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snowynightHoshin Engi (manga)
Synopsis: When his clan is wiped out by a beautiful demon, young Taikobo finds himself in charge of the mysterious Houshin Project. Its mission: find all immortals living in the human world and seal them away forever. But nothing is what they originally appears, and there is no simple solution to the problem
Based on the classical Chinese novel the Investiture of the Gods, the manga blends Chinese history and mythology into an epic with fleshed out world building and characters . Even throwaway characters in the original were given weight. There is a perfect mix of action and comedy, political intrigue and characters relationship. The agenda of the main villain remained original to this day.
Angel Sanctuary (manga)
Synopsis: It would be an understatement to say that Setsuna is a messed-up kid. Not only is he constantly fighting with his classmates, he harbors a deep and shameful love for his younger sister, and now he's caught up in a literal holy war between heaven and hell. Setsuna is the reincarnation of a powerful angel and both sides want his power for themselves and both are willing to hurt others in Setsuna's life to get their way.
Angel Sanctuary is an overwhelming experience that commonly confuse its readers. It has extensive world building, loads and loads of characters with their distinct agenda and personalities, and grey morality. It goes really dark in places: racism, sexism, incest, rape and cannibalism, but characters still love and hope despite overwhelming odds.
Mushishi (Manga)
Synopsis: Ginko is an expert travelling around to investigate supernatural enigmatic entities, the "Mushi," and helping people with Mushi-related supernatural problems.
Mushishi is a collection of episodic stories styled after East Asian legends and folktales that focuses on Ginko and mushi. Ginko wanders from town to town to investigate mushi-related cases. There are no true villains: often they involve regular folks in extraordinary circumstances because of the mushi. It's quiet and introspective, with relatable characters and refreshing plots.
Tales from Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
Synopsis: A collection of stories that reinterpret the world of Earthsea and give magic back to women
As a teenager, I heard that women were banned from doing magic in Earthsea, so I refused to read the original trilogy. However, it was famous enough that I gave chance to Tales from Earthsea. I found it very delightful with both the political intrigue and the slice of life stories. I still didn't read the Earthseas trilogy because it sounded too depressingly reminiscent of our current times.
Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
I read Lord of the Rings when the movie came out. It was an unforgettable experience to read about the fellowship's deadly quest to save the very detailed world (I didn't expect the footnotes). The bittersweet ending was surprising but thought provoking to me then.
Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
I read it along when it was originally published, so it remained formative in my further exposure to fantasy. It also opened a door to more young adult literature. Even though it's imperfect and the author's later opinions tarnished my memory of the books, I still remember the anticipation to know the future adventure of Harry Potter and their friends in coming books. Dumbledore and Dolores Umbridge are still unforgettable as characters.
Synopsis: When his clan is wiped out by a beautiful demon, young Taikobo finds himself in charge of the mysterious Houshin Project. Its mission: find all immortals living in the human world and seal them away forever. But nothing is what they originally appears, and there is no simple solution to the problem
Based on the classical Chinese novel the Investiture of the Gods, the manga blends Chinese history and mythology into an epic with fleshed out world building and characters . Even throwaway characters in the original were given weight. There is a perfect mix of action and comedy, political intrigue and characters relationship. The agenda of the main villain remained original to this day.
Angel Sanctuary (manga)
Synopsis: It would be an understatement to say that Setsuna is a messed-up kid. Not only is he constantly fighting with his classmates, he harbors a deep and shameful love for his younger sister, and now he's caught up in a literal holy war between heaven and hell. Setsuna is the reincarnation of a powerful angel and both sides want his power for themselves and both are willing to hurt others in Setsuna's life to get their way.
Angel Sanctuary is an overwhelming experience that commonly confuse its readers. It has extensive world building, loads and loads of characters with their distinct agenda and personalities, and grey morality. It goes really dark in places: racism, sexism, incest, rape and cannibalism, but characters still love and hope despite overwhelming odds.
Mushishi (Manga)
Synopsis: Ginko is an expert travelling around to investigate supernatural enigmatic entities, the "Mushi," and helping people with Mushi-related supernatural problems.
Mushishi is a collection of episodic stories styled after East Asian legends and folktales that focuses on Ginko and mushi. Ginko wanders from town to town to investigate mushi-related cases. There are no true villains: often they involve regular folks in extraordinary circumstances because of the mushi. It's quiet and introspective, with relatable characters and refreshing plots.
Tales from Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
Synopsis: A collection of stories that reinterpret the world of Earthsea and give magic back to women
As a teenager, I heard that women were banned from doing magic in Earthsea, so I refused to read the original trilogy. However, it was famous enough that I gave chance to Tales from Earthsea. I found it very delightful with both the political intrigue and the slice of life stories. I still didn't read the Earthseas trilogy because it sounded too depressingly reminiscent of our current times.
Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
I read Lord of the Rings when the movie came out. It was an unforgettable experience to read about the fellowship's deadly quest to save the very detailed world (I didn't expect the footnotes). The bittersweet ending was surprising but thought provoking to me then.
Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
I read it along when it was originally published, so it remained formative in my further exposure to fantasy. It also opened a door to more young adult literature. Even though it's imperfect and the author's later opinions tarnished my memory of the books, I still remember the anticipation to know the future adventure of Harry Potter and their friends in coming books. Dumbledore and Dolores Umbridge are still unforgettable as characters.
