This story is set in a steampunk fantasy world, filled with humans, witches, Arcanics (humaniod animals or part animal humans), ancient beings, and eldritch gods.

The art is beautiful. It’s what attracted me to this book in the first place. It has an art nouveau and a bit art deco quality to it that I absolutely adore. Sana Takeda’s art style is stunning, and it creates a truly unique world and characters.

I loved reading more of Maika Halfwolf’s journey as she comes to play an even bigger role in the conflict between humans and Arcanics. Tensions have been escalting between them all ever since the end of the last war, which Maika fought in. In this volume Maika begins to figure out a few more of the mysteries that have popped up in previous volumes and a few more secrets have finally been revealed about her past and her family.

I loved that I got to find out more about Maika’s past and to learn even more about the rest of the world, to see more of the other characters and what else is happening as they all prepare for the possible war between humans and Arcanics.

It had been a while since I read the first 2 volumes so it was a little difficult for me to get back into this story and world. There were definitely some things that I didn’t remember from previous volumes that I couldn’t remember which made it a little hard to get back into this world for me. If it wasn’t for the “extracts” from Professor Tam-Tam’s lectures at the end of the chapters I probably would have taken longer to understand and remember things about this world and people. I really love how the events in this volume escalated and things were revealed that pushed the plot even further and kept me on the edge of my seat. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book.

I would recommend this book if you’ve read other graphic novels like Saga, The Wicked + The Divine, and Rat Queens. Also if you enjoy reading high fantasy I think you’d enjoy this series.

(SPOILER-Y REVIEW SECTION)

As the impending war between humans and Arcanics creeps ever closer, and powerful players fight for the chance to control her future, Maika finds she must work with Zinn, the Monstruous god that lives inside her, in order to ensure their mutual survival. But even that alliance might not be enough to prepare Maika for the horrors to come.

I really loved getting to know a bit more about Maika’s mother and grandmother. How Moriko (Maika’s mother) deliberately conceived a child with a descendant of the Shaman Empress because of her obsession with the Shaman Empress. I also really liked that I finally got to have a bit of the history as to why she left her mother’s home.

As well as a bit more about Tuya; her friendship with Maika, her involvement with the Dawn Court and how she plays a part in the story. I feel like her character hasn’t been explored enough yet. And I am looking forward to see how she plays into the story more. I am also really hoping to see how Maika and Tuya interact after not seeing each other for so long.

Kippa. Kippa is the cutest, kindest character ever. She’s been threw a lot; she’s a young child that has been sold as a slave, lost her mother, is discriminated against for being a fox/arcanic. There’s a scene in this volume where a character says that she sees unclouded by hate. And I think that that really describes Kippa’s character so well. I think that Kippa’s actions in this volume showed just how compassionate she is. She’s kind to Zinn (an eldritch god), who nearly everyone is either scared or wary of or both, she helps refugees and helps them to while the port/island is being attacked.

A lot happened in this volume. There was a lot of action and a lot of plot development. Secrets were revealed to Maika and Zinn, about both of their pasts, their connection and especially their link to the Shaman Empress. I feel like in this volume I was finally getting a clearer idea about the conflict, war and history of this world. I am even more intrigued by this story the stakes get higher and the story progresses.