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Title:  Aquarian Age: Juvenile Orion #1

Author:  Sakurako Gokurakuin

Original Concept by Broccoli & Marekatsu Nakai

Publisher:  Broccoli Books

ISBN:  193248099

May Contain Spoilers

When Mana returns to her hometown after a 7 year absence, she’s looking forward to seeing her childhood friend, Kaname, again.  Kaname, however, doesn’t want to have anything to do with her.  Confused by the memories of blood she wakens in him, he tries his best to avoid her, until his best friend, Naoya, attacks her and tries to kill her. 

Naoya, concluding that Mana is a mind breaker, threatens her in an attempt to get her to use her powers.  Kaname interferes, and Naoya is  afraid that he’ll kill his friend.  When Kaname suddenly sprouts a pair of black wings and begins to mindlessly batter him with surprising strength, Naoya is overwhelmed.  Why didn’t he sense the powers locked away in Kaname?

The first volume of Juvenile Orion just whipped by.  After Mana saves Naoya from Kaname, she learns about the Aquarian Age, a battle that has raged for countless years. Five groups are warring with each other, killing each other indiscriminately. The motivation behind this bloodshed is vague, but it seems as though Mana’s father was a victim of the fighting, and Mana would have been, too, if Kaname hadn’t protected her.  The details are a little murky, but hopefully they will become more clear as the story processes.

Mana is a little clueless, and though she seems a little weak, once she learns that Kaname is in danger, she wants to protect him. I liked her character, but I hope that she cries a little less in the future.  Weepy heroines can be so tedious…

There’s plenty of action, as the battle begins to enfold Mana in its embrace.  Targeted by another group, Mana is soon fighting for her life again as two mysterious warriors hunt her, drawn by her mind breaker abilities.  Kaname is torn by his past, afraid of his dark powers; he has no clear memory of the time he last unleashed them.  He only remembers standing in a pool of blood, and the memory of slicing flesh.  He’s afraid of what will happen if he loses himself to them again.  Add in a few other bishies with wings, and you have the makings of an intriguing series. 

Grade: B

Rated for 13+

Review copy provided by Broccoli Books.