The classic shoujo manga is getting a special omnibus reprint!
TL;DR Review
While this is one of my favourite shoujo anime, I never had the opportunity to read the manga past volume two! Reading this reminded me of how much I adored the story the first time around. The manga gives more context and a different feeling to the story, so I felt like I was getting a “behind the scenes” peak!
Author
Genre
Demographic
Manga status
- This series is complete in Japanese at 48 single volumes.
- The 3-in-1 omnibus edition just started publishing in English. There is currently only one volume published.
Japanese Title
暁のヨナ.
Publication information
- Japanese publisher: Hakusensha.
- Japanese imprint: Hana to Yume.
Here are some other series published in the Hana to Yume manga magazine:
- English publisher: Viz Media.
Buy volume one for yourself!
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Series Description – VIZ Media
Princess Yona lives an ideal life as the only princess of her kingdom. Doted on by her father, the king, and protected by her faithful guard Hak, she cherishes the time spent with the man she loves, Su-won. But everything changes on her 16th birthday when tragedy strikes her family!
Yona reels from the shock of witnessing a loved one’s murder and having to fight for her life. With her bodyguard Hak, she flees the palace and struggles to survive while evading enemy forces. Their journey leads them to a priest named Ik-su, who can see Yona’s future—one that includes four legendary Dragon Warriors!
Review – Spoilers for Volume One
While I am typically vocal about my distaste for omnibus prints, I am actually very pleased that Yona was given the omni treatment. As the singles are still in circulation and can be found relatively easily, readers have their choice between the two. While I would have liked to see some extra prints in the omni like the Mushishi and Fruits Baskets‘s collector’s edition omnibus prints, I don’t have any complaints.
Yona of the Dawn’s story is so addictive that I couldn’t imagine trying to read it single volume by single volume. If I started the single volume one and had to wait on that cliffhanger… I just don’t know what I would do. I found myself a little upset when I realized I would have to wait until January to continue with the omnibus prints! I just feel this uncontrollable urge to read on.
While the Japanese story of Yona of the Dawn has been completed, the after story is still going on. I have my fingers crossed that this omnibus reprint will account for the special extra stories.
In terms of a story review, I believe this is a series that every manga fan should read, whether they’re a fan of shoujo or not. Yona of the Dawn is a fantastical political adventure story about a young princess who is forced to flee from her home after a betrayal. As the story goes on, we watch as princess Yona transforms from sheltered princess to someone truly deserving of the crown.
The character relationships are some of the most complex and captivating that I’ve come across in my media to date. While this series does feature a slow burn romance (one of the best slow burns romances, might I add), it’s not the focal point of the story. In my eyes, this series focuses on the importance on developing meaningful relationships with those who are important to you. It showcases various types of friendships and non-romantic loving relationships, all of which feel incredibly real.
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