The Promised Neverland: Volume 7 manga review

The Promised Neverland Graphic Novel 7 cover image

Life is just peachy at Grace Field House orphanage, or it seems so...  This is especially true for the orphanage's three brightest children:  Emma, Norman, and Ray, who are all 11-years-old.  While there is daily studying and exams, there is also delicious food and plenty of playtime.  However, the children's loving, but stern caretaker, “Mom,” hides the fact that everything is not what it seems.

As The Promised Neverland, Vol. 7 (entitled Decision; Chapters 53 to 61) opens, the group of children who escaped the “Farm” known as Grace Field House have reached their sanctuary... or so they thought.  BO6-32 is supposed to where they would find William Minerva, the author of a secret book they found at Grace.  Minerva's writings were supposed to guide the children to Minerva.

What they find instead is an adult bully who has been at BO6-32 for over a decade, and he does not want more companions, especially these bratty kids.  But these brats fight back!

THE LOWDOWN:  I'll just keep repeating myself.  The Promised Neverland manga continues to be one of the best graphic novels currently available.  It reads like classic dystopian, young adult fiction, but its dark mood cannot eclipse the series' hopeful vibes, which I have also said several times.

The Promised Neverland Graphic Novel Volume 7 raises the stakes.  That is saying a lot because this series raises enough stakes to fight an army of Draculas.  Seriously, folks, writer Kaiu Shirai and artist Posuka Demizu have created a summer pot boiler-like thriller that keeps thrilling.  Translator Satsuki Yamashita is doing stellar work with an English-language adaptation that stick needles into readers imaginations.  Yamashita makes The Promised Neverland narrative play for keeps.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Readers of dark fantasy graphic novels will find a terrifying story in Shonen Jump's The Promised Neverland.

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9.5 out of 10