Fullmetal Edition Vol 7 by Hiromu Arakawa

An attacker infiltrates the hideout of Barry and Falman. Envy and Gluttony try to take out Ling and Barry, but they’re called back “home” by Wrath. Barry follows the intruder back to another Laboratory, where they find Lust. Mustang and Lust have an epic showdown. Meanwhile, Armstrong “breaks” Ed’s automail as an excuse to go to Resembol. Once there, the two join up with Breda and a few others to make an illegal trek across the desert to the ruins of Xerxes. There, they meet up with an old ally and learn some pivotal pieces of Colonel Mustang’s previous plans. Ed also recognizes some alchemical seals in the ruins, and runs in to a group of Ishvalans who knew Winry’s parents during the war. The Ishvalans tell Ed how the Rockbells died, and Ed gets a new target for his revenge. Hohenheim, Ed and Al’s father, also makes a visit to Resembol, and learns of the fate of his wife, his children, and his house, and readers may connect that Hohenheim looks an awful lot like another character we've seen already.

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There is a little less action in this volume in favor of a lot of exposition given for each of the segments of the storyline.  Each group is delving deeper into the mysteries of Amestris and surrounding areas, but each group is learning a different piece of the puzzle. Readers may find the depth of Mustang's scheme admirable and masterful.  Arakawa continues to add tragedy to the Ishvalan Civil War, and every piece we learn about the mysterious homunculi leads to further questions.  

Sara's Rating: 10/10
Suitability Level: Grades 7-12

Reviews of previous volumes in this series: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3, vol 4, vol 5, vol 6

Publisher: VIZ Media
Publication Date: November 12, 2019​
ISBN: 9781421599892 (Paperback)

Tags: Rating: 10/10, Suitability: Middle School, Suitability: High School, Manga, Action Adventure, VIZ Media