Meisou Kuiki

Mystery- this is above all a mystery story with elements of the pscyhological. What exactly happened in the past? And what happens when Amasawa Rei tries to dredge it back up to fill in the gaps of her memories? Who's trying to stop her and why? Meisou Kuiki is different from many manga, as it switches pov (points of view) to various characters throughout the story. This may be as a source of confusion to some readers, but it serves to flesh out the characters. Each 'main' character is given some sort of spotlight, allowing the reader to get to know the characters andbringing home their individual personalities as well as their personal stories. Therefore, the storyline allows for a focus on several characters, not just one main character and a supporting cast. Confusion will likely be the main problem a fast, skimming reader will find with this story. Close attention needs to be paid in order to properly follow the series of events. The shifting pov is one thing that can confuse readers. There is one more element which - while it makes it a wonderful story, teasing out the mystery and fleshing out the characters- at the same time can lead to a sense of disorientation. Time shifts abound, even within pov shifts. One minute the reader is in the present, then slips back and gets a piece of the characters past. Past and present, character to character- most of the shifts are delineated, it's just a matter of realizing a pov shift or timeshift has occured as one reads. Forewarned is forearmed, as the saying goes, so if you know to expect the pov and timeshifts, the story is relatively easy to follow. The art is decent, the characters interesting, and the storyline intriguing. The ending leaves a little bit to the reader's imagination, but if the reader has payed attention to each of the characters, it's not too difficult to figure the status of all the characters. Overall for those in the mood for mystery and a taste of the pscyhological, it's an enjoyable, short read.