I am hoping for clarification on how the clothing and appearance of the Empire and the Mud Whale are so different considering they have had less than a century of separation. Overall, a sequel that is better than the first book.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Viz Media LLC, via Edelweiss.
December 1, 2023
« Si une telle tristesse est possible en ce monde… que cette scène soit la dernière dont je sois le témoin…et que ma piètre vie prenne fin ici. »
Ce deuxième tome approfondit l'intrigue et la complexité de l'univers créé par Abi Umeda. Dès les premières pages, on se retrouve plongé dans une suite d'événements haletants qui révèlent davantage de secrets sur le passé mystérieux de la Baleine de Glaise. Les enjeux de la survie de cette communauté prennent une nouvelle dimension, amplifiant le sentiment d'urgence qui imprègne l'histoire.
Les personnages continuent de se développer : leurs relations évoluent de manière crédible, créant des liens émotionnels plus forts entre eux. Les dilemmes moraux auxquels ils sont confrontés ajoutent une profondeur psychologique.
Umeda parvient à maintenir une tension constante, équilibrant l'action, l'exploration des relations et les éléments fantastiques de son récit.
Côté visuel, les illustrations sont toujours aussi belles. Les détails minutieux des décors et des expressions des personnages contribuent à rendre chaque page captivante et vivante.
Ce deuxième tome approfondit l'intrigue et la complexité de l'univers créé par Abi Umeda. Dès les premières pages, on se retrouve plongé dans une suite d'événements haletants qui révèlent davantage de secrets sur le passé mystérieux de la Baleine de Glaise. Les enjeux de la survie de cette communauté prennent une nouvelle dimension, amplifiant le sentiment d'urgence qui imprègne l'histoire.
Les personnages continuent de se développer : leurs relations évoluent de manière crédible, créant des liens émotionnels plus forts entre eux. Les dilemmes moraux auxquels ils sont confrontés ajoutent une profondeur psychologique.
Umeda parvient à maintenir une tension constante, équilibrant l'action, l'exploration des relations et les éléments fantastiques de son récit.
Côté visuel, les illustrations sont toujours aussi belles. Les détails minutieux des décors et des expressions des personnages contribuent à rendre chaque page captivante et vivante.
October 22, 2018
This volume/series is definitely a quick read, but at the same time the artwork on some of the pages is si detailed and captivating that you get lost in it for longer than you intended.
The story co tunes nicely in this volume and the main characters are built upon nicely. We learn quickly who Lykos really is, and I'm glad it isn't dragged out too long.
Unfortunately at the end of the last volume and beginning of this one we had many inhabitants of the Mud Whale die, including some of the main characters, but the send off for them, and later when Neri shows Chakuro where their souls go, both scenes are really quite beautiful.
I really liked that this volume had a character/ plot summary at the beginning, amid again the afterword was also good, not too long, nor pointless.
I look forward to where this series will lead.
The story co tunes nicely in this volume and the main characters are built upon nicely. We learn quickly who Lykos really is, and I'm glad it isn't dragged out too long.
Unfortunately at the end of the last volume and beginning of this one we had many inhabitants of the Mud Whale die, including some of the main characters, but the send off for them, and later when Neri shows Chakuro where their souls go, both scenes are really quite beautiful.
I really liked that this volume had a character/ plot summary at the beginning, amid again the afterword was also good, not too long, nor pointless.
I look forward to where this series will lead.
August 12, 2019
A solid 3 star read. I think I'll go watch the anime instead of reading the manga. This feels like a story I want to watch while it moves instead of it happening in static pictures.
August 2, 2020
I need the next one!
December 17, 2021
This story is all about kindness, isn't it?
It sounds funny to say that when there is so much bloodshed, carnage and chaos in this volume, but it's true. The only way these characters are able to keep going, to keep fighting and pressing on, is through their kindness for each other. I don't believe I read any of them speak or think about "I want to live" in this volume, and none of them particularly showed it besides Lykos. All of them fought to protect the ones that they love and care about. Perhaps Lykos was learning to love herself as well as Chakuro, Sami, and the others.
Speaking of the others, I want to talk about Ouni. When he speaks about "is there anything worth saving here?", somehow, his words, actions, and response show to me the opposite of what he is saying. He's lost so much hope and he's been so hurt, but he's far from broken, and the very fact he can feel so down and so emotionally scarred is that he had cared so, so deeply. And even now, he feels a kindness and a desire toward his ambitions and his loved ones. All he's known has been dashed, he has to find a new light from his embers. Chakuro was right, he saw right through Ouni when he called him out on his words being lies, and that's precisely why Ouni got so overly offended and defensive.
Furthermore, I feel as though the eye patch captain man whose name I forgot, serves as a very good foil for Ouni's character development. He's a very strong man, technically on the same side as Ouni while still opposing him enough to fight. But their personalities couldn't possibly be any more different. The captain boasts of having few to no regrets, enough to match his regard for his own life. Ouni, on the other hand, while brooding and seemingly somewhat pessimistic on the surface, he has a strong and burning will to live as well as for others to live. He feels deeply for things and others but is afraid to admit it, even to himself. The captain appears to feel very little, be it through repression, exposure to the Nous, or being born that way. Regardless, his lack of feeling and his views on what he does feel for can serve to bring out what Ouni is hiding.
All in all, I can't wait for more.
It sounds funny to say that when there is so much bloodshed, carnage and chaos in this volume, but it's true. The only way these characters are able to keep going, to keep fighting and pressing on, is through their kindness for each other. I don't believe I read any of them speak or think about "I want to live" in this volume, and none of them particularly showed it besides Lykos. All of them fought to protect the ones that they love and care about. Perhaps Lykos was learning to love herself as well as Chakuro, Sami, and the others.
Speaking of the others, I want to talk about Ouni. When he speaks about "is there anything worth saving here?", somehow, his words, actions, and response show to me the opposite of what he is saying. He's lost so much hope and he's been so hurt, but he's far from broken, and the very fact he can feel so down and so emotionally scarred is that he had cared so, so deeply. And even now, he feels a kindness and a desire toward his ambitions and his loved ones. All he's known has been dashed, he has to find a new light from his embers. Chakuro was right, he saw right through Ouni when he called him out on his words being lies, and that's precisely why Ouni got so overly offended and defensive.
Furthermore, I feel as though the eye patch captain man whose name I forgot, serves as a very good foil for Ouni's character development. He's a very strong man, technically on the same side as Ouni while still opposing him enough to fight. But their personalities couldn't possibly be any more different. The captain boasts of having few to no regrets, enough to match his regard for his own life. Ouni, on the other hand, while brooding and seemingly somewhat pessimistic on the surface, he has a strong and burning will to live as well as for others to live. He feels deeply for things and others but is afraid to admit it, even to himself. The captain appears to feel very little, be it through repression, exposure to the Nous, or being born that way. Regardless, his lack of feeling and his views on what he does feel for can serve to bring out what Ouni is hiding.
All in all, I can't wait for more.
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