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黎明のアルカナ [Reimei no Arcana] #6
[(Dawn of the Arcana, Volume 6)] [By (author) Rei Toma ] published on
Princess Nakaba of Senan is forced to marry Prince Caesar of the enemy country Belquat, tantamount to becoming a hostage. While Caesar is pleasing to the eye, he is also selfish and possessive, telling Nakaba “You are my property.” With only her attendant Loki at her side, Nakaba must find a way to cope with her hostile surroundings, her fake marriage...and a mysterious power!Princess Nakaba of Senan and Prince Caesar of Belquat only married each other for the sake of peace between their two warring countries, yet the two find themselves drawn to each other even as political forces threaten to tear their world apart. Nakaba’s secret ability to see the past and the future proves to be an asset—but things turn deadly when she chooses to use her power to help a friend! Will Caesar still stand by her amidst the ensuing bloodshed?
Paperback
First published February 25, 2011
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463 people want to read
About the author
Rei Tōma
67 books367 followersRei Tōma (Japanese: 藤間 麗,Tōma Rei) has been drawing since childhood, but she only began drawing manga because of her graduation project in design school. When she drew a short-story manga, "Help me dentist" (ヘルプ me デンティスト), it attracted a publisher's attention and she made her debut right away. Her magnificent art style became popular, and after she debuted as a manga artist, she became known as an illustrator for novels and video game character designs.
Dawn of the Arcana is her first long-running manga series, and it has been a hit in Japan, selling over a million copies.
Dawn of the Arcana is her first long-running manga series, and it has been a hit in Japan, selling over a million copies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
September 23, 2020
Ah, I am in love with Caesar *swoons*
This series is probably one of the most solidly consistent manga I have read - if political intrigue, warring nations, fleshed-out secondary characters and silly banter between the two male "love interests" (not sure if Loki is a love interest but I think his affections for Nakaba definitely border on the romantic side) is your jam, I would strongly encourage you to check this series out!
An easy 5 stars!
This series is probably one of the most solidly consistent manga I have read - if political intrigue, warring nations, fleshed-out secondary characters and silly banter between the two male "love interests" (not sure if Loki is a love interest but I think his affections for Nakaba definitely border on the romantic side) is your jam, I would strongly encourage you to check this series out!
An easy 5 stars!
September 3, 2023
This was more heartbreaking than I expected. Nakaba learns the heavy consequence of using her gift. And Toma flexes her skills with being able to create complex and fully developed secondary characters. I’m curious to see how the consequences of what happened to Cain impact our group.
August 17, 2022
I'm just enjoying myself immensely. Flying through these volumes like they are only 10 pages long. I need more!
February 11, 2022
I don't know why old-school, simplistic fantasy settings and light, almost-nonexistent romance, and castle/forest/township settings, and un-subtle social commentary still work for me in terms of escapism, but this and Yona of the Dawn and Basara might be my favorites in that vein. Innocence and jealousy, knife fights and foreboding dream sequences, sinister-but-dashing villains.
December 19, 2014
This volume was especially good. We get to see how Nakaba's Arcana effects the world she lives in. She sees something and if she changes it something else equally as bad still happens. I wonder if the same will happen for good things as well?
October 3, 2019
4.5 stars
February 2, 2018
What a rollercoaster of emotions. One moment, I wanted to cry. Another moment, I couldn't stop grinning. I can't stop reading! With that ending, I sense some more family trouble is coming up.
November 3, 2019
Read earlier this year, adding late oops.
May 14, 2022
head over heels for a 16 year old? AT YOUR BIG AGE???
August 15, 2022
this made me sob.
June 24, 2024
Sigue con sus cosillas, las intrigas políticas y demás. Nakaba y Caesar cada día más cerca, Cain, me dueles mucho 🥹 y eso, cositas.
July 27, 2025
4.5 stars, can loki fuck off stop blocking Ceasar pls 😮💨 I really love this story
October 7, 2016
4.5 Stars rounded up - I just wanted to remember this as the first time I read two manga secondary characters having sex!
Princess Nakaba of Senan and Prince Caesar of Belquat marry to seal a peace treaty between the 2 nations sharing the same island. Caesar is ready to hate Nakaba before he even really meets her simply because this is a political marriage and she has red hair instead of the royal black. Then he starts to get to know Nakaba and she totally changes his point of view. And he realizes maybe red hair is something special after all...
I enjoy this series and the little triumphs and moments that happen. This time around there is some true growth for Nakaba - she has to sacrifice for change. Girls like Nakaba don't believe that anything should have to be sacrificed because they are one of the ones who has to pay (she lost her parents). Now she learned the cost of using ones gift to change the future - it is hard for her to take... Because Cain isn't evil. Both Loki and Caesar help her to deal with it in their own ways...
There is some natural moments for conflict that pass us by without much reaction on the part of Caesar or Loki. Caesar is such a passive character it's very disappointing, he should have dealt with his brother or at least had a stronger interaction with him! Louisa is a complicated girl (which I liked seeing) - still I didn't need to see two drawn characters having sex and talking about how they are thinking of other people!
I'm not sure Nakaba's plan would work in real life but it was cute! Caesar wants to protect someone - a first for him! The bonus chapter with Cain's thoughts was sad and too bad his brother didn't understand this... so much potential left unexplored!
BOTTOM LINE: Nakaba learns the truth of life...
Princess Nakaba of Senan and Prince Caesar of Belquat marry to seal a peace treaty between the 2 nations sharing the same island. Caesar is ready to hate Nakaba before he even really meets her simply because this is a political marriage and she has red hair instead of the royal black. Then he starts to get to know Nakaba and she totally changes his point of view. And he realizes maybe red hair is something special after all...
I enjoy this series and the little triumphs and moments that happen. This time around there is some true growth for Nakaba - she has to sacrifice for change. Girls like Nakaba don't believe that anything should have to be sacrificed because they are one of the ones who has to pay (she lost her parents). Now she learned the cost of using ones gift to change the future - it is hard for her to take... Because Cain isn't evil. Both Loki and Caesar help her to deal with it in their own ways...
There is some natural moments for conflict that pass us by without much reaction on the part of Caesar or Loki. Caesar is such a passive character it's very disappointing, he should have dealt with his brother or at least had a stronger interaction with him! Louisa is a complicated girl (which I liked seeing) - still I didn't need to see two drawn characters having sex and talking about how they are thinking of other people!
I'm not sure Nakaba's plan would work in real life but it was cute! Caesar wants to protect someone - a first for him! The bonus chapter with Cain's thoughts was sad and too bad his brother didn't understand this... so much potential left unexplored!
BOTTOM LINE: Nakaba learns the truth of life...
January 6, 2013
So the story continues - and just as Cain is about to kill Lemiria, Nakaba gets in the way & Loki kills Cain to protect her - Nakaba feels horrible especially after knowing Cain's past & how he was shunned for having golden hair - she wishes that she didn't have the Arcana of Time's power - since she can't protect those she loves, what good is it to her? Anyway, the group - Bellinus, Loki, Lemiria, Rito, Leo, Caesar & Nakaba cross into Senan by getting the signature of Gouda, the man who'll let them pass by acting as entertainers - and they do, even though he's a perv. Once in Senan, Caesar is delighted that he & Nakaba can share a bedroom but they're interrupted when a man is beating a woman Ajin servant & they step in to stop it - and they meet Prince Adel, the Senan heir to the throne - whose the King's grandson i think.
Then there's a bonus chapter of when Cain was still alive & at dinner with the entire royal family, he sees that Nakaba holds her head high even though her hair is red & she's strong - Louise his wife, after learning eh'd dead is sad but it's like she doesn't know what to feel
And then there's the Arcana Highschool - when there's this cultural festival & Lemiria & Nakaba are doing a cafe service thing & Caesar comes along & Lemiria says that Nakaba's their poster girl & she offers him a drink (and he imagines that service would be her feeding him food together LOL) but he remembers that she's living with Mr. Loki Suzuki the teacher until Lemiria points out that Mr. Suzuki is a distant relative of hers who's caring for her since her parents died & Caesar's all happy again :)
Then there's a bonus chapter of when Cain was still alive & at dinner with the entire royal family, he sees that Nakaba holds her head high even though her hair is red & she's strong - Louise his wife, after learning eh'd dead is sad but it's like she doesn't know what to feel
And then there's the Arcana Highschool - when there's this cultural festival & Lemiria & Nakaba are doing a cafe service thing & Caesar comes along & Lemiria says that Nakaba's their poster girl & she offers him a drink (and he imagines that service would be her feeding him food together LOL) but he remembers that she's living with Mr. Loki Suzuki the teacher until Lemiria points out that Mr. Suzuki is a distant relative of hers who's caring for her since her parents died & Caesar's all happy again :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2014
Traveling performers? Really? Hasn't everyone done this disguise in just about every fantasy story everywhere...? Still, I'll give them points for doing it WELL.
August 18, 2015
I can't wait to read the next one! Prince Adel is sooo hooot! swoon
August 25, 2018
My heart is breaking with this and the previous novels
April 7, 2024
Reader's Notes:
- this is part of a series and should be read in order
-there is some fantasy violence/death/killing & discrimination/prejudice against specific peoples (the ajin - people with some animal features and strengthened senses)
- there is a memory (several panels long) where two unmarried characters are clearly having sex; there is only one panel that is almost full body view, but none of the panels show the gender-specific anatomy
- there is one curse/not nice word
- there is a scene where a side character is about to take advantage of their position, but the other characters figure a way out of it
Review:
My gut instinct is to give this installment 3 stars. One of the biggest reasons being the several panel sex scene. I'm not a fan of reading that sort of thing and wasn't expecting to find it in a manga, let alone this one. Yes, had it been a just words story, it would have been a very short part, but any amount I'm not a fan of. It shook my confidence that I could enjoy this manga...I'm not sure if I'll continue or not as I really don't want to keep reading if there's going to be more content like that in the future. It also didn't help that the side character taking advantage of their position was trying to achieve the same thing with some of our main characters. (No clothing was removed, nor was there any touching in this part, but it was still unhelpful to my liking the story.)
I did like that we discovered a bit more about Nakaba's ability and it looks like we'll be seeing more about her life in the future installments.
- this is part of a series and should be read in order
-there is some fantasy violence/death/killing & discrimination/prejudice against specific peoples (the ajin - people with some animal features and strengthened senses)
- there is a memory (several panels long) where two unmarried characters are clearly having sex; there is only one panel that is almost full body view, but none of the panels show the gender-specific anatomy
- there is one curse/not nice word
- there is a scene where a side character is about to take advantage of their position, but the other characters figure a way out of it
Review:
My gut instinct is to give this installment 3 stars. One of the biggest reasons being the several panel sex scene. I'm not a fan of reading that sort of thing and wasn't expecting to find it in a manga, let alone this one. Yes, had it been a just words story, it would have been a very short part, but any amount I'm not a fan of. It shook my confidence that I could enjoy this manga...I'm not sure if I'll continue or not as I really don't want to keep reading if there's going to be more content like that in the future. It also didn't help that the side character taking advantage of their position was trying to achieve the same thing with some of our main characters. (No clothing was removed, nor was there any touching in this part, but it was still unhelpful to my liking the story.)
I did like that we discovered a bit more about Nakaba's ability and it looks like we'll be seeing more about her life in the future installments.
September 14, 2021
I really really enjoyed this volume. More so than the majority of the past volumes. This one in particular was high stakes and had a lot going on! It really almost felt like the 'turning point' of the story.
There was a lot of action and character development in this volume. I love the turn it's taking and am really excited for the rest of the volumes! There's still a constant amount of political intrigue, though the reader never feels overwhelmed.
We're also slowly learning about the characters still at this point in the series and I love how we get little snippets of information of about each character at a decent rate. Some manga series really struggle to keep their characters interesting!
This volume also starts to show the magic that the series has a bit more than in the past. The information we were given prior to this volume plays a large role in making this transition as smooth as possible and all the more exciting. Instead of learning about the magic while it's being used, we already have a good sense of it and how it works, so instead we get to enjoy seeing it on page without it being too dense.
There was a lot of action and character development in this volume. I love the turn it's taking and am really excited for the rest of the volumes! There's still a constant amount of political intrigue, though the reader never feels overwhelmed.
We're also slowly learning about the characters still at this point in the series and I love how we get little snippets of information of about each character at a decent rate. Some manga series really struggle to keep their characters interesting!
This volume also starts to show the magic that the series has a bit more than in the past. The information we were given prior to this volume plays a large role in making this transition as smooth as possible and all the more exciting. Instead of learning about the magic while it's being used, we already have a good sense of it and how it works, so instead we get to enjoy seeing it on page without it being too dense.
June 25, 2021
One arc ends and another begins.
Story: ★★★★☆
Art: ★★★☆☆
There are two reasons I loved this volume. We reach the end of the Cain arc with tragic, even heart-breaking, reveals. Then the story quickly moves into the next arc back in Nakaba’s homeland. However, this is the best example of transition between story arcs that I have read in a while. The trick was that there was an actual denouement as part of the first arc’s end as opposed to how I usually see it lately where the action is over and everybody just hangs around and talks about their feelings. Then a new arc is shoehorned into their reverie. Here, Toma let us see the aftermath, but the story arc wasn’t over yet. Once they decide to take their escape, the next arc begins, but in that transition chapter events from the first arc still unwind. The result was a terrific sense of continuity as disparate plot points felt part of the same story even though they were at different stages of resolution. This volume gets the extra fifth star for inspiring me.
Story: ★★★★☆
Art: ★★★☆☆
There are two reasons I loved this volume. We reach the end of the Cain arc with tragic, even heart-breaking, reveals. Then the story quickly moves into the next arc back in Nakaba’s homeland. However, this is the best example of transition between story arcs that I have read in a while. The trick was that there was an actual denouement as part of the first arc’s end as opposed to how I usually see it lately where the action is over and everybody just hangs around and talks about their feelings. Then a new arc is shoehorned into their reverie. Here, Toma let us see the aftermath, but the story arc wasn’t over yet. Once they decide to take their escape, the next arc begins, but in that transition chapter events from the first arc still unwind. The result was a terrific sense of continuity as disparate plot points felt part of the same story even though they were at different stages of resolution. This volume gets the extra fifth star for inspiring me.
April 12, 2018
"L'arcana del tempo non serve solo a vedere il futuro, ma anche a salvare il cuore di qualcuno dall'essere ferito. Tu mi hai dato il coraggio....io....ti amo. [...] Se il potere dell'arcana del tempo è qualcosa che salva le persone o no io ancora non lo so...ma anche senza alcun potere, così come sei...tu mi hai salvato"
Il volume precedente mi aveva preparato alla prima morte importante ma anche se non era un personaggio a cui fossi particolarmente affezionata è stato comunque triste assai (grazie anche ai vari flashback che mostravano tristi infanzie e rapporti incompresi ç__ç) La nostra banda di eroi (con qualche aggiunta in più grazie al saggio coniglio XD) con la tristezza nel cuore (e una bella dichiarazione che ha scaldato il mio, di cuore XD) è ora in fuga e non trovano posto migliore in cui rifugiarsi che la temuta madrepatria della nostra principessa....inutile dire che l'accoglienza non è delle più festose e all'orizzonte si profila già un nuovo odioso personaggio XD
Il volume precedente mi aveva preparato alla prima morte importante ma anche se non era un personaggio a cui fossi particolarmente affezionata è stato comunque triste assai (grazie anche ai vari flashback che mostravano tristi infanzie e rapporti incompresi ç__ç) La nostra banda di eroi (con qualche aggiunta in più grazie al saggio coniglio XD) con la tristezza nel cuore (e una bella dichiarazione che ha scaldato il mio, di cuore XD) è ora in fuga e non trovano posto migliore in cui rifugiarsi che la temuta madrepatria della nostra principessa....inutile dire che l'accoglienza non è delle più festose e all'orizzonte si profila già un nuovo odioso personaggio XD
January 23, 2024
*2.5*
A lot of the things that transpired in this volume felt kind of like... filler? I feel like you could cut most of it out, leaving only a few scenes, like the group traveling to Senan, and the heir to the Senan throne appearing etc. And because of that, I ended up being pretty bored, sadly.
I enjoy the concept of this world, with ajin and humans living alongside each other, but not as equals, the political drama between the two main countries, and the interesting dynamics between Nakaba and her arranged marriage to Caesar. They're quite cute together, I like their relationship, but I do almost wish they were still at odds, and we had to spend more time with them learning to like and eventually love each other, all the while working together against a greater evil.
Hopefully the next volume will be more interesting and actually push the plot or characters forward a bit.
A lot of the things that transpired in this volume felt kind of like... filler? I feel like you could cut most of it out, leaving only a few scenes, like the group traveling to Senan, and the heir to the Senan throne appearing etc. And because of that, I ended up being pretty bored, sadly.
I enjoy the concept of this world, with ajin and humans living alongside each other, but not as equals, the political drama between the two main countries, and the interesting dynamics between Nakaba and her arranged marriage to Caesar. They're quite cute together, I like their relationship, but I do almost wish they were still at odds, and we had to spend more time with them learning to like and eventually love each other, all the while working together against a greater evil.
Hopefully the next volume will be more interesting and actually push the plot or characters forward a bit.
July 1, 2019
My heart! Volume 6 was very emotional for the characters and for me. Determined to save Lemira from the vision of her getting stabbed, Nakaba takes off through the woods and finds Prince Cain. She jumps in front of Lemira to save her and Cain hesitates...only for Loki to kill him thinking he's saving Nakaba. She is devastated as she had seen a happy vision of Cain with a daughter. As he dies his final wish is to see the "red-haired princess" smile. It was so sad! Nakaba has trouble coping with the death, blaming the Arcana for the death of Cain. Loki though comforts her and she's all good and then loves Caesar and it was so adorable. <3 Also, Caesar decides he's going to take the throne from the King.
July 28, 2017
This one was so sad, I accidentally read 7 before 6, so I had to go back, but it was so sad.
I liked Cain, sure he wasn't a great guy but he was just misguided.
Cain had a future
Louise took him for such granted. He wanted Louise to love him and Louise just couldn't. Cain never had many happy moments, I really wish he could have led a happy life.
I liked Cain, sure he wasn't a great guy but he was just misguided.
Cain had a future
Louise took him for such granted. He wanted Louise to love him and Louise just couldn't. Cain never had many happy moments, I really wish he could have led a happy life.
November 3, 2022
This series is very fast-paced that is makes it hard for me to care about any of the characters or the events happening. The whole bit with Cain in this volume lacked any impact and Nakaba's reaction seemed to come out of nowhere. The whole magic system is underdeveloped and underexplained with Nakaba's magic just seeming to happen when the plot needs it. The romance in the series so far has been very lacklustre and happened way too quick.
July 7, 2017
Un tome 6 plein d'émotions et de tristesse. Les héros sont contraints de s'enfuir à Senan pour éviter les poursuites. Des mots fatidiques sont prononcés et comme toujours les jeunes époux s'insurgent contre l'injustice qui règne.
Un tome très agréable où on se coule avec délectation de cette belle histoire d'amour et de courage.
Un tome très agréable où on se coule avec délectation de cette belle histoire d'amour et de courage.
December 20, 2017
The plot seems to be picking up. The characters have formed a tight group that are all working together against the king of Belquat, who clearly intends to take over Senan and kill off as many Ajin as he can in the process. I look forward to seeing how different Senan is to Belquat in future volumes.
January 10, 2019
The effects of the Arcana on Nakaba are apparent in this volume. A sad volume but one that added more to the story and the characters.
It's sad what happened to Cain. He wasn't a bad guy. Just needed to see the error of his ways. And unfortunately, it was too late for that.
Starting the next volume right away.
It's sad what happened to Cain. He wasn't a bad guy. Just needed to see the error of his ways. And unfortunately, it was too late for that.
Starting the next volume right away.
September 22, 2023
So much sadness in this volume. I love that it shows that nothing is just “black and white”. You want to hate Cain for hating his brother but it’s not that simple.
Now for the happy moment in this volume?! Nakaba told Caesar how she feels!!!! Ahhhhhh!!!!! He looked so damn happy. It was very sweet.
Now for the happy moment in this volume?! Nakaba told Caesar how she feels!!!! Ahhhhhh!!!!! He looked so damn happy. It was very sweet.
March 19, 2020
Poco sucede aquí, aunque son pocos capítulos y es entendible ya que es un momento de transición.
Al final aparece un personaje nuevo y uno dice: oh basta de personajes por favooooor 🙈
Me gusta como va avanzando el amor entre los protagonistas aunque lo siento un poco... Extraño.
Al final aparece un personaje nuevo y uno dice: oh basta de personajes por favooooor 🙈
Me gusta como va avanzando el amor entre los protagonistas aunque lo siento un poco... Extraño.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews