The Twelve Kingdoms, Volume 1: Sea of Shadow Reviews

• Never thought I'd see it

  
  By A2LS6A1XNO8Y7 on 2007-03-17
  Some time ago I saw the anime version of 12 Kingdoms, which I'd found to be one of the most brilliant and enjoyable anime series I'd ever seen. So it doesn't take much imagination to understand how dreadfully disappointed I was to see that it was never completed. The anime covered only four of the seven story arcs and unless the original novels were ever translated, there was little hope that I would ever see the ending of this wonderful series. That has changed now that Tokyopop is translating the novels too, so I'm more determined than ever to find out what happens at the conclusion.
  
  At the beginning the main character, Yoko Nakajima, is the person everyone imagines when they hear the phrase "good girl". She is polite, well mannered, obedient to her parents, has a lot of friends, does well in school and is even the class president. Everything that one could ask for in a high school teenager's life, right? Wrong. In the night time recently Yoko has been tormented by frightful nightmares, which has made her tired and very unhappy. Then one day after a particularly embarrassing day at school, a strange man shows up at Yoko's school. He kneels on the floor in front of Yoko and swears his allegiance to her. Completely perplexed Yoko does nothing, however the man (called Keiki) is more than persistant and demands that she accept, warning her of great danger that quickly approaches. Scared and not knowing what to do Yoko accepts Keiki's oath as a great battle ensues between demons, Yoko, and Keiki's mythical beast servants. Fast and furious are the events and before Yoko knows what is happening, she is carried off through a "shoku" - a storm that forms a bridge between Yoko's world and the world that Keiki comes from.
  
  The battle concludes, but Yoko wakes up the next day alone and stranded on a strange seashore. Keiki and his servants are nowhere to be found, and neither are Yoko's demonic enemies. Yoko is left to fend for herself in a completely alien world with only a sword and a Hinman (spirtual being) called Joyu that Keiki had infused into Yoko to enable her to defend herself. Being a visitor from the sea - a "Kaikyaku" - makes Yoko a hunted criminal in the new land she finds herself in, so every day is a trial just to survive for Yoko as she faces enemies everywhere - beasts, demons and the most cunning of all enemies: humans. Utterly miserable, Yoko cries every night wanting to go home to her unhappy but "safe" life. Indeed she is a pathetic victim, however her life on the run changes her slowly. With visions shown by the sword Keiki gave her, and strange monkey-like being, Yoko discovers her true self including her own dark side.
  
  Much of this first volume of the series "Sea of Shadow" deals with Yoko's transformation from a meek child of a girl into a fierce demon slayer. It is a rather insightful and inward journey as much as it is an outward journey through a strange land for the reader. Fuyumi Ono creates a richly detailed and real-to-life fantasy universe in Twelve Kingdoms that any fiction reader would enjoy, not just fans of anime or Japanese novels.
  
  

• Courtesy of Teens Read Too

  
  By A2TX179XAT5GRP on 2007-03-14
  Yoko Nakajima is the perfect daughter. She's a good student, she always does what she's told, she never complains, she never calls attention to herself -- perfect. Except for her red hair that stands out everywhere in Japan, but no one can explain that one. Aside from that, she's perfect. So, when she starts falling asleep in class, it's surprising to everyone. If it weren't for those terrifying dreams, maybe she could get some sleep at night. And then when a strange man shows up at school, and windows start exploding, and Keiko (the strange man) commands her to accept his undying loyalty... Somehow landing in a foreign world after falling through the moon seems almost normal. Except that there is absolutely nothing normal about any of it!
  
  Yoko is attacked by monsters, gets thrown in jail, learns to steal, fights with a sword she has never learned how to use, and the only person she knows, Keiko, is nowhere to be found. All Yoko knows now is that she's the only person she can trust. And her hopes of getting home grow smaller and smaller every day. But she can't stop searching -- for Keiko, for home, for herself.
  
  This book started with a pop, and then dropped to a slow buildup. It was a little frustrating. Yoko, as well, bothered me in the beginning. Perhaps it was more of a traditional depiction of a young Japanese girl, and having been raised to be extremely independent, I got irritated. That all being said, the end of the book redeemed everything for me. I loved where it went! I want to read more. Also, there's a lot of interesting discussion of languages and symbols and Japanese characters. I'm sure I could have learned a lot from it, if my brain had some basis of prior knowledge.
  
  Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman
  
  

• a fantasy story that does true justice to the human condition, and written well to boot!

  
  By A27A345KZYU2MT on 2007-03-18
  I knew a bit about twelve kingdoms from a friend, who has seen the animated series. The setting is detailed and well thought out, and the challenges the characters face in the plot are primarily ethical ones. knowing a bit, and watching a few episodes I knew I wanted to read the book it was based on, but it was not available in English.
  
  First, the writing style. While I do not know how much of this is credit to the author or the translator, the end product is amazing. I caught no typos, and no ambiguous grammar/syntax (which is rather astounding for a full length fictional novel). In that regard, it is technically impressive. But the witting style used caught me. the sentence structures tend to be basic, but each one is dense with importance for the story, leaving few wasted words. This causes the story to have a fast flow, which matches the sweep of the story, basically one long chase scene that concludes in a war. Reading a few sentences immediately draws the reader, and then doesn't let go. I was so impressed by the effect (which I have rarely experience in a per book ratio, and I don't recall the last time it occurred cover to cover) that I challenged several friends to start reading a few sentences in any random page, and see if they felt similarly, and most did. I am confident that, if nothing else, the translator/author/editor team of this book deserve great praise for that much at least.
  
  Now, as a work of fantasy it is obvious that the author has kept their end of the bargain for the fantasy genre writing. In their head is a fully living world, that can be described in endless detail with congruency. The author seems to have keen sense of Chinese philosophy and metaphysics, and writes in a style similar, although less obtuse, to Chinese tales. If you enjoy Asian mysticism, and the importance placed on ethics and the proper order of things, you will enjoy the importance the author places on these things.
  
  Regarding the plot, what impressed me was that nothing was simply a description for the sake of elaborating on the setting. Every sentence seems geared towards introducing a deepening series of ethical dilemmas. And the writing, which closely follows the thinking and limitations of the protagonist, is written so you can go on this ethical journey with her. The challenges are deep ones, and the quandary will likely be thought provoking for all but the wizened old readers or the truly narrow minded. No easy answers are allowed for the protagonist, and, like all of us, she ends up finally just making up ones for expediency. Unlike us, her adventure forces her to constantly challenge her deep beliefs, and so, her heart is always troubled, and it is the, sometimes truly psychotic and disturbing, places her inner life goes that we are pulled to journey.
  
  This book is a great story about how shallow and yet profound the ideas of right and wrong are. It pulls no punches in that regard, and handles the ruthlessness of human nature well. In what I consider an ideal fashion, the author pulls two important tricks. One, she presents no 3rd person, or ultimate right answer. Two, she introduces person after person who, like all of us, have made the philosophical choices they had to in order to survive. So we see a world full of people no less or more noble then ourselves, and we follow the protagonist as she learns what the human heart (most important of all, her own) is made of.
  
  On an end note. I learned that this book was categorized as young adult fiction. I suspect that has more to do with it being printed by Tokyo pop then anything else. The truth is, many parents will want to read this first, and consider if they should hand it to their children. There are sound arguments to be truly evil, and while the character's replies are presented, you may not like them and they are not conclusive. A person who is not ready to really understand evil behavior will have hard time with this book. On that same note, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone under 15 or so. I think their brains and hearts are not developed well enough to truly understand the story being told (although they may enjoy it.) Of course, if you are all about challenging your children to seek deep questions and tough concerns of adulthood, then by all means, this book is a treasure. Enjoyable, and uncompromising, you can ask for nothing more out of a piece of entertaining fiction. Also, concerning this book for children, it is violent and bloody. It demonstrated pretty much every reason why you would kill someone or something, and in so doing lots of things and people are killed, threatened, and abused. Children who do not understand the "ways of the world" may misunderstand or (hopefully) have a lot of questions. Be ready for that. Furthermore, there is a heightened amount of violence, but of a more ethically shallow and theatrical type, as the character is constantly beset by monsters for most of the story. Truly the most descriptive violence, but the least meaningful. If you have read, "heroes of the marsh", it is something like that, but more concise.
  
  I do know a bit later in the story of 12 kingdoms then where this book ends (not much later though) and I believe that later books will not have the same focus on personal ethics. I suspect that the 2nd book will more strongly look at social structures and civil leadership, and follow a different protagonist, or maybe by the 3rd. Beyond that, I am not sure, and do not know the pacing of the original Japanese series of novels.
  
  
  
  

• A Must-Read For Fans Of The Twelve Kingdoms Anime

  
  By A226CG3PQ4JYJ4 on 2007-03-19
  If you like the Twelve Kingdoms anime, you will want to read this book. The Sea Of Shadow corresponds to the first three DVDs in the anime series. The anime is true to the spirit of the book, and borrows much of its dialogue from it. The anime contains additional plot elements not present in the book, but these are compatible with the original story.
  
  Conversely, if you read this book and like it, and you have not seen the anime, be sure to buy (at least) the first 3 DVDs of this series and watch them. For drama and character development, this anime stands head and shoulders above all the other anime series in my collection. It has no equal.
  
  
  
  

• Sea of Shadow - a must read.

  
  By AKV1MHO0ZT2U5 on 2007-03-21
  The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Shadow is the first of hopefully many English translations of stories in the Twelve Kingdoms. This particular story deals with Yoko and the journey she takes from an insignificant school girl to a person worthy and capable of her destiny. The author's ability to bring her characters to life is top-notch.
  
  The presentation of the novel is wonderful. The illustrations from the Kodansha White Heart edition are included and appropriately placed. The novel, happily, does not have the jagged page edges that have been appearing with more frequency. The overall presentaton is pleasing to the eye and touch.
  
  The translation seems to be loyal to the original, and the translator made (in my opinion) usually appropriate decisions as to when to leave the original Japanese word/Twelve Kingdom local jargon and when to translate the word to a literal English meaning. I do take some issue with specific word translations (Emperor->King, sage->wizard), but over all, the prose is engaging and well constructed.
  
  As far as readability and age level go, I will compare it with the later Harry Potter stories (books 4+). The book is written in the 3rd person point of view. The vocabulary is definitely later high school/college vocabulary, and the sentence structures are relatively simple. The amount of description contained in the story requires some careful attention to reading. Though the sentences are usually not overly complex in syntax and form, the complexity of the prose will probably deter some of the younger or weaker readers (age 15 and below). From the beginning there is a generous amount of blood and gore, and those sensitive to such imagry should probably not read this book.
  
  The idea of destiny and fate is paramount in the Twelve Kindgoms, where the will of the Heavens is believed to (and certainly seems to) hold sway. In order to properly appreciate the path that destiny takes, the story should be read at least twice. In the beginning Yoko is a baby - dependent on the protection of her environment. Her parents, who make sure she doesn't stand out, and the safe, clean, well-fed environment of modern Japanese society. Throughout the novel we can take part in the amazing growth that Yoko takes as she attempts to be self-sufficient, forming (bad and good) social connections, making mistakes, and learning how to be independent and true to herself in the end.
  
  
• A rare gem - not just for teens
  By A3B5KG9GQLPE7L on 2007-03-26
  12 Kingdoms: Shadow of the Moon, a Sea of Shadows (full japanese title) is a book about Yoko Nakajima and her transition from ordinary japanese schoolgirl to a ruler in a distant fantasy world. Other reviewers had described Yoko's story in more detail so I won't go into it.
  
  This book has been released in Japan about 10 years ago and then was animated in 2002. While chronologically it is not the first book in the series, but it starts the story of Yoko Nakajima and it is also the starting point for the anime series. Fans of the later should be familiar with ongoing events, but there are some noted differences in the book.
  
  Overall 12 Kingdoms reminds me very much of a Japanese version of Lord of the Rings. And it is a damn good one. Not just because of it's epic proportions and fantasy theme but for it's outstanding quality and attention to details. There is a lot of going on inside the characters and Yoko's internal journey is far more interesting than her surrounding fantasy landscape. The moral problems she faces are relevant for all ages and nationalities: like accepting your dark side, choosing to answer with love to violence and deception, what does it take to be a leader.
  
  It is a rare gem indeed - highly recommended for all readers and not just for teens. I am even tempted to re-read it in original Japanese, though it is not an easy task to do yet after 1,5 years of study as my third foreign language ;).
  
  
• Good ending, lukewarm beginning and middle
  By A3AMXANPWY58VJ on 2007-06-12
  I wish there were half-stars on Amazon, because my actual rating for this book would be a three and a half. For most of the book (i.e. the beginning and middle), my reaction was merely that it was okay. I had liked the premise for the book, which was why I bought it, but it didn't quite live up to my expectations as I began to read. After the initial set-up, I felt like the same things kept happening over and over again: Yoko fights demons, almost dies, gets help from strangers, and then the cycle repeats. There are also long periods of reflection, both in Yoko's mind and in conversation with "herself" (the blue monkey), which always seemed too similar to one another as well; there wasn't much progression until the final conversation. The whole idea of the "good girl" and Yoko's eventual lack of trust didn't feel natural too me~it was as though I could see the author pulling the strings, purposely feeding me information to get me to believe these character traits that just didn't seem to develop properly.
  
  Don't get me wrong, though~there were quite a few things about the book I did enjoy, especially the ending. While much of the book gave me a humdrum feeling, by the time I closed the book I was left with the impression that I actually liked it. I am now even looking forward to the next volume. In short, the ending saved this book for me, which is why I wish I could give it three and a half stars instead of three. There were also other enjoyable points/ideas as well: I especially liked the concepts of beastlings, egg fruit, and the various other demons in the story, among other things. I just wish I was able to like all of the book, not just parts.
  
  
• not as good as everybody claims
  By A2HAKSEMV4AWOY on 2007-12-12
  I picked up this book as a fan of the Fantasy and Sci-Fi genres, and had heard this claimed as the Lord of the Rings of Japan. It is apparently very popular in Japan, and the reviews on this site are so glowing (check them out for plot summaries), I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Unfortunately, I was quite disappointed.
  
  First of all, this novel is definitely geared towards young adults. There is a lack of depth in all the characters (despite considerable time spent on Yoko's internal struggles) and the history/politics of the Twelve Kingdoms. It just seemed superficial to me, only extending as far as the scope of the book and not like an actual alternate world. It's nowhere near the level of the Lord of the Rings. But I would say the book is unique enough, with all the Japanese and Chinese mythology, to entertain younger readers.
  
  Secondly, compared to other uber-popular young adult fantasy novels like The Golden Compass and Harry Potter, not much happens in the book. The beginning is very good, but the middle section is quite repetitive (wander in forest, fight demons, get screwed by humans, talk to blue monkey, etc.). Then by the end, we get an invasion of another country, but the entire invasion is skipped over! We simply see the aftermath. At least it is enjoyable to see Yoko come into her own over the course of the book and become a character the reader can actually root for.
  
  I think this is a good book, and probably worth reading, but my expectations were too high, and I was somewhat disappointed. If it adds anything, I have not seen the anime version, and after reading this book, I don't plan to.
  
  
• Must have for any fantasy fan
  By A4IBDUIG78ID6 on 2007-03-20
  If you have seen the anime, then you should definitely get this book for it is simply greatness incarnated. Even if you're not a fan of the anime you should at least give the novel a try. Here are some of the reasons:
  
  1. The pacing is not as slow as the anime.
  
  Granted the anime is one of my favorites but there are far too many talking points and dull moments that may bore people.
  
  2. Asano and Sugimoto are not important characters in this book.
  
  If you've ever seen the extras on the anime you will know why they are there. Basically they are there to reduce the number of "monologues", as the animators put it, in the show. Eh... I prefer the novel because these two characters slow things down too much.
  
  3. You get greater a more in depth understanding of the new world and the feelings of the main character Yoko.
  
  
  
  
• An amazing book indeed!
  By A7FDYFUK2N0CQ on 2007-04-12
  A young Japanese schoolgirl who does her best to please everybody, but in the end pleases no one (even herself) is taken to a strange world only to fight off death, isolation, and find a reason to keep pushing on through all that is thrown at her.
  
  Being on the cusp of the intended reader age group I did find the book quite simplistic in terms of plot, yet like the anime of this title, it has a tantalizing landscape and a riveting world. I find that beneath the characters and plot there is a world you can (and do) explore in your own imagination. You do sympathise with the characters and you do see a journey with substance and genuine intrigue. Yet this is just the first of 7 novels, and you do really feel that at the end.
  
  A breakaway from traditional young boy becomes a man style writing that is rampant across anime, and in quite a few fantasy novels. A young girls innocence and naivety is tested and eroded, though exposure to being a foreigner in both a foreign world and her own. As the book progresses themes of survival, isolation, worldly politics and their own sub themes are explored.
  
  I found the book all too short (even at 400 odd pages), but still rewarding. This promises to be a series that will be a big hit across many different age groups because, even though the language and the surface plot are quite general themes, there is something wholly captivating about the world you are taken to.
  
  
  
• Worth the Wait
  By AVRA9N0N75OU8 on 2007-05-07
  I really enjoyed the anime and really regreted that I would never get to read the story the TV series was based on. Well, Tokyopop answered the prayers of fans.
  The story is written for teenagers, but still enjoyable for adults. If you're tired of the same old fantasy based on European tales, then you'll like this world set in a world of twelve kingdoms based on China. But also very different-for instance all creatures are born from certain trees, rather than from the bodies of their parents.
  Since, I saw the extras on the DVD, I knew that the book did not have certain characters, and frankly, I like not having them around. In the anime they served a certain purpose, but that purpose is served in the narration of the book. This allows the pace to be quicker, as the young queen learns about her new world.
  For those who worry about yet another book in which an ordinary teenager becomes an extraordinary gifted one in another world-you need not worry. Her world is pretty tough and she gets into a lot of trouble and danger,there is lots of edge-of-seat action.
  I really enjoyed this book for the action, likable characters and a whole new fantasy world.
  
  
• A fun read...
  By A3BRIJNK0VVHU4 on 2007-06-19
  I enjoyed the anime series and since it's based on novels instead of manga I figured I'd read them. The book takes you deep into the world of the twelve kingdoms, and also into the mind of the heroine, Yoko, who is dealing with her own faults while trying to survive in an unfamiliar and hostile world. The author's descriptions give a vivid account of what it's like to be Yoko by mentioning "other senses" type of details, by which I mean senses other than sight. We hear about sounds, smells, and most importantly how things feel. The story is rich and complicated, but not so much that one can't put things together. I enjoyed this book, and anyone who is a fan of anime or manga would probably like it as well.
  
  
• The Twelve Kingdoms
  By A2W36OONSDMA03 on 2007-03-21
  Seeing how The Twelve Kingdoms is my favorite anime series ever, you can imagine how excited I was to hear that America would finally be getting the novels which spawned the show. This book covers the first 14 episodes, aka the first 3 DVDs of the series. You'll notice a few major changes, most noticable being the characters of Sugimoto and Asano, which played a much larger role in the anime. But with them being absent, this makes Yuko's journey much more hopeless and depressing in my opinion... A difference that I enjoyed very much. Sadly, the TV show was never finished, and i'm told even the novel series does not have a proper ending. However, it has neither been confirmed nor denied (to my knowledge at least) that will be an 8th installment to the novels, and therefore could inspire a continuation to the anime if done. Needless to say this is the best read i've had in quite a while, and will sit proudly on my shelf. I'm hoping we get to see at least one more novel before the year ends, which should cover the next 7 episodes of the anime.
  
  
• This is worth reading even (or especially) if you have seen the anime.
  By AEVCMSOUHGOJG on 2007-04-11
  This novel is the basis for the first 13 episodes of the anime series. The book and the anime are fairly close, except the novel does not bring any of Youko's classmates into the Twelve Kingdoms world.
  
  What the novel does that is harder to accomplish in a visual medium is to focus more on the inner thoughts and conflict of the main character. The anime pulls this off by introducing extra characters (two Japanese classmates) that allow some of the inner dialog to become external.
  
  I found this novel to be very good and I look forward to the next novel in the series.
  
  
• Another good thing out of Japan...
  By AMUUPQWE1LX2V on 2007-04-22
  I love the anime series that was created from the story of this book and its sequels. So I was sure I would love this book.
  
  It is a well-written and well-thought out alternate world that sucks you right in. If you liked the anime and love to read, then you will definitely like this book. The translation seems good and flows well and I can't wait for the next one to come out!
  
  
• At loong last...
  By A2A5J21CI40RKT on 2007-04-24
  I never expected to see this series translated into English. From start to finish, this book waas a delight. This first volume covers disc one and two of the anime series. Fans familiar with the anime may feel a bit lost, however, it's very different.
  
  Many of the characters we met in the first episodes do not appear at all in this book, or have only brief cameos. Others have their roles greatly reduced--or, rahter, their roles were greatly expanded in the anime. As such, characters say and do things differently than in the animated storyline. However, we're treated to a very close view of how Yoko struggles to adapt to this new world and her fading hope of ever returning home.
  
  I don't believe this is too different from any other book-to-movie-or-TV adaptation. It was fun seeing the written characters, as they were quite significant in how Yoko began to understand this world. There are plenty o black and white illustrations as well.
  
  The book itself is nice-sized, even for a hardcover. The translation is very smooth, with only a few errors, mostly in tense, or a word left out. There are only a handful of these, however. I've spent much more on books I enjoyed much less. I've heard the novels were art in their depth and vision, and agree wholeheartedly. I'll be looking for future volumes!
  
  
• A Great story for Adults and Teens
  By A1LPBU8C9E8STH on 2007-04-27
  If you've seen the anime, you know this is a great story. I was so excited that the English translation finally came out. I couldn't put it down, and I can't wait until the rest of the books are translated. You won't be sorry you read this...it's probably one of my favorite books of all time, and I don't read all that much fiction.
  
  
• great book, can't wait for more...
  By A1JXS6LWU4AIT on 2007-05-07
  I was finding it difficult to find a bookstore that had or would have this book in stock, and was relieved to find it available here. I received this book in short order, and was finished reading it soon after that. It is an engaging story, with wonderful characters and a fully realized world. If you are a fan of the anime, the book explains a few things in greater detail and fills in questions I had. Altogether a great read. I highly reccomend this book.
  
  
• Try it
  By AWE2Q7E0ICPLB on 2007-05-21
  Since viewing the anime I have been a big fan of the series. It was with eager anticipation that I hoped someone would publish the novel series. It does not disappoint. Once I started this novel I did not put it down until I finished it. I highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of fantasy, epic, or mythic stories.
  
  
• Beautiful Read
  By ABKVQYY1JKZ1H on 2007-06-02
  This book was a joy for me to read, plain and simple. I am an avid anime and manga fan, and I was intrigued by this book, simply because I had heard a friend mention the 12 Kingdoms anime long ago. I was surprised and delighted to find this book was worth far more than I paid. The book is very well written and I had trouble putting it down. The story is captivation and keeps you guessing, weaving a very surprising and I enjoyed it, just when you think you finally start to understand, you are taken in a whole new direction. The world put forth in this book seems limitless, and the characters, most notably Yoko, grow in such a fantastic way it's hard to put into words. I am very pleased and recommend this to anyone who has a hint of imagination, a taste for adventure and a love for the unknown
  
  
• Outstanding !
  By AKJAQECR3HOTL on 2007-06-08
  I have seen the Anime version and was very pleased that the book is so different. I cannot wait untill the next book is released.
  
  
• Astonishingly good
  By A3BDKNS7OCWSD9 on 2007-06-25
  I couldn't put this book down. I stayed up all night to finish it, and went to work the next morning like a zombie. The story is extremely well-written and the translation is handled perfectly. I did not expect the character development to be so in-depth--this book is a must-read for both children and adults. I can't wait for Book 2 to come out!
  
  
• AWESOME FANTASY/FOLKLORE! MUST-READ IF YOU LOVE THE ANIME!!
  By A22LBO7JYF4IZP on 2008-03-26
  This volume had some editing errors here and there, but otherwise well-written and not hard to read either.
  
  For people who did not watch the anime (Japanese animation) of this series, this book is an introduction to a completely new world created by a Japanese author who studied Buddhism. The main character in this particular volume is a Japanese high school girl that is used to shutting up, fading into the background, and/or letting others walk all over her. She gets misunderstood a lot because of this, even by her own parents. The action starts when she meets this guy Keiki, who has her come with him (without adequate explanation) to what turns out to be a completely different world! The girl gets separated from her "abductor," who gives her some items for defense, and she ends up making a long, arduous journey to where he instructed her to go. I know, I'm not being so specific, but it's been a while since i read this book and I don't remember all the details that come in at this point. Anyhow, her journey, for me, dragged on like crazy, but I knew the basic story from the anime already and wanted to get on with it. However, you learn a lot more about the girl and what is going through her head as she journeys through an unknown land, trying to figure out who she can trust and who she can't, finding out what the customs of the land are and adhering to them, learning how to be a warrior, getting used to the sight/smell/feel of blood. At the end of her journey, things seem to speed-up plot-wise. My explanation does not do justice to the fantasy involved, nor the inner turmoil that the main character goes through. The descriptions in the book are much more in-depth.
  
  For people who watched the anime like me, it was great to see that there were no annoying classmates in the main story of this novel, as opposed to the anime, which had two that accompanied her on her journey (sort of - watch the anime for details). Yoko is traveling on her own and you learn about her hardships, physically and mentally. The details, while unnecessary if you watched the anime, are just interesting to learn about, like about how Yoko met and got to know Rakushun and Shoryu. In a way that is also why it was a bit tedious to read through, in my opinion. I watched the anime and knew the general story, but Yoko's traveling in this volume seemed to go on forever! I just wanted to get to the part about En! Unfortunately, that is towards the end of the volume.
  
  
• wonderful
  By A2AVMP389U0DRM on 2008-03-30
  I watched the anime version of this story several times. It is my favorite anime. The book is great too. After reading the book I understood the story line much better because it is in some situations quite distinct from the anime and in my opinion much clearer. I recommend this book for all twelve kingdoms fans. Unfortunately they just publish one volume in a year. And in this volume you don't know how Youko will act as an empress just how she becomes the empress. I have to wait another year or two.
  
  
• twelve
  By A30HKSAMTX5815 on 2008-06-03
  I was very happy to finally see the books upon which the anime was based. It's a quite enjoyable read, and I'm very eager for future volumes in the hopes that they'll complete the story that the anime left off.
  
  

• The Twelve Kingdoms, Volume 2: Sea of Wind
• Seikai: Crest of the Stars Volume 1: Princess of the Empire (Seikai)
• Seikai: Crest of the Stars Volume 3: Return to a Strange World (Seikai)
• Dragon Sword and Wind Child
• Scrapped Princess Novel 1: A Tale of Destiny