King's Maker 03

King's Maker #3

by Haga, Kang Ji Young (Illustrator), Jasmin Vogel (Translator)

Wolfgang, der vierte Prinz des Königreichs, hasst seinen Vater und sinnt auf Rache für den Tod seiner Mutter. Sein Verbündeter Soohyuk will hingegen nur seiner traurigen Realität als „Besitz“ des Königs entrinnen. Die beiden Jungen habe also unterschiedliche Ansichten darüber, wie und warum ihr Ziel zu erreichen ist. Doch sie teilen denselben Traum: den Niedergang des Tyranns, der ihnen das Leben zur Hölle macht.

Genres: Manhwa, Manga, Fantasy, LGBT, Romance, Historical, Graphic Novels

300 pages, Paperback

Published January 13, 2025

Reviews

[Gabriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐

[Heather’s Reading Bubble · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite this being good I found myself disappointed by the ending. My two reasons being Dandelion’s death. I loved Dandelion and hated how his death was blink and you missed it. The reader already knows how awful the king is so it wasn’t surprising he killed his young son. I just don’t understand what the purpose of it was.

My other issue is the foreshadowing of Wolfgang turning into his father. Right before his death the king states “Of all my sons, you are most like me. You will never know how to be satisfied. That desire to get what you want at all costs, one day it will crush you and everything you have. This is a curse. You are cursed to one day see me before you again.”

If this wasn’t enough of a hint we get another when Soohyuk enters the room after the kings death and Wolfgang appoints him minister of finance. This should be a nice moment right? Well this is what Wolfgang says to Soohyuk “The day you allied with me, your heart became mine. Today as you swear to serve as my minister of finance, your body becomes mine. Every moment you breathe all of you belongs to me.” Soohyuk justifiably looks scared.

I do not want to read another story of a terrible tyrant king so I’m hoping I’m reading into this wrong. I’ll check out volume one of Triple Crown. If anyone has read it please let me know if I’m wrong.

Rest in peace to my favorite Dandelion. You deserved so much better sweet boy.

[Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally I gave this a try on Tappytoon (it's also available via Lezhin) and soon in paper too, and I loved it. The art is amazing, I loved the drawing and colouring and the story is good if a bit rushed at times. I had some problems with time transition. I don't know if it's due to translation but it was difficult to have a sense of the passing of time because it's not clearly stated through dialogue. Fortunately the authors do a good job showing it through their drawing.
The plot (the review is for the whole series) touch hard themes like pedophilia and a tyrant ruler so this isn't for the faint of heart. I had a very hard time during some parts of the plot. Some of them maybe some people will think they were of no importance, but for me were hard to read, like when the kitten was killed. I can't read about animal death, it makes me truly upset. It's too painful for me, especially cats. And the way it was done, like the cat was of no importance, like it was replaceable, was very disturbing for me. And others were disturbing for very different reasons. All the things that involved the King's "children" were too unsettling to read. The way he was sexually involved with all those children and everyone looked to the other side because he was the King was too much at times. That and Dandellion death, it took me by surprise. I wasn't expecting that, and it was heartbreaking.
I liked how this ended. I liked that Wolfgang wanted to avoid a huge confrontation and I'm looking forward to see how he is going to rebuild the country with Shin's help, because they have a huge job in front of them. I'm going to read Triple Crown to see how their journey ends.

[Heaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5
I kept putting off reading this volume so I could read it closer to season two’s publication but I had zero patience and read it on release (honestly I’d pushed aside my original plan to wait days ago but didn’t have time to pick this up until now). The art style’s slowly gotten more detailed and this is set during a time skip, although we don’t know how long it’s been, so you can the subtle changes to the character designs in which they’ve been aged up. As always, I have to state how much I HATE the king and I’m do glad he got what was coming for him. I only wish he suffered even more before he died. Dandy…my poor baby, I hate that you never got to truly be happy. I really had thought he would’ve made it out of this volume but maybe died once he was a little older. I’m interested to see how Wolfgang handles being king and what his relationship with Soohyuk will look like now that they’re free.
I will say the pacing for this series has always been a little fast but it really sped through a lot in this one and i feel like we could’ve had another volume to fully set up the time jump and preparing for the coup before it all comes to a head in the next hypothetical volume, ending season one.

[khai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those poor children 😭 Finally that pedo king is dead killed by wolfgang

[Rachael ༊·˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

(This covers episodes 26 - 37.)

"Well? Have I played my role well, then?"

This final volume gave me so. Many. Damn. HEART ATTACKS. And chills. And absolute aura farming moments from our one and only Wolfgang, especially once he takes the throne? And destroys the crown with such ease bECAUSE OF COURSE THE GODDAMN THING IS COMPLETELY MADE OF GOLD?!? It was wayyy too satisfying!!

And not just that, but AHHH I love that we got more lore for the other side characters, like Sys and Delly! I wish the poor kid lived longer... That was a horrible way to die, my love 🥀

"God's wounds! You don't say... It can't be..."
"No, no, God forbid...! The boy was his own son! Besides, the fifth prince was not yet..."
"...Was not yet 15?"

Let us take a moment to mourn the countless lives lost (especially in this volume) 😔 istg Delly and Theo didn't deserve their deaths

..

...

.....

AND we break this silence for the commercial break to announce HAHAHAHAHA THE KING IS DEAD!! ALL HAIL KING WOLFGANG!!! Kinda wish the guy had been tortured a bit more BUT it was still satisfying, regardless :D

"It'd do you good to learn a thing or two. So allow me to give you your first and last lesson. On the street, one must always come prepared with more than one weapon."

But yes, overall, one of the most beautiful seasons I have ever binge-read AND would do so again in a heartbeat. Absolute perfection from start to finish, and I am in desperate need for other kingmaker-esque recs similar to this, both plot and character-wise. So, so excited for Triple Crown now, and hoping it lives up to the high this underrated masterpiece left me on :D

"Remember, I am the one who took off your cape. Since the day you swore to be mine, your heart's belonged to me. And from today onward, your body belongs to me. For as long as you are alive and breathing, you shall be mine."

---

last quote i wanted to include, but couldn't figure out how:

"How should I say this? The prince is a keen observer. He seems to have an animal instinct when it comes to people. He knows exactly what's on their mind, what's troubling them... He really sees through you. And yet, no matter how terrible or embarrassing your secret may be, he never passes any judgement. He simply says 'is that so?' and accepts you the way you are, flaws and all. Time and time again, I am struck by his magnanimity, and I cannot help but want to put my faith in him."

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not going to lie: I skimmed through a lot of the parts that didn't include the main characters that we know and love. Although I liked how the story developed and grew larger to include more characters from the younger generation, I couldn't find it in me to really care about them. However, I'm happy with how S3 ended. Soohyuk and Wolfgang could finally be relieved of their duties and be together, and Sys and Randolph got married after many twists and turns. Soohyuk's character development was such a satisfying journey to read about and Wolfgang being by his side through thick and thin as his anchor, shows how much they truly loved each other. I honestly liked their relationship a lot and I wonder what else the author has in store for them.

[Alma nicomio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aprovechando que este es del fin y ajá, ya me explayo.

DIOS LOS BUENOS PERSONAJES QUE TIENE ESTA HISTORIA? De verdad, es una locura como es que en menos de 6 hrs pude encariñarme con todos ellos,; e inclusive los más nefastos los odio demasiado, que gran escritura, amo.

Definitivamente este se ha vuelto mi manhwa favorito. (También te digo que sólo me he leído tres, si quieres considerar a bj alex que lo abandoné por asqueroso), de verdad, no sé cómo es que me negaba a leer esto antes. (También, si sé, tengo aún muy mala imagen de los manhwas, pero este es una gran excepción).

De verdad amo a Wolf y Shin, los amo mucho.

[clarkeackerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

S1 last third. Okay so, the time jump in here was so sudden. Shin tricked the king, then's getting a hickey from Wolfgang (they're too young sos) and suddenly he's bedridden. And in the next scene boom jump and he's still bedridden but IT'S BEEN YEARS LIKE WHAT. The coup d'etat flew by and seemed to come out of nowhere. Yes, it' s been cooking in the oven for years. U just felt so sudden and too fast-paced. And lacking in complexity. Sigh. The rest of the season I liked more. Good to be ride of the pedophile, thanks.

[Arielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is not quite as strong as the previous volumes but still entertaining. The time jump was an awkward deus ex machina, nor did there need to be multiple chapters dedicated to Sys' backstory. But the art is as beautiful as ever and anything involving Shin/Wolfgang is great. The ending is satisfying; I was anxiously waiting for the moment when Wolfgang takes off Shin's cape and it delivered!

[Giulia Grassi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Che dire, il capitolo finale racchiude tutto ciò che speravo di vedere da quando il re stronzo è comparso in scena.
Questa storia vivrà rent free nella mia testa a lungo, lo so già. Ha tutto ciò che amo nei BL: coppia green flag e supportive, trauma healing, worldbuilding accurato (anche se è un manhwa e non un romanzo), slowburn e intrighi di corte. Siano ringraziati gli autori per averci donato questo gioiello di fumetto

[J-Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

That felt so freaking rushed!

While there was a warning at the beginning of each volume, I was not mentally prepared for our first official visit to the room of doom. Yes, I knew of the implications of darling manor, but that chapter really helped to tarnish my view of this series…. Maybe the sequel series will be different. At this point in time, I don’t think I can stomach returning to this series.

[Jacquie Stewart · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

A beautifully drawn series that tackles a lot of difficult subjects. The king is disgusting. Going in, you should be aware he keeps a house of children for his sick desires. He deserves to die.

I adore Wolfgang and Shin, shed a tear for Dandelion, and was worried for Ulyses but it all worked out in the end. I'm glad there's going to be another series focusing on them as adults.

[Lilypad_doodle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book would have been a satisfying ending to the story. Only it decided to end with one last uneasy gut-drop moment, leaving me both sad and anxious for the two leads. The artwork is great, and the plot is well devised, especially with the almost Ocean's Eleven-esque style of laying out the grand plan. All I can say is I'm looking forward to the follow-up series coming out next year!

[Wilma Sachiyo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ainda mais traumas.

Eu terminei só já, os traumas que já tinha acumulado da primeira fase só se multiplicaram e não é sobre isso e está tudo HORRÍVEL. Não, não, não só não. Estou a me sentir muito burra agora eu poderia só ter parado mas queria saber se o velho morria mesmo.

[ukiyopei · Rating 3 out of 5]

that king disgusted me so fucking much

[Yasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

2nd read

[mikrokosmos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Launching a Coup was never done so well EVER!
As a person who is not very fond of historical settings THIS one had me hooked from first page till last!

[Deniz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ay kral sonunda gitti içim kararıyordu kralı ve yaptığı her şeyi okudukça. Sonunda çocuklarım özgür, umarım yazar bu sefer güzel bir kader yazar bebeklerime

[Asya Pambouc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hells yeah. Best ending.

[Mint missusO3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The king pic in the cover makes me mad.

[synzz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Bernice Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible story 👏🏽🥰

[Connnnnn Vasilis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think i confused what volumes matched up the web comic but i just looked at the cover and I’m way past this point but anyway what a slay literally lol

[Valeria · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Rhiley Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5!

[Lector Fantasma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pasan los años y este sigue siendo el mejor Manhwa que he leído.

[Emily Attinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satisfying ending to a great series

[Jess | jadecanread · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic three volume prologue to this series.

Recap: shin is feigning being sick, Sys backstory, fifth prince is killed, coup plan, coup executed.

[Cassiereads · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

reread

this volume hurt my feelings all over again 😭 iykyk