Phantom Thief Jeanne Vol. 5by Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 9 Maron / Jeanne has to confront the demon possessing Miyako. Access is granted Minor Angel status to help Finn. The Demon Lord takes Chiaki prisoner and uses threat of hurting him to get Maron / Jeanne to accept his challenge on behalf of God. Maron meets God and comes to understand the full picture. She makes difficult choices.This is the final volume, and it wraps up nicely. Parts of it wrap up a little too nicely. It almost doesn't leave any loose ends (including Maron's parents), but I'm confused as to what the outcome was exactly for the Demon Lord. I'm also confused as to why Finn and Access end up in the forms they do, though I appreciate that the extra shorts at the end give this some attention. I love the glimpse into the future with Maron, Chiaki, Finn, and Access, but including Miyako and Todaiji seems very forced, especially with them being clueless about Finn and Access. My favorite extra is the one about Silk and Noin. Silk is cute and childlike, and I like how gentle Noin is with him. I'm intrigued by the God presented in this story's mythos, especially with regard to the story in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. I like it. It's a very personal relationship with God and explains why, even after the separation of God and humans (no longer in the Garden together), he still loves them so much. The creation of the Demon Lord is also different and interesting. It presents God in a much more "human" light (though still different than humans), and it shows that God, too, can make mistakes. The Demon Lord's creation is tied to humanity rather than being a rebellion from the angels (who, as we see with Finn, can still rebel and "fall") and explains why God can't / doesn't stop the Demon Lord directly. My issue with this mythos is the limits it places on God's power. He can only do three things, and in supporting Finn and Maron / Jeanne, he's almost depleted his powers. Um, what? God, the creator of all, can run out of power? I would understand placing limits on what he will do in order to get humans and angels to figure things out themselves, but placing limits on what he can do seems at odds with the mythos in the story (not to mention the mythos it's based on). Access is one of the best things in this volume. He would steal the show if Maron didn't meet God and take on the challenge against the Demon Lord. I love how he's frustrated at not being a Minor Angel and complains to himself that he could actually do something if he was, so God just says "All right" and makes him one. And wow! Easily one of the most handsome guys in this story when he's in Minor Angel mode. And, I'm a sucker for situations in stories where there's physical pain associated with touching the one you love, but you do it anyway because you love them and want to save them, so Access doubly wins me over with how he handles that. I'm glad the issue with Finn continues to be a gray area rather than getting cleared up to black and white, and that she was redeemed (as I suspected she would be). However, it adds to my confusion at the very end with regard to the Demon Lord. Chiaki has a minor role in this volume. He's kidnapped and held as a sort of ransom, but he's not turned into a damsel. He's the love interest that supports the hero (Maron). It's a nice role-reversal. I was a bit surprised that he and Maron make love (in Heaven), but I love the outcome and how it makes them even closer and supports her even more as she heads into battle. One other aspect that leaves me confused at the end is why Chiaki has the power to transform if the regeneration / reincarnation aspect is wholly in Maron's soul. And while there's no longer a need for either of them to transform any more, why is she the only one that has to give up that power? This is a fantastic volume, which does an excellent job of concluding an exciting, adventure- and romance-filled story. It still has a few things that bother me -- questions left a little unanswered -- but this volume wraps the series up in such a way that it puts the whole reading experience from beginning to end in a positive light. I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the journey and the growth. I enjoyed the romance. The religious aspects are very interesting, making the twist (with regard to Maron / Jeanne) more impressive than you could ever guess based on the first volume. Written: January 2, 2015
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