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A review by draagon
Red River (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 2 by Chie Shinohara
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I didn't expect to be hit so hard by the author's note mentioning how she traveled to Syria in 1993. As someone reading this work for the first time in 2025, it's saddening to think how much the world has changed, and in many ways not for the better.
That aside, this was another absolute tornado of a volume. Yuri is falling deeper for Kail despite knowing she will need to return to her time eventually, and Kail is slowly returning those feelings in full. The way Yuri can think on her feet to solve problems is impressive. As some very real threats come to the city where she has been kidnapped to, she still puts precedence on helping as many people as possible as she sees the suffering around her. I don't think the 15-year-old who was transported will be the same girl once she returns home to peaceful Japan.
I really love how much action there is in this series. It's so addictive to read and the pages fly by despite being a 3-in-one. There are a few scenes that are a bit... icky, but these are the very real consequences for these characters and the world, and it's clear how much research and thought the mangaka put into incorporating this period of history into her work. Yuri may be constantly being kidnapped and taken against her will, but she somehow manages to turn the situation into her favor despite facing literal lions. It's framed as her love for Kail that keeps her going, but I would rather think that she is simply that desperate to live. I'm very much looking forward to seeing where the series goes from here.
That aside, this was another absolute tornado of a volume. Yuri is falling deeper for Kail despite knowing she will need to return to her time eventually, and Kail is slowly returning those feelings in full. The way Yuri can think on her feet to solve problems is impressive. As some very real threats come to the city where she has been kidnapped to, she still puts precedence on helping as many people as possible as she sees the suffering around her. I don't think the 15-year-old who was transported will be the same girl once she returns home to peaceful Japan.
I really love how much action there is in this series. It's so addictive to read and the pages fly by despite being a 3-in-one. There are a few scenes that are a bit... icky, but these are the very real consequences for these characters and the world, and it's clear how much research and thought the mangaka put into incorporating this period of history into her work. Yuri may be constantly being kidnapped and taken against her will, but she somehow manages to turn the situation into her favor despite facing literal lions. It's framed as her love for Kail that keeps her going, but I would rather think that she is simply that desperate to live. I'm very much looking forward to seeing where the series goes from here.