Warning - May contains spoilers
[❃❁❃ Seirou Opera ❃❁❃](notion://www.notion.so/Review-10ff072cddfb4fb98f83c6cd2f748404?p=b71a5776b2f049409d43255e1b97ccf1&pm=s)
img80%(https://i.imgur.com/R3WxBkB.jpg)
A young woman becomes a courtesan to avenge and restore her family's honor.
A love story between this former noblewoman and the son of a wealthy, non-noble family.
⚘ Overview ⚘
- Plot {10/10} : The author did a lot of research. It’s well written
- Characters {6.5/10} : Good characters but not a lot of difference/singularities between them
- Visual {7.5/10} : Clean and pretty
- Pacing {9/10} : Nearly perfect, just a little rush at the end.
- World building {5/10}: The world setting is clearly define but we don’t have that much information.
- Detail/Depth {6.5/10} : Some small details. It touches some important points.
- Enjoyment {10/10} : For the people that likes romance story, they will definitively enjoy it. For the other, try it !
[ Overall: 78/100 ]()
⚘ Plot {10/10} ⚘
The story may seem classic. Set in the Edo period, a young woman becomes a courtesan, meets a man and falls in love. However, the story's intrigues run deeper. The young woman refuses to be bought. Above all, she seeks to avenge her parents and restore her family's honor, whatever the cost.
The end of the story is also rather unexpected.
Spoiler, click to viewclick to hide
Personally, I thought either Sousuke or the doctor was the culprit, expecting a classic betrayal of the people she currently trusts. I didn't imagine the return of her former betrothed in the story, and even less that the murder of her parents was not a political plot, but simply an act of "love" on the part of her former betrothed.Not everything ends well, either.
Spoiler, click to viewclick to hide
I'm thinking of Sousuke's sister, for example. It was her decision, but we can't really talk about a happy ending for her.The story itself is very good and interesting, but that's not the reason for my 10/10.
The important element here is the respect for the period.
The author has done a lot of research into the period in which the story takes place, and even provides explanations on the sides of the pages.
img60%(https://i.imgur.com/WPH8KSk.png)
For example, the hairstyles of the characters correspond to the period. The author explains that men shaved the top of their heads and tied their hair. The only exception to this hairstyle is the main character. The author explains that his editors asked him to do a more attractive hairstyle (and honestly, we thanks them for that)
Another example concerns the patterns and colors (described) of the characters' outfits.
These small details show the author's hard work and make the story more authentic.
⚘ Characters {6.5/10} ⚘
The characters are not very varied. All those not considered "main characters" can be summed up as samurai or customers, who have little personality.
We have a little more information about the main characters. For example, Sousuke is extremely intelligent and Akane is good at handling weapons.
More information about these characters would have been welcome.
Spoiler, click to viewclick to hide
I would have love to have more information about the man that Sousuke's sister have married.
⚘ Visual {7.5/10} ⚘
The drawings are quite beautiful. They're clean and clear. The characters' clothes and hairstyles can be quite detailed. Expressions are beautiful and impactful.
Special mention should be made of the "courtesans' smiles", which convey a lot of emotions.
What's more, it doesn't resemble the drawings we're seeing more and more in manga. Here we see that the author has his own style.
The backgrounds aren't very detailed, but that lets you concentrate on the characters.
img60%(https://i.imgur.com/ZgQ94L2.png)
⚘ Pacing {9/10} ⚘
The pacing is almost perfect.
If the story had been longer (not the ending but the main story), it would have been boring. If it had been shorter, it wouldn't have had enough detail.
Here, everything unfolds naturally, with no real repetition.
But why 9/10 ?
One point was taken away because of the ending. If there had been a chapter at the end about the characters' visit to Sousuke's sister, the story would have been perfect.
Unfortunately, this chapter doesn't exist and the ending seems a bit rushed.
⚘ World Building {5/10} ⚘
We have enough information inside the courtesans' quarters: how brothels work, the role of teahouses, monthly hair-washing, parades, and so on.
This amount of detail about the story's world is nice.
Nevertheless, it all comes down to the pleasure districts. We get almost no information (apart from politics) about the outside world. I think it's a shame that we never really see Sousuke at home, or outside the district.
img60%(https://i.imgur.com/nfh2ink.png)
⚘ Detail/Depth {6.5/10} ⚘
The main characters have backstories, but none of the other characters do.
Spoiler, click to viewclick to hide
We know the doctor's family, for example, but it's never really explained how he came to work for this nobleman.Nevertheless, in terms of depth, the story touches on some important points, such as the conditions of the "courtesans' prisoner", or the battle to become Oiran, and what happened to the courtesans who lost their popularity.
In addition, there are many small details about the period, mentioned earlier in this review.
⚘ Enjoyment {10/10} ⚘
This story is a breath of fresh air.
The details and pacing make it a pleasure to read.
The characters are endearing and their stories touching.
If you cry in front of a sad movie, you'll definitely feel emotional reading this manga.
Personally, I loved it. I own every copy and would certainly read it again.
img100%(https://i.imgur.com/7pcmyQH.jpg)
