Manga Review: Go With the Clouds, North-by-Northwest
Reviewing manga
In this article, I’ll be reviewing a number of manga series. Let’s get started!
Go With the Clouds, North-by-Northwest
So far I’ve read volumes 1-5. This manga is written by Irie, Aki (Story & Art). This author has written other manga with Ran and the Gray World being one of her highest-rated works so far. Originally titled Hokuhokusei ni Kumo to Ike has been published in English by Vertical Inc. as Go With the Clouds, North-by-Northwest since April 16, 2019.
Story
Kei Miyama, 17 years old, lives in Iceland with his grandfather. Like all the men in his family, he has a power, his is to communicate with electrical appliances and cars. When he learns that his brother is suspected of the murder of their uncle and aunt, the young man leads the investigation to try to prove his innocence. The story starts a bit rushed in the beginning however things start to make more and more sense as the story progresses. The storyline makes sense with some nice flashbacks here and there as mysteries start to unravel. I believe what gives this manga a sense of originality is how wonderfully the author has captured the beauty of Iceland giving you a surreal feeling that you are actually there, especially in Volume 3, I was very impressed by the amazing artwork! As I was reading the first volume I found the story relaxing but as more things start to unravel about Kei’s brother I thought that might not always be the case. The pacing of the story was not bad but neither the was best sometimes I would get confused reading because the pace of things felt a little rushed and other chapters felt way too relaxed almost like reading an extra chapter with very little progress. I would think that maybe it was intended to give a break to the reader from all the drama and the confusion going on in an effort to make the story more interesting. I found myself wanting to read this manga until I can figure out what Is actually going on with Kei’s brother and watch how Kei’s relationship with Lilja will progress after an extremely awkward first encounter.
Characters
The main character in this story is Kei Miyama. And he credibly gets to be the main character because of his unique ability and connection to almost each of the supporting characters we meet in the story. You can’t really empathize with the characters until you start to notice how realistic the characters’ behavior is. A few examples are Kei’s grandpa worrying about how comfortable is Kei feeling being alone at 17 years old. How Kei just wants to let go of all the drama he encounters while working and just spend time riding his car. Kei’s childhood friend is also a very relatable character, especially for those who live far away from their best friend. The writer really makes me believe of them as people in certain chapters where we get to take a break from all the mysteries and supernatural events. I like the character design and the character development for both Kei and Lilja.
Art Style
The art style in this manga is simply gorgeous! Iceland is depicted in such a magnificent and so realistic way it makes you feel like you actually went to Iceland better than any travel guide I’ve encountered so far could making you feel the emotions of the characters while getting lost in the beauty of nature. Lilja is drawn in a way that makes her stand out from the rest of the female character. Makes it even more fun to read when the text bubbles are smartly placed in a way that doesn’t get in your way of admiring the beautiful landscapes of Iceland.
Writing
The writing was pretty decent having some pretty well-made action scenes when we see a really strong side of Kei. And during Volume 4 we get to see the scariest scene so far which was actually really unexpected compared to the first couple of volumes. The dialogue is very effective and the overall script is well written. The writing is nice and simple. Contains a bit of humor but it’s mostly centered on having an easy-going vibe to it.
Conclusion
Overall this manga will be really enjoyable for those who like to read a manga with beautiful art and a good story to go along with it. If you like traveling and have ever been interested in Iceland then chances are you will enjoy this manga. Be warned that this is a rated 16+ manga due to some unexpected explicit content which is nothing really worrisome as to adding some more realistic drawn scenes that would normally be lightly censored so it’s up to you to decide how comfortable you feel about reading this. I enjoyed reading this manga however not to the point that I would recommend it to another person wholeheartedly. I still want to read the continuation of the story by this author and hopefully, I get to see more interesting works by this author in the future.
About the Creator
The Inferno Elixir: A Legacy of Blood
1. The Sinister Stillness of the Village My grandfather had always been an enigmatic man, but in the last three years, his eccentricity had crossed into something far more unsettling. He lived alone in a secluded house far from the city’s clamor, tucked away in a village perpetually choked by mist. We assumed he was merely grieving the loss of my grandmother and his lifelong friend, but his gaze hid something deeper than sorrow—a secret that was slowly devouring his soul. During my last visit, I was struck by the sight of his refrigerator; it was grotesquely overstuffed with heaps of raw meat. He claimed with a cold detachment that it was for the poor, but his face betrayed the lie. Even more disturbing was the reinforced steel door he had installed in the basement, from which a foul stench seeped through the cracks—a smell like a carcass that refused to stay buried. 2. A Descent into the Abyss Late that night, I took advantage of my grandfather’s heavy sleep. With trembling fingers, I pilfered a modern, sophisticated key from his cabinet. I descended the decaying stairs into the basement, my flashlight cutting through the oppressive gloom. The air there didn't just smell of rot; it smelled like a slaughterhouse. Dry bloodstains smeared the walls, and in the corners lay bleached-white human skeletons. I approached the reinforced room and peered through a tiny peephole. The blood froze in my veins. A gaunt creature, its bones protruding obscenely from its skin, stood there. Its hair was so long it trailed behind it like a shroud. It moved on all fours with a demonic fluidity. Suddenly, its eyes—completely white—locked onto the hole. It wasn't looking at me; it was scenting me. 3. The Bitter Truth Before I could flee, I felt the sharp sting of a needle in my neck. The world dissolved into darkness. I awoke inside a hermetically sealed glass chamber. My grandfather stood on the other side of the glass, weeping bitterly as he recounted the catastrophe: > "Three years ago, your grandmother was on the brink of death. A stranger with non-human features knocked on my door and gave me a dark red elixir, claiming it was the salvation. I injected her, but she transformed into this ravenous monster. I killed my oldest friend and fed him to her just to protect her secret. I love her, Alex, and I cannot let you leave to expose the truth of her 'death' to the world." > 4. The Banquet of Blood The glass barrier began to rise slowly, and the monstrosity crouched, ready to pounce. Suddenly, a scream pierced the silence. My younger brother, Thomas, had followed me. With a heavy blow from a sharp tool, he struck our grandfather, sending him sprawling into the room. In a moment of primal madness, the creature lunged at my grandfather, tearing into his flesh with unspeakable ferocity. Thomas and I fled, the screams echoing behind us, until the police arrived and ended the nightmare with a hail of bullets into the body of what was once my grandmother. 5. The Vicious Cycle A year has passed since that night, and I thought I had survived. But fate plays a cruel game. It is now the anniversary of my grandfather’s death, and my brother Thomas is wasting away from a rare, terminal illness. Last night, amidst the darkness, a stranger knocked on my door—matching the exact description my grandfather once gave. He placed a small box in my hand containing a vial of dark red liquid and hissed into my ear: "This is the only cure for your brother." The stranger vanished as if he never existed. I analyzed the liquid in a lab, and the results were bone-chilling: "A substance extracted from an unknown biological entity, non-existent in any natural record." I hold the vial in my hand now, looking at my pale brother, hearing the echo of my grandfather’s voice in my head. Do I repeat the tragedy? Do I begin a new massacre in the name of love? The elixir is before me, and hell is waiting just behind the door. Would you like me to create a "Book Cover" style description for this story, or perhaps suggest a sequel?
By Mayar Younesa day ago in Fiction
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