Trinity Blood: Rage Against the Moons: From the Empire (Vol 1)

TokyoPops publication of Sunao Yoshidas Trinity Blood in English is cause for celebration. The novels spawned both a manga series and an anime release, with all three developing rabid fans around the world. Sadly, Yoshida died before completing the series, but luckily for readers, Kentaro Yasui, a friend of his, completed it after his very untimely death at age 34.

There are two separate sets within the series and the first is From the Empire, the first book in the Rage Against the Moons (commonly referred to as R.A.M.) set. All the R.A.M. novels take place before the Reborn on the Mars (R.O.M.) set.

For those of you who are already fans of the anime or manga versions of Trinity Blood, please note that there are differences between them and the storyline of the novel. Hey, all the more reason to check each version out!

In From the Empire, we are introduced to a world very different from our own. Set in a post-apocalyptic Earth far in the future, vampires (or Methuselahs i.e. long-lifers) and humans co-exist in a barely held peace. It is a violent world full of treachery. A group of AX agents, sponsored by the Vatican (one of the most powerful agencies in this new world), are often the only thing keeping things safe (relatively).

These AX agents are super-beings theres a superhuman with nanomachine enhancements (Abel Nightroad, my personal favorite), another that lives as a hologram (Sister Kate, though I also understand from sources outside the book that she is also a real woman in a coma able to exist as the hologram through the help of a Professor), a Killing Doll (android Tres Iqus, someone you definitely want on your side), and a noble whos entire family was killed and is out for revenge (Hugue de Watteau, who was left for dead with both of his arms cut off).

The book is separated into what I suppose you could best call different missions. In each one, AX agent(s) do their best to carry out their orders against incredible odds and vicious foes using only their considerable powers and what luck they can gather.

Their lot is not an easy one. Even some people within the Vatican are against them, viewing them as monsters." Indeed, there are things in their pasts that they arent necessarily proud of. They are lonely warriors, sometimes downtrodden, always powerful, and often conflicted. In other words, interesting.

Readers, whether fans of anime or manga or not, cant help but be drawn in and taken for a thrilling ride. I read this in one sitting, not able to put it down, frantically turning pages to find out what happens next. Can the AX agents possibly pull through? Who dies? Who lives? Who wins? Is there any such thing as a victor in this strange new world? I dont think you could pack any more action into the pages if you tried.

Nor could you pack in much more gore as the vampires attack humans (or Terrans, as they sometimes call them, with a sneer), AX agents attack vampires, and mysterious witches/sorcerers (perhaps the third power that the Vatican hints of?) enter the fray. There are exploding heads, spurts of blood, threats of rape, murder, and mayhem. And through it all, the AX agents stand tall.

So, you might think that would make for a rather depressing though heart-pounding read, but Yoshida managed to work in more humor than you would have thought possible. Abel Nightroad is a particular case in point as, when not actively engaged in fighting, he comes across as bumbling, absent-minded, and sweet. Thats likely why hes my favorite.

More science fiction than fantasy, but with elements of both, Trinity Blood is sure to please any reader looking for a fast-paced, adrenalin pumping read. Now, all I want to know is when is the next book in the series out??

Recommended for teens aged 14 and up due to some graphic content.