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Reviews
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Tuesday, 28 July 2009 |
 | | ▪ | RELEASED BY: | | VIZ MEDIA | | | ▪ | AUTHOR / ART: | | HINAKO ASHIHARA | | | ▪ | FORMAT: | | JAPANESE / B&W | | | ▪ | PAGES: | | 200 | | | ▪ | RATING: | | T+ | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 05/06/2009 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 07/28/2009 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | HOLLY ELLINGWOOD |
Since Ann moved to the big city, the long distance has taken a toll on her relationship with Daigo. He puts a stop to it, saying it’s time to cool things down and then doesn’t call her for three months. Three months! No girl should wait for a call that long and it gives Fuji a chance to spend all sorts of time with the heartbroken Ann. But he’s not the only one looking to step in for the lovelorn during the latest volume of Sand Chronicles. The romantic drama reaches its halfway point with the fifth volume and everyone’s relationships are thrown out of balance. Ann can’t seem to move on. But neither can Daigo. Shika, Fuji’s sister, declared her love for him and he said he’d consider it but he has yet to give her an answer. The younger girl can’t let things lie and so pesters him. He finally snaps and Shika’s heart breaks. He gives Ann a call (finally!) and she drops everything to run into his arms. But when they are together, they just can’t seem to get back in synch. She feels she’s a burden that inhibits his happiness and so she ends things. Can she stick to her convictions though? Three hearts are already broken. Time passes and it doesn’t seem to be as healing as the saying suggests. Daigo is a wreck, so too is Ann. Shika is the worst off, spiraling into a terrible and potentially destructive depression. Then a face from the past reenters Daigo’s life. The hot headed Ayumu returns. She’s always loved Daigo. Will she find a second chance now that Ann is out of the picture? And has Ayumu changed from the terribly selfish person she once was? Meanwhile back in the city, Fuji has a confession of his own to make to Ann. Her initial reaction gets a strong one from him. It makes her take a hard look at her life and finally she gives him a proper answer. It seems like everyone, in one fashion or another, are trying to take those painful first steps forward to try to move on. The writing of this dramatic tale is well done, so much so that the agonizing push each character faces to attempt to move forward in their lives is a palpable one. The way the story takes the time to treat all of the characters fairly, giving readers strong insight into each of them, shows exceedingly admirable skills in juggling such emotional challenges with that number of complex characters – and there even more complex relationships – so well and even handedly.
IN SUMMARY:
Each relationship faces a dramatic turn of events in the latest volume of the emotionally immersing manga. The real life drama and matures storytelling shine in this thoughtful tale. |
