Time and Again: Volume 5

by JiUn Yun, 170 pages

Brought together by their painful pasts, spiritualist Baek-On and his assistant Ho-Yeon work together to maintain the balance between humans and the supernatural, exorcising harmful demons and reprimanding humans who do not treat the spiritual world and its dangers with due respect. The two young men are wise beyond their years, and though long-since weary of existence, a delicate combination of guilt and friendship keeps them among the living. But painfully-won wisdom is no assurance against doubt.

When Baek-On tragically misreads a well-meaning spirit's motives, he seeks council with Soo-Kyung, a heron spirit who knew his father and has watched Baek-On follow in his footsteps. She comforts him the only way she knows how, by telling him her own story and the lesson she has learned, and is still learning, and that he will still be learning for the rest of his life. Spirits and humans are not the same, can never live together in true understanding, and cannot be judged by one another's standards, nor can their interactions with each other. All he can do is move forward, learning from each experience and hoping it is enough.

Set against the rich backdrop of ancient Korea, Time and Again is a series steeped in folklore and reflection and moral ambiguity. This is one of those titles I re-read a few times before turning them in because I want to appreciate as much of the subtle character and plot details as possible. Baek-On appears to be a lazy hedonist while Ho-Yeon seems the epitome of calm, steady rationalism. But extended acquaintance reveals deep vulnerabilities in each of them, as well as sincere concern and respect for one another and their tiny circle of companions. And although a lot of the characters, especially the females, look alike, the art in general is delicate and flowing.

This volume announces that the next will conclude the series. And that makes me a little sad.