The Twelve Kingdoms

This is actually a novel, not a manga, but I didn't know where else to put this topic...
I thought I could post it here, since it has an anime based off of it, AND, there are some drawings in the book...

For those unfamiliar with the story, I'll post a short summary from ann:

High-school student Yoko Nakajima was ever the good girl: class president, reliable student, and never misbehaved, although her naturally red hair often caused her problems. Deep down, though, she was haunted by frightening dreams and so terribly insecure that pleasing others, and getting people to like her, became her primary motivation. Her priorities change immensely when a strange gold-haired man named Keiki shows up at her school one day, pledges his loyalty, gives her a magic sword he said was hers, and delivers her into a situation where she is not only forced to fight monsters but is ultimately drawn to another world. There she finds herself changing in inexplicable ways as she struggles to survive a hostile environment where both men and beasts alike seem specifically out to get her, for reasons she is unable to fathom. And what has happened to Keiki, who promised to protect her?

Has anyone read this? I just bought my copy a few weeks ago, and I'm still only on page 100 or so, but it's really good. I've seen the anime series already, which I fell in love with, so I was really interested in reading the novels since some stories were not finished yet in the anime. I can really relate to Yoko, I'm also a people pleaser, and struggle with trying to overcome that. While I'm reading the book, I almost feel like I am there with her, because I would have the same thoughts that she has.
The novel so far is similar to the anime, to the part where she is taken to the Twelve Kingdoms, seperated from Keiki, chased by King Kou and so forth... but Sugimoto and Asano are not with her. Actually, I don't think Asano exists in the novel. I'm still far from finishing it though.
I'm really excited about the novels being translated, I can't wait to read them all! Especially the one with the story of the Black Taiho, since that story was never finished in the anime

julezia did you find the whole novel? I was desperately trying to but I only have found some random pieces in the internet. Could you tell me were did you find it from?

Yes there are some fundamental differences from the anime but even so it`s a really good series and novel! I`m really curious too about the black kirin I only know that his female general asks from Yoko her help to find him .

ploumid I bought the whole novel in Amsterdam for almost 20 euros... expensive I know, but I desperately wanted it!
I haven't finished reading it yet, I'm about half way though.. and so far there is nothing about the black kirin, it's all about Yoko's struggle to claim the throne of Kei. There are some differences so far though, for example Sugimoto does not have a big part at all, she doesn't even go with her to the Twelve Kingdoms. Also, Asano-kun doesn't exist. I'm nearing the part where she meets Rakushun...
Well, once I've finished it, I'll post some more thoughts! I'm planning on reading all of the novels once they've been published in english!!! I just love this story so much

The Twelve Kingdoms is yet another in a long line of works that is loosely based on the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms was written by Lo Kuan-chung and is one of China's oldest novels. It was written in the late fourteenth century and tells the epic tale of the Han Dynasty's 400 year rule in China during the second and third centuries.

I just picked Volume I up at a 70% off book sale. I could hardly believe my luck! At 690 pages it might be a while before I need to go looking for Volume II!

While this is not the novel of which you speak, it is interesting that this novel, which is probably over 500 years old, has been an inspiration for manga, anime and games including the novel to which you refer. The anime Koutetsu Sangokushi would probably be the most recent work to be partially based on this story. It is always interesting to find a text which was the original inspiration for a creative venture.

I was wondering what happened to Taiki... i've only seen the anime but i can't find any copies of the novel anywhere... juss wondering if anyone could help me out of my confusion...

QUOTE (Nahrallah @ Jul 10 2007, 07:45 AM) The Twelve Kingdoms is yet another in a long line of works that is loosely based on the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms was written by Lo Kuan-chung and is one of China's oldest novels. It was written in the late fourteenth century and tells the epic tale of the Han Dynasty's 400 year rule in China during the second and third centuries.
Whoa, I'm so confused.

I know the story of Romance of the Three Kingdoms pretty well, and I didn't see any resemblance between Twelve Kingdoms and the Chinese historical novel. Also, that might have been a typo, but Three Kingdoms only covers a timespan of ~50 years during the interim between the last throes of the Han dynasty and the next.

Granted, I've only watched the anime, so can you elaborate? >_>

QUOTE (Kanoki3193 @ Sep 13 2007, 06:12 PM) I was wondering what happened to Taiki... i've only seen the anime but i can't find any copies of the novel anywhere... juss wondering if anyone could help me out of my confusion...
Kanoki3193: so far only the first novel has been translated and released in the west, and there is nothing about Taiki in that one, it's mostly about Yoko.. but I just checked on amazon for you, and it seems volume 2 in the series will be released in march 2008! It's called "Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Labyrinth" and it's all about Taiki! Hopefully our lingering questions about him will be answered... personally, I can't wait to read it

Thank you!

is the novel still unfinished? please tell me if the novel has finished>_< and please anyone give me a direct link for download the complete one

thx

The first novel has been translated into english by Tokyopop, and is available at bookstores and online stores. This is just the first of the 6 novels to be released in english... the second one will be available next March.
And, this novel is licensed by Tokyopop, so I can't tell you where to get it online... if that is even possible You should try to purchase it, if you can... or check your library. I noticed that libraries have a lot of manga these days, and they may have this as well.

12 kingdoms oh its simply PERFECT...........

talking about the novel i only watched the anime coz i don't read lenghty stories

can some bady give me some info on that. i wached the anime and i wasn't satisfied with the ending (or should i say with the No Ending) so i want to read the novels can you tell me haw many novels there are. Is the story Finished or is it still ongoing

The Twelve Kingdoms novel / anime has nothing to do with the Romance of Three Kingdoms. Although the novels go into further detail about what happened to Taiki and his king, their ultimate fates are unknown as the original author of the novels hasn't written anything in the past few years.

I know I'm playing Necromancer here, but I had a question after finishing the first novel from tokyopop.

Did they cut stuff out from the very end of the novel or is the ending just suppose to be really really really quick like that? I was concerned cause there were only about 10 pages left and Yoko was still in En contemplating whether she could take up the role of the Queen. Then she finally decided, at least to go save Keiki, and the flying units of En move out to do battle with Joyei's forces. Then right as they charge forward it cuts to Yoko finding Keiki, undoing the spell on his horn, and Keiki swearing allegiance once again...........then it ends. Nothing at all about the Naze-King, nothing about Joyei. Just ends. Do they maybe go over that stuff at the beginning of the next novel?