The Promised Neverland vol 16 by Kaiu Shirai

Illustrated by Posuka Demizu

Emma and Ray have entered the playground of one of the most powerful demons in the world. They are there to renegotiate The Promise, the agreement between humans and demons that set the world up the way it is today. Norman is also prepared to march with a group of super-soldiers, who look strikingly like the incredibly strong Adam, and he is planning on taking his forces to the Imperial Capital of the demons. He sends Gilda and Don to find the “Evil-Blooded” demons, under the pretense that he wants to protect them from the war that is about to break out with all demon-kind. Don and Gilda know, however, that Norman wanted to get rid of the two nice demons, so they have to find a way to keep Sonja and Mujika safe. Emma finally cracks the riddle that will lead her to making a new promise, but she may have to sacrifice something much more than she’s willing in order to get it.

---

This interesting place that Ray and Emma have entered into is very Japanese RPG End game style. Nothing makes sense, including the laws of Physics, and the two have to solve a ridiculously difficult riddle to make the world-manipulation stop. It’s been interesting to see Ray’s character arc over the series - at first, he was acting on his own, setting up his own plans and forging alliances with Mom and the kids, playing both sides - but now, he seems content to follow Emma through whatever plan she’s crafting. It will be interesting to see if Ray has been playing all sides all along, or if he really is that loyal to Emma after everything they’ve been through.

This volume is a lot less violent than the others, but the series as a whole still requires a more mature audience to appreciate the intrigue, the politicking that happens with the demons and the kids, and the higher-level thinking from our three main characters.

Sara’s Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 10-12

Reviews of previous volumes in this series: vol 1, vol 2, vol 3, vol 4, vol 5, vol 6, vol 7, vol 8, vol 9, vol 10, vol 11, vol 12, vol 13, vol 14, vol 15

Publisher: VIZ Media
Publication Date: August 4, 2020
ISBN: 9781974717019 (Paperback)

Tags: Rating: 8/10, Suitability: High School, Manga, Dystopian, Horror, Demons