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Rating: Summary: Fabulous Manga! Review: (Note: I lied about my age for this review, I am definitely not under 13) This is truly some of Yu Watase's best work. The artwork is flawless- which is what we've come to expect. English edition is still in the process of being published, however what I've read thus far I've loved. Aya Mikage is a spunky sixteen year old. For her birthday, she and twin brother Aki receive a mummified hand. The hand triggers Aya's "Celestial Maiden" powers, and part of her family gets hurt in the cross-fire. Now she's on the run and her family wants her dead. Worse still, she's fighting herself, against the Celestial maiden aspect of her personality, so the maiden doesn't get lose and kill someone. Beyond this basic story, there's Toya, the man who saved Aya's life and now haunts her thoughts, and a very nice dash of humor at odd moments. The 2nd editions, read right to left, have the original Japanese cultural references left in, with an explanation in the front of the book, for those of us who aren't so J Pop savvy. This manga title is rated for older teens, with good reason. Don't give it to your ten year old! That warning given, I can't say enough good things about Ceres. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
Rating: Summary: wow! a must read! Review: Ayashi no Ceres' first volume promises the series to be a hit like Yu Watase's other famous work, Fushigi Yuugi. Ceres has a love triangle in the Fushigi Yuugi style, but the story is much darker. There is more blood and violence, and much less slapstick humor. The main character, Aya, is maturer than Miaka from fushigi yuugi (except she seems to fall hopelessly for one guy immediatly like Miaka did) Basically the plot is about the twins, Aya and Aki, who on their 16th birthday recieve a pretty weird present from their family that awakens strange powers in both of them. Suddenly Aya's family is trying to kill her, and she must run or be killed. Some parts of this manga actually reminded me of scream. ^_^ It's been called a horror, but I'de say it's a dark drama. Don't worry- there is some humor in it! More Mature humor though, so combined with the blood and stuff, I would say just use your own discretion. Overall, this was a great manga so buy it today!
Rating: Summary: THE BEST MANGA!!!!!! Review: Ceres is a very interesting story, that talks about twins aki and aya, and how they will discover that they are no ordiany teenagers like others, and that they have powers that is beyond what they are expecting, it si really interesting,I recommend it for who is interested in drama and lots of comedy.
Rating: Summary: Absolutely Wonderful! Review: I can appreciate the beautiful artwork in this book. I truly love it, it is much better than some other manga/anime that is out there. I recomend this book for teens and older because of some of the...sensuous concepts. But its nothing too raunchy. It is wonderful, has a good plot, unlike some manga, and the characters are die hard! I bought this book with a glance at the pages, hoping it would be good, and the story line as well as the great illistrations took my breath away. I wanted to keep on reading to the next book. I seriously hope you look into it, you won't be let down!!!!
Rating: Summary: Fabulous Manga! Review: I HATED Ceres. It was way over the line when it came to everything to shower scenes to excecive swearing. I do like the art though. I also skimmed through the next few books, and it doesn't get any better. I wish Yu Watase would clean up her manga so you don't have to worry about that kind of stuff. I didn't appreciate this manga.
Rating: Summary: Watase-san can do better Review: I have to say, Ceres is a serious let down. I mean, i have to adimit, the story is creative and very well told, it's just my problem is the characters. They are just plain unlovable. I think i only like 2 characters in the manga and that's Mrs>Q and Suzumi. They are pretty funny. But Aya, the main character is just annoying and just bugs me, Toya her boyfriend, is just unlovable(there's nothing to love since he shows no emotions), and that's just the begining. After a while,the manga gets a little....Mauture, which is a turn off for me. Basically, I think Watase-san did better with Imadoki and Alice 19th.
Rating: Summary: Watase is a genius!! Review: I've read the whole series in Chinese, and I've also seen the anime. This is without a doubt my favorite manga and anime series. Infinitely better than Fushigi Yuugi, it has everything I could ask for: beautiful artwork, suspenseful/engaging plot, humor, cleverness, and most of all, heart. Every single volume I find myself first of all feeling VERY bad for Aya, although cheering her on the whole time, and second of all thinking, "how in the world did Watase make this work so well?" You really feel the emotions the characters are feeling because the artwork is so detailed and the dialogue also reveal them. When I was on volume 12 or so (it just gets more and more horrendous for Aya and her buds - you thought vol. 1-6 was bad? - Aki acts truly evil later on, but you'll be practically bawling in the last volume (14)) it finally dawned on me why Aya is such a great character - she's unselfish. She never feels sorry for herself for long, instead she tries to protect everyone and is concerned for everybody. She only lets herself go when she's with Tooya. That's why Aya carries incredible guilt and grief when things get really awful in the later volumes - she takes other people's problems personally. However, she never gives up; she keeps fighting because she doesn't want to let down herself or the people she loves. And when she's on the verge of breaking down, she has real friends who love and support her unselfishly as well. She's a real character to me because she acts real. My favorite scene in this volume is when Aya realizes all her grief and pain in her heart from what has happened and uses those feelings to comfort Shuro and to bring Shuro out of her own grief. It's empathy, one of the greatest attributes a human being can have. I don't want to give away what that scene was about though. You'll know it when you read/see it. I really like the English version because it's an accurate translation, and reads backwards, and is bigger than regular Chinese/Japanese comic size - details are much clearer. What also make this series great are the "freetalk" sections in which Watase will jabber on about anything and everything. She comes off as a very entertaining, funny, nice and clever woman - and I think it's great that the author/illustrator wants to interact with her readers. Thanks Yuu Watase!! As a warning: once Aya and Tooya do it, they're doing it ALL THE TIME to the point that it becomes, to me, a little unecessary. So, I just want to say that the Older Teen rating on this series is VERY appropriate (although that's also due to the foul language, nudity, dark themes and other [adult] content). But seriously, older readers, this is the best series hands down (for the people who like this kind of intrigue, of course). If you have the chance, look into Rurouni Kenshin. The series is out on DVD, but the manga just began it's English run. It's another series with a lot of heart and a lot of action. It's awesome, my second favorite series. Watch the prequel (Samurai X is the English release), the series (Rurouni Kenshin: Wandering Samurai), and the Finale (Japanese name: Kenshin Seisouhen), which ties ties the series together and ends it - with an utter finality that wrenches your heart. Another great series is Ah! My Goddess. I recommend the movie and manga. Fujishima is an excellent manga artist - and the series is hilarious with a great main character (Belldandy). She's just so pure and sweet you can't not like her. Plus, she has superpowers. Put that with a male college student named Keichii, her two goddess sisters, a temple, and a host of other hilarious characters, you've got a comical yet heartwarming and exciting series. Don't be put off with the artwork in the first few volumes: once Fijishima changes to the drawing styles in the later volumes, it becomes a lot easier on the eyes. Well I've rambled a bit, so if you got this far you must have a lot of patience and love for manga. God bless you and thanks for reading.
Rating: Summary: Yuu Watase does it again! Review: The first work of Yuu Watase I read was Fushigi Yuugi, which kept me always wanting for more. When I found out about Ayashi No Ceres, I knew I had to read it. And, was I surprised about it! This totally goes in a different way than FY. Although we have our classic teenager, Aya, trying to find her way in the world, it is so different when she's in a constant hunt by their own family, but most of all by the inner force inside her. It really takes inside the story, and keeps you in it. I would say it's more mature than any other of Watase's works (there's some killing going on), but nonetheless it's part of the story-line, and what makes you understand the feeling and the situation Aya is living. We also have our comic relief there. If you love mystery, humor and romance, this is a must-read for you!
Rating: Summary: Summary & Review Review: This series begins the day before twins Aya and Aki Mikage's sixteenth birthday. Aya goes to an acclaimed fortune teller, only to get a seemingly ridiculous message. "In your future, Aya Mikage, you will be ruled by the star of darkness. I see blood, anger, devastation and sorrow...the destruction of all balance in the world. On the day the sixteenth star and moon align, your desiny will overtake you. Whether light or darkness triumphs is up to the great power of life you have within you." However, that is only the beginning of the strangeness. When Aya recover's a woman's purse from a fleeing theif, she falls twenty feet from an overpass into a road. She doesn't just fall, though-she floats. Dazed, Aya stands in the street as a car rushes towards her. Enter Toya. He knocks Aya out of the car's path, saving her life. When her friends reach her, Toya disappears into the crowd. Aya and Aki make plans with their friends to go out for karaoke for their birthday, but when the twins reach home, they are told by their parents that they have to go to their grandfather's house instead. When they arrive at Grandfather's the next day, Aya and Aki are surprised to find all of their relatives sitting at a long table, dressed in black. Toya appears and puts a box down in front of them. Aya is surprisingly nervous, feeling her heart beat faster. Aki opens the box. Within it is a sort of shriveled up hand. The sight of it causes Aya to change for the first of what will be many times-into Ceres, a Heavenly Maiden. The mummified hand explodes. Breathing hard, Aya returns to her normal self. Confused, she turns to Aki. But something is happening to him, as well. Cuts appear all over his body and he slumps forward, unconscious and bleeding, onto the table. Aya begs her relatives for help, but no one moves. Grandfather assures her that Aki will not die. No. She must die. Ayashi no Ceres, known in English as Ceres: Celestial Legend is a dark, suspenseful manga, full of interesting storylines. Aya tries to conquer the celestial blood that runs through her veins, as Aki tries to recover and figure out what is going on. Suzumi-who shares a special bond with Aya-and Yuhi, Suzumi's brother in law, try to keep Aya safe from her kin. Toya is trying to find himself while forced to serve the Mikages, whose only desire is to see Aya dead and harness Aki's innate power. One becomes easily addicted to this wonderful series. Not only does one want to know once and for all what exactly is going on, but one becomes endeared to the characters and wants to stay with them. It isn't all horror and drama. There is comic relief and romance thrown into the mix, as well. The art is beautifully drawn and all of the characters are, well, attractive. Shojo readers will love this for the relationship between the ditzy, confused Aya and mysterious Toya, or the comedic one between Aya and Yuhi. Others will simply enjoy the mystery, drama, and horror that is the framework of the story. It is my personal belief that nearly anyone would enjoy this series, and I highly recommend it.
Rating: Summary: The path of destiny... Review: Watase Yuu has grown as an artist in a delightful way. While 'FY' is the best known of her works, 'Ayashi No Ceres' is bound to become a classic. The storyline is darker, the characters deeper, more mature, and more vibrant for their emotional quandries. The plot revolves around Mikage Aya, a sixteen year old girl who love karaoke. When she and her brother arive at their grandfather's house to celebrate their sixteenth birthday, their lives are changed forever when an unimaginable secret is revealed to them. Inside her conciousness, Aya is harboring the essence of a celestial maiden, one who fell from heaven. And her brother harbors the spirit of the maidens scorned lover. So Aki is a treasure, while Aya is the worst kind of threat... Reading 'Ceres' is a unique experience, with humor thrown in at interesting moments and stunning atwork that many have come to expect from the creator of 'Fushigi Yuugi'. The plot is intricate, the characters very real and the layer of mysticism and fantasy does not block the emotional heart of the story. A must read!
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