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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
Read 03/27/2017: SO GOOD I'M GETTING CHILLSkljsj
Reread 11/26/2017: still 5/5, still got chills
Reread 11/26/2017: still 5/5, still got chills
Another book I can read again and again. I love the anime series that came from this series of books and I equally love the books. A good read.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
One of the, if not, the best isekai I've read. It is absolutely beautifully written, Youko facing her inner demons, her past and how she overcame them. I wasn't as annoyed at her character in the beginning as other people, it was only natural to react that way after being abducted to another world, having to face monsters.
This novel also taught me so many life lessons. I will always remember what Youko said when she was detrayed for the nth time
'The betrayer only betrays his cowardice. It does me no harm. But better betrayed than be the betrayer.'
This gave me goosebumps.
'Whether she trusted others had nothing to do with whether or not she was betrayed. Whether or not others were kind to her had nothing to do with whether she was kind to them in turn.' This quote too! I literally noted down all my favourite quotes from 12 Kingdoms.
World building is phenomenal, how Fuyumi Ono created such a complex yet realistic (confined to the boundaries of said world) is just pure genius. I also really like that instead of saying Youko is the cliche 'chosen one' to be empress, her origins was actually from the 12 kingdoms world. I feel so lucky to have encountered this absolute underrated jem.
This novel also taught me so many life lessons. I will always remember what Youko said when she was detrayed for the nth time
'The betrayer only betrays his cowardice. It does me no harm. But better betrayed than be the betrayer.'
This gave me goosebumps.
'Whether she trusted others had nothing to do with whether or not she was betrayed. Whether or not others were kind to her had nothing to do with whether she was kind to them in turn.' This quote too! I literally noted down all my favourite quotes from 12 Kingdoms.
World building is phenomenal, how Fuyumi Ono created such a complex yet realistic (confined to the boundaries of said world) is just pure genius. I also really like that instead of saying Youko is the cliche 'chosen one' to be empress, her origins was actually from the 12 kingdoms world. I feel so lucky to have encountered this absolute underrated jem.
Two things stopped me from unreservedly loving this book: Yoko is difficult to root for (read: annoying) in the first two-thirds of the story, and the unavoidable reality that this first entry largely serves as world building. World building is all well and good, but so much of it was (apparently) necessary that the action crawls for much of the book. And heck, flawed protagonists are fine too. But I wanted to reach into the book and shake Yoko when she reached her 'absolute lowest point' for the 4th time in as many chapters.
However, both of these 'issues' were resolved for me by the end of the novel as Yoko managed to evolve into being a less annoying character, and the Twelve Kingdoms are so beautifully constructed and otherworldly that I was sorry to leave the world upon reaching the final page. I could quibble over some of the slight translation issues, but overall the tale is well written and intriguingly plotted.
I can see myself adoring future installments of this series. I just hope more...happens...next time, as this entry felt as if it was almost entirely comprised of travelling (and travelling and travelling) with exciting and intriguing bits sprinkled in.
However, both of these 'issues' were resolved for me by the end of the novel as Yoko managed to evolve into being a less annoying character, and the Twelve Kingdoms are so beautifully constructed and otherworldly that I was sorry to leave the world upon reaching the final page. I could quibble over some of the slight translation issues, but overall the tale is well written and intriguingly plotted.
I can see myself adoring future installments of this series. I just hope more...happens...next time, as this entry felt as if it was almost entirely comprised of travelling (and travelling and travelling) with exciting and intriguing bits sprinkled in.
still one of the isekai greats! the worldbuilding is wonderfully creative and yoko's extreme makeover: character development edition is interesting to follow along
4 stars
4 stars
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
懐かしい。日本語で読んだのは初めてで、アニメとだいぶ合ってるのが嬉しい。下巻も楽しみにしてる :）
The story of a young teenaged girl who is kidnapped from her mundane Japanese life and taken to a fantasy world (or a world from a different dimension?) to face many trials including demons and treacherous world leaders.
Traduction du japonnais tres bien arrangee, histore tres creative, tant qu'on y croit vraiment.
On importe l'idee que soudainement realizer qu'on est souverain d'un royaune lointain and et que notre pauvre vie n'est en fin qu'un reve, n'est pas toujours une heureuse fin.
Personnages attachants, profonds et qui evoluent.
On importe l'idee que soudainement realizer qu'on est souverain d'un royaune lointain and et que notre pauvre vie n'est en fin qu'un reve, n'est pas toujours une heureuse fin.
Personnages attachants, profonds et qui evoluent.