Title: The Abandoned Empress
Author: (comic) iNA, (original novel) Yuna
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Graphic Novel
Rating: 4/5 stars
Review: I struggled between giving this 3 or 4 stars solely because I didn't like the ending of this graphic novel. In the author's defense, it was probably just based on the original novel (I can't say for sure, I haven't read the novel).
The story itself was pretty gripping and addictive and once I got started, I was sucked in immediately and eagerly followed the main character's story. I felt there was good character development of her and some of the supporting characters as it went through her childhood and progression. However, I wasn't a fan of the prince, especially considering the reason he didn't like her was pretty childish. It was basically a grudge that anyone who became an adult should be mature enough to look at and realize it was stupid and move on, but he didn't, he became a total jerk.
--- SPOILER ALERT ----
I really just can't get over the man she chose in the end. I felt there was an option between three different men and she chose the absolute worst one. The choice was especially icky because of the history there and that there wasn't a good reason for him to have acted the way he did in the first place. I also didn't feel there was truly relationship building between the male lead and the female lead. It seemed the only reason he liked her was because she rejected him, and that both of her other two options would have loved her more and for better reasons.
So, in the end, I'd say that I enjoyed the main character, the art, and the journey the story takes you through. This is an addictive story and it's easy to appreciate the art and the story-telling. However, if a disappointing end will ruin it for you, or it's really important who the main character chooses, you may end up feeling let down.
~ G.G. Marshall
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