The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Shadow by fuyumi ono

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did the second one. Perhaps it's because I watched the anime first. The first half of the book seemed rather tedious to me, and I was eager for something to happen already. Thankfully, Rakushun came along and moved things forward!

However, I did miss an epilogue. The beginning was so long, and then at the end, when everything finally comes together, it all rushes by in just 30 pages. I would have preferred a bit of a "happy ending," but I suppose that awaits me in the fourth book.

I truly love The Twelve Kingdoms world. I ended up liking Yoko, but my favorite character is the king of En (the same as in the anime, some things just don't change). This world is so rich and full of interesting characters and storylines. Despite the flaws in this particular book, I'm still eager to continue reading and see what else awaits in the remaining volumes.

It's fascinating to explore the different kingdoms and the unique cultures and systems within them. The author has created a truly immersive world that keeps drawing me in. I can't wait to see how the story progresses and what new adventures Yoko and the other characters will embark on.

Overall, while this book wasn't my favorite in the series, it still has its merits and has left me looking forward to the next installment.

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AriaTempest7

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

All I can say is that it was an extremely slow and long introduction to what could potentially be a good or even great story!

I found myself a bit impatient during this initial part, but at the same time, I'm still intrigued to know more.

Even though the beginning was a bit of a drag, I think I'll give it a chance. I'm considering either watching the episode or reading the manga to continue exploring the story.

I'm not too keen on reading the books at the moment, as the slow introduction in this format has put me off a little.

However, I'm hopeful that the actual content of the story will make up for the sluggish start and keep me engaged until the end.

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_hakase

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

When I first watched The Twelve Kingdoms, I was completely fascinated.

It was so captivating that not only did I vividly remember the title, but I also went out and bought the discs for myself. However, this initial fascination was somewhat tempered by the grave disappointment of the series' unfinished state.

Later on, I made an interesting discovery. I found out that the anime was actually based on novels, and those novels had been translated into English by the now-defunct Tokyopop.

The story in the novels is fundamentally the same as that of the anime, but with the additional details that any visual translation tends to leave out when converting the tale to the screen. I was quite pleased to note that Sugimoto and the boy (whose name is clearly not important) were not at all a part of this book. This makes their inclusion in the anime seem even more pointless. It is, however, worth highlighting that among all Yoko's classmates, Sugimoto is the only one who is ever referred to by name. It will be truly interesting to see if she shows up in any of the other volumes.

What I really enjoyed about this book are the same things that made the anime worth owning. In some ways, it's even better. For one thing, it takes less time to read than it does to watch. And another advantage is that there's a lot less filler, allowing for a more streamlined and engaging narrative.

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Filmers

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I really enjoyed it quite a bit.

After watching the anime series not just once but twice many years ago, I finally made up my mind to start reading the novels.

It turns out to be a short novel, and just like the anime, it has a light and easy feel to it. However, it doesn't provide any extra or deeper insights into the world that the story is set in.

If you're the kind of person who is expecting a lot more from the novel, then you might as well not bother.

But if you truly loved the anime series and want to experience that same feeling all over again, then you'll definitely enjoy reading this novel.

It's a nice little way to relive the moments and characters that you fell in love with while watching the anime.

Overall, it's a decent read for fans of the series, but don't expect it to blow your mind with new and revolutionary content.

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kmmhr

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I had discovered this series years ago when my eldest brother bought it for me as a Christmas gift.

I started reading it then, but for some reason, I put it aside for a while.

Later, I picked it back up again.

Although I can't recall exactly why I put it down initially, I must say that I truly enjoy this series.

The story begins a bit slowly. Yoko is a model high school student in Japan.

She is well-behaved, listens to her parents, and follows instructions.

However, her bright red hair leads people to suspect that she dyes it and goes out at night.

Then, a mysterious young man appears at her school and manages to take her to another world after a demon attack.

I think this is a quite creative book. It contains elements of demons, myth, betrayal, and action.

It gets a little sluggish in the middle as Yoko keeps repeating the same actions.

She fights, communicates with a spirit, lies down to sleep, and then does it all over again.

But it starts to pick up pace right before she leaves for En.

The book is translated fairly well, with just a couple of minor mistakes.

Not too many, but a few.

I like the characters in this book. They are engaging and stand out.

Ono provides us with enough information without overloading the story like in the SOFAI series by George R. R. Martin.

The artwork is also very nice, which I really appreciate.

The story and the mystery surrounding what is happening to Yoko have really drawn me in.

I have finished the book several times, and it usually takes me two or three days to complete each time.

I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.

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KirbyRank

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

It’s truly a pity that I can only access the English translated version of this work. As some have pointed out, the English translation fails to convey the story with the same essence as the original text.

Moreover, it is extremely difficult to come to grips with numerous names, places, and terms. This is because they all carry meanings rooted in their Chinese characters. For a non-Japanese speaker like myself, it is incredibly challenging to follow and remember them.

The entire process of reading this book has been excruciating. It feels like 70% of it is filled with suffering, and 90% involves learning an abundance of stuff. Additionally, the pacing is extremely slow.

I am glad that, at the very least, the book does not end on a cliffhanger. Almost all of the questions I had at the beginning have already been answered. However, it is rather anti-climactic to learn the reason why she was being hunted by the Imperial Kou. Seriously, that was it? All that agony and turmoil because of such a trivial reason?

Overall, my experience with this book has been a mixed bag. While I appreciate having access to the story through the English translation, it has also presented numerous difficulties and left me with a somewhat underwhelmed feeling.

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Gendaros

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

It's not that this isn't a good story.

However, for an awfully long time, nothing at all happens.

I was on the verge of giving up so many times.

In fact, it seems that 75% of this book could be cut.

The pacing is extremely slow, and it takes forever for anything significant to occur.

Readers are left waiting and waiting for the plot to pick up.

It's a real struggle to get through those long stretches of inaction.

If only the author had been more concise and focused on the important parts, the story might have been much more engaging.

As it stands now, it feels like a lot of wasted space and time.

But perhaps there are still some redeeming qualities hidden within the remaining 25% that could make it worth persevering.

Only time will tell if this book can ultimately live up to its potential.

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Godslayerr

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Grades: 9 to 11
Genre: Fantasy

Yoko has always felt like an outsider in her family. The unusual reddish hue of her hair makes her stand out in her Japanese school. One fateful day at school, a mysterious man approaches her and demands that she come with him. Yoko is filled with terror, but her fears multiply when strange creatures begin to attack her school. The man, named Keiki, summons his own strange creatures to defend them. He hands Yoko a sword and orders her to slay the attackers. When she confesses that she has never held a sword before, he bestows upon her a spirit that possesses her and aids her in the fight.

Keiki tells Yoko that she is no longer safe there and takes her to another kingdom. However, a strange storm strikes upon their arrival, separating her from him and leaving her stranded in this unknown land. Now, Yoko must embark on a solo journey to find Keiki and convince him to return her home. This novel, which is part of a widely popular series in Japan that even inspired an anime series, is certain to captivate teens who love manga and anime. Teens will also be able to identify with Yoko's struggle to discover her true self and learn to be confident in her new life.

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The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Shadow

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