Rating: 
Summary: A Dark Story that Shines Bright
Review: Another great story from Rumiko Takahashi. This one is definitely not in the same vein as Ranma 1/2 due to the great prevalence of blood and death, but the familiar themes draw the reader in. We are introduced to Yuta, a tragic character with a heart of gold. Takahashi paints an aching portrayal of the loneliness that comes with immortality; the curse of life ever-lasting. We see how he comes across, through horrendous means, a young girl named Mana who has been cursed just as he. In finding her, he also finds the will to continue to walk this earth a little longer as long as she is by his side. Just as I did with the Ranma 1/2 series, I looked forward to every subtle, yet profound development of Yuta's relationship with Mana through their glances, gestures, and concern for each other during their many macabre adventures. Believe it or not, it is romantic. Sometimes what is left unsaid is worth more than any flowery exhortation. For those who seek it, there is plenty of action as well as an on-going revelation of many sides of the human nature. Don't miss this intro to a great series.
Rating:
Summary: A Dark Story that Shines Bright
Review: Another great story from Rumiko Takahashi. This one is definitely not in the same vein as Ranma 1/2 due to the great prevalence of blood and death, but the familiar themes draw the reader in. We are introduced to Yuta, a tragic character with a heart of gold. Takahashi paints an aching portrayal of the loneliness that comes with immortality; the curse of life ever-lasting. We see how he comes across, through horrendous means, a young girl named Mana who has been cursed just as he. In finding her, he also finds the will to continue to walk this earth a little longer as long as she is by his side. Just as I did with the Ranma 1/2 series, I looked forward to every subtle, yet profound development of Yuta's relationship with Mana through their glances, gestures, and concern for each other during their many macabre adventures. Believe it or not, it is romantic. Sometimes what is left unsaid is worth more than any flowery exhortation. For those who seek it, there is plenty of action as well as an on-going revelation of many sides of the human nature. Don't miss this intro to a great series.
Rating:
Summary: very bloody...0_0
Review: i bought this book thinking it would be funny like ranma 1/2 and urusei yatsura. i was so wrong. it was good nonetheless and it made me cry in more than one place. rumiko takahashi is so talented and this book is more proof to that. it starts with a wandering man (yuta) looking for a mermaid. he then meets mana who has been in shackles her entire life. they are both blessed (or cursed?) with immortality and they both die several times. this book is definately NOT for younger children or people with weak stomachs. However, it does have a very sweet bit of romance in it. the only reason i gave it four stars instead of five is that the story is rather choppy wheras i prefer a smooth running story. a great book all in all, and greater still if you are looking for a surprise from takahashi.
Rating:
Summary: not Takahashi-san's best, but not bad
Review: I found this book to be very good, partially because it's very different from any manga I have read(possibly besides Inu Yasha), and partially because the story itself is very good. The drawings of course are wonderful. The book starts out with Yuta finding Mana, a girl who will be fed to many mermaids, and saves her(several times actually). It then went on with a story about a girl named Rin who is sort of a "pirate" though she herself denies it. She wants to save her father who is very sick and sets out to find a Mermaid that she can feed him, after meeting Yuta(no Mana)and hearing his story. They meet a mean mermaid who wants nourishment for her baby..blah blah blah(im not spoiling it anymore). the third part of the story goes back to Yuta and Mana where they meet one very selfish girl(who isnt really selfish) and one selfless girl(who is actually very selfish). There was a mermaid buried on a hill near then but only one of the girls knows where it is. They want to eat Mana but they decide against it because she isnt dead. They(the two girls, Yuta, and Mana) find it, but Yuta and Mana encounter a lost soul (when they are forced to go get the mermaid)in the meantime....I found it somewhat confusing though how the story of Rin just kind of showed up in the middle of the tankoubon. it took me a little bit to figure out what was going on. Yet, I am still confused. I almost think that Rin is the wife that Yuta told Mana about. all in all, I do suggest that everyone reads it. You do not have to like a certain kind of book to like this one. And if you like Takahashi Rumiko-san's other work, then you will like this one as well. if you have any more questions e-mail me.:)
Rating:
Summary: not Takahashi-san's best, but not bad
Review: I found this book to be very good, partially because it's very different from any manga I have read(possibly besides Inu Yasha), and partially because the story itself is very good. The drawings of course are wonderful. The book starts out with Yuta finding Mana, a girl who will be fed to many mermaids, and saves her(several times actually). It then went on with a story about a girl named Rin who is sort of a "pirate" though she herself denies it. She wants to save her father who is very sick and sets out to find a Mermaid that she can feed him, after meeting Yuta(no Mana)and hearing his story. They meet a mean mermaid who wants nourishment for her baby..blah blah blah(im not spoiling it anymore). the third part of the story goes back to Yuta and Mana where they meet one very selfish girl(who isnt really selfish) and one selfless girl(who is actually very selfish). There was a mermaid buried on a hill near then but only one of the girls knows where it is. They want to eat Mana but they decide against it because she isnt dead. They(the two girls, Yuta, and Mana) find it, but Yuta and Mana encounter a lost soul (when they are forced to go get the mermaid)in the meantime....I found it somewhat confusing though how the story of Rin just kind of showed up in the middle of the tankoubon. it took me a little bit to figure out what was going on. Yet, I am still confused. I almost think that Rin is the wife that Yuta told Mana about. all in all, I do suggest that everyone reads it. You do not have to like a certain kind of book to like this one. And if you like Takahashi Rumiko-san's other work, then you will like this one as well. if you have any more questions e-mail me.:)
Rating: 
Summary: The best thing I've read!
Review: I've had this GN for serveral years now. The story is very interesting. I've always thought it would be neat to live forever. I've never realized the disadvantages of immortality until I've read this novel. I guess you can get sick of life. That's basically what the main characters are implying since their quest is to find a way to be normal again. Along the way they encounter people who would love to be in their position. This is a very well written series. Be sure to read the other GN from the series. I can't enough of it.
Rating:
Summary: Rumiko's new mermaid legend
Review: In Japan, it is said that those who eat mermaid's meat become immortal, never be old. The hero ate mermaid's meat some hundreds ago and becomes immortal. He is on the quest of mermaid to ask how to die... Along the journey over many years, he met various people who want to be immortal and those who ate mermaid's meat. Takahashi created a new Japanese legend with original "unsuccessful mermaid" monsters and details.
Rating:
Summary: Who can put it down?
Review: Mermaid's Forest begins when Mana, a young woman who is claimed to be "perfect", is prisoned in an uincharted village of old women in the forests of Japan. Not knowing what they were leading her to, Yuta must save her, and himself, before they are both brought to their deaths. The older life of Yuta is revealed in the "Village of the Fighting Fish". There he had fallen in love with the cheif's daughter, but he must decide after defeating the immortality-obsessed enemy, on whether he will stay or not... also the tale of the twins. Ever wondered what would happen if you drank the blood of a mermaid? Well, Towa thought it would help her twin sister, but it gave off a really unwanted response to her cry to live. With a curse set upon her aching arm, she must continued to have it replaced, but this time, she wants to swap her and Mana's bodies! Towa must decide whether she would let this happen, or give up by telling her twin where the mermaid of the hill is hidden.
Rating:
Summary: Who can put it down?
Review: Mermaid's Forest begins when Mana, a young woman who is claimed to be "perfect", is prisoned in an uincharted village of old women in the forests of Japan. Not knowing what they were leading her to, Yuta must save her, and himself, before they are both brought to their deaths. The older life of Yuta is revealed in the "Village of the Fighting Fish". There he had fallen in love with the cheif's daughter, but he must decide after defeating the immortality-obsessed enemy, on whether he will stay or not... also the tale of the twins. Ever wondered what would happen if you drank the blood of a mermaid? Well, Towa thought it would help her twin sister, but it gave off a really unwanted response to her cry to live. With a curse set upon her aching arm, she must continued to have it replaced, but this time, she wants to swap her and Mana's bodies! Towa must decide whether she would let this happen, or give up by telling her twin where the mermaid of the hill is hidden.
Rating:
Summary: Now being released in Japan as a full anime series
Review: Sense I first saw the 2 short films Mermaid Forest and Mermaid's Scar about 5-6 years ago I have been entranced by this captivating tale of 2 immortals who have eaten the flesh of a mermaid, of them keeping their humanity and trying to become completely human again. While watching then reading and now all anew watching again (will explain next paragraph) my love for this specific series has grown and grown. Some say it's bloody, yes it is but not in the oh God I think I'm going to be sick way. To get a true hold on things I would recommend watching the movies Mermaid Forest and Mermaid's Scar first and if they interest you read the three Manga volumes. That's what I did and I have found that many people think the Manga is boring which it is not, its just a little slow at first and confusing (only a little though). And those people have not gotten into "Mermaid Saga" I think because of that. Its so worth diving into though. And now with the Anime Series entitled Mermaid Forest, which encompasses all of the Manga volumes, being released in Japan I think more and more people will see how truly stand alone this short series is from any of Rumiko Takahashi's other work (Inu Yasha, Ranma, and many others), and any other Manga series I have ever come across.
You can download the Mermaid Forest Series fansubbed (subtitled by fans for fans) on IRC or Bittorrent. Search Yahoo: Mermaid Forest Bittorrent (will give you link to IRC channels that you can download at as well). Once it is licensed for US release it will not be available on Bittorrent any longer.
5 stars A+
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