Rumiko is a Goddess of story telling.
923436
Another Graphic Novel series that I could not put down. The story and character personalities are simply amazing. It has you intrigued, it has you absorbed, then it also sudden makes you burst out laughing. Along with  Nausicaa and Gunsmith Cats, Inu Yasha stands on it's own as a catchy  romantic narrative that's bound to have a cult around it.
4501645
As the world turned toward Christianity, the Greek gods left Olympus and started to live among humans. Over time they lost some of their powers, abilities and slowly started aging, the rate at which this occurred depended on the individual gods. Some gods like Hermes, Dionysus and Apollo fared better than others because humans unwittingly did things that could be considered as worship.

Selene was once the goddess Airtimes, known as the Huntress and protector of women. In this century she is still protecting women who have been abused, sometimes threats with some form of physical punishment is enough but if that fails she does not hesitate to use kill them. She has her faithful hound, Hippolyta for companionship and that is all she needs as she has been estranged from her twin since before they descended from Olympus. When her dog discovers a young woman dressed as one of her priestesses murdered, Selene knows that this is one job that she must handle instead of the police.

The author has done a good job with this novels; combining mystery, history and fantasy to give the reader an entertaining story. I loved the different aspects of all the Greek gods and I enjoyed the character building. I feel those that love novels with a mythical background will enjoy this series.

4.25/5 STARS: **This is an honest, unbiased review. I would like to thank the author and/or/publisher for providing an ARC through Netgalley, all opinions are mine.**
3347850
I loved Inu-Yasha from the first page. Unlike Ranma, it's a bit more serious, but Tagahashi-sama's humour still shines through!
 If you liked the other manga books of Rumiko T., or if you just getting started, this is  as good a book as any. You'll love it!
2553081
According to Japanese folklore, the kappa is a Japanese river goblin that drags people under the water to eat their organs and soul. The top of its head forms a shallow bowl that is constantly filled with water. Kappa can be defeated by tricking them into a deep bow, causing the water that is the source of their power to spill out. They can also be appeased by carving one's name into a cucumber (their favorite food) and tossing it into the water.

Makino is familiar with kappa lore, so she is understandably afraid when she is approached in the bath by a kappa. He claims to have saved her from drowning when she was young, and says that it's because he's in love with her. But Makino's husband is dying, and cannot be cured. The kappa might be able to help her, but his help will come at a steep cost.

This story was beautifully written and I learned some interesting things about Japanese folklore - specifically, that kappa are not always malicious; they are curious, polite, and interested in humans; they're so much more than just another flesh-eating monster.

There's actually a song by a Japanese artist called "Kappa" (by Keiko Matsui) that is supposedly inspired by the Japanese myth. I listened to that song while reading this short story, and they paired incredibly well. It is a mysterious and bittersweet song that perfectly matches this story in tone.

"I could take everything inside you and leave nothing but a hollow shell of your skin. I do not forget kindness, but I will let you forget yours, if it will please you."

This is a solid addition to the Tor.com repertoire, but the characterization that makes some of the other stories on the site so spell-binding is absent. Still; it's an interesting take on a Japanese legend, so if you're interested in Japanese folklore, I'd recommend it to you for that reason alone. :)

3 to 3.5 out of 5 stars
3091376
I gave this book to my granddaughter for her 12th birthday. She loves stories about Greek mythology, and this is what she just told me about this book:

"I really like this book. I'm not even reading the words. It's like a movie playing in my head.

Well done, Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams for making this book come alive. This is the mark of exceptional writing. Kudos, also, from me to the book's designer. The font and leading are perfect for this age group. (Caveat: I'm a book designer, so I'm sensitive to this sort of thing.)
2341948
I love meaty reverse harem stories, and this book really hit the spot. Ive been a fan of this authir since her last book, and one of my favorite things about her stories is the strength of the main character. This isn't some frilly little girl, Kira is a powerful woman. The depth of her background, orphaned as a child, living hand to mouth, only to have such responsibility thrust upon her (pun intended) makes this story all the more complex and immersive. When she learned her true purpose, I got goosebumps. Deep down, every girl wants to be like Kira.

Once the men begin entering the story, things really start to heat up. Im a long-time lover of RH and this story does not disappoint. What is amazing is how believable this book is, despite the impossible premise. The character development leaves me wanting to know anything and everything about the four male dragons, especially Reven. I enjoyed the slow build of the romantic aspect and the soul searching that each character has to endure. I really loved the various angles that the story was told from, including those of Kira as well as the men. The shifting points of view added a depth to the story that I found very fulfilling.

As is the case with all of the authors books, this book left me hungry for more when it was over. That is not a complaint whatsoever, but a commitment to future releases along this storyline. I loved the characters, the story, the world, the emotions, the dialogue, and the love. If you like the reverse harem genre, I highly encourage you to give this book a try.
776411
This story, set in medieval Japan, centers primarily on Mariko, daughter of a noble family who has been promised as a bride to the Emperors second son. This is a great honor to her family but one that Mariko, who longs for independence and a role beyond that of a marital bargaining chip, resents. Her wish for escape is granted in the roughest of ways when the convoy escorting her to her wedding in the capital city is attacked by the Black Clan, a group of notorious bandits who live in the forest that the convoy is passing through. Mariko survivesand finds evidence that the aim of the attack was not mere robbery but her own death. This puzzles her, since the Black Clan usually does not harm women and children. Rather than trying to return to her family, she decides to infiltrate the bandit group, disguised as a boy, to find out who ordered them to murder her and why. Her success brings her both unexpected allies and unexpected threats. Throughout, Mariko relishes the chance to use her wits and skills, even as she faces one life-threatening challenge after another. Meanwhile, her twin brother, warrior Kenshin, is searching for her, refusing to believe that she is dead.

Mariko, the leaders of the Black Clan, and Kenshin are interesting and complex characters, and the background of a time and culture very different from our own adds to their appeal. The story moved right along, and the writing was quite good, so I always wanted to see what would happen next. I liked Marikos intelligence and (as one other reviewer mentioned) watching her think through her problems, though I didn't find myself really becoming emotionally involved with the characters until fairly late in the book. I enjoyed the fact that the romance in the story developed slowly and subtly.

One thing that puzzled me is that the main description of this book on Amazon referred to Mariko as an accomplished alchemistbut theres nothing in the book about that at all, though it provides evidence that Mariko likely would become quite good at alchemy if she had a chance to learn it. In general, the fantasy elements in the book are few and, for the most part, not important, though they may become more so in the sequel.

My only serious complaint is that the book has a cliffhanger ending, preparing readers for said sequel. I don't mind leaving some threads of a backstory hanging loose for further development, but I like each book in a series to come to a more definite ending than this one does. Still, I wanted badly enough to know what happened to Mariko and the other characters to preorder the sequel as soon as I finished the first volume.
32474
This Shiori figure is one of most amazing female figures I've ever purchased.  She is designed beautifully, and her breasts are a wonder to behold.  There is the option of having her wear a bikini top or going topless--you gotta love that.  Her Cloneblade is also designed very well and makes a great contrast to her sensual figure.  If you're a Witchblade fan, or if you simply love beautiful female figures, this one is a must-buy.
2941207
The Bone Witch caught my eye because I loved Rin Chupecos writing in her The Girl from the Well stories. She has this way of making things have this haunting feel to them that really brings the best out of stories like these. I really enjoyed her writing once and again as well as the story itself.

I love how this story is told. Present Tea is relating the story of how she got to where she is to a bard. It was interesting to go back and forth because you start to see Tea in a different light as things begin to match up. I loved her as an MC. She was just such an interesting character, especially for the fact she often mentions that it feels good to draw from the dark magic. As the story goes along you start to wonder what side is she one. Is she good or bad? The lines all seem blurred. I loved how intelligent she is, even if at times she can be impulsive. I love her fondness for her brother and her Asha sisters. I also really like that Tea wants to do the right thing by her friend, who is a boy but loves to dance and sing more than be a soldier. She understand why he has to be forced into a role he doesnt want.

Its been a long time since Ive read Memoirs of a Geisha, but I have to say the Willows reminds me of that a little. I guess the Asha are similar to Geisha except of course they have magic. They also have their own political world outside that of the kingdom politics and each House is kind of like its own kingdom. The Asha system used to be a bigger part of the political game I think but then they started to veer off in their own agendas. We spend a large amount of the story with Tea learning to be an apprentice and the ins and outs of the world. Its very intriguing. I also love the time that is taken to describe all the different outfits and adornments. An Ashas Hua can tell a lot about her.

I find the relationship and the Oracle to also be intriguing. Its only lightly explored in this book but Im curious to see how much more details there are in the next book. As Tea walks this line between what is considered to be good and evil (I think the considered is important), I want to know what part the oracle is really playing.

There are some other great side characters. Like the Heartforger and his apprentice, the different shop owners and of course other Asha. Of course there is the light love interest, again its not deeply explored...yet.

So the ending.leaves you like, okay I need the next book. Its a cliffhanger of sorts. I really liked it though and am looking forward to see more of the story.
570453
Phenomenal in every way.  A geisha is a Japanese piece of art, not a prostitute.  As a matter of fact, "gei" means art in Japanese.  This classic story is about a young girl named Chiyo-chan who is taken at a young age, along with her sister [Satsu], to be trained as geisha.  Chiyo and her sister, unfortunately do get separated. Separated from her family; taken from Yorido to Gion.  As a young girl, Chikyo faces many obstacles, from betrayal of trust and unthinkable spiteful tricks from Hatsumomo.  As she does take the process of becoming a geisha, with the assistance of her older sister [Mameha], her love for any man is looked upon as an illusion.  I remember clearly when Mameha tells Sayuri that they dodn't choose to become geisha; they are force to become geisha.  As the story takes its course, friendship and trust is lost for love.  Betrayal seems so vivid.  A geisha's love was abstract.  It is as if love is looked down upon.  Geisha are just there to entertain and please. Sayuri's memoirs reflect the most beautiful thoughts of a geisha.  Golden depicts every thing as if it were surreal but lyrical in the most astonishing ways.
98656
I read this book on a whim but was astonished to see such a powerful and independent woman in a role that I had previously equated with sex slave. Minako's grace and poise tempered with her strong convictions and love of dance propelled her to the top of her field. The intricate details of the Geisha life and customs make this is a must read.
562873
Another great story from Rumiko Takahashi. This one is definitely not in the same vein as Ranma 1/2 due to the great prevalence of blood and death,  but the familiar themes draw the reader in. We are introduced to Yuta, a  tragic character with a heart of gold. Takahashi paints an aching portrayal  of the loneliness that comes with immortality; the curse of life  ever-lasting. We see how he comes across, through horrendous means, a young  girl named Mana who has been cursed just as he. In finding her, he also  finds the will to continue to walk this earth a little longer as long as  she is by his side. Just as I did with the Ranma 1/2 series, I looked  forward to every subtle, yet profound development of Yuta's relationship  with Mana through their glances, gestures, and concern for each other  during their many macabre adventures. Believe it or not, it is romantic.  Sometimes what is left unsaid is worth more than any flowery exhortation.  For those who seek it, there is plenty of action as well as an on-going  revelation of many sides of the human nature. Don't miss this intro to a  great series.
49759
Saiunkoku Monogatari is based in a universe that is like ancient China (Tang/Heian period) but it's a land where gods still walk among mortals and magic is still used.  In many ways, Saiunkoku is like a hybrid between The Twelve Kingdoms and Fushigi Yugi. (HINT: Not a lot of action and not a lot of romance, but a good story and you need to pay attention.)  The best thing going for the series is that the heroine is a thoughtful, educated, smart girl you can grow to like.  She can be a little too naive sometimes, and her obsession with money is hilarious, but her selflessness makes her unique.

It is a little misleading in the first story arc when we are introduced to our spunky heroine Shurei and the Emperor, Ryuki.  Hard core shoujo romance enthusiasts will love the interaction between the Emperor and Shurei during the first 8 episodes.  Truthfully though, that is as far as you are going to get with these two in terms of romance.  The rest of the series is a tangled web of intrigue and plots and counter plots enough to make your head spin. You simply can't tell if Shurei will EVER fall in love by the end of the first season (episode 39). Thank goodness the 2nd season is still running strong as of April 2007 (another 39 episodes or more) in Japan and the fans in the US are dying to catch up!

There's certainly enough bishonen male characters to go around. Is it possible to have too MANY bishonen male characters?  Nah!  Let's just say Ryuki will have plenty of competition.  Fushigi Yugi fans will be overjoyed to hear the talented voices of Tomokazu Seki, Midorikawa Hikaru and Koyasu Takehito together again on the Japanese track.  Add Tokshihiko Seki (Sanzo of Saiyuki), Toshiyuki Morikawa (Alex Rowe of Last Exile) and Nobuyuki Hiyama (Hiei of Yu Yu Hakusho) and you know you have got something worth collecting.

The character design and background detail are very eye catching, and if anything, you can just drool over how beautiful everyone is!

My only complaint is that the translators didn't stay true to form and changed Shurei's last name rather inexplicably.  Shurei hails from the famed house of "Kou" which means "red," that is now translated into "Hong" which means the same thing but in Chinese.  Saiunkoku is LIKE China but NOT China.  They don't even speak CHINESE!  I think the translators should have kept the original names as intended by the manga author Sai Yukino.
514020
Tells the Story Akira Tsubaki and how he has a connection with The new transfer student Mikoto Urabe jsut by tasting her drool. Now by tasting her drool, Tsubaki will go in withdraw if he does not have Urabe drool once a day, so Tsubaki has made the decision to be Urabe his girlfriend. This is a great Oniverse. The art in ths story is fantasic having a great mix of supernatural elements and slice of life. The characters fun and enjoyable. Tsubaki is plays the average boy trying to understand what it means to have a girlfriend, Urabe is quit and Unpredictable and the main focus of the story.
2354872
Lum and co. are back again with another collection of stories from the pen  of Rumiko Takahashi. As ever everything here is gold, not a bad tale here,  but the best is the wonderful Heian retelling of the Urusei Yatsura story,  set in feudal Japan, this tale is (to say the least) utterly insane, and  totally enthralling. Certain to have you laughing aloud almost  immediately.
Another great set of stories you HAVE to own.
3280530
This series is a real gem. I devoured the entire trilogy in less than 3 days. I was hesitant to read this story since I quit this author's Steel and Stone series after the 3rd book and, as an avid manga/anime lover, I feared the Japanese folklore and culture was going to be mishandled and cliched. The Japanese folklore was handled adeptly and presented in a way that is accessible to those not familiar with Japanese culture. This story is beautifully written, well paced (I will admit, though, that the pace of the first book is a tad slow in the beginning, but it builds around the 30% mark), and the plot is well thought out. The setting and the characters are lovingly drawn and though I was sad to see the story come to a close after 3 books, I think the story ended exactly where it needed to.

This story has it all - a solid plot that keeps you guessing how it will all work out, lots of action and adventure, well developed and varied characters, a setting and culture that will be unique and rich to most, and a heart warming and believable romance despite the short amount of time our heroine and hero spend together. This is a story I am sure I will come back to in the future. I actually can't believe I was able to read this for free via Kindle Unlimited. This caliber of story is one I would expect to pay for. This author has clearly grown. I will be checking out her future stories. 5 stars
1613923
Alena is a strong but quiet girl. She has a good life with a loving husband and a successful greek bakery. Then, in a cough, her world is turned inside out. She is dying of an incurable disease. On top of that the perfect life she thought she had was revealed to be a sham. She had accepted her fate until a mysterious stranger approaches her in the hospital and offers her a chance to live. The catch, she will never again be the woman she once was. The only cure is to become a supernatural creature. The types of creatures and shifters that she has always been taught are evil and to stay away from. Her worst fear becomes her only hope.

Her desire to live overrides that fear and she agrees to become a supernatural. But she wants to be special. When she wakes up and looks in the mirror she is beautiful and could easily pass for human until she realizes what she truly is. She never dreamed that fangs and scales would be a part of the package, a part of her. She realizes with horror that she is truly one of the big bad monsters of Greek mythology. And that none of it was truly mythology to begin with.

With the help of her eccentric grandmother and friends met along the way, Alena must face ancient monsters, gods, and "heroes" to figure out the truth as to why she was created and if her purpose is truly to destroy. Or, if in some way, she can prove that not all monsters are evil and can sometimes be the heroes themselves.

This is an ingenious take on Greek mythology in the modern world. Comedy and adventure abound with enough thrills to keep the pages turning. Shannon Mayer has created yet another vast and stunning world for our imaginations to live in. I look forward to continuing Alena's story.