Oldies but goodies - classic manga you can add to your collection today - Part 4

Fushigi Yūgi - Yū Watase

​Fushigi Yūgi is a shōjō, and it was originally released from 1992-1996 and has been re-released several times.  It is another classic Isekai following the adventures of Miaka and Yui.  The two young ladies begin their adventure in a library, and the reading of a book transports them back to Feudal China.  Yui manages to escape back to the "real" world rather quickly, but Miaka finds herself the Priestess of the god Suzaku, tasked with gathering the seven celestial warriors in order to summon the god.  She ends up falling in love with Tamahome, one of the seven warriors.  Yui, meanwhile, works diligently to retrieve her friend Miaka, only to come back into the world of the book and find Miaka in love and seemingly unmoved by her disappearance.  Jealous and outraged, Yui becomes the Priestess of Seiyū, gathers her own warriors, and declares she will do everything to stop Miaka from summoning her god.

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This is a tale of adventure, romance, and tests of friendship that will resonate with many readers. Watase creates a rich world that is inspired by Ancient Chinese mythology. The fetch-quest she sets for Miaka is akin to the adventurousness in something like the beginning of Dragon Ball, though Miaka's quest isn't over as quickly as Goku's. This large cast of characters are all well-developed and a pleasure to read.  There are some spin-off series that are a little easier to find than this classic version of the series. Due to Watase's health, these are coming out at a little bit slower pace, but patience readers will hopefully be understanding.

There is some partial nudity and suggested adult themes, so I would recommend this for older readers, even though most of the adventuring could appeal to lower grades.

Sara's Rating: 10/10
​Suitability: Grades 9-12

Reviews of previous items in this series: part 1, part 2, part 3

Publisher: VIZ Media
Publication Date: June 1, 2003
ISBN: 9781569319574 (Paperback)

Tags: Rating: 10/10, Suitability: High School, Manga, Isekai, Romance, Fantasy, Mythology, VIZ Media