Fairy Cube, Vol. 1 [Paperback]

kaori Yuki (Author)

Book Description

Series: Fairy Cube | Publication Date: May 6, 2008

Rebirth

Ian is transported to another world by the fairy Ainsel, who promises to help him stop Tokage upon their return to the human plane. By possessing the body of the recently deceased Elijah, Ian attempts to save Rin from Tokage's clutches.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up–Ian Hasumi can see fairies, including his constant shadow, a green-haired, red-eyed doppelgänger called Tokage. Others rarely see the fairy world, but Rin, a former friend who has recently returned to town, has always believed Ian's stories. Interrupting the boys' plans to escape from Ian's father and Rin's abusive family, Tokage provokes Ian's father into a jealous rage, and Mr. Hasumi kills his son. Tokage takes over Ian's body, his life, and his romantic relationship with Rin, leading others to believe that the stabbing was merely a flesh wound. With the help of a mysterious shop owner and his fairy friend, Ian's disembodied spirit takes over the well-preserved body of a deceased elementary school boy and seeks to regain his rightful body while dealing with other fairy doppelgängers and the Fairy Murders they have been instigating. Yuki's striking illustrations are replete with pretty boys, emotion-filled faces, and intricately drawn fairies. With judicious use of descriptive adjectives alongside her intricate art, she makes readers long for full-color spreads. Her fans will not be disappointed, and even while containing murder, abuse, and revenge, this first of three volumes is more accessible than Yuki's previous works, all darker and with more convoluted plotlines.–Cara von Wrangel Kinsey, New York Public Library
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About the Author

Kaori Yuki was born in Tokyo, Japan, and started drawing at a very early age.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC (May 6, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1421516683
• ISBN-13: 978-1421516684
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,313,935 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing, May 14, 2008

By 

Hakajin "Ecclectic Student" (GA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Fairy Cube, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

I've read a lot of shojo manga, and though there are many out there, "Fairy Cube" is the first I've seen to use traditional fairies as a subject. Sure, there are fairies in other manga, but these are usually cute, non-descript pixies. Here, the fairies are closer to the malevolent spirits of folklore, and they aren't the only characters of lore that appear.

The story starts when Ian's childhood friend, Rin, returns to his school. Although Ian still loves her, he tries to keep his distance. He is bullied because he claims to see fairies, and he doesn't want to involve Rin. The claims are true, though. Rin can see fairies, especially around Rin. He also has a malevolent double with green hair and red eyes he calls "Tokage." Recently, there have been mysterious deaths occurring, with victims who have blood splatter patterns that look like fairy wings. One day, Ian enters a shop and is given a cube with a lizard inside by the mysterious shop owner. It is only one of many cubes with creatures inside. How are these cubes related to the murders? Later, Ian and Ainsel, the shop owner's fairy companion, are pulled into the world of fairy and must find their way back. Ian's body is stolen by Tokage, who wants to take Ian's place, and Ian must inhabit another body to try to get back what he's lost... I really like the story. It sounds complicated, but it's easy to understand if you read the manga. I liked the fact that it was able to incorporate traditional folklore into the original, modern story. Just a note though, this story is probably not something for younger readers. It's not so mature yet, but knowing Kaori Yuuki, it's going to get a lot darker.

The characters show promise. I like Ian. He's a nice guy, but he gets picked on a lot because of his claim of being able to see fairies. He's honest with himself, which I like. Sometimes he's a little too selfless, but he shows real fear. Rin is good, too. She's tough and she knows what she wants. She's a good match for Ian. The last major character is Ainel, the fairy who teams up with Ian. I like her attitude, but I thought she started to like Ian a little too early.

The art is beautiful. The fairies are wonderfully drawn, as are the characters. Ainsel is especially delicate, and I thought she was the prettiest of all. There are also some very nice layouts here, and good drawings of flowers.

I enjoyed "Fairy Cube" because of its fresh elements, good story and characters, and pretty art. It's a good thing to try if you're tired of the usual fantasy.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful drawings and great story too!, April 21, 2008

By 

Neyen "Neyen2000" (Puerto Rico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fairy Cube, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

I can't wait to buy this manga! I read it on internet the drawings are beautiful! What's appealing in this manga are the fairies. I Know everyone wishes to have a fairy and make things happen magically! This is also good vs bad kind of stuff it's very good! You must buy it!!!!!!

5.0 out of 5 stars The characters and the world they inhabit come vibrantly alive, November 24, 2009

By 

GraphicNovelReporter.com (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Fairy Cube, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

There's a serial killer on the loose, and his calling card is a gruesome spray of blood from the victim's shoulder blades. It looks a little bit like wings, so the press has labeled them "The Fairy Murders." There is more than meets the eye here, though, and if anyone can see past the surface, it is Ian Hasumi...because Ian can see fairies. In fact, he has been able to perceive these magical, mysterious beings since he was a child. Of course, no one believes him, and his peers all call him Ian the Liar.

But now one of these creatures, a malevolent spirit somehow connected to Ian called Tokage, has stolen Ian's body, taken over his life, and is wooing his childhood sweetheart, Rin. To get his body--and Rin--back, he will need to steal a body of his own and, with the help of the diminutive fairy Ainsel, become a Wing Person, a fairy clothed in the shell of a human body. Unfortunately, setting things aright will be anything but easy, and Ian the Liar will need to learn the truth behind The Fairy Murders if he is to save himself--and the world as we know it.

Although Kaori Yuki is most famous on both sides of the Pacific for her epic, multivolume fantasy/horror manga Angel Sanctuary and Godchild, her finest works are actually her shorter series. A strict page count keeps her unfortunate penchant for multiple convoluted subplots and an excess of supporting characters in check--while highlighting her numerous creative strengths. As such, Fairy Cube, a manga complete at a pleasingly manageable three volumes, is one of Yuki's best. It features gorgeous artwork, a skillful narrative, and a fascinating, novel adaptation of Celtic folklore.

Fairy Cube covers tremendous ground in just 600-odd pages. From the schoolyard to the back alleys of the big city to the eldritch world of the fairies to the luxurious headquarters of a corporate conglomerate, one might think that the story would be crazily disjointed. It is not. Ian's adventure progresses smoothly throughout, and even though the story draws extensively from a mythological tradition unfamiliar to most Westerners (let alone Japanese people), nothing ever feels hopelessly complicated or confused. The characters and the world they inhabit come vibrantly alive. It is, in short, a remarkable testament to the creator's storytelling talents and status as a veteran in the field.

Yuki's richly detailed, decadent illustration is justifiably famous. She moves seamlessly between the ethereally beautiful and the terrifyingly gory, and her aesthetic, sensual style makes her the Japanese manga counterpart to such Western fantasy/horror novelists as Anne Rice, Tanith Lee, and Storm Constantine. Her characters, both male and female, are exceptionally attractive and well-designed, particularly when drawn in full-color. While those familiar with the technical side of comics creation may be bothered by the obvious, extensive, and intensive use of assistants, most readers find her thickly defined, heavily-screen-toned pages instantly addictive. Highly recommended.

-- Casey Brienza