夜明けの唄 1

Elva is a “kannagi”, a warrior who protects the island from the monstrous creatures that emerge from the black sea every night. Although he risks his life to protect them, the villagers fear him, so he endures a lonely existence. That is until Alto, a village boy, witnesses Elva save someone from one of the creatures of the black sea, and is so amazed by him that he decides to serve Elva and help him in any way he can.

All kannagi are tainted by the black sea’s curse, which turns their limbs black and spreads throughout their body, eventually killing them. But Alto’s presence inexplicably reverses the effects of the black sea on Elva. As they grow older, Elva hopes his friend will leave him behind to enjoy a normal life, but Alto’s feelings for Elva only grow stronger, which drives him to seek answers about kannagi, the black sea, and the curse that threatens Elva’s life…

This is a gripping story that quickly draws you into the world - I raced through the first volume, desperate to find out more about kannagi and the black sea. This manga has a bit of everything: fantasy, mystery, slice of life, horror, and romance. There’s a bit of fantasy vocabulary, but otherwise nothing particularly difficult regarding the language.

A thrilling story I’ll definitely be continuing!