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The Twelve Kingdoms (9 books edition) #5
図南の翼 [Tonan no Tsubasa]
恭國先王辭世後的二十七年來，群龍無首、國家治安紛亂、天災人禍更是不斷，甚至出現妖魔肆虐。
住在首都連橋的珠晶，父親是經商有成的富豪，而她平時生活雖有諸多的不自由，卻也因此受到完整的教育。珠晶過著優渥的千金小姐生活，實際上卻是個擔憂國家政經局勢日漸萎靡、具有強烈憂患意識的少女！為了從具有遴選國王能力的麒麟那裡探知天意，她決定出發前往蓬山！
此時的珠晶，心中早已做出了超越十二歲少女所能做的決定──「能統治恭國的人，就是我！」
住在首都連橋的珠晶，父親是經商有成的富豪，而她平時生活雖有諸多的不自由，卻也因此受到完整的教育。珠晶過著優渥的千金小姐生活，實際上卻是個擔憂國家政經局勢日漸萎靡、具有強烈憂患意識的少女！為了從具有遴選國王能力的麒麟那裡探知天意，她決定出發前往蓬山！
此時的珠晶，心中早已做出了超越十二歲少女所能做的決定──「能統治恭國的人，就是我！」
426 pages, ホワイトハート文庫
First published February 5, 1996
4 people are currently reading
242 people want to read
About the author
Fuyumi Ono
167 books331 followersKanji Name: 小野 不由美.
Fuyumi Ono (小野 不由美, Ono Fuyumi) is a Japanese novelist who is best known for writing the Twelve Kingdoms (十二国記, Juuni Kokuki) series, on which a popular anime is based. Her name after marriage is Fuyumi Uchida (内田不由美, Uchida Fuyumi), but she writes under her maiden name.
Ono was born in Nakatsu, Ōita, Kyūshū in 1960. She graduated from Ōtani University in Kyōto with a degree in Buddhist Studies, and in 1988 was employed by the publisher Kōdansha. Her debut story is titled Sleepless on Birthday Eve.
Ono is married to Naoyuki Uchida (内田直行, Uchida Naoyuki), a mystery novelist who writes under the pseudonym Yukito Ayatsuji (綾辻行人 , Ayatsuji Yukito).
Before she started work on Twelve Kingdoms, Fuyumi Ono wrote The Demonic Child (魔性の子), a horror novel about a boy from another world. She later worked certain events from this novel into the Twelve Kingdoms series. Short stories set in the various kingdoms include: Kasho, Toei, Shokan, Kizan and Jogetsu. In February, 2008, the first new Twelve Kingdoms short story, Hisho no Tori (丕緒の鳥) was published in Shinchosha's Yomyom magazine.
According to an interview at the Anime News Network, she is "currently rewriting a girls' horror series (she) wrote long ago."
- Wikipedia
Fuyumi Ono (小野 不由美, Ono Fuyumi) is a Japanese novelist who is best known for writing the Twelve Kingdoms (十二国記, Juuni Kokuki) series, on which a popular anime is based. Her name after marriage is Fuyumi Uchida (内田不由美, Uchida Fuyumi), but she writes under her maiden name.
Ono was born in Nakatsu, Ōita, Kyūshū in 1960. She graduated from Ōtani University in Kyōto with a degree in Buddhist Studies, and in 1988 was employed by the publisher Kōdansha. Her debut story is titled Sleepless on Birthday Eve.
Ono is married to Naoyuki Uchida (内田直行, Uchida Naoyuki), a mystery novelist who writes under the pseudonym Yukito Ayatsuji (綾辻行人 , Ayatsuji Yukito).
Before she started work on Twelve Kingdoms, Fuyumi Ono wrote The Demonic Child (魔性の子), a horror novel about a boy from another world. She later worked certain events from this novel into the Twelve Kingdoms series. Short stories set in the various kingdoms include: Kasho, Toei, Shokan, Kizan and Jogetsu. In February, 2008, the first new Twelve Kingdoms short story, Hisho no Tori (丕緒の鳥) was published in Shinchosha's Yomyom magazine.
According to an interview at the Anime News Network, she is "currently rewriting a girls' horror series (she) wrote long ago."
- Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 29, 2024
This was quite an interesting instalment, if not the best. Tonan no Tsubasa follows Shushou's journey to becoming the empress of Kyou - non of which comes as a surprise given that this series doesn't tell its lore in a chronological order. This book takes place before most of the other books and we first meet Shushou in Skies of Dawn where I quite honestly did not like her. That's why I was rather interested how I would feel about her as the main character in this instalment. My feelings are rather mixed. I still don't like or agree with her behaviour in Skies of Dawn, and she definitely is headstrong in a way I find quite rude toward other characters, yet there is also a lot of good in her and it was an enjoyable story where we see her grow as a character.
I think the growth itself is particularly important given that she is a 12 year old girl. By the time of Skies of Dawn, she is practically over a hundred years old despite still looking like a 12 year old - but in this book it is her actual age. She is very mature for her age, but her childish nature certainly does show. It is very much a journey story and the given the previous instalments, there's not much of a surprise waiting at the end. That being said, it is a very nice expansion of the world in and of itself. We get more lore about the creatures that live in this world and it was nice to see a chosen character native to the Twelve Kingdoms as opposed to someone from our world. It's not one of the most exciting entries to the series but it is relatively short and just fills a nice gap with learning Shushou's background and the added world building.
Compliments and thanks to Eugene Woodbury who has provided an English translation of this book. As a rule, I don't read non official translations but have made an exception for The Twelve Kingdoms as the official translation was dropped after the fourth instalment. I've bought the original Japanese edition to support the author and I appreciate Eugene's hard work for making the remaining instalments available to us.
May 11, 2012
Loved every single book of this series. It's the kind of book that when you put it down at the very end you feel a mix of great satisfaction (because the story was packed with greatness), unbelievable anger (angry because it's over), frustration (because there's still so many unanswered questions in your mind), sadness and joy at the same time. Now the French edition is the only one that has translated the full series from Japanese (as of yet) and since it's my mother language I bought them in French (lucky me) but I suggest waiting for all the books to be out because.....you won't be able to put it down.
September 10, 2016
The story is not as good as the previous four, but it was still absolutely epic! It wasn't what I expected though - I wanted to learn more about the relationship between Shoushou and her Kirin,
January 31, 2017
This is Tonan no Tsubasa and I read the fan translation by Eugene Woodbury. I was very happy to finally get to read the end, as I had started it some time ago, and just learned it had been finished. :)
The story is about Shushou, a precocious 12 year old girl who is living in a kingdom where things have been going downhill for several decades. In the 12 Kingdoms, when there is no ruler seated on the throne, youma (basically really strong monsters) start to spread through the kingdom, and various disasters take place. Droughts and famines etc. The only thing that will stop it is if a ruler is found. Shushou is disgusted by the adults around her who are so comfortable in their lives they won't bother to submit themselves for evaluation as possible ruler. So she goes herself! Of course it's a very dangerous journey and she learns a lot about herself and the world... You get the idea. A very fun read.
The story is about Shushou, a precocious 12 year old girl who is living in a kingdom where things have been going downhill for several decades. In the 12 Kingdoms, when there is no ruler seated on the throne, youma (basically really strong monsters) start to spread through the kingdom, and various disasters take place. Droughts and famines etc. The only thing that will stop it is if a ruler is found. Shushou is disgusted by the adults around her who are so comfortable in their lives they won't bother to submit themselves for evaluation as possible ruler. So she goes herself! Of course it's a very dangerous journey and she learns a lot about herself and the world... You get the idea. A very fun read.
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November 2, 2019The part of the harpies when the protagonist is lost in the forest, at night, is creepy
October 15, 2018
Amé volver a este universo. Fue bastante interesante de leer. Hasta el momento siempre se había mostrado el Shouzan desde la perspectiva del Kirin, únicamente esperando que el futuro rey llegase a sus puertas. Pero esta vez nos muestran un aspecto más crudo, lo que es la peregrinación en El Monte Hou, solo por una oportunidad de presentarse ante el kirin y esperar ser reconocidos como el nuevo rey.
Un viaje extenso, agotador y muchas veces sanguinario. Y una niña de 12 años que se hartó de esperar que los adultos salvasen su mundo. Una niña con un carácter muy fuerte que me hacía sentir odiarla y quererla a la vez, pero que al final me ha hecho tomarle mucho cariño y entender cuán necesaria es esa actitud prepotente de la que rebosa para poder conseguir lo que quería.
Un viaje extenso, agotador y muchas veces sanguinario. Y una niña de 12 años que se hartó de esperar que los adultos salvasen su mundo. Una niña con un carácter muy fuerte que me hacía sentir odiarla y quererla a la vez, pero que al final me ha hecho tomarle mucho cariño y entender cuán necesaria es esa actitud prepotente de la que rebosa para poder conseguir lo que quería.
October 11, 2019
It is a very interesting book. Compared to the journey of Youko, we now observe another journey to the throne, but this time it is for a person born in the twelve kingdoms. Shoshou's journey is no less difficult as the twelve year old girl now needs to go through the Shouzan to see the Kirin. We only have a glimpse of this Shouzan when Taiki chose the new king. In this book, however, a whole Shouzan is described with each walk is a risk of encountering a youma. With clever mind, pride, and also understanding and compassion, Shokou is now riding on the Wings of Phoenix toward Mount Hou.
September 5, 2014
Read the Woodbury's translation.
June 2, 2025
Second best in the saga so far. The protagonist is very relatable and I'm happy she was allowed to keep her innocence and optimism despite how much she grows to understand how cruel her world can be with its people. The story is simple, just a travel from A to B, but with such a good pace that it doesn't get repetitive or boring.
Also, there was a small reveal at some point () that knocked my teeth out. I love when books do that. You know a world is well knit when something so small has that much of an impact on you.
On to book six!
Also, there was a small reveal at some point () that knocked my teeth out. I love when books do that. You know a world is well knit when something so small has that much of an impact on you.
On to book six!
December 27, 2022
This is stand alone book about Shushou, the little girl who later become the Emperor of the kingdom of Kyou. I love this book when I read it as teenager. When I re-read it again as adult I didn't love this as much as before. I thought the story was okay, the characterization is a bit meh. I still love Shushou. She's badass girl who not afraid to speak about the truth and fighting for her people. This book is totally skippable because this is stand alone and not connected to main story.
February 27, 2019
It was interesting to read, but quite predictable. When you notice what the author wants you to expect, there is usually a plot twist or something to surprise you closer to the end, but that was missing in this case.
Can't say it was boring, but it's totally skipable and would recommend people to do that.
Can't say it was boring, but it's totally skipable and would recommend people to do that.
March 25, 2019
As a stand alone story, this book was pleasant but predictable; two stars on story. As an addition to the world of the Twelve Kingdoms it was a nice expansion of the world, thus the bump to three.
(I read an English fan translation that I found years ago. As far as I know, that's the only way to read anything after the first four in the series in English.)
(I read an English fan translation that I found years ago. As far as I know, that's the only way to read anything after the first four in the series in English.)
September 28, 2018
Enamorada de Shushou, Gankyuu y Rikou forever. La traducción me perdía a veces pero nada que no se solucione con diagramas de quien es quien y repetir los últimos dos párrafos jajajaja historia súper genial :D
May 31, 2020
這本的劇情居然完全忘光了, 新版到手時還覺得奇怪怎麼這麼厚, 不是就霸氣小蘿莉珠晶要昇山而已嗎...原來中間這麼曲折啊, 忘得這麼徹底也真不可思議|||
利廣這個腹黑又裝年輕的傢伙真有趣, 印象中好像在哪裡還有戲份?? 又不記得了~
不知不覺中, 除了華胥以外, 只剩下之前略過的風之海, 風之萬里, 黃昏之岸曉之天還沒複習了. 到底是白銀之墟會先回歸, 還是我會先追上呢...還真是不好說. 最近工時太長, 眼睛疲勞, 就算休息也比較少看書...也不光是眼睛的問題, 感覺上心情焦慮的時候就很難靜下心來閱讀...
利廣這個腹黑又裝年輕的傢伙真有趣, 印象中好像在哪裡還有戲份?? 又不記得了~
不知不覺中, 除了華胥以外, 只剩下之前略過的風之海, 風之萬里, 黃昏之岸曉之天還沒複習了. 到底是白銀之墟會先回歸, 還是我會先追上呢...還真是不好說. 最近工時太長, 眼睛疲勞, 就算休息也比較少看書...也不光是眼睛的問題, 感覺上心情焦慮的時候就很難靜下心來閱讀...
September 25, 2021
《風之海 迷宮之岸》是談年幼的麒麟如何選王，《圖南之翼》則是從反面來看年幼的王如何「升山」應選。
雖然讀者在前幾集就知道是Happy Ending，故事也有幾分套路，珠晶作為超積極女主仍頗為討喜。倒是僅出現幾秒的供麒大概是這個世界最不積極的麒麟了吧，獃坐在山上等到二十六七歲，如果王是胎果（像雁國、慶國）或不主動升山（如奏國），那他不就等死？真是好麒運。不過這集最令人驚艷的還是奏國和朱氏的設定，後來兩者皆有延伸：《華胥之幽夢．歸山》、《白銀之墟 玄之月》。
雖然讀者在前幾集就知道是Happy Ending，故事也有幾分套路，珠晶作為超積極女主仍頗為討喜。倒是僅出現幾秒的供麒大概是這個世界最不積極的麒麟了吧，獃坐在山上等到二十六七歲，如果王是胎果（像雁國、慶國）或不主動升山（如奏國），那他不就等死？真是好麒運。不過這集最令人驚艷的還是奏國和朱氏的設定，後來兩者皆有延伸：《華胥之幽夢．歸山》、《白銀之墟 玄之月》。
November 14, 2017
20171113
#図南の翼 #十二国記 #小野不由美 さん #読了 #再読
珠晶の昇山、供王登極までの旅の話。気風がいい女の子。啖呵の切り方もいいな。頑丘との掛け合いが好き。陽子の時は海千山千がためになってそうなきつい旅だったけど、珠晶は守られて昇山。途中まではそれでいいのかと思ったけど、読み進めると素直に考えて納得したりしなかったりを繰り返して学んでいく。珠晶のように啖呵きれるようになりたいものだ。
#図南の翼 #十二国記 #小野不由美 さん #読了 #再読
珠晶の昇山、供王登極までの旅の話。気風がいい女の子。啖呵の切り方もいいな。頑丘との掛け合いが好き。陽子の時は海千山千がためになってそうなきつい旅だったけど、珠晶は守られて昇山。途中まではそれでいいのかと思ったけど、読み進めると素直に考えて納得したりしなかったりを繰り返して学んでいく。珠晶のように啖呵きれるようになりたいものだ。
November 10, 2018
Hermosa historia. Dan muchas ganas de conocer más pero sensei Fuyumi te da justo lo que necesitas.
May 22, 2015
Enjoyable reading. The main character is a little annoying sometimes. I rather perfer the two secondary male characters over the little "I'm too good that I should be a empress". I like the most about this book is the connections with other books of the series specially from Sou and En Kingdoms. The end was a abrupt. It coulld be done longer.
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August 17, 2015how do I get the free translation ON to my kindle? I can't figure this out :(
July 29, 2016
Un tome vraiment magnifique, on découvre en plus d'une nouvelle reine, son ascension. J'ai beaucoup aimé les personnages, l'écriture de l'auteur. Une série magnifique !
July 30, 2018
Bạn đọc bản dịch của Zedta tại vnfiction.
Cái cuốn này, cái series này, cần được dịch nghiêm cẩn và xuất bản thật hoành tráng, trời ơi!
Cái cuốn này, cái series này, cần được dịch nghiêm cẩn và xuất bản thật hoành tráng, trời ơi!
January 17, 2017
Read Eugene Woodbury's free English translation, and, damn, is this good. Shushou, twelve-year-old smartass, becomes disgusted by the inaction of the adults around her and sets out on the Shouzan, a pilgrimage to a magical mountain where the kirin who lives there may or may not choose you to be the next Emperor. The rest of the book is her going on that journey, saying "Well, when I'm emperor...", getting into lots of moral arguments (with all the righteousness of a twelve-year-old) and living with the consequences of her many, many bad decisions along the way.
This book is mostly a rumination on the morality of helping other people (when you need to survive yourself) and what makes someone a worthy leader, as Shushou stumbles into epiphanies by messing up and then (!) thinking about her mistakes. The Shouzan is believable as a journey through a terrible hellscape, and the kind of people who go on the Shouzan, most notably the one guy who brought all his creature comforts along and the one guy who won't do what common sense dictates because he's way too proud, have believable reactions as well. Shushou's guides/sidekicks also add quite a lot to the narrative: there's Gankyuu, the guy who makes a living traversing the aforementioned hellscape a whole bunch and Rikou, the guy who came along just 'cause he thought Shushou might become emperor.
The possibility of Shushou actually achieving her goal is treated in a really interesting way: throughout the story, the old-hand guides who're pretty much used to making the Shouzan, over and over again, comment that they're having an easier time of it because a potential emperor's in the party. Fuyumi Ono built up the rules of her system of governance in the Yoko trilogy, and now we get to see Heaven's implicit hand in things. There's fate in this novel, but fate can't do everything: some potential emperors die anyway, and the dangers Shushou faces makes that at times seem like a likely possibility.
All in all, The Wings of Dreams is just as awesome as Fuyumi Ono's other books, and works great as a stand-alone, too. The marvelous freight train of character development Shushou undergoes is just great. At the end of the book, you kind of start thinking that the Shouzan has two purposes: to bring the emperors to Mt. Hou, and to make the people going to Mt. Hou into emperors. So great.
This book is mostly a rumination on the morality of helping other people (when you need to survive yourself) and what makes someone a worthy leader, as Shushou stumbles into epiphanies by messing up and then (!) thinking about her mistakes. The Shouzan is believable as a journey through a terrible hellscape, and the kind of people who go on the Shouzan, most notably the one guy who brought all his creature comforts along and the one guy who won't do what common sense dictates because he's way too proud, have believable reactions as well. Shushou's guides/sidekicks also add quite a lot to the narrative: there's Gankyuu, the guy who makes a living traversing the aforementioned hellscape a whole bunch and Rikou, the guy who came along just 'cause he thought Shushou might become emperor.
The possibility of Shushou actually achieving her goal is treated in a really interesting way: throughout the story, the old-hand guides who're pretty much used to making the Shouzan, over and over again, comment that they're having an easier time of it because a potential emperor's in the party. Fuyumi Ono built up the rules of her system of governance in the Yoko trilogy, and now we get to see Heaven's implicit hand in things. There's fate in this novel, but fate can't do everything: some potential emperors die anyway, and the dangers Shushou faces makes that at times seem like a likely possibility.
All in all, The Wings of Dreams is just as awesome as Fuyumi Ono's other books, and works great as a stand-alone, too. The marvelous freight train of character development Shushou undergoes is just great. At the end of the book, you kind of start thinking that the Shouzan has two purposes: to bring the emperors to Mt. Hou, and to make the people going to Mt. Hou into emperors. So great.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews