Original ► New Book - 'Simple & Clean: Unlocking Kingdom Hearts'

[Ajexmi]

It is with the greatest pleasure that I announce Simple & Clean: Unlocking Kingdom Hearts will release March 3rd 2022.


The book will recap and assess the entire Dark Seeker Saga. eBook pre-orders are now live, and will also be available in paperback and hardcover from 03/03/2022. Relive the magic of the entire Kingdom Hearts series to date with a full chronological plot summary, evaluation of character relationships and lore, critique of storytelling technique and narrative devices, and much, much more.

​

Contents:

Opening
Foreword
Introduction

The Story So Far: ‘The Dark Seeker Saga’
A Short History
WTF is ‘Kingdom Hearts’?
The Time Line: A Chronological Summary

Square Mouse Ears
Who Is The Audience Here, and How Has It Changed?
Disney Characters
Square Enix Characters
Symbolism & Usage

Composition: The Evolution of Story, Structure and Style
Evolution of the Gameplay Experience
Music & Style
Pacing & Division of Plot
Powers of 3: Trios
Stakes
Critical Mode: Smudges on the Rose-Tinted Glasses

Darkness of the Unknown
Hope & Despair
Body-Snatching & Puppeteering
Identity Crises
Riku as the Fallen Hero: An Arc of Grief and Trauma
Atonement

Isn’t This Bromantic?
Boys, Boys, Boys
Sora & Riku
Axel & Roxas
Lea & Isa
Terra & Ventus

KLAXON: The Feminine Situation
Kairi, Larxene, Aqua, Xion, Olette and Naminé (KLAXON)
The Bechdel Test
Expectations vs. Outcomes

The Many Faces of Master Xehanort
A Man With A Plan
The Author: Nomura as Xehanort
Organization XIII
X: The Recusant’s Sigil
The Pay-Off

Hearts
Lineage of ‘The Chosen’
The Human Heart
Hurt
Re:Completion

Afterword
Secret Report
Acknowledgements
Recommended Resources​

Pre-orders for the eBook edition are open via Amazon worldwide - several links are included below:​

UK: https://amzn.to/3oRZGp9

US: https://amzn.to/3uTMMuH

ES: https://amzn.to/3gTx9LD

DE: https://amzn.to/3JyQs9l

IT: https://amzn.to/3uXXDUG

CA: https://amzn.to/3GQto4g​

I hope that this might be something to fill the time while we wait for news on April 10th. For those interested in physical editions, be warned the book is BIG - the hardcover making an excellent collectors item and companion text. Whether new to the series or a 20 years veteran, Simple & Clean captures the essence of Kingdom Hearts magic and explores many concepts within its own foundations - some of which the games themselves have yet to explore.



As before, with Melodies of Life, this is part retrospect, part analysis and is written as a demonstration of applying critical theory and literary criticism to the video game medium in the hopes that one day there will be many, many more books about interactive storytelling and our favourite video games.



Thanks for your attention - stay safe, everyone, and may your heart be your guiding key!

- JLC

 

[Oracle Spockanort]

I actually saw this on Amazon last week and was like “lol ok I’ll preorder why not”

Nice to see you post here! Can’t wait to read

 

[Ajexmi]

I actually saw this on Amazon last week and was like “lol ok I’ll preorder why not”

Nice to see you post here! Can’t wait to read

Thank you for the support - I hope you enjoy it when it releases next week

 

[Ajexmi]

And it's publication day!!



Physical editions of Simple & Clean: Unlocking Kingdom Hearts are now available alongside the ebook. If you decide to pick up a copy, I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for the support, and may your heart ever be your guiding key

JLC

 

[Ajexmi]

Good luck in everything

Thanks Robert

 

[2 quid is good]

Definitely will buy a paperback of this

 

[Ajexmi]

Nice to see you post here! Can’t wait to read

Definitely will buy a paperback of this

Thank you both! The hardback is beautiful if you're a bookworm or collector. Whatever edition you pick up, I hope you enjoy it!

 

[Ajexmi]

Thanks Jane, I'm glad you enjoyed it! If you could leave an Amazon review that would be amazing

 

[TrinityXaos]

How much do you talk about Kairi in this book?