 | | ▪ | RELEASED BY: | | TOKYOPOP UK | | | ▪ | AUTHOR / ART: | | DA-MI SEOMOON | | | ▪ | FORMAT: | | ENGLISH / B&W | | | ▪ | PAGES: | | 188 | | | ▪ | RATING: | | 13 | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 10/09/2007 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 12/13/2007 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | SANDRA SCHOLES |
Fifteen-year old Ha-Ru Shin attends a boarding school in Seoul and is far too much of a worrier for her own good, and has secrets she keeps inside. Her friend at school knows she is highly psychic, wanting her to enter a school competition, yet Ha-Ru does not wish to be the centre of attention at school as they might consider her unnatural.
Much to her half-sister's jealousy, Ha-Ru receives a letter when she gets back informing her she must go away and take part in the Ancestral Rites that year, and she must attend with her. Ha-Ru's grandfather spoke to her of the males in her family have been robust mystics and that is the reason for her being so like them psychically. While out with her friends, Ha-Ru encounters a young male with long, black locks, dressed in a white robe and arcane jewellery as though he was not from that time period. Thinking he is a cosplayer, she dashes after him, but is cautioned by her friends when she is nearly hit by an oncoming bus. She is more startled that the mystery male suddenly disappears before her eyes, leaving her to question whom he might have been. On the day she embarks on her journey by boat to her real home for her ceremony, everyone who meets her eventually admires her and is ecstatic to have her back where she belongs, and a celebration is started in her honour. At the mansion house, they eat attended to by servants while Ha-Ru tells them about the family running the island, the boats, everything, and when the responsibility of inheriting the family business falls to Ha-Ru, Mi-Ru has to face an unfair decision made already by her family which ultimately forces her apart from her sister in a most awful way. Rure captures the heart as a realistic story becoming the eventual fantasy of an outcome for Ha-Ru who will go on to fulfil her birthright as the heiress of the family, while there is a sinister underlying doom that will befall her on the island, unless she keeps her concentration and uses her common sense against those who are against her inheritance. The main part of the manga is the conflict Ha-Ru has with her sister who wonders why she has been chosen to inherit over her. Much jealousy inside of her, she has to come to terms with her sisters’ destiny.
Those who enjoy fantasy will admire this as it has a lot to offer, beginning in reality, then having them enter into another world where Ha-Ru is tested beyond her limits as a warrior in order to survive. Humour is provided by Ha-Ru's best friend Joon-Hee, who keeps annoying her by wanting her to take part in competitions. Real life is handled more as a burden by the two sisters, though Ha-Ru tries to take her responsibility seriously while her sister scorns her good fortune. Traditional Art Nouveau style is lavished into this manga in the plates that show separate chapters. The detailed characters are eye-catching and the backgrounds are realistic and add to the enjoyment the manga will give to the reader. IN SUMMARY:
Rure is enchanting and magical - an exceptional read for any fantasy enthusiast.
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