Rating: Summary: Love Love Love Review: Angel Sanctuary is as good as manga gets, truly. Kaori Yuki is a genius, a pure genius. She pulls together fact and fiction with such ease, as if she herself was born of the angelic realm.
The characters are some of the most intricate and in-depth that you will come across--Setsuna is brilliant, tortured, yet soulful, and so adorable (yes, I know he is a character) Kira-sempai, my own personal favorite is so mysterious, and yet charming. Sara is the beautiful earth angel with a sordid secret...ahhh, they are all just amazingly brought to life through Kaori Yuki.
The plot itself is very detailed, and if you are one not to pay attention to the small things, you are forewarned here. You must pay attention, but believe me, you wouldn't want to miss a thing. Angels, demons, God, himself, and all that remains in-between. This is a gothic love story in it's most entrancing form.
The artwork is dark and flawless, Kaori Yuki truly is talented beyond my own imagination. This work is something that I have collected and will continue to treasure for many, many years.
Rating: Summary: So very wrong Review: I definitely liked this manga alot. I only gave it four stars because it can be rather confusing at points. It is definitely not something for anybody with delicate sensiblities. As one of my friends aptly described it, "It takes every taboo known to man and breaks it." Still, it was cool, even though I was really confused as to whether Kurai was a guy or a girl. When it talks about his/her past, it says that she's a girl, but at the current point in the story I was pretty sure that he was a guy. Oh, well.
Rating: Summary: Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!! Review: I first read Angel Sanctuary on the computer about a year and a half ago and was instantly addicted. The story is rather complex- I doubt I have the skills to explain the depth that Kaori Yuki has put into it... Basically, the story is about an angel who tries to overthrow heaven... doesn't do to well, and is reincarnated into a boy years later (well, she goes through several reincarnations and the heaven thing is a big issue). Anyway, the story is about how the angel (Alexiel) is in the boy Setsuna. It gets really screwed up from there, dealing with Alexiels twin brother Rosiel and Sara (Setsuna's sister that he's in love with).This story is not for the fluffy minded person who thinks all anime is about... eh... something fluffy? The story has incest, violence gore, and adult themes. If you are offended easily, especially with religion, this probably isn't for you. The art is absolutely AMAZING in this story, I have to stop at every page just to gaze at it. The wait for it to be licensed was definately worth it! This manga makes the manga-lover collection complete!
Rating: Summary: The Manga for lovers of beauty Review: I first read Tenshikinryoku--translated into English as Angel Sanctuary-- in the original Japanese comic. I loved the art style though when I first read it I could not understand a word of Japanese. I re-read it a year later, only to find that the art wasn't the only thing that was captivating, but the plot as well. This may make me sound sick, but incest is fun point to play with in a plot. The way that Yuki-Sensei plays with the ideas of what is right and wrong in the eyes of the 3 worlds, Earth, Heaven, and Hell, is just awesome. The relationships between Sara and Setsuna is very overcoming in the first 3 books, but the author also brings the angels and demons relationships in the rest of the book series.(Examples: the sadistic-love that Rociel feels for Alexiel, and Alexiel's hate for Rociel because of his evil feelings or how Micheal, always seen as the unfeeling warrior archangel in the Bible, hurts from the loss of his brother: Lucifer.) The way that she shows how all the characters are linked, and how their pasts are destroying their futures is just amazing. The angels and the demons have as much feelings and heart as the humans. Heaven is seen as a business with different parts held off for angels, and the heirarchy having the best rooms. Hell is well. . hell. Lucifer is not the only satan, and muses and angels that fell with him are bitter, and ready to start the war again, and this time win. But I shall give a warning: If you are a conservative christian this book is definately not for you. This is the only downer from this book . . . if you are not ready to except the fact that God has made some mistakes in his eternity of living, then this book is the largest and most hateful blasphemy thought of.
Rating: Summary: Warning: Extremely addicting! Review: I was just looking for some new manga series to read and I happened to pick up Angel Sanctuary. I was hooked immeditely. Normally, the story line would only be mediocre for me but Kaori Yuki somehow makes this manga impossible to put down. Among some of the characters are:
Setsuna Mundo, our hero, who is not exactly an average teenager. He often picks fights and says whatever is on his mind at the moment. For some reason, the sight of blood makes him drowsy and dizzy as a proctection against killing anyone. He happens to be in love with his younger sister.
Sayuki Kira (personally my favorite character because volumes 2 and 3), a delinquet who acts as an older brother character to Setsuna. There's something very strange about him.
Sara Mundo, Setsuna's younger sister who has a thing for her older brother.
Ruri, Sara's classmate who is pulled into an evil scheme concerning the Setsuna and an angel.
Lord Rosiel, the highest ranking angel in heaven who has gone slightly mad after being locked away for years by his older twin sister after they fought a battle years and years ago. He wishes to awaken his sister to kill her once and for all but he has other motivates which are somewhat unclear at first.
Alexiel, Rosiel's twin sister of whom Setsuna is a reincarnation of. She refuses to be rewoken very easily.
Kurai, a PRINCESS (I thought she was male at first) of hell, who seeks to reawaken Alexiel because Alexiel saved her life many years ago.
Arachne, a transvestite, who is Kurai's cousin and flirty sidekick. (He is another one of my favorite characters.)
The story revolves around Setsuna who is visted by the two evils (Kurai and Arachne) and told that he is Alexiel. He is, of course, more concerned with his sister and trying to stop loving her, but soon events start happening that are out of his control.
I've only read up to number three so far but I can't wait to get the next one. This has already become my favorite manga in a matter of days (it has just beat FAKE). But be warned, once you start reading, you won't be able to stop.
Rating: Summary: Kaori is a GENIUS !!!! Review: i watched the anime before reading the manga, and I have to say that the manga is a thousands times better! Kaori is truly gifted, not only in the artistic department, but in imagination and plot.
When it comes to the story line, she really has it down. She tackles everything in sight.
Religion, sex, violence, etc. She is the mistress of shoujo storytelling. In angel sanctuary she focuses on Setsuna, a very confused teen who is in love with his sister, and the mixed up world around him. The issues she deals with are usually forwned upon, but she presents them in such a way that one cannot help but be entranced and sometimes even wish for Setsuna to be together with his sister, Sara.
The art in Angel Sanctuary is beyond amazing - it will take your breath away - and it only gets better with every volume!
I am totally hooked on this series, despite the premonitions I had in the beginning. I am going to spend a ton of money on this thing, but what can I do? I have to own the entire series; it's just too awsome!!!
Kaori Yuki has some other mangas out there, including Count Cain and Boys Next Door. They are not licensed, but I wish to GOd that Tokyo pop would license them or something, cause they are just too good to pass up. You can probabaly find some scans on the internet, but it's not the same thing as having it in your hands.
Rating: Summary: Twisted Angels... Review: I'm a big fan of this manga, despite it's weirdness. I've been waiting for them to bring the manga to America for a long time now, because I had seen the dvd and wanted to read the rest of the story very much. You know what they say about the book always being better than the movie? This manga is no exception.. I loved it, and now I'm reading the third volume. Be careful, though.. if you don't like weird stories that make you think, I wouldn't pick this one up. I actually felt bad for Setsuna and Sara in this volume.
Rating: Summary: Incredible.. Review: I'm so glad Angel Sanctuary has finally arrived. Indeed, this series is not for those who think typically that angels are good and demons are bad. It also isn't for those who can't stretch their imagination a little to see the big picture. Kaori Yuki work is just stunning and I have been a big fan of hers for a very long time. Forbidden love, betrayal, angels vs demons for the reign over heaven, journey through hell to reach the one you love. Those are just a few of the things you'll read about in this series. This book alone is the start where you learn about Setsuna and the feelings he has for his sister, Sara. The conflicts he goes through with himself because he realises it's not something permited. It may be somewhat confusing at first when you learn of the demons and angels and the different ranks but it clears up in the following books. If you like mysterious and dark stories with an unconventional way of putting things then you should definatly read Angel Sanctuary. It's so captivating and quite shocking that I doubt you'll have an easy time putting this book down.
Rating: Summary: The Most Beautiful Manga Review: I've been begging for this book since I found a picture of Rosiel, one of the main characters. I suppose I should quit the wittering and tell it to you straight.
This book is breathtaking. I love it so much. I read it 9 times when I got it, and cried in all the appropriate places. This book gives you a thrill of feelings, and you want Setsuna to be happy.
My favourite characters -contraversially- are Rosiel, Katan and Zaphikel. I like Rosiel because he's a complete beauty. I like Katan because he's so loyal and loving, and he cares deeply for Rosiel. I am ultrally fond of Zaphikel because he is insane. But I can't give too much away about him till you read the second book.
I loved Kaori's notations down the side of some pages, it made me chuckle, and gave the storyline a little lift of humour when it was needed. Kaori also used amusement in her characters, and it helped brighten up some of the darker moments. I can't wait to get the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th books.
Go on Setsuna! Get Your Love Back!
Rating: Summary: A Manga Harlequin Romance Review: If this book had been presented as a novel it would be shelved in the Fantasy Romance section of bookstores. Obviously there's a big following in manga for Fantasy Romance just as with their novel brethren. There's nothing wrong with that. Romance is a valid genre just like any other. What I found lacking was the confusing setup to the story and the characters. Both the illustrations - though lush, and the story itself do a poor job of helping distinguish whose relationship is to whom and so on. I finally had to log onto an Angel Sanctuary website to get a breakdown of who is whom, their vendetta against whom, etc. Any story that is not clear in this without outside help could've used better editing and guidance.
I was expecting serious literary narrative based on the 5-star glowing reviews here. To me 5 stars are reserved only for the greatest of literature. Most novels, trades, mangas, etc never reach that scale. The only reason this book gets such glowing reviews is that it's romance manga (and an Incest Romance at that). It's not a great litarary work of even Angel Sanctuary's own genre - fantasy. I was expecting something as great as The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Sandman or Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. It's an interesting idea with a lot of potential but so much opportunity was lost.
For anyone who is a pulp Romance Manga fan then Angel Sanctuary will make you feel right at home. For anyone wanting something a little more literate and a little less pulp there are superior mangas to try.
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