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A review by narteest
Red River, Vol. 1 by Chie Shinohara
4.0
I originally read this 3-4 years ago. Back then it was on a whim, and probably just after I read [b:Basara, Vol. 1|1297352|Basara, Vol. 1|Yumi Tamura|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327973341l/1297352._SX50_.jpg|1286505]. Neither volume I initially wanted to read because their art fell into the slightly older category. But, as with Basara, Red River's art grew, and grew, and grew on me. To the point where it didn't matter as much, because the story won out. Below is my general review of the series. But the first volume is a pretty good intro, despite some of Yuri's initial traits (as listed below).
General review of series
First off, I will point out that Yuri begins as a slightly annoying, selfish brat who needs to be rescued constantly and who is the cause of a few characters dying. Later she becomes a little mary sue. However, and some might disagree, but I think Yuri's growth into an almost mary sue character is a natural development for her character. In order to be Kail's strength she could not be a weak pretty creature only. All the mistakes she makes in the beginning of the series, she learns from and uses it for her in the later chapters. She's not considered a beauty in the context of the Hittite Empire, however, when she's dressed up (as opposed to dressing simply) she looks pretty enough. Furthermore, her actions seem to be mary sue, but they don't seem so to me because several points are points of common sense, such as a clean place is healthy for full health recovery when sick. So, for me, I don't feel she becomes mary sue. She has her flaws still even when she does things that can be construed as mary sue. Yuri's personality is also very typical of shoujo manga, in that she's the type who must do what is right, who can't leave a person alone if they need help or if they had helped them.
Plot wise, it's pretty interesting historical fiction of the Hittite Empire. I certainly went and looked up the history after I read the manga! Shinohara did an excellent job in bringing the era to life with Kail Mursili and Yuri. Yuri herself is a fictional character, based on two possible real women in Kail Mursili's life. The manga focusses on the period before Kail becomes king and then after he becomes King. Kail rescues Yuri upon her arrival, and to save her life made her his concubine.
Yuri herself is a transplant from modern Japan, who's drawn into the past by Kail's stepmother, the Queen, to be a sacrifice that would put her son on the throne. Being transported in time reminds me Inuyasha. Perhaps I was drawn because of that. Along with the historical fiction genre and the era of interest.
The romance. What I love about a large number of shoujo manga is that the main character is usually only in love with one guy, despite attracting many other guys. The important thing is that in the mangas that I really enjoy, the main character is not swayed to love someone else. Her heart is firmly with the main love interest, despite what others do. Yuri and Kail fall in love with each--this isn't a spoiler that you need to be wary of. What you should be warned of, is that there is quite a bit of angst in the relationship between Yuri and Kail, and I do believe when I first read this, I was on my toes all the time, worried about my favourite ship. Nonetheless, everything that happens makes them stronger, and when they finally get together, it's like that finally moment.
Kail is a great guy by the end of the manga. But he does begin is a general male ass. His prototype is perhaps typical of men back in ancient history. He's used to having many women after all. So to Yuri, who is a modern girl from Japan, generally modest and young over all, he's a big jerk.
Smut and other points. Some things to be noted. There's some minor smut. But the scenes are only a few panels at most and they don't occur until after the get together. Second, this is the most important part. Kail's jerkiness (and a few other male characters as well) leads them to attempt to take advantage of Yuri, though she fights them each time. Once she feigns pains at another male character who attempts to take advantage of her, which he falls for (this makes more sense in the context of the arc in which it occurs). But no rape actually occurs to our heroine, though throughout the series, a number of characters are murdered, killed and punished for someone else's crime, or drugged by the Dowager Queen for her nefarious purposes.
My favourite arc? There's an arc in a few volumes that I love. I do hate that she ran off simply because she didn't want to bother Kail and wanted to solve the problem before it got worse for him. And of course, who would believe her? Since she doesn't look or act like Kail's concubine. So I do think she acts rash and naively. However, as the arc proceeds and Yuri's own personality shines, I love how without meaning to, Yuri ends up helping Kail. It's a typical kind of trope arc for shoujo manga, and it's somewhat cliche, but the procession of the narrative is all Shinohara. And it was fantastic. Among other things, it was certainly another reason for me to keep reading. More so, it's one of the first few glimpses we have of Yuri as our brilliant heroine.
Overall
This manga left me wrecked at the end, because it was just so good. It ends on a happy note that was well deserved, but it's one of those mangas you have to focus on to capture the emotions. The above barely scratches the surface of what I feel and think about this manga.
General review of series
First off, I will point out that Yuri begins as a slightly annoying, selfish brat who needs to be rescued constantly and who is the cause of a few characters dying. Later she becomes a little mary sue. However, and some might disagree, but I think Yuri's growth into an almost mary sue character is a natural development for her character. In order to be Kail's strength she could not be a weak pretty creature only. All the mistakes she makes in the beginning of the series, she learns from and uses it for her in the later chapters. She's not considered a beauty in the context of the Hittite Empire, however, when she's dressed up (as opposed to dressing simply) she looks pretty enough. Furthermore, her actions seem to be mary sue, but they don't seem so to me because several points are points of common sense, such as a clean place is healthy for full health recovery when sick. So, for me, I don't feel she becomes mary sue. She has her flaws still even when she does things that can be construed as mary sue. Yuri's personality is also very typical of shoujo manga, in that she's the type who must do what is right, who can't leave a person alone if they need help or if they had helped them.
Plot wise, it's pretty interesting historical fiction of the Hittite Empire. I certainly went and looked up the history after I read the manga! Shinohara did an excellent job in bringing the era to life with Kail Mursili and Yuri. Yuri herself is a fictional character, based on two possible real women in Kail Mursili's life. The manga focusses on the period before Kail becomes king and then after he becomes King. Kail rescues Yuri upon her arrival, and to save her life made her his concubine.
Yuri herself is a transplant from modern Japan, who's drawn into the past by Kail's stepmother, the Queen, to be a sacrifice that would put her son on the throne. Being transported in time reminds me Inuyasha. Perhaps I was drawn because of that. Along with the historical fiction genre and the era of interest.
The romance. What I love about a large number of shoujo manga is that the main character is usually only in love with one guy, despite attracting many other guys. The important thing is that in the mangas that I really enjoy, the main character is not swayed to love someone else. Her heart is firmly with the main love interest, despite what others do. Yuri and Kail fall in love with each--this isn't a spoiler that you need to be wary of. What you should be warned of, is that there is quite a bit of angst in the relationship between Yuri and Kail, and I do believe when I first read this, I was on my toes all the time, worried about my favourite ship. Nonetheless, everything that happens makes them stronger, and when they finally get together, it's like that finally moment.
Kail is a great guy by the end of the manga. But he does begin is a general male ass. His prototype is perhaps typical of men back in ancient history. He's used to having many women after all. So to Yuri, who is a modern girl from Japan, generally modest and young over all, he's a big jerk.
Smut and other points. Some things to be noted. There's some minor smut. But the scenes are only a few panels at most and they don't occur until after the get together. Second, this is the most important part. Kail's jerkiness (and a few other male characters as well) leads them to attempt to take advantage of Yuri, though she fights them each time. Once she feigns pains at another male character who attempts to take advantage of her, which he falls for (this makes more sense in the context of the arc in which it occurs). But no rape actually occurs to our heroine, though throughout the series, a number of characters are murdered, killed and punished for someone else's crime, or drugged by the Dowager Queen for her nefarious purposes.
My favourite arc? There's an arc in a few volumes that I love. I do hate that she ran off simply because she didn't want to bother Kail and wanted to solve the problem before it got worse for him. And of course, who would believe her? Since she doesn't look or act like Kail's concubine. So I do think she acts rash and naively. However, as the arc proceeds and Yuri's own personality shines, I love how without meaning to, Yuri ends up helping Kail. It's a typical kind of trope arc for shoujo manga, and it's somewhat cliche, but the procession of the narrative is all Shinohara. And it was fantastic. Among other things, it was certainly another reason for me to keep reading. More so, it's one of the first few glimpses we have of Yuri as our brilliant heroine.
Overall
This manga left me wrecked at the end, because it was just so good. It ends on a happy note that was well deserved, but it's one of those mangas you have to focus on to capture the emotions. The above barely scratches the surface of what I feel and think about this manga.