The first time I read Saiyuki was in, oh, 2006. It coloured my adolescence and was, at the time, my favourite series. Coming back to it after nearly twenty years and after having loved many other series in the interim was, to say the least, fascinating. 

With the found family focus and constant supply of one-liners, I can see why I'd love Saiyuki as a teenager. It's edgy. It's fun. It's fast. The perfect cocktail to satisfy my teenage angst. 

As an adult? It's even edgier than I remember, but it's still a fun and fast ride. The guys, at least in this first volume, feel more like caricatures, but my nostalgia-tinted glasses are still on, so while I can't take them quite as seriously as I once had, it's almost endearing.