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Les Enfants de l'Empire #1
Lovers of the Empire: Vol. 1
Set in the atmospheric Korean capital in the 1920s, this dynamic manhwa period piece follows two teenagers from different social strata thrown together — and their unlikely connection leads to comedic, emotional, and eye-opening experiences of discovery.
South Korea, 1929. Arisa Jo, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is the most eligible bachelorette in all of Gyeongsung (the capital city). With her Western dresses, movie star hairstyle, and assertive attitude, she embodies bold “Modern” values. Meet her opposite, Jun Seomoon, a young man from the countryside deeply rooted in tradition. When Jun is charged by Arisa’s father to be her escort in the big city, these opposing forces create sparks. Through this unlikely connection, these teenagers open their eyes to new perspectives amidst the rapidly changing world they live in.
Coming off the heels of her acclaimed Raging Clouds, Lovers of the Empire proves Yudori to be a comic artist at the height of her creative powers. On the surface a sweet and funny will they, won’t they romance, this story garners depth from its depiction of Korea at a crossroads: a city occupied by Japan, molded by Western influences, and facing a modernity that stirs inner conflicts within its citizens. Rendered in gorgeous full color, this period piece portrays a fascinating city in a tumultuous time, with two winsome characters at its heart.
South Korea, 1929. Arisa Jo, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is the most eligible bachelorette in all of Gyeongsung (the capital city). With her Western dresses, movie star hairstyle, and assertive attitude, she embodies bold “Modern” values. Meet her opposite, Jun Seomoon, a young man from the countryside deeply rooted in tradition. When Jun is charged by Arisa’s father to be her escort in the big city, these opposing forces create sparks. Through this unlikely connection, these teenagers open their eyes to new perspectives amidst the rapidly changing world they live in.
Coming off the heels of her acclaimed Raging Clouds, Lovers of the Empire proves Yudori to be a comic artist at the height of her creative powers. On the surface a sweet and funny will they, won’t they romance, this story garners depth from its depiction of Korea at a crossroads: a city occupied by Japan, molded by Western influences, and facing a modernity that stirs inner conflicts within its citizens. Rendered in gorgeous full color, this period piece portrays a fascinating city in a tumultuous time, with two winsome characters at its heart.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published August 18, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
September 4, 2026
・❥・ I’m not going to lie, I kinda forgot the majority of what I wanted to say about this story because I didn’t write any notes for it (🤦♀), but just know that it’s a good kind of 3-star. It was entertaining, the illustrations were so freaking pretty, and I got to learn about 1920-30s Korea! I love it when a book teaches me a thing or two. The joy I feel never gets old. 🥹
All in all, this was a great read, and I think I will read volume 2 sometime in the future when I don’t have a lot of books glaring at me to be read. 😂
ꨄ Thank you to Fantagraphics Books | Takumigraphics and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. ꨄ
《 Content Warnings 》
I remember there being some swearing and misogyny, but don’t quote me on that. As I said, I forgot to keep notes. I’m so sorry! 😭
All in all, this was a great read, and I think I will read volume 2 sometime in the future when I don’t have a lot of books glaring at me to be read. 😂
ꨄ Thank you to Fantagraphics Books | Takumigraphics and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. ꨄ
《 Content Warnings 》
I remember there being some swearing and misogyny, but don’t quote me on that. As I said, I forgot to keep notes. I’m so sorry! 😭
May 28, 2026
Uma história passada na Coreia de há 100 anos, quando era uma província do Japão. Gostei muito.
June 1, 2026
PT Estamos em 1929, apenas 11 anos após o fim da Primeira Guerra Mundial, e toda a Coreia encontra-se ocupada pelo Japão. Ainda não existem a Coreia do Sul e a Coreia do Norte tal como as conhecemos hoje.
Seguimos os protagonistas Arisa Jo, filha de um rico negociante, e Jun Seomoon, de origens mais humildes, mas protegido pelo pai de Arisa.
A narrativa é bastante simples, quase num registo slice of life. Acompanhamos de perto estes dois jovens, entre os quais existe claramente uma certa tensão romântica, apesar de nenhum deles o admitir abertamente. Ainda assim, sinceramente, parece-me que o verdadeiro foco da obra é mostrar ao leitor como era a Coreia daquela época, especialmente sob a ocupação japonesa.
Fiquei surpreendido ao ver que já existiam escadas rolantes; estamos a falar de há quase 100 anos. É também interessante observar como esta Coreia, apesar da ocupação japonesa, já sofria uma forte influência da cultura americana.
Uma leitura simples, tranquila e agradável.
--
EN We are in 1929, just 11 years after the end of World War I, and the whole of Korea is under Japanese occupation. South and North Korea as we know them today do not yet exist.
We follow the protagonists Arisa Jo, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, and Jun Seomoon, who comes from more modest origins but is protected by Arisa’s father.
The narrative is quite simple, almost slice-of-life in tone. We closely follow these two young characters, between whom there is clearly some romantic tension, even though neither openly admits it. Still, honestly, it seems to me that the true focus of the work is to show readers what Korea was like during that era, especially under Japanese occupation.
I was surprised to see that escalators already existed back then; we are talking about nearly 100 years ago. It is also interesting to observe how this Korea, despite being occupied by Japan, was already heavily influenced by American culture.
A simple, calm, and enjoyable read.
Seguimos os protagonistas Arisa Jo, filha de um rico negociante, e Jun Seomoon, de origens mais humildes, mas protegido pelo pai de Arisa.
A narrativa é bastante simples, quase num registo slice of life. Acompanhamos de perto estes dois jovens, entre os quais existe claramente uma certa tensão romântica, apesar de nenhum deles o admitir abertamente. Ainda assim, sinceramente, parece-me que o verdadeiro foco da obra é mostrar ao leitor como era a Coreia daquela época, especialmente sob a ocupação japonesa.
Fiquei surpreendido ao ver que já existiam escadas rolantes; estamos a falar de há quase 100 anos. É também interessante observar como esta Coreia, apesar da ocupação japonesa, já sofria uma forte influência da cultura americana.
Uma leitura simples, tranquila e agradável.
--
EN We are in 1929, just 11 years after the end of World War I, and the whole of Korea is under Japanese occupation. South and North Korea as we know them today do not yet exist.
We follow the protagonists Arisa Jo, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, and Jun Seomoon, who comes from more modest origins but is protected by Arisa’s father.
The narrative is quite simple, almost slice-of-life in tone. We closely follow these two young characters, between whom there is clearly some romantic tension, even though neither openly admits it. Still, honestly, it seems to me that the true focus of the work is to show readers what Korea was like during that era, especially under Japanese occupation.
I was surprised to see that escalators already existed back then; we are talking about nearly 100 years ago. It is also interesting to observe how this Korea, despite being occupied by Japan, was already heavily influenced by American culture.
A simple, calm, and enjoyable read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A coming of age story set in 1920s South Korea, by the talented Yudori ✨
I'm not too familiar with this period of Korea's history and it’s so interesting to learn more about it and be immersed in that time and place. The story is set in 1929 during the time of the Japanese occupation of Korea, a time when tradition and modernity coexisted but also clashed.
The artwork is gorgeous! the characters are really expressive and the clothes are detailed and beautifully drawn. The artist mentions that she loves researching historical clothing, and it definitely shows.
The story follows Arisa, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, and Jun, a boy from the countryside employed by Arisa's father. Jun is attracted to Arisa but he also finds her scandalous by traditional standards.
I enjoyed the story and the historical aspect, although I was unsure what the age target of this comic was supposed to be, as Yudori's art is really suggestive at times.
I was already a fan of this artist, and her love for this time period really shines in this comic, I'd love to read the following volumes of the story!
Thanks to Takumigraphics via NetGalley for providing an eARC
I'm not too familiar with this period of Korea's history and it’s so interesting to learn more about it and be immersed in that time and place. The story is set in 1929 during the time of the Japanese occupation of Korea, a time when tradition and modernity coexisted but also clashed.
The artwork is gorgeous! the characters are really expressive and the clothes are detailed and beautifully drawn. The artist mentions that she loves researching historical clothing, and it definitely shows.
The story follows Arisa, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, and Jun, a boy from the countryside employed by Arisa's father. Jun is attracted to Arisa but he also finds her scandalous by traditional standards.
I enjoyed the story and the historical aspect, although I was unsure what the age target of this comic was supposed to be, as Yudori's art is really suggestive at times.
I was already a fan of this artist, and her love for this time period really shines in this comic, I'd love to read the following volumes of the story!
Thanks to Takumigraphics via NetGalley for providing an eARC
March 9, 2026
I believe in pathetic men and strong women supremacy🙏🏻🩷
5⭐️
5⭐️
September 20, 2026
An interesting cultural portrait of Korea in 1920's during the period of Japanese colonization. The story is set during a painful transitional period that follows a major change in dynasty and governance. It is a cute budding romance following two teenagers, Arisa and Jun, who are from different social classes.
💕 The illustrations are beautiful. You feel immersed in the culture of that time period. It evokes a charming and classic feeling. I loved the artistic style used. It was really cool how the art and illustrations conveyed moments of humour. I also found it to be a story that is informative in learning more about that time period and the Joseon culture. The end of each chapter explained certain cultural details.
🔹 Jun Seomoon is a traditional young man from the countryside. He is the descendant of a formerly noble yangban family that fell into poverty following the changes of governance. He and his mother move to the capital after the passing of his father, and are taken in by Arisa's wealthy merchant father.
🔹 Arisa Jo is a modern girl, who is confident and bold. She is sweet, poised and very pretty. She is comfortable with embracing Western influences in the form of fashion and demeanor. She is culturally criticized for her class and forward personality, through which we see the clash of a more conservative minded society that is resisting western modernization.
💕 In terms of the romance, it was a very preliminary beginning. It was cute to see their interactions as they cross paths, and how he gets ruffled be her. The looks speak volumes through the art!
🔹 He is often awkward and shocked by Arisa's personality and casual nature. He goes back and forth between admiring her and being put off by her. It's more so that he is wrestling with his own feelings and presumptions. Sometimes he was judgmental in his outlook and reactive towards Arisa which I didn't like.
🔹 But he is young and it showcases the contrast of where he comes from and having to adapt to the new ways of the city. It can be difficult to make sense of your worldview and emotions. He has a past family history of financial struggles and abuse. After having gone through a decline in their class status, he is motivated to take care of his mother, become educated and preserve the honour of his family name.
❓ There were some mature themes in here, and a couple of things that I found to be a little crude and weird to read. Didn't like a choice that Jun Seomoon made in one regard (and yeesh, that was a disgusting thing for his "friend" to ask - what a creep!) There were a couple of other things I found minorly annoying.
Historical Context: I loved looking up additional information and learning about certain events of this time period of Korea that I wasn't aware of. Will share a few facts of interest below.
🔸 The Joseon Dynasty was the last and longest-running royal dynasty of Korea, ruling for over 500 years from 1392 to 1897.
🔸 In 1897, amid intense pressure from foreign superpowers, Joseon officially transitioned into the brief Korean Empire to assert its independence. However, by 1910, Imperial Japan formally annexed the country, stripping away its sovereignty and turning Joseon into a Japanese colony. This began 35 years of Japanese colonial occupation.
🔸 A core theme explored in this book was the active erasure of the traditional "Joseon" way of life. The society faced immense pressure to adopt Western or Japanese traditions, clothing, speech, and customs. Japanese administration enforced changes in school with respect to history and languages. They also took control of land, farming, and factories to supply resources for Japan.
🔸 Koreans put up resistance and there was a nationwide movement on 1st March 1919 demanding freedom, but these protest were crushed with force. Japanese rule finally ended in 1945 when Japan lost World War II. Soviet and American troops entered the peninsula, splitting Korea into two zones. The royal family never returned to power, and the split led directly to the Korean War and modern North and South Korea.
Overall, I enjoyed picking up on cultural information and getting to know more about the history of this time period through the story. The art style was lovely. Would recommend checkin it out.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a complementary e-ARC of this book. All opinions expressed here are my own.
💕 The illustrations are beautiful. You feel immersed in the culture of that time period. It evokes a charming and classic feeling. I loved the artistic style used. It was really cool how the art and illustrations conveyed moments of humour. I also found it to be a story that is informative in learning more about that time period and the Joseon culture. The end of each chapter explained certain cultural details.
🔹 Jun Seomoon is a traditional young man from the countryside. He is the descendant of a formerly noble yangban family that fell into poverty following the changes of governance. He and his mother move to the capital after the passing of his father, and are taken in by Arisa's wealthy merchant father.
🔹 Arisa Jo is a modern girl, who is confident and bold. She is sweet, poised and very pretty. She is comfortable with embracing Western influences in the form of fashion and demeanor. She is culturally criticized for her class and forward personality, through which we see the clash of a more conservative minded society that is resisting western modernization.
💕 In terms of the romance, it was a very preliminary beginning. It was cute to see their interactions as they cross paths, and how he gets ruffled be her. The looks speak volumes through the art!
🔹 He is often awkward and shocked by Arisa's personality and casual nature. He goes back and forth between admiring her and being put off by her. It's more so that he is wrestling with his own feelings and presumptions. Sometimes he was judgmental in his outlook and reactive towards Arisa which I didn't like.
🔹 But he is young and it showcases the contrast of where he comes from and having to adapt to the new ways of the city. It can be difficult to make sense of your worldview and emotions. He has a past family history of financial struggles and abuse. After having gone through a decline in their class status, he is motivated to take care of his mother, become educated and preserve the honour of his family name.
❓ There were some mature themes in here, and a couple of things that I found to be a little crude and weird to read. Didn't like a choice that Jun Seomoon made in one regard (and yeesh, that was a disgusting thing for his "friend" to ask - what a creep!) There were a couple of other things I found minorly annoying.
Historical Context: I loved looking up additional information and learning about certain events of this time period of Korea that I wasn't aware of. Will share a few facts of interest below.
🔸 The Joseon Dynasty was the last and longest-running royal dynasty of Korea, ruling for over 500 years from 1392 to 1897.
🔸 In 1897, amid intense pressure from foreign superpowers, Joseon officially transitioned into the brief Korean Empire to assert its independence. However, by 1910, Imperial Japan formally annexed the country, stripping away its sovereignty and turning Joseon into a Japanese colony. This began 35 years of Japanese colonial occupation.
🔸 A core theme explored in this book was the active erasure of the traditional "Joseon" way of life. The society faced immense pressure to adopt Western or Japanese traditions, clothing, speech, and customs. Japanese administration enforced changes in school with respect to history and languages. They also took control of land, farming, and factories to supply resources for Japan.
🔸 Koreans put up resistance and there was a nationwide movement on 1st March 1919 demanding freedom, but these protest were crushed with force. Japanese rule finally ended in 1945 when Japan lost World War II. Soviet and American troops entered the peninsula, splitting Korea into two zones. The royal family never returned to power, and the split led directly to the Korean War and modern North and South Korea.
Overall, I enjoyed picking up on cultural information and getting to know more about the history of this time period through the story. The art style was lovely. Would recommend checkin it out.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a complementary e-ARC of this book. All opinions expressed here are my own.
April 30, 2026
Não sabia nada sobre este livro e não é que juntou belas ilustrações, a História da Coreia e do Japão e um romance adolescente entre jovens de classes distintas?
To be continued...
To be continued...
October 8, 2024
[Merci au Groupe Delcourt Bande Dessinée et à NetGalley pour l'envoi de ce service presse numérique]
J'avoue avoir été déçue de ce roman graphique, dont la couverture et le thème me parlaient beaucoup, et que je pensais apprécier.
Au niveau des dessins, rien à dire, j'ai beaucoup aimé le style de l'autrice. Les couleurs sont aussi jolies, donc j'ai beaucoup aimé la forme du livre.
Au niveau du fond, ça a été plus compliqué. En lisant le résumé, je pensais sincèrement que le thème de la Corée du Sud sous l'occupation japonaise serait plus abordé. Ayant fait mon Grand Oral sur ce sujet, j'avais été très heureuse de voir un roman graphique qui se passait durant cette époque. Malheureusement, bien qu'un peu présent, le contexte historique et politique des années 1930 est assez peu mis en avant, et l'on ressent la présence japonaise sans vraiment la voir.
Pour ce qui est des personnages, je les ai trouvés un peu insupportables. Que ce soit Arisa ou Jun, je n'ai réussi à m'attacher à aucun des deux...
C'est donc un livre assez décevant de mon point de vue, et j'aurais aimé quelque chose de plus poussé.
J'avoue avoir été déçue de ce roman graphique, dont la couverture et le thème me parlaient beaucoup, et que je pensais apprécier.
Au niveau des dessins, rien à dire, j'ai beaucoup aimé le style de l'autrice. Les couleurs sont aussi jolies, donc j'ai beaucoup aimé la forme du livre.
Au niveau du fond, ça a été plus compliqué. En lisant le résumé, je pensais sincèrement que le thème de la Corée du Sud sous l'occupation japonaise serait plus abordé. Ayant fait mon Grand Oral sur ce sujet, j'avais été très heureuse de voir un roman graphique qui se passait durant cette époque. Malheureusement, bien qu'un peu présent, le contexte historique et politique des années 1930 est assez peu mis en avant, et l'on ressent la présence japonaise sans vraiment la voir.
Pour ce qui est des personnages, je les ai trouvés un peu insupportables. Que ce soit Arisa ou Jun, je n'ai réussi à m'attacher à aucun des deux...
C'est donc un livre assez décevant de mon point de vue, et j'aurais aimé quelque chose de plus poussé.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Arisa is a modern girl. She seems to have no morals, nor does she seem to care what other people think of her. Korea was, in the 1930s, a colony of Japan. If you are wealthy and well educated, you speak not only Japanese, but English as well. Arisa’s father is very wealthy.
Jun is a poor country bumpkin. He is afraid of the Japanese. He is afraid of police, but he is supposed to protect Arisa, because her father has brought both Jun and his mother out of the country to live with them. Jun is stunned by how Arisa acts, but does what he is supposed to, and goes with her when she needs a chaperon.
This is the first volume. There will be more stories of what I presume will become a love story. Right now it is a fish out of water story, and I dont’ think Jun knows what is going on either.
Notes at the end of every chapter explain how things were back then, giving context to things such as Western food and clothing, and why it is important to the story.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published on the 28th of July 2026.
Jun is a poor country bumpkin. He is afraid of the Japanese. He is afraid of police, but he is supposed to protect Arisa, because her father has brought both Jun and his mother out of the country to live with them. Jun is stunned by how Arisa acts, but does what he is supposed to, and goes with her when she needs a chaperon.
This is the first volume. There will be more stories of what I presume will become a love story. Right now it is a fish out of water story, and I dont’ think Jun knows what is going on either.
Notes at the end of every chapter explain how things were back then, giving context to things such as Western food and clothing, and why it is important to the story.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published on the 28th of July 2026.
April 30, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Yudori for the e-ARC in exchange for a honest review!
Arisa Jo and Jun Seomoon are as alike as oil and water, so of course fate throws them together just to watch Jun Seomoon flail in the face of an assertive young lady who speaks up for herself and isn't afraid to go against the grain.
This period of time in Korea is also very fascinating-colonized by Japan, struggling to maintain traditions and maintain Korean identity, while also being impacted by Western/English-speaking influences.
3/5 stars!
Arisa Jo and Jun Seomoon are as alike as oil and water, so of course fate throws them together just to watch Jun Seomoon flail in the face of an assertive young lady who speaks up for herself and isn't afraid to go against the grain.
This period of time in Korea is also very fascinating-colonized by Japan, struggling to maintain traditions and maintain Korean identity, while also being impacted by Western/English-speaking influences.
3/5 stars!
December 22, 2025
Meh. Les dessins sont magnifiques mais l'histoire ne m'a pas convaincue du tout.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Story was really great and even though I don't read manga often, I enjoyed it. I loved the art work, the colors, the story and characters.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⋆˙⟡ 4.15 stars ˙⊹
a meticulously written and majestically illustrated graphic novel that depicts the historical atmosphere of 1920s korea under japan. it follows two teens, from two different worlds, in two very stark situations, and yet they live in the same house.
arisa is the epitome of a modern woman while jun is the classic boy-next-door with the good grades. we get to see them interact and make sense of this ever so quickly changing world of theirs, and the different memories they have attached to it.
and each chapter ends with a cute lil information page explaining the historical terms/context which was soo helpful! and obviously gotta mention the art! its soo beautiful and vivid, it felt like i was stepping into the frames of history.
if you love period dramas, teenagers and high school stories, and a little side of class, history, and colonization, this graphic novel is for you! i'm soo excited for the next volume <33
thank you to fantagraphics books for sending me an arc through netgalley! this does not affect my thoughts about the book in any way. out on august 18th, 2026!
⋆˙⟡ — pre-read : i've been eyeing this graphic novel ever since that day i saw it on netgally, and mwahahaa i have been approved 🙂↕️🙂↕️
.☘︎ ݁˖ "i'm sure time's better lost on books, though... let's go. i'm hungry."
a meticulously written and majestically illustrated graphic novel that depicts the historical atmosphere of 1920s korea under japan. it follows two teens, from two different worlds, in two very stark situations, and yet they live in the same house.
arisa is the epitome of a modern woman while jun is the classic boy-next-door with the good grades. we get to see them interact and make sense of this ever so quickly changing world of theirs, and the different memories they have attached to it.
and each chapter ends with a cute lil information page explaining the historical terms/context which was soo helpful! and obviously gotta mention the art! its soo beautiful and vivid, it felt like i was stepping into the frames of history.
if you love period dramas, teenagers and high school stories, and a little side of class, history, and colonization, this graphic novel is for you! i'm soo excited for the next volume <33
thank you to fantagraphics books for sending me an arc through netgalley! this does not affect my thoughts about the book in any way. out on august 18th, 2026!
⋆˙⟡ — pre-read : i've been eyeing this graphic novel ever since that day i saw it on netgally, and mwahahaa i have been approved 🙂↕️🙂↕️
January 15, 2025
Ok, I really wasn’t the target for this … but I still want to give a shout out to my dad for still trying to get it right every Christmas. 🙃 His heart was in the right place, he wanted to support my current obsession with Korean history, but this was way too 🌸💖kawaii🌸💖 for me (I know it’s Japanese but I couldn’t find a better term so we’ll stick with it). Didn’t end up learning much sadly.
February 7, 2026
Não pensei que a história fosse tão infanto-juvenil como acabou por se mostrar... Não que isso seja mau, de certeza que esta série vai encontrar o seu público... No entanto, como de certa forma as minhas expectativas saíram um bocadinho frustradas, acabei por não achar este volume especialmente inovador e memorável. Ainda assim, admito que gostaria de vir a ler a história completa.
March 10, 2026
Un primer libro muy introductorio. El arte es precioso, sobre todo a nivel de estética y de vestuario. La trama por ahora creo que tiene puntos mejorables y entiendo que lo hará en los próximos tomos.
Es una buena elección si quieres conocer un poco más sobre la época Joseon.
Es una buena elección si quieres conocer un poco más sobre la época Joseon.
November 15, 2025
3,5/5*
August 15, 2026
Novela Gráfica passada na Coreia em 1929, quando esta se encontrava sob dominação japonesa e focada principalmente na relação entre 2 jovens de classes sociais muito diferentes.
A obra mistura ficção e contexto histórico de um modo bastante interessante e aborda de um modo leve e engenhoso questões relevantes como a desigualdade social, as diferenças culturais entre o Oriente e o Ocidente, a condição das mulheres numa sociedade muito patriarcal e o colonialismo e imperialismo japoneses. A parte informativa sobre o contexto histórico e social da época está bem conseguida e é muito interessante.
A parte gráfica é de excelente qualidade e o estilo tem clara influência Manga sobretudo pelo desenho, pela expressividade das personagens e até pela forma como a narrativa é contada.
No entanto, há uma certa contradição na obra já que a temática é adulta mas a relação entre as duas personagens é tratada de modo bastante (demasiado?) juvenil com conflitos emocionais centrados em ciúmes, atração e insegurança típicos de um drama romântico adolescente.
Apesar de tudo, no cômputo global a avaliação é positiva e fico com interesse para ler o 2º volume.
A edição da ASA é de excelente qualidade.
Avaliação: 7,5 / 10
A obra mistura ficção e contexto histórico de um modo bastante interessante e aborda de um modo leve e engenhoso questões relevantes como a desigualdade social, as diferenças culturais entre o Oriente e o Ocidente, a condição das mulheres numa sociedade muito patriarcal e o colonialismo e imperialismo japoneses. A parte informativa sobre o contexto histórico e social da época está bem conseguida e é muito interessante.
A parte gráfica é de excelente qualidade e o estilo tem clara influência Manga sobretudo pelo desenho, pela expressividade das personagens e até pela forma como a narrativa é contada.
No entanto, há uma certa contradição na obra já que a temática é adulta mas a relação entre as duas personagens é tratada de modo bastante (demasiado?) juvenil com conflitos emocionais centrados em ciúmes, atração e insegurança típicos de um drama romântico adolescente.
Apesar de tudo, no cômputo global a avaliação é positiva e fico com interesse para ler o 2º volume.
A edição da ASA é de excelente qualidade.
Avaliação: 7,5 / 10
August 16, 2026
1920’s South Korea - ruled by Japanese laws at the time. This book is rich in cultural traditions and history, from food in Bento Boxes and traditional clothing in a changing modern world. Where Korea is being influenced by the ways of the west….America.
A book of class and social status - from Arisa Jo a rich merchant’s daughter who meets Jun Seomoon, a young man from the countryside. Jun is to chaperone Arisa into the city as requested by Arisa’s Father. Will opposites attract or will they be forced further apart.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and share my honest review of this book. A different kind of book for me as it was written and illustrated in a comic book format and style. It is the first book I have read in this way. I would say it was an easy to follow and enjoyable read. I would consider another one of this kind again if given the opportunity. 3 stars.
A book of class and social status - from Arisa Jo a rich merchant’s daughter who meets Jun Seomoon, a young man from the countryside. Jun is to chaperone Arisa into the city as requested by Arisa’s Father. Will opposites attract or will they be forced further apart.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and share my honest review of this book. A different kind of book for me as it was written and illustrated in a comic book format and style. It is the first book I have read in this way. I would say it was an easy to follow and enjoyable read. I would consider another one of this kind again if given the opportunity. 3 stars.
October 23, 2025
Para fans de los slice of live y las historias de amor que se cuecen a fuego lento ❤️ Leo mucho manhwa, así que en mi caso estoy muy familiarizada con la cultura e historia coreanas. Pero si no es vuestro caso, os comento que la autora introduce notas y explicaciones ilustradas entre los capítulos sobre los conceptos que pueden no estar tan claros para gente que se acerca por primera vez a una obra ambientada en la Corea de antes de la 2a Guerra Mundial. Así que es recomendable para cualquiera.
El dibujo personalmente a mí me ha gustado mucho. Los personajes son muy expresivos, y transmiten mucho con sólo una mirada.
Es un tomo muy introductorio que se lee rapidísimlo, así que estoy deseando leer el siguiente para cuando salga 😊
El dibujo personalmente a mí me ha gustado mucho. Los personajes son muy expresivos, y transmiten mucho con sólo una mirada.
Es un tomo muy introductorio que se lee rapidísimlo, así que estoy deseando leer el siguiente para cuando salga 😊
July 9, 2026
"Una belleza moderna, sin duda. Pero jamás una potencial esposa".
Esta fue una frase que me dolió.
Porque es obvio que ambos sienten algo el uno por el otro. Pero debido a sus clases sociales el protagonista se ve muy inferior a ella.
Y como el padre de la chica lo ha puesto bajo su tutela, todos saben que de alguna manera lo está preparando para ser el sucesor. Lo que conlleva a qué terminará casándose con ella.
Pero siempre, siempre busca la manera de hacer un comentario hiriente. Se nota que no lo hace con intención, pero me estresa mucho.
Eso sí, también te hace reír como nunca, así que ya estoy deseando leer la segunda parte
Esta fue una frase que me dolió.
Porque es obvio que ambos sienten algo el uno por el otro. Pero debido a sus clases sociales el protagonista se ve muy inferior a ella.
Y como el padre de la chica lo ha puesto bajo su tutela, todos saben que de alguna manera lo está preparando para ser el sucesor. Lo que conlleva a qué terminará casándose con ella.
Pero siempre, siempre busca la manera de hacer un comentario hiriente. Se nota que no lo hace con intención, pero me estresa mucho.
Eso sí, también te hace reír como nunca, así que ya estoy deseando leer la segunda parte
October 22, 2026
This is a great start. In 1920’s Korea two teenagers find themselves growing up in the same household.
Arisa Jo, the privileged daughter of a wealthy merchant, lives in the same house as Jun Seomoon who is the son of a servant. Arisa Jo’s father has also asked Jun to protect his daughter at school and elsewhere. Arisa Jo is embracing the modern values that are sweeping through Korea, but Jun whose background is a discredited wealthy family, finds this change difficult.
This is an interesting story set at the time Korea was occupied by Japan. It is a story that explains Korean history through beautiful artwork and engaging characters. An excellent addition to the Hallyu (Korean Wave).
Arisa Jo, the privileged daughter of a wealthy merchant, lives in the same house as Jun Seomoon who is the son of a servant. Arisa Jo’s father has also asked Jun to protect his daughter at school and elsewhere. Arisa Jo is embracing the modern values that are sweeping through Korea, but Jun whose background is a discredited wealthy family, finds this change difficult.
This is an interesting story set at the time Korea was occupied by Japan. It is a story that explains Korean history through beautiful artwork and engaging characters. An excellent addition to the Hallyu (Korean Wave).
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A period romance set in 1929 Seoul, between Arisa Jo, a nouveau riche Westernized "modern girl," and Jun Seomoon, a "country mouse" heir to a recently deposed traditional noble family. The historical detail and beautiful artwork are the highlights of Lovers of the Empire. The romance hasn't really started in this first volume; the story thus far has focused on depicting the ways both Arisa and Jun are social outsiders in this turbulent transitional time in Korean history. Caught between Japanese colonizers, declining Korean traditions, and rising Western influence, class tensions, shifting gender expectations, and violent racial discrimination shape their lives and their futures. Jun's character is frustrating at times, but you can't help but sympathize with his confusion, fear, and fierce pride. Arisa is less developed so far, but I admire her spunk. Looking forward to the next volume.
TW: misogyny, classism, colonization, domestic violence, past death of a parent, police brutality
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
TW: misogyny, classism, colonization, domestic violence, past death of a parent, police brutality
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
![Profile Image for Kuu [semi-ia for china reasons].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1725785181i/108391134._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
September 7, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
Aourgh I was a bit disappointed because this wasn't at all what I was expecting. There wasn't much about the Empire, though of course a lot can be seen and learned from the surroundings, the way people act, etc. It's just not very... directly a story about the Empire. Still, I definitely think that such a more casual exploration of colonised Korea will be really fun and also educational to read about more, and the characters are very fun, so I definitely look forward to future volumes!
Aourgh I was a bit disappointed because this wasn't at all what I was expecting. There wasn't much about the Empire, though of course a lot can be seen and learned from the surroundings, the way people act, etc. It's just not very... directly a story about the Empire. Still, I definitely think that such a more casual exploration of colonised Korea will be really fun and also educational to read about more, and the characters are very fun, so I definitely look forward to future volumes!
November 10, 2025
Un roman qui présente une vie dans la Corée des années 30. Les dessins sont magnifiques et c’est super intéressant !
October 6, 2026
It's cute, but a little too simple in the storytelling department to stand out. Definitely an aesthetically rich era to look at, but not much else makes it worth the visit
June 8, 2025
Dieser Comic nimmt uns mit auf eine Zeitreise ins Korea der 20er Jahre. Diese Zeit ist von großem Umbruch geprägt, denn das Land steht unter Japanischer Herrschaft und westliche Einflüsse nehmen immer mehr Überhand. Traditionelle Bräuche werden überrannt von der Moderne und konkurrieren miteinander.
In dieser Zeit begleiten wir zwei Jugendliche, die unterschiedlicher nicht sein könnten.
Jun stammt von einer Adelsklasse ab, doch durch die Abschaffung des Klassensystems verarmte seine Familie, sein Vater ging an seinem Frust zugrunde und Jun blieb nur seine Mutter.
Arisa dagegen ist die Tochter eines wohlhabenden Geschäftsmanns, der ein großes Stoffgeschäft besitzt und über drei Stockwerke Waren vertreibt.
Arisa lässt sich sehr von den westlichen Einflüssen inspirieren; sie kleidet sich entsprechend und macht sich fein zurecht; sie ist dabei recht freizügig und auch aufmüpfig, kennt keine Scham und geht mit dem Kopf durch die Wand.
Jun dagegen, steht den neuen Einflüssen eher kritisch gegenüber und ist mehr den alten Traditionen angetan; er hat den großen Wunsch, etwas für sein Land zu bewirken, weiß aber noch nicht wie er das schaffen soll, ist auf der Suche und legt den Fokus zunächst auf seine Bildung.
So prallen hier Feuer und Wasser aufeinander, ganz nach dem Motto Gegensätze ziehen sich an.
Arisa war mir in ihrer Art nicht ganz so sympathisch und ich fand sie vielleicht auch etwas überspitzt dargestellt.
Zu Jun konnte ich viel eher einen Zugang finden; sein Kindheitstrauma, seine Zerrissenheit und die Emotionen, die er in diesem Band zeigt, gingen schon recht tief.
Arisas und Juns Interaktionen sind fast ausschließlich durch kleine Streitigkeiten und Kabbeleien geprägt. Nur hier und da blickt mal eine andere Seite durch und schnell kippt die Stimmung wieder.
Dies ist sicherlich auch so beabsichtigt, mir persönlich war das aber zu lang zu einseitig; ich hätte mir etwas mehr Variation in der Interaktion der beiden gewünscht und so habe ich die sich anbahnende Liebesgeschichte einfach nicht so ganz gefühlt. Das kann sich in den nächsten Bänden ja aber auch noch ändern und ich freue mich darauf, dies herauszufinden.
Zwischen den Kapiteln liefert uns die Künstlerin einzelne Seiten mit geschichtlichen Informationen, niedlich in Szene gesetzt, was ich super fand und die Reise in diese Zeit und das Leseerlebnis noch vertieft hat.
Die Gestaltung der Seiten, die Aneinanderreihung und Überlappung der Penals ist sehr kunstvoll und atmosphärisch. Mit den ästhetischen Zeichnungen in Pasteltönen wird eine besondere Stimmung transportiert, in die man richtig versinken kann und in die damalige Zeit transportiert wird.
In dieser Zeit begleiten wir zwei Jugendliche, die unterschiedlicher nicht sein könnten.
Jun stammt von einer Adelsklasse ab, doch durch die Abschaffung des Klassensystems verarmte seine Familie, sein Vater ging an seinem Frust zugrunde und Jun blieb nur seine Mutter.
Arisa dagegen ist die Tochter eines wohlhabenden Geschäftsmanns, der ein großes Stoffgeschäft besitzt und über drei Stockwerke Waren vertreibt.
Arisa lässt sich sehr von den westlichen Einflüssen inspirieren; sie kleidet sich entsprechend und macht sich fein zurecht; sie ist dabei recht freizügig und auch aufmüpfig, kennt keine Scham und geht mit dem Kopf durch die Wand.
Jun dagegen, steht den neuen Einflüssen eher kritisch gegenüber und ist mehr den alten Traditionen angetan; er hat den großen Wunsch, etwas für sein Land zu bewirken, weiß aber noch nicht wie er das schaffen soll, ist auf der Suche und legt den Fokus zunächst auf seine Bildung.
So prallen hier Feuer und Wasser aufeinander, ganz nach dem Motto Gegensätze ziehen sich an.
Arisa war mir in ihrer Art nicht ganz so sympathisch und ich fand sie vielleicht auch etwas überspitzt dargestellt.
Zu Jun konnte ich viel eher einen Zugang finden; sein Kindheitstrauma, seine Zerrissenheit und die Emotionen, die er in diesem Band zeigt, gingen schon recht tief.
Arisas und Juns Interaktionen sind fast ausschließlich durch kleine Streitigkeiten und Kabbeleien geprägt. Nur hier und da blickt mal eine andere Seite durch und schnell kippt die Stimmung wieder.
Dies ist sicherlich auch so beabsichtigt, mir persönlich war das aber zu lang zu einseitig; ich hätte mir etwas mehr Variation in der Interaktion der beiden gewünscht und so habe ich die sich anbahnende Liebesgeschichte einfach nicht so ganz gefühlt. Das kann sich in den nächsten Bänden ja aber auch noch ändern und ich freue mich darauf, dies herauszufinden.
Zwischen den Kapiteln liefert uns die Künstlerin einzelne Seiten mit geschichtlichen Informationen, niedlich in Szene gesetzt, was ich super fand und die Reise in diese Zeit und das Leseerlebnis noch vertieft hat.
Die Gestaltung der Seiten, die Aneinanderreihung und Überlappung der Penals ist sehr kunstvoll und atmosphärisch. Mit den ästhetischen Zeichnungen in Pasteltönen wird eine besondere Stimmung transportiert, in die man richtig versinken kann und in die damalige Zeit transportiert wird.
September 2, 2026
*4.5 stars
October 9, 2024
jsp comment noter ça parce que j'ai adoré les parties historiques et toutes les info sur la Corée sous la colonisation japonaise, mais la romance entre les protag m'a pas énormément intéressé malheureusement 💔💔mais dessins trop beaux comme d'habitude avec yudori 💗💗
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