Red River

YukiTachibana Jul 12, 2017

10

I absolutely LOVED this manga - I mean it had everything a reader, well at least a female reader, would want: a physically and mentally strong female charcter, extreme and real romance not bullsh*t romance that defys the laws of space and time, I MEAN COMEONE MIRAI NIKKI (I advise you don't watch or read Mirai Nikki as it will simply take away hours of your time and then end leaving you with so many plot holes and questions that your brain will reset itself trying to adjust to the sh*t that it has just been blasted with) and finally a manga which has an adequate amount of chapters enough to keep you entertained for at least a week, if you don't stay up all night reading chapters in which a week will turn into 3 - 5 days. Plus the fact that the plot was superb - I mean girl being dragged into another era due to the plans of an evil sorcress and then falls in love with the mighty prince - it's like a princess plot but a million times better and the girl isn't the one waiting for her prince charming. I'm just thinking if I had to name the best character in the whole manga who would it be cause although Yuri was badass and wasn't useless like some other female manga characters, SAKURA (from Naruto), you still got to admit Kail (sorry but I haven't read the manga in a couple of months but I still remember what happens and the plot of it but just not the names so if it isn't Kail soz) was pretty badass too with the way he defeated his "mother" plus you've got to admit that he did act as big part of the manga I mean the way he deeply cared about Yuri so much so that sometimes that he would even get a bit possessive of her which added a lot juciness to the manga. Anyway I got to say though this is one of the best manga that I have ever read they should really turn this into an anime, if it isn't already one, do you know how awesome that would be? Damn, I am so tired right now, but still got to complete that project due for tomorrow (last minute homework), so I'm gonna stop. Peace Out.

outoforder Nov 5, 2020

10

This story is beautiful. The plot is good and the arcs are masterfully handled in a way that doesn't make them seem rushed or forced. The characters seem pretty solid already in the beginning, but their development is natural and raw. They struggle with their emotions, with love, and with the weight of what war truly is. It's closer to the heart than just some faraway battlefield. This doesn't romanticize the brutality in any way. The characters in this story struggle a lot, especially Yuri. She struggles with guilt of wanting to stay in a world she was forced to belong in, and the guilt of wanting to leave the people she's connected with behind in exchange for her old life. I love that the people around her allow her decisions to be hers and hers alone. They give her the freedom she needs to mature and grow into a responsible and fair woman. The art is immaculate. The attention to period clothing, natural skin tones, and scenery is appreciated. Too often I see historical type mangas that have modernized clothing styles for the sake of being "progressive" but that damages the overall effect of a historical piece. The art style doesn't impede on showing these differences and allowing the different cultures to shine beyond assigned colors and hair types. The diversity even extends beyond the art and into the dialogue, accents and language barriers are presented, they are used to further story arcs and resolve issues and I think it's a very cleverly used tactic that can often be overlooked in worldbuilding. I aslo apreciate the attention to detail in terms of political climate of the surrounding countries. The names, families, and dynasties are all correct and each place is handled with respect and care. Worldbuilding is difficult, it's hard to put your thoughts into words when all it's ever been is the images in your head. It's even harder to build a world in the pre-existing conditions of the past. Yes, most things can be left up to interpretation, but only to an extent. The romance is also top-notch. It's not exactly a slow-burn, but they do take the time to actually develop a connection beyond a zing. I apreciate the push and pull they have with each other. They push each other to be the best they can and when the other trips, they're there to guide them and pull them along until they get their bearings again. It's a very natural feeling relationship.

ialex32 Sep 7, 2022

4

Story and Characters: Considered a classic and with rave reviews, I was excited to read such a lauded series. Yuri, a Japanese middle schooler, is dragged by an evil queen through a pool of water as a sacrifice to ensure her son's ascension to the throne. Barely escaping death when Prince Kail makes her his concubine, Yuri must escape Queen Nakia's schemes and adapt to life in the Hittite Empire (a powerful empire neighboring Ancient Egypt). Far from being a damsel in distress, Yuri's prowess in war and combat leads her to be revered as the goddess of war, Ishtar. Although wishing to return to her family and modern Japan, her and Krail fall in love, and she wonders iif she should stay in Hattusa or distance herself from Krail and go home. Despite an intriguing premise, the characters are hollow, the character development is weak, and the plot feels contrived. Nakia is unequivocally evil, attempting a seemingly never-ending series of poorly-conceived schemes. She has none of the charm, or flair for the dramatic, as classic villains such a Cruella de Vil or Ursula. She ignores her son's wish to be removed from the line of succession. Insofar, she's gotten little backstory and we know little about her motives or pain or experiences other than her thirst for power. The remaining cast isn't better. Despite Yuri's prowess in combat, she insists on running into every trap set by Queen Nakia without sufficient aid, making her a prisoner for much of the story. Her enemies never learn, and despite her reputation as a goddess, let her tend to the sick and wounded who then help her overthrow the despotic leaders. Despite numerous aristocrats initially viewing Yuri as plain and unattractive, they inevitably and inexplicably end up falling in love with her. And not just her love interests: every Hittite adores her. There's non-sensical plot devices as well. Despite being the reincarnation of a goddess and revered with universal adoration by her people, Yuri apparently does not have the social status to marry a prince. She can only be his concubine. A god viewed as crucial to their military prowess and the stability of the kingdom does not have social status. One of the major deities in ancient Mesopotamia. The combat feels practically incoherent as well. We learn Kail is an expert priest, with mastery over wind, and significantly stronger than Nakia. Yet he never uses his powers in battle: everything is settled with sword, chariots, or arrows. Yuri instantly masters riding a feral horse, and her iron dagger can slice through bronze in a fraction of a second. We learn of an all-powerful magical artifact, hidden away in the treasure room of a neighboring kingdom. It's stolen from our heroine, and then never mentioned again. Oh, and did I mention attempted rape? Because there's a never-ending stream of it. Gratuitous, graphic, attempted rape. Rape that shows "love". Kail attempts to rape Yuri, only to give in because she loves someone else then. Of course she then falls in love with the first man who tries to rape her. A very romantic start. Zannanza, his brother, also kidnaps and attempts to rape Yuri after being brainwashed by Nakia, as a sign of love. But since he didn't mean it and doesn't try to interfere with Kail and Yuri's relationship, it's forgiven. To avoid spoilers, other characters kidnap and attempt to rape her, only to be redeemed afterwards. And of course, Kail is jealous that Yuri is with another man and only forgives her because she wasn't penetrated. And the rape is graphic, often determined to show as much female nudity as possible during it. Did I mention Yuri's 15? Wonderful. Although widely acclaimed, the characters are poorly developed and weak. The initial fantastical premise is cast aside except as a cheap plot device. Although the seeming power of priests, their magic is only used when needed to advance the plot in an uninspired fashion, rather than integral to the world around it. Sexual violence is needlessly graphic and romanticized. No one learns, and remain hopelessly naive no matter how transparent the scheme is. Given the extensive research on Hittite history and excellent premise, there is no excuse for how middling this story actually is. Maybe this story dramatically improves in later chapters. In all likelihood, I'll drop it well before I get there. Art: The art has a nostalgic, classic shoujo feel. It is by no means excellent, but parts of it are quite pretty. Since shoujo-style art from the 90s is very hit or miss, this won't be for everyone, but I enjoyed parts of it.