Twelve Kingdoms

Description

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For high-schooler Yoko Nakajima, life has been fairly ordinary–that is until Keiki, a young man with golden hair, tells Yoko they must return to their kingdom. Once confronted by this mysterious being and whisked away to an unearthly realm, Yoko is left with only a magical sword; a gem; and a million questions about her destiny, the world she’s trapped in, and the world she desperately wants to return to.

—–

Books in the Twelve Kingdoms series with the kingdom covered in parenthesis and volumes numbering based on re-release edition:

Arc 1: Tsuki no Kage, Kage no Umi – Volume 1-2

(Kei Kingdom)

Arc 2: Kaze no Umi, Meikyū no Kishi – Volume 3

(Tai Kingdom)

Arc 3: Higashi no Watatsumi, Nishi no Sōkai – Volume 4

(En Kingdom)

Arc 4: Kaze no Banri, Reimei no Sora – Volume 5-6

(Kei Kingdom)

Arc 5: Tonan no Tsubasa – Volume 7

(Kyou Kingdom)

Arc Extra : Mashou no Ko (Demon Child) – Volume 0

(Taiki Story in Modern World)

Arc 6: Tasogare no Kishi, Akatsuki no Sora – Volume 8

(Tai & Kei Kingdoms)

Arc 7: Kasho no Yume – Volume 9

(Anthology: Tai, Hou, Kei, Sai & Sou Kingdoms)

Arc 8: Hisho no Tori – Volume 10

(Anthology: Kei, Ryu, and other Kingdoms)

Arc 9: Hakugin no Oka, Kuro no Tsuki – Volume 11-14

(Tai Kingdom)

Associated Names
One entry per line
12 Kingdoms
Juuni Kokuki
十二国記
十二國記
Related Series
Demon Child (Shared Universe)
Recommendations
Saiunkoku Monogatari (1)
Densetsu no Yuusha no Densetsu (1)
Genjitsushugi Yuusha no Oukoku Saikenki (1)
Recommendation Lists
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  2. 8th-Grade Syndrome Policy
  3. Jnovels
  4. Good stuff
  5. Personal Must Read Japanese Light Novels (Great No...

Latest Release

Date Group Release
05/13/23 Eugene Woodbury v9-c c39
05/06/23 Eugene Woodbury v9-c c38
04/29/23 Eugene Woodbury v9-c c37
04/22/23 Eugene Woodbury v9-c c36
04/15/23 Eugene Woodbury v9-c c35
04/08/23 Eugene Woodbury v9-c c34
04/01/23 Eugene Woodbury v9-c c33
03/25/23 Eugene Woodbury v9-c c32
03/18/23 Eugene Woodbury v9-c c31
03/11/23 Eugene Woodbury v9-c c30
03/04/23 Eugene Woodbury v9-c c29
02/25/23 Eugene Woodbury v9-c c28
02/11/23 Eugene Woodbury v9-c c27
02/04/23 Eugene Woodbury v9-c c26
01/28/23 Eugene Woodbury v9-c c25
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5 Reviews sorted by


carapeto
carapeto rated it
December 29, 2016
Status: --
And the "Best world building/design" award on "The Asian fantasy novel awards" goes to... The Twelve Kingdoms!!!! Yeah its that good! Plus there is so much more left unsaid... So much to build on top!

Plus each book is not directly a followup on the previous one! Most of the time they are different plots on the same universe!
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Haruko
Haruko rated it
April 17, 2018
Status: v4
Great story!

I had kept an eye on Juuni kokuki anime for a long time and now that I binge watched it, I got hooked to know what happens next and since anime was obviously cut mid series (dunno why) I eyeballed first 4 volumes that anime story focused upon and now volume 5 onwards I can start enjoying rest of the juuni kokuki world.

Those like me who got here after watching anime version, I would recomend to start reading from vol 5 onwards because exept minor chances volumes 1-4 are... more>> very similar to the anime version. <<less
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Saorihirai
Saorihirai rated it
May 1, 2021
Status: --
This.... just wow. This isn't, (whether it be the plot, characters, writing, or translation) on the level of most webnovels. I think it can honestly stand head to head with published novels by other Japanese authors such as Murakami. I first read this novel years and years and years ago, back when I had no interest in webnovels. This novel honestly has such deep and unique world building, realistic characters, thrilling action, survival, politics, and even little tinges of romantic tension. All the characters, and especially Youko is so... more>> well developed throughout the story, that it gives you the chills. The first novel deals with her loneliness, betrayal, and her slow immersion of her strength. The first volume focuses on the budding of Youko as the protagonist, becoming a timid girl to someone who has been shaped by struggle. Honestly, I could go more in depth, but I'd be here forever, and I have work to go do.

If you want a high quality piece of work to read, please read this. This is, imo, Isekai done right. This is something that was "Isekai" before Isekai became a thing. Think of it like Alice in Wonderland. The beauty of human imagination and fantasy are all in this novel.

I also feel like the translator, Eugene Woodbury deserves a special mention. He has such a clean professional site first of all, (with fonts mimicking a real book) so it really feels like you're reading with the physical book in your hand, which creates a special type of immersion. His translating, and control of the english language is honestly amazing. He's been working on this series for a very long time, I remember reading his translation about ~5 years ago and it was his translations that allowed me to get to know this series.

Honestly, I could go more in depth, but I'd be here forever, and I have work to go do. Bottom line is READ IT. I have no idea why this isn't more popular here. I suspect because the writing is not tr*shy, and you can't read it with your brain turned off, (which is what a lot of people come here looking for) they don't give it a chance. <<less
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Master10K
Master10K rated it
June 13, 2020
Status: v7
Great collection of character stories, with some of the best world-building imaginable and it is what got me into the "Kingdom Building" genre. Although I find some character stories more agreeable than others, I still appreciate how the author tried to make each Kingdom distinct, whilst being a part of a greater whole. I just wish there was more Youko Nakajima, since I would like to see how she would rule her kingdom, beyond just 3 years. Shame the series seems to be on "Hiatus", or it's just incredibly hard... more>> to find more volumes of it. <<less
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Annie2468
Annie2468 rated it
May 18, 2021
Status: Completed
Loved youko's stages of character growth and the plot devices used to bring that about. I couldn't put this down the whole time I read it. Definitely the best iv'e read in terms of character growth! My favorite was the monkey sword that tortured her with her own thoughts.
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