Three Kingdoms Volume 18: The Kingdoms Crumble Kindle Edition

The Legends From China series comic and text version of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, one of the four great classics of Chinese literature, is a masterpiece of (relatively) simple storytelling, with great visuals. The only confusing point at times is the similarity in appearance of the many, many burly and bearded ancient warriors we are following, mainly because there are so many of them and most of them are quite invincible. But after a while the maze of characters starts to become clearer, and it's easy to become immersed in this amazing tale.Each book of about 170 pages is broken up into three or four individual tales, or adventures, mostly following our three heroes - Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei - as they go about their sworn mission, but also breaking away from time to time to tell someone else's tale (usually someone that's doomed to failure or death). Each section begins with an overview of what's to come (i.e. forecasting and spoilers), a map of the vicinity of China that is covered, as well as the odd box tale or illustration of a hero or two. Curiously, the text follows a western convention of family name last, inverting names like Liu Bei as "Bei Liu" (Liu is the family name), seemingly pretending that English convention is to do the same with all Chinese names, like Zedong Mao (Mao is the family name), or Kai Shek Chiang (Chiang is the family name, etc). Oh well...Now with this, the eighteenth volume, we are at the tipping point - in the last four books of the series we will learn who the ultimate victors of the Three Kingdoms period were as we understand the fates of its key agents Cao Cao, Sun Quan, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhuge Liang and Zhao Yun (and to this list, it seems we should Sima Yi, a late arrival to the tale). One of these men fell in the previous book, and three will fall in this one.The first chapter of the book deals with the death of one of the great leaders of the period, not in battle but in a sick bed. The repercussions of this will fuel many of the episodes that unfold in his own kingdom, as well as in the battles between the kingdoms. There is an intense scene of drama as the dying leader uses his last breath to tell his son that he loves him (an unusual scene of melodrama in Three Kingdoms that doesn't end up having any relevance in the story as a whole, but still touching as a standalone scene). Fateful words here from Sima Yi. Liu Bei ascends to the throne of emperor, and launches great revenge attacks on the Kingdom of Wu, not taking into account its brilliant general Lu Xun. There is a late, tearful, and uneventful reunion between Liu Bei and his wife, Sun Shangxiang, who will never meet again. Like the first chapter, the final chapter deals with the death of another of the great leaders, also in a sick bed.As usual, the art is incredible, particularly the attention to detail of the uniforms, and the great battles, the wonderful scenery. To break up the plod-led story, there are also three episodes that are very human - a dying father's last words to his son, a brief reunion between star-crossed lovers, and a dream of childhood from a great warrior king at the end of his life.