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A review by stephilica
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Valley of White Petals (Novel) by Makoto Inoue
3.0
(True rating: 3.5/5)
Of the FMA light novels, this one holds a special place in my heart. Like the others, the prose can be utilitarian, and antagonists rather flat, but what sets this one apart is the examination of past and future... and Alphonse's character.
The Valley of White Petals finds Ed and Al searching for the mysterious city Wisteria under orders from Mustang. What started as a favor turns into genuine interest as the brothers find out the city runs entirely on the principle of Equivalent Exchange, alchemy's basis, and the guiding principle for their own lives.
The examination of Equivalent Exchange isn't anything particularly new; those who have read the original manga, or seen Dante's speech 'debunking' it in the 2003 anime, will already be familiar with some of the grey areas the novel addresses. The arguments are presented well, but they're not completely original. However, Alphonse has an interesting character development arc as he wonders if his chasing the past is ruining his chances for happiness in the future. His tireless body could help people--is he being selfish by trying to get rid of it? Is he throwing away a chance at contentedness in the present for the dim possibility he may regain what he once had, someday in the future?
Even though Al grapples with these questions, the novel does not offer much else in the way of characters. Ed's thoughts are still rather obvious, and while Inoue writes the characters true to canon, he seems hesitant to fully explore them. Similarly, Ruby, an original character for the novel, has a unique perspective on Wisteria's situation, and even acts as a bit of a love interest for Al, but her final development is rushed in a climax more concerned with beating up the bad guy than giving a lasting resolution to the questions the story addresses, philosophical or otherwise. As a villain, Raygen's motivations are obscure, and while his actions are horrendous, his stock 'evil grins' and maniacal laughter make him hard to take seriously.
The novel shows the weaknesses of the light novel clearly: rushed character development in favor of witty dialogue, and a rushed story in favor of a little more action. Despite its flaws, however, it is still an enjoyable read. It's on the more serious side of the FMA light novels--the wry humor of The Abducted Alchemist is more understated here--and while it isn't quite as good as Arakawa's original works, it supplements them rather nicely.
(Plus... Al's mini-romance is adorable)
Of the FMA light novels, this one holds a special place in my heart. Like the others, the prose can be utilitarian, and antagonists rather flat, but what sets this one apart is the examination of past and future... and Alphonse's character.
The Valley of White Petals finds Ed and Al searching for the mysterious city Wisteria under orders from Mustang. What started as a favor turns into genuine interest as the brothers find out the city runs entirely on the principle of Equivalent Exchange, alchemy's basis, and the guiding principle for their own lives.
The examination of Equivalent Exchange isn't anything particularly new; those who have read the original manga, or seen Dante's speech 'debunking' it in the 2003 anime, will already be familiar with some of the grey areas the novel addresses. The arguments are presented well, but they're not completely original. However, Alphonse has an interesting character development arc as he wonders if his chasing the past is ruining his chances for happiness in the future. His tireless body could help people--is he being selfish by trying to get rid of it? Is he throwing away a chance at contentedness in the present for the dim possibility he may regain what he once had, someday in the future?
Even though Al grapples with these questions, the novel does not offer much else in the way of characters. Ed's thoughts are still rather obvious, and while Inoue writes the characters true to canon, he seems hesitant to fully explore them. Similarly, Ruby, an original character for the novel, has a unique perspective on Wisteria's situation, and even acts as a bit of a love interest for Al, but her final development is rushed in a climax more concerned with beating up the bad guy than giving a lasting resolution to the questions the story addresses, philosophical or otherwise. As a villain, Raygen's motivations are obscure, and while his actions are horrendous, his stock 'evil grins' and maniacal laughter make him hard to take seriously.
The novel shows the weaknesses of the light novel clearly: rushed character development in favor of witty dialogue, and a rushed story in favor of a little more action. Despite its flaws, however, it is still an enjoyable read. It's on the more serious side of the FMA light novels--the wry humor of The Abducted Alchemist is more understated here--and while it isn't quite as good as Arakawa's original works, it supplements them rather nicely.
(Plus... Al's mini-romance is adorable)