Oct 28, 2017
RECOMMENDED FOR THOSE WHO LIKE EPIC PLOTS, LOVE & WAR TYPE ROMANCES AND DRAMATIC SOAPIES.
I usually don't like dramatic stories but I felt the historical context and setting of this manga aptly matched it and worked well.
Character 8/10
Female lead (Matia) - Naive youth who transitions into a very strong character.
Matia's character arc is quite superb and lasts for the whole length of the manga. She is constantly changing and maturing and it works given that Matia is so young (just a child) in the early chapters. In the later chapters she grows to be a smart, mature and very feminine figurehead (although her experiences along
...
the way leave her a bit broken).
Two male leads
These guys are deeply flawed and I really enjoyed it. It really is a story of Matia rising above these two and their flaws. I've seen other reviews call it a 'love triangle' but I disagree; it's just an unfortunate chain of events that lead to their unusual relationships - but there is only one and main love interest in the story.
Story 8/10
The story is long-winded and I'll admit I skipped a few parts. At the same time, it's incredibly dramatic and raw with political intrigue. Sometimes the politics didn't really make much sense and there are a few plot holes but, whilst it was something I didn't enjoy, I found it easy to ignore. I really liked the ending and that's what brought the whole story up a notch for me. Here's a bit of a spoiler but I feel like it's more of an easter egg than anything and if I don't mention it alot of readers might miss it: The ending hints at the birth of democracy (under the guidance of Matia's teachings). -Makes sense as we have the Greeks to thank for democracy (and this Manga is ofc set in Greece)! I just think that's such a great end to her character arc/story.
Art 6/10
The art is unique. I found it alright and I think, in particular, the hair is drawn beautifully. However, it was a bit messy, not very clean, especially during scenes of warfare, so it made the story hard to follow.
Romance 8/10
Super juicy and dramatic. The main romance takes a bit of a hiatus for like half the manga at its mid-point, but it comes back at the end - the break is also refreshing and leads to a whole lot more story-driven drama. It starts off as a really simple relationship but, ahhh good old politics gets in the way. Never fear it has a happy ending. The other romances amongst side characters are largely maturely themed (there's r@pe, incest etc). No real love triangles though (which I am glad for).
Recommended for your classic historical fiction buff :)
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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