Le Chevalier d’Éon シュヴァリエ the anime

I recently received Le Chevalier d’Éon シュヴァリエ the anime.  I’m new to historic fiction and the few pieces I’ve seen/read are not really at all like the history, total fiction with some historic characters (usually not at all like the lives they lived) and may or may not have actual historic events in them.

This was totally fictional, with the events and many of the people fictionalized.  I’m not sure if this is the norm or not.  However, there are many good notes on the actual people and places and some events.  These notes are small to read (probably if you don’t have a larger TV or are older) and this is a S.A.V.E. edition.

The story is seinen, supernatural, horror, gender bender, historic fiction, and action.

It can be entertaining.  The animators tried to make the dress and backgrounds authentic.  If you can get past the inaccurate history and love action, and/or horror and supernatural you may enjoy this anime.

This is based on a novel and there are 24 episodes of the anime and there is a manga (I’ve not read – and out of print in English) of 8 volumes.

Wolfsmund 狼の口: ヴォルフスムント

I recently started to read Wolfsmund 狼の口: ヴォルフスムント by KUJI Mitsuhisa 久慈光久.  This  is a historical fiction manga (6 volumes – 3 out so far and another volume due out tomorrow), seinen about the Swiss fight for independence.  As with much historical fiction there is a lot of fiction about real people – including the way Wilhelm Tell dies.

This is adult manga and very explicit especially about violence, after all, it’s about a revolution.  So far it’s been fairly interesting.  Also, get ready for most, if not all, of the heroes to die.  This is not manga for the squeamish.

It was published in Japan by Enterbrain and in Canada by Vertical, which is getting the volumes out in a fairly reasonable rate but could do it quicker.  Sometimes every other month sometimes 4 months between – no date out for the last volume to be published.

Tail of the Moon Tsuki no Shippo 月のしっぽ

Tail of the Moon Tsuki no Shippo 月のしっぽ and Tail of the Moon Prequel: The Other Hanzo Tsuki no Toiki Ai no Kizu  月の吐息　愛の傷 by UEDA Rinko 上田倫子 – I just read this shojo classic first published in Margaret マーガレット , then released in US by VIZ Shojo Beat.

This is not too edgy shojo comedy, drama, historic fiction with some action.  If you have an empty day and looking to read some shojo, this 15 volume + prequel series may be alright.  For most of the series a very light and fluffy comedy; however, starting with Vol 12 gets a bit heavy for the 11-15 year old audience for which Margaret マーガレット is written, doing some battle/war story arc.  Although, for most readers there will never be a doubt and the author does give unneeded spoilers at the beginning of the series, the war arc could be bit too much for a younger audience with not enough experience in reading to know how it will end, which could be upsetting.

Also, for those that want their history fiction to be more accurate – this one isn’t for you.