 | | ▪ | RELEASED BY: | | VIZ MEDIA UK | | | ▪ | AUTHOR / ART: | | YU WATASE | | | ▪ | FORMAT: | | JAPANESE / B&W | | | ▪ | PAGES: | | 192 | | | ▪ | RATING: | | OT | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 04/07/2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 06/16/2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | SANDRA SCHOLES |
Fifteen-year-old Alice Seno has someone special in her life, the only problem is telling him how she feels.
One strange and fateful day, Alice is on her way to Archery Club practise when she spots a lone, cuddly white rabbit in the centre of a busy city road. Instinct prevails as she weaves through the crowds of people to rescue the animal only to see the boy she admires, Kyo is right next to her, regarding the fact she was not harmed by passing cars. It seems Kyo is also on his way to the Archery practise and goes with her to help the rabbit who is first thought to be injured, though Alice quickly loses it again when the rabbit bounds from her grasp and away, leaving a small collar behind with a red gem in it resembling a rabbit's eye
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Alice looks all over for the creature, who owns it, and finds the rabbit high up on a tower where readers will discover the creature is not what it seems in this manga.
When Alice brings the animal down she sees it change into a small girl with rabbit ears who tells her she holds the power of a certain number of words that can be used to her advantage, while also telling Alice she can do the same and has the power to become a master of what are called the Lotis Words. Her sister Magura who is the popular one among the boys manages to take an interest in Kyo and steal him from her, but is Kyo really interested in Magura?
In this shojo manga, there is the possibility for Alice to take a risk and become something she never even dreamed of and shape her life as she wants it - but her wish will come at a price, but who will pay it? Yu Watase's new manga is a must read for anyone who has read her previous novels, Fushigi Yugi and Ceres. Alice 19th has a nice western influenced feel to it unlike her other works, though there is a small element of Chinese designs in the outfit for Nyo Zeka.
Alice is a nice, pleasant teenager who takes life as it comes but she lives in the shadow of her older sister who is considered an all-rounder at school and is also used to getting guys and whatever she desires. Taken by Kyo, she knows she wants him and feeling defeated Alice finds someone else to take her mind off Kyo. Handsome boy Tatsuya is only too happy to fulfil her needs and dates her - but is he the man for her. Only the reader will find out. Alice has to find out how people truly are, and realise nobody acts how they feel. She sees the potential in herself, but only when another points it out to her. She has the power in her to use the Lotis Words, and as a Lotis Master she has the power to communicate with he hearts of others. Alice 19th is a story of many facets. It has fantasy, magic, and shows what relationships can be like, romance and humour all rolled up into a gem of a manga volume.
Even those manga readers who have not see Yu Watase's other titles will enjoy this as it has enough to keep the reader's interest.
IN SUMMARY:
Alice 19th is Yu Watase's gem of a manga - love, romance and fantasy are all the ingredients for a magical series. |
