 | | ▪ | RELEASED BY: | | DEL REY | | | ▪ | AUTHOR / ART: | | HIDEYUKI KIKUCHI / KATSUYA TERADA | | | ▪ | FORMAT: | | ENGLISH / BW | | | ▪ | PAGES: | | 260 | | | ▪ | RATING: | | NR | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 12/29/2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 01/27/2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | HOLLY ELLINGWOOD |
Japan in the 1880s becomes the host to the most feared supernatural icon of horror to ever exist: Dracula. Hideyuki Kikuchi, legendary for his Vampire Hunter D series, weaves an all new tale of supernatural terror and seduction in the novel Dark Wars.
Set during the Meiji Era, the time of the samurai is in sharp decline and those who follow the sword are a dying breed. But in the newly named Tokyo, formerly Edo, young Daigo has followed his missing father’s way of the sword to become a wielder of unsurpassed skill. Taking care of his weak mother, Daigo leaves a quiet and disciplined life, one that hides a secret and holds a mystery, a mystery that ties him to the Prince of Darkness himself – Count Dracula. When the Prince of Darkness touches Japan’s shores, tragedy, death and terror follow as those around Daigo succumb to strange illnesses while others die. Determined to discover the truth, no matter how horrifying, Daigo is catapulted into a mystery 400 centuries old and he’ll need more than his famed skill with the sword to overcome the temptation of the dark. Hideyuki Kikuchi has surpassed himself with this powerful tale of suspense and horror. The author has masterfully taken Bram Stoker’s iconic character and introduced him into Meiji Era Japan with seeming effortless and mesmerizing storytelling. Daigo, his mother, his friend Shiro, and potential fiancée Chizuru all must face the temptations of the night. Dracula isn’t some mindless creature constantly killing. The king of all vampires has set foot in Japan on a mission and to uncover a mystery. The intrigue and suspense of the tale runs higher and higher as Daigo’s life becomes entwined with Dracula’s aims. The author does an excellent job of immersing the reader into the day-to-day life of the people in Tokyo at the height of a nation in transition. At the same time, the Gothic character of legend and nightmares comes to rich, dark life as Dracula and the young man with the heart of a samurai meet and cross swords. As the mystery thickens, lives are taken, and nightmares come to life for Daigo and those around him, readers will find themselves taken on a journey as hypnotizing as the powers of a vampire. Dark Wars quickly reveals itself to be an intensely rich, Gothic, and compelling tale that explores the desires for immortality and power as well as their terrible costs. Daigo will be tempted by a man some might think of as the very devil. It is not only his life that is shown through the looking glass. Those around him are seen and tested to their very cores, their very souls. The mystery presented in the story, the well-paced action, and the final outcome will leave readers guessing at every turn. A highly unpredictable novel, the book stays captivating throughout and ends on a note true to the dark and nightmarish enigma it represents, while still allowing a sliver of hope that plays a key role throughout the encompassing tale. The Dracula of this tale will seem very familiar to most viewers of movies and readers of the original Bram Stoker novel. Hideyuki Kikuchi stays close to the heart of the original Dracula, presenting him as an intense warrior from Transylvania. This is not a retelling of that story however. It nevertheless manages to touch on some interesting parallels. There’s Jigoro who in many ways is a Japanese Van Helsing. And Chizuru is most definitely shown in parallel to Mina. Yet rather than rehashing a previously done and well known tale, the author has managed to present an all new and intriguing take on Dracula’s personality, inner desires, and true nature. The combination of Meiji Japan and Gothic atmosphere has made for a wonderfully dark and alluring tale. The few illustrations that are peppered within the novel reflect the Gothic atmosphere superbly and manage to capture the intensity of the characters. They are uniquely stylized illustrations that do not hold to the cookie-cutter style seen in some light novels. The illustrations are dark, rich, and mesmerizing. The novel also includes an afterword from the author and a glossary of terms. IN SUMMARY:
Dark Wars is an immersing Gothic novel set in Meiji Era Japan featuring the iconic Dracula. Told with a compelling style and intense characters by the author of Vampire hunter D, Hideyuki Kikuchi fans cannot afford to miss this original and all new vampire tale from Japan’s Master of Horror.
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