We received a copy of Twin Spica 2 at the last Vertical Vednesday, or should I say I zealously grabbed for it because I was just that eager to read more of the story. A minor amount of time has passed between the conclusion of the first volume and the events starting in the second. As Asumi has overcome her first big challenge (actually being accepted to the space academy) her excitement is palpable but she doesn’t become complacent realizing there are tougher roads ahead. Her spirit and energy is quite infectious, as a reader I always believe in her and admire her hard-work. Asumi has taken up residence in a small out of the way dorm with few other tenants. Of course the many personalities we met during her first test are back as students in the school and once again we are confronted with the slow build of friendship between them, especially that of Marika and Kei with Asumi. The first book has some emotionally gripping moments that pulled you into the story almost immediately, this time around they keep you emotionally focused as more history is revealed. I was also surprised to see such direct villain in the series, it was almost cliche, but I want to see how it further develops before making a call and the motive behind him is highly intriguing. Twin Spica is a must-read, if you were foolishly not reading it already.

Asumi is settling in after being accepted to the Tokyo Space Academy. She is excelling both physically and mentally while getting closer to all the students she met during the entrance exam. We have our first clear villain of the story although so far he has been utterly nasty in a completely realistic fashion. His grudge manifests itself in petty but powerful bits of acidic behavior. So far this has mostly been set up for the school life and the dynamics of the relationships the characters will have at school. While the confrontation between Sano and Asumi is the climax of the book, there are many story seeds planted in the volume that will surely pop up throughout the series. After the main story are two bonus stories set during Asumi’s childhood. The first story gives us a more insight into Yuko Suzunari and Mr. Lion. The second story further shows how much the Lion incident has effected the lives of Asumi and her father. I will admit that I openly teared up on the subway when I finished the last story. It was rather powerful and moving if a bit more on the fantastical. But all the flash back stories tend to lean toward the fantastical whenever Mr. Lion is prominent. I do find it worth noting that Asumi’s hard work does not make her the best but it does make her stand out if only slightly. This combination makes both Asumi and Twin Spica stand out in my mind. A solid follow up to the spectacular first book that will leave you anticipating the release of the third.

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