The biggest thank you ever to VIZ Media, NetGalley, and Yuu Watase for the opportunity to read Fushigi Yugi: Byakko Senki in exchange for an honest review.
I am a very long-time fan of Yuu Watase’s work. She is my all-time favorite mangaka, and I own all of her English translated volumes from VIZ, as well as a few Japanese volumes that were never translated (VIZ, please translate Appare Jipangu and Eppotrans Mai, thanks!). When I was in sixth grade, I walked into my small local bookstore and came across these strange books that read from right to left. I later found out they were called manga, and that would shape my interests for the rest of my life. Those two manga I picked up were Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play and Ceres: Celestial Legend, two major works by Yuu Watase.
Following Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play, telling the tale of two of the four gods, Suzaku and Seiryu, Watase eventually released Fushigi Yugi: Genbu Kaiden, my favorite of the tales so far. It was a long wait for that ten-volume series to complete, and even more of a wait knowing she must eventually write the story of the Priestess of Byakko. And thus, in 2020, Suzuno’s story is finally being released in English. Worth the wait with its beautiful art, this magnificent cover, and the beginning to a very promising story.
I was wondering how Watase would make the story of Byakko a bit different than her previous Fushigi Yugi tales, and I am not disappointed. Rather, I am left quite excited!
While you can read this book without necessarily having read the other tales, I highly recommend at least reading Genbu Kaiden first, as it references Takiko (the Priestess of Genbu) and her father, and what happened to them both.
This volume begins with an eight-year-old Suzuno who adores her father. Her father, a friend of Takiko’s dad, tries to destroy The Universe of the Four Gods, the book that brought Takiko inside its pages to become the Priestess of Genbu. Worried for his own daughter’s fate, he tells Suzuno to stay away. When an earthquake hits, Suzuno’s father encourages her to enter the book to save her from being killed in the earthquake. The reader gets a glimpse of some of the key characters that will play a major part later in the story; Suzuno’s stay as a little girl is quite short.
When Suzuno is eighteen, she struggles with waking nightmares, trying to remember what happened when she was in the book. Was it a dream, or was it real? After losing The Universe of the Four Gods, all Suzuno wants is to find the book and put her waking nightmares to rest.
Side note: I was disappointed that this volume did not include the short story “Byakko Ibun,” which highlights both the past of Seiryu warrior Miboshi, and a leading character in Byakko Senki who transforms into a tiger. This short story was quite intriguing and really added to my appreciation of this tiger girl who isn’t exactly very nice when we meet her in Byakko Senki. VIZ, please add this to a later volume or release it as a comic or something!!!!! 🙂
This book is such a fantastic read. Whether you are a long-time fan or new to Fushigi Yugi, you will not be disappointed by this book! Now…when will Watase come out with the next one and how long will we have to wait for a translation? ^_^’
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Reviews with images
Taking me back
Fushigi Yuugi was the first manga that I picked up in the 4th grade and that opened so many other doors for me in the manga/anime world. I just can’t explain how much I enjoyed reading Yuu Watase’s work and how she is able to convey so much emotions through her art. The action, angst, romance, plot ... ugh, *chef’s kiss* if you know, you know.A message to Yuu Watase: Thank you so much, Yuu Watase — for all that you do. I’m not sure if you’ll ever see this but your books really shaped the person I am today. It brought a lot of happiness to me during the darkest times of my life. Your books was a form of escapism for me and many others. Please take care of yourself! We’ll be patiently waiting for the next Byakko Senki volume💞
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2020
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2020
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2022
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2020
Fushigi Yuugi was the first manga that I picked up in the 4th grade and that opened so many other doors for me in the manga/anime world. I just can’t explain how much I enjoyed reading Yuu Watase’s work and how she is able to convey so much emotions through her art. The action, angst, romance, plot ... ugh, *chef’s kiss* if you know, you know.
A message to Yuu Watase: Thank you so much, Yuu Watase — for all that you do. I’m not sure if you’ll ever see this but your books really shaped the person I am today. It brought a lot of happiness to me during the darkest times of my life. Your books was a form of escapism for me and many others. Please take care of yourself! We’ll be patiently waiting for the next Byakko Senki volume💞
A message to Yuu Watase: Thank you so much, Yuu Watase — for all that you do. I’m not sure if you’ll ever see this but your books really shaped the person I am today. It brought a lot of happiness to me during the darkest times of my life. Your books was a form of escapism for me and many others. Please take care of yourself! We’ll be patiently waiting for the next Byakko Senki volume💞
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2021
Took 2 weeks to arrive in Dubai, UAE… but super worth it! Very very good condition despite being shipped outside US, totally new, not package well, just a bubble bag, but still it came no dents, tear or bent of any kind so i guess it’s total 100% ok.
Been waiting for so long for the volume 1 and now can’t wait for the next volume. I will definitely order the next one as soon as it’s available.
Been waiting for so long for the volume 1 and now can’t wait for the next volume. I will definitely order the next one as soon as it’s available.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2020
Top reviews from other countries
Luana Joana
Yuu Watase, uma das melhores mangakás!
Reviewed in Brazil on June 17, 2022
Luana Joana
Reviewed in Brazil on June 17, 2022
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Raquel
Genial
Reviewed in Spain on March 25, 2021
Raquel
Reviewed in Spain on March 25, 2021
Ha venido en perfecto estado.
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