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A review by midgeyu
Requiem of the Rose King, Vol. 3 by Aya Kanno
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
While vol 1 and 2 are well-done and interesting, volume 3 is where this series settles in and really starts to shine. The stage has been set, and so the characters can begin their plots, make moves against one another, shift alliances, and take their first steps down the road to tragedy.
It must be emphasized that this series is a tragedy; while the manga still has not concluded in Japan, it's hard to imagine that the major characters will get a happy ending based on what's available in English so far. However, like all great tragedies, RotRK gives you reason to root for the characters' happiness despite it all, and that potential happiness is a big focus in this volume. It's not all gloom and doom -- sometimes our dear characters get to enjoy a brief vacation with each other in domestic bliss.
This volume is a good check-in point for the series. If you reach the end of this volume and don't feel compelled to see what happens next, it's likely not for you. Likewise, if you get to this point and feel that this series is too sad for your tastes, get off the ride now because it only gets sadder.
It must be emphasized that this series is a tragedy; while the manga still has not concluded in Japan, it's hard to imagine that the major characters will get a happy ending based on what's available in English so far. However, like all great tragedies, RotRK gives you reason to root for the characters' happiness despite it all, and that potential happiness is a big focus in this volume. It's not all gloom and doom -- sometimes our dear characters get to enjoy a brief vacation with each other in domestic bliss.
This volume is a good check-in point for the series. If you reach the end of this volume and don't feel compelled to see what happens next, it's likely not for you. Likewise, if you get to this point and feel that this series is too sad for your tastes, get off the ride now because it only gets sadder.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape and Transphobia
Rape CW: In this volume, a major character has a flashback to raped by a woman; his memory of it is shown briefly and without explicit detail, but it may still be upsetting.
Transphobia CW: As typical with the entire series, Richard (who is intersex and identifies as male) fosters a lot of self-hate towards his body, which in this volume manifests in decisive thoughts about what is a "man's body" and what's not. Another character continues operating under the assumption that Richard must be a woman because he once saw Richard's breasts. Not sure whether transphobia is the best warning for this kind of content, but it seemed close enough.