When I was living in Japan, I got the opportunity to go on a TV show! It was a generally good (but tiring) experience, but the highlight was the 10,000 yen gift card I was given at the end! It was the type of card that could be used at a variety of stores—convenience stores, record shops, etc.—and I ended up using it all at a bookstore!
It was a struggle to actually use the whole gift card, and I ended up buying a few manga based purely on the covers (you can’t browse through new books prior to purchase in Japan!). And of those few that I bought based on their covers, A Kingdom of Quartz is my favourite.
Plot Summary
In a world where angels protect the people against demons, a young orphan with pitch-black wings may hold the key to the kingdom’s fate.
An orphaned girl named Blue has always dreamed of joining the ranks of the noble Angels, servants of the floating palace who protect the Quartz Kingdom against demons. Yet, Blue is not like the other children at the orphanage. Where their fledgling angel wings are downy white, Blue’s are pitch black, giving rise to whispers that she is cursed.
One day, the orphanage comes under attack by a host of demons. Angels swoop down from the palace to drive the demons back, but Blue watches in horror as they are cut down one after another. Just when all seems lost, Blue feels a dark power welling up inside of her. It may be enough to avenge her friends…but will the cost prove too great?
First Impressions
This manga caught my eye right from the very first chapter. From the religious symbolism, to the kingdom lit up by quartz crystals, and all of the residents being born with wings, there’s a lot that draws interest right from the get-go.
My Favourite Thing About This Manga
I absolutely love the world-building that has been put into this manga! In a world with two kingdoms—the Quartz Kingdom and the Demon Kingdom—the residents of the Quartz Kingdom are protected from demons by warriors known as angels. All of the residents of the Quartz Kingdom appear to be born with wings and the potential to become angels.
This is how the story is set up, and from there, I was hooked! Our main character, Blue, was born with black wings and lives in an orphanage connected to a church. She is seen as cursed because of her wings, but nevertheless claims she wants to become an angel.
Throughout the story, Blue and her black wings are rich with symbolism, along with her somewhat mysterious background and the relationships she forges along the way.
My Least Favourite Thing About This Manga
I really was not a fan of how volume ended :(. It left me not all that excited to read the next volume, but I do really want to see where the story goes.
My Ratings
Art
I bought this primarily because I liked the cover art, so I wasn’t that surprised when I also loved the art inside the manga. It’s all just so well drawn, and I think that the art style perfectly matches the atmosphere.
Character Growth
It’s hard to say, as it’s only the first volume, but I think that Blue grew a good amount within this book! I do wish they waited a little bit before adding a time skip, but I’m not complaining.
World Building
I absolutely love this manga world! Everything feels very cohesive, and nothing feels overly out of place.
Plot
I’m incredibly invested in this plot. I’m excited to learn more about The Demon kingdom, as well as the angels royal family.
The Characters
Blue
Blue is an orphan who grew up in a church affiliated orphanage. She’s a cheerful girl, who aspires to one day become an angel warrior. Because of her black wings she is often discriminated against by those in her city, but she doesn’t let that stop her – a true heroine. She gains a mysterious power when her city is attacked by demons, and is tasked by the angel prince to become a warrior.
Cassian
Cassian is the highest angel warrior, the prince. He protects Blue in his introductory panel, and, so far, seems to be a very kind-hearted warrior. While he claims to not have much power, he was the one to calm Blue down when her newly found powers were going out of control. His character design is also a 10/10.
Final Thoughts
I absolutely loved this Manga! It seems to be often recommended to people who like Madoka Magika, and I can see why – it does have some dark themes. While I didn’t love how volume 1 ended, I will definitely be reading volume 2.
You can check out this volume for yourself here!
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