Sai Yukino

This book is part of my further exploration of manga. I already decided ahead of time that I'm not going to like this series because I don't usually like books that are based on romance. Nor do I like stories about the super-wealthy (in this case, the ruling class which includes the emperor Ryuki Shi). I am giving the first two books of this series my best shot, though, as I received them both as a RABCK from GoryDetails for winning her BookCrossing 2016 April Showers/May Flowers release challenge.

I had a discussion of shojo manga with my older son who is also not a fan, but then I realize that shojo manga is directed toward teen girls. At age 60-something, I can hardly fit that classification. In addition, I need more than romantic attraction and class difference to enjoy a story. I did some background checking and was interested to learn that this series was also a light novel, an anime series, and was the basis for CD soundtracks, drama CDs, as well as a web-based program. Obviously, this series has a large audience.

I still find it hard to keep characters straight in manga such as these. The names of characters are often very similar, and men with long hair often look like women to me. I also have a hard time keeping track of what the relationships are between the characters.

What I found extraordinary in this volume was the art work by Kairi Yura. I would love to have a coloring book of just that artist's drawing of costumes and flowers. I wonder if there is even such a thing.

The story itself is of a young emperor Ryuki Shi. The imperial palace has a librarian whose daughter Shurei, a teacher, was hired as a consort for the emperor to teach the emperor to be responsible. I think there were other ulterior motives. Maybe it was to keep him away from other men and perhaps to provide an heir? I'll have to read further in this series to know for sure. Well, I guess I'm now off to read volume 2..… (més)

This is basically a “fluff” volume, although it's not bad – a nice transition from the recent threat to Shurei's dreams to Shurei and Eigetsu beginning their time as joint governors of Sa Province.

The stuff with Ryuren was mostly silly. I don't know that I like him much, but Yukino's attempts to paint him as more than just “that irresponsible weirdo” were interesting. The stuff with Reishin's Shoka masks was just...creepy. I get that Reishin loves his brother, but he needs to scale it back some.

My favorite part of the volume was probably the flashback at the beginning. I enjoyed getting to see young Shoka, who apparently has had to do and see horrible things from a very young age. As creepy as Reishin can sometimes be, I found it kind of touching that he still adores and supports his older brother, even knowing what Shoka has had to do in order to protect the family.

(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)… (més)