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Tokyo Ravens light novels #1
東京レイヴンズ 1 SHAMAN*CLAN
『ぼく、シキガミになる。ずっと一緒にいて、ずっと護ってあげる』それは遠い昔の約束。彼がまだ“将来”の意味を知る前の―。霊的災害“霊災”が多発し、陰陽師たちが活躍する現代。土御門春虎はトコトン運の悪い少年だった。陰陽師の名門に生まれながら、才能はからっきし。この16年の人生で、死にかけた回数12回。そしてある夏の日、極めつきの受難が、彼の前に訪れる。「久しぶりです―春虎君」土御門家次代当主である幼なじみの少女、夏目。彼女との再会が、春虎をかつて見た“将来”へ―波乱に充ちた“未来”へと導き始める!闇に舞う鴉たちの、時を超える陰×陽ファンタジー。
318 pages, Paperback
First published May 20, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 29, 2014
Tokyo Ravens has an interesting premise. It takes place in an alternate history wherein magic is real, and officially known. As such, it has impacted on historical issues, with results that reverberate to the present time.
In the first volume, SHAMAN*CLAN, the protagonist, Tsuchimikado Harutora, is the member of the most historically prestigious, yet infamous, Onmyouji (the Japanese magical system of the books) family. As a kid, he made a promise to his cousin, the heir of the “main branch family” Natsume, that he would be her shikigami when they were grown. As a kid, he was eager to do so, but this changed as he grew up.
This was kinda inevitable that it would happen, as he can not “see” spiritual energy, though he does have some magical prowess in casting spells. He is still weak, and this, combined with his cousin's increasing standoffishness as they grew older, and his natural care-free attitude, lead to his deciding to have nothing to do with his promise to Natsume, or the Onmyouji world. As the story begins with the two of them in high school, Natsume comes home from her Onmyouji school on a surprise vacation, and runs into Harutora. They, of course, argue, and things look like they are irreparably harmed between them. Meanwhile, Harutora and his friends Hokuto (a girl he sorta likes) and Touji (his best friend), go to a local festival for an evening of fun.
Unfortunately, Harutora's running from his past is about to catch up with him, courtesy of an amazingly skilled child Onmyouji who is determined to recreate the ceremony Harutora and Natsume's ancestor Yakou was pressured by the Japanese military to perform in an effort to win WWII. But that ceremony failed and lead to years of disaster that Japan still must deal with. Even together, our protagonist and Natsume can not hope to defeat this prodigy. What can they do to avert disaster?
This was an interesting take on the idea of magic in a modern setting. Instead of having magic either just arrive on the scene, or have it already be there in secret, this made it open. Magic and it's history is well-known, and has interconnected with history in important ways. I really liked this unique twist.
What I didn't like was how Natsume, despite her seeming to know a little more than Harutora at their young age, still kinda persuaded him to promise something he arguably did not understand. Yet this is not at all condemned, while Harutora is condemned for not keeping the childhood promise. At least with her connection to another character and the lie about it, it appears she does know she did wrong.
At first, we are given a revelation about Natsume, but some snippets cast doubt on part of those revelations. We shall see the result in future books. I will say I found it funny reading how, in the midst of battle, Natsume was a little irritated that Harutora kept taking the lead when that is (and she kinda is right on this, though unfortunately for her, Harutora's a better leader) her role. The way she expressed it was quite funny.
By the by, there is an anime on right now based on these light novels, both of which I Highly Recommend.
In the first volume, SHAMAN*CLAN, the protagonist, Tsuchimikado Harutora, is the member of the most historically prestigious, yet infamous, Onmyouji (the Japanese magical system of the books) family. As a kid, he made a promise to his cousin, the heir of the “main branch family” Natsume, that he would be her shikigami when they were grown. As a kid, he was eager to do so, but this changed as he grew up.
This was kinda inevitable that it would happen, as he can not “see” spiritual energy, though he does have some magical prowess in casting spells. He is still weak, and this, combined with his cousin's increasing standoffishness as they grew older, and his natural care-free attitude, lead to his deciding to have nothing to do with his promise to Natsume, or the Onmyouji world. As the story begins with the two of them in high school, Natsume comes home from her Onmyouji school on a surprise vacation, and runs into Harutora. They, of course, argue, and things look like they are irreparably harmed between them. Meanwhile, Harutora and his friends Hokuto (a girl he sorta likes) and Touji (his best friend), go to a local festival for an evening of fun.
Unfortunately, Harutora's running from his past is about to catch up with him, courtesy of an amazingly skilled child Onmyouji who is determined to recreate the ceremony Harutora and Natsume's ancestor Yakou was pressured by the Japanese military to perform in an effort to win WWII. But that ceremony failed and lead to years of disaster that Japan still must deal with. Even together, our protagonist and Natsume can not hope to defeat this prodigy. What can they do to avert disaster?
This was an interesting take on the idea of magic in a modern setting. Instead of having magic either just arrive on the scene, or have it already be there in secret, this made it open. Magic and it's history is well-known, and has interconnected with history in important ways. I really liked this unique twist.
What I didn't like was how Natsume, despite her seeming to know a little more than Harutora at their young age, still kinda persuaded him to promise something he arguably did not understand. Yet this is not at all condemned, while Harutora is condemned for not keeping the childhood promise. At least with her connection to another character and the lie about it, it appears she does know she did wrong.
At first, we are given a revelation about Natsume, but some snippets cast doubt on part of those revelations. We shall see the result in future books. I will say I found it funny reading how, in the midst of battle, Natsume was a little irritated that Harutora kept taking the lead when that is (and she kinda is right on this, though unfortunately for her, Harutora's a better leader) her role. The way she expressed it was quite funny.
By the by, there is an anime on right now based on these light novels, both of which I Highly Recommend.
December 28, 2015
Regrets
July 13, 2018
(This review is for the first seven or eight volumes.)
An interesting story that keeps you wondering where the turns will take you.
Sometimes the author describes magical fights or adventures in such a cinematic way that you are stunned by the sheer coolness of it all. Sometimes the plot turns leave you wondering how they could write so many such thrilling twists, so many colorful characters so close together.
Sometimes the pace drags on for pages and pages of long, dry official conversations.
On the whole, I quite enjoyed it.
An interesting story that keeps you wondering where the turns will take you.
Sometimes the author describes magical fights or adventures in such a cinematic way that you are stunned by the sheer coolness of it all. Sometimes the plot turns leave you wondering how they could write so many such thrilling twists, so many colorful characters so close together.
Sometimes the pace drags on for pages and pages of long, dry official conversations.
On the whole, I quite enjoyed it.
October 26, 2020
OMG!!!! I LOVE this manga series, which, I kinda new what would happen because I saw the TV program, but a little different anyway. This book is filled with romance, drama, and a little bit of fantasy, I guess. I would give about five stars for the first edition, and I pefer reading this first and then watch the show. I want to tell what happens, but I don´t want to spoil everything. I give this book five stars, and a big thumbs up! (I hope this reveiw is helpful, cause I don´t think it is!)
October 3, 2024
第一集乍看非常普通的高中生戰鬥加戀愛作品，但看到後面才發現作者非常老練，伏筆和世界觀早就設定好了……（2020年10月補充）
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews