By Leroy Douresseaux
October 2, 2009 - 12:00
Nora Volume 7 cover image is courtesy of barnesandnoble.com. |
Rated “T+” for “Older Teen”
Nora, an unruly denizen of the Demon World, is the vicious dog of disaster – the legendary hell hound known as Cerberus. After defying his superiors too many times, Her Infernal Majesty, the Dark Liege forced Nora into a bond of servitude to the cool-as-ice high school student, Kazuma Makkari. Kazuma can even stop Nora from using his powers by simply yelling, “I forbid it!” Kazuma will learn the ways of the underworld, and Nora will learn more from the “real world” than he ever thought possible.
As Nora: The Last Chronicle of Devildom, Vol. 7 (entitled Hope and Desire) opens, Nora and Kazuma finally know the truth. Kazuma is the “Chosen One,” the human meant to be the next Dark Liege, and he will gain his power with the sacrifice of Nora’s life. Meanwhile, Fall, the leader of the demon Resistance, battles the Dark Liege, and he’s winning. Nora and four generals of the Dark Liege Army: Kain, Leonard, Melfina, and Rivan fight Resistance leaders, Keini and Nicks. So is it time for Nora’s sacrifice? He doesn’t think so!
THE LOWDOWN: Because it doesn’t have to rely on its title character for all of its dramatic heat and conflict, Nora can thrive as a kind of bizarre ensemble comedy. With excellent costars and an interchangeable supporting cast, Nora has enough subplots, personal clashes, and suspicious motivations to keep the reader interested in this dark fantasy that works as an action comedy.
POSSIBLE: Readers looking for demons, comedy, and demonic comedy will enjoy Nora: The Last Chronicle of Devildom.
B+