The first installment in Watase's fantasy epic carries Miaka, a ditzy Japanese schoolgirl, to a fictionalized vision of ancient China. The Universe of the Four Gods, an enigmatic book she finds in the library, transports Miaka to another world, where she is hailed as the long-awaited Priestess of Suzaku, the tutelary deity of the Kingdom of Konan. By bringing together seven supernatural warriors, she can ensure the kingdom's safety--and obtain her heart's desire. Relations among the first three warriors take an odd turn as Miaka finds herself vying with the transvestite Noriko for the affections of the rakish martial artist Tamahome and the exquisite emperor, Hotohori. In contrast to the animated TV series, Watase places less emphasis on Miaka's friendship with the brilliant Yui and more on her relationship with her divorced mother. Although Miaka seems a little brighter in print than she does in the animated series, she remains a rather vacuous heroine. --Charles Solomon