Comics / Manga

Yona of the Dawn: Volume 2 manga review

By Leroy Douresseaux
October 18, 2016 - 22:23

Yona of the Dawn Volume 2 cover image

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Princess Yona lives an ideal life as the only princess in the Kingdom of Kohka.  Her father, King Il, dotes on her, and her faithful guard, Son Hak of the Wind Tribe, protects her.  Yon even cherishes the time spent with the man she loves, her cousin Lord Su-won of the Sky Tribe.  However, everything changes on her 16th birthday when the king is killed and Hak is blamed.  Soon, she is on the run with Hak, but she is determined to reclaim her throne.

As Yona of the Dawn, Vol. 2 (Chapter 6 to 11) opens, Yona and Hak arrive in Fuuga, the capital of the Wind Tribe.  To keep her identity secret among his people, Hak gives Yona the name “Rina.”  Meanwhile, Lord Su-won begins to consolidate power in a bid to assume the throne as the eleventh king of Kohka.

THE LOWDOWN:  Historical.  Romance.  Adventure.  Of course, I like the Yona of the Dawn manga.  I love historical romance and historical adventure, so combine three of them, and I am in like manga-reading Flynn.

Yona of the Dawn Volume 2 is the first volume of the series that I have read – via a copy for review from my VIZ Media rep.  I like creator Mizuho Kusanagi's art which reminds me of the art of Arina Tanemura, especially in the large expressive eyes Kusanagi gives her characters.  Although this is a shojo manga, Yona of the Dawn has an epic sweep and scope, although the graphical storytelling is soft and romantic.  This is like a high school romance with sword-play and courtly intrigue, but it is also like a battle manga with the threat of war and family intrigue.  I look forward to the next volume of Yona of the Dawn.

THE LOWDOWN:  Fans of historical romantic adventure will want to try the Shojo Beat title, Yona of the Dawn.

A-

Rating: A- /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12