A review by ferzemkhan
Ōoku: The Inner Chambers, Volume 1 by Fumi Yoshinaga

challenging emotional informative reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Could have just been a gender-reversal gimmick but Fumi Yoshinaga crafts such a compelling character-driven historical drama full of politics and complex relationships. Kind of amazing how time after time Yoshinaga is able to develop characters from scratch, make us fall in love or hate them, and almost all times deliver a satisfying ending to their lives.