Dawn of the Arcana

I enjoyed this one quite a bit! The art is lovely and consistent, for one, and the world within the story is really interesting. I enjoy the caste system they’ve created and the concept of the Ajin. I wonder if both countries have the exact same cultures or not and have been warring over nothing. I look forward to reading more of the series.

We finally get to learn about the other prince and it turns out he's a horrible person because society slighted him for his lesser birth. We also learn that there are other arcana and that Nakaba is only one of many who possess them.

This volume is slightly less interesting than the last. While Nakaba gets to explore her ability more, they introduce a new character who seems woefully unprepared for he court intrigues that she's caught up in, causing Nakaba to put herself in harm's way for her sake. I continue to dislike Loki for the obvious reason of wanting to kill people on the basis that their parents did something bad.

This one was better than the second volume, though I’m unsure as to why the new prince is a necessary character.

I enjoyed the first volume far more. They keep pushing this love triangle angle and it's just weird because Loki and Nakaba don't seem to have any real chemistry. The art is still lovely, but the plot seems to be trying to make Nakaba choose between the two men in her life - one of whom raised her.

The plot seems to be picking up. The characters have formed a tight group that are all working together against the king of Belquat, who clearly intends to take over Senan and kill off as many Ajin as he can in the process. I look forward to seeing how different Senan is to Belquat in future volumes.

I like that the relationship of the characters is getting to be more relaxed and natural and that the political intrigue is picking up. I wish they'd do more with the Ajin world, and explaining the history of the relationship between the humans and the Ajin.

Aaaaand we're back to the dysfunctional relationship. I still think Loki's feelings toward Nakaba are creepy considering he practically raised her. Romantic grooming will always be creepy to me. I also don't know how this ability will work or if Loki is actually telling the truth about the Arcana of Time.

I definitely prefer the intrigues of the court and Nakaba needing to make decisions to the mediocre male characters in this series. The men act in the most bizarre macho way most of the time and are completely useless as love interests. I look forward to seeing which prince Nakaba will choose.

Of course Loki has to throw a monkey wrench into the works. Of fucking course he does. I'm excited for what the future may hold.

The political intrigue is great. I honestly think that Nakaba taking the throne by force was a great move for her kingdom, although I'm sure the nobles are going to disagree.

I'm definitely enjoying the intrigue more and I felt the stigmas toward the Ajin-human hybrid children were interesting. I still find Loki creepy and I think it's weird that all the people with Arcana are teaming up together, but all in all, it is interesting.