✿･ﾟ:* [An ambitious time-travel romance with stunning art and rich ideas, but undone by overcrowded plots] *:･ﾟ✿
A young girl travels through time as the reincarnation of major historical figures and is constantly confronted by a demon who’s also her jealous lover? I’m in!
Unfortunately, it was terrible. Not because the core idea was bad — quite the opposite. There were interesting concepts and some really compelling aesthetic choices. The half-historical, half-magical atmosphere could have created something unique and memorable. But there were simply too many ideas shoved into just two volumes. The result? Underdeveloped characters, rushed pacing, and plotlines that barely had room to breathe before being discarded or abruptly resolved.
The art, as usual, was gorgeous. I’ve always admired Chiho Saito’s artistic style — delicate, expressive, with a flair for the dramatic. Visually, the manga was a treat, and the costume design, period settings, and magical elements were beautifully drawn. The atmosphere did a lot of heavy lifting, and I did enjoy the aesthetic experience on that level.
But let’s not even talk about the rape scene that came out of nowhere. Honestly, what was that even for? It was jarring, unnecessary, and added absolutely nothing to the plot,
When you’ve written something as powerful and unique as Utena, you have to expect that all your future works will be compared to it. Sadly, every time I read a manga by Chiho Saito, I end up disappointed because nothing ever comes close to the level of Utena. It’s like chasing the memory of a masterpiece only to find shadows in its place.
The premise had everything I’m usually drawn to, and the visual style had all the charm I remembered. But the execution was so deeply flawed that I came away feeling mostly annoyed and let down. A longer series might have done the idea justice. With a few extra volumes this could’ve been something truly compelling.
I really enjoy vintage shojo, and it's something I often notice in these kinds of stories. Authors usually have so many ideas, but they often feel rushed, and everything is wrapped up too quickly. It leaves you with this sense of frustration, like you wanted to see more of the world, the characters, or the plot, and you can tell the author probably wanted to show more too, but just didn't have the time or space to explore it fully.
I don’t even know what score to give, so I’ll just settle on 50. Not good, not a complete waste, but far from the story it could have been.
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