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ベルサイユのばら [Versailles no Bara] #2
ベルサイユのばら 2
国王ルイ15世が逝去して孫のルイ16世が即位した。アントワネットはついにフランスの王妃となった。自己の栄達ばかりを願う人々に取り巻かれて、おしゃれで遊び好きな王妃の浪費ぶりは、国家の財政難に拍車をかけていく。重税と貧困にあえぐフランス民衆の非難の目はオーストリア生まれの王妃に向けられ、折からのフェルゼンとの不倫の噂は一層その憎悪をあおりたてた。道ならぬ恋に苦しむ二人を見守るオスカルも、秘めたる愛に耐えていた。
376 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1994
18 people are currently reading
388 people want to read
About the author
Riyoko Ikeda
390 books276 followersRiyoko Ikeda (池田理代子) is a Japanese manga author and soprano singer.
As one of the 24-gumi, she has written and illustrated many shōjo manga, many of which are based on European historical events, such as the French Revolution or the Russian Revolution.
Her most famous manga is Versailles no bara (ベルサイユのばら, The rose of Versailles).
Other famous works include Oniisama e... (おにいさまへ…, Dear Brother) and Orpheus no mado (オルフェウスの窓, The Window of Orpheus) that won an Excellence award at Japan Cartoonists Association Award in 1980.
As one of the 24-gumi, she has written and illustrated many shōjo manga, many of which are based on European historical events, such as the French Revolution or the Russian Revolution.
Her most famous manga is Versailles no bara (ベルサイユのばら, The rose of Versailles).
Other famous works include Oniisama e... (おにいさまへ…, Dear Brother) and Orpheus no mado (オルフェウスの窓, The Window of Orpheus) that won an Excellence award at Japan Cartoonists Association Award in 1980.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
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March 2, 2024⁀➴ CONCLUSION: everyone is gay for Lady Oscar
November 28, 2020
The story keeps on getting better and better. I’m very invested in the fate of Oscar, Rosalie and the others. The art is gorgeous, Riyoko Ikeda is very talented.
July 24, 2024
I love the art style so much and I love how the story keeps involving. I’m looking forward to volume 3.
TW for some sexual assault scenes.
TW for some sexual assault scenes.
April 16, 2025
This second instalment (ep.23-44) was way more enjoyable. Packed with action and mystery blended well with history (leading to the French Revolution) , breaking off from the corny beginnings up to ep. 22.
We see more of Oscar, as opposed to Queen Marie Antoinette and her whims, and we understand more if Oscar's values and feelings; Andre and Rosalie have more space too and this makes the reading quite entertaining.
We see more of Oscar, as opposed to Queen Marie Antoinette and her whims, and we understand more if Oscar's values and feelings; Andre and Rosalie have more space too and this makes the reading quite entertaining.
March 14, 2025
What the hell Andre? I was rooting for you. We were all rooting for you.
September 30, 2023
I love this manga! The art is so pretty and the story is so romantic and full of action. However, why does everyone have to cry all the time?! XD
September 14, 2020
Still love this, and we all still thirst for Oscar!
December 31, 2022
Everything astounding about the first volume continues to apply here. While there were plenty of serious moments early on, by these chapters, the drama is rapidly increasing. The tale has expanded to epic proportions while remining a detailed character study. While some early plot lines have now found resolution, the stage is quickly being set for the impending revolution.
August 22, 2025
3.9 stars for the overall volume, but rounded up to 4 stars
This volume is a collection of volumes 4-6 and two chapters of volume 7. I think the idea of The Rose of Versailles is brilliant. My first review of omnibus 1 is glowing, and the volume got 4.75 stars from me. I loved the concept of gender, subtle lesbianism, and French politics (eat the rich!!). This volume has several issues. The section of the story is middling and clearly impacted by the factors of 1) male editors, 2) societal dismissiveness toward lesbian relationships, and only seeing them as a stepping stone for a man (GROSS!). Volume 4 is the strongest and starts the collection off strongly. I gave it 4.5 stars. Volume 5 is a 3.5-star and is my least favorite arc and chapters in the series so far. Volume 6 is a 3.75-star and has a lot of the same issues, but is slightly better.
I still plan on finishing this series in 2025, and I will not be deterred!
This volume is a collection of volumes 4-6 and two chapters of volume 7. I think the idea of The Rose of Versailles is brilliant. My first review of omnibus 1 is glowing, and the volume got 4.75 stars from me. I loved the concept of gender, subtle lesbianism, and French politics (eat the rich!!). This volume has several issues. The section of the story is middling and clearly impacted by the factors of 1) male editors, 2) societal dismissiveness toward lesbian relationships, and only seeing them as a stepping stone for a man (GROSS!). Volume 4 is the strongest and starts the collection off strongly. I gave it 4.5 stars. Volume 5 is a 3.5-star and is my least favorite arc and chapters in the series so far. Volume 6 is a 3.75-star and has a lot of the same issues, but is slightly better.
I still plan on finishing this series in 2025, and I will not be deterred!
October 26, 2020
Another beautiful volume of Riyoko Ikeda's Rose of Versailles published by Udon! And there is so much that happens in this Omnibus edition!
Marie Antoinette and Oscar grow into their adult roles and each character is physically updated to show their maturity. Antoinette finally produces heirs for the French throne (although the story doesn't go into how Antoinette is suddenly able to get pregnant after years of marriage). The Affair of the Necklace comes to its bizarre end. Jeanne is exposed as a charlatan and sent to jail and dies later, but is able to tarnish Marie Antoinette's and Oscar's reputation. The character of the Black Knight is introduced, a masked thief who steals from the rich to give to a rebel organization. De Polignac's stranglehold over Antoinette is finally broken. Oscar, awakening to the needs of the French peasantry, asks to be transferred out of the Royal Guards.
I don't know what to make of Oscar's gender and sexuality in this volume. Oscar is aghast at Jeanne accusing her of being a lesbian ("I'll break out in hives!"). Rosalie, smitten with Oscar, is continually rejected because Oscar declares herself a woman. However, Oscar admits, "If I really were a man I would marry you without a doubt, truly." Oscar and Rosalie are shown affectionate, Rosalie often being held in manly Oscar's arms. Interestingly, the majority of the issue covers are of Rosalie and Oscar in this volume, often in the poses of lovers. At point Rosalie's jealousy over whelms her when she sees Oscar dancing with Marie Antoinette. Luckily, Rosalie finds love with the Black Knight in a very sweet courtship, and moves on with her life.
Oscar's love interest in Fersen reaches a climax when she dresses as a woman, making her unrecognizable to Fersen. Dancing at a ball together, Oscar's love for Fersen is realized. Meeting later, Fersen finally recognizes that Oscar loves him, and he admits that if he'd known Oscar was a woman earlier, he may have fallen for her instead of the Queen. Alas, his heart belongs to Marie Antoinette only, and he cannot see Oscar anymore.
Meanwhile, there is Andre (who almost never makes it on a cover).
Andre's romantic love was established for Oscar in the first volume, but here it becomes disastrously apparent. First, he steals a kiss from a sleeping Oscar, which would be romantic if she wasn't unconscious. Later, he loses the sight in his left eye in the process of saving both Oscar and Rosalie. Andre seems to be able to hear Oscar's calls for help when no one else can. It is clear Oscar feels strongly for Andre, she loses herself completely when she realizes he sacrificed his sight for her. But after a moment spent reminiscing about their youth together, when Oscar is mourning the loss of Fersen, Andre tries to rape her.
Grabbing Oscar and confessing his love, Andre asks her if she's afraid of him, and then pushes her on to a bed, and while she screams NO, rips her clothes off. Realizing what he's done, he stops and apologizes, swearing he'll never do it again, and leaves. It's hard to figure out how to read this scene. Switching from a tender moment of recalling childhood memories to sudden violence felt... abusive. Although Ikeda displays flowers during the confessional sequence, she switches to black framing drips and dark lighting when Andre thrusts Oscar onto the bed, making it a horrific moment. It's even more jarring when a few pages later, Bernard, the Black Knight, gently asks Rosalie if he can fall in love with her. It's clear that Oscar forgives Andre, and they move on as is with their lives. But I just didn't know what to make of it.
I deeply enjoy reading this series. Despite it's youthful simplistic aspects it's entertaining and joyful to read. I keep stumbling over what to make of Oscar's gender and sexuality. Is she a gay trans-man? A non-binary person interested only in men? I can't tell if it's just me bringing my modern Western sensibilities to a work written in the 1970's by a straight ( ??? ) Japanese woman. For all Oscar's rejection of Rosalie and any label of lesbian, an enormous amount of time is spent with the reader watching Rosalie long for Oscar. There are many loving sequences and covers between the two. Is Ikeda trying to have something both ways? I'm still shocked at the attempted rape scene between Oscar and Andre. Can Andre redeem himself to me by continuing to be Oscar's devoted sidekick? I don't know.
Marie Antoinette and Oscar grow into their adult roles and each character is physically updated to show their maturity. Antoinette finally produces heirs for the French throne (although the story doesn't go into how Antoinette is suddenly able to get pregnant after years of marriage). The Affair of the Necklace comes to its bizarre end. Jeanne is exposed as a charlatan and sent to jail and dies later, but is able to tarnish Marie Antoinette's and Oscar's reputation. The character of the Black Knight is introduced, a masked thief who steals from the rich to give to a rebel organization. De Polignac's stranglehold over Antoinette is finally broken. Oscar, awakening to the needs of the French peasantry, asks to be transferred out of the Royal Guards.
I don't know what to make of Oscar's gender and sexuality in this volume. Oscar is aghast at Jeanne accusing her of being a lesbian ("I'll break out in hives!"). Rosalie, smitten with Oscar, is continually rejected because Oscar declares herself a woman. However, Oscar admits, "If I really were a man I would marry you without a doubt, truly." Oscar and Rosalie are shown affectionate, Rosalie often being held in manly Oscar's arms. Interestingly, the majority of the issue covers are of Rosalie and Oscar in this volume, often in the poses of lovers. At point Rosalie's jealousy over whelms her when she sees Oscar dancing with Marie Antoinette. Luckily, Rosalie finds love with the Black Knight in a very sweet courtship, and moves on with her life.
Oscar's love interest in Fersen reaches a climax when she dresses as a woman, making her unrecognizable to Fersen. Dancing at a ball together, Oscar's love for Fersen is realized. Meeting later, Fersen finally recognizes that Oscar loves him, and he admits that if he'd known Oscar was a woman earlier, he may have fallen for her instead of the Queen. Alas, his heart belongs to Marie Antoinette only, and he cannot see Oscar anymore.
Meanwhile, there is Andre (who almost never makes it on a cover).
Andre's romantic love was established for Oscar in the first volume, but here it becomes disastrously apparent. First, he steals a kiss from a sleeping Oscar, which would be romantic if she wasn't unconscious. Later, he loses the sight in his left eye in the process of saving both Oscar and Rosalie. Andre seems to be able to hear Oscar's calls for help when no one else can. It is clear Oscar feels strongly for Andre, she loses herself completely when she realizes he sacrificed his sight for her. But after a moment spent reminiscing about their youth together, when Oscar is mourning the loss of Fersen, Andre tries to rape her.
Grabbing Oscar and confessing his love, Andre asks her if she's afraid of him, and then pushes her on to a bed, and while she screams NO, rips her clothes off. Realizing what he's done, he stops and apologizes, swearing he'll never do it again, and leaves. It's hard to figure out how to read this scene. Switching from a tender moment of recalling childhood memories to sudden violence felt... abusive. Although Ikeda displays flowers during the confessional sequence, she switches to black framing drips and dark lighting when Andre thrusts Oscar onto the bed, making it a horrific moment. It's even more jarring when a few pages later, Bernard, the Black Knight, gently asks Rosalie if he can fall in love with her. It's clear that Oscar forgives Andre, and they move on as is with their lives. But I just didn't know what to make of it.
I deeply enjoy reading this series. Despite it's youthful simplistic aspects it's entertaining and joyful to read. I keep stumbling over what to make of Oscar's gender and sexuality. Is she a gay trans-man? A non-binary person interested only in men? I can't tell if it's just me bringing my modern Western sensibilities to a work written in the 1970's by a straight ( ??? ) Japanese woman. For all Oscar's rejection of Rosalie and any label of lesbian, an enormous amount of time is spent with the reader watching Rosalie long for Oscar. There are many loving sequences and covers between the two. Is Ikeda trying to have something both ways? I'm still shocked at the attempted rape scene between Oscar and Andre. Can Andre redeem himself to me by continuing to be Oscar's devoted sidekick? I don't know.
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May 5, 2024Honestly, this took me so long to finish this because it's so perfect I couldn't look at it for too long. Like staring at a star.
September 16, 2023
4.1/5 stars — this volume had me CRYING fr… like at least six different moments. the characters and their relationships are becoming more developed (I can finally tolerate Antoinette, yay) MOSTLY for the better (I have a big, huge, major bone to pick with andre’s plotline). I am only becoming more and more invested in Oscar’s story 💕
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Pacing: 5/5
Writing: 4/5
Enjoyment: 4/5
Art: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Pacing: 5/5
Writing: 4/5
Enjoyment: 4/5
Art: 4/5
December 14, 2021
Oscar may or may not be giving me gender envy
August 31, 2019
actual rating: 4.5 stars
this is a fantastical volume featuring what rose of versailles has best: romance, drama, plot twists, a bit of humor and, of course, Rich People Problems™️
and I loved ALMOST every moment of it, buuuuttt...
this is a fantastical volume featuring what rose of versailles has best: romance, drama, plot twists, a bit of humor and, of course, Rich People Problems™️
and I loved ALMOST every moment of it, buuuuttt...
October 8, 2024
This is inconsistent from chapter to chapter. Something super thrilling will happen one chapter, then the next three will be about something I don't care about at all. Oscar is a treasure, but most of the other characters are kind of thin. I think the biggest problem is how long it takes to read though. The medium of comics has gotten so much more streamlined since the early 70s, and this ends up being a bit of a slog for a modern reader
December 21, 2020
It's getting a three purely cause the book is pretty. I can't staaaaand all the ridiculous Fersen/Antoinette inaccurate melodrama. And poor Polignac good lord.
January 1, 2021
Review to come eventually. Marking the second omnibus in this series I've read in 2020.
August 18, 2022
update: lady oscar did not in fact end up with rosalie and rosalie did in fact marry a man. i will be suing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2024
Coincidentally, this omnibus happens to have all of my least favorite parts of this series aka André at his absolute worst and the entire Black Knight arc.
October 15, 2025
Review for complete series
Oscar de Jarjayes, also known as Lady Oscar, is raised as a man after her mother gave birth to three girls in succession. After years of training her skills, Oscar becomes the captain of the Palace Guard and is tasked with guarding none other than Marie Antoinette – the Rose of Versailles. While loyalty and friendship grow between the two, Oscar worries for the ever-suffering lower classes of Paris.
The Rose of Versailles is simply beautiful. Being a major manga classic, it is easy to see how it has influenced later works both in art and story-telling.
One of the most beautiful aspects of this work is most certainly the art. While some might call it dated – it is gorgeous to look at. The eyes are very prominent with the emphasis of sparkle in them. The female characters are particularly beautiful!
The Rose of Versailles starts of rather slow - it took me about a volume to get into it. I think possibly one of the reasons is because the most prominent main character, Oscar, is kept in the background. The first chapters focus on the young Marie Antoinette who is arguably not the most likeable character. However, one of the wonderful things about this series is that it follows its characters from a young age until they are mid-aged. I find that to be very unusual for a manga and it is exactly what makes it so easy to become attached to the characters. Even Marie Antoinette – regardless of her real character and motives – as far as fictional characterization goes, one can relate to her. While she makes grave mistakes and can come across as utterly selfish, the flow of the story makes it easy to understand how being thrown into such a luxurious world can influence and ruin a young person’s character. By the end of the story, she too has gone through many hardships and I found myself feeling very sorry for her.
Nevertheless, I find the characters around Marie Antoinette to be much more fascinating. Considering that the story spans over several decades, it is remarkable how the author managed to let her characters age - they definitely look older by the final volume and that's not something one can say for every manga.
Apart from the great in-depth view of the characters' lives and the wonderful art style, The Rose of Versailles has a great balance between humour, romance, action and drama. Of course, knowing that this story is set before and during the French Revolution, one can expect lots of tragedy - in other words, getting attached to these characters can end up being quite painful!
I can also see how some people might find this series too dramatic. It has its moments where it certainly can remind one of a soap opera but I believe that to be part of its charm. The Rose of Versailles is not a series that everyone would enjoy but I absolutely adore it and could hardly put it down. One of the most beautiful manga I have ever read!
January 4, 2026
I love it when authors decide to ruin my favorite characters for no reason. How does Andre go from losing an eye, potentially his eyesight entirely, and almost his life for Oscar and then assaulting her a couple chapters later after a jealous fit following her goodbye to Fersen? Completely unnecessary and completely out of character. Andre has been loyal and the absolute definition of a green flag yearning second male lead until this happened. I can’t justify what he did and I won’t, even if he apologized in tears and stopped himself before he took it too far. He promised never to do such a thing again, but even the attempt is unforgivable. Yet, Oscar seems to have forgiven him and blames herself for taking advantage of him and his loyalty without understanding his feelings all this time. While that is true, it does not justify sexual assault, but I will say it felt completely out of character. The Andre I’ve come to know would’ve never even thought of doing such a thing to Oscar, let alone attempt it. I think his toxicity escalates in the next book, which I’m not looking forward to. I don’t understand the author’s choices, and I don’t appreciate how the situation was easily forgiven and glossed over either. Do women simply have to endure these kinds of advances, forgive them and blame themselves? Andre did apologize and admit his wrongdoing, but does that mean Oscar should forgive him? It would be disappointing for him to become the male lead after this even though I’ve been rooting for him this entire time. I’ve never wanted Fersen for Oscar and still don’t. To be frank, Rosalie is probably the best choice, albeit unconventional during this time period, but even that is no longer an option now that she has fallen in love with Bernard. Her love for Oscar was pure and true and protective. I would say the same for any of the other female characters that nearly fell in love with Oscar, and Charlotte who did indeed love Oscar and sacrificed her life instead of marrying a man she didn’t love. I rooted for Andre because he loved Oscar deeply and unconditionally, but now it seems he has reached his limit and is unable to endure the thought of Oscar with another man. It’s just disappointing considering Oscar doesn’t even have anything going on with someone else and said her goodbyes to Fersen forever. Had he played his cards properly, Andre could have won her heart with his sincerity instead of trying to force her affections, especially considering she was never aware of his romantic feelings for her. So deeply and utterly disappointing, and I fear I may not be able to enjoy this series as much now that they have destroyed Andre’s character for me. Still, I don’t know if it’s horrible of me to wish he doesn’t completely lose his eyesight. He does seem truthful about his willingness to give up his life for Oscar at any point in time. I will read on for Oscar, the only sane character in this series it seems.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2025
I don’t know why it took me so long to finish this. It’s definitely not worse than the first one! The quality is just as high!
Artwork is absolutely GORGEOUS! Just like in the previous book! You could just sit and stare at it for hours, honestly. Apart from the horses… Honestly, Riyoko Ikeda did not know how to draw horses when she worked on this. They are not horrendous, but when you compare them to the rest of the artwork, they do stand out a bit.
In this book the story was a bit slower, maybe? Not that it is a quick moving story over all, but yes. Ikeda actually is inspired from a real life event of Marie Antionette. The Affair of the Diamond Necklace.
A huge extravagant necklace that was ordered for the old king's mistress, but alas… the king died before it was finished and instead the jewellers tried to sell it to the new king, Marie Antionettes husband. That’s how the story goes, shortly, in real life. Well, Ikeda is making it A LOT more dramatic and complicated within those story-frames.
The results are the same as well, Marie Antionette gets more and more hated by the poor commoners that live in France. As is the nobels.
Our main character Lady Oscar at first doesn't quite get it, why the hate kinda, but when the second story or plot of the book starts up, Oscar’s eyes slowly open. Because there’s this thief that only targets the nobility. The Black Knight. Or knave, as Oscar calls him as an insult. (Why that’s an insult, I still don’t know….)
She manages to catch him, and things develop from there. Rosalie makes another appearance and she’s got a bit more spine here, which I like! Character-development! Yay! Well, she’s still holding a HUGE torch for Oscar, but oh well….
Also, Oscar’s best friend André gets some more screen time, which I approve of! He to has gotten a bit more spine, even if a certain scene gave me some r*pey vibes… It didn’t get quite that far, but damn that was close! Take a cold shower, André!!! Damn!
Best part however was when Lady Oscar resigned from the royal guard and stepped down to a lower position and started leading another… regiment? I think it was a regiment. In this one however there’s no nobels. And they DO NOT like to follow orders from a woman! Really cool stuff went on there! Best part for sure! More of that, please!
No Bastille yet…. let’s hope that comes in the next book. And more from these bad ass men in Lady Oscar’s new regiment! They were cool!
To be continued!
Artwork is absolutely GORGEOUS! Just like in the previous book! You could just sit and stare at it for hours, honestly. Apart from the horses… Honestly, Riyoko Ikeda did not know how to draw horses when she worked on this. They are not horrendous, but when you compare them to the rest of the artwork, they do stand out a bit.
In this book the story was a bit slower, maybe? Not that it is a quick moving story over all, but yes. Ikeda actually is inspired from a real life event of Marie Antionette. The Affair of the Diamond Necklace.
A huge extravagant necklace that was ordered for the old king's mistress, but alas… the king died before it was finished and instead the jewellers tried to sell it to the new king, Marie Antionettes husband. That’s how the story goes, shortly, in real life. Well, Ikeda is making it A LOT more dramatic and complicated within those story-frames.
The results are the same as well, Marie Antionette gets more and more hated by the poor commoners that live in France. As is the nobels.
Our main character Lady Oscar at first doesn't quite get it, why the hate kinda, but when the second story or plot of the book starts up, Oscar’s eyes slowly open. Because there’s this thief that only targets the nobility. The Black Knight. Or knave, as Oscar calls him as an insult. (Why that’s an insult, I still don’t know….)
She manages to catch him, and things develop from there. Rosalie makes another appearance and she’s got a bit more spine here, which I like! Character-development! Yay! Well, she’s still holding a HUGE torch for Oscar, but oh well….
Also, Oscar’s best friend André gets some more screen time, which I approve of! He to has gotten a bit more spine, even if a certain scene gave me some r*pey vibes… It didn’t get quite that far, but damn that was close! Take a cold shower, André!!! Damn!
Best part however was when Lady Oscar resigned from the royal guard and stepped down to a lower position and started leading another… regiment? I think it was a regiment. In this one however there’s no nobels. And they DO NOT like to follow orders from a woman! Really cool stuff went on there! Best part for sure! More of that, please!
No Bastille yet…. let’s hope that comes in the next book. And more from these bad ass men in Lady Oscar’s new regiment! They were cool!
To be continued!
May 7, 2023
How things changed; reaching such a critical turning point. For Oscar. For Rosalie. For Fersen. For Andrè. What happened between Oscar and Andrè felt so wrong, yet was somehow beautiful. I questioned it, yet I saw Oscar walk away from it stronger than ever. Not to mention from everything Bernard forced Oscar to face, Andrè’s peril, the curious duality and parallel between Bernard and Andrè. I’m both satisfied and dissastisfied with what happened to Rosalie, not to mention disappointed in Oscar’s reaction to Jeanne’s allegations. Treasuring a fresh, fragile acceptance of f/f relations, I rebel against it, yet the historian knows only too well what the consequences would be for reacting a different way at the time. Curious how Jeanne for all her moral questionability was bold enough to claim a sapphic relationship while her sweet sister Rosalie, who actually cherishes such feelings would do anything to hide them to protect the woman she loves from scandal. The resolution with Rosalie doesn’t feel forced, indeed it gives Oscar a motivation for waverying in her allegiances to the Queen and the court along with her encounters with Bernard. Everyone is growing and changing. Nothing is simple, not that I’d have it any other way. I feel so bad for Marie Antoinette, hated and blamed for matters not her fault, trying so hard to change and lead a more virtuous life. Oscar’s change leads her to face far more virulent sexism that she’s encountered, but those spouting it actually present a challenge to her skills. All of these stories start moving a little slowly with a measure of pomp and melodrama which sometimes I adored, sometimes I rolled my eyes at, but they picked up speed, eventually leaving me unable to put the books down. Now I’m very curious what will happen next.
January 11, 2023
How to make people interested in history?
Why make a manga about it so they feel compelled to compare how historically accurate it is and which characters are based on real people...whilst also enjoying beautiful artwork.
This part of the story significantly shifted the focus from Marie Antoinette to Oscar, which I understand was due to reader feedback at the time that the manga was being published.
For better or for worse - I personally would have preferred to have more Marie as Oscar is a bit of an enigma that can be equal parts cool and enjoyable and frustratingly "what the hell did you do that for".
The elements tied to real history I very much enjoyed.
The purely fictional elements felt a bit hit and miss this time.
Also Andre - his "love" for Oscar has really not aged well at all. I struggle to get behind his romantic feelings and why their potential romance was such a hit back in the day. Maybe the next volumes will tell and Andre will stop being so problematic.
Was it as good as the first volume? No, it got a bit more slow paced and the focus shift didn`t enamour me.
Will I read the next one? Absolutely.
Why make a manga about it so they feel compelled to compare how historically accurate it is and which characters are based on real people...whilst also enjoying beautiful artwork.
This part of the story significantly shifted the focus from Marie Antoinette to Oscar, which I understand was due to reader feedback at the time that the manga was being published.
For better or for worse - I personally would have preferred to have more Marie as Oscar is a bit of an enigma that can be equal parts cool and enjoyable and frustratingly "what the hell did you do that for".
The elements tied to real history I very much enjoyed.
The purely fictional elements felt a bit hit and miss this time.
Also Andre - his "love" for Oscar has really not aged well at all. I struggle to get behind his romantic feelings and why their potential romance was such a hit back in the day. Maybe the next volumes will tell and Andre will stop being so problematic.
Was it as good as the first volume? No, it got a bit more slow paced and the focus shift didn`t enamour me.
Will I read the next one? Absolutely.
April 30, 2023
Everything that was true for the first volume is true for this one – the art is utterly gorgeous, the drama is top notch levels of ridiculous, and the characters are wonderful. I was torn between savouring the art or rushing to see what would happen next. There's nothing to disappoint in this that would make me suggest not picking it up – except perhaps if you wish to avoid any depiction of sexual assault. Quite late in the book (around pages 424 - 434) there's a depiction of sexual assault involving some of the main characters, and since it's a visual depiction you might want to skip those pages if it's likely to upset you.
My one minor gripe is that it's becoming harder to tell what is and isn't text. Sometimes monologues are given outside of speech bubbles and it's a coin toss as to whether the other person in the scene will respond.
My one minor gripe is that it's becoming harder to tell what is and isn't text. Sometimes monologues are given outside of speech bubbles and it's a coin toss as to whether the other person in the scene will respond.
August 1, 2024
Everything that was already amazing in volume 1 got pumped up by 10x and became an outstanding work. The political tensions, the revolution brewing up, THE FUCKING ROMANCE, HOLY SHITTTTT‼️‼️ I need to take a cigarette, this volume was phenomenal, a true masterpiece. I have no idea how the next volumes are going to top this but as the french revolution is about to start I know things are going to get really dark, and this volume already had pretty dark moments. If this streak continues, it might become one of my favourite series of all time.
I wish I had someone to talk about this story but goddamn, I can’t believe this came out in the 70s?!?! Shit like this fuels my ambition to become an author someday.
I wish I had someone to talk about this story but goddamn, I can’t believe this came out in the 70s?!?! Shit like this fuels my ambition to become an author someday.
December 13, 2021
eu acho que a riyoko ikeda já entrou pro meu hall de mangakás favoritos. é incrível como essa mulher conseguiu criar uma narrativa interessante usando de plano de fundo um bando de nobre chulezento e babaca, e inclusive consegue fazer com que a gente >goste< de alguns desses nobres. todo mundo sabe o que foi a revolução francesa, então já iniciamos esse mangá sabendo que o final vai ser trágico pra pelo menos alguns desses personagens, mas acompanhar isso tudo enquanto vivemos o crescimento de cada um deles feito com tanto carinho dá um dorzinha no coração mesmo antes do fim. vou seguir na minha jornada aqui e aguardo as próximas crises de choro que esse mangá vai me trazer até o final.
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July 27, 2025master’s theses (plural) in gender and sexuality could be written about how this manga depicts sapphicness and the ways in which Oscar’s gender in particular is portrayed throughout the text….like so much to be drawn from the ways that gender and sexuality are conflated and linked (how many times do we hear “oh if i was a man i would love to be with you”)
this was an interesting volume in the ways it advanced the plot and characters too—in particular i was really fascinated by Oscar’s awakening to her own privilege and her turn towards what will become revolutionary sentiment. this manga continues to be melodramatic and soap opera-esque but in a really fun and engaging way
this was an interesting volume in the ways it advanced the plot and characters too—in particular i was really fascinated by Oscar’s awakening to her own privilege and her turn towards what will become revolutionary sentiment. this manga continues to be melodramatic and soap opera-esque but in a really fun and engaging way
February 9, 2021
The editing is significantly worse in this volume and detracted considerably from my immersion and enjoyment of it. Typos, clunky/unnatural translations, inconsistent accents, and the awful “moi, I” thing which seems to be, inexplicably, shorthand for a poor/uneducated character, as it has now extended to the doppelgänger prostitute. For a release so highly-anticipated and clearly given so much care in terms of binding and design, it doesn’t make sense that the editing seems so sloppy. I end up being pulled out of the story by what seem to be, ironically, efforts at a greater immersion.
February 7, 2022
Depois da introdução dos personagens no primeiro volume finalmente vemos a história se desenvolver. A primeira parte ficou ainda muito presa na figura da rainha Maria Antonieta e seus dramas pessoais que honestamente não são interessantes para mim. Já a segunda parte volta o foco na Lady Oscar, o que fez a trama andar rapidamente e divertida. Também aprofunda a protagonista para além da máscara masculina militar que ela usa socialmente mostrando seus sentimentos femininos se desenvolver ao se apaixonar pela primeira vez...
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