By the Sword

(ADV Manga, 2005)
™ and © 2003 Sanami Matoh/Biblos

Asagi is a demon hunter in feudal Japan who has the innate power to destroy, which can be channeled through his sword. The only trouble is that this is as hard on his swords as it is on the demons. He meets a cute half–demon girl named Kaede, who leads him to Moegi, a sword that can withstand his power. Except that the spirit of her father is trapped inside it, and only some unknown human can break the spell, releasing him and unsheathing the sword. With all its half–demons and magic swords, By The Sword could be confused with Inu-Yasha, except that it’s the girl who’s the half–demon. Nevertheless, along with lush, beautiful art, this historical fantasy has an unusual take on the material. For one thing, while violent, its demons aren’t automatically evil; for another, there are no (apparent) romantic sparks between Asagi and Kaede. She’s treated more like an adorable younger sister (though one who can eat her own weight at meals) than a possible love interest.

— S.A. Bennett

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