Aya KannoRecensioni

Manga stories are like every reading materiel - from time to time there are great works to be read but majority tend to be good art but weird story or vice versa.

This one falls into the category of good art but weird story. While main character is rather androgynous he is also quite a psychopath. Known as a master criminal Zen he sows mayhem around him and kills or destroys everything that finds itself on its path.

So when accidental kidnapping starts to unravel Zen's personal history, dark parts of countries past start to surface.

In general story is little bit too gothic/depressive (constant "destroy your world to come out free"?!?) for my taste. Way story goes, some weird romance budding between Zen and almost everyone else (due to his out of this world beauty) is rather disconcerting. I think story itself might be aimed to younger audience. For me (old man as I am :)) everything seems a little bit too far fetched.

Art is pretty good. again this is one of those mangas with extremely lanky characters. Again not exactly my cup of tea but close ups and environment look pretty good.

Recommended to fans of political thrillers but keep in mind entire look and feel is rather depressive/gothic - so if you like this all the better for you :)

Conclusion of the story is straight Jason Bourne. We meet bandits from the mountains, crazy scientists, groups of super soldiers, memory flashes, covert units, revenge, conspiracy and treason.

Again there is this weird romance between Zen and blind girl. I cannot figure out one end from another here, but I guess this part is given because it needs to be in this type of story (young (depressed) adult genre :)).

Gothic theme is still on, search for freedom through destruction of existing world (tiny bit too radical for me, but OK). I am not sure that anything can be achieved through mayhem but I might have lost touch with teen self :).

Art is as good as in volume 1. Again lanky characters, but when Zen's skills are shown you can literally see him zooming around and wreaking havoc.

Highly recommended to all political thriller fans and fans of young adult stories (with love/romance and slightly depressive view of life :)).

manga, drame, histoire, vengeance, royauté, royaume d'angleterre

If you want some dramaful drama with a side of drama, this is perfect. Gothy period high stakes battles for thrones and hearts. Complete and utter trash. I love it. There is some squishy not perfectly handled gender stuff going on, but for me, it's not at dealbreaker level. The art is stunning. Get your Shakespearean slashfic here.

Mostly dramatic action this time! Excellent cliffhanger. Beautiful dark art. TW for a rape scene (not graphically explicit).

Still drama! Still beautiful! Still everyone is obsessed with Richard!

Bloody drama! Really, if you want convoluted Machiavellian schemes and plots and ambitions, look no further. Some of the most evocative dark imagery I've seen in a while, too. The best kind of trash.

Interestiŋ take: a manly guy who likes girly ſtuff & loves a girl.

Interesting premise: a real man who is nevertheless interested in girly things.

Maybe I've just gotten bored with the series, but I'm finding them less and less entertaining.

Aya Kanno's manga series Requiem of the Rose King has quickly become one of the releases that I most look forward to from one volume to the next. I'm not particularly surprised by this, though—I've enjoyed many of Kanno's past works, and she has proven to be quite versatile when it comes to genre and style. In the case of Requiem of the Rose King, Kanno has taken direct inspiration from the historical plays of William Shakespeare, more specifically the Wars of the Roses cycle consisting of Henry VI and Richard III. Even if Kanno hadn't been involved with the manga, this would have been more than enough to catch my attention. But Kanno is involved and she brings her own touches to the story, giving it a dark fantasy-tinged atmosphere in addition to exploring gender and identity in an interesting and engaging way. With all of that and more, I have been completely taken with Requiem of the Rose King, and so was glad when the third volume of the series, originally released in Japan in 2015, was published in English by Viz Media in 2016.

The battle has been won and the House of York reigns victorious, but the struggle for the English crown continues; the war is far from being over. The deposed King Henry seems content to wander the countryside, the weight of rulership lifted from his shoulders, but the rest of the Lancasters are plotting to return their family to power and reclaim the throne. The hold that the newly established King Edward has on the England is in more peril than he realizes. In addition to the threat that the Lancasters pose, there are others among the nobility who are againt the House of York's usurption of the throne. The widowed Elizabeth Woodville is prepared to take advantage of Edward's womanizing ways in order to bring about his and his family's downfall; besotted with Elizabeth, he puts his own desires before the security of the kingdom, risking the loss of the support of France. His younger brother Richard is one of the few people to recognize the danger, but Richard isn't yet in a position to avert the potentially calamitous outcome.

I continue to be fascinated by Kanno's interpretation of Richard, a young man who has been irrevocably harmed by the the rejection and hatred of his mother who sees him and his body as imperfect and demonic. He has a difficult time connecting with people because of the anxiety surrounding his self-identity, an issue made even worse by the recent death of his father on the battlefield. Henry is a perfect foil for Richard and is in many ways his opposite, which throws Richard's perception of himself and of the world into confusion. Richard has resigned himself to loneliness and darkness, even while Henry seeks his company. The two men spend a fair amount of time together in Requiem of the Rose King, Volume 3, neither of them knowing who the other truly is and that their families are enemies. Much as Edward and Elizabeth's relationship may doom the kingdom, Richard and Henry's awkward friendship can only result in tragedy with far-reaching consequences.

Personal strife is mixed with political turmoil in Requiem of the Rose King, each feeding into the other as events unfold. With multiple people expressing interest in obtaining the crown, whether in jest or in all seriousness, the social structures and relationships among the English nobility have become extraordinarily precarious during a time of tenuous peace. This underlying chaos is also reflected in how Kanno approaches the story of Requiem of the Rose King. Many times several scenes overlap with one another, tied together thematically rather than chronologically. Pasts, presents, and possible futures all intertwine and are simultaneous revealed. This can be somewhat disconcerting at first and at times challenging to follow, but I do like the overall effect and drama that it brings to the series, emphasizing the individual characters' experiences as memories, reality, and visions merge together. Requiem of the Rose King has an almost dreamlike quality to it and I find that I fall more deeply under its thrall with each passing volume.

Experiments in Manga

Aya Kanno has had several of her manga series released in English in the past—Soul Rescue, Blank Slate, and Otomen—all of which were quite different from one another. One of the things that I appreciate most about Kanno is the versatility apparent in the range of her work. I was especially looking forward to her most recent series Requiem of the Rose King and was thrilled when Viz Media licensed for an English-language release. The manga is loosely inspired by William Shakespeare's historical plays Henry VI (in its various parts) and Richard III which are in turn a dramatization of England's Wars of the Roses. As a fan of Shakespeare and as a fan of Kanno, I was very interested in seeing her interpretation. Although upon initial reading the first volume of Requiem of the Rose King could occasionally be somewhat confusing—visions, nightmares, and reality all bleeding into one another—I loved its dark atmosphere, theatrics, and dramatic nature. I was very glad when Requiem of the Rose King, Volume 2, initially published in Japan in 2014, was translated into English in 2015.

The bloody struggle for England's throne continues. The Lancasters executed King Richard II for treason and has now ruled the country for three generations. However, there are many who still view the Lancasters as usurpers and who support the House of York's claim to the throne. Richard, the Duke of York, is poised to become the next monarch after King Henry VI is captured and coerced into relinquishing the crown in order to end the bloodshed. But then Queen Margaret takes command of the King's military forces, unwilling to let power to slip from her and her family's hands. The resulting conflict does not go well for the Duke and with this turn of events the dynastic war escalates. During this time, both Henry and the Duke's youngest son Richard are imprisoned in a tower, unaware of the battle's progress and the changing tides of war. Richard is utterly devoted to his father and wants to see him crowned as England's king. Thus, the Duke's death on the battlefield will set into motion a tragic series of events for his son and for the entire kingdom as the darkness that resides within Richard is unleashed.

In part, the first two volumes of Requiem of the Rose King have been a prologue to the rest of the series. The stage, characters, and mood have now been fully set for the unfolding drama and tragedy. There is a huge psychological element to Requiem of the Rose King. Kanno draws parallels between Henry and Richard which emphasize that, especially in regards to their mental states. Both men are touched by madness, but it manifests in vastly different ways. Henry's insanity seems to be fairly benign although it does cause significant political turmoil. It also provides a way for him to escape from his responsibilities as a ruler and to avoid a very violent reality. Richard's madness, on the other hand, is the result of facing that same reality head on. He becomes utterly consumed by rage and a desire for vengeance. Compared to Henry's passivity and what could be described as harmlessness, Richard takes on a much more active and venomous role. The contrast between Henry and Richard and light and dark extends beyond their characterizations and is captured visually as well; Richard's black hair and clothing consistently set him apart from everything else.

Anno's Richard is both a tragic and terrifying figure. The beginning of Requiem of the Rose King shows the creation of a monster—a young man who is forcefully taking ownership of his own destiny after being irrevocably scarred emotionally and psychologically. Since his birth, Richard has been labeled as a demon child and a harbinger of death. He initially struggles against this stigma, but has now begun to embrace his own darkness. His father, the one person he loved and admired the most is dead; his mother has abandoned him multiple times; Richard sees very little incentive to retain his humanity if everything he truly cares about will be torn from him and he is already viewed as an abomination. The second volume of Requiem of the Rose King is defining for Richard. Among the chaos, violence, and death of war, he loses what little innocence and hope that he might have had. Although many of the surrounding circumstances were beyond his control, ultimately the choice to become a villain is his own. He is driven by despair, madness, and rage, willing to do anything to ensure his own future and the downfall of the Lancasters and anyone else who would stand in his way.

Experiments in Manga½

Artwork was beautiful, however the story puzzled me. Half of the time I was like," Wtf is going on?" The conversation is pretty bad too, sadly. 2.5 stars.

The English-language release of Aya Kanno's Requiem of the Rose King was one of the manga that I was most looking forward to in 2015. Several of Kanno's series have previously been translated into English—Soul Rescue, Blank Slate, and Otomen—all of which are quite different from one another, and Requiem of the Rose King is different still. I tend to enjoy Kanno's work, but I was particularly interested in Requiem of the Rose King because the series is based on William Shakespeare's Henry VI and Richard III, the first tetralogy of a series of plays that dramatize the Wars of the Roses, a dynastic conflict over the English crown in the fifteenth-century. I adore Shakespeare (I actually used to perform monologues competitively as part of my high school's speech and drama team back in the day) and so was excited to learn about Kanno's adaptation and thrilled when Viz Media licensed it. Requiem of the Rose King, Volume 1 was first released in Japan in 2014 while Viz's English-language edition was published in 2015.

Young Richard is the third son of the Duke of York, a man who many believe to be the rightful successor to England's throne. The current king, Henry VI, inherited rulership from his father as a child, but the Lancasters are accused of usurping the crown when their house executed King Richard II for treason. Richard desires nothing more than to see his father crowned king and as his son to prove himself worthy of his noble lineage. But Richard's fate is a troubled one. His body, not fully male, is considered to be deformed and weak, a sign of demonic influence. He is plagued by nightmares, visions, and seemingly prophetic dreams. Richard is adored by his father and loved by his older brothers, but his mother despises him, believing his cursed existence to be a harbinger of evil and death and ashamed of her role in bringing him into the world. Whether or not it is because of Richard's presence, that world is about to descend into chaos and civil war as the Yorks and the Lancasters vie for the crown.

Requiem of the Rose King is not a strict adaptation of Shakespeare's plays. Instead, Kanno uses them as a source of inspiration, remixing, as she describes it, the characters, dialogue, and settings of Shakespeare's originals to create a distinct work of her own. The manga's English translation is excellent. With their refined formality and elegance, the patterns of speech, dialogues, and monologues are reminiscent of Shakespeare without necessarily quoting directly from his plays. A reader does not at all need to be familiar with Henry VI or Richard III to enjoy Requiem of the Rose King. One of the most striking differences between Requiem of the Rose King and Shakespeare's dramas is the portrayal of Richard. At this point in the series, Kanno's Richard is a much more sympathetic character than Shakespeare's ever was. However, there is still a tense and ominous atmosphere that surrounds him in Requiem of the Rose King. It is very clear that the first volume of the manga is a prelude to even grater tragedies to come.

There is always a danger of disappointment when anticipating a manga to such a great extent, but I can honestly say that I loved the first volume of Requiem of the Rose King. It's theatric and dramatic, with appealing artwork and interesting interpretations of historical figures. Because Requiem of the Rose King is based on plays that were already dramatizations of actual persons and events, the series isn't rigorous in its historical accuracy. However, I find Kanno's version to be both fascinating and immensely engaging. The manga is a bit fragmented in its storytelling, quickly moving from one scene to the next and to from time to time overlapping dreams and reality, but I feel this effectively reinforces the turmoil of the era as well as the unrest experienced by the individual characters. Requiem of the Rose King is a beautifully dark and compelling historical fantasy. I'm very much looking forward to reading the second volume and seeing how the rivalry between the Lancasters and the Yorks continues to play out.

Experiments in Manga½

I sat and read this one at the library. I think I'm in love

I liked this one better than the first volume. It's a cute read that leaves you craving more!

Masumune, Asuka 2nd year National Kendo Champion adores frilly soft things, and likes cooking and sewing. Due to a complex of his father's abandonment, and his mother's scorn he runs away from the things he loves.
Early on he saves our leading lady, Ryou, and instantly falls for her. This leads him going out and buying bags of stuffed toy needlepoint kits, and a series of shojo manga.
Don't miss this hysterical start.
Cheers!

Asuka Masamune is a guy who loves girly things, but in order to keep the approval of family and classmates, he forces himself to hide it. But when he starts falling for Ryo, a girl who only likes masculine guys, he worries he'll never be able to show his true self to anyone.

It's funny and refreshing to see gender roles so completely switched in what is otherwise your typical shoujo manga romantic comedy. So far it doesn't seem like the series is concerned with a deep discussion of gender roles, and some might argue that the approach only reinforces stereotypes rather than breaking them, but at least it is sympathetic to the characters' insecurities about their unconventional preferences. The characters are likeable, the art is clean and pretty, and of course the endless drawings of cute things make this a fun read. Looking forward to what happens in the next volumes!

Ok for younger teens.

I liked Aya Kanno's Blank Slate and wanted to try this series. Happily, the library had volume 1. Unfortunately, I could find no other volumes on the shelves - I loved this volume, and definitely plan on reading more. The only issue I can see is that this could end up being a one-note series that gets stale quickly. In this volume, Asuka appears to be the proper manly ideal. What others don't know about him is that he secretly likes girlie things, like handicrafts, cooking, and cute animals. He falls in love with a clueless girl who likes macho stuff and meets a guy who starts off as his romantic rival and becomes something like a friend. What Asuka doesn't know is that this guy is actually a manga artist and author who's been basing his hit shojo series on Asuka's life. In case this description hasn't already made it obvious, this series is nothing like Kanno's Blank Slate. Kanno is a brave person to tackle such completely different tones.

(Originally posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)

This manga is about a young man who secretly likes "feminine" things (shojo manga, crafts, cooking, etc.). He starts to like a girl who is into "masculine" things (sports, fighting, etc.). He struggles with admitting his feelings to her while remaining true to who he is.

Most pressingly: Why is this shojo? Shojo is about high school, love and/or magical girls. This is about I guy who goes around killing and destroying everything. He might not be human?
Even after reading the whole book I'm not sure what it's about and I might not read the other books.

Ein sehr süßer Shojo-Manga, der die Mädchenherzen höher schlagen lässt. Leichte Kost für unterwegs und allen zu empfehlen, die auf Liebesgeschichten im "Klitzerstil" stehen.

I found this volume hard to follow - the dialogue was not well written, the character of Zen I found rather annoying. The characters a bit flat, and I really don't understand the concept of "Evil" in this book. I'm wondering if it is a bad translation.½