Ico: Castle in the Mist is a novelization based upon the video game from a decade or so back. The story follows the plight of a boy who is born with horns on his head. As a horned child, he is a "Sacrifice" to the power residing in the Castle in the Mist. All that is really known about the Castle is that some dark god or other entity lives there that must be appeased by sending the boys and girls born with horns on their head to stay there once they reach a certain age.
The story here is about the eponymous horned child, Ico, who is actually not like the other sacrifices. You see, the fabled Book of Light, holy text of the Creator, the Sun God, has been found, signifying that Ico has been chosen to end the plot by the Dark God and his minion who resides in the Castle in the Mist.
To this end, the village Elder and his wife, who are Ico's adoptive parents as by custom the village elder raises the Sacrifices, prepare a special shirt for him called a "Mark". The Mark is always worn by the sacrifice, but this one is different. It is designed to aid Ico, the chosen of the Creator, in his quest.
Unfortunately for Ico, he is on his own. After he is trapped in a sarcophagus to die as appeasement for the Castle, his Mark activates, freeing him from the tomb. As the boy investigates, he finds a girl who he learns is named Yorda. For some strange reason, he feels a great deal of protectiveness towards her, and resolves to escape the castle with her. To do this, he must not only defeat the evil forces in the Castle, but must face extremely painful truths about his people, his new friend Yorda, and the bonds between the girl and his ancestors.
Usually one would be justified for being skeptical of an adaptation of a video game. Such things usually have not had a very good history of being done well. The problem is usually that the author can not get correct the feel of the game. When you have something that is so subjective as how individuals respond to an interactive video game, then you can't really please people typically. Yet if what I have read is true, the author here, Miyki Miyabe, actually pulled this off.
I appreciated how the author managed to both communicate some complex ideas about truth and lies, betrayal by one's leaders or religious leaders, so on, on the one hand; but yet was firmly idealistic on the other hand. So many writers either have idealism, or tough issues discussed. Either no problems, or overly-done angst. Miyabe managed to find a good middle ground.
The story was a classic good versus evil type of tale, with a divinely chosen warrior facing off against an immense evil power. Though this was a more dualistic type of narrative - albeit one with the Creator stronger than his antithesis - it still had both a foregone conclusion, while keeping suspense. The Creator helped his chosen servant, but also arguably gave much liberty and free will to the Ico. This wasn't easy, but one where good won very naturally, nonetheless.
Authors of Christian fiction could look to this for inspiration on how to have the All-Powerful God analogue, and still suspense. In other words, this is like real life. God is real, and He helps us a great deal. Somehow, however, our own free will comes into play in our struggles. How does this work? How does the interplay occur between the Sovereign will of Providence and our desires and free choices? As author Randy Alcorn has observed, we might never know. But we can be sure they both are at play, for our Father tells us they are so in His Word.
This story was terrific for the first quarter or so, and then it dragged at some points until the half way point, where it picked up again. This was largely because the narrative stalled a bit to handle the chronicle of Ico and Yorda making their way through the early traps and pathways. This IS, as I said, based on a video game, and this is the weak point. If you can get through that slump, and I encourage you to do so, you will really enjoy the book.
Some might be upset that I harp on this theme so much, but I really enjoy this element to an epic story. This is the concept of self-sacrifice. Do you take the easy way out and try to survive, or avoid other conflicts? Or do you take risks to do the right thing for others? Often when these questions come up in real life, they can vary widely in seriousness between some minor issue to a life and death one. The easy, selfish part is called "easy" for a reason. The self-sacrifical choice is a hard one. It is one that Christ calls us to, in copying him. As He commands (and encourages us) we lose our lives (or otherwise suffer) to gain life and glory in Heaven. If we are selfish, our reward is far less. What makes more sense to you?
I really enjoyed this story, and the ideas of facing up to hard truths, choosing to do the right things, so on. I recommend it strongly.
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Please try again later.Top reviews from other countries
Alexlucibello
Una chiave di lettura completamente sorprendente ed affascinante. COMPRATELO, ORA!
Reviewed in Italy on December 3, 2017
Krys
Amazing, Adds Dimension and Depth, Ruins Nothing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 19, 2012Daniel Palmer
An excellent companion for the game
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 11, 2014Nickbd
A wonderful complement to Ico the game
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 4, 2011
