190. Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Vol. 4

The 88 Demons of Shikoku by Hiroshi Shiibashi (Canada) - (US)
Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, Vol. 4

Pages: 203
Ages:13+
Finished: Aug. 26, 2011
First Published:  Aug 2, 2011
Publisher: viz media
Genre: YA, manga, fantasy
Rating: 4/5


First sentence:

On a certain mountain in Kagawa Prefecture.

Acquired: Received a review copy from Simon and Schuster Canada.

Reason for Reading: next in the series

Once again Nura's turf is being challenged.  This time seven mysterious travellers arrive to take over Riku's new position and the whole Nura clan.  They infiltrate Riku's school and plan to take him down without a care to any human casualties.  Riku will have to call upon his entire Yokai Clan to fight this battle.

While the majority of this volume is dedicated to the one plot, there is a side story which introduces us to another type of being that also makes up a yokai clan.  There are the yokai themselves but there are also tochigami's which are creatures that inhabit shrines, the more often a shrine is worshipped/prayed to, the more powerful the tochigami.  This volume also introduces the most horrific yokai we've seen to date, truly a demon who requires all of Riku's powers to battle.  Riku's school friends turn up briefly, playing small parts so we don't forget about them, but they are not integral to this volume.  Volume 5 certainly is enticing with a title of "A Yokai with Wings Darker Than Night"!  This series' every third month release schedule keeps the story fresh in one's mind, but the short "Story So Far" that starts each volume helps to refresh the memory. A good read with a dedicated plot.