Is an ongoing series spanning multiple volumes and interweaved storylines with a journey of betrayal, myths, prophecies and numerous battles. Advertised as a historical-fantasy-romance, the latter is far from being over-domineering but is instead a very-very-slow-burner, and is really there as a set-up for the protective relationship between the two leads; Hak and Yona. Set hundreds of years ago in Korea; its land is divided into separate kingdoms, where politics, fighting and mythology mix and blend into one another – leaving plenty for you to sink your teeth into.
An adventurous tale, Yona of the Dawn follows Princess Yona and her two childhood friends; Hak the ‘Thunder-Beast/General of the Wind Tribe’ and who’s also the bodyguard to Yona, and Soo-Won, her cousin and once heir to the throne – that is until his grandfather chooses Yona’s father to inherit the crown instead. Throughout the volumes there are flash-backs to the three spending many a happy childhood together, though this was before their naivety was overrun by politics and murder.
Over the years of friendship Yona has grown to fall in love with Soo-Won, and Hak has grown to fall in love with Yona. But this is no love triangle, because wait for it…..Soo-Won kills Yona’s father and having witnessed this murder Yona and Hak must flee for their lives, living off the land as Yona has never done before and as a fugitive from her kingdom. Don’t worry about this spoiler being a spoiler, for its happens very early on and provides the initial premise of the series.
But nothing is as clear-cut as you think, and though Soo-Won is set up as the villain, he’s far from evil; you see his internal conflicts, his wishes to unite and restore his country’s strength, to protecting his people, and those he loves including Yona – but the threat of her existence and that of his once-friend Hak, means he’s also at odds with his thoughts and actions. However his allies are not, having helped him to become Emperor, they’re determined to hunt Yona down and keep her secrets hidden.
Then there’s the fact the country face invasions, and it’s four tribes; water, sky, fire and earth need to be united, and yet they have their own political opinions, desires, and loyalty. These factions alone would be enough to make an interesting story, the tribes developed with every detail imaginable; the land, the people, beliefs, their leaders and their troubles. But when combined with the sharp contrast of Yona’s life, from a spoilt princess to one horrified by the ignorance of her country and determined to help it, the book adds another layer to itself. Additionally, the creator Mizuho Kusanagi is a master of conflicted emotions – which is a key strength of the series; his characters never feeling just one thing. They may smile, but their eyes are clouded over. They may say they’re not holding onto some lingering feelings, but they are, just as they’re overwhelmed by doubt, anger, and more than anything the pain of being hurt.
If you thought this was enough, Kusanagi did not, for Yona, with her bright red hair and a fiery nature, may in fact be fulfilling a legend of old and a prophecy to come – being the resurrected soul of a dragon God. Not only this but if she is, then there are four guardians of the dragon god; each possessing the power of a dragon to protect her, and with all the threats Yona has against her life, she’ll need their help.
Yona and her ‘god-squad’ soon develop into a band of mythological outlaws as they come across plans of invasion, cruel needless deaths, acts of vengeance, poverty, barren lands, drugs and much more.
Over the course of multiple volumes you learn more about each of the characters; their back story, their views, opinions, the differences between them and the close friendships built. Each character being lovingly invested into, the textures creating something so rounded that you feel yourself become as embroiled in their situations, as do the people they help along their journey. This development in the characters isn’t immediate. It takes time to flesh them out, and in this you see them grow in their maturity; learn forgiveness; question rather than assume; and more than anything to help those around them, who in turn become affected by their viewpoints.
Unsurprisingly there are many side stories and plot points – with them often being planned with such forethought that they come together to form unpredictable semi-finales and themes within the books, which in turn are then used as the foundations towards the grand overarching story – its ending still unclear. In this, and in the many theories of where a certain prophecy (yes there is a prophecy) will lead, it has a sense of the popular Game of Thrones, for it can at times be graphically violent. The book may state shojo – romantic, light and comedic – which it has a great deal of, but there’s maybe more shonen themes; fighting, adventure, martial arts and mythological creature…hello dragons?? In this, Yona of the Dawn has cast a wide enough net to please everyone, and certainly as you delve further into the series you’ll see more intricacy and greys of life; especially of both greed and sacrifice. More than anything though, you’ll fall in love with the main characters – leaving you between crying, laughing, anger and ‘awing’, yes you will aww at the bromance’s – of which there are multitudes.
Yona of the Dawn is a series that holds far more with each glance.
Book Edition Information:
Publisher: Viz Media
ISBN: 1421587815
Cover Illustration: Mizuho Kusanagi
Translation: JN Productions
Presented Edition: 2017 Paperback
Background image courtesy of Jan Kopřiva from Pexels
