Phantom Dream Volume 1 - Softcover

Fans of Takaya's hit shojo series Fruits Basket will gladly welcome this. Brooding beneath his girlish good looks and crushing sense of duty, Tamaki Otoya is the last in a line of ancient summoners who (of course) battle the evil forces threatening mankind. He draws strength from his bond with childhood friend Asahi—the pair is of course deeply in love and awkward with their emotions, as is often the case with the childhood friend figure. Soon enough they find themselves immersed in a struggle against demons when Asahi is revealed to be a descendant of the Gekka Family—a group that Tamaki is destined to destroy. Touted as a tale of love, loss and redemption, it offers a fast-moving, action-driven plot punctuated with moments of tender romance. Characters struggle to come to terms with who they are, as well as the definitions of their relationships. The character designs are delicate and romantic; the men are slightly effeminate and androgynous, typical of Takaya's style, which made Fruits Basket so popular. There isn't much depth and the story is generally predictable, but Phantom Dream is sure to please existing fans of Takaya's work. (Jan.)
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Childhood friends Tamaki and Asahi are in love, but forces beyond their control threaten to tear them apart as Tamaki struggles with his calling as a head priest of a temple and an exorcist of demons. Many of the elements from Takaya’s popular manga Fruits Basket are found here, in her first work: the plucky young girl with no special powers, the moody young man bearing a heavy burden, the family with multiple branches and secrets. Unlike in many romances, Tamaki and Asahi aren’t struggling with their feelings. They are an established couple, including being sexually active, and they treat their relationship with a maturity beyond their years. This allows the other elements of the story to develop around them. Takaya’s art is the most significant difference that fans will notice. It is attractive but still looks very similar to other shojo manga, as if Takaya had not yet fully developed her own unique style. The many fans of her work will be excited to read this early example though, and probably won’t care about its age. Grades 10-12. --Snow Wildsmith