Das Biest des Königs – Band 12

王の獣 [Ō no Kemono] #12

by Rei Tōma, Dorothea Überall (translator)

Rangetsu langweilt sich in ihrer Heimat und geht täglich den gleichen Aufgaben nach. Aber als plötzlich Taihaku vor ihr erscheint, ändert sich alles Schlag auf Schlag! Eben noch trübsinnig, blüht sie nun auf und ist ganz versessen darauf, zu erfahren, was es für Neuigkeiten aus dem Palast gibt … und natürlich von Prinz Tenyo! Doch ob es je eine Zukunft geben wird, in der Rangetsu wieder an seiner Seite sein darf?

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

Kindle Edition

First published March 24, 2023

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

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rangetsu is living the quiet life. Read: she’s bored out of her mind. Taihaku, Prince Tenyou’s attendant, has tracked her down and come visiting, but how long can she continue to avoid her desires? Doubly so when the country as a whole is changing…

The new normal for this series is pretty solid and, between the characters and the lovely artwork, it manages to be nearly as successful as it used to be, if not entirely so.

Oddly, Rangetsu’s separation from Tenyou both goes on entirely too long and doesn’t go on nearly long enough. It starts off with a strange visit from Taihaku, where he gets a lot more interested in Rangetsu romantically than I feel was ever hinted at before.

It’s mostly played for laughs, at least, and it ultimately helps Rangetsu admit that she wishes she had stayed at the palace after she tries every desperate trick in the book to keep Taihaku hanging around so she feels that connection to her former home.

When Tenyou and the princes push through some radical reforms on the back of the current emperor, ones designed to offer freedom to peasants and Aijin alike, it achieves so much of what everybody has been hoping for, even if acceptance will clearly take much longer.

Importantly, it allows Rangetsu to return to the palace, but the problem is that this takes two years of effort that passes in the span of a couple pages that give no indication that time is moving in that fashion.

The story is caught between a rock and a hard place, honestly. Snow White With the Red Hair made a meal out of that notion of an extended separation, but then reheated the leftovers too many times and stretched it out too much. Something closer to Frieren’s style would have been more useful, using scattered vignettes to show things happening.

End result: this gets Rangetsu back at the palace like literally nothing happened except she has new duties. And, somewhat ironically, Tenyou can’t keep his paws off her. I don’t mind their romance, it’s been an important part of the series, but it was never as good as the politicking and scheming.

We then enter the extended payoff for seeing everybody and the romance and goofing around that the series now leans into over its regular plotting. It’s not terrible - I happen to think the story is pretty funny at points - but tonally it never seems to know when it should be silly.

Things end with a big swing from Tenyou and the implication that outside nations are looking at these big changes here with a less than happy gaze. But, again, if this was kicking up as big a stir as they say, why wasn’t it doing so two years ago rather than waiting until it decided to be a plot point?

4 stars - a good series whose best days are likely behind it, but whose current days are still just fine. It’s easier to pick on its faults this time around though.

[bri · Rating 2 out of 5]

yeah after volume 6 i knew it wasn’t going to be as enjoyable as it was and the last 3 volumes definitely did not help at all i no longer care

[Rebecca Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[BeckyisBookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

The gasp I gusped when he asked her to live with himmmm

[Kayla Brunson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being back with Rangetsu and everyone in the palace was so nice. Thank goodness we don't have to wait too long for the next volume to be released.

[BreAnna (Bre'sBooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet volume!!! 🥰

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ch 44-47

Read on VIZ app

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like things are starting to pick up again!

It didn't feel like a ton of time passed but apparently it's been two years. The time jump did feel a little awkward. I haven't loved how the series was progressing in the last couple volumes, so I am hoping that this one starts back at an actual storyline again. It just feels like the mangaka didn't want to flesh out the politics in the series (such as the change in emperors) or the relationship between Prince Tenyou and Rangetsu fully.

I did love the fluffy and romantic scenes though and seeing everyone reunite was amazing.

[Alesha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow burnest book ever!

[Reading_as_a_pastime]

I was wondering if this series and dawn of the arcana would ever connect... y'all I need to finish dawn of the arcana now

[Aiko (Temiko) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars. A part of me wants her to be with Taihaku.

My sister and I laughed on how Sogetsu is just using the chain as a fashionable belt.

[ℂ ✧ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Soc una mica hater amb la sèrie, però m'ha semblat un volum amb un rumb que costa molt d'entendre i em fa pensar més que mai que la trama està totalment improvitzada :( En la darrera entrega la Rangetsu teòricament marxa per no destorbar el príncep en la seva nova etapa de legislació a favor dels ajins i per gaudir de la seva llibertat, veure món i ser autosuficient... Ara bé, de poc li serveix perquè aviat el troba a faltar i decideix tornar per presentar-se a l'examen dels militars imperials i així convertir-se en la primera ajin que supera les proves d'accés. La sensació és que passa poc temps perquè no hi ha cap progrés, és a dir, la separació sembla del tot inútil, però en realitat han passat DOS ANYS. Representa que estan molt enamorats, però la trobada és freda, poc apassionada i amb una falta immensa de química entre ells perquè la reacció a la petició de mà és agredolça... El volum s'acaba amb un nou fil de trama política que no em crida gaire l'atenció. Veurem com avança perquè té alhora moments dolços i errors imperdonables :(

[R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though it seems like the time between events is not much, we learn from Rangetsu's declaration when she rejoins Tenyou that it took two years for her to finally return to the palace. This time, not as Tenyou's beast, but as a palace guard after having passed the exam to become an official. It seems there may be more coming soon however as these two are not content to be apart now and Rangetsu quickly learns she does not care for someone else standing by her prince's side. Sogetsu also seems much more comfortable and glad to see his sister again, even if it looks like he is still trapped wearing that chain. Surprisingly, the rest of the princes and several of their beasts also appear to be glad Rangetsu has returned, a few of them even watching the exams. It would seem even with her rather unusual entrance into the court, perhaps she has found a place she does belong. Certainly seems far happier now than in the beginning of this volume when she was "free" outside the palace.

[Vivienne Beloved · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quanto pare Rangetsu non se la vive bene la pace della campagna. Si annoia e sente di non avere uno scopo.
Sentendo anche la mancanza di Tenyo, decide di tornare in città e alla scoperta di una nuova legge che favorisce le Bestie, decide di fare la sua parte.
Dopo due anni, diventa ufficialmente il primo Ufficiale militare della sua specie e torna al palazzo reale. Può finalmente riabbracciare Tenyo, ma purtroppo i doveri sono tanti e non ha molto tempo per restare sola con lui.
Qui a soffrire siamo sia noi che il povero principe!
Tenyo, prendendo totalmente alla sprovvista Rangetsu, le chiede di sposarlo. Ovviamente non reagisce come sperava, ma dopo il loro chiarimento, decidono di percorrere insieme questo nuovo percorso, in modo tale che la ragazza possa stare al fianco del principe.

[Sequoia Cron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did think the volume was good but also choppy. The editing and flow of the chapters could have been better. I do kind of wish the 'becoming a guard' scene was longer and didn't seem so easy. Some moments were glossed over and done so fast. Blink, and you miss all of it.

I'm probably going to get the next volume but I'm unsure if that is the finale or not. The story feels like it's not going anywhere and there are no stakes involved. Even for a cozy fantasy theres usually some sort of "problem".

I really love the beginning volumes of the series but now I'm kind of wondering if I want to continue after 13... we shall see.

[The Book Dragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rangetsu is free from all Ajin obligations and can live as she wishes... but now she's extremely bored and has no idea what she actually wants to do. A visit from Taihaku makes this very clear and he helpfully points out the new law that just got announced... and that she could apply for a job at the palace.

Which she does and of course she passes because this is about Rangetsu x Tenyou and we can't have a romance if the two main parties never see each other again. So it's back to the palace for more shenanigans and adventures.

[Kimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like I read through this too fast. Also there's a time skip that kind of suddenly happens and I do feel like they may have skipped some stuff that would've been nice to see, but I can understand why they just moved on to the part we all came here to see. I'm glad that making ajin equals wasn't some magical step where everything is better, but was approached realistically of what it would be like for others who may not want to accept that. Series is just so good

[Chaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every time I get a new copy of The King's Beast in my hands, I am a very happy person. I love this series! I think (so far) this is my favorite of Rei Toma's but I guess we will see how the series continues to develop. Rangetsu is so cute, and this volume brings us a crossover episode!! Can't wait to see where that goes

[Krystal Caloia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alright! Ajin can choose their jobs and aren't slaves anymore. Rangetsu became the first Ajin to pass the military exam and make it all the way to the palace! Her and Prince Tenyou seem to be playing to stay together......

Who is Prince Akhil and what kind of favors is he going to pass around?

[Shatiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mi sembra che la storia in questo volume sia stata una corsa di velocità...spero si vada preso al sodo della questione, ma ho la sensazione che il fatto che nasconda ancora che è femmina creerà ancora problemi...quella guardia poi creerà solo fastidi...lo so già!

[Milla · Rating 5 out of 5]

MARRY ALREADY!!!

[Sofy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dawn of Arcana is my favorite manga all time dhhdhs Loki cameo i cried so hard

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m just along for the ride. 😂 We’re involving the characters from Dawn of the Arcana more now and I’m like “no, please don’t! I’ve already banished them from my memory!!” 😂

[Fara'Ain · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5⭐

[Avidreader365 · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally caught up now cart wait for next volume

[Gabrielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually read a bit ago but didn't mark it oops

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one kinda fell flat for me. The ending was precious but it just wasn’t that exciting. Still enjoying the manga as a whole tho. On to the next.

[Isel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man. I know that's not Loki and it's probably Caesar's son but... I really never liked Loki. Why'd he have to look like him? 😢

[ReadingFrog · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars.