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Castle of Dreams: Stories from the Kare Kano Creator
Castle of Dreams is a shojo anthology series. This one volume collects together two comics previously released on in Japan by Masami, "Castle of Dreams" and "The Room Where an Angel Lives."
The first half, "Castle of Dreams," is a series of three stories with a fairytale theme, All of the stories, are linked by the introduction of a sorcerer who will grant a single wish, a wish that can be "a blessing or a curse, to help someone or hurt someone." Of course, wishes are never freely given, and magic always has its consequences. The next book, "The Room where Angels Live," has five stories along more typical themes of love and romance, of loss and redemption.
The first half, "Castle of Dreams," is a series of three stories with a fairytale theme, All of the stories, are linked by the introduction of a sorcerer who will grant a single wish, a wish that can be "a blessing or a curse, to help someone or hurt someone." Of course, wishes are never freely given, and magic always has its consequences. The next book, "The Room where Angels Live," has five stories along more typical themes of love and romance, of loss and redemption.
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
75 people want to read
About the author
Masami Tsuda
104 books127 followersTsuda (津田雅美) is a tea-loving, crazy manga-ka who lives in Japan. Her most famous work that has been translated into several languages is Kare Kano (or His and Her Circumstances).
Tsuda likes operas, historical sites, and classic children's tales.
Tsuda likes operas, historical sites, and classic children's tales.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 19 reviews
December 31, 2014
these were cute stories I will give it that. I just didn't like how abruptly they ended. they needed better endings.
June 3, 2017
"I will grant your wish. Be it to hurt someone or help someone. Be it a blessing or a curse."
I really enjoyed the first half of this manga, which consists of three short stories that revolve around a sorcerer who grants a single wish to those in need.
The second half of this manga consists of three more miscellaneous short stories about romance, friendship, and school.
I really enjoyed the first half of this manga, which consists of three short stories that revolve around a sorcerer who grants a single wish to those in need.
The second half of this manga consists of three more miscellaneous short stories about romance, friendship, and school.
July 12, 2017
2.5. For some reason this collection starts with the worst stories...if you can get through them, it's overall pretty fun. The fantastical stories are not the author's strong suit, so if you aren't getting into those, skip through to the contemporary ones. Awkward Relationship is my favorite - it's really adorable.
September 11, 2020
Sorry to say I just really didn't enjoy these short stories. I found them jerkily told, rushed, and without much emotional weight. They just didn't make much of an impression on me I guess.
May 13, 2024
Well, that was a weird mix of stories… but it was interesting enough to keep going. There was a couple duds but most of them weren’t too bad.
March 1, 2014
This was an uneven compilation. The first half of the book was filled with quaint, but slight fairytales with an over-reliance on deus ex machine endings. The second half of modern day tales was much more satisfying. The art style was very rough as many of these stories are from early in Masami Tsuda's career. In fact, there is an editorial cartoon at the end of the book where Tsuda draws herself ashamed over the crudeness of her earlier efforts. However, we all have to start somewhere, therefor this compilation is invaluable for fans of her most renown series, Kare Kano.
Of the fantasy stories, "Castle of Dreams" was the best with better fleshed out characters, a deeper storyline, and a more logical use of the wizard character. Of the stories based in our world, "I Won't Go" with it's sophisticated story about a young girl who finds herself falling in love with another boy despite having a long distance boyfriend, seems like a romance at first blush, but instead is a story about the complicated choices we make in life and how those choices affect others. There was also a theme about being true to oneself while being honest in relationships. Of the lot, it was the best story (★★★★½). A not-so-distant second place was “The Room Where an Angel Lives”. It was told mostly as a first person narrative and was about a proud young man surviving in industrial England. He found a young child abandoned by a river and even though orphaned and struggling, he took her in. This act gave him purpose as he embraced the responsibility of raising her. I found the heartwarming, though the story stumbled a bit towards the end (★★★★☆).
Fantasy doesn't seem to be the forte of Masami Tsuda. There needs to be a logic to the fantasy tale even if there is magic. Pulling endings out of hats is a cheat. Fortunately, the stories based in our reality were better told. Overall, this was a good collection, but not a strong one. ★★★☆☆
(See http://www.my-sf.com/2014/03/01/book-...)
Of the fantasy stories, "Castle of Dreams" was the best with better fleshed out characters, a deeper storyline, and a more logical use of the wizard character. Of the stories based in our world, "I Won't Go" with it's sophisticated story about a young girl who finds herself falling in love with another boy despite having a long distance boyfriend, seems like a romance at first blush, but instead is a story about the complicated choices we make in life and how those choices affect others. There was also a theme about being true to oneself while being honest in relationships. Of the lot, it was the best story (★★★★½). A not-so-distant second place was “The Room Where an Angel Lives”. It was told mostly as a first person narrative and was about a proud young man surviving in industrial England. He found a young child abandoned by a river and even though orphaned and struggling, he took her in. This act gave him purpose as he embraced the responsibility of raising her. I found the heartwarming, though the story stumbled a bit towards the end (★★★★☆).
Fantasy doesn't seem to be the forte of Masami Tsuda. There needs to be a logic to the fantasy tale even if there is magic. Pulling endings out of hats is a cheat. Fortunately, the stories based in our reality were better told. Overall, this was a good collection, but not a strong one. ★★★☆☆
(See http://www.my-sf.com/2014/03/01/book-...)
March 8, 2009
Kind of treading slowly into this "shoujo" genre, but I really enjoyed this book. I loved the graphics.
It reads from right to left, which took some getting used to. Now and then, I still found myself wanting to read it the other way and I'd get all the scenes mixed up. Just something to get used to.
The author included little notes throughout the book, just kind of random things about when she wrote each story, how she writes them, etc. Very cool.
Basically, each story is a "love" story. They're all about different kinds of love...brotherly love, romantic love, friendly love. The first three stories were actually part of the Sorcerer Series, and I liked seeing how they were linked together. The others were pretty random..just things she created here and there.
I especially loved "I Am The Mermaid" and "The Room Where An Angel Lives". Very cool stories with endings that actually felt "finished".
This book was a cool way to be introduced to Masami Tsuda, as I've been interested in reading her Kare Kano series.
It reads from right to left, which took some getting used to. Now and then, I still found myself wanting to read it the other way and I'd get all the scenes mixed up. Just something to get used to.
The author included little notes throughout the book, just kind of random things about when she wrote each story, how she writes them, etc. Very cool.
Basically, each story is a "love" story. They're all about different kinds of love...brotherly love, romantic love, friendly love. The first three stories were actually part of the Sorcerer Series, and I liked seeing how they were linked together. The others were pretty random..just things she created here and there.
I especially loved "I Am The Mermaid" and "The Room Where An Angel Lives". Very cool stories with endings that actually felt "finished".
This book was a cool way to be introduced to Masami Tsuda, as I've been interested in reading her Kare Kano series.
December 18, 2011
Brilliant insightful work, a must have for any fan of Kare Kano (彼氏彼女の事情）.
Through a handful of short standalone stories that feature exotic locales and time periods, Tsuda eloquently connects all of human history in a web of suffering. Though her intentions were definitely not Buddhist in nature, most of these stories do focus on struggling to survive (or die trying) and making a name for oneself. Of course, they all share the patented Masami Tsuda shoujo romance (though not all the stories feature women) ethic.
The art is breathtaking; it's obvious to me that Tsuda-sensei really did her homework with on the locale and history that each story takes place in. The characters may be fictional, but the stories are history and folk lore.
My only regret is a lack of color, but that's typical (and sad) for TokyoPop. Trans was good (amazingly), but it's always hard to tell how they've managed to corrupt it if I don't have the original tankoubon in my hand.
Through a handful of short standalone stories that feature exotic locales and time periods, Tsuda eloquently connects all of human history in a web of suffering. Though her intentions were definitely not Buddhist in nature, most of these stories do focus on struggling to survive (or die trying) and making a name for oneself. Of course, they all share the patented Masami Tsuda shoujo romance (though not all the stories feature women) ethic.
The art is breathtaking; it's obvious to me that Tsuda-sensei really did her homework with on the locale and history that each story takes place in. The characters may be fictional, but the stories are history and folk lore.
My only regret is a lack of color, but that's typical (and sad) for TokyoPop. Trans was good (amazingly), but it's always hard to tell how they've managed to corrupt it if I don't have the original tankoubon in my hand.
May 1, 2011
This book is made up of various short stories ranging from fantasy to more real life stories.
Some of the first stories that where about fantasy made me sad with the way they where going. Just paging back through it since it has been awhile since I read them I still feel sad.
The first part of the book has 3 stories. In the first story it has about a girl from a forest who is meant to be with the prince, but he doesn't love her and she tries to change who she is. Should you really change who you are for anyone?
In the second part of the book has 5 different stories. The first story "The room where the angel lives" also had me sad about a little boy that finds a little girl and is trying to help her. But she is sick and he tries to get her help. This story Shows them as younger then grown up. It was a good story.
I did enjoy reading all of the stories in this.
Some of the first stories that where about fantasy made me sad with the way they where going. Just paging back through it since it has been awhile since I read them I still feel sad.
The first part of the book has 3 stories. In the first story it has about a girl from a forest who is meant to be with the prince, but he doesn't love her and she tries to change who she is. Should you really change who you are for anyone?
In the second part of the book has 5 different stories. The first story "The room where the angel lives" also had me sad about a little boy that finds a little girl and is trying to help her. But she is sick and he tries to get her help. This story Shows them as younger then grown up. It was a good story.
I did enjoy reading all of the stories in this.
February 21, 2011
I really enjoyed this one too. I'm a little sad that they veered away from the original cover, but it was still nice. I loved the stories, but I was confused as to how a knife ended up in the plot in the first story. I don't understand. They weren't in the kitchen, armory, she didn't wear a knife for protection, how did it end up in her hands at that fateful moment? These are short stories, so these things don't exactly have time to explain themselves. But they are great stories, and I'm glad I purchased the book
October 23, 2010
This is a collection of short stories by Masami Tsuda. The first half of the volume contains stories that are fantasy, while the second half is more grounded in reality. Each story was as poignant as volume 1 of Kare Kano. I think that short stories might be Tsuda's strong point? At any rate, I'm glad that Tokyopop put out some more of her work, so that we could see beyond Kare Kano.
October 31, 2014
combines two anthologies of short stories: one fantasy, the other high school based. i liked them both but found the second set a bit stronger. her resolutions for the school stories kept being surprisingly real; there's certain tropes i thought she'd take that she sidestepped in favour of reaching deeper into her characters. 4 stars
July 21, 2009
A great manga. My favorite story is "I won't go." I read it twice. I'm not sure if it's my favorite because it's the closest story to my age or because everyone knows what it's like to be unsure of whom it is you love at some point. I also liked "I Am the Mermaid." Worth the time and money!
January 13, 2009
A bunch of shoujo romance short stories, split between fantasy and modern day.
January 18, 2014
I really liked the first part of this manga, which consisted of fairy tale stories. The second half consisted of school stories. The school stories were just not for me.
February 27, 2014
I started reading this to take a break from Unravel Me (as it was getting to annoying), and I couldn't put it down. Wonderful collection of stories. I really enjoyed it.
October 26, 2014
My review is only for the first story.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 19 reviews