Attack on Titan: Kuklo Unbound

A prequel to the blockbuster Attack on Titan series, Before the Fall is a three volume young adult fiction fantasy novel series set years before the events that transpire with Eren and Mikasa. Together, the second and third volumes of Before the Fall are yet another prequel story and they are for the most part separate from the story of Angel and Wall Maria.   In this collection we are introduced to a new character Kuklo was found as a baby crying in a mass of Titan vomit, amidst the dead titan corpses. He is called "a child of titan" and is essentially hated by the people inside the walls. Kyklo despite his horrible beginnings and a single-functioning eye also seems to grow unnaturally fast. He parts himself from his past and gambles on the fate of humanity by enlisting in the Survey Corps. This group functions primarily outside of the safety of the walls. And here with his strength and determination Kyklo survives and thrives.   But to accomplish this he gets his hands on the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment. Although the gear is still imperfect and causes a troublesome incident for Kyklo, he fights the titans. Whether it is because it is his fate to fight them, or it is because of his past, he fights against them.

From School Library Journal

Gr 10 Up—The survivor of the attack that killed his mother, Kuklo is believed to be the child of a Titan (born from the vomit of the Titan that consumed her). His is a life relegated to that of a sideshow freak, marred by neglect, abuse, and the ever-looming possibility of sudden death. Kuklo's bleak existence is exacerbated when he is purchased by the Inocencios, a family of aristocrats who plan to use Kuklo for political gain. A series of events lead to the teen's escape and quest to find out if he truly is the child of a Titan—with unlikely alliances along the way. This stand-alone prequel to the popular manga series "Attack of the Titan" (Kodansha) is a combination of suspense, action, and mystery and features short chapters interspersed with manga-style illustrations. However, the occasional action illustrations lead to uneven pacing and are likely to frustrate committed readers of the manga. VERDICT A slow prequel meant to explain previously unexplored elements of the manga series that may only work as an entry point to new readers.—Tamela Chambers, Chicago Pub. Schs.

Book Description

A prequel to the blockbuster Attack on Titan series, Before the Fall is a three volume young adult fiction fantasy novel series set years before the events that transpire with Eren and Mikasa. Together, the second and third volumes of Before the Fall are yet another prequel story and they are for the most part separate from the story of Angel and Wall Maria. In this series we are introduced to a new character Kyklo was found as a baby crying in a mass of Titan vomit, amidst the dead titan corpses. He is called "a child of titan" and is essentially hated by the people inside the walls. Kyklo despite his horrible beginnings and a single-functioning eye also seems to grow unnaturally fast. He parts himself from his past and gambles on the fate of humanity by enlisting in the Survey Corps. This group functions primarily outside of the safety of the walls. And here with his strength and determination Kyklo survives and thrives. But to accomplish this he gets his hands on the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment. Although the gear is still imperfect and causes a troublesome incident for Kyklo, he fights the titans. Whether it is because it is his fate to fight them, or it is because of his past, he fights against them.

About the Author

Ryo Suzukaze is a professional novelist, comicker and screenwriter. Upon graduating high school Suzukaze entered a technical school only to quickly transition to work in Japan's rapidly exploding YA fiction scene. His first work was on the novelization of the mega-hit video game series: Shin Megami Tensei - DEVIL SUMMONER. He would then go to write novels for the following series: .hack//CELL, the IdolM@ster, and Attack on Titan. Suzukaze would also write the script for the IdolM@ster sci-fi spin-off comic and animated TV series XenoGlossia.Thores Shibamoto is well known amongst Japan's YA fiction scene. Shibamoto's art can be seen on and inside the covers of a number of major works over the last 10 years including Trinity Blood and Bionic Solder.

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