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Johnny Bullet
Manga
Record of Grancrest War: Volume 4
By Leroy Douresseaux

August 13, 2019 - 15:50

Publisher(s): Viz Media
Writer(s): Makoto Yotsuba, Satsuki Yamashita Stan
Artist(s): Makoto Yotsuba
Letterer(s): James Gaubatz
ISBN: 978-1-9747-0517-6
$9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K., 160pp, B&W, paperback
Rating: M (Mature)


recordofgrancrestwar04.jpg
Record of Grancrest War Graphic Novel Volume 4 cover image

Rated “M” for “Mature”

Record of Grancrest War is set in a world where the noble elite are supposed to fend off the threat of the terrifying and mysterious force known as “Chaos.”  Instead, these nobles engage in pointless, petty squabbles.  A young mage named Siluca Meletes dreams of bringing justice to the land.  She joins Irvin, a talented fighter and an “Artist,” and Theo, a knight errant with potential, to change the world order via the magical power of “crests.”

Record of Grancrest War, Vol. 4 (Chapters 19 to 25) opens in the wake of Siluca's failed negotiations with the Factory Alliance.  Now, Waldlind leads an attack on the territory that she and Theo have gained, and the petty vengeful lords that lead the invasion do not want to accept a surrender!  Is there anyway out for Siluca and Theo or will their enemies annex their territory and execute them?

THE LOWDOWN:  The Record of Grancrest War manga is an adaptation of the Record of Grancrest War light novel series created by author Ryo Mizuno (who may be best known for the fantasy novel series, Record of Lodoss War).  Writer-artist Makoto Yotsuba's adaptation of Record of Grancrest War can delve into courtly intrigue in ornate graphical storytelling or depict total war in explosive and emotive graphical storytelling.

Record of Grancrest War Graphic Novel Volume 4 focuses on total war.  Previous volumes had focused on diplomacy and on building alliances.  Although the struggle between Siluca-Theo and Waldlind is told in bold pictures and action-oriented graphics, the story's best moments come in the dramatic retelling of the story of how Siluca and her warrior-sister, Aisheal, met.  I hope for more of that in future volumes, but Vol. 4 does offer a killer cliffhanger ending.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Record of Lodoss War may want to join the battle in Record of Grancrest War.

B+
7 out of 10




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