Akagami no Shirayuki-hime
Snow White with the Red Hair

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Truly a hidden gem amongst Manga. Akagami no Shirayuki-hime is like another modern rewrite of the Cinderella story, except fairy tales has never had so much sensibility, or such a well balanced relationship between the main couple (as opposed to one simply sweeping the other off their heels).

I never thought I'd see so much rationale in a fantasy shoujo manga. I mean not only is the entire cast (all of them that matters) likable, but they're all intelligent and hard-working people, whose actions are logical, and whose emotions are balanced, considered, and developed only in response to other character's actions (rather than any plot device).

This ... is especially the case of the main heroine Shirayuki - she's not perfect, she's not strong, but she tackles everything with smart thinking and an iron will. Meanwhile, Zen is content to watch carefully from the sidelines and let Shirayuki do her thing, putting his faith in her strength of character and coming only to help when necessary. He might be the hero, but he certainly doesn't overshadow the heroine.

The story is well paced. Unexpected things may come and go, but nothing jumps out of the blue. The relationship is slowly developed from pure friendship across series of trials and challenges, with feelings and decisions that come gradually but not too slowly.

The art style is great — sim­plis­tic yet ele­gantly beau­ti­ful, cute with­out rely­ing on chibi-esque pro­por­tions, all-fitting yet unique on its own.

Its even more amaz­ing that this seems to be Aizuki Sorata first ongo­ing series! I sure see some amaz­ing works com­ing out of this mangaka’s career!

This series is just too amazing! And I didn't just rate everything a 10 for no reason, I REALLY can't help it. Everything is a 10, it's just so amazing in every aspect.
The storyline is very well developed and I like the fact that the heroine isn't weak and in need of protection from every little thing; she's intelligent, willful and can take care of herself.
I also appreciate how it doesn't take the entire series for the obvious relationship to build up. There's no unneeded issues or past relationships to trip them up and they realize their feelings for one another early on ... instead of waiting until the last chapter to confess.
The artwork is also some of the best, if not THE best, I have ever seen. Its so simple yet detailed and elegant and its obvious a lot of time and effort was put in.
All in all, I would be infinitely happy if it were somehow made into in anime, but for some reason it looks like that won't happen. But still, I have hope that it gets licensed fairly quickly and gives other people a chance to enjoy such a great series.

"Red is supposed to be the color of fate, right? Even if it’s annoying now, it might connect to something good when you least expect it."

Sure, but 79 chapters in and it's still pretty annoying. Alas, Akagami no Shirayukihime. I've finished you. I came on to read other reviews following my finishing of the manga and show and I've got to say, I'm extremely confused. This manga is rated relatively high for being pretty mediocre at best. Let's dive in, shall we?

Story: There's close to zero plot. I've honestly never felt that a plot could have been so easily resolved dozens of chapters prior. It's ... really just your average Mary Sue-type, boring protagonist who happens upon a prince whilst fleeing from another prince because something about her makes her special i.e. her hair (go figure). It's red as an apple which sure, red hair may be appealing, but it's literally just hair. But whatever. The rest of the story is pretty much just her making her way into the castle in Clarines and falling in love with a prince who falls in love with her too, all the while learning to be a pharmacist and whatnot. That's it. That's literally the entire plot. Here and there they run into problems because of her hair, but that's it. It's not creative at all and the parts about her job are ridiculously boring.

Art: Average. Nothing special or specifically appealing about any of it.

Characters: Alright, I have a lot to say about the characters. First, let's start with the main protagonist: Shirayuki. Booooooooooring. Wow. I have never been so bored and utterly puzzled by how much the other characters swoon for her. She's not particularly interesting to say the least. She works with medicine and plants and that's really all she's got going for her. The other characters tend to think she's unique and headstrong, but I don't really see it. She's pretty average. She could really be a side character. I mean, yeah, she's nice and intelligent, but that's all. Anyway, she's in love with the prince and I don't know, she has zero character development whatsoever. I can say that she does somehow help other characters develop in their own way. I guess she's influential and inspiring, so she has that going for her. Next up: Zen the prince. He's somewhat interesting, but not really. He's kind and genuinely makes an effort to be a good prince and succeeds. It's pretty admirable. But when it comes to Shirayuki... VOMIT. He's annoying. He's weirdly obsessed with her in a way and overprotective as hell; Always forcing one of his people to follow her around (though I'm not complaining cause that character is awesome, but we'll get there). He wants to marry her and make out with her and whatever, but gets weird and shy about it all the time. They've kissed before, but when his hand bumps into hers, he turns bright red. Why? Next up, we'll do two characters at the same time now: Mitsuhide and Kiki. I actually like these characters. They do and don't put up the Zen's bs. They are extremely loyal, but aren't afraid to tell him when he's wrong. I think they're all around interesting and I just want them to be together already, geeeeez. I'm only going to review one more character and that's the best, most interesting character of the entire series and the only reason I stuck with it so long: Obi. Mysterious and dangerous, yet sarcastic, talkative, and also curiously loyal to Zen. Obi is definitely worth every minute of the show/manga. We don't know much about him and he's a bit wishy-washy, but he's hilarious and unpredictable, and albeit, cool. The only downside is he's also freakishly fond of Shirayuki. Come on, he can do better than that.

Enjoyment: It's average. Really only rating it so high because of Obi. It just feels like a show going nowhere with a bunch of side story fillers that delude from the main plot. It can be entertaining at times, but often the romance and constant talk of medicine is cringeworthy.

Overall: 6. Again, because of Obi. This is not a great manga and I don't understand why everyone thinks it is. Will I still read it, though? Yeah. If you're bored and have nothing else to read, give it a shot.

This manga was really amazing! At first I really felt like it needed more action, but as the plot and story proceed, one really gets entangled with the feelings of the character. Personally, I read the entire thing in less than a day...and im the type of person who would rather be outside doing something than reading all day. Anyway, its a great stoy and really entertaining. The whole topic about social status is really cool, and doesnt seem repeated like when used in other mangas

:D :D

Started reading the manga because I was disappointed by the way the anime finished up. I fell in love with the story as it was a very wholesome romance/friendship story that I expected to develop further. Unfortunately, after reading the manga, I have to say that I now completely agree with the way the anime ended, as everything that followed in the story after that was INCREDIBLY slow. I keep reading with hope for things between zen and shirayuki to develop into marriage. Then I get introduced to a potential romance between Mitsuhide and Kiki, only to be utterly disappointed by some stupid excuse on ... why things can't happen between them. So whilst I have to struggle through +-80 chapters of ZERO development between zen and shirayuki (the LITERAL MAIN CHARACTERS), I now also get disappointed by developments between the other two characters. I thought I was reading a wholesome love story set in middle-aged world, instead I am now reading some research story about a fucking plant while all romance that was happening before is put to a halt or developing backwards..... It was a real struggle to read through the chapters that weren't included in the anime, I have no clue what the writer is thinking. So all in all, I recommend the story as it is a very nice love story, but only up until approximately chapter 51, after that it is something completely different.

In celebration of discovering that Akagami no Shirayuki-hime will be getting an anime adaption, I thought it would be a good idea to write a review on the manga.

The story of AnS is set in a land and time that is a mix of a past western- and japanese society, mostly western. The clothes, the land, the buildings, the monarchy, fight-arts etc. are clearly inspired by the West. I don't think many of the manga today are set in western settings and it is a fresh breeze to have. Shirayuki translates to "Snow-white" and has no significance beside its many references in chapter 1, so ... for those wanting a story similar to Snow White, read chapter 1 only.

The story itself is simple. It could have been easy to have made this a drama, but it is clear from chapter 1 that it is a romantic story to its core. Most of the plot is and the reason this story has a historic setting is to showcase some difficulties that could and do come to happen for a couple from quite different social classes in a society that puts importance on the classes. Well it is this and Shirayuki's red hair that makes up the entire plot, which also makes this story sugar sweet and nice to read.

Looking at the art I think it is beautiful but simple. I am most impressed by the clothes, they are very intricate and detailed. More to the point, if there is something in the art that is bad I would notice it, otherwise I would just enjoy reading without thinking of such things and I do not notice anything.

As for the characters, they are cute, adorable and all of those things, but the depth in them is small. Backgrounds and such are told, but as for character development it is almost non-existent. The enjoyment here is the interaction between the characters rather than the characters themselves which is one of the manga's best points.

The bottomline is it is a fairly accomplishes the sweet shoujo feeling in a manga that is also pretty generic and solid. It is neither bad, far from it, but neither is it incredible.

- On a personal note, I do get a little more happy while reading this manga, because I have a little red shine to my own hair. So for the red haired out their, you will maybe come to appreciate your hair a little more -

Akagami no Shirayuki-hime, although has many cliche storylines and plot events within it, it is extremely refreshing to read. The main character, Shirayuki, is different from the standard 'main girl character' in romance mangas - she is strong, determined and ambitious. It is so refreshing to see a lead character, who is female, not depend heavily on the males around her due to her weakness. The cliche 'weak maiden in need' is not present in Akagami no Shirayuki-hime which makes it such an interesting manga to delve into.

Not only are the characters unique and very likeable, but the plot and romance are also so intriguing ... and unique. I would definitely recommend to someone who wants to read a cute and wholesome romance story which also has other interesting factors in it!

The story is really cool and their love story is sweettt...
they care for each other though they didn't show it much.

I love the art and really admired Sorata for her art and the creativeness of the story! The plot's just amazing~ mixed fantasy , fairy-tale -like & love story!

I've been caught up to this manga for about 6 years and it is still my favorite shoujo out there.

Story-9/10
There's no real overarching story, as its more of a slice of life, but historical. It does, however, show the development of the characters lives as they go, setting new goals and furthering themselves in their careers. Also, the romance is very quick burn. I know some people prefer slow burn, but for me, it's a big plus!

Art-8/10
I personally love Akizuki Sorata's art. I think it's beautiful, both in color and black and white. My only issue with it is that it's been getting ... cuter(?) lately, making the characters look like they've aged backwards lol. Still, it's very nice to look at, and I love the outfits that the characters wear.

Characters-9/10
All of the characters in this manga are so so likeable. First, Shirayuki. I love so much about her. She is in a romantic relationship with the prince and never uses it to her advantage, even when others are surprised/think she should. She was a bit more snarky in the beginning, and I'm sad we don't see that as much in later chapters, but she's still independent and strong as her own person.
Then, Zen is the perfect pair for her. He respects her as a person, and neither of them give up their long term goals for their romance.
And I could probably write, like 3 paragraphs for the whole main cast, but I won't lol. All I will say, is that all of the main characters are so complex and actually given their own personalities, rather than just being there to be there.

Enjoyment-10/10
I truly enjoy reading this manga so much, and I've re-read it multiple times. It really makes me so happy, and is a breath of fresh air among shoujo manga where there's always drama and misunderstandings. Akagami no Shirayukihime is really just a lovely story about how the lives of two lovely characters change after they meet each other. I'd definitely recommend, especially if you like shoujo with very little drama.

Sorry this is so long, I just feel so strongly about this manga! Go read it!

Akagami no Shirayukihime- The story of Snow White with apple-red hair.

The name doesn't have anything much to do with the plot. The story is nothing like Snow White at all. The name just comes from Chapter 1. Anyway, let's start.

The story is simple and well-paced. It pretty much starts from Shirayuki's unique red hair which attracts unwanted attention, but also brings something good.

The art was also very nice. No page in the manga was not beautifully drawn.

Characters: Shirayuki is a definitely not a damsel in distress. She's strong willed and very independent. Zen is not overprotective and watches over her. Those two make ... a really good pairing.

Overall, I enjoyed the manga very much. It is very sweet! I give it 10/10

This is the best manga I have ever read!! The charcters are lovable and not stupid or cruel.
Shirayuki is kind,smart, and selfless...she is not the normal steriotype of charcter but wayy better!!! Zen is sweet and not spoiled like most prince types. Together they make the perfect couple!!

It been two years I read the manga, and I can't help not to read it again and again. The first time I saw the tittle make my think 'oh it just based on fairytales', but it slip my mind. Its maybe based on fairytales but then its have its own adventure and exciting plot. As for the characters is so refreshing and definitely some character that you wouldn't see everyday. I love how Akizuki Sorata make the personality of the hero and the heroine. It make me want to know them better. The supporting character is turn out to be a great manipulater for ... the manga. The background it an art and the custom is outstanding. It make me want to give 100% rating for it.

Finally going to be published as anime in summer 2015. I hope that the anime will not swing to much from the original work. But I still looking forward for the anime to be published.

I can't express how much joy I've felt reading this manga. The graphics really caught my eye. As I was reading it, it just became so exciting that it was hard for me to get off my computer to sleep. The storyline is truly very interesting and exciting. The bond Zen and Shirayuki carry is just so beautiful. I also can't say how many times my heart melted when they were together.

Zen is a very interesting character. He's the second prince of Clarines and his attitude and conduct is probably different from the other prince characters I know. He's a prince and at the ... same time, he's not. I also like the fact that he knows his priorities. He loves Shirayuki but he also gives time for his work as a prince. He can control himself, and I like that about him. (I wish all guys were like him heehee)

Shirayuki on the other hand is just so adorable. She's also the same with Zen, she knows how to prioritize what to prioritize. I love how friendly she is with Zen, they're both just meant to be together that way. They truly display the way a couple should be. :'>

I'll admit one thing: This is the only romance manga I've read that truly grabbed my heart. It's the only manga that made me fall in love with romance mangas xD. It further enhanced my love for it. :3. It'll forever be in my memory.

I typically dislike most romance stories, feeling they are some form of reader fantasy or that they simply follow a standard formula with the characters blending into each other from series to series. In this instance that is not the case. The art style is passable and pleasantly avoids much of the visual fluff you might see elsewhere like flowers bordering the panels, and the story is a good vehicle for the character interactions even if there isn't a lot of complexity to it. but the place where this story shines is the characters. I have never actually read a story before from japan that ... had relationship dynamics like those of Jane Austen, with a strong female leads that believably fits into the established world and has a distinctively unique dynamic with the love interest and rest of the cast.

If you are like me and think you normally scoff at romance as a genre because the characters seem shallow and the whole affair easily scripted, I encourage you to challenge those notions and give this a read. I don't guarantee that you will like it, but I am sure it will at least be different than the typical writings and lack many of those trite pitfalls that led you to form that opinion.

This Manga was just simply amazing, I could not stop reading it whenever I got the chance. The characters, the story, the art, all of it was just so beautiful, the pairings where cute and surprisingly fluid despite the clear affection between certain characters. I was also surprised to see just how independent Shirayuki was, even leaving a specialized "Fuck You" to the prince within the first few pages, that showing of just who she was was enough to get me hooked.

The only problem with it is that later the science gets a little shaky, but that is minimal with all the interactions and action ... going on.

Plus, little Ryuu is just simply life.

I have been obsessed over this for a long time now, and so I would like to address some points.
Firstly, the main characters:

- Shirayuki. She is one of the greatest female protagonists out there, being inspired by her man but even so, wanting to develope her -own- skills to be by his side in her -own- right and through her -own- passion. She has shown a great sense of independence and bravery. I am also struck by her loyalty to both her friends and herself as a person, not being afraid to stand up for herself. She is a very sweet, hardworking and empathetic girl ... too. The true representation of female empowerment, while embracing her femininity and maintaining a soft and cute image, not really forcing the "feminist heroine" agenda (that tends to fail) into the story.

- Zen. I believe this is the first shojo male lead in history who does not show any toxic traits. He has proven to be a boy with great emotional intelligence. He is fully aware of Shirayuki's way of being, and so he lets her show herself as she is, shine on her own and do whatever she thinks is convenient for her and her future, because he trusts her and genuinely acknowledges her qualities. Zen is very supportive to his girlfriend. He has also shown approval and trust towards Obi, although he admitted his feelings for Shirayuki. A male shojo character that is not unhealthily jealous is very rare to find.

- Obi. I love this person with a passion. First, I think his design is amazing, his color scheme is gorgeous and on top of that he is very well written. Obi is really appealing to the public due to his mysterious aura, cheeky personality and incredible combat skills, but he is also a sweetheart. One of the things I like the most about this series is the relationship built on trust between him, Zen and Shirayuki. Zen above all. His blind loyalty to Zen is something that blows my mind, specially if we have in mind that he is a person who has never created deep ties with people and has always been moving from one place to another. There is something about Zen that Obi did not see in others, and that really amazes me. He is very respectful towards the romantic relationship between his master, Zen, and his crush, Shirayuki, and has no intentions of intervening (in fact, he enjoys seeing them together). Zen knows this and that is the reason why obi feels so comfortable making jokes, about himself and Shirayuki, around Zen.


Well now, i would like to explain why this manga is, in my opinion, the best shojo manga.

My greatest moment of realization this year was when, while reading this manga after previously having watched the anime, I came to the conclusion that what Sorata gave us here is not a simple love triangle, but a possible polyamory between the three main characters. When you read the manga, if you take this into account, and notice the subtle (and not that subtle) hints Sorata gives us, you will understand. There is a possibility that this theory may not end up being real, since I doubt that the author has the courage to make a poly ship canon, but after much thought and seeing how clearly she introduced bisexual characters in the story (some of them like Obi or Torou, canon), it makes me wonder: Why not this? But still, this manga has one of the most wholesome, original, beautiful and worth-reading OT3 dynamics I've ever seen, and definitely deserves to give it a try.

For such a simple story, this manga is very enjoyable. There is nothing really unique or epic about it (the plot itself actually has quite a few cliches...I mean, the beginning is loosely based off of a fairy tale, what else would you expect?), but the characters are so well done that I can't help but love it.

All of the interactions between the characters feel genuine, and many of the characters (especially those who are first introduced as antagonists) show a lot of growth throughout the story. Shirayuki is one of my favorite female characters of all time - she passes the Bechdel test ... with flying colors and is able to have a romantic relationship while still being an independent character with her own interests and pursuits that are very thoroughly explored in the manga.

The artwork is very detailed and the still is lovely (I also found the artwork in the anime to be breath-taking, and would recommend watching that as well).

My only complaint is that there are a few too many times where Shirayuki gets put in the position where she has to be rescued by other characters.

this will be my first review so it wont be perfect to please be nice. there are no spoilers in this review.

story 9

first so far i realy love the story its about a prince wants to make a girl his concubine when he saw her unusual red hair. but the girl tries to escape she cuts her hair short and runs away. then she runs into another prince and he also gets interested in her.

art 10

i liked the art work of the manga it looked realy good.

... character 9

i thought the characters where very well developed through out the story and more background as you keep reading.

overall 10

this is the best romance manga i ever read with good story and plot and they made an anime for this manga to. this is a short review thanks for reading and i highly recomend this aime to romance fan that love a good story thanks for readind my review.

One of the best Shoujo Manga series that I've ever read. The story flows well and it always feels like the main characters are always moving a step forward. The art is also really beautiful, especially in the latest chapters. The characters are well made but not all are memorable.

The story felt very "shoujo" up until the end of their anime's second season. After that, there are still those scenes that I would believe to qualify under "shoujo" but there is definitely less fanservice and more plot (as of chapter 114).

The art is really beautiful but I gave this category a 9 because the first ... few chapter's art style isn't my type, compared to the newer chapters, but a friend of mine feels the other way. She likes the old style and isn't a fan of the new style. Overall the art is still really good.

The characters are all pretty lovable but it's easy to forget the characters that aren't the main characters. Even if you remember them, you either forget how they look like or their name (or maybe both). The author does put out a lot of characters so when the author revisits a character, it's quite easy to forget they exist.

I definitely enjoy this series. Even though the author went on a 4-month break without a new chapter, which was quite sad, but it was definitely worth the wait because almost every single chapter is something I can enjoy, whether or not it has those "shoujo scenes" in it.