Title: Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 15
Author: Hiromu Arakawa
Book #: 15th of Series
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Publish Date: December 18th 2007
Pages: 183
Format: Paperback
Date Read: November 5th 2013
Rating: ★★★★★ / out of 5
How could we have fallen this low?
Summary:
The horrors of the Ishbalan campaign occurred years before Ed became a state alchemist, and has serious repercussions, which set the tone for the complicated dealings of present-day state politics. Lieutenant Hawkeye reluctantly tells Ed all the dread details of the role Colonel Mustang and the other state alchemists played in this tragic event.
(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)
Review:
We finally learn everything about what happened in Ishbal, but while this answers some questions, it also brings up new ones.
Who is the Red Locust Alchemist?
Quotes:
Riza: "No matter how difficult things get, no matter how foolish you look struggling under the weight of your burdens, you have to keep living for the people you love."
"All tiny parts come together to form the great flow that makes up the world. So if negative feelings pervade our world, the flow of the rest of the world will become negative."
Why is alchemy being used to kill when it's supposed to help people?
Riza: "Can I truly believe that there will be a future in which everyone can live happily?"
It's the hand of man, not God, that we have to be wary of.
Mustang: "Then for future generations to be happy, as payment, we must carry corpses on our backs across a river of blood."
On My Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/757546440
Title: Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 14
Author: Hiromu Arakawa
Book #: 14th of Series
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Publish Date: August 14th 2007
Pages: 185
Format: Paperback
Date Read: November 5th 2013
Rating: ★★★★★ / out of 5
Do you look at the insects on the ground and consider them "fools"?
Summary: Ed and Al come face to face with the "father" of the homunculi, who just so happens to be a dead ringer for their own father, Van Hohenheim--a resemblance too uncanny for coincidence. And later, when the allure of immortality proves to be too much for Prince Lin of Xin, he lets Greed take over...literally!(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)Review:In this installment, we come face to face with the leader of the homunculi, and what a surprise! I was so sure, for the longest time, that it was their father behind it all. However, not that we know it is not, I am dying to know who is and what their father is up to. Because he is up to something. We also see the demise (or evolution?) of Lin, when he agrees to take on the philosopher's stone into his body and become Greed. Ed believes he is still in there, somewhere, but will he be able to overcome the homunculi living inside him?It seems that we also find Ed, Al and Mustang in a very uncomfortable situation, when they confront King Bradley of his humonculi origins. They seem to reach a stalemate, though, as he does not want them to interfere with the affairs of the humonculi, or people that Ed and Al love will be hurt in return.Overall, I am really looking for answers to come in the next few books!
On My Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/757539144
Title: Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 13
Author: Hiromu Arakawa
Book #: 13th of Series
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Publish Date: May 15th 2007
Pages: 187
Format: Paperback
Date Read: November 5th 2013
Rating: ★★★★★ / out of 5
Ed: "I'm not an optimist. I'm just suborn. That's all.
Summary:In the midst of heated battle, Ed and Prince Lin of Xing are swallowed whole by the homunculus Gluttony. Will they survive the depths of Gluttony's gullet like Jonah inside the whale, or has Al lost his brother for good? And the political power structure of the military may be irreparably shattered when Colonel Mustang confronts Führer President King Bradley with his horrifying suspicion that Bradley is a homunculous!(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)Review:To come!
On My Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/757538925
Title: Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 12
Author: Hiromu Arakawa
Book #: 12th of Series
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Publish Date: March 20th 2007
Pages: 187
Format: Paperback
Date Read: November 5th 2013
Rating: ★★★★★ / out of 5
No matter how far I travel down this road, will hatred only give birth to more hatred?
Summary:
The hunters become the hunted when the Elric brothers and Prince Lin set a trap for the homunculus with the insatiable appetite - Gluttony! On another front, state politics are shaken up when a horrifying truth about Fuhrer President King Bradley is revealed - and Colonel Roy Mustang is right there to capitalize on the situation.
(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)
Review:
There are tons of revelations in this book.
First off, Winry finds out the truth behind who killed her parents and has the change to take her revenge, but Ed convinces her not too. She then decides to go back to Rush Valley to continue working as an auto-mail apprentice.
Secondly, we finally see the characters learn the truth about the head of their military, King Bradley. We, as the readers, discovered this a few books back. Roy likes this news, and decides to try and use it to his advantage.
And lastly, Lin and Ed catch their homunculus. The questioning doesn't really go as planned, but much is still learned about theses beings and how the philosopher's stone is related.
Overall, a great addition to the series and would recommend you start reading it, too!
Quotes:
"What right did you have to take her life!?"
"Your hands weren't meant to take people's lives. They were mean to save them."
"You can't measure the worth of a person's life with addition and subtraction!!"
On My Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/754118664
Title: Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 11
Author: Hiromu Arakawa
Book #: 11th of Series
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Publish Date: January 16th 2007
Pages: 185
Format: Paperback
Date Read: November 1st 2013
Rating: ★★★★★ / out of 5
"The truth is cruel but justified."
Summary:Ed returns to Resembool and meets his father Hohenheim for the first time in many years. Although his father is happy to see him, Ed harbors intense feelings of resentment for being all but abandoned many years ago. However, anger gives way to intrigue as Ed and Al discover an important fact about the human transmutation ritual they attempted years before. What they thought was a partial resurrection of their mother was something else entirely - a revelation that could change their destiny forever.Review:Ed and Al are getting another lead on their search for the philosopher's stone, as well as whether or not they can use it to get their bodies back. Ed also uncovers the truth about the being that he and Al transmuted 4 years ago. This also leads to the revelation their teacher has, when this news is shared with her.I think what I enjoyed most about this book was seeing the selflessness of both Ed and Al. They are truly remarkable people.Overall, I would recommend this series to everyone!Quotes:Al: "This body of mine is a ticking time bomb."Ed: "I won't run away... no matter what!"
On My Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/753312399
Title: Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 10
Author: Hiromu Arakawa
Book #: 10th of Series
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Publish Date: November 21st 2006
Pages: 186
Format: Paperback
Date Read: November 1st 2013
Rating: ★★★★★ / out of 5
"As long as there's life in my body... I swear I'll never let anther person become a victim in this deadly game!"
Summary:Barry the Chopper, the psychopathic killer whose soul is encased in a suit of armor, has been captured by Colonel Mustang's troops. Fearing he will reveal the Philosopher's Stone conspiracy, Gluttony and Lust decide to kill him, using Barry's own original soulless body to track him down! Though Colonel Mustang has anticipated their moves and set up an ambush, Gluttony and Lust prove too powerful and easily fight their way through to Barry, who is being protected by Al and Lieutenant Hawkeye. In a terrible battle, a badly injured Colonel Mustang sacrifices all in a last-ditch attempt to stop Lust!Review:Things are really getting crazy at the start of this book, and it was hard for me to figure out just exactly what was going on. I knew something was up... and something was! I was glad to see that I was able to keep my faith in one of my favorite characters and that, in the end, his actions in the previous book were explained in this one.Finally, in this installment, we meet Ed and Al's father. I have my suspicions about him, and I think it's pretty obvious that(view spoiler). Even though we see him leave Ed behind, I know this isn't going to be the last time they meet.We also learn the disturbing truth about what happened to Winry's parents, and who their deaths are connected to.And, as we see the joyous reunion with one character, we see the demise of another.Overall, this book left off on such a cliff-hanger! Can't wait for the next one. Would recommend this series.
On My Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/753312124
Title: Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 9
Author: Hiromu Arakawa
Book #: 9th of Series
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Publish Date: September 19th 2006
Pages: 183
Format: Paperback
Date Read: November 1st 2013
Rating: ★★★★★ / out of 5
"This isn't just your problem, big brother. It's both of ours."
Summary:
Ed, Al and Winry return to Central Command, but only bad news greets the Fullmetal Alchemist and his friends. Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes has been murdered - and Second Lieutenant Maria Ross is the prime suspect! While Maria awaits an uncertain fate in jail, the living suit of armor bearing the soul of serial killer "Berry the Chopper" breaks free of the military and goes on a rampage. Now, the mysterious Homunculi must come out of the shadows to deal with the mess before their monstrous conspiracy is exposed. But for Colonel Mustang, Maes Hughes's former best friend, it's not about the truth; it's about revenge...
Review:
To much to process.
At this point, I think this is my least favorite book of the series. Obviously, by my rating, I still enjoyed it. But, first off, no.
What happened in this book must be a mistake, or at least, there must be something else going on that we don't know about yet. I cannot stand to believe that the actions of one of my favorite characters was justified because they just were not. Things better be cleared up or else.
Other than that, in this book we see more of our favorite serial killer: Barry the Chopper.
We also learn some even more disturbing facts, especially as the Homunculi (which we are still trying to figure out) get even more involved in keeping all the other characters.. un-involved in their matters.
There is also the re-visiting of the death of Hughes, which is still a really tender topic for me.
Overall, I better get my answers in the next book. Would recommend this series to all!
Quotes:
Armstrong: "That's it then? Cold hard logic? No one wants to live in a world like that."
Ross: "Women should be strong!"
"You have to keep moving forward by doing whatever you think is right."
On My Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/752229200
Title: Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 8
Author: Hiromu Arakawa
Book #: 8th of Series
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Publish Date: July 18th 2006
Pages: 185
Format: Paperback
Date Read: November 1st 2013
Rating: ★★★★★ / out of 5
"I can't afford to worry about appearances. Not with the burden I'm bearing."
Summary:
The raid on the Devil's Nest becomes a slaughter, as government troops - led by the Fuhrer President himself, King Bradley - exterminate the half-human forces of the Homunculus Greed. But will Ed and Al survive the battle unchanged? As Greed is sent to meet his maker, foreign travelers arrive in Amestris, having crossed the great desert from the eastern country of Xing. Their names are Mei and Ling, and they've come for the Philosopher's Stone...and a secret even the Elric brothers never imagined...
Review:
Woah! What an information load!
In this installment we learn some very critical things about a particular character who holds a lot of power at the moment. I have always been a little suspicious about him, but never did I imagine to be true what we learn. None of the other characters seem to know about it, though, and I wonder how long it will take for them to find out. Hopefully in time!
We are also introduced to three new characters in this book, one of which being Winry's new boss, a very flamboyant mechanic who added some new humor, and two who seem like they will be hanging around for a while. One of them, a prince from a foreign country, has two counterparts with him who I enjoyed meeting, as well.
Overall, I am still shaken by this new discovery! I just hope that the others will pick up on it before it's too late. Recommend this series.
On My Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/752124357
Title: Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 7
Author: Hiromu Arakawa
Book #: 7th of Series
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Publish Date: May 16th 2006
Pages: 187
Format: Paperback
Date Read: October 29th 2013
Rating: ★★★★★ / out of 5
"If anything happens to that boy... I won't hesitate to destroy you."
Summary:Where did Alphonse Elric go during the few short minutes he was wiped from existence, body and soul? From a secret lair in the city of Dublith, a group of outcasts kidnaps Alphonse to find the alchemical secrets of his creation! It's up to Ed (and a certain housewife) to go into the Devil's Nest and rescue his brother. But the criminals of the Devil's Nest aren't exactly human either. Now, Al must fight a homunculus - an artificial human being - and the streets of Dublith will run red with blood...(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)Review:What I loved about this book the most is the more science-related side that we see of alchemy:
Greed: "What did you do to my shield...?"
Ed: "It was easy enough once I thought about it. You can't make something out of nothing. Therefore your "shield" is being created from something.
You told me yourself that you're created from the same biological material as we humans. And I thought, "what's an element in the body that could become a shield that's stronger than steel?"
The substance that makes up one third of our bodies- carbon. The hardness of carbon varies depending on how the atoms are combined. For example, compare the lead from a pencil with a diamond.
Once I understand the chemistry at work, it's a simple matter of alchemy."
All this beside, though, in this installment, with the kidnapping of Al, we are introduced to more of the same enemies that have been lurking in the background since the beginning. We also see more of the state alchemist serial killer, and what might possibly be the end of his revenge-induced killing. I like how it is still up in the air, though.Overall, great to see such realistic use of science in the fantasy concept of alchemy! Again, would recommend this series to everyone.
On My Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/744159040
