Akatsuki no Yona
Yona of the Dawn

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first review :) *minor spoilers but isn't that important*

Story:
- Though the introduction & plot of the story seems kind of boring and almost generic, as you read further into the manga you won't even consider it boring. It starts out with a weak princess, Yona, and while others won't even bother touching a manga with this type of female protagonist, surrounded by many other men of her own harem, Yona actually puts up a name for herself. Yona gets stronger overtime because of her own determination and will to, which I really give respects to her for. As the story progresses, the story introduces ... more characters that will accompany Yona and her bodyguard Hak, as they roam the lands of Kouka together. 9.5/10

Art:
- Mizuho Kusanagi certainly doesn't disappoint when it comes to the art style with Akatsuki no Yona. She makes it so that the historical part of the series also ties into the art work with its abstract, marvelous designs with building structures, statues, clothing, etc. The art is interesting, and I really love how Mizuho will put in amazing designs in certain parts of the story that isn't necessary to the story at all. Mizuho is perfect for drawing details, no page in Akatsuki no Yona isn't beautifully done. 10/10

Characters:
- My favorite part about Akatsuki no Yona. The unique and different amount of characters there are in the manga! Each of the main characters have their backgrounds, and where they all came from. Everyone has different personalities, but they all have personalities to where you will just like them all. The character development for Yona is outstanding. Her journey from being a spoiled princess who always got anything she wanted to a more stronger person who works to get what they want and help the people in need around her is amazing. My favorite dragon is Hakuryuu, Kija, because I really love the comedy he brings into the group as well as his loving loyalty to Yona. Romance between Yona & Hak is very sweet too, why can't they just get married already ? Everyone has their own humor that I personally enjoy; the characters never bore me. 10/10

Enjoyment:
- It takes a lot for me to go ahead and read a manga, I would rather see things in color and sometimes reading and seeing black and white over and over again starts irritating my eyes. Even then, I highly enjoy Akatsuki no Yona. This is my favorite manga. This manga has never made me uninterested, I always loved how it can be very serious, the dialogue being very story heavy to a more light-hearted atmosphere in the next page. The transitions from serious to comedy is driven out very well, the jumps don't really feel so sudden, it felt like it was natural for it to be there. I love each and every one of the character's for a lot of different reasons, and a lot of different reasons because they have so much behind them. I liked, loved this manga for the art work, characters, meaning, how the characters interacted with each other, how the arcs were presented, just pretty much everything! I hope Akatsuki no Yona won't stop publishing for a few more years, and I also hope that the anime for Akatsuki no Yona will finish off excellently and someday receive a season two (by the time the anime ends, there will be a lot more stuff that didn't get animated, so pray for season two!) 10/10

Overall:
- Overall, this manga is a 10/10 for me; if you are a person who is interested in the historical fantasy aspect in stories as well as romance, comedy, and action then this manga is practically calling out to you! Keep in mind though that this is a shoujo and a reverse harem, but don't let those two change your mind on possibly reading this. Every male in the reverse harem will make you like this series, and Yona herself, of course.

I've never been so devoted to a manga as this one. I'm even reading tumblr spoilers because i cant wait for next chapter T.T

Not only is the story amazing, I love the way you see the characters develop during the manga. Also the side stories are so touching and they always keep me in their gasp to the very last words.
The way the manga mixes history, mystics and comedy is truly making this a masterpiece. And than that touch of romance now and than LOVE IT.

The Heroine in the story is probably the best female character I've ever seen. She isn't the common everyday heroine ... who suddenly has all the power. She is badass in her own way and i love it

Here is my review of Akatsuki No Yona by Kusanagi Mizuho.

Story 9/10:
The story is very good. The first chapter is very gripping, and Kusanagi always leaves her chapters off on a cliff-hanger or a suspense scene. It's very well-written, there's some humor scenes, some tension, some romance and that's what made me like this manga. I still feel that the story could use a bit more movement in the love scenes... I mean, the main character's guardian, Hak, loves the main character but he's always reluctant to make movement for his own good...

Art 10/10:
Brillant. Beautiful. Detailed. I loved it and the art's a big 'yes' ... for me. This mangaka can draw anything. Big palaces, beautiful cities and of course, interesting characters. I don't even need to say that the art needs improvement. It's gorgeous.

Characters 9/10:
All the characters have distinct personalities. They all have their own story and it's understandable to see why they are like themselves or why they are doing certain things. All the supporting and main characters are indeed, very interesting. There are some characters I wish to see more of and know a bit more about and I do wish the main character becomes a bit more independent (not like she isn't already), which is why I hesitate to give a full score.

Enjoyment 9/10:
I personally find this manga enjoyable. I love love the ancient theme, the fantasy, the legend, the characters... Story does sometimes go off the main plot after chapter 60+, for some chapters which pulls 1 point off my enjoyment, which is why this section is a nine, but it's still brilliant and does make up and link up to the main plot.

Overall 9/10:
This series is amazing! If you're a fan of ancient-themed, romance, harem and fun characters, then this series is for you. It's gripping, suspenseful and enjoyable. I personally think this series is highly underrated and I do wish it was more popular for license in English.

You have seen 55 episodes of Akatsuki no Yona
Your Review:
Akatsuki no Yona is one of my all time favorite mangas so far even though when I first picked it up my immediate thought was “this is sooo shoujo.” At first sight it basically looks like the typical manga full of lovey dovey scenes, bishounens and pretty and spoiled princesses who need constant protection from the bad guys, but I am SO pleased I was wrong.

Story 9/10

The idea is not that new to be honest, when I picked this up I had already read similar stories from Watase Yuu- sensei (Fuushigi Yuugi and Fuushigi Yuugi: Genbu ... Kaiden) where there was the same atmosphere feel: political intrigues involving royalty, the heroines must travel around the country looking for her destined warriors.. but I never get bored of these kind of stories because there’s so much going on: politics, war, friendship, love, loyalty, drama, adventure.. This story has all my favorite ingredients and is very well told so far, with a good pace that allows proper character development and interesting subplots. It has also very funny moments, so it’s all good.

Art 10/10

It’s brilliant, clean, and the mangaka seems to be able to draw just about anything and I’m really really picky when it comes to art.

Characters 10/10

As I said at the start of this review, when I first picked Akatsuki no Yona I thought it was crawling with clichéd characters which I would end up getting fed up with, but it was a delightful surprise to find out that every single main character is consistenly growing and changing as the events of the story develop (and I must say I love the direction they’re taking.)

It’s not your usual heroine or your usual love triangle and that’s a breath of fresh air and it effectively grabs your attention.

Enjoyment 10/10

I’ve been following this manga for about 2 years now and I must say that it’s been one of the most enjoyable mangas for me to read. When I started to read it I simply couldn’t put it down until I read every single published page and I’m really glad that the anime is just as fun.

Overall 10/10

I highly recommend it! You can be shoujo fan or not, in which ever case I think you’ll enjoy it (especially after chapter 2 haha)

Thanks for reading my review and I hope you enjoy this manga as much as I do!

Yona of The Dawn is a true masterpiece and work of art.

This series has by far the best character development I have ever read in my lifetime. Yona starts out as a spoiled, pampered, sheltered princess who has lived a privileged life completely oblivious to the deteriorating state of her kingdom and the poverty stricken people that are suffering due to her father’s cowardly approach to ruling. However, after witnessing her father’s murder at the hands of her cousin Su-Won, the man she loved and hoped to marry she is forced to flee the only home she’s ever known with her childhood friend and bodyguard ... Hak. Yona, betrayed and heartbroken is forced to confront the realities of the world and learn how to survive on her own. She embarks on a quest to find the four legendary dragon warriors who will help her save the kingdom. Meanwhile, her friendship with Hak slowly blossoms into something more...

Over the course of the series, Yona transforms into an intelligent, reckless but incredibly brave, strong and capable leader who is determined to protect her loved ones at any cost. She learns how to fight, becomes more independent, and empathetic to the struggles of the people around her. Through her struggles she finds her purpose and vows to retake the thrown so she can put an end to the war and better the lives of her people.

Yona is joined on her journey by a diverse group of people, each with their own unique personalities and skills. As they travel together, they form close bonds and become like a family. From the friendship between Yona and Yun to the romantic tension between Yona and Hak, there is no shortage of interesting relationships to explore

Did I really just binge-read 255 chapters in two days?? Yes, yes I did.
Wow. This compelling story has made me laugh, squeal with excitement, and sob uncontrollably. I don't even care for reading manga- but I had to continue the story after watching the anime! The character development is so smooth and natural- it follows a realistic pace. The plot threw most my predictions out the window. There is little/no fan service, and the romance depicted is a healthy, heartwarming relationship.

I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy story with an equal balance of lighthearted and dark aspects. This manga is truly ... a gem worth your time and investment.

Is there seriously no review for this manga yet? Really? Oh well, this'll be the first one then

Story 8/10
Ok, in my honest opinion, I wasn't expecting very much from the plot. It is about a young princess, Yona, who has the a near-perfect, care-free life like any old princess would have. She has a loving emperor father, a hot cousin crush and everything she could ever ask for. But when incidents occur (basically Soo won, her cousin crush murdering her father to gain access to her throne) she is forced to leave her easy life to start a new one on the run, with only ... the company of her annoying bodyguard (though others join later on). It isn't the most original plot, but hey, I liked it more and more when I read on, and I can say with no hesitation now that I love the story. I also liked the slow romance and the touches of comedy within a rather serious storyline. It just made me happier for some reason.
Art 9/10
The art is beautiful and very shoujo-esque. It is detailed, but not too over-the-top, and expressions are done well. What can I say? There isn't much to criticise with the art.
Character 8/10
From the storyline, I was half-expecting a weak, pathetic female lead that always had to be rescued, and would make me drop the manga within a few chapters. I am so thankful that this worry was almost non-existant in the manga. Yona started off a bit weak, but I grew to admire and love her personality which really developed the further the story went. Her desire to grow stronger, and her recognition towards her responsibilities as a princess was truly admirable, so I found. The male lead, Hak, was also very strong and loyal to Yona, no matter how much he annoys her and she annoys him. There were some characters I found irritating, but hopefully later chapters will reduce the feelings I have towards them.
Enjoyment 8/10
Yep, I enjoyed it. Interesting plot, appealing art, likeable characters, I loved it all. And hopefully it will get better later on.
Overall 8/10
I give it an 8 overall because the series is still ongoing, so I think that it would be too early to give it a 10. It has great potential though, and I hope it will continue to exceed my expectations. Recommended for fantasy/historical/slow-romance readers. For those who enjoys realistic stories about high-school etc, maybe this isn't for you, but give it a try, and see if you like it. I most certainly did.

This is my first review so first of all, I AM IN LOVE WITH YONA (hence why my profile pic is Yona) but it's outstanding from all the changes from her sheltered life princess Yona to fearless, beautiful yona. MINOR SPOILERS WILL BE SHOWN!!!!

Story 10/10
Akatsuki No Yona is about a sheltered princess who doesn't experience much from the outside world but one day, her peaceful life is shattered. In the beginning, it is a bit slow, trying to find the dragons' descendants, but wants it hits the 3rd dragon's arc, it is outstanding! The action-packed arcs that starts to happen after and in this arc, ... is like literally mind-blowing. Although the romance is a bit (ALOT) slow, there are moments where I fangirl over Hak and Yona(Yak, I think or Hona) my favorite OTP.

Art 9/10
The art in this manga is super pretty. There are some mangas where all the characters look the same but that's not the case in this one. Each character have unique characteristics that doesn't mix the characters up. Also the scenery that is drawn makes you really think, how in the world does the author draw this? Anyways, the art is very pretty in Akatsuki no Yona

Character 10/10
You end up falling in love with the characters in this manga. Especially, as you can tell, I love the character, Yona. Yona, sheltered princess, was more like calm and protected but her fierce mode is sooooooooooo freakin awesome like she's just personality and looks goal af. The guys in this manga are also very handsome, favorites would be Hak and Jae-ha. Each character have different kinds of personalities and looks.

Overall 9.6/10
This manga is definitely one of my favorites ever!!! Hope this was a good review and helped any of you guys, want to read this manga. This review is full of my opinions, nobody else, other people will probably have different opinions about it. Again, I hope this helped you!

Teen heart-throb. Mediocre love triangle. Princess chased away. Childhood friend betrayal. Does it sound like typical yet? Because it can get like that. This manga is almost borderline shoujo and shonen. The most you'll see that would be shocking is a little bit of blood and killing, and some playful intimacy between the main characters. In addition, there's few shoujo moments you see. However, I personally really like Akatsuki no Yona, and here's why.

Story 8/10: So far there's really no surprise in the story line. It's all kind of expected, and when you read through it, your expression would be "I knew it!". -2 for ... that because it's a biggie for me. For those who are looking for extreme challenge or surprises, move along. The story does focus on the main character's objectives with some hilarious dialogues here and there. Flashbacks were given at some point that plays with the current situation. The story doesn't really revolve around the "love-love" moments of the characters; if it does, it's barely, which is also nice, because we pretty much know who she'll end up with, just needs a little push. The story basically follows through the characters' purpose and objectives, with little delay or obstacles.

Art 10/10: Lovely art. Pretty much every little thing she draws are in detailed. It's beautiful, especially for its manga theme -- "ancient".

Character 9/10: You really can't hate any of the characters. The mangaka made it so that they're all loveable, and you just can't help but sympathize in their situation. Yona is a spoiled brat, but as the story progresses she gets a character development, as well as a hit of reality. She doesn't stay a spoiled brat, but she stays oblivious to her surroundings unless stated to her, like every innocent girl. All the dragon men are gorgeous looking, and have a past that makes up for who they are and their actions. We have her childhood friends, Hak, who is a general and her guardian, and Soo-Won who is her first crush and later her enemy. They all develop maturely. -1 though because it's too "all expected".

Enjoyment 9/10: I already expected this manga not to have any overly surprising element or mind-blowing moments. You know those moments, "I know it's gonna happen, but I'm hoping it won't,"? Yeah, you get a lot of those, and it just exactly what you thought. I enjoyed hoping there might be a plot twist, but so far, none of that yet. But that's okay, because I expected it. Because I did all of that, I really liked this manga. Very innocent, and goes on in one direction.

Overall: It's a 9/10. This manga is quite impressive, everything about it! I love all of Mizuho Kasanagi's manga. This one is not a let-down at all. It's wonderful, and gives off a younger innocent feel. There's just something that pulls you into this manga. It's the vibe that the mangaka makes that you can't help but read throughout. So give this one a try.

This is my first review, and I gotta say first of all, this manga is absolutely OUTSTANDING. It's one of my all time favorites, and for good reasons. This review may contain some small spoilers.

Story 9/10:
At first glance, this manga may seem like your typical shoujo manga, where the female heroine is just a spoiled princess who has all these hot guys protecting her. However, this is definitely not the case. This story is about Yona, a sheltered princess who had everything she wanted - a loving father, food, expensive jewelry - until she gets chased out of the castle with her bodyguard, Hak. She ... then goes out on an adventure, and along the way, she meets new people and grows as a character. The story starts out a little slow, but it definitely picks up later in story progress. It is an action-packed, comedic, historical, adventurous manga.

Art 10/10:
The art is absolutely stunning. The characters and backgrounds are drawn beautifully in full detail, and I especially love the way the expressions are drawn. There is absolutely nothing, nothing at all, that I could criticize about the art.

Characters 10/10:
All of the characters in this manga are extremely lovable. I was most surprised about my love for Yona. At first, I was expecting her to be one of those annoying female characters who just screams while the people around her protect her. Boy, was I wrong. Yona has the most beautiful character development I have ever seen. You would be absolutely amazed as you watch her change from a spoiled, weak princess who knew nothing of the outside world to a strong, admirable, respectable princess warrior. Because this could be considered a reverse harem, I was also expecting for there to be clingy, annoying guys who try to do all they can to grab Yona's attention. I was totally wrong in this aspect as well. All of the characters have a very appealing, and distinct, personality. I promise you, every single character in this manga, would grow on you.

Enjoyment 10/10:
I enjoyed this manga through and through. The first few chapters were a little slow for me, but now every chapter has me on the edge of my seat.

Overall 10/10:
This manga is a solid 10/10 for me. If you love mangas with comedy (who doesn't?), action, a bit of romance, fantasy, and adventure, this manga is for you. This manga is shoujo and reverse harem, but don't let that turn you away from reading it. This is NOT your typical shoujo manga with a female protagonist with a weak personality. It is most definitely worth the read!

So overall, I really enjoy this manga. It has a lot of themes and tropes that work for me: (slightly immature and predictable) humour, adventure, found family and brotherhood, romance that’s cute but not the main focus, handsome men, self sacrifice etc etc. However as a fan of high fantasy, I can see some loose threads and holes in the world building.

The mangaka is pretty good at developing and portraying social/ political and interpersonal dynamics which are already established. However to get to this point of establishment, she uses some fairly contrived or not well fleshed out hand-wavy explanations just to so we can ... get to that point. An example in the context of social/ political dynamics is the history of the tribes. Given that they were founded two thousand years ago by the original dragon warriors, I would have expected them to have developed more unique cultures along the way. What makes a tribe a tribe? There’s no difference in language or ethnicity, and very little noticeable differences in attire, food or traditions. Also what was the point if them being named after the elements, and the dragons each having a corresponding colour, if the mangaka wasn’t going to somehow link them together? Personally I would have enjoyed the world building a lot more if each tribe worshipped a different dragon/ dragon warrior, hence creating more friction between the tribes. I find it slightly incredulous that the people of each tribe demonstrate loyalty towards their own tribe and chief and are indifferent to the others, yet there is no mention of any conflict between the tribes. If you make the distinction of separating the nation into tribes, surely there should be stakes and reasons as to why they’re separated like that?

Another example of poor build-up but this time in the context of character relationships is how quickly everyone became friends. Like I said, the friendships are very cute and endearing. You can see how different character pairs have different dynamics, and how they all fit together into one happy hungry bunch. However, I do think it would’ve been better if some mutual distrust or awkwardness was shown in the earlier stages. You’re putting a bunch of strangers together - I don’t think it’s realistic for them all to hit it off immediately. I know Hak and Kija argue when they first meet, but to be honest it was mostly friendly banter and nothing too serious. Given how deeply Hak was affected by Suwon’s betrayal, you’d think he’d be slightly more distrusting and wary of strangers going forward. One of my favourite scenes is when Hak hugs the other dragon warriors after the fort battle - this really solidified his friendship with the others in the group, without Yona being the one to bring them all together. I think it would’ve hit harder if the friendship grew more from a slightly rockier place to where it is now, instead of already starting out quite well if that makes sense.

There’re a few other examples I can think of but I won’t ramble any more. Despite all my frustrations, I still rate it pretty high just because when the story works for me, it really does work. I can still see all the glaring issues, but I’m willing to overlook them just because.

For people who like a good story with a strong female protagonist, who doesn't start crying every time something bad happens, is this a perfect manga. It's a historical and romantic manga with comedy, action and fantasy... the ideal story!

Yona is a cute, young princess, who wants to take revenge on her nephew for killing her father and taking the throne. So she runs away with her bodyguard to look for help, no need to look far for the romance ^_^

The manga is still on-going and the reason why I open my eyes each morning is to check if there is a ... new chapter, it realy got me hooked.

The story is really worth reading!

Everyone is like, “for a shoujo, what did you expect”? But why does a manga have to be wasted potential just because it's a shoujo?

World-building and mythology (6/10)

Reminiscent of Avatar: the last Airbender, but half-assed. It makes readers like me really angry since I know those secrets will only be revealed in another 200 chapters. Cheap. Don't waste your time, at least till this manga ends.

Plot (6/10)

Similar to many Korean historical dramas. While the politics takes a front seat, the way the author executes it, especially chapter 180 and onwards (the castle arc) is quite nonsensical and controversial. More research was ... needed.

The relationship between the childhood friends (Yona, Hak, Soo-Won) and the context behind their tragic fallout was the saving grace. For a while the manga is not bad. Besides the infamously trite hostage situation plotlines, the protagonist/antagonist foil conflict is quite unique and I consider it the crux of the story.

Chapter 180 is the start of the castle arc where the writing declines. The concept of the arc has potential but the execution is lackluster. What was supposed to be a tense political drama that unleashes a bloody family history, becomes dragged out with unnecessary drama, rushed character development, passive characters doing nothing, retcons, plot holes, and abandoned plotlines. (Who on Earth WAS Hyoo-ri guys?)

Also, the timeline doesn't make much sense. We don't know if even a year has passed yet since Yona's 16th birthday. There are still many unanswered mysteries that the author does not care to answer in favor of stupid villains and 4-5 year long meandering subplots that I couldn't care less for besides our main trio. Characters don’t think through properly and throw themselves in danger without clear reasoning.

Yona, for instance, lacks enough reflection about the important questions and mysteries of the manga even after reading some information about it and having a prophetic dream. Her reactions are often delayed until times convenient to the plot which comes off as forced. Many characters are dumbed down and neglected to pull Yona up and put her in a ‘morally righteous’ light. None of the established and actually interesting dynamics get explored (Hak and Soo-Won aren't meeting anytime soon guys)

Characters (5/10)

Yona, Hak, and Soo-Won are overrated and OP.

Despite not vibing with Yona's personality (like no, I'm not idolizing a religious cult leader whose only friends are a harem of men who worship her like slaves, the dragon cycle needs to end. And I don't idolize Hak or Soo-Won either) I still respected her courage and willingness to learn as she sought to fight against her circumstances. She’s still saved by the dragons but despite the awful initial reverse harem subplots that ends early, it can be overlooked by her own efforts.

If there's one thing I can praise her for, she actually has the emotional maturity and level-headedness to do better things with her life than give into the cycle of vengeance that all her older relatives did which ruined their lives. That actually surprised me pleasantly. You'd think with she'd be going through the classic avenging-father plot. But she doesn't. Her decision there also is given actual reason and weight so it is obviously not easy for her, but it is believable watching her come to that conclusion on her own. It makes the reader wonder where her character will go.

But chapter 140 onwards her development stagnates. The author neglects her learning and POV on anything, and by ch 180 she masters basically anything she puts her mind to without much thought. After returning to the castle, despite having no political education, she memorizes 100 laws in 3 days when prior to this Yona had not been portrayed as such in any way. Her development politically and intellectually feels rushed and neglected.

She also lacks a clear, distinct goal besides protecting her friends although it’s heavily implied that she’s NOT supposed to keep up such a mentality, so she’s started to become pulled by the plot rather than actually taking control of it.

Yona isn’t the worst heroine, but she’s just the bare minimum.

Female empowerment (4/10)

First of all, for all of its 'female empowerment' everyone praises it for, like 99% of the cast are male. It's better than most shounen, sure, but that doesn't make it great. There's quite a bit of sexist dialogue here and there, like Jaeha telling Yona "You're just a girl". Historically, society was patriarchal, but that doesn’t mean all the women in the nation have nothing interesting to offer?

Yona is also saved too many times by her dragons/Hak. Chapter 186 and onwards, her strength is "all tell and no show". She was acting like a complete damsel in distress and only Hak and the others had to save her from her castle quarantine, when she could have just set proper boundaries against her enemies who wanted to separate her and them.

The only other female character worth mentioning, Lili, Yona's only female friend, has not appeared in the story in years.

Romance and Objectification of Male Characters (2/10)

Not a fan. Jaeha is fucking 25, he has no business liking a barely 16 year old, so creepy. Thankfully, this plot goes away, but why is it even there? JUST STOP MAKING EVERYONE FALL IN LOVE WITH YONA!

Hak’s character is "fanservice", a Gary Stu perfect love interest who is subordinate to and revolves around the heroine. I hate seeing women revolve around men in shounen anime, and this is the same thing now with genders reversed. He has practically zero personality or aspirations of his own, and they have this unpleasant master-servant power imbalance relation that still exists to this day. There’s no in-depth explanation into how he fell in love with her and not other women in his own tribe, he just is there to give up his life for her.

Later on it’s revealed that he considered Soo-Won to be his best friend and like a brother he deeply admired, and only this made him feel as more than a wish fulfillment object for the female gaze, as an actual person. Honestly I find his devotion towards his ex-friend more compelling than his romance with Yona. Because there was an actual reason and incident where this devotion for Soo-Won began to build.

The romance also takes a backseat in this manga which is fine (not that it was that good anyway), but the pacing is really cringe in the way they’re constantly separated and don’t actually communicate about matters of substance that might move the plot forward. Their 'scenes' were until recently on hold right now because the guy was left in prison and the heroine did not even take time to get him out.

Villains (5/10)

Many of the villains are cookie-cutter cliche ‘evils’ who are there to make Yona look good. Soo-won and Kye-Sook, who used to be intriguing villains, have aged like milk since the castle arc. Kye-Sook, who used to never trust Yona and makes careful decisions, starts acting like a fool who simply wants Hak dead and acts recklessly so Yona can lecture him… because he does? Soo-Won, who used to be a man who controlled the shots, becomes a sick, frail man who is passive to being dragged by the whims of his advisor. Judo has an interesting personality, but never given much spotlight and often made a running gag of being a bachelor for comedy.

I would rate this lower if it weren’t for the earlier arcs.

There are also practically no female villains as of now. This story seems to have some weird idea that if you’re female, you’re automatically good, which… isn’t always the case.

This manga was promising at the beginning, and actually has quite an interesting plot. But to someone like me who is a big fan of romance, it wasn't my type.

I needed more romance and cute moments so I kept persevering through the chapters but by around chapter 25-30 and onwards I ended up skimming through the pages so quickly, some points I didn't even read the chapter just scrolled all the way through it to the next chapter.

The story is good. Nothing bad to say about it, although I did end up getting a little confused as to where it was going after they ... reached their goal of banding together all four dragons.

The art style is also not suited to my tastes. It JUST passes my "okay" tastes, and if the story were more my type than it would've been fine.

Characters were alright, no big issues.

Overall, I rated it a 5 because truly there wasn't anything bad about story, it just honestly (as I keep repeating) wasn't suited to my tastes. If you're someone who enjoys the "KYAAAA<3" moments, this isn't for you. If you enjoy the more fantasy, historical aspects with minimal romantic moments, then perhaps this may be something you enjoy.

The story start is kind of fast, so it's easy to get hooked. From the beginning there are things happening. Story in general has lot of potential but in my opinion has a lot of flaws. One of them are politics. Author's handling of politics is mediocre at best. Lot of things about politics of whole manga doesn't make sense. This is hard to explain without spoilers so I can't dwell on it too much, but let's say that pretty much everything from succession, laws, government type, political structure, general audience (people, officials etc) reaction to political affairs etc are done fairly poor. I do ... understand what kind of manga this is, and I understand that it is bound to dwell more into interpersonal relationships and drama, but politics are integral part of it (manga starts with politics) so I think author should've handled this one better. For example the manga starts with coup, one character kills the king, Yona isn't the heir (but she is?), her husband is supposedly next king (well what kind of succession is that), she is chased from castle, the usurper proclaims himself a new king, gets coronated really fast, and you know what? No one gives a damn. Is it so easy to usurp the throne in this country? Beside all that, usurper (if succession was a common primogeniture) was supposed to be the next heir in the first place, since apparently succession isn't absolute primogeniture since Yona isn't heir (but still maybe she is?).

I also do not like character development of certain characters. Main character kind of start getting some major development, which then starts to diminish and author kind of neglects it for the sake of some other things. While on the other hand, some characters get some, let's call it 'undeserved' and 'unrealistic' development because of the way story is build up (which has some major flaws. I do not like the way author handles intepersonal stuff. Especially since latest chapter when Yona comes back to her home and is seeing her father's murderer always, but author makes it way too sympathetic toward the murdered to the point you can't help but feel bad for the whole plot up until latest arc. Main love is also too cringy even for teenage characters. Author builds their relationship in every other chapter, but doesn't build it at the same time, and kind of puts it on hold just to make people wait for them to start getting some "free time" again.

Beside that, I think that storytelling is also fairly mediocre. Story is interesting in beginning, and all the way to the a bit more than half of the manga, but then starts lacking. One of the reasons are repeatable situations in which main characters get themselves into. After that, actions of main characters later on kind of do not make sense, especially since the start of the latest arc. Author relies too much on interpersonal feeling, relationships, dram etc rather than making sense in many other essential parts of the whole plot. Author creates some mysterious things from past and makes people wait for their revelations, and also makes some interpersonal stuff that makes people wait for next chapters, but fails to make sense in other plot stuff (many other plot stuff).

It was hard to explain this without spoiling too much but I kind of tried. It would've been easier and you would understand my points better if I spoiled some more stuff, but whatever. In general, story can be enjoyable if you're mostly interested in interpersonal feelings, drama, relationships between characters etc and not care all that much if author makes sense of certain aspects of plot.

This is a review from a male reader point of view that enjoy drama and romance story.
and also this is the first time i write a long ass review, akatsuki no yona made me do this and really deserved this, to be appreciated and to be read by more people.

Story:
- The story center around a weak and spoiled princess that eventually become stronger as the story goes on. Every arc has a great pacing and cool minor details. The relationship of every character is very cute and wholesome. The romance at the start is kinda slow but as the story goes on the romance become ... very clear and enjoyable. Though the romance doesn't really give a straight answer but by the time they get serious it's very rewarding. Every pre and post arc are filled with comedy and romance so it doesn't get boring and very enjoyable. When the story get serious, the scene, the atmosphere get very tense and really cool, it makes you get really excited and can't stop reading. The main story of this manga is not about surviving attacks from other party but about yona making the kingdom of kouka a better place. 8.5/10

Art:
- I don't want to talk about much about the art because it is simply mesmerizing. Very great desing in hairstyle, building, clothes fightscene and more. The fightscene is very intense and great. The art make every characters very cool and unique. The details of every page is done in a great style and drawn beautifully, just read it and you will love the artstyle instantly, very great work by Mizuho Kusanagi.
For me i love those eyes, stares, glares from every character. You won't see those glares in other manga. 10/10

Characters:
- Each main character have a great and unique personality, i love how they react toward each other like brothers. Especially jae ha and hak interaction is very cute. Every personality in yona's party are needed to bring colors in their journey. It is very wholesome and funny to see their daily life. Makes me want to get close to them and see more of their interactions. The main star for the character development is definitely yona. How she become very charismatic, brave, and indepedent make you love her even more. i really love yona as a character and her journey to become as she is now. 9/10

Enjoyment:
- I simply say i really love this manga. I can't stop reading it, when im about to close in to the recent chapter i cant stop thinking about it and want to read more and more. This manga has finally become my favorite manga. i enjoy every aspect of this manga, i love the comedy, the romance, the drama, the art, story and everything else. Read it and you will know what i mean. Akatsuki no Yona reached a different level for me in terms of drama romance manga. 10/10

Overall:
- Overall, if you really enjoy romance drama in a kingdom settings and if you love a strong willed and determined girl to move forward in her life, trust me, you will love this manga and love Yona as a character. I can't stop and explain in words how much i love Yona as a character, how she become like she is right now as a strong independet girl. Every arc is enjoyabable and leaves a strong impression thus will make you remember the story that already happened in each arc. This is a shoujo manga that even a male reader like me love and enjoy the manga and made this manga number 1 in my list of my favorite manga. 10/10

AMAZING, BRILLIANT, Outstanding!
It might sound exaggerated but it's the truth.
Story, Character, Art, Enjoyment, I would give all of them 10 Without even thinking once.

I can't recommend anyone, anything BETTER THAN THIS STORY.
Historical, (which makes all the characters graceful)
Action, (it makes characters so cool)
Romance, (who doesn't like romance?)
Comedy, (who doesn't wanna laugh?)
Fantasy. (it's a genre that not everyone likes, still in this story, it surprisingly makes sense)
... These genres couldn't fit better on any other story than this one.
I'd recommend to those, who wanna laugh, who wanna see a true form of love, who wanna see graceful characters, who wanna know what bonding and affection is.
It's a complete package.
I started reading this manga after watching its anime because anime didn't have any proper ending, (& It bothered me 😂) I was so eager to know how HAK and Yona will end up, I started reading manga from Chapter 41. In 3 days I completed 190 chapters, it's so engaging and beautiful story!

My MOST FAVOURITE of all stories, AKATSUKI NO YONA.

HAK, Yona, the four dragons. I love all of them, because they've amazing personalities.. (I don't wanna introduce who they are, just know them through anime and then continue the story in manga. That's what I'll recommend)

I wanted to personally text this writer to tell her, how brilliant of a writer she is.

Not only is the characters' development amazing, the story and its events are just Too heroic, too emotional to handle.

There are so many scenes where I laughed, when dragons make jokes and enjoy with each other. There are so many scenes where HAK makes us skip a heartbeat by his unconditional love for Yona.

It's a MUST MUST MUST watch and read. Both

I've spent a whole day just reading this manga and while for the first 70/80 chapters I really loved this manga. The artwork is just beautiful 10/10.
But it's one sin making Hak/Yona romance basically the center point from 130 onward. It should have been a slow romance and rushing into it just ruined the story for me.

Strong character development, each character has it's own personality and role within the story. Yoon (the mother), Kija (goody goody), Blue Dragon (introvert), Green Dragon (rebel, playboy), Hak (sardonic lover boy), Yellow Dragon (positivity) and Yona ( a sheltered princess who comes to understand the ... reality of her fathers reign and tries to change it for the better).
I love the whole dynamic of Hak/ Yona and Su Won. The backstory of their childhood growing up together. The betrayal and how it effects both of them.

And how each time they add a character we get to see their point of view and love them, how they fit into the little family. I hate how later down the track they add too many characters and it becomes too confusing too follow.

I love the friendship between Hak and Jae ha, the Green Dragon especially especially you can tell he trusts him with his true feelings.
Just the way certain characters interact together is enjoyable. I won't bother reading anymore chapters though.

Gives me the last airbender vibes.
Inverse harem too.

*note - I did not read the first few chapters of this manga; I picked it up from where the anime left off, but from what I have heard, they are very similar*

I almost dropped this story when I first started it. Yona was an annoying, bratty cry-baby. NO thank you!!! However, I am really glad that I trusted the high ratings and kept with the story. In the end, Yona turned out to be one of my favorite characters of all time. I like a strong female lead, but I LOVE a strong female lead who had to work hard to overcome physical and ... emotional hardship. I appreciate that Yona didn't just magically transform into a bad-ass girl who earns the respect of other characters. She had to work for it, make difficult choices and sacrifices for it, and ithe manga dedicates a good amount of time to that change, so it didn't feel rushed or contrived.

The supporting characters all felt well-developed to me (sometimes I read mange with a really large cast like this one and have to think to myself "wait, who are you again"). Although the actions and motives of the characters change over time, there is a logical development behind those changes - the characters are growing, not just acting inconsistent. I especially like that the protagonist/antagonist groups are not "good" and "evil" - they are both shown to have good reasons for the actions that they take.

Overall, I felt emotionally attached to the characters, and loved the political backdrop of the story as well as the well-developed fantasy world in which it takes place.

I really love this story!!!

Actually, due to watching and reading romantic anime, at some point, I became fed-up with easy and fast developments among the characters, this is when I found this.

Honestly, at first, when someone recommended it to me, I was not interested since I thought that it might be just about historical things because of their appearances. However, when I tried to watch it (because it also had an anime adaptation), what I said was wrong. Yes, it may be too hurtful at the beginning but as you progress, there's a lot to see especially if you were to read this manga.

What's ... great in this story, it made me experience different emotions, I laughed, cried, became angered and many other more. Until now, I look forward to it. I want to know how those conflicts be resolved and what will happen to their relationship as friends, as master to 4 dragons and as lovers.