In this volume, Sarasa travels by land and sea to seek freedom for her village and revenge for her murdered family. Captured in battle after witnessing the terrifying spectacle of a massacred village, Sarasa learns that violence, intrigue, and even romance rule this postapocalyptic fantasy world.
Name (in native language): 田村由美 Birth Date: September 5 Zodiac: Virgo
Tamura is an avid RPG videogamer - Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, etc. She also loves to read mystery books, and going on the computer to chat with her fans.
It’s fascinating to see the dedication that Sarasa’s followers have for Tatara (Sarasa). They love her so much and are willing to lay their lives down for her! I was so worried that Cha Cha and Zaki were going to fulfill the old woman’s prophecy from the earlier volumes! I am beyond thrilled that Sarasa went after Zaki to save him! I am so happy. As a side note, I really hope Cha Cha tells Zaki how much she loves him as well. :) Sarasa is a very inspiring leader. She is willing to sacrifice her life for her people. This is what has lead Hiriji to decide to follow her and provide her his aide. I can’t wait to see Sarasa become the leader she is meant to be!
I enjoyed being introduced to two new characters: Nachi and Hiriji. Nachi is such a pervert! Haha. I am looking forward to the side story arcs for these characters as the journey progresses. In each book or story arc in one way or another has a lesson involved about being a true leader, a true friend and a true partner/lover!
Also, it’s interesting to seeing the comparison between Sarasa and the Red King when it comes to leadership. Shuri pushes away his people due to his actions and power while Sarasa chases after hers and never gives up. This is seen and highlighted more so in the future volumes.
I feel...somewhat perplexed about the relationship between Sarasa’s mother, Chigusa, and the Red King’s general, Kazam... Kazam loved Chigusa but he couldn’t refrain from wanting to kill Tatara... he was willing to die for her freedom but when she offered him another chance his allegiance/ his loyalty to the Red King could not allow him to accept it. Same with Chigusa...she chose to stay by his side despite seeing him kill her child! She gave him a chance at freedom and chose to be the final knife in his back, thus fulfilling her own self told prophecy...that she would stay and leave only when she saw his death. She loved him too.
Also, about the reveal about Chigusa and apparently Sarasa's father knowing that Sarasa was the child of destiny was really messed up! They let their child be treated badly and basically neglected so that they could prepare her for the future??? *eye roll* Sure. It doesn't make much sense to me. The time that Sarasa was treated as an outsider and ignored could have been used for her to train and excel in sword fighting, strategy planing and becoming an even stronger leader than she is right now! I guess that through her feelings of negligence she became a more emotionally conscious and aware individual which is really her strengths as a leader but still! I'm not happy about that. I think it would have been interesting if the mother knew all this time but not the father.
This is what I truly admire and appreciate regarding this series. The mangaka has created such complex characters that are so realistic! However, I can't help but wonder if characters are able to come back from the dead in this series... I mean if it were possible it would have happened by now... I pity Shuri and Sarasa; they have both lost so many loved ones (Shido, Tatara, Sarasa's father, etc) for this war for this fight for their own version of freedom and justice.
Ugh, this series is really intriguing. I’m really pleased with it thus far.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Если Красный король и Сараса продолжат в том же духе, то к концу манги они не построят новую процветающую страну, а разрушат все к чертям! Красный король слишком радикален и беспощаден, а Сараса просто не подходит на роль лидера. Красный король четко видит перед собой цель и идет к ней, но Сараса жаждет лишь мести, не задумываясь о дальнейшем будущем, а ведь отомстив она станет хуже демона, коим она считает Красного короля. Она думает больше о себе, чем о других, и люди идут за ней, страдают из-за ее решений, а когда она наконец замечает проблемы остальных, то бывает уже слишком поздно. Оно и понятно, она всего лишь 16-летняя девочка, которая привыкла жить в чьей-то тени и заботиться только о своих проблемах, а теперь на ее плечах лежит огромная ответственность. Но она сама же ее на себя и взвалила. Это было ее осознанное решение. И хотя в целом ход ее мыслей правильный, она выносит уроки из предыдущих проблем, но все равно продолжает наступать на те же грабли, поддаваться собственным эмоциям. Ей не хватает опыта для того, чтобы быть лидером. Ей нужен хороший наставник, коим ранее был Наги, однако он слишком мягок с ней. Сараса продолжает поступать опрометчиво, не беря на себя главенство, когда это нужно. Только вот пока она набьет шишки на ошибках, сколько еще людей пострадает?
This series keeps getting better. I’m usually not much one for ‘90’s shojo because it gets bogged down in slightly sexist depictions of women but I have to applaud Basara for its heavy reliance on strong female characters. Chacha and Sarasa are A+ female representation.
Further, I feel that Basara does one other very important thing: it relies heavily on its Japanese roots. A series set in a post-apocalyptic Japan could easily choose to all but forget its proud heritage in favor of fantasy and action, but instead name drops famous heroes from the Heian through the Edo period and frames these references as a proud and strong oral tradition kept by these future Japanese. It roots this fantasy future in a familiar frame of reference that no doubt had more than a little to do with its massive popularity in the ‘90’s. Its a masterfully woven world and I can only applaud the choice to do so.
I really love how this manga depicts a clear distinction between male and female leadership. I'm rooting for Sarasa even more now after the events in this volume. She's such a likable protagonist—flawed but extremely courageous and empathic. Sarasa leads with her emotions but in the eyes of her followers, she's still as strong as any leader. It helps that the people around her are so supportive even if she always let down her guard easily and get caught up with her feelings, yet, her allies still remain loyal. I can't wait until she gets stronger and the people around her finds out that the Tatara they follow, and that the Red King has been pursuing, have always been a girl all this time. It will be a big slap on their faces when that happens.
You forget Sarasa is only 15 and she leads with her emotions. Instead of putting duty first, she goes off to rescue her mother. As Nagi says, she needs to trust her head and not her heart. By deviating from the plan to head North into Black King's territory where it's safe, they went into another region and gets ambushed. Again, under the machinations of Asagi.
I remember hating this volume and the next several volumes of introducing new characters to the story and prolonging her devastation through further journeys until we hit the Ageha story.
Un tome vraiment incroyable ! Il y a une tonne d'actions et le personnage de Sarasa est tellement géniale ! Vraiment j'ai adoré ! On ne sait jamais si on doit adoré Shuri ou le détester en tant que roi rouge et je n'ai qu'une envie c'est qu'enfin Shuri et Sarasa sachent qui ils sont !
I don't know if I've said it before, but I've yet to be disappointed by a single volume of this manga so far.
I was so worried about Cha Cha and Zaki! I couldn't believe that they were going to die, that the author would do that. I was so relieved when they were alright. I also loved the flashbacks that were included about Cha Cha needing to prove herself to become a pirate leader.
I also loved the conflict I felt about Kazan and his death. You want to hate him because he killed the real Tatara and basically kidnapped Chigusa (Tatara's and Sarasa's mother) and "fell in love" with her. But in the end, he wanted her to escape, he didn't want her to die, and he was willing to die for "protecting" her even though Shuri was willing to spin Kazan's actions into something that would benefit the reputation of the Red King. It was just so good!
And Sarasa being blinded and not being able to see the Red King's face and realize he's Shuri? So good! I don't know when she'll finally learn the truth, but I can't wait to see after all this great buildup.
Yumi Tamura does an excellent job of making the reader feels things (whether it's for the characters we love or her villains) without it feeling cheap and like she's just doing things to get a reaction. It all feels real within the story and it's written so well, much better than most things I've read.
This volume was amazing
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Nah inilah jadinya kalau seseorang seperti saya mementingkan cover diatas segalanya. Saya jadi nggak jeli dengan isi dari komik yang panjangnya ada 27 volume ini.
Setelah mencicipi volume 1, bisa dibayangkan betapa besarnya penyesalan sekarang karena baru aja tau kalo komik ini SANGAT BAGUS.
Sasara yang berubah dengan kesadaran sendiri menjadi Tatara, seorang perempuan berumur 16 tahun yang menguatkan diri dengan tujuan membalaskan dendam desanya yang hancur dan kakak serta ayahnya yang mati diakibatkan serangan dari Raja Merah. Sasara hanya bisa menjadi dirinya sendiri saat ia berada di Onsen yang kemudia benar benar tertarik dengan seorang pemuda humoris tapi juga kharismatik dan seenaknya sendiri bernama Shuri. Tipikal kan? Nggak ada yang aneh dari jalan cerita ini. kecuali kalau Shuri ini adalah sang Raja Merah.
Hebatnya lagi yang membuatku sangat sangat kagum, Yumi Tamura menguatkan ikatan mereka tanpa terburu-buru dan alur yang keren, bisa dibuktikan dengan terbongkarnya identitas Shuri sang Raja Merah di buku ke-5.
Tidak perlu ragu lagi, inilah lambang dari cover not worth anything. :D
The Red King's forces have been defeated. The twisted Blue King is dead. Just as the rebellion gains momentum, shocking news distracts Sarasa-her mother is alive and General Kazan's prisoner! Setting their larger goals aside, "Tatara's" allies unite in a quest to rescue Tatara's mother.
My Thoughts:
This volume was just plain sad. It shouldn't have gone down like this. Asagi is such a manipulator! I think I'll have to throat punch someone if Sarasa and her allies don't see that man for the viper he is sometime soon. He played everyone perfectly! I hate him!
People died that shouldn't have and now Sarasa is left in a pretty bad state. What will you do now? And did Chigusa stay in that burning building? Is Zaki truly gone? They should have listened to that old woman's fortune telling. She was spot the fuck on.
The only good thing that happened is that Tatara has new allies now. I like Nachi and Hijiri a lot. I am wondering about Asagi's benefactor. Is it the White King? Who is really running the show here?!
Kita tak akan bisa membuat seluruh jiwa di dunia ini sependapat dengan kita. Perbedaan itu pasti ada. Bahka seorang santo yang mahasuci sekalipun pasti memiliki satu dua orang yang membencinya. Membangun negri yang tangguh kuat dan tak tekalahkan memang butuh perjuangan, termasuk menghadapi pemberontakan dari rakyatmu sendiri...
Shuri berusaha membangun saluran air di tengah kerajaanya yang beupa padang pasir, banyak orang yang menyambut ide itu. Tapi satu dua orang yang merupakan suruhan raja biru berhasil menyusup ke pikiran rakyat Shuri dan membuat mereka berhianat.
Sakit rasanya liat Shuri yang kaget setengahmati kalo orang yang dia percaya dan segani ternyata penghianat semua ...