Fullmetal Alchemist: The Valley of the White Petals (Osi): The Valley of White Petals

By Makoto Inoue

Book Overview

Somewhere between magic, art and science exists a world of alchemy. And into this world travel Edward and Alphonse Elric--two brothers in search of the Philosopher's Stone, the ultimate alchemical treasure!You've read the manga and seen the anime. Complete the Fullmetal experience with these best-selling novels featuring original stories.

Under direct orders from their commanding officer, Edward and Alphonse journey to a remote city deep within the wasteland borders of Eastern Command. Almost immediately, the Elric brothers discover that Wisteria isn't exactly a normal place. Veiled in shadows, it appears to be a utopian wonderland ruled not by military command but rather by the very laws of alchemy that guide their own personal fate. Like it or not, the brothers must make the biggest decision of their young lives. Do they follow orders and expose the secrets of Wisteria? Or will they allow themselves to be seduced by the paradise they've discovered?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1421504022
• ISBN13: 9781421504025
• Release Date: May 2006
• Publisher: Viz Media
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.0" x 7.5"
• Age Range: 14 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 9 to 12

Customer Reviews

Review by Lynn

This novel is based off of a famous manga. Hiromu Arakawa's FullMetal Alchemist, a series that usually needs visuals to display the actions and emotions of the scenes and characters, is portrayed quite well in Makoto Inoue's "The Valley of White Petals." Inoue not only paints vivid images for us in the book, she even introduces the characters, Edward and Alphonse, the Elric Brothers, and the situation of the book in a unique timeline; not something you see often in the manga. "The Valley of White Petals" is the third novel Inoue wrote based on Arakawa's work, and she doesn't cease to entertain and inform new readers to this series; the plot of this story actually has nothing to do with the previous volumes. Ed and Al, in this story, go to investigate a city under orders of their commanding military officer. It's funny how Inoue portrays Ed's short-tempered, immature, and whiney characteristics in the beginning when they were searching for Wisteria, the town run by the laws of alchemy, one of the main concepts in the world of FullMetal Alchemist. Al, the younger brother whose soul is encased in a suit of armor, acts more mature in the novel than he does in the manga, in my opinion, but maybe that's because his thoughts are shared more; where as in the manga the story follows Ed. Inoue, throughout the book, uses Ed and Al's full names, you wouldn't forget their names are Edward and Alphonse like in the manga, where they constantly use their nicknames. She also describes their looks and how they got their bodies, Al's suit of armor and Ed's auto-mail, bionic parts used to replace missing limbs. She even describes their past in a nutshell, a tale told in detail in the manga. Don't think this book is all a "good" story. It holds a surprise in every page; you won't want to put the book down. New characters are introduced (like Ruby, the girl from Wisteria, one of the main characters that add to the plot) and a chain of events sets the pace as a dark secret is revealed, the story keeps unfolding and is action packed till the very end! There's a miraculous fight in the last chapter, too! It's a real page-turner. Are you interested yet? I recommend the FullMetal Alchemist novels volume one: "The Land of Sand" and volume two: "The Abducted Alchemist," too! Though in my opinion, "The Valley of White Petals" is the most interesting book yet. Maybe that's because of the whole situation, or the characters and their interactions (read the book to see what I mean), or maybe it's just because it's the latest one. It doesn't really matter, they're all excellent novels that you can read on a rainy day or when you're bored, then you wont be bored anymore! Well? Go ahead and read it!