" Kiss of Rose Princess " as the english title for Barajou no Kiss
(薔薇嬢のキス). is one of my favorite manga ever!
Created by Aya Shouoto, it's ended in 9 volumes from June 24th, 2008 - December 24th, 2011.
(Link for Pics of Barajou no Kiss
(may contain spoiler images))
**UPDATING this post originally 9/26/2014
Volumes 9, Chapter 42 [COMPLETED]
Genre(s): Reversed Harem, Romance, Shoujo, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Supranatural
Read it online on Turtle Paradise.
I read this manga first long time ago, more than 5 years when I was still a student in Senior HS. Started as one of the manga on my free-time-to-read list, it was ranked on my list at the peak fast. Simply put the genres are fantasy and romantic comedy. It's not too romantic, nor comedic.
The main heroine, Anis Yamamoto had given a collar from her father since she was child. She was very happy and dear the rose collar from his father. At the time her father gave it to her, he told her to never ever remove it. The rose collar happens to have a story about the ancient custom, Rose Princess thingy. By it, Anis gets involved in the Rose Princess stuff, she becomes a Dominion to the 4 Rose Knights that she is able to summon from kissing the 4 cards representing 'em. Battling their enemies and the complicated struggle they have to face is about fighting the ancient custom about the Rose Princess.
The story goes so smooth yet tear-jerking. At first, it looks like just supranatural with reversed harem and comedy spicy. But, it holds more than just it. The storyline itself is worth to note (I'm afraid to explain the continuation of the storyline will be a spoiler, just read it yourself guys). The good and bad events in this manga could be able to rip my heart out both because of the romantic scenes and bloody-bath. It appears well in the beginning when the fact of the contract formed isn't revealed yet. As the time goes by, they are challenged with what they are put into without knowing all of the matters. Briliantly set up and fucking improvement in the one-third of the end.
Another aspect that boosted my impression of this manga is how the movements and each characters involved to fill the story. The lovey-dovey stuffs in the surface will colour your day, but to understand it deeper, you need to bear the dark side that cover all of the story which push each characters to their limit. It goes so dark and fascinating!
I appreciated how well-drawed this manga is. I don't know whether it's the talented mangaka (as well as the illustrator), or the genres in which shoujo and supranatural/fantasy need great overview, or it's just happened. So detailed for shoujo manga. I could feel the emotion from the facial expressions too. The characters appearance really match their personality.
The minor characters here play their roles well. They are not just bunch of come-and-go characters, at one time they emerge for just a moment but it has interconnection with the future. These minor also get their own development in small portion which just enough.
In the end, 9++ for Barajou no Kiss, I bravely say I manage to edit this post after read the whole volumes! I posted pic post of this manga too, link above this review section.
Pros:
- Dark storyline entwined with romantic story
- Nice drawing because there's no something off and it was really pleasant to see
- Sometimes a lil bit too dramatic
Keep up the good work, Aya Shouoto-san -bows-
Provisional Contract (C29): A Provisional Contract...... In the event that four true knights aren't available or in other similar scenarios, it's a means to temporarily promote a person to the position of Rhode Knight to fill the vacancy. It's ancient contractual sorcery...
【増原 紀花】