Sarasah, Vol. 1

Sarasah #1

by Ryang Ryu, June Um (Translator), Abigail Blackman (Adapted by)

High schooler Ji-Hae is desperately in love with her classmate Seung-Hyu. She has done all she can think of to win his affection, but to no avail. When her latest scheme crosses the line, Seung-Hyu decides he's had enough...and inadvertently pushes her down a staircase! Ji-Hae awakens in the world beyond, only to learn that it's not her time to die. But why go back when the love of her life hates her to death? Touched by her passion, the keepers send Ji-Hae to her past life to mend the rift between her former self and Seung-Hyu. But can Ji-Hae keep up the act long enough to find Seung-Hyu and set things right?

Genres: Manga, Manhwa, Fantasy, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Graphic Novels

192 pages, Paperback

First published July 14, 2009

Reviews

[R ♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a cute novel! I loved the historical setting and the general plot of the book, I adore the isekai genre and had a lot of fun reading this. Plus, I really enjoyed the humour and it brought a smile to my face. I'm going to read the next book right away!

#1 [ Sarasah ] ★★★☆☆
#2 [ Sarasah ] ★★☆☆☆
#3 [ Sarasah ] ★★★☆☆
#4 [ Sarasah ] ★★★★☆
#5 [ Sarasah ] ★★☆☆☆

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[Sesana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bored by the story. Disliked the main character intensely. Do you think that maybe your love interest doesn't like you because you're stalking him? Just a thought. The (eventual) historical setting is at least different, but the character is painfully bad at adapting to her new surroundings. In that she makes no actual effort to adapt herself. The art is pretty enough, but I can't get past the dull story and horrible main character.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know it's love when you will go back in time to win the affections of the man you love. Ji-Hae is crazy in love with a classmate, but he wants nothing to do with her. Finding out that he hates her...even enough to attempt murder causes her to travel back in time and discover what happened in the past to cause their rift.

[BooksAmL · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book started so strange , that I was not sure how to feel about it and if should continue, but thought it is a manga and will end quick (that was true). I am glad I sicked with it because it changes the writing, the plot , everything. Even though it became so fun and interesting I could not get over the fact of how annoying the main character is.

Seung-Hyu is very funny , but so annoying at so many times, she is to pushy and really stupid. Like come on it is way to annoying (like me using this word over and over, but honestly Is the best word to describe her personality) that even after she realizes how bad the person hate her for doing what she did, that when she is giving a second chance she is doing it all over again, but according to her now she has a plan and will not be so annoying (hmmm... yes you are, so much so that I do want to continue with the series so I can see you get really hurt... well at least that is the main reason, as bad as it sounds it is).

Why did you gave her another chance (to be honest , I think even the author wants to get rid of her but knows is bad to kill the main character), she really does not deserve it.

[Kristilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not showing it because my first 2 re-reads of this predate my goodreads account so this would be considered my 3rd re-read and it's always such a fun time and really brings me back to being 12-13 years old and reading these from the library (I'm 24 now at the time of this review)

Knowing that the manhwa is officially done now and I have been waiting so so SO LONG and thinking this was never going to be finished at one point makes me so happy I am going to devour and binge the hell out of Sarasah!

[nekoneko · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a super fun read! Reminded me of Yona of the Dawn in some way. I thought the pacing of the story was good and the characters were fun! Definitely want to see where the story goes in the next volume!

[Natasa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This represents my feelings on the entirety of this manga (that I have read so far) and not only the first volume.

I had so much fun reading and rereading this and I am quite sad that I was never able to get my hands on the rest of the series.

[TT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it several years back, ok series, didn't stick in my mind.

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up on a recent spin through the youth graphic novel section of our library, attracted by the absolutely stunning cover art. Though I read a handful of manga in high school (back when they were genuinely hard to get! kids these days, you don't know how great you've got it), this was my first foray into manhwa, Korean graphic novels.

Overall? Yes, the plot is outlandish and the main character is ridiculously obnoxious and silly. Schoolgirl Ji-Hae's obsession with her crush ventures through the realm of pathetic and into the shining kingdom of explicit stalkerdom. When her final, most outrageous bid for Seung-Hyu's attention goes awry, she falls (or he accidentally pushes her?) down a flight of stairs and is killed. In the afterlife, though, a beautiful goddess takes pity on Ji-Hae's plight and sends her into Korea's ancient past, so that she can "mend" her relationship with Seung-Hyu millennia before either of them is born.

I picked it up for the art, and the art didn't disappoint--each page is gorgeously rendered, each fold and tuck of the ancient Korean costumes dripping with detail. The story quickly hurtles into a familiar gender-bending plot (Ji-Hae disguises herself as a boy to be closer to Ja-Yun, Seung-Hyu's ancestor and lookalike) through which the headstrong Ji-Hae, completely lacking in savvy or self-awareness, bumbles hopelessly. It's as difficult to believe that anyone could overlook her anachronisms as it is to believe that anyone--let alone a goddess--would find her desperately obsessive junior high crush sympathetic. But I came for the art, and it didn't disappoint--and the rest of the story is fluffy and silly and, honestly, pretty fun. It's not a book to be taken seriously by any means, and I can't say I'll pick up the next one, but gracious, is it pretty to look at. A sparkly little intro to Korean comics.

[Dorcas · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a shoujo-type manhwa, this title had many, many historical references and names that I had no clue about but am now interested in seeing more. The main girl character, though completely caught up in her unrequited love, is actually quite plucky/sassy in all other ways. Where she could have been the typical angsty, moony teen, she knows she likes this guy and does EVERYTHING to get his attention, including jumping through time, running away from a secure home where she could have been the equivalent of a princess, and dressing up as a peasant boy.
I'd read the next one.

[Hatsune Miku · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like manga that has a good storyline, then this is your time. Sarasah is a great book, about a girl, who falls in love with a boy named Seng Huy, and decieds to confess her love to him. He has turned her down many times, but she decides to try one last time, on his birthday, and takes things a little to far. She falls down a flight of stairs, and almost dies. She must travle back in time, and get the heart of Seng Huy before it's to late.

[Mely · Rating 2 out of 5]

girl stalks boy, boy pushes girl downstairs, girl breaks neck, goddess sends girl back to previous life to sort things out. Previous life is in Shilla (pre-unification Korea) and girl is ... really bad at adapting herself to contemporary customs. Prince destined to be legendary king is kind of hot.

[Kateyanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely a guilty pleasure read for me. The main character, Ji Hae, is annoying and the lengths that she goes to just to get a guy are pretty ridiculous, but it the story is intriguing. I really want to know what happens next. Not to mention I find Thorny to be hilarious. If you are look for a quick, light heart read then give this a try.

[Infinite Scythe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very long names and historical references that I didn't get at all because I know nothing of the history.
I'm sorry I do not sympathize too much with her crazed love. Is it hard to believe he does not like you?
She is making a mess in the past.

But I do think it was over kill to push her down the stairs. Violent fool.

[scarlettraces · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty art in modern soonjung style, engaging characters and story. and as a bonus you get history! (i suspect for the intended audience this is as familiar as joan of arc or mary q of s or something, but it's all new to me.)

[Ricki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always enjoyed manwha as much as manga, but some elements in Sarasah just didn't jive enough for me. The artwork is beautiful and the story premise is interesting. Some parts, though, drag and I don't quite see the point of Thorny other than to be cute and annoying.

[Monica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't really understand what's going on. Why is she in a different time period and not "her" time period?

[Keziah · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars

Really funny and easy to follow! I'm grabbing the second one right away!

[TJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good. But not enough for me to get into especially since it appears the series isn't going to be finished.