The Key to the Kingdom: Vol. 5

by Kyoko Shitou

Synopsis
The day has finally arrived -- the day the Dragon Man predicted that Badd would die! A wounded Badd accompanies young Asta back from his mission, in which the Prince learned the true meaning of the "Key" -- or rather "Keys." Now that Asta knows the identities of the sacrifices needed to unlock the Towers, he must race to save both friends and rivals. But a Dragon Man attacks them and Badd finds himself locked in a life and death battle!

Review
A lot happens in this volume, and interestingly enough, most everything is resolved. It's very good, very interesting, and needs to be experienced rather than read about.

I was mostly right about there being two Gaiuses, as there were also two Ceianuses, but apparently they inhabit the same two bodies. Although this makes sense, I fail to understand why Gaius gave the keys to the towers to the other competitors, as this would work against the real dragons. If they alternated personalities, I could buy it, but apparently the dragon tamer and his apprentice can only reclaim their bodies on the day of the solstice. Perhaps there's some information I don't have, because even in this book, they show a Gaius-looking character with Duke Alan when he descends to his tower. Maybe it'll be revealed in the next book.

Obviously, if the story continues, then the dragon tamer's scheme didn't work out. But there's still a lot of unanswered questions, like Badd's life has been saved by eating dragon flesh, but at what cost? The dragon tamer is still alive, so he must be dealt with, but at least his apprentice is dead. Who will succeed to the throne?

Final thought: I have to read the next book!

The Key to the Kingdom: Vol. 4

by Kyoko Shitou

Synopsis
Thanks to the manipulations of Gaius the Dragon Man, Leticia witnesses her bodyguard Alex declaring his love for the beautiful Latona. How will she cope with the heartache? Meanwhile, Asta finds the first of the Invisible Towers and learns the shocking secret of how to gain entry. The news he unearths must be shared with the other participants in the quest, but his way is blocked -- first by the elements, and then by a Dragon Man!

Review
This series is getting really good. It sucked me in and I just want to keep reading until I finish the series, which thankfully, is only six books long. I really appreciate, too, that's it's fantasy, because it's been a long time since I've read some really good fantasy.

Well, the revelation in the last volume about Gaius and Ceianus might still be true, but I've come to think that perhaps there's two Gaiuses, something I thought of before the last chapter really hints it at the reader. It seemed like the Gaius that Asta met didn't tell lies, like one that the others met. This is an interesting turn of events.

A lot is revealed about the nature of the "key to the kingdom" in this volume, specifically that those who go to the invisible towers are probably going to be sacrificed so that the key can appear. This is really bad news for everyone but Asta, as the tower he found already has a sacrifice. Of course, it's almost too late now, as this volume ends on the day of the summer solstice. It still hasn't been explained why Gaius wants to kill Baddorias, but I'm sure we'll learn in the next volume. And, as much as I like the other characters, I want to see Asta become king, as he's grown so much, and is a much stronger person than he started out as.

There's more character development for Leticia in this volume, as well. In the beginning of the series, I liked her, as I thought she was strong and cute, but now, seeing how easily manipulated she is, and how petty and pathetic her "dreams" are, my opinion has changed. She's just an immature little girl, acting out on her emotions, hurting others in the process. Pathetic.

Final thought: I have to read the next volume!

The Key to the Kingdom: Vol. 3

by Kyoko Shitou

Synopsis
The competitors search for "The Invisible Tower," and elusive location containing an important clue about the quest. A new competitor enters the ring: Fairheart, a man who is seemingly impervious to the flames of the Dragon Men. He welcomes Prince Asta and his protector Badd to his castle. There he shares with Asta his knowledge of a family secret he learned from Asta's father -- the late King of Landor -- just before he died.

Review
Well, all I can say is there is a lot more going on here than the story is letting on. Of course, new evidence right at the end of the volume (before the side story anyway), changes everything about some characters, and has me questioning everything they said and did before. This story is very interesting, and is far deeper than the succession worries that it started out as.

Unfortunately, just as the story was getting interesting, it ended, and there was a side story in what should have been another chapter's place. I didn't mind the side story, and it was very interesting in it's own right (and made me feel bad that Prince Winslott had to die, he seemed very nice), but I wanted to know more about what was going on! Now I have to read the next book.

I like how the characters are developing, too. Asta is becoming more mature and responsible, which I like. Lettie, is showing herself to be a bit power-hungry, to fulfill her dreams, which seem rather childish, to me. However, this would make sense because she is a child. I hope she gets more developed, and is shown that blindly and heedlessly pursuing your dreams can be harmful to yourself and others.

I really like this series, but I hope it doesn't let me down like other series I've gotten my hopes up over.

Final thought: I have to read the next book!

The Key to the Kingdom: Vol. 2

by Kyoko Shitou

Synopsis
A shadow falls across the quest for the legendary "Key" when a mystic prophesies that anyone who seeks it will be slain by a Dragon Man. Prince Asta and his ally Badd arrive in a town at the same time as Gaius, the heart-eating Dragon Man. Is he an ally or the one foretold in the prophecy? Then a feverish Asta has a dream in which the origin of the struggle for power at the heart of the "Key" is revealed.

Review
This is a surprisingly good series. I didn't think much of it at first, but the way the story just flows naturally, interesting things happen, and characters develop. The main character, Asta, is clearly at the point in his life where he begins to figure out what kind of person he wants to be, and is dissatisfied with how he is now. Although, perhaps this search for the key isn't progressing quite as quickly as I would like, but I figure they'll get around to it, and the story is interesting enough that I'm not really worried about it at all. And yet, I'm not really sure what's all that interesting. There's a lot of intrigue with this Dragon Man, Gaius, and hinting that another Dragon Man is out to kill those searching for the key, and why the key is cursed, and so forth. Not much really happens in this volume, and yet it's interesting all the same.

I didn't really talk about the art style before, but it is gorgeous. It's looks old-school (and I love old-school), but it's really only a few years old. I usually don't like to talk about art because people can't always help their "style." But it is a treat to look at this manga.

Final thought: I'll keep collecting this series.

The Key to the Kingdom: Vol. 1

(aka Oukoku no Kagi)
by Kyoko Shitou

Synopsis(from the back of the book)
After the king and his eldest son die, the kingdom of Landor is left without a ruler. Asta -- last surviving member of the royal family -- stands in line for the throne. However, before he can claim it, he must fulfill a quest: find the legendary "Key to the Kingdom." Both ancient beasts and a variety of contenders -- including a princess, a dimwitted military captain, and a villainous aristocrat -- imperil his journey. Someone will find the Key, but will it be Asta?


Review
What the synopsis doesn't mention is that Asta is more interested in books than swords, and he actually doesn't want to be king. (What really bothers me is that his mother, the Queen, is still alive, but they didn't make her the regent, since Asta is still too young to rule. I know, I know, it gets in the way of the story the author wanted to do.)

Anyway, I wasn't really impressed by the story right away, especially with the "find the magical object" quest. But then, as the story went on, it got more interesting. It might have something to do with things like dragons, mysterious characters, and mysteries being introduced. Not that those things alone will make me like a story, but they can pique my interest.

I'm not sure what I think of the main character, Asta, yet. He's selfish and arrogant, but I wonder if this might change later on. It's just that he has no experience with the outside world yet. I hope he grows and matures as the series goes on.

It's really to early to say much about this series. I'm definitely going to have to pick up some more books when I get the chance.

Final thought: I'll pick up the next book.