Book 1, His Dream of the Skyland (LJ Xpress Reviews, 8/3/12), introduced young Hong Kong postal worker Lu Song plus the colorful habitués of a romanticized version of Kowloon’s Walled City, circa 1925. While continuing the narrative of the first volume, Nocturne can stand alone as a tale of corruption, murder, and desire. Gradually, as in a brilliant mosaic coming into focus, we see details of the child trafficking ring. Song and the locals, including a cheeky crime lord, manage to piece together clues and pin guilt on one of the major profiteers. Meanwhile, everyone struggles to survive—and, heartbreakingly, find love—under mercurial British rule. Writer/filmmaker Opotowsky effortlessly weaves over 20 complex characters together, while Düsseldorf illustrator ­Hoffmeister’s limpid gray wash–and–ink drawings render the cityscapes and people with dreamy, affectionate realism, highlighted in misty color. Breathtaking aerial views feature the hijinks of two clever acrobats who work clotheslines and trees like circus high wires to perform and assist the sleuths. VERDICT This beautiful and tragic saga is a feast for the eyes and intellect. Good for academic collections, ethnic/historical studies, and where literary graphic novels are popular. Nudity, sex, and mature content.—M.C.