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theliteraryadventures
SERIES: ふしぎ遊戯 白虎仙記 [Fushigi Yūgi: Byakko Senki] (#1)
RELEASES: August 4, 2020 by VIZ Media LLC
GENRE: Romance, Fantasy, Iseki
AGE RANGE: Teen
RATING: 2 out 5
SYNOPSIS: The final Fushigi Yûgi story in the Universe of the Four Gods begins!
The year is 1923. Suzuno Osugi’s father Takao warns her to stay away from The Universe of the Four Gods, telling her it’s a book that only men can touch. Takao worked with late Einosuke Okuda, who translated its text. He knows that in order to enact its story, the book needs one last heroine: the priestess of Byakko!
After the Great Kanto earthquake strikes, Suzuno and Takao are trapped in their burning home. Takao has only one chance to save his young daughter, and that is to send her into The Universe of the Four Gods!
REVIEW: So I'm not sure if I'm sick of the Fushigi Yugi universe or dislike it. Genbu Kaiden is a sequel to Byakko Senki. The story would be confusing if you had not read Genbu Kaiden.
The tale continues from Genbu Kaiden's ending, in which Late Heroine's father gives our main Heroine's father the book The Universe of the Four Gods. Suzuno's father was advised not to allow his daughter to touch the book. The book needs one last Heroine to enact its story: Byakko's priestess! Due to tragedy, she must be sent into the Uiverse of the Four Gods to survive!
Despite its interest, its main problem is the Heroine Suzuno. The decision to choose her as the next priestess seems odd to me. The only reason she was chosen is that her family is friends with the Heroine of the last book of Byakko Senki. Perhaps a more compelling choice for Byakko's priestess could have been someone with a personal connection to the universe itself, rather than familial ties.
A different character could be someone who has studied the legends extensively or has an unusual ability that aligns with the universe's needs. Such a choice would bring a fresh perspective to the narrative and add depth to the story, as the newly appointed priestess would have to navigate her own understanding and relationship with the mystical world.
I had a hard time keeping up with Suzuno's current developments. A lot of effort went into creating Suzuno's background and trauma stemming from what happened in this book's first section. However, this effort doesn't translate into meaningful character growth or a compelling arc. Suzuno's struggles feel disconnected from the overarching narrative, making it difficult to fully invest in her journey or understand her role in the larger story.
Furthermore, you need a broader understanding of the story that would have come from reading the earlier Fushigi Yûgi material, only because the world-building that has gone into it is even better. You'll have to wait until the next volume to begin her journey.
Suzuno's character arc feels underdeveloped, leaving readers questioning her relevance to the broader narrative. Without a stronger connection to the main plot, her struggles and growth seem isolated, making it harder to appreciate her significance. Hopefully, future volumes will provide the depth and integration her story needs to resonate more effectively.
Will I continue to read this series? It is unlikely that I will continue this series. Suzuno's underdeveloped character arc and lack of connection to the main narrative make it difficult to stay invested in her journey.
