Manhwa Review: The Remarried Empress Vol. 6

Lots of Korean web comics and web fiction are successfully making the jump from the Internet to traditional media nowadays. One of these is The Remarried Empress. Read on for the review of Volume 6 of the manhwa. (For other reviews of this series, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Navier and Heinrey have agreed to marry! Heinrey is over the moon, despite the political nature of their initial arrangement, but Navier is still reeling from Sovieshu’s decision to separate. She must scramble to recover, though, knowing full well that the emperor will do everything in his power to prevent their union. And so, when the day of the formal trial arrives, Navier brandishes her and Heinrey’s trump card―“I accept this divorce… and request an approval for my remarriage!”

The Review

The Emperor plows ahead with his scheme to replace Navier with Rashta as a legitimate empress. Unbeknownst to him, Heinrey forges ahead with his own plans to secure the safety of Navier’s brother (and put himself into her family’s good graces). Thus, the narrative hurtles toward the divorce proceedings we glimpsed in Volume 1.

However, before that extremely public trial, the High Priest responsible for the proceedings speaks privately to the Emperor. Like most observers, the priest is baffled by the Emperor’s determination to cast his wife aside and tries to talk him out of it. That’s when we finally learn Sovieshu’s motivation for cooking up such a convoluted plan to divorce and reinstate Navier.

Previously, the Emperor seemed an incredibly selfish and controlling person. Once he reveals what happened to him and Navier as children, he seems like an incredible idiot, and a deceitful one at that. He tells his secret in a bid for sympathy, but he didn’t get mine. After all, he could have handled the situation so many other ways (like telling Navier the truth so she could actually cooperate with a solution). The fact that he is hiding the truth and securing an heir with someone who’s so unqualified and disrespectful toward his wife paints him as both unwise and despicable.

At any rate, by the time the divorce proceedings begin, you’ll be thoroughly fed up with the Emperor. Heinrey’s surprise appearance at the trial is a much bigger deal than one might realize in Volume 1, and it is extremely satisfying when the High Priest sides with Navier and marries her to Heinrey.

Sovieshu has mostly treated Navier in public with cold indifference, so it’s out of character when he gets wildly emotional in the courtroom, spouting outbursts of how Navier is his wife and he won’t let another man take her. His behavior is more fitting for a thoughtless child than the head of an empire, and the fact that he can’t control himself diminishes him further as a ruler in my eyes. Unfortunately, because he is the highest ranked person in the country, he can and does continue to interfere with Navier and Heinrey’s union, although even he has to recognize his actions put him on dicey political grounds.

In contrast to Sovieshu is Heinrey, who’s going above and beyond to make Navier feel loved and put her worries at ease. And then there are Navier’s allies, who rally to help and celebrate with her as she leaves her marriage on her terms. Volume 6 does not mark the end of the series, but the former empress has certainly triumphed over her now ex-husband as she gets a new partner and lease on life.

In Summary

Prior to the divorce proceedings, the Emperor confides to the High Priest his true reason for divorcing Navier. But instead of earning sympathy, he comes off looking like a fool. He looks an even bigger fool, though, when Heinrey and Navier foil his plans to control Navier after their marriage is dissolved. The obstacles and troubles Navier’s faced have been numerous, so when she and Heinrey come out on top, you can’t help but wish them well.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: My Gently Raised Beast Vol. 5

Lots of Korean web comics and web fiction are successfully making the jump from the Internet to traditional media nowadays. One of these is My Gently Raised Beast. Read on for the review of Volume 5 of the manhwa. (For reviews of other volumes, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Blondina is rescued just in the nick of time by Amon, and her safe return is greeted with much joy and celebration. But not everyone is happy to see her alive and well―when Adellai witnesses all the love and warmth around her half sister, something inside her snaps. Unhinged by jealousy, she redoubles her efforts to destroy Blondina…but not if Amon has anything to say about it! “I will never lose you again, Briddy.”

The Review

Amon comes to Blondina’s rescue, foiling Adellai’s plans. With this, the story plunges into full royal succession struggle mode. It doesn’t matter that Blondina harbors zero ambitions of taking the crown. She nearly got murdered, and things clearly won’t end there. Thus, sweet, mild Blondina quickly grows a backbone in order to confront first the Dehills and then Adellai. Blondina’s declaration, “What I need right now isn’t someone else’s power, but my own, so I can protect my people,” shows how drastically she’s changed.

In the meantime, Adellai doubles down on her efforts against Blondina and the Divine Beasts. She’s definitely painted as the villain here – not showing the slightest hesitation to eliminate foes and inconvenient allies alike. Although jealousy is at the root of her vehemence, she’s unfortunately starting to feel one-dimensional – spouting the same pompous line about taking back what was stolen from her whether she has the upper hand or in mortal danger.

As for the person at the center of this sibling rivalry, he’s behaving annoyingly out of character in this volume. After Amon returns Blondina to her family, her father suddenly gets a conscience. His very belated guilt over Blondina’s suffering doesn’t feel genuine though. He’s the king for crying out loud. Given his power and resources, he had a whole lot of options if he truly wanted to secure Blondina and her mother’s welfare. The lack of resentment in Blondina’s reception of his apology doesn’t feel genuine either. After all, this is the same gal who was happy to dish punishment to the abusive innkeepers. One could argue that her father’s abandonment was as bad as their behavior or worse. Not to mention, the king has not and still is not doing a thing to quell the hostility between his children. In a sense, he’s to blame for this vicious sibling rivalry, and the man is too oblivious or incompetent to stop it.

In Summary

The sibling rivalry intensifies! Although Blondina escapes the “stimulant incident” with her life, others involved in the plot do not. Adellai’s quick to kill attitude and maniacal eyes are starting to feel stale, but it is interesting to see Blondina develop into more than a victim who needs rescuing. And although Blondina’s not actually interested in the throne, Lart is. Things are bound to get a lot messier between the three siblings as the power struggle continues.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: A Business Proposal Vol. 4

Lots of Korean web comics and web fiction are successfully making the jump from the Internet to traditional media nowadays. One of these is A Business Proposal. Read on for the review of Volume 4 of the manhwa. (For other reviews of the series, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

 Hari is about to finally end it with Taemu when disaster strikes. Sudden news of her parents’ accident throws her into a panic, but thankfully, her capable CEO is there to get things under control! Taemu proves with grace and efficiency that he really is good at everything―crisis management, emotional support…and frying chicken…? With her parents in the hospital, Hari needs all the help she can get to keep the restaurant open, and Taemu is determined to use this as a chance to rack up brownie points! However, things get heated when Minwoo joins in, increasingly possessive of his “best friend”…

The Review

Talk about an emotional roller coaster. Taemu and Hari steam up the first two pages with what was meant to be a goodbye kiss. Fortunately for Taemu, he gets the opportunity to keep the relationship going when Hari gets the sudden news her parents were injured in a kitchen accident. Yes, it is a conveniently timed crisis, but it allows Mr. CEO to demonstrate how serious he is about Hari, both in conventional rich person fashion (taking care of her parents’ medical care) and a more unusual way (rolling up his sleeves at the restaurant to help keep the family business going). Actually, everyone rallies to support Hari and her brother, so the entire swoon-worthy cast ends up in aprons. If you wanted to see the CEO and his secretary frying chicken together, this is your volume!

In addition to the crisis keeping Taemu and Hari together, it allows Sunghoon and Yeongsuh to cross paths and ultimately clear up their misunderstanding. With that, they kiss and make up – in a way that burns up the pages. The book definitely earns its “Older Teen” rating with their bedroom scene at the opening of Chapter 43. So things are just peachy for the pair – except for the fact that Yeongsuh’s dad doesn’t consider Sunghoon ideal husband material. Rich girl’s daddy has made a move yet, but it is imminent.

Also crossing paths during the restaurant crisis are Taemu and Minwoo. After everything poor Hari has been through, it’s satisfying to watch the two guys fight over her in between washing dishes and passing out restaurant flyers. However, the romantic tension with Minwoo comes to an abrupt end when he breaks up with his girlfriend and professes love to Hari. I expected more out of this scene, especially since he is the person Hari has obsessed over so long, but his confession is unexpectedly disappointing. By the end of it, he truly does seem like a squid. But at the very least, it allows Hari to make a clean break from him and focus on her situation with Taemu, which is complicated enough.

In Summary

An accident at Haha Chicken brings everyone to the restaurant to help Hari keep her family’s business afloat. In between our gorgeous characters dazzling customers as they clean tables and marinate chicken, Sunghoon and Yeongsuh light up the bedroom, and Taemu and Minwoo exhibit jealous behavior over Hari. Ultimately, things with Minwoo come to an unsatisfying and disappointing conclusion, but the progress between Sunghoon/Yeongsuh and Taemu/Hari are plenty to keep the drama going.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? Vol. 3

Lots of Korean web comics and web fiction are successfully making the jump from the Internet to traditional media nowadays. One of these is What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?. Read on for the review of Volume 3 of the manhwa. (For other reviews of this series, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Youngjun continues to woo Secretary Kim, but he’s got some stiff competition! Miso happens to run into her favorite author, Morpheus—and what’s more, when she flips through Morpheus’s debut anthology, certain eerily familiar details in a story about a kidnapping catch her eye…

The Review

If your rich, handsome lead has an equally good-looking single brother, of course, that brother’s going to take an interest in the leading lady. However, things don’t quite head into the usual love triangle territory. SungYeon’s interest in Miso very much has an I-only-want-her-because-my-brother-has-her vibe. Plus, she immediately rebuffs his attempts to charm her. It’s only when she reads in SungYeon’s autobiography that he was kidnapped as a child that he grabs her attention.

But instead of clarity, SungYeon only raises more questions. Key facts line up, like the time and place of the kidnapping, so Miso’s certain she’s found the right person. However, SungYeon has zero memory of Miso being held captive with him.

To further muddy the waters of the past, YoungJun apparently forgot everything about his brother’s kidnapping shortly after the incident. And although YoungJun wasn’t the one kidnapped, he’s dealing with his own trauma, with actual scars on his ankles to match. Miso also discovers YoungJun had a hand in her becoming his personal secretary nine years ago even though she is far from qualified for the position. Moreover, his mother seems to hold some critical information but is being tightlipped about it.

So there’s certainly a mystery within the Lee family. All the mismatching puzzle pieces will keep readers intrigued as YoungJun’s focus switches from Operation: Sweep Miso Off Her Feet to Keep Miso Away From My Brother. Not to say there are no romantic moments. Through the power of money and corporate clout, YoungJun finagles a second date with Miso, but whereas their first date was over-the-top in every way, Miso takes the reins to force her high-class boss into commoner territory.

Extras include illustration gallery, next volume preview, artist’s note, and translation notes.

In Summary

Rom-com steps aside for mystery when SungYeon reveals to Miso that he was the kidnapped Lee son. But he has no memory of Miso. And his accounts of his childhood years contradict with YoungJun’s. It’s not a love triangle between the three, but the lack of clarity on their history keeps things engaging.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: See You in My 19th Life Vol. 1

Lots of Korean web comics and web fiction are successfully making the jump from the Internet to traditional media nowadays. One of these is See You in My 19th Life. Read on for the review of Volume 1 of the manhwa.

Back Cover Blurb

“I’M A BIT DIFFERENT FROM EVERYONE ELSE.” After living through and remembering seventeen previous lives, twelve-year-old Juwon Yun’s heart can’t be moved by anyone…except a strong, lovable boy named Seoha Mun. Just before she can let him in on her secret, however, their time together is abruptly cut short―until she reincarnates less than a year later. Now, as Jieum Ban, she’s determined to make her way back to Seoha’s side…but he’s haunted by the memory of Juwon dying in his arms, so romance is the last thing on his mind! Will Jieum be able to overcome her own past self and find happiness in her nineteenth life?

The Review

12-year-old Juwon Yun is on her 18th life. After being reincarnated so many times, she’s jaded to human relationships. That is, until she meets 9-year-old Seoha Mun. His contrary personality and difficult circumstances has her feeling emotions she hasn’t experienced in ages. So she falls for him – and is almost immediately killed in front of him by a car crash. Thus cheated of love, she resolves to reunite with him in her 19th life.

With its rich and handsome male lead, trauma-induced disability, antagonistic parent, and love that endures beyond death, See You in My 19th Life is a K-drama through and through. Its unique circumstances require quite a bit of set up though. Three chapters, to be exact. However, the way Juwon domineers the uber-rich spoiled brat that is Seoha during those chapters is pretty entertaining. For those who have ever struggled with a mouthy kid, her handling of him is downright satisfying, even as the narrative weaves in the details of her reincarnation.

Seoha eventually falls for Juwon–not surprising given the child’s rather isolated life. The part that is a leap is when that old soul seriously accepts the 9-year-old’s marriage proposal. But she is on her 18th life so she’s not exactly a normal person. Of course, just as she resolves to embrace this relationship, her life’s cut short K-drama style.

But for this character, that just means she’s reincarnated again. She enters her next life almost immediately, so her death essentially results in a 23-year time skip for our romance. Reborn as Jieum Ban, she’s determined to find Seoha again. Unfortunately, he has no way to know she’s reincarnated. And unlike her 18th life, where she and Seoha had the same wealthy status, her 19th family is dirt poor. Without the benefit of the same social circle, she instead draws upon all the skills of her previous lives to become a top-notch corporate employee and places herself in the ranks of Seoha’s family’s conglomerate to await a chance to get close to him.

Not that that’s easy. Seoha still bears the scars from Juwon’s death. The full extent of his hearing disability and the impact it’s had on his social and professional life remains to be revealed, but it’s pretty clear this handsome rich boy is a big mess. Between the guilt he feels toward Juwon’s family and the antagonism between him and his uncaring father, he’s retreated to an overseas branch of the company. It’s only when the hotel once managed by his beloved mother is on the brink of shutting down that he returns to Korea to save it. And that’s when Jieum gets her opportunity.

Juwon/Jieum is an engaging character. With her multiple lives of experience, she is skilled at handling difficult personalities and situations. However, her single-minded goal of reaching Seoha, logical though it is from her perspective, is not one that she can readily share with others. Thus, observers are alternately impressed and mystified by her actions. One character in particular, Jiseok, is aggressively trying to recruit her, and the fact that she refuses his offers to work at a hotel on the decline has him baffled. By the way, this Jiseok has some (negative) history with Seoha, so he’s bound to stick around.

Also in the supporting cast is Chowon Yun, the younger sister to the deceased Juwon. The narrative hints that she has a thing for Seoha, which would make for a fascinating love triangle. Of course, she has no idea who Jieum is, as evidenced when Chowon tries to scout her for the Yun family entertainment business.

In short, there are a lot of complicating factors to keep this reincarnation romance interesting, and enough levity to balance the tragic past that burdens our main couple. The artwork is great at projecting the mood, especially our reincarnated soul’s unnerving vibe on others. Illustrations are rendered in full color on glossy paper, which makes for a nice-looking but hefty book.

In Summary

A 12-year-old girl who has been reincarnated 17 times falls in love with a boy only to die abruptly. What’s a soul to do? Pursue him in her next life, of course! See You in My 19th Life is an interesting take on the fated lovers trope. Other K-dramas have rich, handsome, traumatized male leads like Seoha, but a lead female with Jieum’s depth of experience and unique attitude toward life makes this title fresh and intriguing.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: The Remarried Empress Vol. 5

Lots of Korean web comics and web fiction are successfully making the jump from the Internet to traditional media nowadays. One of these is The Remarried Empress. Read on for the review of Volume 5 of the manhwa. (For other reviews of this series, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

“AND NOW, BECAUSE OF LOVE, I’M GOING TO LOSE EVERYTHING.” Things are coming to a head between the empress, the emperor, and his mistress. Rashta’s secret has been found out, Navier must scramble to save her brother from banishment, and with all the pieces in place, Sovieshu finally readies his opening gambit. The plan? File to divorce Navier! But Heinrey is making moves to capture his queen, and if Sovieshu isn’t careful, he might just end up in checkmate…

The Review

And… Rashta’s secret is out. Both the Empress and Emperor learn about her hidden child, though neither spouse is aware the other knows about it. Unfortunately, the one to suffer for it is Navier’s brother, who is arrested and promptly exiled. Rashta, on the other hand, maintains her position in the palace. For now.

If you didn’t despise Sovieshu before, you will now as he initiates a scheme to divorce Navier, make Rashta empress for a year (to legitimize their baby), then reinstate Navier as empress. Aside from the fact it’s so outrageous that his assistant begs him to reconsider, the Emperor clearly has no regard for either woman. Especially since he’s keeping the full extent of his plan a secret from both.

However, Navier catches wind of Sovieshu’s plan – but only the divorce her and crown Rashta empress part. Shortly after, the Empress runs into Heinrey while visiting the Wilwol magic academy. While this unplanned encounter begins like a lot of their previous interactions, this time it ends very differently.

Navier has never been anything less than upstanding in her personal and private life. No doubt if she were assured of her position as Sovieshu’s wife, she would’ve remained steadfastly faithful to him, even with his dalliances. But the very real threat of divorce has shaken her to her core. So when Heinrey lavishes her with his usual adoration and listening ear, this time she’s vulnerable. And when he innocently tells her he wishes that she could be his queen, Navier seizes upon his words.

Perhaps her actions are – as she herself describes it – calculating. But for her to consider another man under any other circumstances would be out of character. Still, the romantic tension is there, and at this point, the poor woman has been so hurt you want her to have a scrap of happiness. For his part, Heinrey is predictably ecstatic, yet that is tempered by the fact that he realizes there must be something serious behind her sudden change of heart.

Thus, things are more or less in place for the dramatic opening divorce scene in Volume 1.

Despite Sovieshu’s abominable behavior and Navier’s trampled emotions, there are funny bits. The first involves poor McKenna in an incident that looks to be his ultimate tragedy only for Duke Ergi to turn it into a comedy. The second is the Emperor’s scheme to legitimize Rashta that backfires in a very public display. It turns into such a farce that even Navier laughs and cracks a joke at it.

Another element entering the narrative is the unprecedented drop in the number of imperial mages. Magic’s come up before in terms of Heinrey’s transformation ability and the troublesome love potion. Now, however, we’re learning of the role it plays in military forces and, by association, the power each country possesses. It’s not clear how this will figure into Heinrey’s efforts to make Navier his, but given that Navier’s position as empress of another country kind of complicates things, all this talk of mages and military is likely to play a key role.

In Summary

It’s the moment Navier x Heinrey fans have been waiting for… she finally agrees to be his! But only because she’s discovered her husband’s plans to divorce her in order to crown his mistress. The Emperor sinks to new lows in this volume, exiling Navier’s brother, then pinning him as a scapegoat to cover up his own botched attempt to pass Rashta off as nobility. He is definitely looking like the bad guy as we steadily approach the divorce scene in the series opener.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: A Business Proposal Vol. 2

Lots of Korean web comics and web fiction are successfully making the jump from the Internet to traditional media nowadays. One of these is A Business Proposal. Read on for the review of Volume 2 of the manhwa. (For other reviews of the series, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

On a romantic evening date with the young, rich, and unbelievably handsome Taemu, Hari is the envy of all women…but little do they know―it’s all fake! She has been trapped into playing the part of his girlfriend to appease his meddlesome grandfather, all the while desperately trying to hide the fact that she is actually an employee at his company! How long can she keep up this nerve-wracking double life?

The Review

After being coerced into becoming Taemu’s fiancée for hire, Hari’s got a dilemma: how does she pull off this gig without her employer-who-hates-being-lied-to discovering she works for his company? Thus Hari switches her femme fatale persona for another fake identity. Meanwhile, Taemu’s not being completely truthful himself. He’s still actually set on marrying her and using the “fiancée job” as a means to convince her to agree.

Sounds like a pretty good strategy for Taemu to accomplish his goal, but unfortunately, he is his own worst enemy. In keeping with his strict, single-minded personality, he regularly calls Hari at 4 AM as if it is normal, demands that she meet up with him with little to no warning, and nitpicks if she is a single minute late. Hardly charming behavior, and Hari runs herself ragged switching between her office drone and sexy escort look and avoiding Taemu in their workplace.

While watching Hari freak out is funny, the vibe isn’t exactly romantic between our main couple. On Taemu’s end, he seems more weirdly obsessed then smitten, and considering all the lies that Hari has thrown (and continues to throw) at him, it’s hard to tell what he finds attractive asides from maybe her looks.

The one who is basking in a romantic glow is Hari’s friend Yeongsuh. She’s found her Mr. Right, and she’s not particularly remorseful about the suffering she’s brought upon (and continues to bring upon) Hari. Between Yeongsuh and Taemu, this title is really painting rich people as awful, self-centered jerks. However, things can’t go TOO well for anyone in a Korean drama, and Yeongsuh’s blind date proxy scheme comes back to bite her in a big and personal way, LOL.

In Summary

The lies continue… Hari’s cover goes from femme fatale to part-time hired escort. And unfortunately for her, Taemu forces her to take a gig as a pretend fiancée. While some of the setup is implausible, it is entertaining to watch Hari frantically switching between personas. And then it’s REALLY satisfying when rich girl Yeongsuh, the cause of Hari’s troubles, gets bit by her own proxy blind date scheme.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? Vol. 2

Lots of Korean web comics and web fiction are successfully making the jump from the Internet to traditional media nowadays. One of these is What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?. Read on for the review of Volume 2 of the manhwa. (For other reviews of this series, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Operation: Sweep Miso Off Her Feet is in full force! Winning over his secretary’s affection has proven to be a tough task, but Youngjun’s pulling out all the stops and re-creating her perfect date—whatever it takes for her to stay! Though Miso finds her heart fluttering at his advances, her dreams are haunted by the memories of a boy from her past, one she feels too compelled to remember…

The Review

Armed with survey information and his vast resources, YoungJun pulls out all the stops in creating Miso’s perfect date! But YoungJun being his self-absorbed YoungJun self manages to sabotage the mood more than once. Like a good romantic comedy, our main couple is never quite able to get in step with each other, yet each does manage to see the other in a romantic light, if at different moments.

In the end, Operation: Sweep Miso Off Her Feet doesn’t do the job of convincing her to be his girlfriend. However, it still serves a purpose. Shortly thereafter, Miso goes on a blind date and later gets asked out by a handsome coworker. Though both men would make excellent boyfriend material, Miso can’t help but compare them to YoungJun. All part of YoungJun’s grand scheme… though it’s a rom-com so Miso’s comparisons don’t always portray YoungJun in a positive light.

Then the narrative shifts away from dating comedy to phobias and dark memories. Miso gets distracted from her search for Mr. Right when her friend’s journalist fiancé discovers a possible connection between the mysterious boy of her past and an incident hushed up by YoungJun’s family. At the same time, YoungJun’s older brother returns to Korea for the first time in three years. Unlike YoungJun, this Lee son resides in France, has nothing to do with the family business, and has a charming personality. Oh, and he and YoungJun hate each other’s guts. It’s an enmity that goes back to their childhood, and those elements combined with glimpses of our characters’ dreams create a compelling element of mystery in the story.

Extras include illustration gallery, next volume preview, artist’s note, and translation notes.

In Summary

What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? continues the rom-com with YoungJun simultaneously creating and flubbing up Miso’s dream date. However, halfway through the volume, the tone shifts from humor to mystery as YoungJun’s older brother enters the story. Phobias, nightmares, and intensely bad blood between the brothers will soon have you pondering What’s Wrong with the Lee Brothers?

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: My Gently Raised Beast Vol. 3

Lots of Korean web comics and web fiction are successfully making the jump from the Internet to traditional media nowadays. One of these is My Gently Raised Beast. Read on for the review of Volume 3 of the manhwa. (For reviews of other volumes, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

All it took was a brush with death to get her there, but Blondina finally realizes her true feelings toward Amon. It’s more than just friendship―it’s love! And so begins her quest to win over the handsome divine beast. But first things first―she’s curious to see how he looks in human form, all grown up. Luckily, Amon’s been waiting for her to ask: “…Think you can handle it?”

The Review

Amon’s now the leader of the Divine Beasts. Therefore, he has the authority to pursue the romantic relationship he’s desired with Blondina. As for Blondina, she’s finally stopped seeing Amon as a cute kitten and fallen hard for his grown human form. Sounds perfect, right? They’re both into each other, and nothing’s stopping them from getting together…except their own misunderstandings.

I’m not averse to romances where couples misread one another, but the way things play out between Amon and Blondina is more frustrating than titillating. Blondina especially seems stone-blind to what’s happening. Amon’s never made advances on Lucy, yet Blondina is stuck on the idea he’s in love with Lucy despite the fact that Amon’s paws and tongue are all over her. When he switches to human form and gets handsy with her, she attributes it to his “innocence,” and when he kisses her, she chalks it up to “mating season.” Blondina did not lead a sheltered existence. Far from it, she’s well aware that humans and Divine Beasts have sexual urges. So her behavior doesn’t make much sense, and it winds up dragging the plot.

While the developments between Amon and Blondina make me want to slap them both, the developments with Blondina’s half-siblings are much more engaging. Lart, who is now pretty much Blondina’s friend thanks to his crush on Lucy, takes steps toward actually courting the object of his affections. Adellai, on the other hand, remains as cold toward Blondina as ever and still harbors ambitions of stealing the crown from her brother. Now she gets an ally. Philip, the nobleman’s son who took an interest in Blondina before leaving to study abroad, returns. But after Amon interferes with Philip’s plans to woo Blondina, Philip teams up with Adellai in her search for the golden-haired, golden-eyed individual who can subdue Divine Beasts.

In Summary

With the ghosts of Blondina’s past dealt with and the leadership of the Divine Beasts in Amon’s paws, it’s back to the palace, where Amon starts making romantic advances toward Blondina. Unfortunately, she’s ridiculously slow to understand his intentions, so these potentially heart-throbbing moments left me annoyed instead. Thankfully, in the palace faction department, things get interesting with Lart stepping up his game in order to court Lucy while Adellai gains a valuable ally in her search for the person who can subdue Divine Beasts. All we need now is for Blondina and Amon to get on the same page with their relationship, and this story can really get going.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: The Remarried Empress Vol. 3

Lots of Korean web comics and web fiction are successfully making the jump from the Internet to traditional media nowadays. One of these is The Remarried Empress. Read on for the review of Volume 3 of the manhwa. (For other reviews of this series, click here.)

The Review

Volume 2 ended with Rashta stirring up gossip about a prominent noblewoman to deflect rumors about her own past. Not surprisingly, those efforts nearly backfire on the former slave, but she’s saved when it’s discovered that she’s pregnant.

Succession is generally a huge deal in royal circles so I had been wondering why the topic of an heir hadn’t popped up yet. Especially since Navier never mentions children or pressure to produce a child. With Rashta’s baby on the way, the Emperor and Empress talk frankly (argue) about the matter, and we learn that despite years of trying, Navier’s never gotten pregnant. With Navier ostensibly unable to conceive, the Emperor broaches the idea of making Rashta’s child his heir, which only further sours his relationship with his wife.

In short, if you didn’t think the Emperor was awful and inconsiderate before, Volume 3 should get you there. Especially with his jealous double standard concerning Navier’s love life.

Speaking of her love life, that proceeds to get more complicated thanks to Grand Duke Kaufman. To be honest, the straight-laced ambassador from Luipt does not seem at all like the type to meddle in a foreign sovereign’s personal affairs with a love potion. And he REALLY does not seem to be the type to prove the efficacy of said potion by consuming it himself. However, the delightful payoff of this less-than-believable chain of events is the lovelorn visuals of the otherwise serious Duke. (I’ll admit I have a weakness for that type of character so I found those illustrations delicious.) And there is an even greater payoff when Heinrey, the Grand Duke, and the Emperor all get into a jealous stew over Navier in the palace garden.

Navier’s such an unappreciated character that it’s nice to see so many guys brawling over her for once, even if it’s for absolutely the wrong reason.

However, the jealous fighting dissipates when the Grand Duke and Heinrey leave the Eastern Empire shortly thereafter – the Grand Duke to seek an antidote to the love potion and Heinrey to rush to his dying brother’s bedside.

Volume 3 wraps up on a somber note with pressure increasing on Navier to accept Rashta’s baby as a legitimate member of the Imperial family and with the crown of the Western Kingdom going to Heinrey after his brother’s passing. This puts Navier’s conditions for divorce in the opening of Volume 1 into a whole new perspective. After all, remarriage to a prince of another country would be shocking enough, but remarriage to a foreign king is outrageous! I’m looking forward to seeing how the dutiful Empress gets to that point and what happens afterward.

In Summary

The Emperor’s mistress has caused all sorts of headaches for Empress Navier, but now the former slave outdoes herself: Rashta’s pregnant. With a baby on the way, the palace drama continues with the line of succession at stake. And to spice up the story a little more, Navier gets an additional handsome admirer, although the way he falls for her is a bit far-fetched. The creators deliver yet another engaging and gorgeously illustrated volume of The Remarried Empress.

First published at the Fandom Post.