News ► Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories The Novel Cover Art Revealed!

[Oracle Spockanort]

It'd be nice if KH3 finally established the reason why Saix and Axel wanted to take over the Organization (beyond what we all have inferred) just so Axel's ruthlessness in CoM gets framed a bit better within that. I think it'd help at least give some reasoning as to why Axel was a coldblooded sociopath before Roxas turned him into puddle of sappy goo because like you all have said, it was like two different characters between CoM and KH2.

 

[LightUpTheSky452]

It'd be nice if KH3 finally established the reason why Saix and Axel wanted to take over the Organization (beyond what we all have inferred) just so Axel's ruthlessness in CoM gets framed a bit better within that. I think it'd help at least give some reasoning as to why Axel was a coldblooded sociopath before Roxas turned him into puddle of sappy goo because like you all have said, it was like two different characters between CoM and KH2.

Didn't Nomura once say that it was because after Axel came in contact with Sora's heart in Castle Oblivion, he began to change? Otherwise, were it not for Sora, the ruthless person was just who he'd become--and probably would have stayed--and the stuff with Roxas before he went to C.O. was just an act?

Not that I think that that's a great explanation, tbh, and I still want to know more about them like you said, Spock. But still...

Spoiler Show

Also, this novel has about destroyed me when it comes to all the one-sided RiKai stuff. Oh. My. Gosh. The feels. Riku loved Kairi so much. So much! And I just can't help feeling so sorry for the poor guy in every way imaginable. -goes and sobs for Riku forever-

 

[Saken]

It'd be nice if KH3 finally established the reason why Saix and Axel wanted to take over the Organization (beyond what we all have inferred) just so Axel's ruthlessness in CoM gets framed a bit better within that. I think it'd help at least give some reasoning as to why Axel was a coldblooded sociopath before Roxas turned him into puddle of sappy goo because like you all have said, it was like two different characters between CoM and KH2.

It would be stupid not to delve into it, with all the build up from 358/2 days, as well as KH3D hinting at the inevitable showdown between Isa and Lea.
Surely before they go at each other, their bygone days will be explored.

But then this just makes me remember how they have so much to explain in the breadth of one game. They could of spread it more evenly :')
Not to mention that it might not even explain some things, leave it to the interviews with Nomura later, while he adds more unneeded complexity in order to extend the series beyond 3. Excellent

 

[BlackOsprey]

Didn't Nomura once say that it was because after Axel came in contact with Sora's heart in Castle Oblivion, he began to change? Otherwise, were it not for Sora, the ruthless person was just who he'd become--and probably would have stayed--and the stuff with Roxas before he went to C.O. was just an act?

I don't know if Nomura himself said that, but a good deal of it was implied in the games. It went something like... Roxas comments on how Axel is much more outgoing than before he left for CO, and Axel mutters something about how "he" must've rubbed off on him. That, and we have that one CoM scene where Axel laughs a bit, then realizes that he is actually feeling something for once.

I guess the main difference we're seeing here is "Axel without a heart" vs "Axel with a heart." You can't really be a ruthless sociopath when you have feelings, after all. I guess the starting point of that "burgeoning replacement" was coming into contact with Sora during CoM.

But now I have to wonder why, out of all the other emotionless guys available, Axel was the designated assassin. What did happen to make him that murder-happy, aside from the "no emotions" thing?

 

[LightUpTheSky452]

I feel like this Chain of Memories novel has brought things to the table that we could/should maybe talk about.

Spoiler Show

For instance, on page 253, we have this from Naminé: "I am her shadow... her darkness." Now, really I think Naminé is just being metaphorical, and also just hating on herself for what she did in CoM and seeing it as darkness.

But IDK. Do you guys think there might be something worth discussing here? Could this maybe be explaining what Naminé is, or how she came to exist at all?

I mean, Kairi has no darkness in her, so this probably shouldn't be a thing at all, right? But then again, KH has done more surprising things. So is it possible that some sort of darkness could have been formed from Kairi, without us knowing it, to give birth to Naminé?

 

[Oracle Spockanort]

I feel like this Chain of Memories novel has brought things to the table that we could/should maybe talk about.

Spoiler Show

For instance, on page 253, we have this from Naminé: "I am her shadow... her darkness." Now, really I think Naminé is just being metaphorical, and also just hating on herself for what she did in CoM and seeing it as darkness.

But IDK. Do you guys think there might be something worth discussing here? Could this maybe be explaining what Naminé is, or how she came to exist at all?

I mean, Kairi has no darkness in her, so this probably shouldn't be a thing at all, right? But then again, KH has done more surprising things. So is it possible that some sort of darkness could have been formed from Kairi, without us knowing it, to give birth to Naminé?

Spoiler Show

Well, remember Naminé was born when Kairi's heart left Sora, so if there was anything dark that comprised Naminé, it would likely be from Sora in some way.

I also think Naminé was talking in a more metaphorical sense in that Kairi is the light and Naminé is nothing but a shadow of her because she can't be Kairi.

 

[LightUpTheSky452]

Spoiler Show

Well, remember Naminé was born when Kairi's heart left Sora, so if there was anything dark that comprised Naminé, it would likely be from Sora in some way.

I also think Naminé was talking in a more metaphorical sense in that Kairi is the light and Naminé is nothing but a shadow of her because she can't be Kairi.

Spoiler Show

To be honest, I think I'm probably reading way too much into this, and that the meaning really is as simple as that.

But since I'm someone who desperately still wants to know what the heck Naminé is--and that "The Truth About Naminé" book in Days only made me more curious--I'm going to explore any possible hint about it with everything that I have. LOL.

And now that you mention it, the idea that maybe she was born from Sora's own darkness is an interesting one! In fact, if that really is the case, it might even better explain why she has power over Sora's memories at all. And how his true ones, after she'd messed with them, fell into "the shadows of his heart", as she put it.

How I hope and pray that KHIII will finally fill us in about all these secrets about Naminé. But seeing how KHIII already has a lot to handle, and that that plot point hasn't come up in a long time, I'm not very hopeful, unfortunately. But I'm going to remain optimistic about it (until proven otherwise), anyway=)

 

[Dandelion]

I don't get why it's important, someone help me with this. Namine is an anomaly. Isn't that enough?

 

[Oracle Spockanort]

I don't get why it's important, someone help me with this. Namine is an anomaly. Isn't that enough?

It is the fact that she is an anomaly is what makes people interested in figuring her out. Essentially, what Nomura wanted people to do when it came to unexplained aspects of the series.

 

[Dandelion]

Well knowing Nomura, I can see him keeping it that way too.

Though, if it must be agonized over, it's worth noting that Namine is called a shadow more than once.

 

[LightUpTheSky452]

I don't get why it's important, someone help me with this. Namine is an anomaly. Isn't that enough?

I guess for me, I really didn't care that much until we saw Axel reading an entire book about her in 358/2 Days. LOL. At that point, it looked like Nomura was maybe planning something big or game changing with Naminé, so I then began wanting to know what it was. (But maybe that got retconned now?)

I'll also admit that I want to know, because it seems like a mystery that could be solved simply (hopefully), but still be interesting nonetheless. I miss stuff like that in the series, I guess.

The stuff with Xehanort, for instance, I don't really care about anymore. I used to. But now it's been so drawn out, over the top, and confusing (because of DDD and time travel) that I'm much more interested in other aspects of the saga right now. Even if they are far inferior by comparison^_^'

Though I do like your idea of leaving this one thing alone for Naminé, and having the non-answer be the answer itself. It's beautiful to think of it that way, I think, and it would be a further thing to set Naminé apart from everyone else. I like that (it's for that same reason that I don't want her to have a Keyblade, because way too many people at this point have one).

So I guess I'm saying... If Nomura plans to do something with this idea, then I definitely want to know what's up with her. But if it's just something he meant for us to speculate about, then I'm 100% fine about not knowing what Naminé is.

Hopefully KHIII will show us which one of those it is, though.

Oh! And another thing to note about the "shadow" thing, Tinny, is that Riku is also referred to as a "shadow" in Chain of Memories. Personally, I've had theories about that in the past--about a possible similarity between Riku and Naminé that might link them together with that term somehow.

 

[Divine Past]

Spoiler Show

Well, remember Naminé was born when Kairi's heart left Sora, so if there was anything dark that comprised Naminé, it would likely be from Sora in some way.

I also think Naminé was talking in a more metaphorical sense in that Kairi is the light and Naminé is nothing but a shadow of her because she can't be Kairi.

Spoiler Show

With some hair dye, a change in outfit and a slight alteration in her voice, she can pull off her dreams. Don't let them die Namy

 

[MegaWallflower]

Spoiler Show

With some hair dye, a change in outfit and a slight alteration in her voice, she can pull off her dreams. Don't let them die Namy

Spoiler Show

She'll need to tan a bit, too.

My novel came in the other day, and I love the extra insight it gives us to both Namine and Repliku.

 

[LightUpTheSky452]

Day number 2 of "Shanna dissects the CoM novel", I guess.

On page 3-4, let's take a look at this.

Spoiler Show

..."'It's the king's seal!' Donald rushed to Pluto, too.

'Hey, wait!' Sora ran after Pluto. So did Donald and Goofy.

As they chased Pluto, their laughter rang out over the plains.

...A dream?

Sora woke up, relieved to see Donald and Goofy snoring softly beside him. So it was a dream that they were running across this grassy plain chasing Pluto."

Wait just one minute: Is this implying that that epilogue at the end of KH1's credits was just a dream, and SDG never really saw Pluto at all?

 

[Oracle Spockanort]

Day number 2 of "Shanna dissects the CoM novel", I guess.

On page 3-4, let's take a look at this.

Spoiler Show

..."'It's the king's seal!' Donald rushed to Pluto, too.

'Hey, wait!' Sora ran after Pluto. So did Donald and Goofy.

As they chased Pluto, their laughter rang out over the plains.

...A dream?

Sora woke up, relieved to see Donald and Goofy snoring softly beside him. So it was a dream that they were running across this grassy plain chasing Pluto."

Wait just one minute: Is this implying that that epilogue at the end of KH1's credits was just a dream, and SDG never really saw Pluto at all?

A good rule of thumb for the novels is that if the games contradict it, then it isn't really canon. This is why it is 3rd tier canon...it can be taken as canon or not canon (When the side stories come out, you'll find the Axel-Roxas story completely contradicts Days)

I wouldn't think the long winding road was a dream, but rather Kanemaki decided to make it a dream in order to avoid having to explain what the letter was. xD Since we see Donald and Goofy enter Castle Oblivion in their regular Disney outfits in the game, I think it is best to believe it wasn't a dream.

 

[LightUpTheSky452]

A good rule of thumb for the novels is that if the games contradict it, then it isn't really canon. This is why it is 3rd tier canon...it can be taken as canon or not canon (When the side stories come out, you'll find the Axel-Roxas story completely contradicts Days)

I wouldn't think the long winding road was a dream, but rather Kanemaki decided to make it a dream in order to avoid having to explain what the letter was. xD Since we see Donald and Goofy enter Castle Oblivion in their regular Disney outfits in the game, I think it is best to believe it wasn't a dream.

That's a very good point. I guess I was just thinking it was possible--since that scene never does go anywhere, and this could have been the answer as to why it doesn't--but... From now on I think I'm going to stop taking the novels so seriously, and see them as third tier canon, as you've said. I was trying to do that to begin with, but I guess I got a little carried away with this CoM one. Hehe. ^_^'

 

[Oracle Spockanort]

That's a very good point. I guess I was just thinking it was possible--since that scene never does go anywhere, and this could have been the answer as to why it doesn't--but... From now on I think I'm going to stop taking the novels so seriously, and see them as third tier canon, as you've said. I was trying to do that to begin with, but I guess I got a little carried away with this CoM one. Hehe. ^_^'

NOOOO. It makes more fun when discussing if we take it a bit more seriously! We've already talked the hell out of the games, so it is time to talk the hell out of the novels. Maybe once we get a few more people who have read the novels, we can get a bit more discussion.

(speaking of, I need to finish the novel *cries*)

 

[hemmoheikkinen]

Ooh, I think I might be able to buy the novel next week. That and the last volume of Days manga. So, I think I am only able to buy either the KH1 novel, or the CoM one. Which one should I get? Either that, or I sacrifice Tokoy Ghoul volume 1 for bot of the novels.

 

[DoctahFaz]

I was flying out to California from New York on Friday and was able to read the entire novel on the flight. Now that I'm home again, I can share my thoughts. I pretty much agree with everything everyone else has mentioned, so I'll just add some points regarding things in the novel that I enjoyed.

Spoiler Show

[1] The whole chapter on the Riku Replica's indoctrination was great. Really added to the concept of "non-real" people developing hearts and we finally got to see the false memories that made him believe that Sora was the reason Namine left Destiny Islands.
[2] I still think it's weird that Reverse/Rebirth basically every other paragraph talks about the "smell" and "scent" of darkness and then this concept is never acknowledged in any other game again.
[3] The integration of the two stories was good, sometimes it's easy to forget the timing of events relative to each other so the quick occasional refreshers of where Sora is while we're following Riku was nice.
[4] Namine's portrayal was great. We used to think of her as someone who was just lonely and being forced against her will to alter Sora's memories, but the idea that she felt she was Kairi and actually had somewhat of a desire herself to do this to Sora made her an even greater character.
[5] Riku's non-reciprocated attraction to Kairi was a great addition since it was only implied in the games. He seemed to accept in the end that she liked Sora instead of him.

Looking forward to the next one!

 

[Sephiroth0812]

I was finally able to read this jewel from start to finish and boy it didn't disappoint.
Getting actually to see the thoughts of the characters allows you to really emphasize with them on an even deeper level.

Especially in the Reverse/Rebirth-part there were some instances that brilliantly showcased just how deep Riku's feelings of guilt run and I won't be ashamed to admit that once or twice I felt like if I had the possibility to I would give him a big hug.
Considering how much I despised Riku initially when playing KH 1 for the first time, this ought to say much.

The parts of Naminé and Repliku are the same if not even worse.
I can only repeat that the novels really manage to get you much more emotionally involved with most of the characters.

That being said, having Reverse/Rebirth being split between Riku's POV and the Replica's POV was surely a good thing in terms of getting to connect better with Repliku, but I noticed that sometimes I didn't really realize a POV-switch and had to reread some passages to ascertain "which" Riku was now in POV.

On a side note, can anybody tell me when this novel was originally first released? Before or after KH II?