Ceres: Celestial Legend, Vol. 8: Miori

妖しのセレス [Ayashi no Ceres] #8

by Yuu Watase

Yuu Watase, the immensely popular writer/artist of the shôjo (girl's) fantasy smash Fushigi Yûgi: The Mysterious Play, has turned her creativity and wry sense of humour to the horror genre with her anime/manga hit Ceres: Celestial Legend. Aya thought she was a normal teenager until she discovered that she can transform into a vastly powerful "heavenly maiden" named Ceres...But Ceres is furious and out for revenge!

No more deception, no more lies - now that Aya and Tôya have finally let down all their barriers and come together, that is. But will something else - something outside their love - tear them apart? Miori Sahara seems a nice enough girl - goes to Aya's school, has a lot in common with Aya...looks a lot like Aya, actually. She says she's searching for her missing boyfriend, who's been gone a year now. After an accident robs Tôya of his memories, will Aya turn to Yûhi once Tôya goes back to his "real" girlfriend, Miori? A love like Aya and Tôya's is supposed to last forever...has everything that's happened between the two of them this past year been a lie after all?

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Romance, Shojo, Fiction, Horror

200 pages, Paperback

First published September 26, 1998

About the author

Yuu Watase (渡瀬悠宇) is a Japanese shoujo manga-ka. She is known for her works Fushigi Yūgi, Alice 19th, Ceres: The Celestial Legend, Fushigi Yūgi Genbu Kaiden and Absolute Boyfriend. She likes all music, except heavy metal and old traditional music.

She received the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōjo for Ceres, Celestial Legend in 1997. Since writing her debut short story "Pajama de Ojama" ("An Intrusion in Pajamas"), Watase has created more than 80 compiled volumes of short stories and continuing series. Because of her frequent use of beautiful male characters in her works, she is widely regarded in circles[which?] as a bishōnen manga artist.[citation needed] In October 2008, Watase began her first shōnen serialization, Arata: The Legend in Weekly Shōnen Sunday.
Her name is romanized as "Yû Watase" in earlier printings of Viz Media's publications of Fushigi Yūgi, Alice 19th, and Ceres, The Celestial Legend, while in Viz Media's Fushigi Yūgi Genbu Kaiden and Absolute Boyfriend her name is romanized as "Yuu Watase". In Chuang Yi's English-language versions of Fushigi Yugi (spelled without a macron or circumflex), her name is romanized as "Yu Watase".

Reviews

[Coke Fernández · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10

[reni · Rating 5 out of 5]

The drama had me shook

[Bibliothecat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review for complete series



After I didn't enjoy Fushigi Yuugi as much as I had hopped I would, I was a little concerned how well I'd like Ayashi no Ceres - after all, I was much more interested in the former. Now that I have read both, I think the latter is the superior work in terms of story telling. Pacing was one of the biggest issues I had with Fushigi Yuugi and, while the beginning is a little slow, the other all pacing is infinitely better. The flow of the story felt right with neither dragging nor rushing and the order of events made reasonable sense.

Thanks to the good pacing, the relationships between characters were a lot more believable. Yuu Watase writes likeable characters but sometimes fails to connect them - it's not perfect in the case of this series but it is so much better done than I have seen her do in other works. My only issue probably lies with how fast Aya falls in love with Toya. I wouldn't necessary call it instant love but she definitely has her eye on him from chapter one and the extent to which she starts to love him comes around very quickly. As a result, I initially struggled to root for them but I have to say that the story between them was otherwise nicely written. I definitely really enjoyed the friendships that were formed and was sad about many of their fates.

This series has an over all darker and more mature tone than many of Watase's other series. While she's never exactly been afraid of killing off a few of her characters. Some of the deaths caught me off guard but over all this was a borderline slaughter fest, at times I wondered if I'd picked up Angel Sanctuary instead - I do see fans of one liking the other. In this darker plot, Watase tried to include some comic relief in the form of Kyuu (the housekeeper of sorts?). I didn't like this character at all as she had zero substance beyond apparently being so ugly characters feel sick at the site of her. This joke soon became very, very, very old, especially given that it was repeated regularly over a 14-volume series. Not too mention that I found this joke to be in poor taste.

Another thing that makes this series different from Watase's other works is the art style. While it is still recognisably Watase's style, it is over all less cute and I take this as an attempt to match the more mature story. I do generally prefer her usual style over this one, but it's not that there is anything wrong with the style used here - it's simply different and, unlike me, others may prefer it over her usual style.

Over all, Ayashi no Ceres surprised me in a good way. It is an all around well crafted sci-fi manga that keeps most of its secrets for the final two volumes. Sci-fi isn't my main genre and there were a few hiccups along the way (Kyuu and the somewhat rushed romance) that prevent me from giving this a full score but it definitely earns its place among shoujo manga classics.

[Ryofire · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to give this volume credit for sort of maybe trying a spin on "The Little Mermaid", but I'm too distracted by how this overall plot just feels like a more melodramatic and silly version of the end of "Highlander" season 2, which aired maybe ~4 years prior to this (not sure when the issues in this book were originally serialized; apparently the graphic novel was originally released in 1998, but I imagine they were serialized before that, while the last two episodes of "Highlander" season 2 aired in 1994). It involved someone doing a revenge plot with a fake version of the protagonist's (Duncan) dead partner (Tessa).

It would be an interesting mindfuckery concept, I suppose, if the writing weren't so terrible and uninteresting. I felt bad for Toya last volume and I feel worse for him now. Aya, meanwhile, beset by trauma and a supportive but still somehow unhelpful Yuhi, just struggles more. Also she looks bad with short hair. Ranma 1/2 also did this for some reason, I'm not sure why (maybe something about modern women, butchness, androgyny, I don't know), but both Akane and Aya look worse with short hair. I got over it in time with Akane, and now normally picture her with short hair (though it helps that Akane lost her long hair in the first volume of the series, rather than partially through the second half of the series), but initially it was rough. I imagine I'll get used to Aya, too.

Yuhi continues to be ever more uninteresting as a character. Maybe folks who really like clingy wannabe, obsessive boyfriends will love him. He just feels awful. And for a second I was happy Aya was choosing to not be in love anymore. But it's not real. It's just a trauma spiral.

All in all, though, it's one of the worst volumes in the series, by far.

[Leila Anani · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's taken 8 volumes but I'm finally starting to feel this series which so far has failed to grip my as much as any of Yuu Watase's other series - I think largely because it's so much darker. Still this volume is really high on the emotion stakes.

So Toya gets his memory back after finally sleeping with Aya last volume... Not only does he get it back, but he's lost all his recent memories, including Aya! As if that wasn't bad enough we find that he already had a girlfriend, the titular Miori - who is the spitting image of Aya. Heartbroken, Aya turns to Yuhi for comfort but he rejects her (because he really does love her and won't take advantage while she's clearly on the rebound from Toya - Hats off to Yuhi in this one, I feel quite sorry for him in this volume! I hope he gets a happy ending.) Aya gives up and becomes dormant leaving Ceres in control.

This volume is a total emotional rollercoaster which is what Yuu Watase does best. While I don't particularly like Aya as a heroine I really felt her pain in this one. Beautiful art as ever and yeah, definitely growing on me.

Ends of a cliff hanger so have volume 9 on hand.

[Kasumi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Justo cuando Aya cree haber encontrado la felicidad junto a Toya, este recupera la memoria y olvida todo lo que ha vivido en ese interín, y aunque trata de aceptar que tenía otra vida y que es otra persona, es imposible para ella y el dolor de todo lo que ha perdido en todo este tiempo se hace insoportable. Yuhi trata de demostrarle su amor para que olvide a Toya, pero acaba aceptando que tiene que esperar a que se recupere si quiere tener una oportunidad. Por desgracia, Toya vuelve con lo Mikage y Ceres toma el control.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume was so good! I knew when Miori showed up and she looked EXACTLY like Aya that she was going to be trouble! I'm excited to read the next volume and see what happens! (Especially with Toya/Aya)

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is where the story gets properly serious and it's great. Also! the revelation that Tôya is 22 and Aya is still 16!!! bad!!! Yuhi continues to be a bit creepy but it feels slightly more plot relevant here.

[Maria del Mar · Rating 4 out of 5]

UOO UO, aquest volum m'ha fet tornar el hyper per la sèrie.
No té 5 estrelles perquè "masclisme", però se'ns revelen coses interessants i tinc ganes de continuar.
Ara bé, no s'avança gens en la cerca del mantell; es farà infinit fins la final de la sèrie??

[Aurelie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another incredible volume, there is sto much growth to Aya and Tooya, separately but also their romance goes through so much, I really applaud the author for giving us compelling backstories, mystery, and heartache, man...!

[-moonprismpower- · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume made me love Yuhi even more.
But now I know my ship has noooo chance and that’s okay. I’m starting to understand why Aya loves Toya.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one ripped by heart up a bit but as usual the story just keeps getting better and better. Solid art and characters, steadily developing story. Highly recommend.

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is getting really intense. I feel so bad for Aya in this volume oh my god. Just seeing what she has to deal with is so heartbreaking to read about in my opinion.

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

se si potessero dare 100 stelle a questo volume gliene darei 200

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Mikage family implants false memories into Toya to make him think that he had a girlfriend, Miori, before he lost his memory. Aya is devastated that Toya forgets what has happened in the past year. Miori turns out to be another C-Genome descendant of Ceres.

The author is sending mixed messages here about Aya's relationship to Toya--in one of the side-bar notes (I think in a previous volume), Watase talks about how happy she is that Aya and Toya are so independent and can function without one another, yet in this volume she has Aya remembering lines from Toya like "You are all I need. Nothing else."

Aya is supposed to be so independent, yet she still embodies the rescue fantasies of women, having multiple men at her beck and call (a common trope of recent teen lit), one of whom (Toya) conveniently has memory problems and little personality, allowing teen girls to project their ultimate fantasy man onto his blank slate.

The fact that in the author's notes she seems unaware that she's following this pattern is annoying, since as an adult reader the psychological romantic elements of the story are so transparent. I would rather see Aya with Yuhi--at least he's a realistic character with a personality. But it is fantasy, and a lot of teen girl readers probably don't want to read about a love interest with his own personality--wish fulfillment is a genre unto its own.

Still enjoying the majority of the characters and the background Japanese legend, though, so I'll probably follow through to the end. I'm also a fan of Watase's art style and character design.

[Lau · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Epa, ahora sí que estoy interesada.
Al principio parecía que todo iba a ser muy obvio, pero ahora tengo mis dudas.
Me pregunto si toda esta historia del pasado de Tooya será realmente tan así, o si es algún tipo de recuerdo que le implantaron. Algo huele a podrido en Din.. Tokyo.

Sigo sin querer a Aya, no se si es que ese tipo de protagonista envejeció mal, o que simplemente es poco interesante.
Además manejó realmente mal toda la situación de la pérdida. Entiendo que le duela y que el que Tooya la olvide fue como un balde de agua con hielo (igual entre nos, fue raro ese giro), pero Yuuhi no tiene por qué pagar su necesidad de "distracción".
Puntos para él por cierto, que en el camino aprendió el concepto de respeto y autocontrol.

El final la verdad me dejó muy intrigada, ahora realmente quiero saber como sigue.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yuu Watase is an amazing storyteller and draws some gorgeous artwork! She is one of my favorite manga authors and I love everything she has done. The characters in Ceres are amazing and imaginative and extremely easy to relate to. She is able to capture the character’s emotions amazingly with a realistic outlook on life. Aya’s reaction to finding out about her supernatural powers was real and her ongoing fight through all of her problems strikes the reader as something that would ring true. My favorite character was Touya, hot and mysterious with a little bit of attitude thrown in. The series has gory moments and is dark but everything about life is not always peachy as Yuu Watase truthfully is able to point out.

Note: this review is about volumes 1-14 .

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, allegedly I read this volume back in 2011 . . . but I have to say, I remembered none of these events. When they said aliens I couldn't believe this was the direction they were going to go (though I guess if I thought a little further, I could have guessed . . . but really? Aliens?). I also remembered none of Toya and his regained memories. I feel convinced I never made it this far, but I have read dates for up to the 11th volume. What a mystery. Guess I've lost my memories too.

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay so Toya gained back his memories and now he has to make a decision to be with Miori or Aya. And Miori just ends up becoming some what of a identical twin to Aya. They looks quite alike...when I read the manga, I too thought Miori was Aya. And now she can change into Ceres. Isn't that a bit too much?

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Book-Tube-A-Thon book. A reread for me that had me changing my rating from 3 stars to 5 stars. I don't care for the plot turns in this but, now that I'm older I can be more sympathetic to Aya's situation and reaction.

[Shannon (Twilight Sleep) · Rating 5 out of 5]

First manga I started collecting. Watase-san is a literary genius. I love her works. Ceres is an incredible story.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars...crazy volume!

[Danyka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I watched and loved the Anime version of this since I was a kid. It also landed on my favorites.

For now, I got no plans for buying a copy.

[Calypsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ce tome me fait toujours pleurer...

[Liz Licata · Rating 2 out of 5]

yawn. Soap opera

[Jenifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume made me freak out multiple times!