Series: Crimson Spell #1
Pages: 200
Publication Date: 2nd January 2014
Format: Ebook
Rating: 4/5
This is the first manga series I've ever tried and what can I say? I picked a good place to start!
Crimson Spell follows a brave prince (Vald) and a powerful mage (Havi) who are thrown together when Vald seeks out the mage in order to reverse the terrible curse inflicted on him through using his family's demonically powered sword.
The curse transforms Vald into a half-human, beast-like monster whenever he loses control and also at night when he falls asleep. Mages in his own kingdom fashion him magical shackles to wear when he sleeps so that he remains human. But on his first night alone with Havi, the mage removes the shackles to see what he's dealing with. Protected by his magic, Havi decides to tame the beast, physically [Mature Content].
As other readers have noted, there is a red flag here in terms of consent. Vald is unconscious as Havi seduces his beast-form and remains unaware of the night-time encounters during the day. Even between Havi and beast-Vald, at least at the beginning, the consent is dubious. So, why am I giving this manga four stars? Because there is so much that I do love about it.
I love the setting in this old world Europe style fantasy world with dragons and demons, spirits and mages. The fantasy aspects of the central story are gripping and I can't wait to see how the story develops. The art is gorgeous and the cast of characters are each distinct and have their own little quirks and intricacies. The central characters, Vald and Havi, are both intriguing with suggestions of further depth and mystery, and I'm interested in the relationship between them and how it will develop.
Let me know in the comments if you've read this series or if you have any other suggestions for a new-to-manga reader!
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