天は赤い河のほとり 5

天は赤い河のほとり [Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori] #5

by Chie Shinohara, 篠原千絵

ミタンニ軍が駐留する都市国家・マラティア。ザナンザが黒太子をおびき出している間に、カイルと夕梨は少ない兵を引き連れてマラティア入りした。敵を油断させるため、わざとふざけた態度をとるカイルに、城の太守たちもあきれ顔。作戦通りすっかり手薄になった警備をかいくぐり、夕梨たちは城内を詮索。街や城の地図とともに、秘宝”竜の眼”を捜す。一方、マラティア軍はカイル達のことを知らせるために黒太子に伝令を送るが、カイルの部下が待ち伏せして、伝令を止めることになっていた。しかし、カイルの部下たちは何者かによって殺されてしまう。伝令は黒太子のところへ届いてしまい、計画は崩れ始めて…！？

Genres: Manga, Romance, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Historical, Comics

178 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 26, 1996

About the author

Chie Shinohara (篠原千絵) is an award winning Japanese manga artist best-known for Red River, known in Japan as Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori: Anatolia Story. She has twice received the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōjo, in 1987 for Yami no Purple Eye and in 2001 for Red River.

Aside from her comics work, she has also written several prose novels. She has published the six volume Big Draw Daughter Hatsu light novel series, as well as five gaiden (or side-story) novels related to her Red River series. All of these were illustrated by Shinohara herself.

Works

Akatsuki no Lion - 2003
Ao no Fūin (Blue Seal) - 1992–94
Houmonsha wa Mayonaka ni (Midnight Visitor) - 1984
Kioku no Ashiato (Footprint of Memories) - 2005
Kiri no Mori Hotel - 2007
Kootta Natsu no Hi (Frozen Summer Day) - 1995
Mizu ni Sumu Hana (Romance of Darkness) - 2004
Mokugekisha ni Sayounara (Farewell to the Eyewitness) - 1985
Nanika ga yami de mite iru (Something Watching in the Dark) - 1986
Ryouko no Shinreijikenbo (A Record of Ryoko's Psychic Events) - 1988–91
Sanninme ga Kieta (A Third Person Disappeared) - 1992
Soshite Gokai no Suzu ga naru (Then Five Bells Rang) - 1994
Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori: Anatolia Story (Red River) - 1995–2002
Tokidamari no Hime - 2008-09
Touboukyuukou (Runaway Express)
Umi no Yami, Tsuki no Kage (Moon Shadow on a Dark Sea) - 1986–91
Yami no Purple Eye (Purple Eye of Darkness) - 1984–87
Yume no Shizuku, Kin no Torikago - 2010-present

Reviews

[Lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

To no one's, least of all my, surprise Yuri gets herself embroiled in a dark plot as the priest is revealed to be an agent of the Queen's and Yuri (plus the twins) are hauled off as slaves by the Mittani.

What horrible fate awaits them? Well despite all things they are NOT ravished (seriously I'm starting to think historians exaggerated just how often in ancient times that happened) but Yuri is put to the test as the Dark Prince of the Mittani wants to prove her a false Ishtar. It backfires (spectacularly) and instead he's like "well since now the people love her, I'll just make her mine". WITHOUT BEDDING HER*.

Though have no fear, Kail has a PLAN. I think. Well I'm pretty sure. Volume 6 will tell. Look this series is 28 books long and I KNOW it ends in a HEA for Kail and Yuri not so their descendents, but that's hardly the pointhowever I'm a little vague on the how he saves her every single time. And to be fair she does save her self quite a bit later on (well she did save herself from the lion in this volume). Also she's got quick wits on her!

(*) I want to point out I'm not wanting her to get raped, but for the amount of times she's assaulted, kidnapped, threatened, stripped and groped I'm damned surprised. The Dark Prince makes guy 3! Though we can count at least two groups of men willing to ravish her before they're interrupted.

[Anna 'Bookbuyer' · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lol. Poor Yuri. She is not comfortable playing the 'lover/concubine' role. I feel bad for her that she has to act that part when she is clearly not comfortable doing so. But if it's for Kail she is willing! :D

Awww. It was so cute when Yuri showed Kail the 'heart' symbol to show how men in her country would woo a woman. ^-^

And now another new villain arrives. The right hand man of Queen Nakia, Urhi!!! -.-

I sometimes can't believe how graphic the manga is. I guess it's a true reflection of how the people were back then. Still to show a be-heading. *shudders*

It was very brave of Ryui to switch clothes with Yuri knowing she could be raped or killed by doing so. :( Unfortunately Yuri was still detected because of all the cuddling she did with Kail earlier when she was acting. :/

There are some parts of the story that are a bit far-fetched. I can understand the magic and the time travelling. But it seems as if Yuri who is not suppose to have any magic powers has been 'bestowed' powers by the mangaka. I'm a bit annoyed at that. -.-

Still Yuri was very brave at the end of the volume and managed to increase her fame. I don't know how she managed to kill the Lion but she did and now she is the incarnation of Ishtar for another people.

[cherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, I mean Yuri was definitely a bit more tolerable in this volume! Thats a start!

Maybe I’m just being too harsh on this series after seeing it compared to Yona of the Dawn sooo many times. I just enjoyed Yona’s character in the early story so much more than I like Yuri here. But Yuri seems to be making her own developments and trying to find ways to actually be useful. Though it is still backfiring and she’s been kidnapped for like the sixth time.

I liked seeing Prince Kail adjust to the changes in his battle plan, and his reaction to Yuri being taken was so emotional. He treats her well, though he is a tad dramatic with his love for her, and I look forward to seeing how their relationship matures.

[Jenny Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoying this series, and how Yuri is coming into her own. She is quite smart about military matters. This is a great mix of romance, war and politics. The art is quite pretty as well. I love the lush backgrounds and the clothes Yuri wears are lovely.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this series when I was in high school and purchased almost every volume as it was published. The artwork is phenomenal, the plot is fantastic without being too fantastical and the characters are amazing. I've always particularly enjoyed the fact that Yuri, our time traveling heroine, does not whine overly much, is not obsessed with food and actually adapts pretty well with support she is given.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I reviewed this at Lady Business; I can't stop looking at it as An Old Series with all of the worst tropes that come with that (see also: sexual harassment and attempted rape pretty regularly!), but it's still really engaging!

[Patrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

:)

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

really good.

[Destiny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series. Must read for fans of Inuyasha and From Far Away.

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this series on a mere coincidence but it quickly became one of my all time favourites. I read the entire series in 1.5-2 days. It was truly wonderful and a joy to experience.

[EruditeBirdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great story, but almost unknown.
Too bad they didn't make an anime of it.
Possibly because of adult themes.

[Katie (Katie's Corner Blog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

see full review @ Katie's Corner

[Mr Puddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read second time

[Bomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yuri's still being passive. She doesn't want to have sex with Kail because she's not prepared and Kail realises that she's uncomfortable so he doesn't want to force her, but then Yuri's like "well, I don't want him to being angry with me so I'll have to give in". So she's willing to make decissions for the sake of Kail and their romance. It obvious Kail loves her and he's "waiting" for her to accept him but it's like she doesn't... understand that he loves her? (although not saying that Yuri should just leave him do whatever he wants.) Futhermore, Yuri seems to be clever whenever she's alone and there's not a man that can come to her rescue, she's able to save herself but she always crumble after the danger is gone. Always wishing for Kail to save, protect and look after her. She wants to depend on him so much when she has the twins next to her, who are her friends, but she barely relies on them. They went with her to rescue her and risk their life for her but she doesn't even pay attention to them.

Yuri needs to decide if she wants to be with Kail, she can't avoid him forever and then when she's alone her only thoughts are about him, about how much she misses and wants (to be with) him.

Nothing much has changed since the first volumes, but at least we have more situations where she stands up for herself and not relies so much on men (especially Kail), so I hope we can se more of her brave and clever side next volumes.

[MaguiWorld · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me preguntó cuántas veces a lo largo de la historia, la protagonista va a ser secuestrada. Esa monotonía en la trama aburre un poco ya que, apenas aparece el "enemigo" ya sabes que va a hacer y con que intensión, por lo que ya nada sorprende 🧐

Lei algunos comentarios quejándose de que los capítulos son muy extensos. El tomo tiene tan solo dos capítulos, pero yo lo prefiero así. Siento que es más fluido y no tan fragmentado.

[Mar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Que manera de engancharme tienen estos personajes, las intrigas políticas están muy bien armadas y me generan ganas de seguir leyendo como saldrán de los problemas o que nuevo impedimento habrá para que no logren sus propósitos. Obviamente shippeo cada vez mas a esta pareja.

[Hisgirl85 · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Jill Jacob-Cabrera · Rating 3 out of 5]

What kind of name is Prince of Darkness? And the villains, don't try to rape the MC? How chivalrous?

[Vivien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good storyline here. Yuri in Mitanni hands & becoming even more popular when she survives being eaten by a hungry lion.

[Maude · Rating 3 out of 5]

begging my girl yuri to get a personality that doesn't revolve around a man

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just don't know. But I am continuing

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark plot are plotting
And the girls are girlbossing and being the bravest characters

[Librarian Jessie (BibliophileRoses) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This volume doesn't even get two stars. This volume was seriously disturbing between the SA scenes... and the SA scenes.

But hey, the lion scene was cool... so props to that.

[Soobie is expired · Rating 3 out of 5]

Certo che l'idea del generale Nero, che vincere per un inganno e risparmiare vite porti meno onore che distruggere migliaia di vite umane sul campo di battaglia, mi ha fatto venire i brividi...

Insomma, finalmente Yuri si rende conto che non può vivere ad Hattusa senza Kail. Ormai il Giappone è qualcosa di lontano e lei non ci pensa proprio più. Allo stesso tempo non è ancora pronta ad approfondire il suo rapporto con Kail. Non so, le parti in cui ci sono lei e Kail, per il momento, sono quelle che mi attirano di meno. Quelle degli intrighi di corte sono molto più interessanti.

Allo stesso tempo in questo volume, Yuri perde un sacco della sua forza iniziale e diventa una specie di principessa che dev'essere sempre salvata. Dalla fortuna o da Kail, non importa.

Eppure Kash me lo ricordavo diverso in qualche modo. Con i capelli più corti. Oppure mi sbaglio proprio di personaggio.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

What first drew me to this series was the romantic historical aspect. I loved how a modern day girl gets pulled back into the past. I don't know what it is about those stories that attract me so much, maybe it is the difficulty for the girl of fitting in and having to rely on the guy so much to be able to get along in the world.

I would really recommend this series to fans of Inuyasha, it has a lot of the same concepts.

[Hope L. Justice · Rating 2 out of 5]

This volume in particular was bordering on nauseating. Yuri: oh, I'm in danger of being repeatedly raped, and disemboweled by a lion, but Oh I am so lonely for the prince! No please don't rape me, what will the prince think of me?! Yuri is demented. She has no self preservation and it's completely unbelievable. These texts are so anti-feminist that it's hard to even engage.

[Emi えみ Takami 鷹見 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, beautiful artwork, a fascinating plot, and a gorgeous prince? What doesn't this manga have?

While Prince Kail pulls off his plan, Yuri is captured by the Mitanni. The Prince of Darkness takes her as his concubine in name only, but Kail doesn't know that last bit.

[ramy · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh do i love my prince...yes i do .....read it and fell in love

[Kereesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of that special snowflake thang going on here with Yuri, yet she remains still believably human.

Hmm...

4.5/5

[nidah05 (SleepDreamWrite) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good volume. Liking the story so far.