Yaoi Press Now available on NETCOMICS.com
- Yaoi Press' hit titles are now available for online viewing now!
Two volumes from Yaoi Press will be updated each month.
Read their latest offer Wishing for the Moon now!
International Publishers - See us at Frankfurt Book Fair
We will be exhibiting at Frankfurt Book Fair 2007. Our booth will be at Hall 3.0 K833. Most of our titles on this site are available for international licensing. Come see us! For info on the Fair, Click Here
An epic fantasy and vivid re-imagination of ancient Korean history, made possible by painstaking historical research combined with breathtaking mythological visualization!
Kingdom of the Winds tells the legendary story of King Yuri (Goguryeo's second emperor), King Damusin (Muhyul, Goguryeo's third emperor), and Muhyul's son
Hodong. This tale fills in the personal details of their lives, their ideals and human emotions as they struggle with an unavoidable fate that intertwines and
tangles their lives with that of their nation.
You will meet the heroes of the Kingdom of the Winds; heroes afflicted and lost, opposed to each other, and bound together on their epic journeys to achieving
their diverse ideals that actual history had only hinted at.
We suggest you to read the background information by clicking on Background tab first before proceeding to the first chapter.
- Total 7
reviews Avg. rating
(8.6)
Sweeping Romance. Bravo!
Shadow0284
03/06/08 17:52
As with any historical retelling, Kingdom of the Winds is brimming of intrigue and tragedy, and does an amazing job of bringing the past to life in the retelling of this epic romance. The narrative that frames the chapters and snakes through the story brings it all together with a vivid and poetic language. Its mournful overtones set the stage for this impressive drama as demons from the past reemerge, mythology and reality blend, and a young prince fights to save his disjointed kingdom and family.
Kingdom of the Winds really floored me with its artwork. The black and white contrasts are used so well, with the subtle details coming out in the stylized sections of the chapters. From the harshness of the rainfall, to the intricacy of the portraitures, to the polished and misty demons, the art style shows its strong spirit and is truly a joy to behold. Kimjin showcases his artistic talents as it shifts gears from the sweeping vistas to the more tender moments where the actions and posing of the characters convey more emotions than words ever could, drawing you deeper into the complexly woven web they exist in.
The characters alone are reason enough to read Kingdom of the Winds. The noble Muhyun and the vindictive King Yuri highlight the extreme range of personalities and mentalities that run throughout the story. Even the demons and the mythology, which are so often passed off as generic monsters or mindless beasts, have their own characteristics and agendas, driving the story along at a feverish pace. I would definitely take dletterese's advice when she tells you to read the primer on the characters. KotW has drawn me in and brought me along on a whirlwind ride through a very small fraction of the history it wishes to explore. I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series.
The first thing that will strike you about "Kingdom Of the Winds" is the powerful imagery, with lavish drawings of ancient Korea, beautiful characters, and menacing beasts. The next thing that will pull you in is the strong character relationships, and the rich history--a combination of factual and mythological--that is told. Kimjin's use of stark black and white pulls you into the drama of what is going on, and is particularly beautiful in the sections depicting battles and interaction with the mythical creatures.
The story itself is compelling as well, for it is both an epic tale, as well as one that touches upon things which normal families struggle with. A clear theme where this is depicted is that of fathers and sons. For example, the hatred King Yuri shows his very children is simultaneously fascinating and frightening, and something which has made Muhyul vow to never be like his father. Yet, how is he going to be any different? When Muhyul cannot bear to fully acknowledge his own son, Hodong, because of the unfortunate fact that Hodong was born on the same day that Muhyul lost his brother? Relationships in this story are very complicated, and will keep you turning the pages to see what destiny seems to have laid out, who is falling in love, and who�s destroying someone in his way--even if that someone is his own flesh and blood.
I will close my review with something I think is super important! To fully appreciate "Kingdom Of the Winds," it is definitely helpful to take the suggestion on the website, and read the Background blurb before diving into the story. It'll make you appreciate the history of the setting and characters quite a bit more, and will definitely help you keep from getting confused. Long novels with many historical elements can seem daunting, but this one is beautiful, and worth giving the chance!
A little too cryptic for me so far...I'm not sure if I really understood what's going on, but I didn't care about characters enough to want to go back and reread it all. The artwork is very nice though.
This is a refreshingly new series. It's kind of hard to follow at the moment, but the amazing art and writing have me waiting for the next chapter. Very excited to see such a unique book.
mucho characters, i feel plunged into the story yet not knowing where it's going... a bit of suspense arising, and magical creatures are always good! Love the exposure to korean history, it is an invaluable lesson which i applaud as presented in this setting.. Content such as ancient history and delving into reads are what separates titles.. anticipating the next selection!
(
- 
