Manga review: Grand Guignol Orchestra vol. 2 by Kaori Yuki
No spoilers, just lots of gushing.
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Grand Guignol Orchestra follows a small orchestra of rogues traveling a country ravaged by "guignols," doll-like zombies, searching for a cure to the guignol plague and destroying guignols where they can. Volume 2 doesn't have many guignols in it; instead, the story is a mystery as Lucille, the orchestra's vocalist, and Eles, the pianist, infiltrate a palace and church. As Lucille and Eles solve a murder and look for the guignol cure, their relationship deepens, and we find out more about Lucille's dark and bloody history.
Like volume 1, Grand Guignol Orchestra volume 2 perfectly mixes mystery, action, romance, and then dangles bits of world/character history in front of readers in just the right places.
The art remains drool-worthy. Taking places in richer locations than volume 1, volume 2 features detailed pictures of beautiful architecture with towering spires, detailed pillars, and elaborately carved furniture and musical instruments. It's enough to make a reader want to live there, guignols or not.
Horror is put aside for mystery in this volume, but I don't expect that will last. Meanwhile, I admire how Yuki keeps things unexpected and interesting without losing the thread of the story.
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Click here for my review of Grand Guignol Orchestra volume 1
Click here for the Master List of manga reviews.