MARS volume 8

Today's post is on MARS volume 8 by Fuyumi Soryo. It is the eighth volume in the MARS series and is published by Tokyopop. The cover has Kira on it looking pale and pretty. The intended reader is young adult, enjoys teen drama, and hard issues. There is some mild language, talk of rape, and some violence in this volume. Because of content older teens and adults only. The story is told from Kira's perspective. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book On The Move

Is Kira and Rei's love built to last? Mixed signals abound in this on-again, off-again relationship. Every time Rei tries to make a move on Kira, she freaks out and pushes him away. Finally, Rei guesses she's hiding a horrible secret from her past. What could it be?! Meanwhile, Kira's mother gets out of the hospital and tells Kira they're moving. When Rei finds out, he tell Kira to come live with him, but she doesn't want to leave her mom's side. Could this be the end of Rei and Kira's love?

Review- We finally get what is going on with Kira. There is a lot of heavy stuff going on in this volume. Kira talks about being raped repeatedly by her stepfather, her mother leaving him over it, but now he is back and says he is sorry. That makes Rei lose it. He does not believe that her stepfather is really sorry or would never do it again. I think that the subject of rape is handled well. Kira is shown to still have pain over it but she is also shown that there is life after. I wish that Soryo would put Kira in therapy like she did Rei over his brother's death but I think being willing to talk about rape at all is a big step. Of course the drama is high with all that happens over the course of this volume. It end with them breaking up but that's just the cliffhanger for this volume. Rei does make one very good point, that Kira's mother is choosing her own personal comfort over her daughter's safety. Again a big issue and I am just going to have to see how it is handled. More drama next week.

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money so long ago.