Mermaid Saga, Vol. 1
Registered by 
GoryDetails
of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 9/18/2016
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
GoryDetails of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 9/18/2016 This Book is Currently in the Wild!
1 journaler for this copy...
I got this fair-condition manga from an online seller.
I found it quite intriguing that the Japanese mermaids are so very frightening, while Western media tends to go the "little mermaid" route, making them sweet and charming. Here, mermaids are very alien beings indeed, quite ready to devour any humans who blunder into their domain. But there's a legend that if a human eats the flesh of a mermaid, it will confer immortality, and - without thinking this through! - people keep trying...
Turns out that the legend is true, but only for a very small percentage of those who eat the flesh. The others suffer a variety of fates, from a painful but fairly quick death to near-eternity as a ravening monster. And even those who do become immortal - like Yuuta, the main character, who has been walking the earth for centuries trying to find a way to become mortal again.
In his quest to find a way to end what he sees as his personal curse, he keeps encountering others who've been tempted by the legend, including a few who've become immortal as he has, notably the lovely young Mana who becomes his traveling companion. But not all of those are dealing as well with their new lives as Yuuta, and many others find themselves suffering immensely as they try to guard family secrets.
One of the stories here deals with a group of pirates with whom Yuuta butts heads; given their greedy nature, they covet the magical mermaid flesh - and the leader has eyes for Mana.
Another tale involves people who discover the magical healing abilities of Mana and Yuuta, and want to imprison them to make use of it. Simply being immortal doesn't prevent being captured and confined, it seems...
There are plenty of action scenes, and horror and bloodshed, with some intriguing plot twists along the way.
The volume ends with the first chapter of "Mermaid Forest", which inspired a anime.
[There's a TV Tropes page on the series.]
I found it quite intriguing that the Japanese mermaids are so very frightening, while Western media tends to go the "little mermaid" route, making them sweet and charming. Here, mermaids are very alien beings indeed, quite ready to devour any humans who blunder into their domain. But there's a legend that if a human eats the flesh of a mermaid, it will confer immortality, and - without thinking this through! - people keep trying...
Turns out that the legend is true, but only for a very small percentage of those who eat the flesh. The others suffer a variety of fates, from a painful but fairly quick death to near-eternity as a ravening monster. And even those who do become immortal - like Yuuta, the main character, who has been walking the earth for centuries trying to find a way to become mortal again.
In his quest to find a way to end what he sees as his personal curse, he keeps encountering others who've been tempted by the legend, including a few who've become immortal as he has, notably the lovely young Mana who becomes his traveling companion. But not all of those are dealing as well with their new lives as Yuuta, and many others find themselves suffering immensely as they try to guard family secrets.
One of the stories here deals with a group of pirates with whom Yuuta butts heads; given their greedy nature, they covet the magical mermaid flesh - and the leader has eyes for Mana.
Another tale involves people who discover the magical healing abilities of Mana and Yuuta, and want to imprison them to make use of it. Simply being immortal doesn't prevent being captured and confined, it seems...
There are plenty of action scenes, and horror and bloodshed, with some intriguing plot twists along the way.
The volume ends with the first chapter of "Mermaid Forest", which inspired a anime.
[There's a TV Tropes page on the series.]
Journal Entry 2 by GoryDetails at Little Free Library, Kearsarge Way in Portsmouth, New Hampshire USA on Sunday, September 18, 2016
GoryDetails at Little Free Library, Kearsarge Way in Portsmouth, New Hampshire USA on Sunday, September 18, 2016
Released 7 yrs ago (9/18/2016 UTC) at Little Free Library, Kearsarge Way in Portsmouth, New Hampshire USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I left this book in the charming Little Free Library on Kearsarge Way at around 2:30 or so; hope the finder enjoys it! *** Released as part of the 2016 September Sapphire release challenge. ***
*** Released as part of the 2016 You're Such an Animal release challenge. ***
*** Released as part of the 2016 Talk Like a Pirate release challenge. [See this TV Tropes page for some entertaining examples of pirate-talk in media.] ***
*** Released as part of the 2016 Movie release challenge. ***
