Back in her own world, Takiko tries to forget about The Universe of the Four Gods. Determined to live the life of an ordinary girl in Tokyo in 1923, she returns to her father's home and concentrates on being a loyal daughter—and, soon, a dutiful bride. But she can't leave her other life behind. And while Takiko struggles to cool her still-burning heart, the Celestial Warriors battle through a new ice age!
Rated: T+
December 10, 2009
Watase (Ceres; Absolute Boyfriend) is a prolific manga-ka whose work is known to shojo readers both as graphic novels and as anime. Previously in this series, Takiko Okuda has been summoned into the Universe of the Four Gods, a mysterious and magical book that transports a chosen priestess into that realm while a reader in our world can follow the progress of her journeys. In this volume, Takiko returns to her home to reconcile with her father and receive a marriage proposal, while her warriors struggle on, lost and depressed without her. This explores fairness within society, the vulnerability of women to injustice and poverty, and ecological collapse in a fantasy alternative world. Verdict A prequel to the "Fushigi Yugi" series, this is a core title for most shojo manga readers. It is filled with romance, magic, tragedy, clashes between armies, and duels between rival Celestial Warriors, just as in the original.-Christine Gertz, Univ. of Alberta
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