Book Review: Many Are Called

Title: Many Are Called
Author: Story by Gabrielle Gniewek, Art by Sean Lam
Genre: Adventure, Romance

Format: Manga/Graphic novel
My Rating: ****
Age Group: 10+


My Summary:
The princess has been in hiding for many years to protect her from the dark prince until her fiancé, another prince, is able to wed her. When the day comes for the good prince to bring home his bride, he faces all sorts of dangerous obstacles. Those who should support him fail, people work behind his back, his father is ill, and he is injured. When all seems lost, it goes one step further: the princess falls.
Follow in the prince as he searches for his bride, desperate to protect her, even at the cost of his own life. Can he succeed? Will the dark prince seduce the good prince's one true love?
You will, of course, have to read to find out.

Word of Warning:

• The prince is bloodied fights. Others are defeated.
•  Betrayal, self-centeredness, and sacrifice (yes, sacrifice is good, but it can result in some rather challenging moments to face)
• A man flirts with a woman the reader assumes to be his wife. They kiss.
• Guns, swords, hand-to-hand combat
• A man is shown nearly shirtless. Another is shown shirtless but partially wrapped in bandages.
• A man attempts to seduce a young woman, but not toward sexual actions, merely toward turning her love from another man and toward himself. The seduction is more of a shift in loyalty, shifting toward evil, but because it involves evil it is very much a seduction.
• A kiss between a newly married couple.

 

My Thoughts:

Where to begin? The entire thing is a mishmash of parables, with guns and swords and planes and excitement thrown in. As a story and nothing religious, it's great. But as something religious, it's incredible. I admit that I have never been a big fan of the graphic novel, though I do like the occasional manga-style picture. That would explain why I gave the book four stars instead of five.

However, this particular book is incredible. There is so much in it spiritually it could almost be used for daily prayer and meditation. And for those readers who are just looking for a great adventure, that's here too, in abundance (guns, motorcycles, swords, planes, and more!). The art is beautiful, reflecting the story, and the entire thing is filled to the brim with goodness.

What more could you ask for?