The Season of Rise (On Riku Onda's Gothic Mystery "Snake in the Rose")
SNAKE IN THE ROSE
Riku Onda's new book
"Snake in the Rose"
While studying abroad in England, Rise Mizuno is invited by her friend Alice to a party at a mansion shaped like a rose, known as "Black Rose House."
It is home to the Remington family, aristocrats who hold significant influence over the nation's economy and politics.
Amidst rumors of a mysterious family heirloom and threats against the master, a severed human corpse is discovered on the mansion grounds...
The ominous mansion "Black Rose House"
The suspicious aristocratic family
The mysterious beautiful girl "Rise Mizuno" who visits the mansion
And the tragedy that unfolds...
Even just listing the keywords evokes a gothic atmosphere that is the very "essence" of this work.
Oh, it's wonderful, this atmosphere!
It doesn't have to be all the time, but sometimes I just want to savor this kind of mood.
For the first time in a while, I was able to fully enjoy a gothic mystery by Riku Onda!
Well, since it's a gothic mystery, it's also a mystery, so naturally there is a truth to be revealed, making the ending feel a bit more clear-cut than usual for Riku Onda. (← Is that a compliment?)
That said, since it's a full-length novel by Riku Onda, enjoying the atmosphere leading up to the conclusion is more important than the ending itself.
The promotional copy says
A girl who transforms. The mystery of a cursed mansion.
The first new full-length novel in the "Rise" series in 17 years!
It was introduced like that, but
I can't help but think, "Wait, has it really been 17 years already?"
Although it is the latest volume in a series, this series is connected quite loosely, and as a story, it stands on its own, so there is no problem reading this book first!
However, regarding questions like: Who is the protagonist "Rise Mizuno"?
Who is the "Johann" who appears midway through?
It is definitely more interesting if you know the background!
That is what I think.
So, this time, I would like to "note" about Riku Onda's "Rise" series.
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As a series, the books featuring the mysterious beauty "Rise Mizuno" as the protagonist have released two titles so far: "The Fruit That Sinks in the Sea of Wheat" and "The Bone of the Twilight Lily," making "The Serpent in the Roses" the third installment. So, to get to know "
Rise Mizuno" and "Johann," reading those two books is sufficient.
"The Fruit That Sinks in the Sea of Wheat"
A boarding school where it is said that any transfer student other than those arriving in March brings ruin.
Rise, who transferred on the last day of February, feels her heart waver. Students disappear from locked concert halls and wetlands. The principal gathers students to hold séances. A cursed book that vanished from the library. What is the secret of the "March Country" that Rise has wandered into?
A story filled with the "wonders" of this world.
The setting of this work is a school full of mysteries, and I was really drawn to this setting at the time.
It is so interesting that it could be called one of Riku Onda's masterpieces.
Rather than a realistic school story, it is a story performed like a stage play, and that atmosphere is irresistible.
I think there are many people, including myself, who have continued to read this series simply because they read this book.
"The Bone of the Twilight Lily"
Her grandmother died after falling in a Western-style house wrapped in the intense scent of lilies.
Guided by a strange will, high school student Rise is welcomed by two beautiful aunts living elegantly... What happened in this house full of fateful connections?
While searching for the origin of what is called the "Witch's House," ominous events such as poisonings and disappearances occur around her. Feeling anxious about her future, Rise...
This is the story of Rise after "The Fruit That Sinks in the Sea of Wheat."
You can see a more mature Rise than in the previous work.
All three works in this series are mysteries, but this "The Bone of the Twilight Lily" is the one with the most suspense.
And it took 17 years from this book until "The Serpent in the Roses" was published.
I knew the series was being serialized, but knowing Riku Onda, I was worried it might be interrupted... so I am relieved that it was published safely.
If you are interested, please start with "The Fruit That Sinks in the Sea of Wheat," and for those who have read the series before, I hope you enjoy its sequel, "The Serpent in the Roses."
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Now, as for the main story, the three works mentioned above are the foundation, but the world of this series has a somewhat complex structure.
The factor contributing to that complexity is "The Fruit Sinking in the Sea of Wheat" which was released before "March in the Deep Red Abyss".
"March in the Deep Red Abyss"
Koichi Samejima was invited to the chairman's second home for three days and two nights because his hobby was reading. What he was told by the enthusiasts waiting for him was the story of the rare book "March in the Deep Red Abyss," which should be in the mansion but has not been found even after searching for over ten years.
A gem of a mystery revolving around a book that is only allowed to be lent to one person for one night.
This book is a somewhat mysterious collection of linked short stories.
The mysterious book discussed in the story is the same as the title, "March in the Deep Red Abyss," but it feels like there is a book within a book.
It is composed of four chapters, and the fourth chapter, "Carousel," is a story about a novelist who conceives a four-part book titled "March in the Deep Red Abyss," and a story that seems like a trailer for "The Fruit Sinking in the Sea of Wheat" is inserted within it.
Perhaps there is a mechanism where the story written by the narrator of this "Carousel" is "The Fruit Sinking in the Sea of Wheat."
In the current new release, "The Serpent in the Roses," such mechanisms seem to have already been resolved, so there is no need to read "March in the Deep Red Abyss" as a series work.
However, if you want to fully enjoy this series at a leisurely pace, I recommend starting with this book first!
Besides that, there are three short stories related to the "Rise" series.
They are not directly connected to the main story, but for those who have finished the novels and want to touch this world again, I think these works will quench that thirst. *The titles in " " are the titles of the short story collections.
"Water Lily": Included in the short story collection "Library of the Sea"
A short story depicting an episode from Rise's childhood.
"Crystal Night, Jade Morning": Included in the short story collection "Refreshing Like the Morning Sun"
A short story depicting events at the school, with Johan, a friend Rise met at the school, as the protagonist.
"Cage Floating in the Sea of Wheat": Included in the short story collection "Pedestrian Bridge Cinema"
A short story in which the school principal reminisces about a student who was previously enrolled at the school.
Finally, there is a work positioned as a side story to the series called "Fantasy of Black and Brown".
"Fantasy of Black and Brown"
To an island holding an ancient forest—four men and women who were classmates in their student days head for a destination isolated from the secular world. The journey to reclaim the past brings to light Yuri Kajiwara, a mutual acquaintance who disappeared after a certain night. The shadow of the woman who was too beautiful was deeply etched in each person's heart even after more than a decade. A poignant story filled with "beautiful mysteries."
It is a story related to "Yuri," one of the characters in "The Fruit Sinking in the Sea of Wheat," but since the title was also announced in "March in the Deep Red Abyss," there is no doubt that it is one of the worlds in the series.
However, even though it is a story about characters from 'The Fruit That Sinks in the Sea of Wheat,' this work does not really feel like a gothic atmosphere.
It is a story where the truth of a past incident gradually emerges as four men and women walk to visit the Jomon Sugi cedar on Yakushima, and it has a feel like an adult version of Riku Onda's masterpiece 'Night Picnic.'
I recommend it to those who want to enjoy the series more deeply, but it is a very interesting work even if you do not read it as one of the series.
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(Postscript)
As an element that constitutes the world of this series, the cover art and illustrations by "Takashi Kitami" are also indispensable.
The many fantastical pictures depicting characters with slightly long necks are very familiar to our generation, such as those from Jiro Akagawa's 'Mike Neko Holmes' series.
I was very happy to see this duo again in the latest volume of Riku Onda's 'Rise' series, 'Snake in the Rose.'
"Takashi Kitami" must be quite elderly, but I hope that this duo will continue the series for a long time to come.
(Related note)
A discussion on examining the magician of nostalgia
The magician of nostalgia, and what followed (Riku Onda's short story collection)
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