Manga Review: Dawn of the Arcana, Vol. 2 [Paperback]

I've finished "Dawn of the Arcana Vol. 2" by Rei Toma.

Product Description

Reads R to L (Japanese Style), for audiences T.

Princess Nakaba of Senan is forced to marry Prince Caesar of the enemy country Belquat, tantamount to becoming a hostage. While Caesar is pleasing to the eye, he is also selfish and possessive, telling Nakaba outright: “You are my property.” With only her attendant Loki at her side, Nakaba must find a way to cope with her hostile surroundings, her fake marriage...and a mysterious power!

Princess Nakaba of Senan and Prince Caesar of Belquat only married each other for the sake of peace between their two warring countries, but things take a surprising turn when Caesar finds himself falling for his strange wife! Caesar tries to get Nakaba to return his feelings, but she maintains that he is her enemy and that she hates him. So when Nakaba has a vision of Caesar getting killed, will she say anything to save him?


About the Author

Rei Toma has been drawing since childhood, but she only began drawing manga because of her graduation project in design school. When she drew a short-story manga, Help Me, Dentist, for the first time, it attracted a publisher's attention and she made her debut right away. Her magnificent art style became popular, and after she debuted as a manga artist, she became known as an illustrator for novels and video game character designs. Her current manga series, Dawn of the Arcana, is her first long-running manga series, and it has been a hit in Japan, selling over a million copies.

Product Details
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (February 7, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 142154105X
ISBN-13: 978-1421541051

My Review:

This volume opens with Prince Caesar being nice to Princess Nakaba by buying her some beautiful things but she doesn't want anything to do with them.  Then they go on a trip to the city but she doesn't see anything she wants.  On the way back she sees a hurt bird and takes it home with her to nurse back to health.

Then we learn someone is trying to kill Caesar by first trying to poison him, then he's bitten by a snake and finally someone pushes him into a well.  Of course Nakaba is suspected of being the one who is trying to kill him but Caesar but Caesar stands up for her by saying if she was trying to kill him she would do it in person with a sword in her hand.

Then we meet another of Nakaba servants a young kid who's just like Loki Rito.  Nakaba also has a couple of dreams where she sees Caesar getting hurt and she begins to worry.  Loki reveals his intentions about wanting to kill Caesar and his family and take over the kingdom.  Nakaba doesn't remember her childhood but Loki does and tells her what happened.  He makes Nakaba promise she won't reveal what he plans to Caesar so she doesn't.  She struggling with her feelings for Caesar and not wanting to betray Loki.

At the end she falls into a well where Caesar was pushed into.  They talk and share a very passionate kiss which leaves her feeling guilty and confused.


I really enjoyed the transition of characterization of Caesar from an unfeeling jerk to a caring person.  He's really trying to please Nakaba and figuring out what kind of person she is.  I'm finally glad to hear what Loki has planned for the Caesar and his family.

I feel very sorry for Nakaba being torn up about falling for Caesar and wanting to protect him and keeping Loki's secret. 

4/5

Thanks Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me this manga to review, greatly appreciated!