Akizuki Sorata - Akagami no Shirayuki Hime, vol. 01-02

[oyceter]

Shirayuki (Japanese for "Snow White") is an ordinary girl, except for her head of bright red hair. Because of this, she attracts the attention of the prince of her country. In order to escape becoming his concubine, she runs off and meets Zen, the second prince of another country.

So far, I am not actually sure what the plot of this is. The first volume is largely about Shirayuki getting used to her new place in Zen's palace, while the second is more about her becoming a royal pharmacist. Then again, I'm not sure it'll actually matter that much as to what the plot is; the joys of this manga are the cute and sweet art and the extremely cute and sweet interactions between Shirayuki and Zen.

Zen is one of those rare shoujo heroes, someone who is genuinely nice. He rescues Shirayuki a few too many times for my taste, but he's never meanly possessive of her, he gives her room, and he trusts her to do what she needs to do. And he does sweet things like make sure she gets enough sleep without being a jerk about it!

Shirayuki may be a more standard sweet shoujo heroine, but I don't particularly care right now because she and Zen are so adorable!

Overall, this is immensely cute and sweet in the best of ways, with two very likable leads, nice art, and situations that so far don't depend on the leads acting irrationally. I really hope this gets licensed, because good sweet shoujo is actually fairly difficult to find.

Comments

[lnhammer]

I *adore* this series. In part because of the art and the leads and their adorableness, but in part because I'm not so sure Shirayuki is all that standard a sweet shoujo heroine. She has backbone and a (understated) goal and knows how to get things done in her sphere of competancy.

And then there's Zen's brother, the ruling prince ...

Comparing this to The Scarlet Chair by Yuki Midorikawa (better known for Natsume Yuujinchou) is illuminating, for highlighting the relative strengths and weaknesses of both series.

---L.

[octopedingenue]

I love Shirayuki and do think she is set apart from many lesser heroines by her clear-eyed refusal to let anyone control her life or make her choices for her, even when that would seemingly be to her benefit. "I have no interest in living my life that way."

And Zen, for all that he's rescue-y, has no desire to ask Shirayuki to live that way, which is where the strength of their friendship lies. Another favorite chapter or two has Zen wanting to demand Shirayuki do something he thinks will put her in danger, but in the end he trusts her choices and lets her go.

[lnhammer]

Yes, exactly. There's backbone there.

And, well, red hair never hurts.

---L.

[oyceter]

This is true! I forgot about those moments. I looove the interaction between the two as well.

[octopedingenue]

(FYI, it's probably obvious, but I meant in the above comment was "Zen wanting to demand Shirayuki NOT do something he thinks will put her in danger.")

Yes! They are so sensible and sweet and such good friends! I love that there is very little llamadrama of the "OMG what does s/he really think of me, OMG s/he is acting shady and/or people are telling me shady things about hir" variety, because they trust each other. And actually talk to each other in direct "Why are you acting shady?" ways!

In other news, Akizuki Sorata also did the oneshot Otogibanashi no Fude, which I loved as a surprisingly dark piece of fantasy short story. Her work isn't flashy, but I'm expecting very good things from this mangaka.

[oyceter]

(Hee, yes, I figured ;) )

And oooo! I will have to track that down, thanks!

[oyceter]

True! I really like that Shirayuki has a non-romance goal, and I love her determination in the tests!

Hrm, haven't read Scarlet Chair...

[lnhammer]

I'd say track down The Scarlet Chair, but only do so if you haven't found Natsume Yuujinchou (Natsume's Book of Friends), as that really is better. That Natsume hasn't been licensed yet is one of those inexplicables -- especially since the anime is, albeit only streaming.

---L.

[octopedingenue]

Natsume's Book of Friends 1 (9781421532431) is coming out this January from Viz, volume 2 (9781421532431) in April. :)

[lnhammer]

*checks files* Yanno, I even marked that as licensed. Apparently, I had a brain fart.

---L.

[jinian.livejournal.com]

I want to be a royal pharmacist!

[oyceter]

Best job ever!

[octopedingenue]

Yes! You get to travel and have adventures AND do soothing gardening activities.

It's great how Zen doesn't even bother offering royal privilege to snare Shirayuki an official alchemist spot because he knows perfectly well she would never talk to him again. (Oh, she would talk to him again eventually, but first she would look at him in a very disappointed fashion.)

[fourthage]

I tracked this down on your recommendation, and oh my gosh! Thank you! I loved it. Zen and Shirayuki are one of the few couples (to be) that I buy as friends as well as romantic partners.

[octopedingenue]

I knoooow! They are such good nakama-buddies first, potential smoochiefaces a distant (adorable) second. I love the bit when a guy's like "Who are you?" to Zen, and instead of introducing himself as His Royal Highness Prince Zen, Get On Your Knees, Peasant, Zen says "I'm Shirayuki's friend."

I also love Zen's handful of nakama-servants, who rib him mercilessly but clearly adore him, and who are just as clearly placing bets on when Zen and Shirayuki get started with the smoochiefaces already.

[fourthage]

I also love that they're both playing the long game. Shirayuki's working to get into a position where she has access to Zen on her own merits (but through skills we already knew she enjoys practicing), and Zen's already implied to that one noble that he's looking to marry her down the line. So cute!

[oyceter]

Awwww! I'm so glad you like it! They are so cute!

[kothithelegu.livejournal.com]

Definately a cute series! I love the artwork!

[oyceter]

Me too! I even liked the short story omake in v. 1, and I usually don't like manga shorts as much.

how old they are

[(Anonymous)]

i finally found out how old zen is he's 19!! shirayuki is probably around that age 2! i just read chapters 14 15 and 16 they are the best! so cute, just to let u know for the people who havnt read them yet 15 and 16 are flash backs so not that exciting... oh, and for those who know? is there a volume 5 of this manga? im sure there probably is, but just wanted to make sure...i love this series like its my life! i atleast read it like 4 times a day!! and for the fans out there i also recomend the manga "superior" its actually very funny and the main guy ends up falling for the demon queen when he doesnt even know it!