Shikebane Hime: Kuro

Shikebane Hime: Kuro is the sequel to Shikebane Hime: Aka which I talked about a while ago. I enjoyed Kuro a little more than Aka because the sequel explains much more about Ouri's history, the Kougon Sect, and the origin of the Shikebane Hime. There is actually a reason why the Shikabane Hime are all teenage girls. The Kougon Sect is not without its dark secrets either.

The nature of the connection between a Contracted Priest and the Shikabane Hime was a big surprise. The fact that no one, including the bad guys, understood the how the connection actually worked, is the only thing that saved the day in the end. It was also ironic that for centuries everything the Kougon had assumed about their power, was utterly wrong.

Although Kagami Ouri has received some training since he became Hoshimura Makina's Contracted Priest at the end of the first series, he is nowhere near ready to face the Shichisei. Makina also has a problem because she hasn't severed her connection to Tagami Keisei, her original Contract Priest. But Ouri and Makina find a way to make it work to their advantage, and ultimately are the only pair who can take on Hokuto, the nastiest Shikabane you never, ever want to meet.