A Special Thanks To NetGalley and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for the ARC to Review.
I have been following this series ever since the first chapter debuted on Webtoons (which has over forty million views and half a million subscribers), and it’s perfect for fans of Yayoi Ogawa’s Knight of the Ice, Tsurumaikada’s Medalist Manga, and the TV Anime, Yuri on Ice, and Paru Itagaki’s BEASTARS. Here comes the anthropomorphic queer romance, Blades of Furry Volume One by Emily Erdos (Ellie & Emily) and Deya Muniz (Brutally Honest, The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich). Also, for more reviews, click here to read my other reviews.
Our story begins with a rookie named Emile, who is part of a new sport called Battle Skating, a sport that combines the beauty and elegance of figure skating with the high-impact action of Martial Arts. Just as Emile finishes preparing for his big match at the Championships, there is a big change in the lineup. He is horrified to learn that his new opponent is none other than Radu, the reigning champ and best battle skater in the world (and Emile’s skating idol). Can Emile pull out an upset? Or will he go down in flames?
Blades of Furry is a fun, lighthearted story that has great potential to pick up a TV Animated Series, it has the elements that young and adult readers enjoy: romance, drama, dynamic action (in sports terminology), and suspense. Keep in mind that this first volume collects chapters 1-36, serving the purpose of watching Radu and Emile move up the ladder in a Battle Skating Competition, with them being rivals becoming lovers, even offering brief glimpses into their backstories as the story progresses.
As far as it goes for the story premise, I enjoyed watching Radu and Emile’s journey in terms of being rivals and gradually getting into a relationship. The way that Radu is written when it comes to his backstory is well done, having to guard a secret, that he is a vampire bat, the one species that is banned from the sport due to prejudice. Emile had an opportunity to turn him in, but he didn’t, he became his friend and you know the rest. Aside from being a Queer Love Story, it also offered other themes, such as the dangers of bigotry, prejudice, and having to deal with stalkers and harassers, something that has become a problem over the years for many. One other fun story that it offers is how Sal and Hana met, two other characters that play a bigger role in the story later on, which I won’t go into detail, due to spoilers.
Next, is how well-illustrated this story is. There has always been a certain beauty in figure skating, whether it be through skating in which the skaters have put their blood, sweat, and tears into their moves, and the outfits they wear in their performances, Emily Erdos and Deya Muniz did great work in creating these characters and creating this new sport. The way the characters were drawn (including their unique expressions) would bring a smile to each reader, not to mention the extensive research they have done in using different species in creation. Finally, the action sequences during their performances/battles were a neat treat, it wasn’t something you’d expect, but it was a treat to read.
Now, while I offer praise for this book, I also voice my concern and worry about the book due to the current political climate, including The Trump Administration’s war on what it deems “Woke” and its Attack on DEI, including the book bans that have been taking over public schools, libraries, and colleges in the United States, it has even reached the U.S. Naval Academy. I fear that this book and others like it will be removed from the library shelves due to a Bigoted and Narrow-Minded view of what love is. Despite what is going on, I recommend this book and on Webtoons. Also, be sure to support it’s creators!
Blades of Furry Volume One will be available on May 13, 2025. You can pre-order your copy now on Amazon at the links below.
Final Grade:
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