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theliteraryadventures
SERIES: ふしぎ遊戯 玄武開伝 [Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden] (#1)
RELEASES: July 5, 2005 by Viz Media LLC
GENRE: Romance, Fantasy, Iseki
AGE RANGE: Teen
RATING: 3 out 5
SYNOPSIS: When schoolgirl Takiko Okuda attempts to destroy her father's translation of "The Universe of the Four Gods," she is instead literally sucked into the story, becoming the Priestess of Genbu in an epic journey to find the seven Celestial Warriors!
In her first encounter, she meets the mysterious outlaw Limdo, a Celestial Warrior with a tattoo of the Chinese character for "woman" on his chest. Limdo can not only summon the wind as one of his special powers, but he can also transform into a woman!
Takiko meets up with the bowman, Chamka, who is hunting Limbdo. It seems Chamka is one of the seven Celestial Warriors as well...
REVIEW: It has been years since I read this series. Having hated the original Fushigi Yugi, I was surprised to learn there was a prequel. This series is one I remember taking a chance on, and I liked it. Is it the best? Honestly, no. Upon rereading, you notice several problems.
The story follows Takiko, a young girl elected as the priestess of Genbu after attempting to destroy her father's translation of "The Universe of the Four Gods".
Her first encounter is with the mysterious outlaw Limdo, a Celestial Warrior with a tattoo of the Chinese character for "woman." Aside from summoning the wind, Limdo can also change into a woman!
Takiko meets Chamka, who is hunting Limbdo with a bow. Chamka is also one of the seven Celestial Warriors...
Sounds good to you? The problem is that Watase still uses the same tired tropes and problematic issues from FY, and also recycles many of the character aspects from that series. Despite Watase still using the same face for many characters, the series stands out thanks to its unique premise and intriguing character dynamics. While it may not be perfect, it offers an engaging narrative that keeps readers invested despite its flaws.
This volume starts action-packed and remains fairly engaging throughout. As a protagonist, Takiko is far more tolerable than Miaka, and she provides some evidence of her capability.
Limdo is her predictable love interest. But their relationship feels underdeveloped and lacks the depth needed to be genuinely compelling. Limdo's character, while intriguing, often falls into predictable patterns, diminishing the emotional impact of their interactions. Despite this, the story maintains interest through its fast-paced action and engaging plot twists.
On the other hand, the predictable nature of Limdo's character and his relationship with Takiko can feel formulaic. This might disappoint readers looking for more originality in their dynamics.
Overall, this prequel is good. However, the prequel still delivers an enjoyable experience for fans of the series. It provides insight into the world's lore and sets up events for the main story, making it a worthwhile read for those invested in the Fushigi Yuugi universe.
