I feel the same way. I saw the anime first. Because I do not read Japanese, this was really the only route for me to go. I own what they completed of the anime series, and the first two books that have been translated. I can't wait until March 2009 when the third book comes out! I was surprised how similar the books and anime were though. Normally with a novel vs. a manga, a lot more has to be changed, but the anime stayed very close to what Fuyumi Ono described in her books, so that really impressed me. It is a great series either way you look at it, if you are into anime, enjoy the anime, but if you want to get a much better look at the world of the Twelve Kingdoms, there is no better way to see it than through the words of Fuyumi Ono.

EKKA13

11.12.2008 12:00 AM

I myself watched the entire series before I ever found the books, and I can't wait to find out the ending still, for both Video and for the Book. The world has much detail to it, and the writer really describes the world in a way that you can picture it as well. i would highly recommend this book, and this anime series.

SKYDRAGONO

09.21.2008 12:00 AM

Hmm.. I had no idea (whne I first saw the cover) this was a novel! Thats interesting. When I first saw the cover art, it immediately drew me in. I love the simplicity of it . So far, only watched the opening of the series (which is great by the way beautiful music) and now because of that n the reviews, im definately giving this a try. :) TiamaTsReview is most helpful. Thanks

THEPEACHE123

08.29.2008 12:00 AM

Love the book and the anime. I am awaiting the 2nd Volumne in Hardcover. Can't wait to read it. I love being taken into this world.

B80JOY

07.14.2008 12:00 AM

Wow I'm so excited about these books! I've watched the anime and the ending was so dissatisfying! I'm purchasing them as we speak....

XENEDRA

06.10.2008 12:00 AM

I've ordered the first and second hardcover of this manga. About five years ago I started the anime but never had a chance to finish it. Recently I bought the entire anime, and would like to know how the story ends, as the anime isn't complete. So at least next week sometime I should have a chance to read the first two books. ^_^

EKKA13

05.18.2008 12:00 AM

waaaaaaaaaaa when is the next Twelve Kingdoms novel is going to come out in the US i want to read the next one already the book is awesome ^-^

BLUESTAR842

03.26.2008 12:00 AM

Whens the next one coming out?

LEGENDOFTWILLIGHT

01.02.2008 12:00 AM

I personally love the anime and the book. They couldnt of done a 100% transition from book to anime cause it would of been to short and not as fun. Book one is covered in the first 11 episodes of the anime. Also, if your hoping for a conclusion by reading the books, your in for a shock. Ono-sensei dropped the project indefinatly and moved onto other projects. So even the novels don't end properly. Currently she's redoing some of her earlier works. I was disapointed with this release by TP though, first time i've bought something by them and i've wanted to take it back. Not since they were Mixx. I hope they sack the editors and QCer or atleast make sure they know what they're doing in the future novels, since the amount of gramar and spelling mistakes in vol 1 was horrendouse. I suck at grammar and spelling, i suffer from dyslexia, but even i dont put wat instead of what. And the number of scentences that were praragraph long was stupid. When you compare it with their other light novel releases, especially the crest of the stars series, it's easy to see the loss of quality. Hopefully they'll get back to their usal excellent quality on the subsequent volumes, rather than butchering Ono-sensei's excellent work

TIAMATSREVIEWS

12.15.2007 12:00 AM

Oh, forgot to add :) Demon Child is already licensed and released, or atleast it is here in the UK. I found a copy in my local waterstones, then went and left it at work >.< so i have to wait till the new year to get it back lol.

TIAMATSREVIEWS

12.15.2007 12:00 AM

Aha, I thought that the anime was a joke too. It was because I had read the book first.. I really hated that in the anime she came to the world with that girl and the other boy. I was really pissed! That black-haired girl (forgot her name) was really annoying!

IMMORTALRAINUSER

12.06.2007 12:00 AM

As mentioned below, Demon Child is like a Volume 0 to this series and I hope it gets translated as well! Taiki lovin' all around. May this novel series do well here so all of the volumes come out sooner!

SEPHIRAH

11.26.2007 12:00 AM

I got this book the other day and tried to read a chapter before bed. I wound up going to bed at 4am after I turned the last page. I already pre-ordered Book 2, and I would order books 3-7 if I could. The anime was incomplete and I'm dying to know how everything wrapped up.

MD31487

10.24.2007 12:00 AM

I looked at the Japanese books in the store today and saw that there were 7 books in the series... But it was the third one that was called Sea of Wind. The second one (which I have right now) is Tsukinokage kagenoumi, or Shadow of (the) Moon, Sea of Shadow.

JUNOCELESTIAL

10.19.2007 12:00 AM

It also says that its part two. (The one I have)

JUNOCELESTIAL

10.19.2007 12:00 AM

it looks good.. i realy want to read it

WINTERSDAYSO7

10.13.2007 12:00 AM

Fuyumi Ono is one amazing author. I easily fell in love with this fantasy novel of hers. Try to watch Ghost Hunt too. You'll be surprised how talented she is in writing ghost stories as well.=)

YUUKAWAI17

09.22.2007 12:00 AM

For Taiki lovers, there's a book about him following his adolescence back in Japan. The title is Demon Child. Haven't finished it yet, but might as well share the site. Someone has kind-heartedly translated it to fans like us.=p http://tu-shu-guan.blogspot.com/2006/08/demon-child-prefacing-poem.html Enjoy!!!

YUUKAWAI17

09.22.2007 12:00 AM

one of my favorite books, I can't wait for #2!!!

PAPAYAMOON

09.20.2007 12:00 AM

I watched 10 DVDs of the anime and was left wanting to know more. I loved the series and I really want to know more about what's going on with all the mysteries that haven't been answered. If only the rest of the novels would be published soon...

YHELIA

09.20.2007 12:00 AM

Preorder it on Amazon now :P Im gonna be doing so!

JELLYBEANAU

09.17.2007 12:00 AM

Harpercollins Publishers, Incorporated | March 11, 2008 : From : http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Twelve-Kingdoms-Hardcover-Edition-Sea-Fuyumi-Ono/9781598169478-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+'Twelve+kingdoms'

JELLYBEANAU

09.17.2007 12:00 AM

I have seen the anime....and when I watched the commitary from the maker of the anime he said that the novels where way better....and it does make things clear but I still love the anime as much as this book...I can't wait to get my hands on vol two.....^_^

WINGGODDESS79

09.12.2007 12:00 AM

Amazon seems to know something of Vol 2: http://www.amazon.com/Twelve-Kingdoms-Hardcover-Sea-Wind/dp/1598169475/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/103-8533653-7755837?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188755553&sr=1-2

NAGI603

09.02.2007 12:00 AM

I am still reading this book. I am loving it so far. I love the imagery Fuyumi conveys!

HITTOKIRI04

08.29.2007 12:00 AM

If only they would announce at least a date for the next volume(s).

NAGI603

08.24.2007 12:00 AM

JLEE1931, you must be mistaken. There is no mange of this series. The anime series is based directly on the books unlike with some other series. :)

SYTHIAR

08.21.2007 12:00 AM

The first book is very interesting. I know that the manga was out awhile ago. So why is it taking so long for the books to come out. I saw some of the anime it is not bad. I didn't follow the book off course.

JLEE1931

08.10.2007 12:00 AM

What I want to know is when Kaze no Banri, Reimei no Sora(A Thousand Miles of Wind, The Sky at Dawn) and Tasogare no Kishi, Akatsuki no Sora(The Shore at Twilight, The Sky at Daybreak) is going to come out. Those are the ones I'm interested in. Aside from that, this book was an absolutely awesome book, much better than the anime.

POTHB

08.08.2007 12:00 AM

I watched the anime a little while ago and felt ... incomplete. I bought the book recently and read it, and now I know why! The anime was OK, but a lot different from the book. Furthermore, a lot of loose ends weren't tied up. I must know what happens! I'll have to wait for the next books, though. *sigh*

MONIQUER

08.05.2007 12:00 AM

PLS Speed up .. i really cant wait for the second one!!! >

YIINGZZ

08.05.2007 12:00 AM

I read the books will take a while since they decided to publish one per year. I don`t think that`s true, I`m just saying what I read in a Blog.

TOOLFAN

07.30.2007 12:00 AM

Great read, finnished it the day I bought it. When is the second coming out?

SOL2025

07.29.2007 12:00 AM

I think the anime was a bit of a joke, but that's probably because I read the book first- which is GREAT! XD When /is/ the second one coming out, anyway?

KAWAAKARI

07.29.2007 12:00 AM

I'll be very happy to see the second book. I hope that it will be soon.

CRAB13

07.27.2007 12:00 AM

Awsome anime, awsome book. Just waiting patiently for the next one. What's taking so long?

PERRIN277

07.23.2007 12:00 AM

An amazing tale. Very enjoyable read.

UTSUKUSHIIELF

07.12.2007 12:00 AM