Reader Comments about WITCHES' FOREST

Mishio Fukazawa
TOKYOPOP
ISBN: 159532870X
328 pages
(October 2006)

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Cami from Merritt Island, FL

I thought that WITCHES’ FOREST was good. It was like a cartoon TV show/movie but in book form. It had good character development and I really liked the Character Files and Adventurer Card pictures because if you forgot some info about them you could just flip through the book until you found the card and then get the info you wanted. My favorite characters were Agnis and her snow leopard K'nock.

Cindy from Louisville, KY

Working together, we can succeed, where alone, one will fail.

This is the life lesson learned by 16-year-old Duan Surk, beautiful 16-year-old princess Agnis, and Olba, the older, stronger man --- a trio of of strangers who meet in the spooky Witches' Forest where they band together and set off on a quest. Agnis hopes to rescue her mother, Olba desires to capture the witches' treasure, and Duan...well, he’s just looking for adventure.

Located in the enchanted Witches’ Forest, the story’s setting evolves as the source of many obstacles for Duan, Agnis and Olba to overcome as they travel on their quest.  Mishio Fukazawa has invented a dark, gloomy world of tangled growth inhabited by mythical Cyclops, slimes, griffins and more. The characters must deal with “dead-end staircases” and “rooms that are magically transported” in addition to the customary witches’ antics.

WITCHES' FOREST is strong in the area of characterization. The book begins with Duan introduced to the reader, first at the age of 16 and then through a flashback taking him back to his early childhood and bringing his life back to the age of 16.  This does slow down the story, though, and may cause some to put down the book and not stay with the story until the action begins. 

Packed with symbolism that conveys the message that different situations require different skills, readers will recognize the valuable theme “there is a place in this world for all kinds of people.” 

Recommended for fantasy fans. Those not familiar with the genre may have difficulty with the terminology for the magical creatures that change with each quest.

Elizabeth from Nova, OH

I loved reading WITCHES' FOREST. I couldn't put it down --- except when I had to. I could easily imagine each character and what they were doing in my mind's eye because of how descriptive it was. I loved how Duan put so much enthusiasm into being an adventurer, but he was kind of a pacifist. I liked how Olba was always prepared, strong, and such a wise-arse. Agnis was awesome, being basically a fire-witch. I loved her sarcastic remarks. K'nock was always protective, but that was cool. Check was soooo cute! He always wanted to help, even if helping meant staying out of the way. And those witches? I couldn't stop laughing at them! They were SO superficial, but they were pretty smart, despite my first impression of them. Some parts --- like when Rubis was turned into a bird and Agnis saw Ramua clipping her wings, and when the witches were explaining about Ramua --- almost made me cry. I thought the part with the assassin was ironic. I wonder how the Queen would react if she discovered he saved his quarry instead! All together, it was awesome. It makes me wish I had an adventurer's card!

Emilio from Spartanburg, SC

WITCHES’ FOREST is a very well-written book. It has an amazing video game touch to it. It also has a very good plot line, and the creature glossary at the back is a very smart idea so readers can better understand the action in the story. I really liked the book as a whole but especially liked the leveling up and experience points concept. The author did a very good job writing this book.

Emily from Plymouth, MN

WITCHES’ FOREST is exceptional in the way that it really endears all its characters to the reader. Each character evolves as the book progresses, unique personality traits being the acquired result of this. Duan Surk, the main character, is a 16-year-old Level 2 fighter who has more brains than brawn. Agnis is a beautiful witch with exceptional skills in fire magic who also has a secret identity. And Olba is the gruff leader of the pack, strong, and a Level 13 fighter, who cares more about his companions than he cares to admit. As the trio advances towards the witches’ castle, they not only fight incredible enemies --- including an assassin who is attempting to kill Agnis, a minotaur, a cyclops and a griffin --- they also find that some journeys just can't be traveled alone. And as they each discover the others’ pasts, they find that they are in a quest bigger than they expected. This journey was not for profit alone. No, this was for something bigger --- love.

I enjoyed the fact that there honestly was never a dull moment in this book. There is always something new around the corner, some twist that you didn't expect. This is the kind of book that keeps you hooked until the end, and when you finally find yourself at that point, it keeps you wanting more.

Evan from Racine, WI

Overall, WITCHES' FOREST was very enjoyable to read. It puts a fresh and modern spin on fantasy novels, which can become quite repetitive in style and plots, by adding a theme played out in an RPG (Role Playing Game).

Today's teens, especially those into video games (particularly RPG's) shouldn’t find it hard to get caught up in this book. The author’s descriptive and visual style really draws one as a reader into the story.

Not much is left to be wondered about, because the author connects and finishes every concept expertly. This contemporary fantasy is one to keep an eye out for as well as what is yet to come from this very talented author. I would recommend all fantasy readers, and even video game enthusiasts whether they enjoy reading or not, to add this to their lists of books to read. This is not even similar to what has become the stereotypical fantasy novel, but is very new age with great imagery and style. Most teens would find this to be a highly enjoyable yet not too difficult read, and I would definitely recommend it.

Jessica from Clayton, GA

At the beginning of the tale, Duan Surk wanders into the fearsome Witches’ Forest. The slight, bishie fighter soon finds himself head over heels in trouble, lost and starving. He encounters the mysterious and formidable Olba, whose borrowed magical armor and impatient can’t-be-bothered attitude hides a kind heart. The two reluctantly agree to continue the quest together, and soon encounter the stunning Agnis, a sorceress able to control the element of fire. Duan is on this Quest to hopefully gain a few points and move up a level or two. Agnis is driven onward by the thoughts of someone dear to her. And Olba? Olba isn’t very forthcoming about his motivations, but he isn’t averse to any treasure he might find.

I liked the way that the author showed some of the characters’ current behavior before sharing some of their history. In some cases, this history went a long way toward explaining why the characters were reacting to the current situation in the way that they were, while in others, it helped to deepen the mystery and intrigue.

If you’re ready for adventuring, swords and sorcery, broken hearts, revenge, forgiveness, loyalty, friendship, and two of the most memorable witches in fiction, then give WITCHES' FOREST a try!

Michelle from Raytown, MO 

WITCHES' FOREST had a very interesting story. It was a book I didn't want to put down until I finished. I think it would appeal to a lot of different people, too. People who like video games, especially RPGs, would like it and so would people who like anime and manga and fantasy in general. I liked the little character files in the book because they were something you don't see in every book and they summarized the basic information about the characters nicely. The mini-pocket monster encyclopedia in the back was nice, too. It was helpful to have that because I hadn't heard of some of the creatures before.

Rene from Chelmsford, MA

WITCHES' FOREST was much better than I had thought it would be. I'm not the biggest witch fan, so I was expecting something more like Harry Potter, but I'm glad that I was wrong. I love how we get a background and point of view of each character throughout the book. I could have done without the Adventurer Cards; they made the book seem more childish. Same with the way Duan acted; he never seemed to act his age. I can remember thinking that he was about 12 at some points. Olba can be rude and act like he's all that, but that makes his character all the better. I wish that we could learn a little bit more about his history. The fact that Agnis isn't what she seems and has a long background that leads to her reason for going after the witches is really enchanting. Even though Duan is the main character, at times it seems as though he can be less important than Olba and Agnis. I absolutely love the twin witches, Ogma and Samra. I find the part they play in the story very amusing. All in all, Witches' Forest was a really amazing book that anyone would love to read.

Robin from Berkeley, CA

Sixteen-year-old Duan desperately wants to be a high ranked fighter and live a life full of adventure, but he’s so scrawny that no one will give him a chance. When Duan gets lost in an enchanted forest he meets Olba, a skilled fighter who reluctantly agrees to take Duan along on his quest. They’re soon joined by a runaway princess with a pet snow leopard, unpredictable magic, and an assassin on her trail. The group forms an unlikely team as they fight their way through the forest, battling one magical creature after another. Although the book focuses on fighting, the story isn’t neglected; the characters are well developed and their growing friendship gives the story heart.

WITCHES' FOREST is not your usual fantasy novel --- it has a good dose of humor and a strong manga influence. The twin witches with colorful hair, corsets and frilly skirts are beautiful but deadly and would be right at home in any manga. In addition, small inserts throughout the book provide biographical information on the main characters (age, strength, intelligence, magical abilities) and are accompanied by manga-style drawings. Overall, this is an excellent adventure that will appeal to readers of fantasy and graphic novels.

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