![]() Alchemy follows the law of equivalent exchange, you must sacrifice something that is of equal value to what you create. Alchemy is the power to alter the physical world utilizing its natural elements, performing magic and miracles in the form of science. Amestris is a unitary state under the rule of a parliamentary republic, run by state alchemists that serve the king utilizing the mystifying arts of alchemy. It plays out a bit predictably, but I wasn't really expecting any great twists and surprises, just a fun read, and on that level at least, the book did deliver.įullmetal Alchemist takes place in the fictional country of Amestris which is heavily based on the Industrial Revolution. The setting of Wisteria, however, is nicely realized and creates an interesting dynamic for the story. ![]() The residents of the town of Wisteria are all introduced a little too rapid-fire for my personal liking, making it a challenge to distinguish them later in the climax of the story. You get to know a little about them within the story, but it never seems like quite enough to truly begin to care about them. The story focus is heavily on Edward and Alphonse, with few to no appearances from other members of the cast most of the characters are unique to this story, so they're unfamiliar to even fans of the series. The actions of the characters tend to be well enough IC, at least, and their reactions to the events of the story likewise. Whether it's because it's a different writer or a different translation team, the dialogue in these books never seems completely in character, but it's generally close enough. It doesn't really contribute anything to the main storyline (it's an unrelated side story) or teach you anything you didn't already know about the characters, but it's a fun, fluffy read with a couple of nice illustrations and the usual fun "afterword" from Arakawa. Overall, if you like the Fullmetal Alchemist story, this is a fun read. (Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.) This didn't really offer anything new and didn't work as well for me as the previous two novels, but it was still relatively decent.Ī handful of black-and-white illustrations, one full-color illustration, an author afterword, and a short afterword by Hiromu Arakawa, complete with a couple sketches. Translation-wise, either I just wasn't in the right mood or this one was a bit stiffer than the previous two. It reminded me that these two are probably my top favorite manga/anime siblings. And I really enjoyed the conversation Ed and Al had about any feelings of guilt Ed might still be carrying around. Wisteria and its citizens prompted Alphonse to think more deeply about his goals and his feelings about his new body vs. I did like that Inoue paid a bit more attention to Alphonse than usual. Both Ruby and Rose were tied to their respective charismatic leaders by their painful pasts. True, Wisteria's secret was different than Reole/Liore's, but it was the same basic setup, a miraculously wonderful town controlled by a charismatic leader who wasn't as kind as he appeared to be. Since that was one of the earliest storylines in the series, it surprised me that neither Ed nor Al were reminded of any of it themselves. Raygen, Wisteria, and Ruby reminded me a lot of Father Cornello, Reole/Liore, and Rose. I might have liked this more if it hadn't felt so much like I'd already read it. Yes, Wisteria had several weak, elderly, and/or frail people who couldn't do their "fair share," but I was surprised that Inoue didn't underscore the message by having one of the town's top earners, maybe Neil, injure himself on the job and experience a sudden fall from grace. It was about as subtle as a sledgehammer, though, and even then it didn't quite go far enough. This book had a decent message and was basically an argument for Universal Basic Income, health care for all, etc. It seems perfect, until Edward investigates a little more. The harder jobs, like mining gemstones that are later sold outside Wisteria, pay better, but there's also easier work available in the local tavern and elsewhere around town. ![]() As long as everyone works and contributes, they'll have a place to stay and food to eat. Raygen, the alchemist who founded the town, explains that it operates under the law of equivalent exchange. The only people allowed in are those who have nowhere else to go. Everyone seems to think it's a desert utopia, the kind of place no one ever leaves. Wisteria turns out to be a mysterious place. Mustang is super busy but has also been tasked with monitoring a little town called Wisteria and writing up a report, so he delegates the Wisteria report to Edward. Edward and Alphonse Elric are essentially forced to do a bit of work for Colonel Mustang in this one. ![]()
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