Fushigi Yuugi: Genbu Kaiden
Fushigi Yugi: Genbu Kaiden

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I am really picky when it comes reading fantasy mangas. I planned to read this when the first 11 chapters came out but held back because I wanted to binge on this manga so bad without getting stuck on cliffhangers and the waiting game for the next chapters to come out... and boy I'm glad I did! This is Watase-sama's masterpiece. i couldn't really stress this out more, its the type of story that will get you to hold on to your seat as the events unfold while the story progresses.

STORY:
I' try my hardest not to compare it to the original one (despite ... some hates) the first FY did have some strong pros that made the manga and anime a breathtaking experience for readers and viewers alike (esp for shojo fans). What's really nice is that although, Genbu Kaiden was a prequel to FY, the story can stand on its own, it doesn't depend too much or even at all to the original FY story. Those who have not heard of the first FY would still be able to fully enjoy this book, and even more so, those who were a fan of the first FY will automatically fall inlove with Genbu Kaiden. The story has more depth, more details and definitely not predictable, get ready for some crazy plot twists!

ART:
One of the reasons why I love reading Watase-sama's works are her drawings, they are absolutely beautiful. Even the details on each character's clothes were as clear as day. She did made an itty-bitty change on her art style with genbu kaiden as far as comparing it to the first FY or Ceres (like some of the character's eyes and the shape of their faces) but it is not something to frown upon really. The characters, as expected are still gorgeous.

CHARACTERS:
Where do I start? Although I love the suzaku seishis to heart, the Genbu celestial warriors are the REAL DEAL. I'm not even exaggerating. I fell inlove with all of them. Each characters have strong back stories that didn't came out forceful in the story line. Takiko Okuda, the MC (Priestess of Genbu) is by far the most promising character in the series. She has the will and prowess of how a real priestess should be and it's not in a Mary Sue kind of way. She's definitely hardcore, she can fight battles on her own and her way of thinking is very realistic, selfless and mature. I think Yuu Watase has profoundly written the Genbu Seven as these fierce likable individuals to set an example for the next set of seishis and priestesses to come. They do not play around when it comes to where their loyalty stands and the hardships they endure in this series is AGAINST ALL ODDS. It's really interesting how most of the story's turn of events favors on each of the characters's own motivation as a celestial warrior. My fav. episodes are probably the last 5 chapters where we get to see all of the Genbu Seven fight 100,000 soldiers. They are indeed the best and probably the strongest of all the seishis in the Universe of the Four Gods.

OVERALL:
My whole reading experience with this manga is very gripping. I had to take a few breaks to get my breathing in check (laughs). It's a very enjoyable ride, to the point that you'll get attached to the characters, endure their pain, cry with them, laugh with them and fall in love. This is definitely a 100/10... and I would recommend this to all shojo readers out there, a must read!

Genbu Kaiden was a... breathtaking journey.

Fushigi Yuugi: Genbu Kaiden is the prequel to Fushigi Yuugi and tells the story of the first Priestess, of Genbu, and the Genbu Seishi (celestial warriors). I had read the original first and while heading into this, expected a similar plot, same atmosphere and copied themes and tropes. But I got sooo much more.

Story: 10
The story is an easy 10. I'm going to try not to compare it too much to the original as it deserves to be its own standalone. The manga starts on our MC Takiko Okuda whose mother has recently died and father hates her. ... She gets transported to the universe of the four gods and immediately meets our male lead, Uruki, who can I just say is a beautifully written character (but more about that later). She journeys to find the seven seishi and encounters many obstacles on her way. At the start it seems more or less like the original but rewinded a few hundred years and modified slightly. It seems all happy-go-lucky and normal. BUT IT REALLY ISN'T. We get some interesting twists. The story takes a deep turn and the themes are mature and we explore some interesting politics of their world and the character relationships are meaningful and the story takes advantage of this. Twists seem planned and not shoe-horned and it all flows perfectly. The thing is though, if you've read the original, you know pretty much everything about the ending, but you don't know HOW it goes up until there and it manages to keep you hooked. And then when you near the end and you know what's gonna happen but you don't want it to... its heartbreaking. It's beautiful.
The story was so articulately written. Watase has come far.

Characters: 10
I give characters a frickin' 20 million out of ten. I can't stress how much I fell in love with them. I cared for them. So. Frickin. Much. One by one. I'm gonna talk about them one by one. First, Takiko Okuda. This is our MC, our Priestess and I can say without second thought that she is the BEST priestess. She becomes the priestess because she was finally needed by someone in her life, not because she wanted the wishes. Heck, she didn't even know about the wishes. She also fights really well with a naginata (like an elongated sword) and her WILL is so strong. Then we have Uruki, or Rimudo, who is has amazing progression. Without spoiling too much, he has a lot on him and meeting Takiko noticeably changes him and when he goes through a traumatic thing, it changes him again. He is just an all-around well written character, props to Watase again. The other characters, Tomite, Hatsui, Inami, Hikitsu, Naname, Haagasu and Temdan are all defined and progressed and clarified through the story. They all have their stories separate to the main plot, and stories THAT MATTER, not just tossed in backstories. They have motivations (not blind obedience, like what happened in the original) and their own trials and relationships. They matter to the story and when things affect them, we CARE. And this matters. Great character writing.

Art: 9
Its clear that Watase tried to change up her drawing to fit the new atmosphere of this series better, but it's also improved in certain aspects, though I'm not really the expert to be saying this. It's funny though, that when I went back to read the cameos of Tomite and Hikitsu in the original, they looked... different. And they look better in their own series, no insults intended to original. Their faces are more shaped and hair positioned more accurately. The drawing was pleasant, never boring and always find the mood as required. No complaints, in fact I enjoyed it a lot. So, 9.

Enjoyment: 10
An obvious 10, seeing as what I've said above. I got so emotionally attached and though I knew the outcome from the outset, it was so gripping, that I forgot for a second what was going to happen. I kinda think revealing the ending from the start almost makes it more precious in a sense. You learn to savour every moment as much as you need to because of it and I thought it was a unique, fun experience. If it wasn't obvious I LOVED IT. And anyone up for a historical fantasy/romance/adventure should totally read this.

Overall: 10
Because it really really deserves it.

I really loved this manga! Although for me the drawings were ok, it got a lot better as the story goes by. This manga really made me experience a bunch of different emotions and it really tugged on my heartstrings. The story was really cool and creative, the art was not bad but got a whole lot better as the story passes by, and I also think the mangaka drew the guy characters very nicely. The characters were ok at first but there was a whole lot of character development that makes you really love the characters (there were also some characters you would just ... love off the bat), like the heroine, at first I kinda thought she self pitied herself but after the first 5 chapters she becomes so cool, and towards the end I love her! I really enjoyed this manga and I believe that if you like historical, romance, action/adventure, and a bit of fantasy than I'm sure you will like this manga.