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Title:  Utahime: The Songstress

Author:  Aki

Publisher: Digital Manga Publishing

ISBN: 9781569700440

May Contain Spoilers

This is a book with some very pretty pictures and a very intriguing concept behind the story.  For centuries, a group of women songstresses have protected the kingdom from harm.  The power of their voices keeps peace in the land.  Only females can be songstresses, and the magical voice is passed down from one generation to the next.  Now, you’d think that these women would be treated with dignity and respect, because they are responsible for keeping everyone safe and sheltered from harm.  But no, think again.  The songstresses are practically prisoners in their respective villages, and they are forced to sing throughout the night, to keep evil at bay.  That sounds like a raw deal if I’ve ever heard one.

Kain is the son of a songstress, and his younger sister, Maria, is being groomed to take their mother’s place.  Kain has been raised to be suspicious of the villagers, and he chases them away from the tower where he lives with his mother and sister.  Their mother is a prisoner of the tower, living off of the offerings brought by the villagers, resentful of the power they hold over her.  While it’s her duty to protect the village with her songs, it’s their duty to ensure that she never leaves the village.  There is a great deal of distrust and contempt on both sides, and Kain hates everything to do with the villagers.

When the village elder’s son starts to visit them, Kain immediately distrusts him.  Maria, on the other hand, is happy to have a new friend.  Kain thinks that the only thing that Thomas is after is a way to control the songstress. Much of the story explores Kain’s turmoil of emotions, as he chafes at the chains that bind him to the village.  Until Thomas appears in their lives, his sole duty is to protect Maria from the villagers.  Then, when it looks like Thomas might be able to perform the job just as well, Kain is assailed with feelings of jealousy – and relief.  Maybe he’s found his way to freedom, after all.

Utahime is the story of friendships and how they change the characters over time.  Both Kain and Maria are lonely children, raised by a mother made bitter because of the responsibilities and burdens dumped on her.  The villagers don’t see the Utahime as a person – they see her as a tool to keep them safe, from both outside forces and the royal decree that dictates they always have a songstress in their village.  What they can’t comprehend is that everything they have ever believed about the songstresses is about to be turned upside down.  What happens when the impossible happens, and a male songstress is born? 

I enjoyed the moody atmosphere of story, and thought the art was fantastic.  The bonus story, “Darika,” had the same melancholy feeling as Utahime, and I wouldn’t have minded reading more about either one of them.  I am looking forward to reading more stories by Aki.

Grade:  A-

Review copy provided by DMP