Manga Review: Requiem of the Rose King, Volume 8, by Aya Kanno

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: VIZ Media

Release Date: May 2018

Volumes: 10+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 7. 9.

Goodreads Synopsis:

The intrigue and royal conspiracy in the Bard’s Richard III is given a dark manga twist that will appeal to aficionados of both comics and the classics.

Richard, the ambitious third son of the House of York, believes he is cursed, damned from birth to eternal darkness. But is it truly fate that sets him on the path to personal destruction? Or his own tormented longings? Based on an early draft of Shakespeare’s Richard III, Aya Kanno’s dark fantasy finds the man who could be king standing between worlds, between classes, between good and evil.

Ten years after the king’s death, things have changed for Richard. His feud with his sibling has deepened, and the witch Jane tempts the new king with her mysterious charms. In this swirl of human desire, Richard reaches toward his own future and rises again in defense of the York family!

Review:

 This is a new phase for Richard. He still has big, specific plans, but no one is really aware of it. Except Anne, who he kind of blackmailed into marriage.

Nothing good is to come any more. There don't seem to be any high/happy points in this series any more.

In this volume, there's a party, poison, and lots of sneaking around. Family members sneaking around and making lots of silent moves, and a witch making waves. And it all leads to the big cliffhanger, which is really, truly awful. I don't know what has been happening to him since we last saw him, and I don't think I want to know.

It's... just... awful.

The feel of this series is dark and ominous and horrible, and I'm not sure what is going to go wrong next.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Requiem of the Rose King, Volume 7, by Aya Kanno

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: VIZ Media

Release Date: November 2017

Volumes: 10+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 6. 8.

Goodreads Synopsis:

The intrigue and royal conspiracy in the Bard’s Richard III is given a dark manga twist that will appeal to aficionados of both comics and the classics.

Richard, the ambitious third son of the House of York, believes he is cursed, damned from birth to eternal darkness. But is it truly fate that sets him on the path to personal destruction? Or his own tormented longings? Based on an early draft of Shakespeare’s Richard III, Aya Kanno’s dark fantasy finds the man who could be king standing between worlds, between classes, between good and evil.

Review:

We see the realization at the beginning of this volume, and the subsequent downfall after. It's honestly heartbreaking.

Richard is reeling from this new knowledge, and he doesn't quite know how to cope. Cecily has no issues continuing with her plan, though. The two queens continue with their determinations for battle, and it ensues. There's manipulation and secret-identities; lots of blood and potential deaths.

It appears that York has won, but not happily. It's rough. And then, when Richard goes to see Henry, it's apparent that Cecily has gotten to him first.

This is honestly heartbreaking, and the worst moment I've read so far. It's awful, and I don't want to imagine what happens next. It can't be good.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Requiem of the Rose King, Volume 6, by Aya Kanno

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4

Publisher: VIZ Media

Release Date: May 2017

Volumes: 9+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 5. 7.

Goodreads Synopsis:

The intrigue and royal conspiracy in Shakepeare’s Richard III is given a dark manga twist that will appeal to aficionados of both comics and the classics.

Richard, the ambitious third son of the House of York, believes he is cursed, damned from birth to eternal darkness. But is it truly fate that sets him on the path to personal destruction? Or his own tormented longings? Based on an early draft of Shakespeare’s Richard III, Aya Kanno’s dark fantasy finds the man who could be king standing between worlds, between classes, between good and evil.

Review:

So the volume opens with Henry and Richard separating. They have to go their own ways again, but Henry wants them to be together again, without realizing Richard doesn't think that will be able to happen. It's sweet and sad.

Richard goes off to fight, with full intent of getting revenge on Henry for killing his father. Not realizing that both Henry's are the same. And Henry not realizing who Richard actually is.

A lot of this is building up to the cliffhanger in this volume. We've all been waiting for the big reveal, really. There have been hints all over the place, even some characters keeping quiet or trying to point it out. And it's not going to be good.

I feel bad for Henry, most of all. He really doesn't want any of this, he hates fighting and he doesn't want to rule. But he's been forced into this position, and he can't seem to get out of it. I just want him to be able to live out in the middle of nowhere with some farm animals. That would be so great.

Manga Review: Requiem of the Rose King, Volume 5, by Aya Kanno

Rating (Out of 5): ~4-4.5

Publisher: VIZ Media

Release Date: November 8, 2016

Volumes: 6+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository.

Volume: 1. 4. 6.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Based on an early draft of Shakespeare’s Richard III, Aya Kanno’s dark fantasy finds the man who could be king standing between worlds, between classes, between good and evil.

Richard, the ambitious third son of the House of York, believes he is cursed, damned from birth to eternal darkness. But is it truly fate that sets him on the path to personal destruction? Or his own tormented longings? Based on an early draft of Shakespeare’s Richard III, Aya Kanno’s dark fantasy finds the man who could be king standing between worlds, between classes, between good and evil.

Chaos reigns over the houses of both York and Lancaster as they grapple for the throne. No sooner does the advantage seem to favor one over the other than the tide abruptly turns. And once again, it is Richard who must bear the brunt of another vicious sea change.

Review:

 A new volume of this series is always a surprise, and always a delight, oddly enough.

Edward and George both badly want the crown, and they're both so very close. But it's ultimately up to Warwick, as he's the one manipulating everything to get his way. By the end of the volume, Edward seems to have the upper hand again, and George feels scorned.

It's odd how Edward and Anne both want Richard so badly, and have somehow ended up together, though.

Richard is pretty much doing her own thing through all this. Quietly fighting through everything to free King Edward, with Catesby following along the entire time.

I really like Catesby. I want an entire plot line to follow Catesby, because I want to know more about him. It's weird how much I enjoy seeing him, every time he shows up to help Richard.

Similar to a few volumes ago, Richard and Henry stumble across each other. And it's so... it's heartbreaking and so very sweet at the same time. I really quite love them. It's interesting to see how Henry reacts when a woman hits on him, and then how Richard reacts upon seeing this and realizing her own conflicting feeling about both Henry and her gender.

This series is seriously just so good. Utterly amazing, so well written and thought out and paced and everything about it. And it's so freakin' pretty. I love it, and am always eager for another. Even with the long time between releases, I am always happy for a new one, and don't seem to forget what's happened. It's better every time.

 
A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Requiem of the Rose King, Volume 4, by Aya Kanno

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: VIZ Media

Release Date: May 10, 2016

Volumes: 5+

Spoilers?: Light.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository.

Volume: 1. 3. 5.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Richard, the ambitious third son of the House of York, believes he is cursed, damned from birth to eternal darkness. But is it truly fate that sets him on the path to personal destruction? Or his own tormented longings? Based on an early draft of Shakespeare’s Richard III, Aya Kanno’s dark fantasy finds the man who could be king standing between worlds, between classes, between good and evil.

An uprising draws King Edward, with Richard at his side, to battle. The aftermath could result in a new king. But who will take the throne? If Richard has anything to say about it, it will be neither of his brothers.

Review:

This series just gets better and better with every volume, and at this point, if you’re not following it, you should be.

I love the depth and the thoughtful way of everything, it’s beautiful and impressive. I don’t even know the stories that this series is from, and it doesn’t matter. I’m still so caught up in the story. It’s beautiful.

There’s a couple fun scenes where Anne grows closer to Richard, where we see that they might be able to have a real relationship. But there’s underlying darkness from their families the entire time, and that finally ruins their progression.

There are a couple of marriages being arranged, Elizabeth is still working through her plan of revenge and getting closer to it, Margaret is also progressing on hers. The Earl of Warwick finally moves forward with his plans to dethrone Edward, though he gets a little stuck at one point. And we finally see Richard reach a conclusion, and see that he’s going to be pushing forward with his own new plans, though he finally has an ally in Catesby.

I love this series, and I’m addicted. I’m patiently waiting the next one.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Requiem of the Rose King, Volume 3, by Aya Kanno

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4

Publisher: VIZ Media

Release Date: January 12, 2016

Volumes: 5+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 2. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Richard, the ambitious third son of the House of York, believes he is cursed, damned from birth to eternal darkness. But is it truly fate that sets him on the path to personal destruction? Or his own tormented longings? Based on an early draft of Shakespeare’s Richard III, Aya Kanno’s dark fantasy finds the man who could be king standing between worlds, between classes, between good and evil.

Richard and Henry grow closer—but Margaret Lancaster’s son, jealous of their burgeoning intimacy, plots against them. Meanwhile, news of King Edward’s secret marriage to the duplicitous Elizabeth sours relations between England and France. In the midst of the chaos, Richard receives a dangerous but intriguing proposition.

Review:

I don’t know if it’s just me or if Kanno has finally reached a flow with this series, but this volume was really good for me.

Elizabeth has brought her plans of revenge on King Edward to fruition, and is made Queen. Richard is the only one who has real doubts about it, though Warwick feels betrayed. In the other house, Margaret has gone insane, and is using her son Edward to enact revenge on Henry.

The best point in this series for me, though, is Richard and Henry’s relationship. I really feel for them, and think they could have a real friendship or romance, if their lives were different. They get to spend some real time together in this volume, and it’s a sweet reprieve for both of them. I want more of that, honestly.

Aside from that, things are getting dark fast. Not a surprise, but still. And Kanno has a beautiful art style for this series; the expressions, dark and hopeful, are done extremely well. They’re gorgeous.

This volume has me hooked, and I’m excited for the next one.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!