Dawn of the Arcana, Vol. 5 (Dawn of the Arcana, #5)

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Dawn of the Arcana, Vol. 5 (Dawn of the Arcana #5)

4.22 of 5 stars 4.22 · rating details · 266 ratings · 10 reviews

Princess Nakaba of Senan and Prince Caesar of Belquat only married each other for the sake of peace between their two warring countries, and no one expected there to be love between the unlikely couple. But as Nakaba and Caesar grow close, political forces threaten to tear them apart--especially when Caesar’s brother Cain leads an attack on a village Nakaba is trying to sa...more

Paperback, 184 pages

Published August 7th 2012 by VIZ Media LLC (first published January 1st 2010)

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Mar 02, 2013 Estara rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of fantasy tv series, especially anime

Shelves: manga, read-in-2013, re-read

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I have to review the first seven volumes in one go, because I gulped this series down. It's paced so well (for my taste) that I really just open the book and when I look up I've read 100 pages and reach for the next volume. It's probably good I kept such a large chunk around, after having glommed onto the series in scanlation. These volumes take me right to the end of my scanlation read and into new territory.

The mangaka has a real gift for giving point-of-view time not only to the heroine, who...more I have to review the first seven volumes in one go, because I gulped this series down. It's paced so well (for my taste) that I really just open the book and when I look up I've read 100 pages and reach for the next volume. It's probably good I kept such a large chunk around, after having glommed onto the series in scanlation. These volumes take me right to the end of my scanlation read and into new territory.

The mangaka has a real gift for giving point-of-view time not only to the heroine, who becomes a strong part of the overall cast and certainly the main catalyst, but not the be-all and end-all of the books.

There is certainly a want to present a strong active, fantasy-female role model for girls in this series. Nakaba starts out as the repressed, despised sacrifice to a political marriage, where she had only existed and not lived. The first volume which starts with her marriage to the enemy country's second prince who "seems" privileged by his hair colour (the ruling class all have black hair) and general acceptance at his court, sets her up as isolated again and only supported by her Ajin (beastman) attendant, the same man who saved her when her village was slaughtered (by the royal father of her husband in a planned attack across the border) and raised her from a toddler while just being a teenager himself.

You can already see that all kinds of historical threads are spun in the first few pages. There's a certain high handedness and willingness to accept deus-ex-machina reveals if you want to enjoy this story (for example we learn in one volume that the trusted attendant of the prince, Bellinus, who has been with him from smallest childhood in flashbacks is ALSO the most trusted advisor to the king, which hadn't been seen or mentioned before at all, so certain political plot developments can actually work out), but the focus of the mangaka is on the characters want to change the political system for the sake of personal relationships.

All built around the almost messianic character of Nakaba. The men in her life see her as various embodiments - the reason he has left to try and change the world (Loki), the support and belief he never had before and therefore someone to make happy no matter what his own view of the world is (Ceasar), the conscience he never heeded and should have (Cain), the tool whose powers will allow him to change his country's succession (Akhil), the person who promised to save his mother (Rito).

Nakaba herself gets shaken out of her death-accepting fugue (as we find out in the return visit to her original country) and hopelessness by her need to keep Loki by her side in her political exile first and foremost and by Caesar's manhandling her into a reaction, which somewhat plot-necessary swiftly turns into attraction from his side, because of her honest reaction to things (like having her hair colour changed).

In return Nakaba's waking powers make her understand people so much better (even if she doesn't want to) and put the burden of her sight into wanting to prevent certain things and asking for help, Ceasar's avowal of love when she just mentions like and her feeling that he might be a way of changing how the world sees Ajin (of all of the characters she seems the only one who wants people to respect everyone - Loki seems locked in revenge; one of the bitterest aspects for both of them is that they no longer see eye to eye and share everything; Caesar wants to share her vision because she believes in him, but now that he has decided to do so, he goes for it unstintingly and totally - which one the one hand blows their cover in Senan but on the other hand makes Nakaba fall believably in love with him).

Aside: If Toma-sensei is using people's names as a foreshadowing of their character which seems likely considering what Ceasar has sword and what Cain has turned out to feel, Loki's name is very ominous indeed if you consider it's source.(less)

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Jan 05, 2013 Joti rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Loved the continuation - so Nakaba & CAesar go to the Ajin village to warn them of the approaching soldiers & attack but they say that they can defend themselves. They stay overnight & wait for the soldiers to arrive - Lemiria figures out that Nakaba has the Arcana - she's perceptive. And when the soldiers arrive with the new ltina sword (weapons) to attack, they send in a messenger & Cain says they should let Nakaba & Lemiria go & the Ajin pretend to hold Caesar & Be...more

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Nov 18, 2012 Miss rated it 3 of 5 stars

I like it! It feels like stuff actually happened this volume and I particularly liked the development re: Lemiria. Cain seems like your bog standard shoujo antagonist but hey, maybe he'll shape up. Personally I am rooting for him building an alliance with Loki because that could play into some interesting conflict. Politically disenfranchised unite! 3 stars

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Aug 23, 2012 Jeannette rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-manga, manga-picks, fantasy

Final rating 3-1/2 stars

The relationships start shaping up nicely in this volume. Things are still a bit difficult for Loki, but even Caesar has praise for him.

There are some interesting things revealed about the Arcana, too, and Prince Cain gets a starring role.

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Mar 29, 2013 Patricia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, manga-read

So far Reimei no Arcana is an engaging tale set in a fantastic world. There are equal amounts of paranormal and historical elements, the plot is interesting enough to keep me reading, and the characters are relatable. An actual problem, though, is that the mangaka manages to create more or less multi-dimensional characters, making it hard to just cast the things they do or think aside as hate-crimes or plot-device-induced-idiocities. Going to copypaste that review to the tankobons I've read so f...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Nic rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novel, map-in-the-front

I like this series more and more! Good stuff.

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Apr 16, 2012 Esvandiari Sant rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wanna read more! Hya, Caesar!!

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Dec 08, 2012 Dolores rated it 5 of 5 stars

Loving this series!

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Oct 22, 2012 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 11, 2013 CJ - Secret Charm rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: familyconflict, manga

Oh Cain. You bad brother.

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May 19, 2013 Angel Lawson rated it 5 of 5 stars

May 19, 2013 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

May 19, 2013 Kiwinelle added it

May 16, 2013 Charlie Chouinard is currently reading it

May 15, 2013 Zen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: manga-graphic-novel, romance

May 14, 2013 Lisianne marked it as to-read

May 13, 2013 Kristen rated it 5 of 5 stars

May 12, 2013 Tiffany rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: manga-comics-graphic-novels

May 12, 2013 Susanna Su marked it as to-read

May 12, 2013 Sumaya Musse rated it 5 of 5 stars

May 11, 2013 Laurie added it

Shelves: graphic-novels

May 11, 2013 Miroticgirl rated it 5 of 5 stars

May 11, 2013 Jenny Thurlow rated it 3 of 5 stars

May 11, 2013 Jami marked it as to-read

Shelves: manga

May 10, 2013 Athena Floudas rated it 5 of 5 stars

May 10, 2013 Lisa Thurlow rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: amazing-worlds

May 10, 2013 Merili marked it as to-read

May 10, 2013 Miranda rated it 3 of 5 stars

May 09, 2013 Shriya rated it 4 of 5 stars

May 09, 2013 Infinite Scythe rated it 4 of 5 stars

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