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9 Faces of Love

Review

9 Faces of Love

There are many different sides of love, and Wann shows us a few of them in the form of lovely short stories. 9 Faces of Love is a 230-page collection of her shorter manhwa works.

Each story has a different feel. Some are humorous and some are completely serious. Some end happily while others are tragic. Despite being short, they all manage to set their own mood and feeling.

It all starts with the story “Return of Princess Rouana,” in which a princess is kidnapped. Or so the people think. While everyone assumes something horrible has happened to her, she wasn’t actually kidnapped, but went willingly with the man she loves. Will she be able to set it straight?

“Believe Ye Yours Eyes?” is second and is about a misogynist who learns his lesson and comes to respect women. This happens when he falls in love with a writer whose personality demands that she be treated well.

“A Short Game About a Chance Encounter” is a fun and clever story. Two people who are meant for each other meet on a subway and fall in love. Then Wann asks us, what if they never met on that subway? She shows us a few alternate possibilities, all of which lead to the couple meeting anyone, no matter how awkward the circumstances get to be.

“Automation” is a science-fiction story about whether or not robots can feel love. While this has been done before, under Wann’s touch, it’s still very heartfelt and feels like one of a kind.

“A Cold” is one of the more bitingly humorous stories. A couple breaks up after silly arguments. Are they going to be able to stay apart? It might not be so easy.

“Purple Eyes” is one of the best stories, really standing out. A psychic boy with purple eyes finds himself having visions of a girl killed for witchcraft hundreds of years before. She also had purple eyes. The village has been cursed for killing an innocent girl: To his day, all the girls in the area die young. Through his visions, the psychic boy might be able to stop the death. While at first glance, this might not sound like a love story, it definitely falls under the category.

“Leucadian” is another very strong story. Referencing the poet Sappho, who supposedly threw herself off the Leucadian Cliff over heartbreak, a modern-day girl decides to end her life. She can’t find luck in love, either. However, there is a boy who loves her and must convince her not to commit suicide.

“Mind Flavor” has two best friends discussing love in their lives. While it may not stand out like some of the other stories, it’s smooth and enjoyable.

The final story, “A Flying Lesson,” is another strong and interesting one. A winged boy hatches from an egg and thinks he’s found his mother. Actually, it’s a teenage girl who’s hiding from her tutor. She realizes she’ll have to teach him how to fly, and embarks on magic lessons in order to help him out.

There’s a lot going on in Wann’s 9 Faces of Love, and it deserves to have a number of readers.

Reviewed by Danica Davidson on July 2, 2012

9 Faces of Love
by Wann

  • Publication Date: September 1, 2006
  • Genres: Graphic Novel
  • Paperback: 226 pages
  • Publisher: NETCOMICS
  • ISBN-10: 160009161X
  • ISBN-13: 9781600091612