Niehime to Kemono no Ou
Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts

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This is one of my favorite manga series I have seen including The Ancient Magus bride, which was my all time favorite. They may be similar in consept but the stories do differ greatly. The Ancient Magus Bride is more dark while this story is more light, pure, and adorable. Overall it is a very good manga and I hope to own my own copy for this series when I find it somewhere. So If you are fan of the Ancient Magus Bride, love cute fluffy romance, and love beauty and the beast type relationships then defiantly go check it out!! You may ... enjoy it just as much as I have and be exited for the next books release!!!

TL:DR
Great romance, good drama. Some world building. A bit of violence and blood. Very cute, a wonderful read. Definitely recommend.

Story: 9/10
Look, this is a rehash of beauty and the beast with plenty of clichés to boot. However, what it lacks in originality it makes up in execution. I like the trials the main characters are put through, helping them grow. There is some drama due to Sariphi being a human. We see Sariphi gain more allies and open up people to the idea of peace with humans however there are other issues to ensure it doesn't get repetitive. However it feels like problems are ... solved too quickly and/or easily sometimes.

Art: 7/10
Good character art, with lots of cool beast designs. I really like the design of the king as well, it's quite regal. Plenty of shoujo sparkles too. Not much to say here, just has good art.

Character: 10/10
As I said, no one here is something you've never seen before or super interesting character concept but they're simply so endearing and well written that it makes up for all of that. Sariphi is a simple character, naïve but compassionate, while the King is more complicated. He has to grapple with what it means to be king as well as coming to terms with his secret.

Overall: 10/10
An adorable classic shoujo romance. Delightful read, this story has been done many times before but I enjoyed every page of this manga. As I said, there is something to be said for an old idea done well. This manga has my unreserved recommendation for anyone who enjoys shoujo romance manga, this is one of the best of its genre.

Good
• Wholesome, heart-warming, this manga just feels good
• It avoids the trap of similar stories by having showing the good and bad sides of humans and beasts
• Fun bonus chapters lampooning the original story
• Avoids the inherent creepiness in the premise of a sacrifice falling for the person they were going to be sacrificed too

Bad
• Sariphi is canonically 15 years old. Why? She doesn't even act like a child, just make her an adult, why are you like this japan?

A good inspiration for stories is to look back at the classics - in this case: Beauty and the Beast. Sacrificial Princess (as I'll be calling it now, cause it's faster than the full title) is a very character-driven story that focuses on a human thrown into the world of beasts. Saliphie is originally a sacrifice to be killed by the king of beasts, but ends up living in their world as one of them.

One of my favorite things about the story from the get-go is the connection between humans and beasts. There's a history of violence and fear between the two groups, and this ... sets up questions of morality and trust when human and beast meet. All this reminds me of the web novel Karasu, and thankfully it handles the theme just as well as that book did. One thing Sacrificial Princess does best is at making even the 'bad guys' likable and sympathetic characters. You might start out hating them, but by the end they grow on you with their motivations and actions like all the rest. And that's the thing - there isn't a single character I hate thus far! This doesn't include background no-namers who do terrible things (usually in flashbacks), but that's no surprise as they aren't real characters to the story.

Saliphie and Leo's relationship reminds me of Ancient Magus Bride. It would be creepy if their relationship was forced, but Saliphie and Leo question it themselves. Can a human really stay with a beast? What will other people think? Is it okay? Will it last? These two aren't joined at the hip like an obsessive couple either. They function as separate people, and have their own lives to live (as a healthy relationship should be), they just happen to be living those lives with each other. Overall the relationship doesn't feel forced, and as strange as it may be you know that Saliphie and Leo really do care for each other.

Also, holy feels batman. Sometimes I'm like a teenage girl when it comes to feel-good, wholesome shoujo stuff, and this one hits right on the mark. Sacrificial Princess is just filled to the brim with heartwarming moments of characters caring for and helping each other out. I'm a sucker for this and I know it, but it still makes me smile every time moments like this happen. I won't spoil these moments, just know that there are plenty of them, and it's these that drive the characterization and make me love the characters each time.

Saliphie is in some ways the generic "help everyone" mc girl, but she is a strong character on her own. She can be ditzy and helpless (again, generic) but also assertive and confident when she pushes herself to be. We get a look into her thoughts and inner conflicts, and it's a great focus to have on the character. Other great characters include Leo (of course), Amit, Anubis (yes really, just keep reading), Jormungand, Ilya (Yes. Really.), Duke Galoa, Tetra, Land, and more. Backstories can be cliched in their tragic nature, but as I mentioned before: the characters aren't everything you might expect.

Overall, though I'm sure this story has been done many times before, Sacrifical Princess is something special. It's predictable, and it's cliched, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy almost every chapter of it. It's the execution that counts, and for making a cast of characters that I care about and want to follow, set in world with some interesting (if a little under-explored) history between beasts and humans, I couldn't ask for much more.

Anime adaptation in the future, please?

Shoujo isn’t exactly my favourite genre. Still, once in a while I give it a try, and once in a whole there is a title that surprises. Sacrificial Princess is one of those.

What’s interesting is that usually when a shoujo manga is good, it’s because it’s closer to other demographics and is shoujo more on a technicality. In this case though, it’s really a pure shoujo manga, simply with actually good writing. And by that I don’t mean that the author added sex and violence to make it appear more mature (I’m looking at you Nana). No, the characters and the themes are the main ... strengths of this story.

Sacrificial Princess has a non-toxic romantic couple, something that is unfortunately quite rare around these parts. What’s even more unexpected, in the good way, is the positive portrayal of feminine and masculine traits of the couple, which complements each other as the pair bring each other up, rather than the usual forced drama clashes of man’s vs woman’s view. Indeed, here we have both soft feminine approach to problem solving and strong masculine approach working in tandem in a beautiful painting of a power couple relationship.

This all work even better within the framework of the story of court politics and fantasy discrimination. This is not just a nice way to spice up the story into something beyond just an ordinal romance, but also a great opportunity to explore the side characters and give them as much character development as possible. In fact, one of the main themes of the story is how people can change, and it lead to some actually touching moments exploring love and sense of belonging.

Story-wise I also appreciate that it doesn’t leave plot elements unsolved. This is a story-driven manga and it both aims and achieves tying up plot threads both main and side.

Art-wise I have no complaints, the character design is fitting and the arstyle can portray both serious action moments and cute wholesome moments.

Overall this is a great read that I believe can interest most readers of all demographics.

I can really say that I enjoy this. I found it to be adorable and cute. A lot like beauty and the beast but with a bit of a twist. I am looking forward to reading more. It's a lovely little romance between a girl and a beast. He has a secret that no one knows about. He protects her, and loves her. The Demon King is pretty bad ass, super strict and doesn't like to be pushed around.

Saliphie is a pretty spunky chick who accepts her fate. She is super outgoing and will probably make you laugh with some of the stuff she ... comes up with. She is naive and sees the best in everyone. Overall this manga is super lovely.

I think this manga is very promising. It has a beautiful plot that really captivates the reader's heart, thanks to its wonderful characters and mysterious context.

Let's start with the characters. Our two protagonists, Saliphie and Leo, started on a "sacrifice-to be sacrificed to" relationship (I don't really know how to express it, I hope you get the idea). Saliphie is a human girl destined to be sacrificed to the King of Beasts, in accordance to the pact made between humans and beasts to end their long war. One would expect Saliphie to be scared, but quite on the contrary, she is a cheerful and positive ... girl when she meets the King. That is because she was raised as a sacrifice and thus holds nothing dear in her heart that could make her wish to hold on to life. Young, innocent and carefree, she is an adorable and cute heroine to whom the reader is easily attached to. She can also display great courage and determination. As for her appearance, she is cute but also has a beautiful side that you'll discover if you read the manga.
The King, whom Saliphie will name Leonhart, is the King of the Beast, an absolute monarch respected by his citizens and feared by the humans as a monster. At his side is the chancellor Anubis, his advisor. Yet the King hides a great secret that no one is aware of, and that Saliphie will come to discover. Behind his strong and fierce attitude hides a kind and gentle king, afraid of his own weakness and who cares deepy for his people. He wishes there were no conflict and strives to make his kingdom a better place. He looks like a big brown lion with sabres' teeth protruding from his mouth and has a really fluffy tail. He also has another form, that I personally find most handsome (read the manga to see what it is ^^).

Upon discovering the King's secret, Saliphie having nowhere to return to, decides to stay by the King's side.

This leads us to the story. The King wishes to make Saliphie his queen, but as a human queen is absolutely unheard of and the "beasts" despise humans, this announcement is not accepted by the nobles, and especially Anubis, who will try anything to keep Saliphie away from the King (only because he cares a lot about the King and thinks of Saliphie as a danger). Yet Saliphie will make a few friends and her kindness allows her to look ahead with hope. Of course, our two main protagonists fall in love (sooo unexpected ... but absolutely adorable) and both hold the strong desire to remain at the other's side.
Indeed, both have had a harsh past, making them really close and supportive of each other despite their differences.
Saliphie must now face various apparently impossible trials to be able to stay by the King's side. Of course, she faces them valiantly and with faith in her heart. This makes both characters grow stronger.

If I were to say anything about art, it's that it is quite beautiful. The mangaka has really drawn this manga with a lot of details, but not to the point where it can be suffocating. Other characters than Saliphie and the King have not been ignored and are also treated with care. The art also reveals the tension in the air and general atmosphere of the story. It is most of the time light and gentle, but sometimes you can really feel the tension in the air and there are also some "dark" moments where the reader can feel quite uneasy (you'd think "hmm... something fishy is happening there..."). The author also pays attention to clothing and objects.

Basically, I really enjoyed this manga. It got me hooked in in an instant and I am awaiting the next chapters eagerly. You've got good character development, a nice story with a few twists here and there and beautiful graphism. A wonderful shoujo. To put it in a nutshell, simply great!

I hope that you'll get to enjoy this as much as I did if you're in romance filled but not so kitsch shoujo with a "beauty and the beast" type of relationship!

This manga is a simple yet delightful fantasy shoujo that will be enjoyed by both fans of shoujo manga and fans of the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale. Although it does not attempt anything new within the genre and occasionally dives into classic shoujo tropes, it is still a fun read.

Story: 7/10
If you are looking for a revolutionary fantasy manga that tries to do new things, then I would not recommend this; however, the story is still fun and engaging. The setting is fantastical and immersive, and the characters all have their own charms. I personally would have gone in a slightly different ... direction with the ending, and the romance wasn't quite what I was wanting, but overall, I enjoyed the story.

Art: 8/10
The art in this series is light and airy, which fits the content of the story well and is pleasing to look at.

Characters: 6.5/10
The characters are all charming, but quite a few of them don't have the depth that I've come to expect from shoujo series. In addition, there are very few instances of growth that are specific to a single character. However, I still did get attached to some of the characters.

Overall Enjoyment: 7/10
While not the most interesting or entertaining fantasy shoujo I've read, I still enjoyed this manga, and would recommend it to enjoyers of fantasy shoujo and romance shoujo alike.

Bro this shit is the most wholesome and rejuvenating thing I've ever read like bruh its so sweet and the characters look really cool.

It says I gotta make a longer review but I'm so exited for the anime adaptation I cant wait. Also The Ancient Magus Bride is taking its time getting here so I hope its worth it. Also if you use the bee network help a brother out and use my code: Jagaur (ik i spelled jaguar wrong I was dumby mode) we both benefit from it. i hope this is long enough but yall should read this A$AP

At first when I read this story i thought it was a short beauty and beast story that is until politics came into the picture and then it spiraled from there. From Saliphie/Sariphie struggling to stay by the King's side and become his queen and vise versa with the king trying to make have his people accept her as their queen. You can see the many trails and obstacles they go through, even if there are many cliques through out the story and their adventure they still hold onto each other dearly and embrace what life has to throw at them. from my last read ... of The ancient magus bride and this manga is by far taking racial tension, and biased creatures to a whole another level where we see the changing a Monarch way government.

Well, a rehash of the original Beauty and the Beast, but it differs enough to be distinct. Usually I don't really like stories where the the main character is a Mary Sue, however in this case the execution was really good, so it hit me right in the feels. Hence, the whole story is kinda idealistic, and naive, but sometimes it is good to fantasize about a better world. If you want to escape from the reality, than this one is for you.

This is a romance at the core, so the characters are one of the most important aspect, and they are excellent. Despite most ... of them are somewhat "moral-compass" types, they are all complex and likeable with motivation, flaws and distinct personalities. Also, I'm appreciate the fact that even the "evil" characters were not typical "being evil for the sake of being evil" . They had complexity, and from their perspective their motivations was understandable, and that what makes an antagonist interesting.

The story itself is good for a romance, but quite predictable. Especially, if you know the original work. So if you want a never seen before storyline with unique spins, than look elsewhere. This manga shines in other aspects.

Although, the visuals are nothing spectacular, it has a unique charm to it. Especially the character designs. I really liked it.

All in all a good read. So definietly recommended.