Customer Reviews

The Twelve Kingdoms, Volume 1: Sea of Shadow

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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.

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.

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

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.

If you loved the anime series I highly recommend the book. I wanted more out of the series and in a way the book gives you a bit more insight on the story and characters. I wasnt sure if i would want to get the book at first fearing it be 100% the same like the anime. Why buy it if i could watch it. In the end im glad i did get it. The anime did follow the book to a T but theres a few little things in the book that goes deeper into the characters and the world around them making you intrigued that wasn't shown in the anime. Such as how rough and stern keiki was when he first meet yoko. In the anime you didnt see that element in the first eps they were in another world and keiki disappears. So if you enjoyed the show get the book! you wont be disappointed!

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 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.

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 ;).

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.

Yoko is a high school student in Japan who is taken to a strange world where she must battle demons and suspicious locals.
Great read if you are looking for an escape. Really well written and lots of fun.