manhwa: Shaman Warrior Vol 7

[meganbmoore]

It’s been well over a year since I read the last volume of this, and I really should have reread the earlier volumes as a refresher before reading this. It’s like Saiyuki all over again.

The first half of this was the remainder of Yaki and Batu’s failed attempt to avenge Yarong’s murder. Batu’s death, I think, was a narrative given, though I’m disappointed Yuda survived. But…was Batu implying that Yuda was, or had been, a woman at some point? Or was I just infected by Chomiji’s theory that Yarong is Yaki’s mother, not her father?

And I am thrilled that Genji is back! And relatively unchanged. I was concerned. And given her thoughts about Batu here, I’m choosing to believe that the references to them as siblings in a previous volume was an overly literal translation. Her weapons and fighting style really remind me of an older Rin from Blade of the Immortal.

I’m very curious to see what comes of Yaki working for Yatilla, as I’ve been wanting to see them interact more since he first showed up, though I’m hoping his narrative doesn’t overtake hers. And Yaki’s friend, Nejo, finally stops crying for Yaki to take care of everything and starts doing things. Uhm…even if “doing things” seems to be becoming an angry silent killer searching for shamans. I’m not so sure about that part.

There are apparently only two volumes left, and I’m not sure what I think about that. Mostly because it seems like things are only really ramping up for major plot things to start, and there seems to be way too much left for only two volumes. Makes me worry that the ending will be “rocks fall, everybody dies,” or incomprehensible. Or both.