The Scarlet Rose GN No. 2 - I'll Go Where You Go

Eighteen year old Maud de Laroche has learned the identity of her hero, the Fox - Guilhem de Landry! The man she thought was her friend. The man who had been teaching her how to use a sword and how to defend herself. The man her father had hired to watch over her. The man she trusted. And so, this second graphic novel in The Scarlet Rose series picks up exactly where the end of the first book ended - with Maud in a complete state of shock!

With "I'll Go Where You Go," writer and artist Patricia Lyfoung expands the world of Maud de Laroche, as her protagonist learns more about Guilhem and the Fox, as well as uncovering secrets about her father's killer and the secrets behind his murder. The art, while very detailed in places, particularly with the spectacular view of several of the cities Maud and Guilhem visit, appears to be rushed in a number of places. The characters' faces and expressions are not quite as defined in some of the panels, especially when compared to the art of the first graphic novel. Not sure why the difference, when Lyfoung did the art for both, but it was a bit jarring.

Otherwise, the story was just as fun and as engaging as the previous book. Maud has to get over the shock of discovery Guilhem is the Fox, and at the same time, Guilhem struggles to convince Maud that his identity as the Fox is nothing more than a way for him to escape the boredom of his life - he is not interested in justice, nor does he specifically give the spoils of his adventures to the poor; rather, he simply gives them to the first person he comes across. With her entire image of the Fox spoiled, Maud lashes out...but not for long! The Baron de Huet sneaks into the house and discovers Maud - the girl he has become infatuated with. She awakes with a scream, bringing Guilhem into the room, and the chance meeting starts off a chain of events that leads Maud and Guilhem (as well as Scarlet Rose and Fox) to Venice, to a party in honor of the Scarlet Rose and the Fox, to join a ship of pirates, and ultimately to Istanbul, where they will begin their search for the fabled."place of God."

Through the diary of Maud's father, and through information provided by Guilhem's friend, the "archivist," readers are provided with some of the intrigue that will set the stage for Maud and Guilhem's further adventures. It is a quest, of sorts, for a fabled place that can grant the power to change the world - but in order to do so, three things are required - a ring, a key, and a drop of blood. The ring and the key are said to have been safeguarded by the famed Templars, whose descendants still keep the items safe. As for the blood, well that requires a drop of blood from an actual descendant of one of the Templars...

So why are the de Huet's chasing after this fabled place? Who is their mysterious benefactor? Will Maud and Guilhem be able to track down the artifacts and get them before the de Huets? How will Maud react when she finds out that the Baron de Huet has a twin brother with a scar across his face that was the true murderer of her father? And when will Maud and Guilhem just admit their feelings for one another and move one?!

So many questions, and a few actually get answered this book - but, hey, you've got to save some for future stories, right?  Lyfoung knows how to keep the story moving, how to break from one scene to the next without it being jarring, and how to insinuate subplots into the tale without being overly obvious about it.  I look forward to where future books will take these characters!

RATING:  8 red chests with locks shaped like a dragon out of 10 for keeping the story interesting, mixing in just the right amount of drama along with a pinch of humor, and making me want to know what happens next!

The Scarlet Rose GN No. 1 - I Knew I'd Meet You

What do you when you fall for a Robin Hood-type rogue who is terrorizing the countryside, stealing from the rich to give to the poor and needy?  Why, you don a mask and costume yourself and assume a new identity to help the rogue in his nightly adventures, what else?

Writer/artist Patricia Lyfoung introduces readers to The Scarlet Rose in the American translation of her first two graphic novel tales, combined in "I Knew I'd Meet You," published by Charmz, a division of Papercutz graphic novels.  Maud is a young girl who relishes life, and who, even moreso, loves the adventure and the mystique that the man known only as "the Fox" brings to the countryside.  But when her father is murdered for a book, and she is forced to go live with an overly strict grandfather who has very specific ideas on how young ladies should behave, Maud finds herself in a quandry.  She's not interested in book-learning or manners or fancy balls - she's only interested in practicing with the sword her father made her before he died and avenging his death.

After she helps the Fox escape capture one night, Maud dons a mask and creates the persona of "The Scarlet Rose" as a means to attract the Fox's attention, while at the same time, searching for the man who killed her father.  But nothing works out quite as she planned.

She chances upon a man who looks like her father's murderer at a ball, but he doesn't have the scar she gave him...

She nearly gets captured as the Scarlet Rose, but when the Fox comes to rescue her, instead of being her knight in shining armor, he tells her to give up this life of adventure...

Her grandfather grows concerned over her actions, and Maud is sent to a convent to protect and teach her...

As with any true hero, Maud overcomes each and every obstacle, determined to be who she wants to be!  With the help of Guilhem, Count of Landry, her skills with the sword grow every day.  But not everything is what it seems, for Guilhem betrays her trust when he aids her grandfather in sending her to the convent, and even more when he reveals the most unexpected secret of all...

The Scarlet Rose is a story of adventure, mystery, and a bit of romance thrown into the mix.  There is no lull in the story, there are no cardboard characters (even the minor characters have personality and story that make them just as interesting as the main cast), and there are enough subplots to leave you wanting for more.  The art is just this side of Manga, with some magnificent backgrounds and settings, and some truly beautiful clothing for all of the characters.  It's clear Lyfoung did not rush through any panel, but gave careful thought to each character's look, expression, action, and the setting of each scene, so as to bring each page to life in such beauty as to easily draw the reader into the Scarlet Rose's world.

So glad I picked this one up, and looking forward to the second volume (since this first book does end with a shock of a cliffhanger...)

RATING:  9 travel diaries out of 10 for introduction another strong, new female lead into the world of comics!