The Valiant Must Fall vol. 1 & 2

Taking place in 1874 after the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate, former samurai Oniuda Haruyasu is lost in the new era, searching for a way to end his life honourably. He finds companions wishing for the same end, most notably Ayame Hatamoto, a samurai's daughter with no family to call her own, they decide to attack a traveling statesman of the new government, and upon doing so find themselves overwhelmed by a fearsome young woman wielding a katana. Though Haruyasu manages to best her, she immediately recovers, her hair turning silver as her wounds heal. Taken aback, Haruyasu finds himself at the mercy of Kyuko Shino, an immortal who gives her blood to the fallen warrior and takes him as her kinsman.

Once the pair have time to talk, she reveals that she has a mission to end her mother's suffering and take her own life. With newfound purpose, Haruyasu gladly takes on the role of servant and the two travel to the city in order to move Shino's plans forward. 

Historical dramas with a supernatural bent aren't exactly unusual in manga, with Blade of the Immortal undoubtedly setting the gold standard. Yu Aida creates a compelling opening steeped in real-world history, the art providing an oft-times beautiful sense of place through some detailed artwork and stunning scenery. Character work is also excellent, the expressions always flawlessly capturing the emotion of any given scene, providing gravitas and a sense of urgency and, mostly, sadness. 

If there's an over-arching theme of the story so far, it's a sense of loss. Whether it's a place in the world, family, innocence or immorality, the book conveys a society very much at odds with itself, the tragedies so commonplace that they're now expected. It's very much a part of the culture, seeking honourable death and a sense of purpose, but for modern readers it's sad to see characters so willing to end their lives just to find peace. Seeing the grief each of the cast carries with them makes the moments of levity or happiness seem all the more important. Even though I'm well aware I'm setting myself up for downbeat ending, I can't help but root for each of them. Shino and Haruyasu, once in concert with one another, make for an intriguing pairing. The motives behind Shino's search for death are entirely justifiable and it's heartening to see the ex-samurai find noble purpose once more. His friend Ayame I'm less optimistic for - she's too good natured and sweet to find a happy ending, but even so I'll be disappointed if she's used as a shortcut for an emotional swing.

I picked this up at the same time as The Barbarian's Wife. I actually re-read that title a few times before moving on to this (yes, it's that good) but once invested I enjoyed this just as much. Yes, it's a slower opening with less cheesecake to entice you into the story, but once I'd adjusted for the change of pace I found much to enjoy here. 

Without wandering into spoilers, volume two thankfully keeps up the pace, introducing more gruesome mystical elements that help to create a more rounded mythology. Yu Aida seemingly has the legs to keep the book running consistently, so volume 3 is on its way. 

Fans of period drama and supernatural tales will find much to enjoy here - The Valiant Must Fall nails plot, pace and presentation seemingly effortlessly. If you're a fan of the genre, this could be your next must-read series.