Priestess (Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play, Vol. 1) [Paperback]

Yuu Watase (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 6, 1999 | Series: Fushigi Yugi; The Mysterious Play (Book 1)

When best friends Miaka and Yui open the pages of an ancient Chinese book, they are transported into the Universe of the Four Gods, a parallel world to ancient China. Now, to escape schoolwork and family problems, Miaka flees to the parallel world, only to find a lot more danger and romance than she bargained for.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The first installment in Watase's fantasy epic carries Miaka, a ditzy Japanese schoolgirl, to a fictionalized vision of ancient China. The Universe of the Four Gods, an enigmatic book she finds in the library, transports Miaka to another world, where she is hailed as the long-awaited Priestess of Suzaku, the tutelary deity of the Kingdom of Konan. By bringing together seven supernatural warriors, she can ensure the kingdom's safety--and obtain her heart's desire. Relations among the first three warriors take an odd turn as Miaka finds herself vying with the transvestite Noriko for the affections of the rakish martial artist Tamahome and the exquisite emperor, Hotohori. In contrast to the animated TV series, Watase places less emphasis on Miaka's friendship with the brilliant Yui and more on her relationship with her divorced mother. Although Miaka seems a little brighter in print than she does in the animated series, she remains a rather vacuous heroine. --Charles Solomon

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; 1 edition (October 6, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569314063
• ISBN-13: 978-1569314067
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (84 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,356,654 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than I expected, January 17, 2000

By 

Mary D. Pekowski (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Priestess (Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play, Vol. 1) (Paperback)

When ever I go looking for a new manga series to start reading, I like to read Amazon.com's reader reviews to help me decide if they're worth buying. In the case of Fushigi Yugi, that back fired. Most of the reviews say something along the lines of 'if you liked Sailor Moon, you'll love Fushigi Yugi!' Well, since I really don't like Sailor Moon, it really turned me off. I am glad to say, though, that Fushigi Yugi is really much better than SM. Number one, the characters are more realistic. Even though we are dealing with that old chesnut of 'magical fourteen year old girls,' Watase sensei manages to pull it off better than most (it's no Inu-Yasha, but few authors/artists compare to my idol, Rumiko Takahashi). Also, I the plot was very engaging; rather like a fairy tale. The artwork was pretty good, too. My only complaint would be that the boys seem too pretty at times(it's time for androgeny, here comes Hotori!), but other than that I liked it.

My final analysis, is that it's worth the money. That may sound like sparse praise, but I'm a big cheapskate, so the fact that I have ordered Fushigi Yugi vol 1 & 2 says a lot.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mysterious Play, Mysterious Adventure!, September 2, 2001

By 

Rixatrix (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Priestess (Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play, Vol. 1) (Paperback)

I LOVE this book! Yu Watase is amazing! But I'm sure you won't just take my word for it and buy this manga, so why don't I explain?

The story begins with two friends, Miaka Yuki and Yui Hongo, trying to pass high school entrance exams. Miaka's objective (other than eating every food in sight) is to be accepted into Jonan High School, like her mother would want her to. But the task isn't as simple as passing the test. Unlike her intellgient friend, Yui, Miaka needs to work at it. When the girls go to the National Library, they discover a strange book in a special reference room. (Miaka: "What's a suzaku?") When they open it and begin to read, they are pulled into the story! Inside the book, they are attacked by slave traders and rescued by a mysterious guy. But before they can ask him where they are, they are taken back to the library!

Being back in their own world, they decide that the entire situation was all just a dream. However, upon arrival home, Miaka can't stop thinking about her rescuer, so she decides to go back to the library ...

If you want to know the rest of the engaging plot, buy the book! The art is exquisite, the plot's complex, there's humor just when you need it, and also, there are little columns in every chapter by Yu Watase! Oh, and let's not forget the strange parodies once in awhile ... Hee-hee! Romance, comedy, mystery, and adventure all in one manga! Get this and you won't be disappointed!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exquisite artwork, and a captivating story, April 7, 2000

By 

"tenshi-chan" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Priestess (Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play, Vol. 1) (Paperback)

Yu Watase has to be my favorite manga artist of all time because her illustrations are beautifully detailed. This series is a mythical tale of the adventures of Miaka (aka Suzaku no Miko)and her gorgeous (**drools** ^_~) seishi as they try to summon the god Suzaku. In this installment Miaka and Yui are drawn into the Universe of Four Gods, and are saved by a handsome stranger (with a lust for money ^_~). After returing to the modern day world, Miaka re-enters the book, to find her hansome stranger, and so the adventure begins. If you are looking for a manga with beautiful pictures, romance, humour, plenty of bishonen, war, frienship and betrayal (in other words a GREAT story) get this series. You won't regret it.