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laurbits's review against another edition
4.0
I really like that Ryuki's relationship with Shurei is basically impossible because she's more interested in a career. It's an unbelievably empowering but also heartbreaking story.
laurbits's review against another edition
2.0
This one was just all right because there wasn't enough Shurei! Just short stories from the side characters.
Gonna miss these series since I really did enjoy spending time with the gang.
Gonna miss these series since I really did enjoy spending time with the gang.
shanyreader's review
4.0
Ok, after rereading it for a second time...I'm ready to be nicer.
Again, it deserves it's two stars for drawings because it was honestly such a beautiful, beautiful, BEAUTIFUL thing to read. The pictures were so elegant and pretty. The illustrator really has so much talent in this area. The men are pretty, the women are pretty, and everything is just...perfect.
Now, after reading it again, I get a lot more of what the plot is supposed to be about. I'm not half as confused as I was before! So basically our main character has to travel to the Inner Court to be the consort of the emperor, who's really a torn-up guy inside. The plot itself, is very dramatic and really would make a good live-action drama, but paired up with the images, it's a wholesome little world unto itself.
The last star is because I think I judged it too harshly the first time. It's a very sweet book!!! I'm so glad I gave it another chance and liked it a whole lot better this time. It was comical when it was supposed to be and gave the air of seriousness when it was needed. Perfect. ^.^
Again, it deserves it's two stars for drawings because it was honestly such a beautiful, beautiful, BEAUTIFUL thing to read. The pictures were so elegant and pretty. The illustrator really has so much talent in this area. The men are pretty, the women are pretty, and everything is just...perfect.
Now, after reading it again, I get a lot more of what the plot is supposed to be about. I'm not half as confused as I was before! So basically our main character has to travel to the Inner Court to be the consort of the emperor, who's really a torn-up guy inside. The plot itself, is very dramatic and really would make a good live-action drama, but paired up with the images, it's a wholesome little world unto itself.
The last star is because I think I judged it too harshly the first time. It's a very sweet book!!! I'm so glad I gave it another chance and liked it a whole lot better this time. It was comical when it was supposed to be and gave the air of seriousness when it was needed. Perfect. ^.^
thegalaxypanda96's review
4.0
This was really good I’ve heard of the anime and watched a few episodes but I haven’t finished so this story is going to have its surprises
mekeisha's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jandi's review
3.0
This review is for all 9 volumes.
I had very little idea of what this was about, other than it was recommended for fans of shoujo fantasy, and the cover hinted at adventure in a vaguely historical setting. While this is set in a fictional East Asian country, it is more like historical fiction than fantasy. The story follows Shurei Hong, a teenager of noble birth whose dream is to become a civil servant, but as this path is forbidden to women, she instead works as a teacher as well as an assortment of odd jobs to keep her dilapidated house from collapsing. When she is offered a significant amount of money to join the inner court and whip the emperor into shape, she agrees, and enters a world of powerful beautiful men.
I got a bit of whiplash from reading this. At the beginning, the setting points towards a romance story, but thankfully, Shurei is not particularly interested in marrying and while the possible love interests keep appearing, that is not the focus. Not much happens for a few volumes - we get plenty of comedy with the characters interacting with each other peppered with some palace intrigue, until the stakes finally amp up, and then it all ends, without a real resolution. It feels like this is the prologue of a much grander story.
While the ending was not particularly satisfying, I really enjoyed Shurei's personal growth and her struggle to cement her place in a man's world. Volume 8 was beautiful. Some of the other characters were quite interesting, although the art made it hard to tell some of them apart. And the comedy does shine with several laugh out loud moments.
I had very little idea of what this was about, other than it was recommended for fans of shoujo fantasy, and the cover hinted at adventure in a vaguely historical setting. While this is set in a fictional East Asian country, it is more like historical fiction than fantasy. The story follows Shurei Hong, a teenager of noble birth whose dream is to become a civil servant, but as this path is forbidden to women, she instead works as a teacher as well as an assortment of odd jobs to keep her dilapidated house from collapsing. When she is offered a significant amount of money to join the inner court and whip the emperor into shape, she agrees, and enters a world of powerful beautiful men.
I got a bit of whiplash from reading this. At the beginning, the setting points towards a romance story, but thankfully, Shurei is not particularly interested in marrying and while the possible love interests keep appearing, that is not the focus. Not much happens for a few volumes - we get plenty of comedy with the characters interacting with each other peppered with some palace intrigue, until the stakes finally amp up, and then it all ends, without a real resolution. It feels like this is the prologue of a much grander story.
While the ending was not particularly satisfying, I really enjoyed Shurei's personal growth and her struggle to cement her place in a man's world. Volume 8 was beautiful. Some of the other characters were quite interesting, although the art made it hard to tell some of them apart. And the comedy does shine with several laugh out loud moments.
misssusan's review against another edition
4.0
You know what Saiunkoku reminds me of right now? Tamora Pierce's Protector of the Small. Specifically in its portrayal of a woman entering a male dominated field and gritting her teeth to push through all the unfair behaviour and outright attempts to get her to fail. I find Shurei (and Keladry of Mindelan) amazingly admirable this volume, I want to cheer her on and take her as a role model. Ryuki appears to good effect too (showed leadership ability in his resolution of the city gang storyline and he's handling his inability to help Shurei as much as he'd like relatively maturely) but Shurei was definitely the shining star of this volume. 4 stars