Library Read // Attack on Titan, Vol. 33 by Hajime Isayama

Volume 33

Once hailed as humanity's greatest hope, Eren has since become unrecognizable. With the Attack Titan now morphed into a grotesque, colossal skeleton of its former self, Eren continues to control the wave of Titans laying waste to the world, extinguishing countless homes, towns, and lives in their wake. In order to salvage what's left of humanity, Mikasa, Armin, and the Survey Corps decide to confront Eren head-on. But to stop the Rumbling, they'll have to dedicate much more than their hearts...

It's been a while since I read volume 32, but the library is elite and I got my hands on a e-copy of this book relatively quickly. Eager to read the penultimate volume of the series, I was taken off guard with the shift in narrative voice I'd been used to from preceding chapters. [SOME SPOILERS] We start from the viewpoint of an everyday citizen of Paradis, struggling to make their day through regular daily life, only to be shaken out of their struggle stupor by the realization that death is right 'round the corner. Story wise, a fantastic place to start - despondent and helpless. Really underscoring the mood.

Where the depths of anguish and emotional pain really started hitting home was with Hange's exit. I won't say much, lest someone is reading reviews before reading the volume, but what a poetic way to go. Somewhat indirect and really getting straight to who the character is at their core. There's layers of analogies to this story and each layer is relatively relatable. I can't pick a side. No, forced sterilization is never an answer. Yes, the descendants of a murdering genocidal empire, "race" of people should not be allowed to not deal with the consequences of their actions. Yes, one should fight for one's survival. Yes, your ostracizing and systemic racism was a flamingly giant cause of this whole mess. No, the founder was wrong and is completely in all her rights for revenge.

So I have no inkling of where the story will go. Will Eren win? Will the corps members, etal defeat Eren? If they did, what does that after look like? Did Annie eat those two? Yay for parents super valuing and missing their kids. Late realizations, but realizations nonetheless. I think I'll give this 5 stars. It was a solid set-up for a finale that I know is going to have me thinking for days.