Chi wo Hau Boukoku no Oujo
Blood-Crawling Princess of a Ruined Country

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This review focuses on the first arc of Chi wo Hau, the debut manga by Azuma Yuki Sensei. For a first work, it’s fairly impressive, but when considered as a whole, it’s ultimately just an average manga (no offense intended).

The strongest aspect of this series is undoubtedly its story. The premise, involving a princess forced into prostitution who seeks revenge for the destruction of her kingdom, is highly unique. The first six chapters are exceptional, delivering gripping tension and intrigue. However, in my opinion, the plot loses momentum quickly afterward. What starts with a compelling hook becomes less engaging as the story progresses. ...

Moving on to the art, the manga contains significant graphic and sexual violence. Unfortunately, many of these scenes feel superficial, lacking depth or narrative weight. While the artwork is solid early on, the quality noticeably declines over time. It also seems that the author is struggling to maintain consistency, and the redesign of the protagonist was a particularly poor choice that detracted from the experience.

At this point, it’s difficult to wholeheartedly recommend Chi wo Hau. If you enjoy revenge stories and don’t mind graphic violence, it might still be worth a read; you’ll probably find some enjoyment in it. However, if you’re looking for a more complex narrative or prefer not to spend time on "average" manga, there are plenty of better options out there. That said, despite its flaws, I’m still interested in seeing how the story develops and always look forward to the next chapter. It may not be remarkable, but it’s compelling enough to keep me curious.

It’s not surprising at all that this manga isn’t being widely read. It’s not that it lacks meaning or depth, but it leans too heavily on being overly tragic, edgy, and filled with sexual violence. When these elements are overused, it can overwhelm readers and make the story feel excessive. Even when the themes are meaningful, if there’s too much of them, it starts to feel like the manga is trying to shock the audience rather than telling a balanced story.

Take Berserk, for example—it’s packed with tragedy, violence, and dark themes, but it uses these elements in a way that enhances the story. The pain ... and trauma that Guts goes through are intense, but they’re balanced with moments of character growth, reflection, and even hope. The darkness in Berserk serves the plot and the character development, giving readers a chance to connect with Guts’ journey despite the brutality.

In contrast, this manga feels like it’s piling on the tragedy and violence without giving the reader much of a break or a chance to fully digest what’s happening. It’s simply too much, to the point where it risks alienating the audience. Even though there might be depth behind the tragedy and edginess, it becomes hard for readers to stick with it when they’re constantly bombarded by overwhelming content. That’s likely why it hasn’t been able to draw in a larger readership—it’s just too intense for most people to handle.