Trinity Blood - Rage Against the Moons Volume 1: From the Empire (v. 1) [Paperback]

Sunao Yoshida (Author), Thores Shibamoto (Author)

Book Description

Series: Trinity Blood | Publication Date: April 3, 2007

In the distant future, set in a post-apocalyptic world that has been destroyed by Armageddon, the war between humans and vampires rages on, playing out in a power struggle between two factions: the Vatican and the New Human Empire. A secret organization called Rosenkreuz Orden, a group of vampire extremists, manipulates the two factions, pitting them against one another to ensure the war escalates. A Vatican special ops group called AX, led by Cardinal Caterina, must use everything they can--even a vampire who preys on the blood of other vampires--to protect the peace effort.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up–In a postapocalyptic Europe, the Vatican creates a crack AX squad to combat the growing New Human Empire, an entire country of vampires–or, as they call themselves, Methuselahs. The affable, bumbling Father Abel Nightroad is one of the AX agents. He fights bloodsucking dukes, rescues genetic witches, and protects the preteen pope from an assassination attempt. This novel jump-started the manga and anime of the same title, and the sheer number of ideas it thrusts at readers is intriguing, but the follow-through is haphazard at best. Gender segregation, lost technology, and international affairs are all teased at, but ultimately fall by the wayside as buckets of blood and mass decapitations become the focus of the action. But most damning is that the plots and circumstances don't pass the logic test of making consistent sense. A notable example happens when an android executioner spares the life of one person because he's out of ammunition, only to reload and execute a different threat only seconds later. The dialogue is littered with bizarre idioms that jolt readers out of the incomplete world-building, and the sporadic black-and-white illustrations do little to solidify the atmosphere or provide key visuals for the action.–Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: TokyoPop (April 3, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159816953X
• ISBN-13: 978-1598169539
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #743,607 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Trinity Blood: Rage Against the Moons I; From the Empire, April 21, 2007

By 

D. V. Wasson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Trinity Blood - Rage Against the Moons Volume 1: From the Empire (v. 1) (Paperback)

This is the first book of the Trinity Bood graphic novels series. The series is divided into two parts: Rage Against the Moons and Reborn on Mars.
This book contains four stories.
Flight Night(anime episode 1) After completing an assignmentin Londonium, Father Abel Nightroad is returning to Rome aboard the Abionese airship Tristan. It is highjacked by Count Alfredo and it is up to Abel to regain control of the ship.
Witch Hunt(anine episode 2) A genetically altered girl, who has the power of touch telepathy is wanted by the Rosenkruetz Order and the Vatican. Her power to scramble and alter memories causes people to slaughter each otehr and themsealves. She finds her only friend is Father Abel Nightroad.
From the Empire (anime episode 7) Endre, a Methuselah serial killer exiled from the Empire contiues his murderous ways in Venice.Allied with the Rosenkruetz Order he helps them set in motion a plan to start a war between the Methuselah Empire and the Vatican. Temporarily partnered with Astoroche, Duchess of Odessa, Abel Nightroad works to preserve the current peace.
Sword Dancer(aninem Episode 6) Father Hugue, another Vatican AX agent investigates the mass murder of the priests and nuns of Oude Kerk. The Vaitcan thinks it is the work of the local vampire lord. The vampire lord is just as in the dark as the Vatican. Father Hugue has his own personal agenda. The key to everything is the surviving nun Sister Agnes.
The anime keeps the manga's ligher comic tone. The graphic novel is a darker, more interesting rendition of Trinity Blood. The graphic novel has strong sense of horror. Characters who are annoying in the anime, are cold-blooded,insane killers. Abel, Tres, and Caterina are stronger, darker characters than in the anime. In many ways this book is a Cold War intrigue book, excep this cold war is set in a post-apocolyptic 31st century.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, April 4, 2007

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trinity Blood - Rage Against the Moons Volume 1: From the Empire (v. 1) (Paperback)

Vampires. Powerful, eternal, virtually indestructible, they are at the highest level of evolution. Aren't they awfully cocky, thinking like that? What if you knew there was something stronger, more powerful, older? What if you were that thing? Well, then you would be AX Special Agent Crusnik. Traveling in the guise of a simple poor priest, which he actually is, Agent Crusnik aids the Vatican in a constant, post-apocalyptic, political battle. Often throwing direct orders out the window, and taking his partners along for the ride, Crusnik battles his enemies to the bitter end. Until the next one appears. Exposing more plots and evils than he expunges, he and the other agents must continue to be a virtually unbeatable force. And that is quite a big shoe to fill.

Don't be put off by the religious references before you read this. This is literally post-apocalypse. Rome is one of the few major powers left, and the Vatican is not at all what you would expect.

Of all of the pop fiction that I've read, which isn't exactly a ton, but is a fair amount, this book comes the closest to anime. So, if you're a fan of anime, this is the book for you.

Amidst the non-stop action, Agent Crusnik is hilariously witty, a little bit bitter, and still manages to remain concerned about everyone else. He's definitely someone I'd want on my side. Just not around all the time, what with the constant death, destruction, and mayhem.

I want more, please. Pleasantly, there are five more stories on the way, as well as DVDs!

Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Could Someone Breathe New Life into the Genre?, November 12, 2010

By 

The Figment Review (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trinity Blood - Rage Against the Moons Volume 1: From the Empire (v. 1) (Paperback)

Vampires. The mere mention of the word strikes fear in the hearts of millions... either that, or mockery. Sometimes both. Rising in popularity during the eighteenth century, the Vampire genre has changed and evolved in dramatic ways that its original creators most likely could never have foreseen. One of its newest incarnations is the "Twilight" book series, which for all intents and purposes has radically changed the image of Vampires in the eyes of America. Its success has launched a myriad of Vampire inspired books, television shows and movies.

Though the genre has exploded in popularity, its rise to fame may be on the slow decline. Publishers, citing a lack of original ideas, are beginning to back away from the blood suckers. For many, it appeared that their brief feeding frenzy was coming to an end.

Could someone breathe new life into the genre?

Poised to answer that question, I picked up a copy of one of Japan's bestselling Vampire book series, recently brought to America in English for the first time.

The story, set over a thousand years after an event dubbed "Armageddon" nearly wiped out all life on Earth, follows the remnants of humanity as they huddle together in Europe to piece back together the civilization that they nearly destroyed. However, when a race of beings calling themselves the "Methuselah" emerge from the ashes of the charred world, a cold war breaks out between the two groups that threatens to repeat the mistakes of the past. Lead by the Vatican, civilization wages a political/militaristic war against the beings they have grown to call "Vampires". With tensions high and the two nations on edge, the Vatican may hold the secret to securing a victory in the war: a vampire that preys on other vampires. As the world braces for the worst, can the mysterious priest stop the world from destroying each other all over again?

If I could only use one word to summarize my opinion on this book, it would unequivocally be epic. That is exactly what this book is in so many ways and more.

Filled with intriguing characters, numerous gripping plots, emotional character growth, a fast-paced storyline, and political espionage that will delight even the least interested, this is a Vampire book that has no trouble flaunting its ability to put so many others to shame.

Obviously, the idea of mixing the dystopian genre with Vampires is not a particularly unique one. Many books and films have tried to mix the two to varying triumph, but if I do say so myself, I believe "Trinity Blood" could quite possibly be the best example of the hybrid ever created. Its careful balance between the two genres is excellent.

Another praise-worthy aspect of this book is the way in which the author manages to balance the violence and emotions of its characters. Take my word, this book is violent. Vampires do not romance young girls, they fight and they fight ruthlessly with deadly sharp instincts. What this translates into is a series of gruesome murders that the mysterious priest ends up investigating and or becoming involved in. What's remarkable is the choice that the author makes for the main character.

In so many stories such as these, morality and the value of life are disregarded at a whim for mindless violence. Cheap thrills and fast action replace emotional growth and thought-provoking dialogue. Sunayo Yoshida takes the road less traveled and successfully manages to create characters that readers will gravitate to and feel connected with as well as a world that although frightening is familiar.

If I had anything negative to say in the least, it would be that Tokyopop's translation is rough at times and could have used a re-write in certain areas. However, even so, the story and talent shine through this book brightly enough that I can forgive what I consider as small oversights.

To conclude, "Trinity Blood" is a book series that is set to become an instant classic for Vampire fans. Choosing to concentrate on plot, character growth and gripping action, it demonstrates what good Vampire fiction should be: not sparkly.

-Matt Reeves