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Les Bijoux #1
Les Bijoux, Volume 1
Lapis, the cursed son of a hunchback and a dwarf, lives in a world divided into 12 independent mine states ruled by a higher class called the Habits. The Habits use the enslaved lower class, the Spars, as their labour power in the mines. However, an ancient prophecy foretells that there will be a chosen one who'll overthrow the ruling class and bring fortune back to the land. Wheels of destiny are set into motion when proud and bumptious lord Diamond, who is a member of the Habits, cruelly kills Lapis’ parents and thus leaves the young man in a craving for vengeance. Lapis, however, won’t have his retribution with an easy cost as by his curse he is turn into a woman, Lazuli, who eventually falls in love with Diamond.
200 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 10, 2024
This is not the sort of manga I would usually have picked up, but that's what this year's challenge is all about.
A lot of effort has clearly gone into researching all of the different types of rocks and their properties to name and design these characters personalities, as is evidenced by the explanations in the notes at the back of the volume. This is a really cool concept that they've done well. I liked the design of the main characters. The panther in particular was quite intriguing and one that I would like to see more of.
This volume was first released in 2000 and it already feels a bit dated. The author seems to have a clear idea of where they want the plot to go and keeps alluding to the future. However the story itself feels very disjointed, jumping from one scene to the next with no transition, including with time jumps and introducing characters just to drop them. It feels like most of the effort went into the character and world design, rather than the plot.
The colouring of the artwork is a bit confusing; it's not consistent. In one panel Lapis will have black hair and in the next light hair. They are also mentioned as having dark skin, but that's only evident in some panels.
The author themselves admits that the series isn't as good as it could have been, due to working to tight deadlines. It's also not a great sign if the notes at the end of the book have to caveat that you are probably confused at this point as the first volume throws a lot at the reader with little explanation.
Overall, this was an interesting read and I did really like the link to all the different types of stone. However I felt the plot was lacking and I'm not sure I'd be interested in continuing with the series.
A lot of effort has clearly gone into researching all of the different types of rocks and their properties to name and design these characters personalities, as is evidenced by the explanations in the notes at the back of the volume. This is a really cool concept that they've done well. I liked the design of the main characters. The panther in particular was quite intriguing and one that I would like to see more of.
This volume was first released in 2000 and it already feels a bit dated. The author seems to have a clear idea of where they want the plot to go and keeps alluding to the future. However the story itself feels very disjointed, jumping from one scene to the next with no transition, including with time jumps and introducing characters just to drop them. It feels like most of the effort went into the character and world design, rather than the plot.
The colouring of the artwork is a bit confusing; it's not consistent. In one panel Lapis will have black hair and in the next light hair. They are also mentioned as having dark skin, but that's only evident in some panels.
The author themselves admits that the series isn't as good as it could have been, due to working to tight deadlines. It's also not a great sign if the notes at the end of the book have to caveat that you are probably confused at this point as the first volume throws a lot at the reader with little explanation.
Overall, this was an interesting read and I did really like the link to all the different types of stone. However I felt the plot was lacking and I'm not sure I'd be interested in continuing with the series.
September 19, 2020
This story does some interesting things, but they feel at times like they're a bit ham-handed, and it relies heavily on a very shojo-oriented presentation of adventure and relationships. Decision-making feels flighty, sometimes arbitrary, and juvenile a lot of the time, though at least some of that is probably intentional for the sake of character development (if a little overdone when that seems to be the case). In many ways, this volume felt like the rough start to what could turn out to be a better ongoing series; beginnings are often hard to nail in works like this. Unfortunately, when I read the second volume in the series, I found it worse, and dropped it after the second volume. I'll probably sell them both (at a loss) back to the new-and-used bookstore where I got them.
August 25, 2017
A nice start. Lovely art, although the cute chibi moments kind of ruin the tension at places. The story is really grim and bloody at times, and the balance between that and the cuteness seems a bit off.
Character development is rushed a bit, especially if they are meaning to establish a relationship between the hero(ine) and one of the villains. We'll see.
In general the world is explained sufficiently enough. There's still a lot to be seen, and that's fine.
Character development is rushed a bit, especially if they are meaning to establish a relationship between the hero(ine) and one of the villains. We'll see.
In general the world is explained sufficiently enough. There's still a lot to be seen, and that's fine.
January 2, 2018
3.5 stars, good artwork, pretty good story if I recall
July 7, 2010
Another used bookstore buy. This Korean manga had a couple interesting if not entirely original ideas. In this world, the Habits rule. There are 12 Habits, each owning a gem mine and each ruling over the Spars, the working people, like churlish spoiled brats. Diamond, for example is utterly cruel. Into this world to a dwarf and a hunchback is born a 'cursed' child. Lapis (Lazuli) who is very dark skinned and dark haired (looks rather Indian), has a few problems, not to mention powers. One of his biggest problems is his 'heart.' When it acts up, he turns into a full-grown female (as opposed to the 17-year-old boy that he usually is.
Unfortunately, for Lapis, he has a sense of justice and when Diamond would prefer to run over and kill a few Spar children than turn his dogsled, Lapis kills the dogs to save the kids. The rest of the manga is him on the run from Diamond, oft times getting imprisoned. Diamond, however, has seen Lazuli (the female form) and is instantly in love with her (naturally). Diamond's rage turns against Lapis's family, leaving the young man on the run and out for vengeance. He meets up with Carnelian, one of the younger Habits (well not quite Habit yet) who is running from an older brother who wants no contenders for the mine but is Carnelian a friend. Honestly, I might have picked up the second one but in the author's notes, they were raving about the plot and what was in store and did the one thing I said I wouldn't read on if it was included so…. As for the art, the guys are prettier than women, the typical shojo (or yaoi) stuff.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2013
This series is like the goth fantasy version of Ranma 1/2. It's Korean rather than Japanese and you can tell by the softer lines and simply beautiful artwork that is so typical of Korean titles. We have Lapis- Lazulai, child of a dwarf and a hunchback who switches between male and female. The female Lazulai catches the eye of cruel prince Diamond, whilst when in her male persona Lapis, he provokes Diamond into slaughtering his parents. Diamond is totally unaware that he's just killed the parents of the woman he's fallen for, but Lapis will never forget, or forgive. Stacks of angst and cruelty, a unique and well developped universe, colourful characters and truly beautiful artwork make this series a delight. I am very upset that only 5 volumes ever got published.
May 2, 2008
Park Sang-Sun's art is breathtaking, as I expected from reading The Tarot Cafe. I do think that the art in Tarot is more refined, which makes sense since I think Les Bijoux was published first.
And about volume 1 of Les Bijoux - it's epic in scale, but not in execution. It even includes footnotes that apologize for tossing so much stuff in the first volume! Um, don't apologize, use exposition and pacing to make the apology unnecessary. Jeez.
And why in the world are the oppressive nobles called "the Habit?" Weird, possibly even cheesy.
I already have the third volume (but sadly not the second), so I'll give it a whirl. Maybe it gets better ...
And about volume 1 of Les Bijoux - it's epic in scale, but not in execution. It even includes footnotes that apologize for tossing so much stuff in the first volume! Um, don't apologize, use exposition and pacing to make the apology unnecessary. Jeez.
And why in the world are the oppressive nobles called "the Habit?" Weird, possibly even cheesy.
I already have the third volume (but sadly not the second), so I'll give it a whirl. Maybe it gets better ...
May 26, 2016
[Reseña Global 5/5]
Placer culpable con todas las de la ley. Su trama de fantasía no es lo que engancha sino sus historias de amor. Todas tienen su interés morboso, ya que en la gran mayoría los personajes se odian, se engañan, se traicionan... vamos, que también tira por el rollo telenovelesco.
LO QUE MÁS: Desde la primera hoja a la última engancha como pocos.
LO QUE MENOS: No hay que intentar buscarles lógica a las relaciones que surgen porque la verdad es que no tienen ninguna xD
Placer culpable con todas las de la ley. Su trama de fantasía no es lo que engancha sino sus historias de amor. Todas tienen su interés morboso, ya que en la gran mayoría los personajes se odian, se engañan, se traicionan... vamos, que también tira por el rollo telenovelesco.
LO QUE MÁS: Desde la primera hoja a la última engancha como pocos.
LO QUE MENOS: No hay que intentar buscarles lógica a las relaciones que surgen porque la verdad es que no tienen ninguna xD
March 21, 2015
Tätä on vähän vaikea arvioida, kun kirja on niin erilainen kuin mikään mihin on tottunut. Ensimmäinen kerta kun luen tämän tyyppistä sarjakuvaa, mutta jos lukisi enemmän niin saisi varmaan enemmän irti vivahteista ja yksityiskohdista. Mustavalkoisuus toimi miulle, mutta kieli vaikutti kököltä ja teennäiseltä.
July 25, 2011
The art was great, but I don't know what the flapjack is going on. I'll try volume 2, just to see if I can figure things out.
September 10, 2021
Not as good as her art style in the tarot cafe but still pretty awesome
July 7, 2021
Re-read the entire set, and I don't know what I saw in this set besides the pretty art. The characters are poorly developed, the sexism is rampant, and the storyline doesn't live up to its potential.
December 10, 2017
One of my favorites; I love the way the writer wove gem lore into the story and the illustrations are gorgeous!!
July 2, 2019
Upea fantasiatarina jumalten valitusta pojasta (joka muuttuu välillä tytöksi), jonka tehtävä on pelastaa ihmiset julmien hallitsijoiden sortovallalta.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews