Dawn of the Arcana

Gr 7–10—Nakaba is forced to marry Prince Caesar in order to unite two disputing countries. However, Nakaba is from the poorer country and is considered different, even discriminated against because of her red hair. Caesar is constantly telling her what to do and often makes her feel like a hostage in the marriage. Nakaba has a secret weapon, though, the faithfulness of her Ajin, Loki, who is often referred to as a pet or dog by the wealthier class. The Ajin are considered inferior to humans and forced into slavery. Nakaba has grown up with Loki looking after her and, even after Prince Caesar injures and exiles him, he always miraculously returns to her side when she is threatened. A second volume of this story would help greatly because this one just starts to get interesting after introducing the characters and the roles they play in this world. The art is also different from traditional manga because the characters are clearly individualized by their cultural differences and hairstyles.—Jessica Lorentz Smith, Bend Senior High School, OR