Repainted in red hues, this image became the final cover.

TRINITY BLOOD: REBORN ON THE MARS, VOL. 1 – THE STAR OF SORROW

TOKYOPOP
AUTHOR: Sunao Yoshida
ILLUSTRATIONS: Thores Shibamoto
TRANSLATION: Anastasia Moreno
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Jai Nitz
ISBN: 978-1-59816-953-9; paperback
192 pp., B&W illustrations, $7.99

Trinity Blood is a sci-fi/gothic fantasy novel series created by the late Japanese author, Sunao Yoshida.  Yoshida divided the series into two sets of novels, Rage Against the Moons being the first and Reborn on the Mars being the second.  The novels are also the source material for a 24-episode anime series and a currently ongoing manga series.

Trinity Blood is set in a distant indeterminate future, about 900 years after an apocalyptic event left the world in ruins.  Civilization is reborn, but now humans (called “Terrans”) share the new world with vampires (called “Methuselah”).  The primary human power is the Vatican in Rome, which was largely responsible for getting humanity back on its feet.  However, over time, secular human rulers and governments begin to feel confidence again and become increasingly dismissive of the Vatican, the very institution that has protected them and nurtured humanity.  The Vatican must also deal with the “New Human Empire,” which covers Southeastern Europe and is actually a vampire kingdom.

Trinity Blood Reborn on the Mars, Vol. 1 – The Star of Sorrow finds Vatican Special Ops AX Agent Abel Nightroad on a secret mission in the Hungarian principality of Istavan.  The city is also located at sort of a border crossing between the human kingdoms and the New Human Empire.  Passing as a priest, Father Abel Nightroad is in Istavan to spy on the activities of Lord Gyula Kadar, the Marquis of Hungary, a vampire who maintains a brutal rule over Istavan.

Father Abel joins forces with a young nun, Esther Blanchett, who is the secret leader of the Partisans, human insurgents fighting Gyula and his lackeys, the Istavan City Military Police.  Unbeknownst to any of these participants, there is a third player plotting to ferment war between Terrans and Methuselah.  His weapon of choice is a lost technology from before Armageddon.  What is the Star of Sorrow?

THE LOWDOWN:  Although a light novel for juvenile readers, The Star of Sorrow is a fast-paced espionage thriller filled with edgy suspense and enough battle scenes to keep older readers on their toes.  Jai Nitz has adapted Sunao Yoshida’s novel into vivid English language that is either stark or colorful as needed.  The gothic horror vibe is prevalent and flavorful, but doesn’t overwhelm this plot-driven tale.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  The violence and occasional innuendo mark this as a novel for older teen sci-fi or gothic horror readers, but considering the media to which some ‘tweens are exposed, this may be appropriate for them.

B