The Boy I Loved Became the Jaded Emperor Vol. 1

無口な公爵令嬢と冷徹な皇帝 ～前世拾った子供が皇帝になっていました～ (Comic) #1

by Ii Oshikawa, Bekio (creator), Mitsuya Fuji (designer)

As a young boy, Prince Alexei was rescued from certain death by a friendly monster, and the two of them spent blissful days in the forest. But tragedy struck when Alexei's royal destiny caught up with him again. Now a young man, Alexei has taken the throne, becoming Emperor and vowing revenge. Little does he know, the creature who saved him has been reborn as the daughter of a duke--a taciturn young lady with a secret. When fate throws them together at the imperial court, will they recognize each other, or will their jaded pasts keep them apart?

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels, Comics, Josei, Young Adult

176 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2022

About the author

押川いい

Reviews

[bookish · Rating 3 out of 5]

they are so cute and adorable, think cinderella retelling as in, cinderella and Prince met years ago and her soul got reincarnated and now he’s the emperor 😩
I loved this sm and I’m definitely going to continue it!!


— ARC provided by the publisher Kodansha Comics.

[Rochelle ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

the boy i loved became the jaded emperor is cute, sweet and wholesome. in this first volume, there’s minimal romance as it focuses on introducing the two main characters, alexei and eleonora.

within the first couple of chapters, we meet “ham”, a prince who was banished by an evil stepmother into a forest occupied by dangerous magical beasts and “pie”, a woman who created a home within the forest after she left her village at the age of twelve due to her grotesque features. “pie” discovers “ham” and decides to care for the prince, creating a newfound bond between them that makes a lasting impression. when alexei’s imperial knights eventually find him in the forest, the events following this moment transform alexei from a once kind, sweet prince into a cold, jaded emperor.

fast forward to the future we meet eleonora, a stunning noble woman, known as the ‘silent beauty’ as she's been urged to avoid conversation due to her unusual and uncouth accent. we find out that eleonora’s “pie”, the woman of the forest who has been reincarnated and has somehow retained her accent from her last life. in a second chance encounter, “ham” and “pie” reunite at the emperor’s ball—a ball that has been held for alexei to find a wife—and have a meet-cute situation over a conversation regarding pies. i'm curious to see where this meet-cute situation leads and how the romance between alexei and eleonora continues to blossom!

˖⁺‧₊♡ pre-read review ⋙
i’m stuck in an awful slump at the moment and the idea of a cute second chance romance sounds like the best way to banish it! + a manga can never go amiss.

a massive thank you to netgalley and kodansha comics for the gifted e-arc.

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[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus} · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!*

3.5 star!

I’m so invested, I can’t wait to read the next volumes!

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Updated Review 11/28/24: Definitely loved this just as much as the first time I read it, but I had a greater appreciation for the art and how Ham's fear was really captured! There were many panels that contrasted his happiness and fear that I very much felt his feelings wrap around me.

I also appreciated the conversation that Ham and Pie had at the end because it spoke SO much about the past, while not saying anything at all. <3

Definitely excited to read volume two!!

Original Review 10/23/24: I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would!

I was hopeful but I felt unsure when I heard someone mention it was bittersweet, which is not how I prefer my romance if I'm honest. LOL!

Surprisingly though, there really isn't that much romance in this first volume! I feel like the majority of the story was the flashback of the leads, which was SO engaging and broke my heart a little bit! The happy bits that "Ham" and "Pie" had together were so beautiful and extremely precious that Ham's anger about what happened really wrapped around and engulfed me as a reader. Goodness, I was shocked and angry too!

The ending was extremely hopeful and I am planning to get the second volume because while the beginning of their story may have been tragic, I really feel it will end with love and happiness (especially based on the pose of the second cover LOL).

But rewinding a little bit, one thing I thought incredibly interesting is Eleonora's accent! What a fascinating concept of when reincarnated you still have the accent from your previous life! It's the first time I've read something like that and think it added a very down-to-earth feel to this story when she was living out her life as Eleonora.

Again, I enjoyed this a lot and will be writing the new volume's date on my preorder list because I'm excited to find out what happens next!

*(I originally received an e-copy via NetGalley, but ended up buying a physical copy early because I was so interested in reading it!)*

[Sarah Ryder · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute but pretty underwhelming.

I like the idea of a “monster” adopting a human child and the art is GORGEOUS!!! I especially love Eleonora’s design, she’s so pretty! I’m really glad Alexi has Sergi to confide in, he’s a great character.

Aside from it feeling very rushed there was so much exposition dumping I found it annoying and kept wondering why they couldn’t just show some of this stuff rather then telling me, which might have helped with the rushed pacing of it all, but that’s just me. And I don’t know if Eleonora’s family is vindictive and power hungry or just plain dumb—they keep flip-flopping between wanting to impress Alexi and then hating/disrespecting/being afraid of him within two panels which kept making me go “huh?” at every other sentence from them.

I’ll read the last volume because I am curious to see how things go, but am overall just not vastly impressed by it.

****

Few Days Later Edit: I got the second volume and skimmed it, but it was still just fine for me and I didn’t want to read it in full, so I’m just going to stop here.


‼️Content‼️

Language: darned; gosh; darn; golly

Violence: a character’s arms are cut off (PG-13); a character is murdered (not shown); injuries and blood (PG-13); magical creatures repeatedly kill a boy and magic brings him back to life (not shown outside of some blood on a boy)

Sexual: a naked boy (nothing is shown); a girl is told her dress looks like a harlot’s

Other: a man is called a demon (he isn’t); death and grief; magic; magical creatures and powers; reincarnation

[Libbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5✨

This was a cute volume with an interesting premise. I've read a couple romance manga/manhwa with the reincarnation trope. Intriguing to see it in a fantasy world as well. The art style is beautiful as well.

I kind of wanted more from this with a little more story development. It is likely I will pick up the next volume to see how it progresses and will go from there.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.

[Helene Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Eleonore is the silent beauty. She spends her days hidden in a cottage, far away from polite society. Her secret: she’s been reincarnated and can remember her past life! Alexei is the fabled jaded emperor who leaves terror in his wake. Now, he is looking for a wife. Is Eleonore the right candidate?

I don’t know how I feel about the reincarnation. The title doesn’t give much away and I don’t want to spoiler people here, but there is a significant age gap involved. I think how well this manga will do will depend vehemently on the next volume. I don’t know how the story plays out, but I can see the series making me uncomfortable due to the age gap.

Anyway, a series to be watched for sure. 👀

Thank you to NetGalley for granting me access to the ARC. All my opinions are my own.

[Neon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

5 out of 5 stars.

'The Boy I Loved Became the Jaded Emperor' by Li Oshikawa is a beautifully constructed manga about reincarnation, magic and the power of love. Join Ham and Pie as they grow together in an enchanted forest.

The art style is impeccable and the characters nearly as gorgeous as the plot. Nearly. I have seen a lot of plots, but this one just hits different for me. I need the next book right now, asap!!! This was just so good and I don't even read a lot of manga. Maybe it's time to start thanks to this book?

I highly recommend you read this if you haven't already.

[mikaela (spinebreaker) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The forest creature origin story was confusing, but this art is so pretty! The characters are very funny and the story is (for the most part) lighthearted. Seems to be a pretty fast burn as far as plot, but I did enjoy it and I'm looking forward to seeing where the next one goes.

Thanks Kodansha and NetGalley for the advance copy.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute but also a bit odd. It's clear Eleonora only has familial feelings for Alexei at this point, but as this is only a two volume series, I hope the development is believable. Eleanora is a different person now though, even with the same soul, so I am invested, especially after seeing how much Alexei melts for her almost immediately.

[Mystic DreamClouds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Special thanks to the author(s), publisher, Goodreads and/or NetGalley for the review copy. All views and opinions expressed are honest and my own.

A touching story of love found in an unexpected place, teared apart ruthlessly and reunited by fate.

I absolutely loved this volume! It’s a bit cliche but has a unique twist. The story features Emperor Alexei with a tragic past as he was abandoned by his stepmom. Tortured in a forest of monsters, he’s rescued by a friendly monster who saves him and provides the warmth and love of family. Using the nicknames Pie and Ham they live peacefully until tragedy strikes. As Pie reincarnates as a young lady, Alexei has taken the throne and their fate intertwines once again in the imperial court.

I loved the execution of this story. It’s fast paced but retains the emotions throughout. It weaves present times with the past in well placed flashbacks. Pie and Ham’s past was adorable and I could honestly devour a whole volume on it. It had a warmth to it, that was both innocent and gentle. It contrasts the present storyline which is uncertain and devoid of any warm feelings. I also loved how Pie and Ham didn’t need to know each other to feel safe and loved. They showed it by their selfless actions and words.

Pie is a unique character. She retains her memories and speech from her past life now as Eleonora. I feel like everyone will love not only her accent, but her confidence in feeling content with her situation. On the other hand, Alexei’s character is understandable but also nothing special. Though his child self was cute so I hope he finds that innocence once again. There is also an element of magic in this volume which isn’t heavily prevalent but there are hints scattered throughout.

The artwork is stunning! It’s adorable with an overall soft feel. I love how it balances both detailed and simple images to relay emotions throughout. The creatures in the forest were drawn really cute so I’m hoping we see more of them in future volumes!

Overall, I enjoyed this volume and I’m looking forward to continuing this series. I am thoroughly invested in this story primarily because it is sweet yet simple. Pie and Ham had a beautiful relationship in the past and I would love to see them together again.

Read more reviews @ Mystic's Review Shelf

[Ashley M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok this was actually a really great volume one and intro to a new story! I love a good reincarnation manga and in this one the heroine is brought back into a totally different life all because of the hero’s magic.

The backstory of Pie and Ham was so sweet and you could feel how much they cared for each other. The cliffhanger ending for volume one was exactly where I hoped it would be and it’s the perfect hook to bring me back for the next volume! Plus the art style is lovely and I enjoy the character designs.

If you like a romance reincarnation manga then I’d definitely recommend it!

Thanks to Kodansha and Netgalley for providing me with an e-copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Skirmantė · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A charming manga with an intriguing premise. The reincarnation trope is new to me, but I found it surprisingly compelling. The artwork is beautiful, and I’m already looking forward to reading more!

[Erika Sarutobi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

RTC

[Manon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm intrigued how this will continue!

[Aishah Humaira' (Mermaird ♡) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here we go again, me falling head over heels with another beautiful manga series with pretty characters (*ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)ꕤ*.ﾟ

I am always a sucker for tragic reincarnation stories, and this may sound wrong, but the level of tragic in this one thrills me ₊˚⊹ ᰔ A prince who was ‘murdered’ by his step-mother, and a girl who was born ugly as a monster forming a bond like no other, then being separated when she was murdered by the same people who caused Prince Alexei’s death. She was then reincarnated as a beautiful noble lady, but this story is no sparkles and glitters, as the prince had become a vengeful emperor, both of them unaware of each others’ identities.

I love the fact that both the characters actually got reincarnated/revived in some sense, though one of them stayed with their identity while the other became someone entirely new. Just from this one volume, we learned that both Alexei and Eleonora suffered through a lot of ordeals growing up, which prepared this story for more tragic things to come. And I am silently screaming inside my head and shaking impatiently because they finally reunited over pies and ham and they are so pretty aND I NEED MORE OF THEM ( ˶°ㅁ°) !!

These two have a lot of enemies and although I wish they would just bond gently in a soft bubble and get married and have pretty children– we know it ain’t that easy. I am all buckled for a wild ride, and I will be continuing this series definitely. Let me build my ship while I’m at it ⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖

If you’re a fan of reincarnation stories, give this one a chance! 🩷 Many thanks to Netgalley for the e-review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

[Star · Rating 2 out of 5]

As an ARC reader, I am so thankful I got to read this manga!
However, I was thrown off by the first two pages of the book because I had no idea what I was looking at or reading so I didn't like the beginning. Also since the two had a familial relationship in the FMC's previous life, it's a little strange that it is implied the emperor had romantic feelings for her, while she told him in her previous life to call her mom. I don't really know how to feel about that, but I do think its an interesting read. So I am looking forward to the second volume to know more about how the plot unfolds.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced e-copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Prince Alexei was caste into forest after an assassination, hunted by wild animals until a kindly stranger intervened. He names her Pie and he takes the name Ham. For years he and his protector live peacefully among the animals until the knights of the empire come, killing all their animal friends and then his protector. The emperor vows to never forgive the knights for the narrow-minded killing of creatures they viewed as lesser beings.

The power of the prince's rage may and sorrow have helped set Pie's reincarnation into motion. She is almost immediately reborn, possessing all her memories from her previous life. She embraces life as a duchess as best she can, but she cannot shake her tendency to talk 'quaintly' in commoner ways. As a result she is schooled to not talk at all, unless absolutely necessary and then she should be very careful in how she speaks so as not to sound like a peasant. As a result she is nicknamed the silent beauty.

This starter volume focuses a lot of time on the before. Before Pie died. Before her mother from her reincarnation died. Before she met the prince turned emperor. Her new life has a bit of a Cinderella vibe to it, only her father also dotes on his newest daughter (and there is only one). I think maybe 1/4 of it has to do with the present timeline for her.

That small section has her getting ready for the first ball ever held by the new emperor, enduring her family's criticism...and her obsession with the food at the ball. lol! The contrast of everyone going "oh she's so pretty, the silent beauty" and her internal monolog was pretty darn funny. When she's not mentally drooling over the food, she is looking for Ham. But when the emperor grumbles about pie being present, she takes him to task, fully aware her could have her killed. Something in their conversation seems to spark some familiarity with the Emperor and the volume closes with him having her back at his castle and the both of them sitting down for tea.

So what did I think?

Well, this volume is mostly to set up for the story to actually take place. I think it will take volume two to at least get a feel for that actual present day storyline. What we did get was interesting enough. The flashback to the past is both too long and too short, if that makes sense. You get the assassination, you get the trauma of the bear, you get the rescue and introduction to Pie's home. Then there's a bit of life background for Pie...You even get the full story behind the weird, and slightly ridiculous names they have.

But for me the interesting parts are all in their present day. The dynamics of her family life. Her relationship with her maids. Even the ball. Things were just starting to get good when the volume ended. But in general it was a very good start. The art was lovely and there is certainly enough intrigue for me to want to track down volume two when it is released!

[Nazish Ahmed (Nazish Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rate this 3.5 stars.

It had been a while since I had read the synopsis, so I forgot most of what this series was about and instead of reading it again, I decided to just go in blind and while I was reading the first couple of chapters, I was thinking about stopping and reading something else and coming back to it later because I wasn't in the mood to read another used-to-know-each-other-in-the-past-but-now-we-can't-recognize-each-other-or-don't-remember kind of story and was afraid that the story would drag on because of that, but boy was I surprised when I found out that there are only two volumes in this series, so then I had the opposite reaction where I was worried that the story will be too rushed, I guess will see either later this month or next month. The reason I'm not reading vol. 2 right after this one is because I heard it's a very cute romance which I'm not in the mood for right now. I'm mostly in the mood for: mystery, action, and explicit and or dark romance.

While I was reading this volume, it felt like a light retelling of Snow White from the prince's side (the never explained what happened to the step mother) and kind of like Cinderella from Eleonora's side, which was interesting. The story is very heartwarming but also very sad (it kind of reminds me of Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation with the main character being brought back to life in someone else's body which is not a spoiler, whereas she is reborn in this story, in both stories they have been separated for over a decade, etc). I liked the contrast of her polite ladylike manners to her peasant speech as they call it, it's cute. I also love that she loves to eat but why did it have to be ham? I personally don't care for ham, although that reminds me of Penny the talking cat from youtube, she claims that she loves ham. Her reason for liking pies is silly because what if you didn't like the taste of pie? The body doesn't care how important someone is to you, it will do what it wants to.
What I don't like is that for someone who was an adult and then has lived life a second time, she still thinks that people will stay the same as they were 18 years ago as a child, she doesn't seem to understand that people change, even people who were very sweet, things happen that change a person.

Another thing that bothered me is that there is a scene where she's thinking she can't breath. I really hope that was NOT a corset reference because I am getting really tired of these corset misconceptions. My questions to these authors are: have you researched the history of corsets? Have you worn a well made one? As in one that is made for your measurements? Have you laced it too tightly when it's not necessary? Have you worn it enough for your body to get used to it? Have worn it on a chemise or some other piece of clothing? Because if not and of it is just what random people who have no idea what they're talking about have said, then don't include it in your books.


Blog: nazreads.ca
Twitter: Naz_readsanime
Instagram: nazreads01, nazcosplay, nradesigns, charmedanimegirl01

[Nessa’s Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a manga that perfectly blends fantasy, romance, and a dash of revenge, The Boy I Loved Became the Jaded Emperor is your ticket to an enchanting escape! With its captivating premise and stunning artwork, this series is a must read for fans of magical realms and second chances.

The story kicks off with a young Prince Alexei, who has an adorable friendship with a friendly monster (yes, you read that right!). Their adventures in the forest are a delightful mix of whimsy and warmth, giving us a glimpse into a simpler, happier time before royal duty crashes the party like an uninvited guest. But hold on tight, tragedy strikes, and Alexei finds himself thrust into the harsh realities of royal life, complete with a quest for revenge. Talk about a character transformation!

Fast forward to present-day, where we find our brooding, newly crowned Emperor Alexei grappling with his jaded past. Enter the daughter of a duke, mysterious, stoic, and harbouring her own secrets. Little does Alexei know, this girl is more than meets the eye. Will fate give them a second chance at happiness, or will their tangled histories keep them apart?

The artwork in The Boy I Loved Became the Jaded Emperor is absolutely gorgeous, capturing the sweeping emotions and fantastical elements beautifully. Each panel pulls you deeper into the imperial court, where intrigue, romance, and magic are always just a page away. The character designs are striking, from Alexei's royal garb to the enigmatic beauty of the duke's daughter, making them leap off the page (and into your heart!).

The dialogue is snappy and engaging, with just the right amount of humour sprinkled throughout. The chemistry between Alexei and the duke’s daughter crackles with tension, and the will-they-won’t-they dynamic keeps you eagerly flipping through pages. It’s the kind of story that makes you root for the characters to overcome their pasts and embrace the future together.

If you enjoy tales of love reborn amid a backdrop of political intrigue and fantasy, The Boy I Loved Became the Jaded Emperor is the perfect blend of drama and heart. Ii Oshikawa has crafted a story that will resonate with anyone who believes in second chances.

[Shatiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Le premesse sono molto simili a tanti altri manga in cui uno dei protagonisti si reincarna in un altra persona, con cui poi viene a contatto in un momento successivo.
Uno dei punti cruciali di questo manga di sicuro è l'abbondanza di pregiudizi e mancanza di compassione. E ovviamente l'abbondanza di personaggi arroganti e prepotenti.
Persino le famiglie dei protagonisti sono tutti da considerare malvagi e senza cuore.

Questo volume è sicuramente un lungo prologo a quella che sarà la storia principale, dato che la maggior parte di esso è dedicato al flashback dell'infanzia del principe, in cui incontra la vita precedente della protagonista.
E' sicuramente un punto cruciale della storia, ma che forse avrei preferito venisse svelato pian piano.
Infatti il volume finisce quando finalmente i due stavano per interagire per la prima volta in privato.
Che nervoso!!! Ora voglio proprio sapere cosa succederà tra quei due e se Alexei riuscirà a capire chi sia in realtà Eleonora.

Grazie Netgalley per avermi permesso di leggerlo in anteprima. Spero vivamente arrivi anche in Italia questo manga!


-----------------

The premise is very similar to many other manga in which one of the protagonists is reincarnated as another person, with whom he then comes into contact at a later time.
One of the crucial points of this manga is certainly the abundance of prejudice and lack of compassion. And obviously the abundance of arrogant and overbearing characters.
Even the families of the protagonists are all to be considered evil and heartless.

This volume is certainly a long prologue to what will be the main story, since most of it is dedicated to the flashback of the prince's childhood, in which he meets the protagonist's previous life.
It is certainly a crucial point of the story, but perhaps I would have preferred it to be revealed slowly.
In fact, the volume ends when the two were finally about to interact for the first time in private.
How disappointing!!! Now I really want to know what will happen between those two and if Alexei will be able to understand who Eleonora really is.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read it in preview. I really hope this manga arrives in Italy too!

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This odd, yet humorous, manga has quite the first volume!

A bumpkin frog monster gets reincarnated as a duke's daughter, and fully retains her memory. Because of this, she also retains her hillbilly speech! Thankfully, she's raised as a proper lady so she often refrains from speaking so that she can ensure proper speech. As a result, what happens is this dichotomy of how she's presented to the world and what is actually going on inside her head! People find her demure, yet she's inwardly thinking of things like eating and gardening.

The backstory of the two main characters is truly sweet. It's easy to tell that both still deeply care about the other, despite not knowing what happened through the years. They don't even know if the other is still alive or in the area- yet they still constantly think of their old friend.

I'm genuinely intrigued to know how things will go now that they've run into each other. Their first conversation was hilarious (from a third party standpoint).

Who will be the first to recognize the soul of their previous friend? Will it be odd that they're close in age now? Do either of them have magical abilities still?

My only true area of concern would have to do with her originally being older and sort of like a mother to him. Now that she was reincarnated, she's actually younger - despite having her old memory. I'm really curious how this will unfold.

Overall, banter is phenomenal and the potential for magic intrigues me even further! I love Ham (i.e. the Jaded Emperor) and Pie (i.e. Lady Eleonora). I want to see their friendship rekindle!

Thank you, NetGalley! I now have a new manga series to follow!

[Conni Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was hooked by the title, intrigued by the book's summary, and absolutely enamored with the book itself. This was such an incredibly fun read! There is a mystery that no one has yet figured out needs to be solved, a quirky cast of characters, tragedy in spades, the question of how to overcome the cruelty of your upbringing, hilarious dialogue, sweet friendships, reincarnation, and so much talk of favorite foods. I genuinely laughed out loud at several parts (one of which was the giving of the nicknames between Alexei and his savior). The entirety of the book walks close to that line of too silly to take seriously, but whenever that happened the emotions and dialogue were so heartfelt, and the ridiculousness seems to be mostly tongue-in-cheek, and instead of finding it exasperating I really loved every bit of it.
I'm also a big fan of the foundation that was built for the relationship between Alexei and Eleonora, and I love their individual personalities. Alexei is strong-willed and determined to do what's right, and to gain the power to not be hurt again and to stop others from being hurt as well. Eleonora cares about people and animals, she has a protective instinct in her, but doesn't really care what other people think about her... ever. It's hilarious and makes her just so endearing. I can't help but love both of them. When the volume ended I found myself looking for more, ravenous for the next part of the story! I cannot wait for the next volume, and the one after that, and the one after that as well. This book truly sunk its claws into me!

[Liloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐stars

A compelling start to a promising series

This graphic novel is a captivating read that blends fantasy and romance with a touch of political intrigue. The story follows a young woman named Bekio who is betrothed to the once cheerful Emperor. However, the Emperor has become jaded and withdrawn since the loss of his beloved sister. Bekio's journey to win his heart is filled with challenges and unexpected twists.

What I liked:
- Engaging characters: Bekio is a strong and determined protagonist who is both compassionate and resourceful. The Emperor, despite his initial coldness, is a complex character with a tragic backstory.
- Intriguing world building: The world is richly imagined, with detailed descriptions of the palace and its surroundings. The political landscape is also intriguing, adding another layer of complexity to the story.
- Fast-paced plot: The story moves at a brisk pace, keeping you engaged from beginning to end. The twists and turns in the plot add to the excitement.

What could be improved:
- Character development: While the main characters are well developed, some of the supporting characters could use more depth.
- Pacing: The story could benefit from a slightly slower pace in some parts to allow for more character development and emotional exploration.

Overall, it's a promising start to a series. It's a captivating read with a strong female protagonist, a complex love story, and a touch of political intrigue. I'm eager to see where the story goes next.

Thankyou Netgalley for providing me this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Kodansha Comics, and Ii Oshikawa for the opportunity to read this manga in exchange for an honest review.

A wholesome slow burn romance with in depth character backstory and a lead-up leaving the reader itching for more!

Alexei, shunned and put to death by his family as a young boy, holds his mother's priestess protection, being brought back to life after many deaths in the forest. When a green-skinned froggish lady saves him from another nasty death-by-bear, he finds her to be sweet and caring, where her family and the people of her village shunned her for her appearance. They call each other Pie and Ham.

After Pie's death, Alexei had grown so close to her over the years of living in the forest that his power explodes outwards in his grief and anger. He aims to climb in power so that he will never be unable to protect the person he loves again. His power and wish is that Pie will live. And so she dies. Reincarnated into a noble girl with all of her memories in tact, Pie wants nothing more than to see Ham again, and Ham seeks to find the reincarnation of his loving Pie.

A wholesome found-family connection that will easily become a romance. The first volume focuses on the characters backstories and interactions during Alexei's youth. Very slow-burn with a lead-up to a cliffhanger that will have the reader absolutely itching for the next one!

[Kimberlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lady Eleanore is on her second life and she happens to remember everything from her first, including the young boy she saved in the magical forest named Ham. As the "monster" called Pie, Eleanore cared for the young boy until her brutal murder at the hands of the Imperial Knights. Ham, or the revived Prince Alexei, vows revenge for his friend's life. Years later the reborn Pie is now Eleanore, a beautiful noble lady who can't seem to shake the peasant accent from her previous life. When she inadvertently catches the Emperor's eye, her life starts to get a lot more exciting.

While I liked The Boy I Loved Became the Jaded Emperor I was equal parts amused by some of the humor and recoiling in cringe. I really really dislike the decision to mimic a "poor dialect", especially as it doesn't seem to be used consistently even through the first volume. At one point there's a whole floaty scene about Pie and Ham, the food not the people, that had both my eyebrows raised. I'm still not sure if it was funny or not. Overall, I want to see where this goes. For one, I am a sucker for reincarnation stories. Two, I want to explore some of the magic and lore of the series, because it seems cool.

Overall, this isn't a gem, but it is a serviceable first volume and I want to see what happens next.

[✧ Beanie Reads ✧ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
2 stars

This was a strange one. It had a lot of webtoon vibes (reincarnation, dark and brooding love interest, that kinda stuff). The art is very pretty, and the country-speak sticking with the protagonist after her rebirth is pretty funny. The "jaded emperor" love interest (Alexei) definitely has some very attractive art. Once the story got going, I enjoyed myself. Probably my biggest gripe, and why it wasn't a 3 star instead of a 2, is the strange ick-factor to the romance. Eleonora's original life was as Pie, who found Alexei (Ham, as she knew him) when he was 6 and she was somewhere over 12. It's never said how much older than 12 she is, but probably at least a couple of years. 3 years pass while they know each other, so he's 9 and she's probably close to 18. She dies, comes back, and the present takes place while she's 18 and he's 27. Now, she still has her memories, and she's lamenting the loss of her precious Ham, and it feels like she loves him already. This is all just so weird because she was an older teen and he was a *child* in her first life. It just feels weird and blah and I'm not a fan of the choice here. Without that, it would have been a cute, fun little romance manga.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

When he was little, Prince Alexei was left for dead but rescued by a strangely-deformed woman who took loving care of him for several years, until a rescue party tragically tore them apart. Grief-struck and angry Alexei grew into a cold-hearted emperor who holds himself apart from everyone. Meanwhile, the woman who rescued him was reborn as a duke's daughter: beautiful but, since she remembers her past life, retaining her peasant accent, much to her family's shame - so she is taught not to speak in public to avoid embarrassment, and gains a reputation as the Silent Beauty. Eventually the two cross paths at an imperial ball, but neither recognizes the other. Will they ever be reunited for real?
The MC's names for each other (during their time in the forest) were a little weird and take getting used to--Pie and Ham, after their favorite foods--but once you get through that, I am interested to see how long it takes them to recognize each other and see what happens then.

Content concerns: fantasy perils (getting eaten by magical beasts, killed by swords, animals killed by a magic blast) but not too gory. Attempted murder by a family member, death of a parental figure, cold/emotionally abusive family (mean stepmother/stepsister, etc). No swearing, no drugs/drunkenness so far, no nudity/sex so far (the prince, as a boy, is cast out in rags, but nothing is exposed)

[bah · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I would like to thank Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for making this manga available in return for an honest review. I had seen promos online for it, and the premise sounded very nice. I am really glad we got an official translation!
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I have read plenty of reincarnation, fantasy-romance manga, specially those with the trope of cold Emperor, abused FMC with a heart of gold and reincarnation, but never one that had an approach like the one seen in this one! I found it really funny to see the contrast between Eleonora's appearance and reputation compared to her accent from her past life as Pie.

This first volume is mostly the backstory of both Pie (now Eleonara) and Emperor Alexei (who Pie knew as Ham), and oh my god talk about tragic and sad. Their time living in the forest with all the magical beasts was so peaceful and sweet... and then tragedy happens.
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Very excited for Volume 2 to see how their relationship will grow from now on and how things will progress when one of them discover they actually know each other (my bet is Alexei finding out first, Eleonora/Pie is still too naive and sweet to connect the cold grown up version of Alexei to the sweet Ham she knew).

I would definitively recommend it if you want to start reading romance reincarnation manga!

[cc · Rating 4 out of 5]

e-ARC from NetGalley.

4.5

Why was this so short? When does volume 2 come out? How am I supposed to live that long?!

Once upon a time, a child was born with droopy green skin. The villagers thought she was a monster, so she left the village to live in the forest as soon as she was able. Ten years later, in a silent coup, the child heir to the throne was left for dead in those same woods, only to be rescued by the nameless green girl who lived there. For three years, they lived as a family until the royal knights arrived to find him, killing all the magical animals and his green-skinned savior in the process. In a rage, the boy tried to give up his life for hers, but the body of his friend cooled upon the ground. For the next eighteen years, the boy used his rage as fuel to speed his rise to the throne and destroy the corruption plaguing the kingdom. What he didn't know was that a baby with strange memories was born the very night his savior died, for his attempt to save his friend had worked, just not in the way he'd expected.

Eagerly looking forward to the next one!