Special Thanks goes to NetGalley and Viz Media for providing an ARC of this volume.
It took some time, but I’m finally getting to review this manga title. Historical Fiction is usually a fascinating subject to approach in stories, and Yasuhisa Hara’s KINGDOM was one of the stories that caught my attention. Keep in mind, I knew how popular this series was, which including the Grand Prize of the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2013, its anime, and film adaptations were but I did not follow up on it until now. So this review will be through the eyes of a new fan of the series. For past reviews, click here to check them out. As always, thanks for supporting the site, and my work.
Our story takes us to Ancient China, in a fictionalized account of the Warring States period, a time when it began the final centuries of the Zhou Dynasty, which were characterized by warfare, bureaucratic and military reform, and political consolidation. It was the year 245 BCE, following the life of General Li Xin, whose life was widely undocumented, and his friend Piao, another war orphan who imparts to Xin the same dream of becoming the Greatest Generals Under the Heavens. One day, Piao is offered a position in court in the capital. While Xin stays behind to train and meet his friend again one day, until one fateful night, Piao returns bloodied and on the brink of death, with his dying words being for Xin to go meet a boy who turns out to look exactly like Piao. But Xin’s world is turned upside down once more, as the boy’s identity turns out to be the king of Qin, Ying Zheng! And assassins are hot on his tail!
When it comes to stories that involve history, they always find me looking into learning more about the period in which it is set, and studying how the author sets up the story behind it. Hara brings us a tale of a world filled with warfare that embraces elements of loyalty, dreams, political sabotage, and social mobility. What fuels these characters is a sense of Destiny and betrayal, the two boys knew they were destined for great things but it was altered by a sudden duty in China’s Royal Army. The story and premise are perfect for those who enjoy manga such as Makoto Yukimura’s Vinland Saga.
Yasuhisa Hara’s method for storytelling focused on the action, incorporating flashback sequences seamlessly, which helped flesh out characters and events as the story moved forward, which was one of the most impressive things about this series so far. One other thing I would like to focus on is the artwork in this first volume. As a new reader of this series, I was impressed by how Hara’s style of art is so expressive. When reading each chapter, you can feel the Character’s emotions in how well-drawn their reactions are. His art style captured the story’s era perfectly without feeling modernized.
Kingdom Vol. One is available now at your local bookstore and e-retailer. It is the perfect book for fans of Historical Fiction.
Final Grade:
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