Customer Reviews

The Antique Gift Shop, Vol. 9

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I've been following this series since it was first published nearly five years ago. The fact that it has taken this long to be translated is a travesty. But that aside, I've purchased every single volume and it is worth every cent. Vol. 9 leaves more to be desired in terms of explanations (because nothing is explained in this volume either) but you definitely feel as though things are coming to climax. You're almost disappointed when the author leaves you at the banks of the River of Oblivion (a.k.a. Styx) on the last page and it looks as though our little heroine has died and is ready to cross it. I was almost screaming at the pages, "That's the end???"

I feel as though the author could shed a LITTLE MORE LIGHT on particular areas because this volume keeps you guessing at questions like 1. who is Mr. Yang and what does he want with our self-centered, spoiled, pathetic little heroine? 2. what is the deal with all the antiques (why are they there in the first place and who is "Sailor Park??"? 3. why Bun-nyuh? 4. what did she want to say to Mr. Yang in her "vision" of him? 5. where does Mr. Yang want to take her? (He makes a reference such as, "She will not go even if I force her.")

The art, as always is astounding (which is why I collected every single volume to date), so that never disappoints. But I also wish that the author had given more in the other volumes for character development as she did in the last. Vol. 9 feels a little rushed compared to the snail pace we were going in Vol. 1 - 8 in terms of the main story line. Still, you can't complain when the River of Oblivion chapter fills most of this volume and is all about our little heroine. You want to slap her and yet cheer for her in this volume as well b/c you know she can handle what's coming next.

I read in another review that this was the pentultimate volume? I can't get a handle anywhere on how many volumes this series is, but this was the first hint that we're almost there. I have a feeling though that the last volume will be equally as vague and leaving the readers wanting more in terms of plot, storyline and character development. I don't think the answers can be squeezed into a single volume in a way that is satisfying to the readers. That's what fanfiction is for, I guess.