Graphic Novel Review – Vinland Saga Vol 14 by Makoto Yukimura (4/5 stars)
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Historical Fiction/Graphic Novel
Length: 400 pages
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Release Date: May 27, 2025
ISBN-13 : 978-1646519552
Stand Alone or Series: 14th volume in the Vinland Saga series
Source: Bought hardcover
Rating: 4/5 stars
“The first wheat grown in Arnheid Village sways in the breeze, Gudrid is pregnant, and Hild has finally let go of her need for vengeance. The new world that Thorfinn dreamed of, a world without war or slavery, seems within reach. Yet history is a tide that too often sweeps away individuals with good intentions, and there are those among the Lnu who believe that continued toleration of these newcomers will end in disaster, and some among the Norsemen who still hold onto a belief in physical force as a first, not last, resort. What will sprout from this seed of uncertainty, alongside the golden grain…?”
Series Info/Source: This is the 14th volume in the Vinland Saga series. I bought this in hardcover.
Thoughts: While the last few volumes in this series haven’t been as action-packed as the early volumes were, this remains a very well done graphic novel series. The last few of these have been more day to day type of novels.
Arnheid village is prospering and growing but tensions between the Lnu natives and the migrant Norseman are building. Each group has some people who want peace and some people who want to drive the others out. When virus strikes the Lnu and evil spirits brought by the Norsemen are blamed things come to a head.
Like all the volumes in this series, this is beautifully illustrated and full of amazing history. I really enjoy reading these. Do I miss all the action of the earlier books in the series? Definitely. However, we do get some good action scenes in this volume. I do wonder what this all is going to build to and if Thorfinn will be able to hold onto his dream of a violence-free world.
These are very well done and easy to read and interesting. I enjoy the characters, the environments, and the story. Yukimura-san is a very talented manga artist and I plan to continue to read this series for as long as he writes it.
My Summary (4/5): Overall, while not as exciting and action-packed as earlier volumes, this is still a very well done volume in this graphic novel series. We do get a bit of action as things come to a climax with the native Lnu people. I am curious to see where things go from here. The illustration and detail throughout is top notch and I really enjoy the history here as well. I will continue to read this series and highly recommend it to anyone interested in historical fantasy.
