Most Helpful Customer Reviews
46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Shamelessly, shamelessly great. The shojo that hits the spot!, January 3, 2006
This review is from: Red River, Vol. 1 (Paperback)
I really only write reviews for items I've thoroughly enjoyed, and RED RIVER is shamelessly, shamelessly great.
Shamelessly, shamelessly great. A friend enthusiastically endorsed it saying, "sex and violence," which always appeals to me when I need some serious escapism. I grew up on a steady diet of romance novels thanks to a mother who worked in a bookstore and collected them. This series can stand with the best of that book-world, and its own. RED RIVER is the _supreme_ shojo ("female appeal") manga series. It hits the spot where some other manga series fear to address - or just miss completely. It's overtly (and maturely) sexual, has moments of aggressiveness and a few vignettes of outright carnage, some great humor, but ultimately the RED RIVER (series) is one of the most addictive page-turners I've ever come across (Japanese serial comic or not). I would even recommend this for those that like romance novels and have never tried manga (Japanese comics).
"Addictive" is the exact word for it, because once you start, you're stuck on the couch until you finish ... I devoured the first five in an afternoon and was so eager about the series that I made the boyfriend take me out right away to buy the available next four ... and not one of them have disappointed me. I think I'm suffering serious withdrawal awaiting the next few installments. Heh, it almost hurts to think I have to wait to read all 28 volumes.
The storyline is classically 'shojo' - young girl zapped from her own time & space to another land - in this case the ancient middle east when Turkey was the Hittite empire. But don't be fooled, like I wrote, this series hits the spot where every other 'mature' shojo misses, and it never lets up. Modern teen Yuri has been marked for sacrifice by a power obsessed queen from the ancient world. Suffused with political intrigue, the RED RIVER books follow Yuri's adventures of survival in early history - and her budding romance (um, more like "burning encounters") with warrior-royal Kail Mursilis.
Interesting tidbit: a bit of digging reveals that Chie Shinohara has more than a passing interest in history - quite a lot of the story behind RED RIVER is factual. There was indeed a real a King Mursilis II of the Hittite empire, (a younger son of great King Suppiluliuma I), his brother Zannanza did suffer the same fate as the books on route to marry an Egyptian queen, and Mursilis worked to keep his kingdom united despite hostile forces. He destroyed his enemies in the Mitanni kingdom and staved off the Egyptian empire. He also battled off his evil step-mother - in particular, there are documents where he recounts how she tried to leverage a solar omen into an attempt to demote him. Despite all this, it seems he ruled faithfully for nearly 27 years, presumably as a kind and just king. Further intriguing, he kept chronicles of his life, in which he is translated as writing: "Even before I sat on my father's throne, all the enemy lands were hostile to me (...) I took up (my) hand to the goddess of Arianna, my lady, and I spoke the following "(...) O Sungoddess of Arinna, my lady, stand with me: forward (and) smite (my enemy lands)" And the Sungoddess of Arinna, my lady, heard my word, and she stood with me and while I sat on my father's throne." Which, if you read RED RIVER is this whole story and seems to take the idea of the 'Sungoddess of Arinna' (presumably Ishtar) literally as the character Yuri. Pretty neat!
Forget feeling silly, or feeling like you're 'too grown up' to read comic books! Artist Chie Shinohara has created a story and artwork that is fantastic, stylized and lovely. It's a pleasure (!!) to read, and reread, and . . . RED RIVER is a must-add to your 'mature' shojo library. It's like the best vacation you can take on a page.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
superb love/adventure story, May 17, 2006
This review is from: Red River, Vol. 1 (Paperback)
This is one of the few mangas that uses the girl-in-another-world formula well. Of all the ones I've read, the only one I would put on equal standing with Red River is From Far Away.
In this first volume, Yuri, a relatively ordinary girl living in Tokyo, is transported into the ancient past where an evil queen wishes to sacrifice her in an evil ritual so as to kill off all the princes and put her own son on the thrown. Prince Kail, heir to the throne and one of the few magic-users strong enough to rival the queen, rescues Yuri during the ceremony and brings her back to his palace. Although he's well known to be a playboy, his feelings for Yuri are serious almost from the start. Yuri, on the other hand, hates his flirting and angrily rejects him. Their love story is just gorgeous, but it never dominates the plot. Instead, it's something that develops steadily and intensely in the background of all the political intrigue and battles.
Yuri is a phenomenal heroine. She's passionate, intelligent and brave. At times, she's dignified and even regal, and at others she's just cute, feisty and endearing. This first volume is only the beginning of her long adventure; having only just arrived in a new and strange place, she often requires rescuing and has little control over her situation. However, as the story progresses, she gains more and more power, until she's the one rescuing the prince and foiling the queen's evil plans. Yuri isn't a flashy heroine who uses spells or force of arms to get what she wants; although she becomes an adept fighter, usually it's her incredible intelligence and slyness that help her succeed. It was so wonderfully refreshing to read a manga like this, where the heroine isn't just incredibly kind-hearted and just, but also astoundingly SMART.
For those who start reading and get fed up with Yuri requiring rescuing, it's only natural that in the beginning, she should be somewhat vulnerable. However, she soon becomes strong enough to defend herself.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it!, August 1, 2005
This review is from: Red River, Vol. 1 (Paperback)
Red River by Chie Shinohara
Red River is about a girl names Yuri who just got a kiss from her childhood friend-turned boyfriend. She also just passed her high school entrance exam so she's got nothing to worry about, right? WRONG! Mysteriously hands start comming out at her from anything with water. After avoiding them for about 3 days she suddenly gets sucked into 1500 B.C. in The Hittite Empire, Anatolia. If that isn't weird enough the queen is looking to murder her, because her blood can curse the 5 princes that come before her son to succede the throne. Coincidentally while she was running away from the queen's guards that were chacing her she ran into a mysterious person who suddenly hides her. Turns out her first impression of him was that he is a pervert, but she was totally wrong. He is the 3rd prince to the throne..... prince Kail..... who saves her life A LOT in the beginning of the series. *lol* He's the best candidate for king as of now. Later on when Kail takes Yuri to war he tells his people that she is Ishtar, goddess of war and fertility, who has come to lead his people to victory (actually that was just an excuse to take her with him ). Turns out, however, that she actually turned the tide of war from bad to good! Now Kail's people worship her as Ishtar!!! Kail secretly loves Yuri and Yuri secretly loves Kail, but they both won't confess their feeling because Yuri is about to leave. What a mess it turns out to be when she actually doesn't leave, but stays to avenge a killed servant! The story gets more and more interesting with people, war tactics, and courage this is a really good series!
Ack SO rated OT!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|