Arata: The Legend Volume 10 cover image is courtesy of barnesandnoble.com.

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Humans and gods coexist in the world known as Amawakuni.  Bullied high school freshman, Arata Hinohara, switches place with an Amawakuni boy who is also named Arata.  Hinohara is chosen to wield a Hayagami (a god in sword form) named Tsukuyo so that he can save Princess Kikuri.  Arata lives on Earth, while Arata Hinohara goes on a life-changing journey.

As Arata: The Legend, Vol. 10 begins, Hinohara is faced with a stunning revelation.  He is the reincarnated King of Hinowa, the one who will save Princess Kikuri and change the world.  Now, Hinohara begins his journey to Utsuroi, the territory of Lord Yataka, joined by his companions Kotoha, Kannagi, Kanate, Mikusa, and Rami.  Along the way, however, a chance encounter with a desert phenomenon causes a strange switcheroo.

THE LOWDOWN:  The best way to describe my feelings about the Arata: The Legend manga is mixed.  There are times when I find the narrative to be too mired in the series’ internal mythology and terminology.  Then, there are volumes like this Vol. 10 in which creator Yuu Watase engages the characters, the dilemmas, their conflicts, and the quests in a way that makes the reader want to keep turning pages.

You want secrets revealed?  Secrets are revealed here.  Seriously, the chapters contained in Vol. 10 reveal that when this epic fantasy is on, it is a good read.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Readers looking for the kind of epic fantasy that takes them on a journey will want Arata: The Legend.