It's the end of the feudal era in Japan, and Hatsu is looking for a bodyguard to escort her from Edo to her home in the countryside. Gentle ronin Yoshida seems like a good choice, but he has a secret. Well, make it two: Yoshida is actually a woman, Mirai, and, more important, a college student from the future studying Japanese history via time machine. Mirai, along with her classmate Kuji, have been firmly instructed not to interfere in history, but a mysterious attack has left them stranded with no choice but to muddle through. Though Wilgus' manga-influenced black-and-white artwork can be a bit wooden, the story has a truly fascinating premise and plumbs impressive depths, particularly in Kuji and Mirai's arguments over rebel factions during the period, which raises thoughtful questions about how ideology influences how we view history as well as the dangers of romanticizing rebellion. Deepening mysteries about Mirai and Kuji's time travel program make for a compelling cliffhanger ending to this genre-blending series starter.

Wilgus-s full-length debut opens a duology with an intricate narrative worthy of its rich historical setting. In 2042, college students travel back in time to observe events firsthand. Undergrad Mirai Yoshida barely escapes alive after her research team is ambushed in 1864 Japan. Stranded, Mirai conceals her gender and disguises herself as a samurai, and Hatsu, a tea waitress with her own secrets, hires Mirai as a bodyguard. Mirai-s dangerously out of place in a country on the cusp of civil war. Their journey to visit Hatsu-s family quickly goes awry, and Mirai-s secrets unravel. Mirai-s hunt for a way home unexpectedly puts her and Hatsu directly in the path of a history that someone-s determined to change. Wilgus uses Mirai-s plight to painstakingly share facts about the time and develop the characters without slowing the action. Clever dialogue and detailed black-and-white images create an intense and moving story with plenty of heart and a mystery readers will want to solve. Agent: Eddie Schnieder, JABberwocky Literary. (Feb.)