Okay, so I decided.. what's the use of having a website if you can't abuse it once in a while!?

I'm using this little space to advertise a novel series I've been following. It's called the The Twelve Kingdoms by Fuyumi Ono. Published by Tokyopop in the USA, these novels follow the lives of several characters as they deal with living in an alternate dimension. If you're interested in fantasy, action, and adventure, you might find this interesting. They just released the second novel recently, and you can find them here:

Twelve Kingdoms Novel 1: Sea of Shadow (click for description at tokyopop)

Twelve Kingdoms Novel 2: Sea of Wind (click for description at tokyopop)

I love this series, and I hope they keep translating them. They're releasing them at the rate of about one a year, so maybe we can help give them a bump to pick up the pace!

(and just in-case anyone gets any ideas, i do NOT do paid endorsements of series in news postings, so please do not send me requests. thanks)

Since the first time I saw the anime, I felt that Juuni Kokki was the best fantasy story I had ever seen, and I'll be sure to pick up a copy next time a go to the States.

The sad thing is that I heard the author stopped the series to move on to other projects, but I hope it will be finished and completely translated in the future.

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THIS POST DOES NOT EXIST......IT'S ALL IN YOUR IMAGINATION

Considering she worked on the series for over a decade and made about a dozen or so novels out of it plus a manga or two(Ghost Hunt to be specific), I think she could do with a break.

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Sarcasm just doesn't work over the internet.

I am looking forward when the novel comes out that covers the missing episodes from the anime. Yoko and Keiki unite for the first time all the Taihos to find and retrieve Taiki from Tokyo - can not wait. Especially as I want to find out how the relationship between Yoko and Keiki, and Yoko and Rakushun develops. I am sucker for a romance but I doubt the author will do me the favour of getting Yoko and Rakushun together - will have to stick to doujinshi I guess...

Yay, Someone else has heard of these. Anyone who likes the anime should love the novels. I hadn't known they were releasing a second volume till your post. *adds to bookliist*

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"Tu es responsable pour toujours de ce que tu as approvoise." Le Renard en "The Little Prince" Antoine de St. Exupery.

when did the second novel release?

Can't wait, i love the series, lets start a petition for at least 2 novels a year translated ^^

Yay! I'm so glad someone is recognizing this great series...just as glad as I am that Tokyopop is publishing it! I can't wait for more!

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*poof* "SHOUJOMAN IS HERE!"
~Just Lynz, drop the -ajw~

I highly recommend the series. Such a great story and characters.

Like last week. Already picked it up myself.

Agreed. I'd been trying to find a decent (and consistent) translation of the novel series since I saw the first episode of the anime as well. The story is engrossing.

i absolutely loved the anime. i was told beforehand that it was unfinished but i didn't care -- i just can't stop watching. like roosterw said above, i'm also eager to find out about the rest of the story from the original novel series. the plot is very enjoyable and the protagonists are likable. i hope to see more of Youko, Keiki, and Rakushun in the near future.

Yes, more appreciation for this series that I love! I've just recently read the first volume and I'm planning to buy the next. It is awesome! And I love how there are pictures to show you what's happening as you read it. Sorta like manga - but not as many visuals.

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Actually the author decided to continue with this story in latest YomYom the newest chapter was release. Apparently story returns back to Kei and out of 92 promised pages we got only 49 <.< Either way a great thing considering that nothing new happened since 2001 when the last novel was published at Japan.

I've been interested in this novel/anime since I first saw it, however as I search for it I saw that the anime was unfinished like the novels, is this true? or are they going to continue it from now on? Thanks.

Kira -

The Anime stopped at the "4th arc" (which was really the third.. the anime goes out of order vs. the novels), as you could put it. The books are split up into 2 books per arc, and they're combined into one book in the english versions. There are still two more full arcs (4 more regular novels) that haven't been translated or made into an anime, and there are several short stories after that. If you look at wikipedia's page on the series, they have some insightful information.