Pretty, and sad. ( )

It is said that the falling snowflakes are the tears of the snow maidens. But ask a snow maiden, and you might get a different story altogether. In fact, she might tell you stories similar to the ones a young traveler heard when he spoke to a pale, beautiful woman out in the snowy wilderness . . . you might even hear stories to make you weep yourself.

I love the way in which Shirahime-Syo is both very unique for CLAMP and is yet quintessentially theirs. This is a single volume of manga containing three short stories that almost resemble folk tales. This feeling is enhanced by the art style which is, again, both extremely CLAMP and yet different from their norm, evoking a more traditional Japanese painting style. It’s very beautiful, haunting almost. The style fits the stories perfectly. All three tales are of old Japan (or somewhere that looks similar), out in the wilds during the deep snows, and in each story, there is an initial impression of a man-versus-nature sort of story. Yet somehow in the midst of that, the stories get turned back upon man, showing that we are our own worst problem. The stories are poignant and beautiful, tragically lovely. I’m sure not everyone would enjoy them, but I truly think all readers would benefit from reading Shirahime-Syo at least once; it’s a moving experience.

The stories are simple, but beautiful and deeply sad. It's the artwork what makes this worth it, though. No computers or screens or any artifice involved here. Just plain ink and brush, and the artist's own masterful hand. ( )

The stories are simple, but beautiful and deeply sad. It's the artwork what makes this worth it, though. No computers or screens or any artifice involved here. Just plain ink and brush, and the artist's own masterful hand. ( )

Very pretty and very sad this anthology of short tales gives a very melancholy view of the Japanese legend of the Snow Princess. The first few color pages a particularly pretty and start off the anthology with a young man who discovers a mysterious woman in the snow of a mountaintop and whose true identity is revealed in the last part of the manga.

Clamp has always done emotions well whether when they are being silly, dramatic or, in this case, tragic. If you love the winter or just like beautiful, heartbreaking tales I'd recommend it. ( )