Children of the Sea, Volume 5

I'm not even sure how to describe this series or why I liked it so much. From the first volume it had me hooked with its unique and detailed visual style and it's strange and mysterious story. I love anything to do with the ocean, so that was definitely my first draw to this series, and the artwork on all the sea creatures and water and space throughout was superb. I FELT like I was under the water or traveling over it or through it. It was such a visual story, especially this last volume, but the dialogue isn't wasted either and despite the surreal nature of the story it still managed to create characters that seemed real and poignant and maybe not quite human and yet human. It is a story that is in part mythic, in part cosmic, in part existential and goes places that felt otherworldly, even though we never leave earth. I was honestly mesmerized by it and don't think I can compare it to anything else I've read in either manga or books. It was truly unique on all fronts and explores a connection between myths, people, life, the ocean and the universe. I wasn't prepared for how surreal it would become and I was pleasantly surprised by it all. Truly a unique and fantastic series worth the accolades it's been given.