The King’s Beast, Vol. 16

王の獣 [Ō no Kemono] #16

by Rei Tōma

After Boku’s fierce attack leaves him gravely injured, Prince Kougai jumps into the fray with Rangetsu. When they finally slash their way through the battlefield and reach General Barre of Rohan, the general finishes the battle with a a giant hole opens in the earth, transporting everyone—army and all—to the imperial palace!

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

Kindle Edition

First published August 26, 2024

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]

I have hardly been quiet about my belief that this series should have wrapped up ages ago, but it’s not hard to slightly disagree with my past self when all the ‘okay to pretty good’ volumes pay off in this gorgeous little volume.

And, here’s the thing: despite my general preference for drama rather than action, if it is used sparingly and done at the hands of an excellent mangaka then it can accentuate rather than feel like the only thing the series has going for it (see: many fight-y shonen).

There’s also the simple fact that we’ve never seen action like this in this story before either. This is large scale combat between two nations that quickly devolves into something more intimate and sees the tides turn in a vicious moment.

It is definitely escalated in that way that manga fighting always is - never tell in one panel what you can show in fifty or more - but I’ll allow it because it really ups the stakes in a way that allows for heroics and also makes the situation dire at the same time.

And it doesn’t completely ignore the reasons behind the war, nor its emotions. Change can be very hard and that is what we see here, as not everybody feels like Aijin deserve to have any rights.

Now, the big bad of this story is motivated by tragedy (one that might have been presented fully, but might not), but that tragedy lead to tarring lots of people with the same brush.

Then you have the other Aijin from other countries, who are treated fine, provided they have powers. Subsequently, they don’t really much care what happens to somebody in another country.

Which is all to say that the parallels with the real world right now are very clear and depressingly on the nose. It says something that this was not written for the present moment, yet it carries themes that resonate. That’s the sign of good writing.

I mean, if you step back it is all very hard anime fighting and such, but this had me riveted from start to finish as it delivered on pretty much everything I want from a big old battle. They could have developed some of the sub-baddies more, but it mostly works.

5 stars - the best this has been in ages, absolute ages. A real page-turner that goes down well and goes down fast.

[Katie❄️]

Rangetsu finally comes into her full power. No more holding back.

[Kelli]

This gets pretty brutal O_O

[Melinda Anderson]

So good. I'm going to be hanging on this cliff until the next volume comes out.

[Carrie Ann]

3.25⭐️

[R.]

Rangetsou is both determined and desperate to change fate, leading to some rather significant changes in her appearance and how her powers are functioning in battle, which were already impressive to begin with. It seems perhaps the original conclusions that fate can't be changed entirely may not be as true as thought given the reference to the change. Tenyou also managed to find the threat from the inside, though the question remains if it's too little too late. At least it seems the current emperor understands more than one aspect of Tenyou's ideals and goals to aid their people and lands. Now if they can truly turn the tides, perhaps they can earn some of the peace they wanted to begin with. Even Sogetsu seems to be serious for a change, not necessarily for himself, but for the sake of the future Rangetsou is fighting for.

[Vivienne Beloved]

Le cose precipitano velocemente.
A causa dell'arcana di una delle Bestie nemiche, la corte imperiale viene attaccata e tutti i principi, compreso l'imperatore, sono in pericolo.
Le Bestie dei principi si buttano nella mischia e rischiano la vita. Rangetsu è allo stremo e tra la vita e la morte decide di dar sfogo completamente al suo potere, sacrificando "ogni sua vita" per proteggere gli altri.
Come andrà a finire?
Purtroppo qualche morto ci scapperà sicuramente.

[annie]

“even if there are choices, their futures are already set. ”

this was so much action. everything had me stressed, but i did like sogetsu and teiga's banter. i love seeing rangetsu get another power and can just heal and bring people back to life. this sixth prince is evil.. SHE CHANGED THE FUTURE!!

[ℂ ✧]

Volum intens i trepidant, ple d'acció i de drama. Intueixo que s'apropa el final i per això em crida més l'atenció. Veurem com acaba! (Llegit fins al 67 final del 17? Molt emocionant, amb un gir del tot sorprenent que fa que tot valgui la pena!)

[elle]

Excellent series, would make a great anime.

[Maria]

Bellissimo. Romance.

[Kokoha]

藍月が天耀様を守るために必死に戦ってて泣けた🥹なかなか幸せになれないのが苦しい

[BreAnna (Bre'sBooks)]

Well that was...gruesome, but oh look! a plot twist!

[Janis Kay]

Man.... The worst part is I need to wait for volume 17 to ship to my library>< Wanna keep reading this so bad!

[Sarah]

3.5 stars

[Nina]

This volume has me so sad. 😭

[Gretchen]

The fight moves to the Imperial Palace.

[Amanda Setasha]

Absolutely amazing volume all around.