Những câu chuyện về người cá 1 - Khu rừng người cá

人魚シリーズ [Ningyo Series] #1

by Rumiko Takahashi, Quỳnh Hương (Translator)

Người cá, biểu tượng của trường sinh bất tử. Niềm hy vọng và sự tuyệt vọng của Yuta, chàng trai nhờ ăn thịt người cá mà trở nên không già, không chết, sống đến nay đã được 500 năm. Trên cái nền của dục vọng đen tối và sự bất tử đó, tập đầu tiên của bộ truyện gồm những câu chuyện truyền kỳ lãng mạn này đã vẽ nên sự quý giá của sinh mệnh mà chúng ta được ban cho.

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Horror, Comics, Graphic Novels, Mermaids, Fiction

236 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1988

About the author

Rumiko Takahashi (高橋留美子) was born in Niigata, Japan. She is not only one of the richest women in Japan but also one of the top paid manga artists. She is also the most successful female comic artist in history. She has been writing manga non-stop for 31 years.

Rumiko Takahashi is one of the wealthiest women in Japan. The manga she creates (and its anime adaptations) are very popular in the United States and Europe where they have been released as both manga and anime in English translation. Her works are relatively famous worldwide, and many of her series were some of the forerunners of early English language manga to be released in the nineties. Takahashi is also the best selling female comics artist in history; well over 100 million copies of her various works have been sold.

Though she was said to occasionally doodle in the margins of her papers while attending Niigata Chūō High School, Takahashi's interest in manga did not come until later. During her college years, she enrolled in Gekiga Sonjuku, a manga school founded by Kazuo Koike, mangaka of Crying Freeman and Lone Wolf and Cub. Under his guidance Rumiko Takahashi began to publish her first doujinshi creations in 1975, such as Bye-Bye Road and Star of Futile Dust. Kozue Koike often urged his students to create well-thought out, interesting characters, and this influence would greatly impact Rumiko Takahashi's works throughout her career.

Career and major works:

Takahashi's professional career began in 1978. Her first published story was Those Selfish Aliens, a comedic science fiction story. During the same year, she published Time Warp Trouble, Shake Your Buddha, and the Golden Gods of Poverty in Shōnen Sunday, which would remain the home to most of her major works for the next twenty years. Later that year, Rumiko attempted her first full-length series, Urusei Yatsura. Though it had a rocky start due to publishing difficulties, Urusei Yatsura would become one of the most beloved anime and manga comedies in Japan.

In 1980, Rumiko Takahashi found her niche and began to publish with regularity. At this time she started her second major series, Maison Ikkoku, in Big Comic Spirits. Written for an older audience, Maison Ikkoku is often considered to be one of the all-time best romance manga. Takahashi managed to work on Maison Ikkoku on and off simultaneously with Urusei Yatsura. She concluded both series in 1987, with Urusei Yatsura ending at 34 volumes, and Maison Ikkoku being 15.

During the 1980s, Takahashi became a prolific writer of short story manga, which is surprising considering the massive lengths of most of her works. Her stories The Laughing Target, Maris the Chojo, and Fire Tripper all were adapted into original video animations (OVAs). In 1984, after the end of Urusei Yatsura and Maison Ikkoku, Takahashi took a different approach to storytelling and began the dark, macabre Mermaid Saga. This series of short segments was published sporadically until 1994, with the final story being Mermaid's Mask. Many fans contend that this work remains unfinished by Takahashi, since the final story does not end on a conclusive note.

Another short work left untouched is One-Pound Gospel, which, like Mermaid Saga, was published erratically. The last story to be drawn was published in 2001, however just recently she wrote one final chapter concluding the series

Later in 1987, Takahashi began her third major series, Ranma ½. Following the late 80s and early 90s trend of shōnen martial arts manga, Ranma ½ features a gender-bending twist. The series continued for nearly a decade until 1996, when it ended at 38 volumes. Ranma ½ is one of Rumiko Takahashi's most popular series with the Western world.

During the later half of the 1990s, Rumiko Takahashi continued with short stories and her installments of Mermaid Saga and One-Pound Gospel until beginning her fourth major work, InuYasha. While Ran

Reviews

[Courtney Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rumiko Takahashi HAUNTED me with this story and how melancholy/horrific immortality could be. It was an astonishing contrast to her humor and whimsy I read in Ranma 1/2 or romamce of Maison Ikkoku but sold me on how she can do it all as a writer.

[Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had read these stories years ago more than 25 years ago. Not all of them, I think I haven't read anything that will be covered in volume 3, but this first volume is as disturbing and interesting as I remembered. The most horryfing story for me isn't in this one though. I'm looking forward to reread The Mermaid's Gaze again.
I'm a bit dissapointed with Planeta's edition though. There isn't a single colour page in this volume. I was hoping the last pages which consists in some illustrations would be full colour, but no. Also, I was a bit suprised at a mistake in the translation which didn't give continuity to some of the panels when Yuuta is thrown in the cell with the dog, there's clearly only one dog there, but later, when Towa is musing about Yuuta's fate, she uses the plural los perrros, like there were more than one.... And that I wasn't expecting knowing who is behind the translation of this story and their experience and well doing over the years. And I can't overlook this mistake being this published by a publisher like Planeta. Proofreading is part of the translation and edition of a book, but publishers seems to forget that :(

[Akemi G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The haunting story of immortality, originally published from 1984-94. There are books (including novels) that tell the problems of immortality, but Takahashi describes them in such a lyrical and sad (and, yes, grotesque) way. I read the series in the original Japanese some time ago, and while all the volumes in the series are excellent, the first volume (to my memory) which involves an old doctor and his young-looking love was most memorable. Such a heart-wrenching love story!

Takahashi is one of the best storytellers in our time, who can push both our tear button and laughter button at her will.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

LO ESPERÉ CON TANTAS GANAS Y NO ME HA DECEPCIONADO

HA ESTADO BRUTAL!!!!!!!!!!

[Rafia Rahman · Rating 4 out of 5]

মানুষ মৃত্যুকে ভয় পায়। চিরচেনা পৃথিবীকে ছেড়ে অদেখা জগতে সহজে কেউ যেতে চায় না। অজানা ভয় থেকেই জন্ম নেয় অমরত্ব লাভের দুর্নিবার আকাঙ্খা। কিন্তু মানুষ যেমনটা আশা করে বাস্তবতা কি এতোটাও সহজ হয়?

মারমেড বা মৎস্যকন্যাদের মাংস খাওয়ার ফলে মানুষ অমরত্ব লাভ করে কিন্তু এমন মানুষের সংখ্যা খুবই কম। অধিকাংশই বদলে যায় ভয়াবহ দানবে। অমরত্ব লাভ করা মানুষদের বয়স থেমে যায় মাংস খাওয়ার সাথেই। চারিপাশের মানুষের বয়স বেড়ে চলেছে কিন্তু আপনি ব্যতিক্রম তখন কেমন অনুভূতি হবে? আপনাকে দেখেই বা আশেপাশের মানুষের প্রতিক্রিয়া কেমন হবে? এমনই অদ্ভুত ক্ষমতা পাওয়া মানুষদের নিয়ে লেখা সিরিজ। বেশকিছু গল্প আছে। অমরত্ব পাওয়ার লোভ ও অমরত্ব থেকে মুক্তি পাওয়ার ইচ্ছা দু'টো দিকই বিভিন্ন চরিত্রের মধ্যে ফুটে উঠেছে। নিজের প্রিয়জনদের চোখের সামনে একের পর এক মৃত্যু দেখে পৃথিবীতে একা থাকার একাকিত্ব কি আদোও আশীর্বাদ? মাঙ্গা নিয়ে অ্যানিমে সিরিজও বানানো হয়েছে। টিভি সিরিজের নাম "Mermaid Forest", ১৩টা এপিসোড আছে। ''ইয়োটা'' সিরিজের মূল চরিত্র সাথে "মানা"-ও আছে যাকে ইয়োটা মৎস্যকন্যাদের কাছ থেকে বাঁচিয়ে নিয়ে আসে। অমরত্বের অভিশাপ থেকে মুক্তি পেতেই ইয়োটা অমরত্ব লাভ করা ব্যক্তিদের হন্যে হয়ে খুঁজতে থাকে। কাহিনীর শুরু এখান থেকেই।

যমজ দুই বোনের কাহিনী, ইয়োটার অতীত ও মাসাতোর কাহিনী সবচেয়ে বেশি ভালো লেগেছে। নিজের সুপ্ত ইচ্ছা বা প্রিয়জনকে হারানোর ভয় মানুষকে দানবও বানাতে পারে...! একশন সীনগুলা দুর্দান্ত।

[Rafia Rahman · Rating 4 out of 5]

মানুষ মৃত্যুকে ভয় পায়। চিরচেনা পৃথিবীকে ছেড়ে অদেখা জগতে সহজে কেউ যেতে চায় না। অজানা ভয় থেকেই জন্ম নেয় অমরত্ব লাভের দুর্নিবার আকাঙ্খা। কিন্তু মানুষ যেমনটা আশা করে বাস্তবতা কি এতোটাও সহজ হয়?

মারমেড বা মৎস্যকন্যাদের মাংস খাওয়ার ফলে মানুষ অমরত্ব লাভ করে কিন্তু এমন মানুষের সংখ্যা খুবই কম। অধিকাংশই বদলে যায় ভয়াবহ দানবে। অমরত্ব লাভ করা মানুষদের বয়স থেমে যায় মাংস খাওয়ার সাথেই। চারিপাশের মানুষের বয়স বেড়ে চলেছে কিন্তু আপনি ব্যতিক্রম তখন কেমন অনুভূতি হবে? আপনাকে দেখেই বা আশেপাশের মানুষের প্রতিক্রিয়া কেমন হবে? এমনই অদ্ভুত ক্ষমতা পাওয়া মানুষদের নিয়ে লেখা সিরিজ। বেশকিছু গল্প আছে। অমরত্ব পাওয়ার লোভ ও অমরত্ব থেকে মুক্তি পাওয়ার ইচ্ছা দু'টো দিকই বিভিন্ন চরিত্রের মধ্যে ফুটে উঠেছে। নিজের প্রিয়জনদের চোখের সামনে একের পর এক মৃত্যু দেখে পৃথিবীতে একা থাকার একাকিত্ব কি আদোও আশীর্বাদ? মাঙ্গা নিয়ে অ্যানিমে সিরিজও বানানো হয়েছে। টিভি সিরিজের নাম "Mermaid Forest", ১৩টা এপিসোড আছে। ''ইয়োটা'' সিরিজের মূল চরিত্র সাথে "মানা"-ও আছে যাকে ইয়োটা মৎস্যকন্যাদের কাছ থেকে বাঁচিয়ে নিয়ে আসে। অমরত্বের অভিশাপ থেকে মুক্তি পেতেই ইয়োটা অমরত্ব লাভ করা ব্যক্তিদের হন্যে হয়ে খুঁজতে থাকে। কাহিনীর শুরু এখান থেকেই।

যমজ দুই বোনের কাহিনী, ইয়োটার অতীত ও মাসাতোর কাহিনী সবচেয়ে বেশি ভালো লেগেছে। নিজের সুপ্ত ইচ্ছা বা প্রিয়জনকে হারানোর ভয় মানুষকে দানবও বানাতে পারে...! একশন সীনগুলা দুর্দান্ত।

[Bibliothecat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review for complete series



Yuta travels across Japan in search for people like him – people who have gained immortality through the flesh of a mermaid. His search has proven fruitless for 500 years for only one in a thousand will survive the poison of mermaid flesh. Finally, he meets Mana; she too has eaten the flesh and together they travel to find a way to become mortals again.

I have rather mixed feelings about this one. I think the first thought that comes to mind is that I really liked Yuta and Mana as characters. This was also my first complete series by Rumiko Takahashi. It is rare that I leave a series incomplete but her other series, Inu Yasha, Volume 1 and Ranma ½, Vol. 1 (Ranma ½, were without a doubt among the series that led me to read manga. I loved those two but they are much, much, much too long – I never got to finish them. Mermaid Forest was only four volumes long so I could not resist.

I have always felt conflicted about Rumiko Takahashi’s art style. It is certainly unique and I like her art in general but it also seems messy and rushed. Looking at her more recent works, almost 40 years after Mermaid Forest, she does not seem to have improved. This leads me to believe that it is simply the way she chooses to draw. Despite not watching much anime, I have to say that this is a rare case of me preferring the anime art style to the manga’s.

I find it difficult to say that this manga had an actual plot for it was very episodic. The chapters could be read in almost any order. It actually worked out nicely as every episode centred around a different person Yuta and Mana meet and how the poisonous mermaid flesh has different effects on different people. However, even if a story is episodic, I do like them to have some form of closure. And I did not feel as though Mermaid Forest had one. One could easily have assumed that there are more volumes to come.

The individual stories are all well done. They are not repetitive and all show variations of how the poison can change a person. Few become immortal and lead a relatively normal life. Some die and many are turned into monsters. But there are also several characters who seem somewhere in between; they became immortal but with side effects such as only parts of their body turning into a monster.

What the stories do have in common though, is that they are all dark and tragic. Many tell of sad love stories and of being unable to let go of someone. They are all quite brutal and bloody and told with high suspense. Several of the characters have grown insane over the course of their unnaturally long lives. Of course, there had to be a psychotic character that looked like a child.

Yuta and Mana are both very likable. Yuta is caring and always trying to help others. Mana started out as an awfully spoiled and unfriendly character but – well she had been kidnapped and locked up for most of her life – I suppose she has the right to have a bad temper. After being saved by Yuta, she becomes very pleasant. She is also rather interesting as she is very naïve due to being locked up for so long. She has very little knowledge of the outside world and does not read other people very well. But even though she is so naïve, she is a very strong character who does not hide behind Yuta. She gets involved with the action as much as he does.

I would really have appreciated a better ending – or rather an ending at all! But it certainly is not a reason not to read the story. There are no loose ends as every chapter has an ending of its own.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Rumiko Takahashi. I absolutely love Inuyasha, and really enjoyed Ranma 1/2 and Maison Ikkoku. I have been meaning to read Mermaid Forest for some time, but just haven't gotten around to it. It most certainly has the supernatural vibe and gore of Inuyasha. I read through this rather quickly, because I wanted to see the development between the two main characters, Yuka and Mana. I have a feeling that watching the anime will flesh out certain details and relationships that didn't seem very strong or didn't make sense in the manga. For instance, why does Yuka want to be with Mana so badly? Is it because she reminds him of Rin? And that's another thing. The second chapter about Rin completely threw me off. Why didn't the book start with that and then continue on with the character of Mana? It felt wrongly placed. Why was Yuka so attached to Mana by the end of the third chapter? I feel as though we're missing major relationship development there.
All in all, it was an entertaining manga, and I'd assume that later volumes will have more of the same as this- people kidnapping Mana, looking for mermaid flesh, turning into Lost Souls because of their greediness and pride. Still, if the relationship between Yuka and Mana is fleshed out better, I'd read more.

[Dubzor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rumiko Takahashi is without a doubt my favorite manga creator. She manages to make something unique each time she creates a new title, yet very much distinct to her. While no one thing is recycled, you definitely get notes of her other work while reading.

This title in particular is more driven on horror and fantasy. Although the lore can be confusing at times, it never slows the story down. The characters are all likeable and sympathetic, which is a big one for me as some of her other work feature absolutely insufferable protagonists, which is intentional but still difficult for me to enjoy.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Für Leute, die nur Inu Yasha oder Ranma kennen, wird das hier ein ziemlicher Schock sein :D es ist unglaublich gorig und brutal, vorallem dafür, das der Manga schon so alt ist - hier werden Arme von Leichen abgehackt, damit sie an einem anderen Körper anwachsen; junge Mädchen an den Beinen gefesselt seit sie geboren sind, damit sie nicht weglaufen können; versuchter Rape; und fast jeder der Meerjungfrauenfleisch ist, verwandelt sich in ein Monster statt unsterblich zu werden.

Die Story erinnert mich irgendwie an Mushishi, warum auch immer - es sind immer 1-2 Kapitel lange Geschichten, die sich um die Meerjungfrauen und die Unsterblichkeit drehen, wobei Yuta in allen eine Rolle spielt. Es ist schon echt spannend und ich bin neugierig ob Yuta, der seit 500 Jahren lebt, am Ende des Mangas wieder sterblich wird.

[Shonna Vickers · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Jennifer Reynoso · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unsure what I expected. I kept reading hoping it would get better.

[Kristen (belles_bookshelves) · Rating 3 out of 5]

(review for entire series)

"Living long isn’t everything you know."

Needed a short manga to read after coming off Alice 19th, Vol. 1 (which isn't super long, but it's longer than the four volumes of Mermaid Saga.

This is pretty interesting series with an immortality flip - the protagonist is looking for a way to UNDO his immortality (achieved after eating the flesh of the mermaid) - it's too sad to watch everyone you know and love die around you. (Very Godric from The Southern Vampire Mysteries) The mermaids aren't typical either - much more the merfolk from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (movie).

We get to see several different lives that Yuta and his companion Mana come across: people who are eaten the flesh of the mermaid already or who are looking to do so. There's one common thread amongst those who have: life isn't the same when it's basically worthless. If you don't age and can't die (and it's not like you have special powers or anything, and you don't live in a world where your immortality can be explained), what's really the point?

Meaningful connections with those around you, forming bonds that literally last a lifetime, emotions, living your life to the fullest knowing that any day could be your last - those are the things that matter.

[mahlie · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story and most of the drawings are so very bad. The drawing style feels lazy and rushed and is too simplified to distinguish characters as well as identifying their actions. There is no immersion. And there is very little or fragile logic and the rules within this fictional universe are painfully naive, random and self-fulfilling. There is also too much unnecessary hurried violence. (I'm not talking about the bloody parts but the brutal kicking of old people or giving a child a slap on the head in order to make them remember something). On top of that, there are those typical annoying "cute moments" randomly inserted into the story. The basic premise and idea are interesting but they are executed in too much of a sloppy and ungraceful way. I'm slowly beginning to loose hope in manga culture altogether.

[Miss Ryoko · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know Takahashi-san is a well known and loved mangaka... I've only read Ranma 1/2 and have seen a few episodes of Inuyasha. I really loved Ranma in the beginning but it got really obnoxious and so drawn out I started to lose interest in it. That really has nothing to do with this series other than I was a bit surprised to see it was rather series and a little dark.

I liked it. It wasn't great, but it wasn't bad. I like how the mermaids are good and are kind of scary and gross.

I'm curious to see how the rest of the "short stories" play out!

[Thebes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mermaid Saga is a series of short stories centered around two people who ate the flesh of a mermaid and became immortal. It's a haunting and bittersweet perspective on mermaids, but also those who want to live forever, any means necessary.

Most summaries describe Yuta and Mana as lovers, but that is a really inaccurate way to describe them...they're just two lonely strangers bound to each other through the same circumstance. Personally I find it more refreshing this way!

[Khue Dinh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Đỉnh. Bậc nhất của sự huyền hoặc. Nếu đọc toàn bộ truyện, bạn sẽ có đủ một tiệc cá bảy món, không sót một cái xương.

[-moonprismpower- · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting storyline. But why does all of Takahashi’s female leads look the same????

[Nichole Parr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes it's confusing who is who cause a lot of the women look the same.

[The Half-blood Reader]

Read in french
Action 80s manga
Horror fantasy
Supernatural
Adventure & mystery
3 stories set in Japan
Not your usual mermaids
Dark, melancholic, sad & horrific
Skips timelines
The many faces of humanity

According to an ancient Japanese legend, eating the flesh of a mermaid grants eternal life. This series explores the many consequences of humans doing just that, accidentally or not. For the truth is, most do not become immortal, and if they do it is as monsters. And what does one do with immortality anyway when they have nobody to share it with?

Yuta, our first protagonist, has lived for a long time travelling, looking for a mermaid that will cure his immortality so he can age like a regular human. In these adventurous travels, he comes across all kinds of people and learns a bit more about those mysterious scary mermaids and humanity.

After the first chapter, Yuta finally gains a travelling companion who shares the protagonism and dangers with him. But Yuta will still star in plenty of stories alone as the narrative takes us to his past experiences.

I own the entire anime adaptation in dvd and have watched it multiple times, so I already know the stories. I can say, this series feels very much like "a mystery of the day" type of show, and although it lacks more exploration of the main characters, which was a bummer for me, Rumiko Takahashi manages to create some surprises with the life consequences and circumstances of characters involved with mermaid flesh. Especially when we think we have everything figured out after the first chapter.

Some panel transitions lack smoothness and thus can make the reader feel like they missed a movement between scenes.

Blurb:
Due to eating the flesh of a mermaid, Yuta became immortal. For centuries, he has travelled across Japan in search of one of these fish-women who will finally allow him to grow old. But these captivating creatures are as beautiful as they are dangerous, and it is through blood and sacrifice that he will find them...
A superb tale, dark and melancholic, told and drawn by Rumiko Takahashi, the creator of Ranma 1/2 and InuYasha.

[Lilamedusa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am loving this!

Mermaid saga is the story of Yuta and Mana.

Yuta is an immortal who is looking for the mermaids because he wants to become mortal again. A long time ago he ate mermaid's flesh without knowing it and ever since then he has seen all the people he knows and loves pass away.

However, after centuries of being alone, he finds Mana.

Mana was raised very carefully in a village inhabitated by old women who wanted to make her eat mermaid flesh and then eat her to become young again. Yuta rescues her, and, for the first time since he became immortal, is not alone anymore.

Mermaids saga alternates between Yuta&Mana's adventure's and Yuta's from before he met her.

It's all very interesting and the whole nature of what mermaid's are exactly is what really draws you in.

[Caitlin ~WordsAreMyForte~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

If any mangaka could write a unique horror/adventure about mermaids, it's Rumiko Takahashi. If you're familiar with her work, you'll recognize her signature setup for a story: otherworldly protagonist meets worldly protagonist, and they work together to protect the world from a highly coveted object. No matter how many iterations of this I read, I can't get enough of her stories; they're addictive. Adding mermaids into the mix only enhanced the fun this time around. The short story format revolving around characters questioning the value of immortality felt similar to the manga/anime Phoenix by Osamu Tezuka, which I'd highly recommend if you enjoy Mermaid Saga.

[Nora Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

OOOOOO FIRST MANGA I THINK N I LIKED IT A LOT!!! discusses themes of the downsides/regrets/flaws of immortality and probably some other things that I just didn't pick up on BUT I loooooove the art style and the storytelling, like how the time periods shifted and such. I also liked the characters a lot, I would probably really enjoy reading a super long + realistic (just time period/setting-wise) novel about this because of all their relationships. I hope in the other volumes these relationships get developed more, and ill probably pick those up from my school's library soon (praying they have them)

[Fernando Yataco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una historia llena de misterio desde el primer capitulo y con el inconfundible estilo de Rumiko Takahashi. Tenía buenas expectativas en base a este manga por su autora y debo decir que no terminé decepcionado.

Es el primer manga que leo con sirenas como protagonistas y me gustó encontrar seres fuera de lo que usualmente uno ha leído sobre las sirenas. En este manga son verdaderas causas de tragedias.

Tanto el personaje de Yuta como de Mana me parecieron muy entretenidos y ahora que su aventura comienza, espero que todo termine bien (en lo posible).

[David Doel · Rating 4 out of 5]

InuYasha was my introduction to manga, so it's logical that I would gobble up other manga from Rumiko Takahashi. I have volumes 1 through 3 of Mermaid Saga; I don't know if there are others.

This consists of a series of short stories centered around the myth that eating flesh from a mermaid grants eternal life and youth. Volume 1 includes 2 complete stories and half of a third. The stories are interesting; the art is just okay (it's hard to distinguish between the characters except by sex and age).

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Innnnnteresting diversion from Takahashi's usually humorous titles. This wasn't my cup of tea, but it's not terrible. If you like horror and action, you might like it. I wish there was a bit more fleshing out of why the characters built the relationship that they have (he just takes her & then boom--they're just inseparable, suddenly). Some parts of weird af. But anyway. Cool read, probably won't finish this series tho.

[Santiago Bueno · Rating 4 out of 5]

No esperaba leer este manga, porque lo otro que había de la autora no me había mega fascinado, pero me alegro de haberme animado. Me gustó mucho el mundo que plantea en esta historia. Todo el tema de las sirenas me pareció muy interesante. Y como las distintas personas interactúan con estas leyendas sobre ellas. El protagonista me gustó bastante. Me parece que tuvo un muy buen desarrollo en este primer tomo. Se entiende bastante bien su soledad. A la coprotagonista todavía no la entiendo bien, pero eso puede seguir desarrollando en los tomos siguiente. Ya tengo el siguiente tomo, así que seguro lo leo pronto. Tengo muchas ganas de seguir.

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This first volume confused me... It gave me an idea that it's comprised with different short stories with the same mermaid lore.

Did I still enjoy it? Yes! I think the love is amazing. The action is really there even though it's just a few panels. And speaking of the art, I love it! It's quite nostalgic looking through these and the art is so rich with the different eras.

Overall, good stuff. will definitely read the rest.

[Beatriz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy interesante está versión sobre las sirenas. Sangrienta, violenta, pero tampoco en exceso (quizás lo que más asco me da sean los malogrados). Tengo que buscar si se basa en mitología japonesa o si es idea original de la autora.

Al principio pensaba que eran historias cortas e independientes por las reseñas que había leído, pero en realidad todas tienen el mismo protagonista: Yûta. Supongo que su historia (y la de Mana) continuará en el siguiente tomo.

[Enrique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge sucker when it comes to mermaid and siren lore so imagine my surprise when I saw that Rumiko Takahashi did a Mermaid horror series! Apparently she had total creative control when writing and illustrating this so it's interesting to see Takashi unbound here. Creepy, chilling, yet still charming!