Basara

Basara is an epic tale centered on Sarasa, who assumes the identity of her twin brother after he falls in battle. Her brother was prophesied to be the boy destined to unite Japan. While this premise might seem clichéd, Basara executes it remarkably well.

The first volume focuses on Sarasa adopting Tatara's name. Afterward, the story delves into deeper waters. Each of the seven volumes I've read adds another layer of complexity. This isn't merely a "unite Japan after an apocalypse" narrative; its richness stems from incredible characterization and their motivations.

The characters are abundant and wonderfully diverse. Even stereotypical characters breathe uniqueness through intriguing backstories or their interactions with others. The best part about the characters is that both heroes and villains receive equal treatment. Truly evil characters are rare. Most "bad guys" simply follow a different path to unify Japan. They are given detailed backstories early on, along with their motives, relationships, and inner thoughts revealed, making them feel human rather than mere obstacles. This makes it challenging to root for either "good" or "evil," adding emotional weight when one triumphs. However, there are genuinely evil characters, whom I despise as intended.

New characters continually emerge while old ones disappear, reappear, and die, keeping the story fresh and unpredictable. Yet, not so unpredictable that events feel alien or forced. Just enough unpredictability to keep you engaged by the manga-ka's narrative.

The only fault I find in Basara is the art. I won't criticize the style or character design because they are quite wonderful. However, many pages in each book leave me confused. A recent example comes from volume 7, where a whale leaps out of the water. I wouldn't have recognized it as a whale if the speech bubbles hadn't said so. Initially, I saw only a wave. Upon closer inspection, there was indeed a whale, but it blended perfectly with the water's shading. It could be a printing issue by Viz, but whatever the reason, there are moments per book where understanding requires effort.

With that being the only significant problem (for me), I confidently recommend this manga to anyone who enjoys fantasy or adventure stories. You won't be disappointed.

When I first came across this story, I was a bit hesitant and wondered if I should read it. Would it be interesting, or would the plot drag on? But from the moment I started reading Basara, it completely captivated me. The characters, storyline, and artwork were all perfect.

I loved the story so much that I couldn't stop reading. The suspense, surprises, and twists in the plot kept pulling me in more and more. The story is set in Japan at the end of the monarchy. It follows a girl, destined to be a child of destiny, who will change the fate of an entire nation—a huge plus for having such a strong female lead. The narrative takes you through the trials and tribulations of the characters.

This is simply a beautifully written story. I strongly recommend it to those who enjoy living with the characters and feeling their emotions throughout their lifelong struggles within the story. The storyline and characters come to life vividly; you'll experience everything alongside them.

I truly recommend this story.

Um, okay, here goes.
THIS STIRRED MY EMOTIONS SO HARD. I READ IT ONLINE AND ENDED UP SOBBING SO MUCH THAT I CAUSED WATER DAMAGE TO MY COMPUTER—I'M NOT EVEN EXAGGERATING. MY NEIGHBORS PROBABLY HEARD ME SOBBING AT THREE AM AND THOUGHT, "OMG, SHE'S FINALLY GOING CRAZY." SO BE PREPARED WITH TISSUES.
I LITERALLY ONLY MADE AN ACCOUNT HERE TO WRITE THIS REVIEW, BUT I WON'T MAKE IT TOO COMPLICATED. IF YOU'RE DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TO READ THIS, TAKE THIS AS A SIGN THAT YOU SHOULD.

STORY: SO WELL WRITTEN, OMG! EVERYTHING WAS SO THOUGHT OUT. ANYTIME I QUESTIONED THE STORY OR PLOT, EVERYTHING WAS EVENTUALLY EXPLAINED IN DUE TIME.

ART: OKAY, THIS ART STYLE IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO GET USED TO, AND I SEE WHY SOME MIGHT NOT LIKE IT. BUT STARTING FROM THE BEGINNING, IT IMPROVES THROUGHOUT THE SERIES SINCE IT SPANNED FOR ABOUT 16 YEARS, LOL. STILL, THERE WERE A FEW PAGES THAT WERE SO BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED THAT THEY LEFT ME BREATHLESS.

CHARACTERS: I LOVED THEM. I CONNECTED WITH THEM IN THE MOST RANDOM WAYS, LOL. I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ANY CHARACTER I SERIOUSLY DISLIKED—EXCEPT FOR THE ANTAGONISTS, BUT EVEN THEN, I ALMOST PITIED THEM, EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T WANT TO.

ENJOYMENT: 10000/10. I RECOMMEND THIS FOR FAST READERS LIKE ME BECAUSE IT'S LONG AND TAKES TIME TO PROGRESS, BUT NOT IN A BAD WAY. I WAS NEVER LEFT BORED, AND I NEVER WANTED TO PUT IT DOWN (I READ THE WHOLE THING IN ALMOST THREE DAYS).

OVERALL: JUST READ IT. YOU WON'T REGRET IT, NO MATTER WHAT GENRE YOU'RE INTO.

Ahh, I read this after going through reviews praising how awesome this manga was, and honestly, it truly is a fantastic manga. The storyline kicks off with a girl named Sarasa living in the shadow of her twin brother, who is the "chosen one." Things get complicated, and eventually, Sarasa embarks on her own journey. The premise of the story is certainly unique but not overly extraordinary. It's set in historical times with emperors, kings, and all that jazz (it reminds me of Akatsuki no Yona but less shoujo-like). The only significant downside for me is that the author introduces so many characters and places that sometimes it was hard to keep track. If you're like me and can't remember character names, you might get pretty confused while reading. However, once I got past the halfway point, I started to get the hang of it. Other than that, the plot and storyline were highly enjoyable. Now that I've finished reading, I understand that each location and encounter was crucial to the plot. While the mangaka could have excluded some things, I'm glad they didn't. If you start reading and feel frustrated, please keep going because it's worth it! The romance runs deep throughout the story. All I'll say is that it seriously reminded me of Romeo and Juliet. I can't say more without spoiling it for you! The characters, despite their large number, were very well-developed and lovable. You get a sense of each character, which makes you attached to them. I grew fond of so many characters. At the end, the mangaka also includes a series of chapters exploring the lives of the characters after the main story. If you enjoy that sort of thing, then yes, it happens here. The art style is quite old-fashioned, but since I really like old-fashioned mangas, it wasn't an issue for me. The only problem was that some panels were drawn oddly, making it hard to understand what was happening. The art wasn't always coherent, but it happened rarely, so it wasn't a big deal. Overall, I would give this an 8/10. There are minor flaws here and there, but I genuinely enjoyed this story. The plot wasn't shallow, and I was captivated throughout. I recommend giving this a try!

If you're a fan of warships, social justice, historical romance, and adventure, this is for you.

This story delves into various realities of the world—whether it's conditional love or abusive relationships. It explores how leaders misuse their power to stay in control or the reasons they strive to maintain their positions. It also shows how people attempt to protest by following what they believe is the right path.

There's an exploration of hope found in retribution and how forgiveness can sometimes serve as its own form of vengeance.

The characters are thoughtfully crafted, with rich development stemming from both the main narrative and their individual backstories (which are revealed through side stories that you definitely shouldn't miss). All of this is conveyed using classic art styles within the manga.

While the old-fashioned drawing style might be off-putting at first, the compelling story will keep you hooked and prevent you from putting it down.