La bestia del rey, vol. 3

王の獣 [Ō no Kemono] #3

by Rei Tōma, Judith Zamora Lablanca (Translator)

Rangetsu no olvida su principal objetivo: vengarse por la muerte de su hermano gemelo, Sogetsu. Sin embargo, nada en el palacio real es lo que parece y, ahora que ha conocido y confía en el príncipe Tenyô, ha llegado a la conclusión de que su deber más importante es mantenerlo con vida por el bien de todos los semihumanos. Rangetsu no dudará en hacer lo que sea para que el príncipe sobreviva, aunque suponga arriesgar su propia vida…

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels, Shojo, Young Adult, Historical

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 24, 2020

About the author

Rei 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.

Reviews

[Victoria ✮⋆˙]

This series is so unique! I love it so much, it’s so easy to read and you fall into the world so easily the volumes pass by so fast!! I can’t wait for the next one!

[mikaela (spinebreaker)]

getting my binoculars out to look for the plot

i have vol 4 and then i'll decide if i want to hunt for the rest

[灰]

The plot is definitely picking up some momentum but the dramatic dialogue with nonchalant emotional impact is KILLING ME. I can’t take the tension and plot seriously because at times, it seems silly and out of place. I’m not too much of a fan of this volume. My interest seems to be slowly waning.

[Shae]

The progression of this series is amazing! The call out of racism within their culture is constant, and you see the entitled character learning and making progress for their behavior.
I can't get enough of this series!! I'm so excited for more!!!

[Rebecca]

Rangetsu's uncomfortable lessons in the fact that the world isn't as black-and-white as she wants it to be continue, and it's a testament to Rei Toma as a creator that this discovery is very much couched in her thirst for revenge against a system that damned her to a life she in no way wanted, because it makes the discovery that much stronger. It would have been easy for this series to be a surface-level moral drama, but instead Rangetsu is framed as someone who only gets stronger the more she understands, even as she doesn't like the lessons she's learning. Extra points for spot-on body language using her tail and ears - a lot of her reactions remind me of a Siberian husky I had who had been abused before I adopted her.

[Mark]

Rangestu is pretty conflicted. In general, I mean, but especially when it comes to issues of trust. An unexpected visit to a brothel throws some more fat on the fire, but a simple tea ceremony might be what really causes the dam to break.

I’m so very torn on the softening of Rangetsu as a character, I really am. I thought her singlemindedness as a cold-blooded murder machine was such an interesting take for her and the slow, insidious spread of hope through her was just enough to soften the edge a touch.

But perhaps this volume goes a wee bit too far. It starts off with one of the story turns that I really hate the most, where some vulnerable character has a conniption because they believe somebody they’re sweet on has gone and done the deed and then is relieved when it didn’t actually happen. It’s so… trite. And this series has not been particularly trite so far.

So Rangetsu gets to be triggered by memories of her unfortunate past again (content warning for a brief re-used snippet of sexual assault) and thinks the prince is stepping out with brothel ladies, which explains why she gets rip-roaring drunk and picks a fight that just shows how unprepared she is.

I get that for all her posturing, a lot of Rangetsu is pain and suffering that she keeps at arm’s length, buried deep, and Tenyou’s kindness is slowly drawing that out of her. I mean, I even think they’re a good match (the ending of the book is pretty adorable, regardless of any misgivings on my part).

Then it turns out that apparently the beastkin Olympics are part of the ascent to the throne, as Rangetsu has to serve tea to all the aspirants in a formal venue. This turns out to be a lot more fun than you’d have thought.

For one, Rangetsu is all martial prowess and doesn’t have a delicate bone left in her body. Watching Taiga pour circles around her during practice is very funny, plus the ongoing exasperation of Tenyou’s servant.

When the ceremony takes a detour to the more serious and disturbing, Rangetsu’s solution is very clever (if nasty) and while I was a little shocked that they (pardon the expression) de-fanged the actual danger later on, it does lend itself to a surprisingly perfect joke shortly thereafter.

In the aftermath of this mess is really where Rangetsu’s mask starts to slip and I do realize that part of the point is that she’s never been as strong as she thought and is pushing through on sheer nerve and desire for vengeance, but again, hmph. If that hadn’t been the case I would have been just fine.

For all that I might not be the biggest fan, the way this is presented is pretty perfect. Rangetsu begins to completely forget her sense of decorum, which leads to her being put in her place, and her anxieties manifest in some very miserable dreams from a particularly vindictive subconscious. It’s a great way to show just what the problem is and what she’s dealing with.

Oh, but don’t worry, it looks like we’ll be playing polo without the ponies next volume and I’m so okay with a sporting storyline showing up here because why the heck not. This title’s earned my interest.

4 stars - I really love this series and I think this is a strong volume, but there’s just something not quite sitting right with me. I do think it’s because I want Rangetsu to stay a total badass and might not get my wish, but if you are less focused on that part you won’t have any complaints here.

[Violet ♡]

It kind of reminded me of "Love in the Moonlight," a Korean drama, but this is much darker, especially the treatment of female ajins.

[Maria]

Bellissimo. Romance. Ipnotico.

[Luna's Little Library]

Thank you, Netgalley / Viz Media, for this review copy.

As much as I’m enjoying this series overall, I felt like this volume wasn’t as good as the previous. A huge portion of the book was taken up by Rangetsu’s doubt; self-doubt, doubt of the prince, doubt about everything. While is part of her character building it became so much that I felt it conflicted with how she is presented in the previous stories. She has a mission and is consumed by this, she is strong, determined and kicks butt without much hesitation.

I like how Rangetsu was previously presented. Her personality and her belief system. A lot of this seemed to have been swallowed up but the doubt in this book so I’m not sure what her character is anymore.

The art and overall intrigue presented within the palace is definitely still holding my attention and I hope the next volume will be more like the first two books.

[Bree Dawn]

This one wasn’t as good as the first two, although I still enjoyed it. The plot is starting to get more intense, but there were a few plot points that felt a little over-the-top or too silly for my taste.

Content warnings: Alcohol, cursing, grief, injury/injury detail, misogyny, racism, sexual content (A dinner takes place at a brothel and the protagonist has brief flashbacks to her time as a prostitute. It is not graphic), and slavery.

[Jess | jadecanread]

We get more courtly set-up, seeing what the beast servants are expected to do and then some.

While I like the setting and the art, I think I’m going to call it quits for this series for now. I’m just not invested enough.

[DesertSkyCacti]

God this series.... these two characters... The amount of times I gripped my heart while reading this volume. MY HEART CANT TAKE IT

[MAG Scrittrice]

Molto bello anche questo volume! Il principe è così corretto e privo di cattive intenzioni da sottolineare il suo ruolo in una storia inventata. Un personaggio per essere realistico deve avere anche dei difetti, che al momento lui non ha. M'incuriosisce sapere chi sta provando a mettere i bastoni fra le ruote alla sua corsa verso il trono.
Sebbene da un lato sia comprensibile la non capacità di donare fiducia di Rangetsu, questo volume è stato un po' ripetitivo, dal momento che anche nel precedente si è parlato della stessa cosa in riferimento a Tenyo. Di certo ci sono stati dei momenti molto carini. E, come dicevo, il principe è troppo perfetto.
Continuo ad attendere con ansia il momento in cui Tenyo scoprirà che Rangetsu è una ragazza!

[Katerina]

4/5 ⭐️
Instagram | TikTok | Literal.Club

I am loving how this series is slow processing with each volume. The characters are becoming more complex, the plot twists and movement is just wonderful, the art style is just absolutely stunning. If it could be afforded to have each page in color I would absolutely love that!

I look forward to the next volume being published in English!

[Ester]

Tomo transitorio muy necesario en el que vemos un acercamiento más profundo entre Rangetsu y el príncipe Tenyô. Rangetsu se va abriendo cada vez más con el príncipe mientras éste va dándole un cariño que ella necesita y desde la muerte de su hermano no tiene. Todo esto mientras comienza la competición para decidir quién será el siguiente emperador con una serie de pruebas entre los príncipes y sus bestias sirvientes. La aparición estelar del tercer príncipe no augura nada bueno para Rangetsu y Tenyô.

Leer la reseña completa: https://unabibliotecaentremundos.blog...

[Pradnya Paramitha]

Rangetsu ini ngakunya laki-laki tapi kelakuannya cewek banget 🤣🤣
Interaksi Rangetsu sama teman barunya si Teiga juga kocak. Buut, aku rada-rada bingung. Binatang pengabdi ini memang semacam kita melihara anabul gitu kali yaa, pake diusap-usap segala 🤣🤣🤣

[brookie the cookie]

ok ok cool cover

and err this series seems to be made up entirely of ran being sad, ran being not-sad because of prince tenyou, ran being sad again because of ... prince tenyou... and then prince tenyou looking DEEEEP into ran's eyes until she stops being sad and is happy again.

rinse and repeat, and there you'll have it!


i felt happier vibes when reading vol 3 than i did vol 2 tho so vol 3 is getting 4 stars instead of 3 haha. vol 3 did make me laugh out loud a couple times. it's so funny that ran is so not elegant and ladylike o.O and characters getting intoxiated is always... fun.

[Michaela]

Zatiaľ najvtipnejšia zo všetkých 😂 teším sa na ďalšie súťaže a ceremónie!

[La corte della fantasia]

4⭐️.5

[Courtney K]

We are cozying up to the first prince, had dinner in a tea house recommended by 2nd prince. Meet the third prince at the end.

[Tamiyuki]

La trama se vuelve más interesante con cada página que pasa, y desde el luego el final te deja con ganas de más ✨✨✨

[Seohyung]

The day Rangetsu confesses to Tenyo is going to be epic

[Brianna]

I dunno man… is the prince just always this romantic with everyone? Or something??

[Jasmine (bokugglor)]

3,5

[tulu — ♡]

we dont talk about the lap part...... im erasing that from my brain. otherwise cute volume :D

[Teresa]

Thank you to NetGalley, VIZ Media, and Rei Toma for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This volume is yet another excellent installment. Rangetsu learns or her brother's burial place and continues to aim coming to grips with the loss, still planning on getting revenge.

Things head up politically. Rangetsu may not know it yet, but she had feelings for the prince she must protect. When a series of events are to occur to help with the selection of the new emperor, someone sabotages Prince Tenyou's tea with poison, though not to kill. And when a game is set as the next event, Rangetsu is on the lookout for further sabotage.

Between politics and romance, this is an absolutely hot recommend. Rei Toma has both artistic and story-telling craft, and this is a shoujou series to be read!

[Shatiel]

Ma quanto è tenera Rangetsu quando si lascia andare un po'?

[eve._.lyn reads]

¸.·✩·.¸¸.·¯⍣✩ 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚐'𝚜 𝙱𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 ✩⍣¯·.¸¸.·✩·.¸
4.5 Stars
A dinner between the brothers and their beasts ensues in a brothel. Leaving Rangetsu with many conflicting and traumatic memories. In anger, Rangetsu gets drunk and spends time with Teiga sparring. When a hidden plot to poison the prince's tea during a tea-making ceremony, Rangetsu risks her life to find out the truth and those who strive to harm Tenyou. Brimming with tension, action, and a slow-burn (like really slow) romance.

✌🏻I want to read this series and never stop. The slow-burn romance that is excruciatingly rewarding and also makes you scream on the inside is amazing. All the characters are good. Rangetsu is going through major character-growth and has really powerful moments. I love how Rangetsu is capable of protecting herself and others. She won't let their mindset or the way things are supposed to be stop her from being brave.

Tenyou is caring and loyal! Tenyou is so kind-hearted and honestly an amazing love interest. The illustrations are beautiful, and capture the story-telling essence perfectly. Rangetsu had a vulnerable moment in the beginning, and I enjoy how her position in politics, even if it isn't the most powerful, she is still finding ways to help Ajin.

Rangetsu is a character who is struggling both with her past and with her present. The suppression and non-existent equality between humans and humans is suffocating. There were several sweet moments in this book, like that ending. This series awakens the dormant fangirl in me. If anyone wants to get into manga. . . or just wants a great read, this is the series to go to.

I would love to see this as an animated work! This series has everything I love.
✅PLOT
✅PLOT TWIST
✅CHARACTERS

[Yub Yub Commander]

Some quick thoughts on this installment of The King's Beast:
Kinda getting annoyed with Rangetsu's overly emotional behavior. It feels so contrived. She's badass, she has goals and plans and has been through a lot of really hard stuff. So to have her constantly weeping over whether or not the prince likes her and will be OK with her serving him is just getting ridiculous at this point. We're three books in and it's still happening. I understand how she still distrusts him. She's been through horrific abuse in her life, so it makes sense that it will take her a long time to trust, but it's the constant weeping and falling into his arms that makes me roll my eyes.

The plot has definitely waffled in this volume and the last one. It's much more slice of life than when it started and is a lot slower. The big moments of the volume are relatively small things compared to the other. There's a lot more romantic tension being built up between Rangetsu and the prince, and I'm honestly not buying it because it's pretty one sided and just feels a bit bland? I'm not sure how to describe it, but there's something off.

I think this was a solid installment in the series, but definitely not as great as volumes one and two, but definitely worth the read and for the upcoming drama in volume four.

[Krys]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I was able to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
***
Rangetsu and Prince Tenyou are really no closer to finding out who had her brother Sogetsu killed when he arrived to be the Prince’s beast servant. Rangetsu is determined though to put her life on the line to protect the prince because she sees him as the best hope for the Ajin.
This volume saw a competition being put into play for the emperor to start narrowing down which of the princes are fit to take over the throne next which possibly gives Rangetsu and Tenyou a chance to see all the princes in action and start narrowing down their suspect list. A slightly slower volume action wise, Rangetsu spent a lot of time trying to come to terms with her decisions and choices she’s made, haunted by the brother she lost.
The art is still adorable and lovely as ever and the story certainly seems to be building to something, will be interesting to see how long this series will be and who the real threat is of the princes.