Fairy Cube, Vol. 1
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 LibraryCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.