This is a worthwhile read that has a great anime adaption.

The story is so engaging and captivating that I truly wish they would translate the rest of the books.

I am seriously considering learning Japanese just so that I can read the entire series.

The anime has done a wonderful job of bringing the characters and the world to life, but I know there is so much more to discover in the original books.

Learning Japanese would not only allow me to access the full story but also give me a deeper understanding and appreciation of the culture and language behind it.

I am excited about the possibility of being able to read the series in its original form and experiencing all the nuances and details that might have been lost in translation.

It would be a challenging but rewarding journey, and I can't wait to embark on it.

12K has been consistently awesome when it comes to politics, gender roles, race, and class. The way it approaches and analyzes these complex issues is truly remarkable.

It provides in-depth discussions and insights that challenge the status quo and encourage critical thinking. Ono Fuyumi deserves all the kudos for creating such a platform.

With 12K, readers can gain a better understanding of the social and political landscape, and be inspired to take action and make a difference.

It is a valuable resource for those who are interested in learning about and engaging with important issues.

Overall, 12K is a shining example of how media can be used to promote social change and awareness.

This is truly a rather astonishing and whirlwind-like read.

After watching the first half of the anime, I really didn't think that I would come to like the main character, Nakajima Yoko, any more in the novel.

However, I was extremely impressed by the level of detail and the rich history that Ono Fuyumi has intricately woven into this story of the Twelve Kingdoms, which spans over seven volumes.

So far, only the first two volumes have been translated into English.

Ordinary schoolgirl Nakajima Yoko is suddenly drawn into a world filled with demons, danger, mystery, and folklore.

One day, a golden-haired warrior named Keiki shows up at her school, swears loyalty to her, and warns her that she is in grave danger.

With the help of Keiki, Joyu (a creature that attaches itself to her, enabling her to wield the sword of her destiny), Kaiko, and Hyoki, Yoko defends herself against the attacks of strange flying creatures.

But then, against her will, she is pulled into an alternate version of her world.

It is there that the battle for her life and sanity truly commences.

This book was indeed a real page-turner, and I am really looking forward to reading Volume 2, Sea of Wind.

Honestly, I think the journey that Yoko undertakes throughout this book is truly amazing.

It wasn't rushed in the slightest, and it was an absolute pleasure to witness her steady growth. At the beginning, she did frustrate me to some extent, and I wasn't entirely certain if this was going to be the kind of story that I would enjoy. However, I quickly fell in love with the themes and the tone of the entire narrative.

It was such a slow build, with the information being doled out gradually. As a result, it felt truly rewarding to reach each new revelation or moment of character growth. And seeing how all the different elements tied together at the end was simply wonderful.

This book really took its time to develop the story and the characters, and it paid off in spades. I'm so glad I decided to give it a chance.

Once upon a time, there was a young teenaged girl living a rather mundane life in Japan. One fateful day, she was suddenly kidnapped and whisked away to a mysterious fantasy world. Or perhaps it was a world from a different dimension? She had no idea.

In this strange new place, she found herself facing numerous trials. There were demons lurking around every corner, ready to attack and cause her harm. The world leaders were also treacherous, making it difficult for her to trust anyone.

Despite the many challenges she faced, the young girl refused to give up. She was determined to find a way back home and to overcome all the obstacles in her path. With courage and determination, she set out on her adventure, not knowing what lay ahead but ready to face it head-on.

It's not bad at all.

Continue to the next book.

Really hope that this is really a series and not just a single book on its own.

This statement shows a certain level of anticipation and interest.

The person seems to have a positive attitude towards the current work and is looking forward to more in the form of a series.

It could imply that they have found something engaging or appealing in the first part and are eager to see how the story develops further.

The mention of hoping it's a series rather than a standalone book might suggest that they enjoy the depth and complexity that can often come with a serialized format.

Overall, it gives the impression of a reader who is invested in the story and is excited for what's to come.

I watched the anime adaptation of this years ago, and it left such a profound impression on me that this has been on my to-read list for ages now.

A teenage girl being transported to another world is a common and well-loved trope in Japanese fantasy. Sometimes, it can be truly magical, while at other times, it may be just mediocre. This story, however, firmly belongs to the former category.

The main reason for this is the focus on the main character Yoko's inner journey. She begins as a quiet, demure, and eager-to-please girl. But then, she endures some truly harsh experiences that test her mettle.

What I love about this story is that it allows its lead female character to have selfish and violent impulses. It shows that she can reach a point of introspective maturity where she realizes that before, she was unfinished and incomplete as a human being. It also challenges the traditional tropes of feminine behavior, suggesting that they can be limiting and even dangerous.

I also really enjoy the crafting of the Chinese-flavored 12 Kingdoms universe. We are gradually introduced to all its strangeness, like the fact that children really do grow on trees here!

The translation is, for the most part, solid. However, I find the way Rakushun's speech patterns have been represented a bit off-putting. Nevertheless, they have definitely done well in incorporating and explaining the Japanese and Chinese language elements.

Overall, this is a very enjoyable read, and I will definitely be on the hunt for the next book in the series (and probably re-watching the anime too :-).

This is the first time I've read a light novel. They've always piqued my curiosity as many famous animes and mangas are based on them. However, the term "light" made me feel uneasy. I had the impression that it would be a "blended" novel, too simple and boring.

That's not the case, at least not with this one. Maybe it has few descriptions (of landscapes or places), but the protagonist's reflections and action scenes abound. It's an extremely dynamic novel, full of adventures and exotic worlds.

Youko, our protagonist, starts the story as a conformist student who tries to please everyone (her parents, teachers, and classmates), so she appears submissive and obedient, without even having her own personality. She just follows the crowd and never questions anything.

Annoying and pathetic.

And that's precisely why her transformation is impressive. The journey through that strange and hostile territory that is the Kingdom of Kou transforms Youko physically, mentally, and emotionally, until she becomes someone brave, resolute, and honest. At the end of the book, Youko herself says that she wants to be a better person and doesn't feel fit to reign, and precisely those attributes (the desire and ability to grow) are what transform her into a magnificent empress for Kei.

Of the other characters, it's worth mentioning the Eternal King of En, Shoryuu, and his Kirin, Enki. They're wonderful, I love them. Beyond being the ones who help Youko regain control of her kingdom, they're the most fun, adding a fresh touch to the situation. This duo that has been governing En for over five hundred years has an incomparable dynamic. They act like two brothers and spend their time fighting. They're hilarious! Each one has a sarcastic comment to make at the most unexpected moment, which made me laugh out loud.

Rakushun, besides saving Youko when she's on the verge of death, is the one in charge of teaching her more about this complex world, advising her in difficult moments, and restoring her confidence (in herself and in others). He's the voice of reason. Little by little, he becomes her first true friend, and it's simply impossible not to take a liking to this half-demon rat.

Another extremely important character is Keiki. Although he only appears at the beginning (taking Youko to the Twelve Kingdoms) and at the end (when being rescued), he shows a personality diametrically opposed to that of the anime (where he is centered, cold, and rarely shows his feelings). In the book, Keiki is cynical and impertinent, and although he is loyal to his mistress, he shows that he wasn't entirely convinced of her decision at the beginning.

A big difference between the anime and the book is Youko's classmates: Sugimoto and Asano. She is barely mentioned in the book (he not even that), and much less does she travel to the Twelve Kingdoms. It's a relief because I couldn't stand her.

It's a great book, as an epic fantasy should be, full of exotic places, kings, gods, and demons. A fresh, fun read, and it would also be light if it weren't for the amount of new terms (Taiho, kirin, taika, ranka, etc.) that require attention. The author builds something completely original from scratch, a world with its own laws, hierarchy, political, territorial, and social systems (even the way babies are born is original!). It's really a fantastic book that, moreover, comes with some very beautiful manga-style illustrations that complement the story.

I think the only thing the novel lacks is the resolution of what happened in the Kingdom of Kou, which concerns Kourin and the King of the Hill. But since this book follows Youko, nothing more is said about them. Maybe in the following books, it will be mentioned whether Kourin contracted the shitsudou or not.

The book is truly fascinating, although it has a rather ordinary beginning.

However, I'm quite disappointed with the English translation by Alexander O. Smith. It seems that he arbitrarily removes Yoko's thinking voice, which is marked by the italic font.

Let's take a few paragraphs from "Sea of shadow" and compare it with the French translation.

The French version describes the rain as falling like fine filaments sown from the sky by a giant hand. Yoko lies sprawled, cheek in a puddle, unable to move even the slightest bit, not even able to cry. She suddenly hears a rustling of grass behind her. She thinks she should seek cover... But raising her head is beyond her strength. Someone is approaching. Is it a villager from a neighboring village? A wild beast? A demon? ...bah, it doesn't matter... Whoever it is, what difference does it make?...

The English translation, on the other hand, is a summarized and somewhat inferior version. It describes the rain as falling endlessly like thin silken threads streaming from the sky. Yoko is lying on her side, cheek in a puddle, unable to get up or even cry when she hears a rustling in the underbrush. Her instincts tell her to seek cover, but she can barely raise her head. A villager? A wild animal? A demon? She thinks the end result will be the same no matter what. Dead

Since I don't have the original Japanese version, I can't draw any definite conclusions. But it's clear that the English version loses much of the original material compared to the French version. When you consider that the French version was translated by two people, while the English version had only one non-Japanese translator, it's easy to see why. Therefore, I suggest getting the French version if possible, or any other version that retains more of the original. But if you can't get those or don't understand any other language, you should be aware that what you read may not be as good as the original.

Youko is a remarkable protagonist.

At the beginning, she is a pathetic being who desires to please everyone. She is overly concerned with others' opinions and constantly sacrifices her own needs and desires.

However, as the story progresses, she undergoes a significant transformation. She becomes a pitiless person who trusts no one. This change is a result of the many hardships and betrayals she experiences.

But Youko doesn't stop there. She eventually realizes that in order to be a worthy queen for Kei, she must bring out the best in herself. She starts to focus on her own growth and development, learning to be strong, independent, and confident.

Youko's journey is one of self-discovery and self-improvement. It is a story of how a person can overcome their weaknesses and become a better version of themselves.

I'm not entirely certain if it's a distinct version, but my PDF was translated by Eugene Woodbury.

This is such an amazing story that has an unexpected ending. It really keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The way the plot unfolds and the characters develop is truly captivating.

I find myself completely engrossed in this story and can't wait to read the rest of the series. I'm sure there are many more exciting adventures and surprises in store.

I highly recommend this story to anyone who loves a good read with a twist. It's definitely one that will stay with you long after you've finished reading.

I'm looking forward to seeing what else Eugene Woodbury has in store for us in the upcoming installments of this series.

On this reread, I found myself a bit more bothered by the pacing than I was before.

After the fast-paced beginning, there is an abundance of repetition in the first two-thirds of the book. It mainly focuses on Yoko's character development as she journeys from one unremarkable town or village to the next.

Moreover, a significant amount of plot is crammed into the final 100 pages, with a few seemingly climactic scenes being skipped entirely.

However, I still have a great love for this series, despite the infodumps and the concept of chosen ones.

The reason is that "The Twelve Kingdoms" presents the whole concept in an intriguing and, especially when considering the other books, a layered way.

Yoko's slow character development leads to some excellent moments that left me as breathless on this reread as they did the first time around, and in some cases, even more so.

Overall, although the pacing has its flaws, the series still holds a special place in my heart.