I discovered this series via its TV Tropes page, and have enjoyed the first couple of volumes - as well as several episodes of the anime adaptation on the Crunchyroll site here. I'm sufficiently hooked to want to follow the series farther, so I ordered this one online.

Later: Oh, the mayhem! The story opens with a hopeful note - the deadly female titan has been captured. But hordes of other titans are still being drawn to the area, so most of the Corps members have to protect the perimeter. And that's not all; we learn that Levi and Corps commander Erwin have known for a while now that there's a spy in the ranks - someone who, they believe, can transform into the female titan and who is after Eren.

But while the female titan can't break her bonds, she may have another way to escape - and what happens after that... oh, man! I was NOT expecting that.

Oh, we do get to see a fight between Eren and the female titan - I *was* expecting that, even hoping for it. But the way it turns out - well, I may have gasped aloud.

There's a lot more fighting here - and more losses for the good guys. The chapter closes with the return of the remnants of the expeditionary force, and some really jarring scenes of "hero's welcome" vs. the shell-shock on the faces of the survivors. Even the usually-implacable Levi is affected. Where can they go from here?

[The humorous "not a real preview" at the end of the book refers to "one moment of carelessness" and "hellish agony" - and shows Armin tripping on the stairs and barking his shin.]

I'm sending this to BCer HI77 in Florida. Enjoy!

Tears are lost

in the dust,
of so much screaming.