Yukie Nasu: The Wizard's Daughter(1)

Overall rating: 4 /5 stars (good, but scary! Slightly predictable probably for people who like scary stories, but well done nontheless)
Title (Japanese): 魔法使いの娘(1) (まほうつかいのむすめ mahou tsukai no musume)
Author (Japanese): 那州雪絵（なすゆきえ）
Author (English): Yukie Nasu
Summary: Hatsune （鈴の木初音） is a self-described "extremely normal" high school girl with a very abnormal father Muzan Suzunoki （鈴の木無山）. Muzan is a magic-user; a wizard or magician who can dispell ghosts and battle demons. He is actually Hatsune's adopted father, as Hatsune's birth parents have both passed away. Hatsune's father was Muzan's friend.

Nasu's penchant for the occult is quite apparent here, in this well-developed collection of stories about Hatsune. At times really scary, I would not recommend that you start reading this book late at night. Hatsune is a very likeable heroine, who works hard but stands up for herself when necessary. Resourceful but not overtly magical, she battles with her adopted father over becoming his successor.

I particularly like the character Tenten (テンテン）, a cute and protective kitsune (kind of like a fox). I haven't seen too many kitsune drawn in manga, but this one is a believably occult yet charming rendering of the Japanese mythogical creature. I think this book is worth buying just for that.

Other than several stories about Hatsune, there is also a separate unrelated story at the end. I don't remember it at the moment, but I remember liking it.

Overall I liked this volume a lot. I definitely recommend it. Even though I don't like scary stories, a lot of the occurrences are scary but Hatsune can handle it.

Japanese list price: 546円 (with tax)（520円 not including tax）
Publication date: 2003年
ISBN: 4-403-61726-3