Champion of the Rose, Vol. 1

by Cat Aquino, Dominique Duran

As the largest kingdom in the Known World, the Empire of Sagrada is built on the keystones of gold, glory, and the Dying God. But when Princess Rosa unexpectedly finds herself the next heir to the throne, she is determined to change Sagrada for the better—until her father announces a glorious tournament of gladiatorial fights and blood magic, with Rosa’s hand and her throne as the prize.

Genres: Fantasy, Manga, Graphic Novels, Comics, Young Adult, LGBT, Queer

Kindle Edition

Published July 14, 2026

About the author

Cat Aquino is a Filipino writer, Otherwise Award fellow, speculative fiction editor, and memory and trauma studies researcher. Once a Philippine history teacher in Manila, they moved to Glasgow, Aarhus, and Barcelona for their master’s degree in children’s literature. They currently divide their time between Manila and London.

Reviews

[Alexx (obscure.pages)]

5/5 no notes!! 😭

This was a brilliant debut, filled with heart, rage, hope, and history. This is for queer and trans people who still fight to be themselves until now. This is for Filipinos and others who still feel the effects of colonialism even until today. This hits hard (especially as a queer Filipino), and I had to keep stopping when parts were getting intense 🥲 But damn this was wonderful, I need like 10 more volumes 😅

The art is gorgeous, the world-building is interesting, the characters are compelling, and the storytelling pulls you in. Maybe we need like a glossary or Cast of Characters to keep up with the world-building, but other than that, I had a fantastic time. I cared for the characters and I held my breath as I turn the page. Please I can't wait for Volume 2 🥹

Thank you so much to Cat Aquino for reaching out and sending me an advanced copy. This of course did not affect my overall opinion of this book.

[Chelsea]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Champion of the Rose, Vol. 1 by Cat Aquino; Dominique Duran is a manga-style graphic novel set in a world inspired by the Philippines under Spanish colonial rule. Against all odds, Princess Rosa is the next in line for the throne of the Sagrada Empire, but her father throws a wrench in all her plans to improve the empire and announces a tournament for her hand and the throne. To take control of her destiny, she hires Rey, a trans swordsman and one of the people colonized by the Sagrada Empire. But Rey’s thirst for revenge might get in both their ways.

I loved how the fantasy elements combined with Catholic imagery via blood rosaries and the use of roses. While I'm Catholic and have religious and sentimental attachment to these things, it's always a delight to see how others are inspired by them. This graphic novel makes it very clear that the religious order is a villain in the story and the Catholic Church has been a villain in the story of many different peoples. I know some people get offended by seeing their religion played with or criticized, but I genuinely agree with the criticism found in this text of the part the Church played in colonization and genocide.

I am not as familiar with the history of the Philippines pre-colonization, so I cannot say what details are historically accurate or not, but the intention shone through quite brilliantly. There are multiple Indigenous characters and the overarching theme of fighting back against colonization is supported by a variety of characters from different islands and cultures, mirroring the geocultural reality of the Philippines.

I really cannot wait for the second volume because what I read in volume one was that captivating. I believed that the characters are invested in taking the empire down and I believed Rey’s convictions regarding blood magic and how they shift. There are grander things going on that we only see hints at in volume one and I’m so desperate to know more. I also really want to see more of an exploration of Rey’s status as a transman within this world.

Content warning for depictions of transphobia, sexism, racism, genocide, nudity, blood, and some gore

I would recommend this to readers who enjoy anti-colonial works and fans of graphic novels that explore many different facets of colonization

[Neil Franz]

Actual rating: 4.5

Review soon.

[kyle]

I definitely made the right choice buying this book. The art alone is worth it! it’s stunning, detailed, and full of emotion.

I also loved how the story mixed religion, colonialism, and Filipino history into its fantasy world. It added so much depth to the world and made the story even more interesting. And that Spoliarium symbolism when a certain character was dragged? Mind blown. Also… why did they have to kill my favorite character?!? 😭

This first volume felt like an introduction to a much bigger world, and I’m excited because I bet there will be even more world-building in the next volumes. There’s so much potential, and I can already tell this series is going to grow into something really special.

Now I’m just here, patiently (or not so patiently) waiting for Vol. 2 lol

[Aubree Lanman]

2⭐️ I came into this graphic novel with high hopes (beautiful artwork, trans main character, Spanish-inspired world) and I finished it feeling mostly confused? Don’t get me wrong, i love being confused in a book, but not in this way.

I didn’t like the setting being in a country that is clearly colonizing and enslaving people, and that the princess has mixed feelings abt that??? I’m confused about the character relations and roles in society? I’m confused about the tournament. I also didn’t care for ANY of the characters, except Teo. Everyone seemed to be morally grey, or plain evil. Still loved the artwork, but will not be continuing the series 😗

[kyra]

When gorgeous illustrations are paired with gripping storylines, a trance-like reading experience happens. Since we’re witnessing a fight for one’s freedom, each page will leave you eager to flip to the next.

From the complexity of the religious and political intrigue, to the depth of the characters’ lore and cultural backgrounds, and the intricacy of the art, you can easily tell that a lot of research was put into the story’s development and the deepening of the world-building.

---

In Champion of the Rose, a gladiator-style marriage tournament turns into a political revolution against a colonizing empire. The main characters have their own parallel battles against skepticism: a trans man over his perceived physical capability, and a mixed race princess over her royal legitimacy. Individually, they solely relied on their deepest motivations to survive; until a misencounter pushes them to forms an unlikely alliance.

[Nancy]

This is an action adventure fantasy graphic novel. The plot is fast-paced, which should make for an entertaining story, but the world-building and character work is rushed. Nothing happening on page made an emotional impact and I didn't have a feel for these characters. Early on, the way characters speak feels very internet-coded. It didn't seem like the way real people would talk and instead is how online people talk to other online people about what other people think and do.

DNF at page 75. This just wasn't the right fit for me.

[Lucy Goodfellow]

⭐️ 4 Stars ⭐️

Set in a kingdom where the Church and the Crown are inseparable, Champion of the Rose follows Rey, a trans swordsman from one of the Empire's colonies, who is chosen by Princess Rosa to fight as her champion in a tournament where she must win her own hand in marriage to protect her claim to the throne. As the competition unfolds, Rey is forced to confront what he is willing to sacrifice in his fight for freedom, and whether liberation can ever be achieved within the systems that seek to control him.

The strongest aspect of this first volume is its world-building. Reimagining the colonial history of Spain and the Philippines through an epic fantasy lens immediately gives the story a distinctive identity. The merging of organised religion with imperial power is particularly effective. The Church doesn't simply exist alongside the Empire; it legitimises conquest, presenting colonisation as salvation while facilitating the erasure of Indigenous cultures. The anti-imperialist message is woven naturally into the narrative rather than feeling imposed upon it, allowing the political themes to emerge through the characters' lived experiences rather than through exposition.

The characterisation also strengthens these ideas. The Indigenous characters are never presented as a single unified voice. Instead, each responds differently to colonisation, creating thoughtful discussions around resistance and survival. Alongside this, the series explores colourism through Princess Rosa. Despite being the rightful heir, her darker skin makes her less desirable than her lighter siblings, reducing her to a political bargaining chip whose value lies in marriage rather than leadership. This adds another dimension to the novel's examination of race and power, while also making Rosa's underdog narrative particularly easy to invest in.

My only real criticism is the pacing. The opening chapters take the time to establish the world, its politics, and its central conflicts, but once the tournament begins, the story moves at a much faster pace. Several supporting characters show real promise, yet they aren't given enough space to develop before the narrative asks the reader to invest in their choices and losses. Slowing these sections down would have given the emotional beats much greater impact.

Overall, Champion of the Rose is a confident opening volume with a fascinating setting and a clear thematic focus. Its exploration of colonialism, race, religion, and resistance gives it far more to say than the average tournament fantasy, and I'm looking forward to seeing how those ideas develop in future volumes.

You should read this book if you like:

- Fantasy with anti-imperialist themes 🌹
- Stories that explore religion, race, and power ⚔️
- Underdog protagonists fighting oppressive systems 👑

[K]

Reminds me of being 13 and obsessed with manga !

[Galatea]

No spoilers, but I will absolutely be picking up Volume 2 as soon as it comes out.

This is probably one of the best Filipino stories I've ever read, full stop. It is an epic where imperialism, religion, and gender play a core part in the overarching tragedy the reader is thrust into. It alludes to Filipino history masterfully, adding a whole other dimension to the narrative for those in the know.

The worldbuilding is fantastic, the lore is immaculate. The characters are unforgettable.

I wish I could make something as good as this.

[Rummanah (Books in the Spotlight)]

I was drawn to the anti-colonial revenge fantasy aspect of this graphic novel, but unfortunately its execution did not work for me at all. From what I understand, the empire here is the medieval Spanish Empire, however, there is hardly any resemblance to Spain. There are structures that are from the Roman Empire like that of the Coliseum and the Duomos. The plot is also very similar to Gladiator with a few tweaks such as a trans masc protagonist and using blood magic. The graphic novel lost me in the last few sections as the plot becomes convoluted with the religious fervor. I am not planning on continuing with this series. It’s not for me.

[Lucsbooks]

"Champion of the Rose" was a great and incredibly hard read, and you shouldn't let yourself be fooled by the smile on the cover, because there is barely any happiness in this story, but there are a lot of trigger warnings.

This story is inspired by the Spanish Colonisation of the Philippines, but because in real life Portugal was involved, with the Portuguese Fernando Magellan having been the one that "discovered it", and the Portuguese having already been aware of the land and people's existence before the Spanish, a lot of what the native and poc characters are shown being put through, is something I know was done by my own countrymen too and so I read this with different eyes.

The realism when it came to the treatment of poc, and native people in particular, was one of the details that most impressed me in this story. The social commentary was incredibly thorough showing us how detailed the racial hierarchy was and how cruelly it was enforced every day, not only through physical means, but by cultural erasure and state sponsored propaganda until injustice and inequality look like the natural state of the world and everyone believes in it, including the poc people themselves, because there is no other way to survive other than by being complicit and taking active part in their own colonisation, and that no matter in which you tried to free yourself, the Empire was still benefited by your labour. It didn't escape my notice how the only time Native people were allowed to dress in their traditional clothes was to make a spectacle of them and further humiliate them.

Another of my favourite examples was that the Princess Heir of this Empire, being mixed race, did not make her exempt from the racial hierarchy, with her own subjects hating her loudly. The main cast being mostly young characters only made this story more heartbreaking by seeing how hopeful they were and then seeing life slowly taking that from them as the goal post kept being moved, and they were faced with the people and systems put in place to maintain the status quo.

The way religion was such a big part of the story was also incredibly well done. While it was obviously inspired by Catholicism, the authors created an entirely new Canon, but perfectly captured how Men take advantage of religion to justify and forgive all their crimes and the Catholic hypocrisy and herd mentality.

Most of the characters are men, with the protagonist being a trans mn which I loved since it's rare to see them being represented, and I loved to see him struggle with the idea of masculinity he was sold, but I fell in love with the women and girls and their loyalty to each other, even while being very different people. They tried to make the best of their situations while living under patriarchy, and played the game the best they could.

My only problem with this book, and why I took away a star, has to do with the art. While the illustrations are beautiful, and remind me of a very particular kind of manga with those grainy pages that I can practically feel and smell through the screen, I wish the style had been a little cleaner because a lot of the brilliance of this story is in how the scope and cruelty of colonisation is shown through the art, and this particular style makes it harder to notice the details.

This is a book I would recommend to everyone who loves fantasy and History, great stories and amazing plot twists, but especially any white person from a country with a Colonial past, such as my own, anyone affected by Colonialism, and to any poc person living in Europe, because a lot of the experiences of being caught between cultures still apply.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Viz Media for this DRC, and happy release day.

[KDP]

Take 1 (to read again):

The first volume of any multi-part story is a thankless exercise — at once the storyteller must introduce its characters, world, tensions, dynamics, and objectives without telegraphing too obviously their intentions in such a way that comes off clinical or anticlimactic, nor withholding too much juicy detail to the new reader given that first impressions matter and graphic novels and books published by mainstream press are commercial enterprises that are judged on their ability to enthrall audiences enough that there is a compelling financial reason to produce more of them.

As such, introductions are scary — too brief and readers will not be left wanting more, too strong and there might be nothing left for follow-up volumes to elaborate upon and discuss. Let alone an introduction produced by two makers that are for all intents and purposes, new and unknown to the wider reading world.

In the sense that Aquino and Duran's "Champion of the Rose Vol. 1" is an introduction meant to enthrall future readers and sell them on the merits of their world, it succeeds! It's a unique story — I joked in my reading notes that the vibe I got off from them was essentially Haikyuu-meets-Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood-by-way-of-Vladimir-Lenin for teenagers, which is Not a Common Look in most manga that one encounters (Slam Dunk!! Naruto!! Ouran High School Host Club!! Jujutsu Kaisen!! Doki Doki Literature Club — ok maybe not the last one but you get the gist of what I'm tryna say). The big reveals (which I won't spoil though hint: it involves a lot of subverting common visual tropes surrounding roses!) leaves you wanting more!

A brief interlude to summarize the pitch for the lay-reader: in the violent empire of Sagrada (think uhh...Panem from the Hunger Games meets Hernan Cortes-era Spain meets Adam Hochschild's King Leopold's Ghost) where blood (literally, figuratively) is currency is power, Princess Rosa is made heir to the throne following the death of her brother, and the ultimate prize against her will in a bloodsport-esque tournament to the death featuring the empire's strongest and most lethal fighters representing various wealthy patrons and themselves. In an effort to regain agency and control over her destiny, she crows her own champion, a young trans-man from the Sagradan colony of Himala (inspired heavily by the Philippines) named Rey, equal parts vagrant, swashbuckling sword-for-hire, and ubermensch-esque product of Sagrada's colonial brutality. Friendships emerge and betrayals are had and copious amounts of blood is shed. It's A Lot in the Best Way.

I say A Lot because from the first page, you feel the Years and Tears and Blood (lol) both authors have poured into the creation of this world, which is a triumph. As much as the plot seems to have and be, you don't get lost amidst the many alleyways and maps and allusions to countries and empires past and present and priests hawking alms. Even if the first volume does little by nature of the Death Tournament to take you out of the city, there is never that feeling that the world you have entered is enclosed in the same way many video game or battle manga tends to feel. And that's just talking about the worlds as cast by the author, not even yet the way it is perceived by its many colorful protagonists and antagonists such as the Sagradan Princess Rosa, the vagabond Himalan warrior Rey and his equally combat-fluent buddy Teo, the scheming conquistador Aguilar, etc. You can feel the authors' enthusiasm and love for each and every nook, cranny, and side character pour through in each panel.

There is much to love and much to look forward as these mangaka grow in their trust in their craft and story and world they've built. I sincerely look forward to reading more, and seeing how this intense, ideologically robust, diverse world and characters evolves under their capable, Chibi-styled hands. :)

[Joel Donato Jacob]

Champion of the Rose is a book whose greatest strength is what it chooses to leave unexplained.

Cat Aquino and Dominique Duran gives us glimpses of a much larger world without feeling the need to stop the story and explain every corner of it. The Spanish analogue and its blood magic are the most immediately visible part of the setting, but there are hints of other cultures and other systems of magic beyond them, including what seem to be analogues of South American colonies. Those glimpses make the world feel considerably larger than the pages we are given. I was particularly interested in the Filipino analogue, which isn't simply presented as a one-to-one fantasy version of a unified 17th-century Philippines. Its cultures feel less neatly consolidated into a single "nation," which opens up some intriguing possibilities about how this world's history diverged from ours.

That restraint is also what I found most compelling about the book. Champion of the Rose trusts the reader to notice things. It doesn't exhaustively catalogue its worldbuilding or explain every piece of lore, and there is something refreshing about that confidence. The result is a story that feels like a window into a larger history rather than a complete map of one.

My main wish is that the book had given its combat episodes more room to breathe. There are moments when I wanted to stay with the characters longer—to feel the tension before a fight, understand their physical and emotional exhaustion, and sit with the consequences afterward. The confrontations sometimes move quickly enough that I understood what was happening without quite having the time to become as emotionally invested in it as I wanted to be. I would happily read a longer version of this story that allowed those episodes to unfold at greater length.

I also found the physical reading experience a little challenging. The page size is quite small, and even with fewer panels than the seven-panel pages that comics often use, some of the text becomes difficult to read. There are places where the kerning is tight enough that individual letters visually run together and briefly become something like a single symbol. It's a minor production issue, but it did interrupt my reading more than once.

Still, what stays with me is the sense of possibility. Champion of the Rose feels restrained in a way that invites curiosity. There is clearly more history beyond the immediate story, more cultures beyond the ones we encounter, and potentially more magical traditions waiting outside the blood magic that initially defines the Spanish analogue. I came away wishing for more because the glimpses it offered made me want to see what lies beyond the edges of the page.

[Kristina Butke]

This is a thrilling first volume in a world based off of Spain and the Philippines, during a time of conquistadors and colonizers and an interesting religion unified around a Dying God.

The manga opens with Princess Rosa praying for her deceased brother, and she offers up her blood to bless herself, her people, and her reign. Juxtaposed with that is a bar fight with Rey, a trans swordsman, and his partner Teo, where they are called “savages” by a wealthy-looking swordsman.

Upon Prince Alfonso’s death, the King of Sagrada decides to hold funerary games at a large stadium that resembles the Colosseum, featuring gladiatorial fights that eventually end in death. Through a chance encounter Rosa meets Rey and his friends, and after tragedy, Rosa picks Rey to be her champion fighter in the gladiator games, the winner of which gets to be Rosa’s betrothed.

At first the fights have winners and losers that are allowed to live, but later the King changes the rules so that everyone has to fight to the death. Before those rules are set in stone, though, Rey is killed by a swordsman and is resurrected via the Dying God’s power. To show the connection between him and the God, roses grow from Rey’s body after his resurrection.

The fights are brutal–lots of beheadings and lost limbs–and we get a clear picture of how the colonizers look down on the colonized. The blood magic doesn’t seem as bad as it could be until we get to the Spoliarium, which has some disturbing imagery surrounding the former fighters who lost their battles.

There is a lot that happens in this jam-packed volume that I don’t want to spoil, so I sort have been dancing around things in my review. But I do want to say that the manga is thrilling, dark, and exciting, and the artwork is unique and gorgeous. The first volume ends on an exciting note, just before something even bigger is brewing.

I am desperately interested in continuing this series not only to see how things come out for Rey, but to see how the King’s machinations play out and if a dark empire can be burned down. And what does the Dying God truly want? There are so many questions needing to be answered and I can’t wait for volume two.

[Michelle M]

Thank you to Viz and netgalley for this eARC!
4/6
I think this was a great start to a series! The art is beautiful and super detailed! The story isn’t overly complicated, but there are some mysteries and some deep lore that is touched upon without being overwhelming.

I will warn, I didn’t realize this was a graphic novel and not a manga, so it should be read from left to right instead of from right to left. I had to start over because I made that mistake lol. There are only a few parts that seemed like the plot jumped and was jarring, but otherwise it was fine.

It’s a fast paced story, what I assume is weeks passed in just a few pages.

The story is about Rey, a swordsman from a colony who teams up with tye empire’s half-blood crown princess to compete in a tournament. Rey is fighting for his freedom, and Rosa (the princess) is fighting “for her own hand!” (Insert Merida gif here lol).

I’ve read both manga and traditional novels with similar plots by the beauty of this (and the advantage over traditional novels) is the art. Being a history lover, it reminded me of the Spanish conquistadors and their conquest of the “savage” new world and the native peoples. In fact the empire and the “invaders” are called conquistadors! Though I’m very surprised about something. For how racist the whites seem to be towards the conquered natives, one was supposedly made Queen and birthed all 3 royal children. (Rosa is made the heir after her brother dies. It’s unclear if the brother was younger or older). There are lots of racist comments made towards the half-blood princess. And it seems as though half-bloods are common, since they have their own category in the “tournament”.

I don’t want to put any spoilers but… I think the “big plot twist” at the end of this volume is all a ploy to bring someone back to life (it actually shows this). At first I thought it was the brother, the dead prince, but the person shown is too big… Maybe a previous king? Or the dying god himself???

I’m really interested in reading the next one!! This was def a book that I’d consider buying!!!

[Adriana]

The Empire of Sagrada is built on blood and conquest. When the heir passes away, and the half-blood Princess Rosa is declared heir, she's convinced she'll be the one to change it. But her father declares her hand and throne will be the trophies of a violent and bloody tournament of gladiatorial fights and blood magic. Desperate to control her future, Rosa picks Rey, a trans swordsman from a faraway colony who has their own desperate desire for freedom and a life of peace with his partner, Teo. Haunted by a violent past and traumatic history, they will all find themselves trapped in the destructive spectacle of the games and everything they hide.

I was only very vaguely familiar with the conquest of the Philippines by Spain and never expected an anti-imperialist fantasy to make me fascinated by it, but the characters and their situation breathe on the page and pulled me in. The fantasy elements elevate the stakes and distract from the very real savagery that took place to get the message across beautifully. Every character plays a very important role and had me rooting and crying for them.

The art is good, although I'm not a big fan of the characters looking like little kids. Yes, they're young, but there are panels when they look like 8-year-olds. Maybe it's a ploy to hit emotions harder that I don't understand. It's not the best, and the only critique I have.

I'm looking forward to following this series and seeing where the magic that Cat Aquino and Dominique Duran are weaving will take us next.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and VIZ Media LLC for the chance to discover a new series!

[Angge]

Champion of the Rose is a gorgeous graphic novel that manages to be visually stunning while also tackling themes that feel surprisingly relevant to the world we live in today.

The first thing that struck me was the artwork. The book opens with two full-color illustrated pages that immediately caught my attention, and the quality of the illustrations continues throughout. The cover itself is also beautiful, with its detailed artwork and foiling, making this a book that feels particularly worth owning as a physical copy.

But beyond the aesthetics, I really appreciated what the story has to say. Although the world and its inspiration are rooted in an older Philippines, themes of power, exploitation, class, colonialism, and oppression remain very recognizable. There were moments where the distance between the historical inspiration and the present day felt uncomfortably small. The book also has meaningful representation of gender-diverse characters, and I appreciated how it acknowledges the ways trans and gender-diverse people continue to navigate prejudice and exclusion.

I also found the book surprisingly substantial for a graphic novel. It never felt like a thin, quick read with only a handful of panels. The detailed artwork, world-building, and story gave it a sense of fullness that made the price feel justified.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable read with beautiful artwork and themes that gave me plenty to think about. And, of course, now I need to know what happens next.

Very excited for the next volume and to see where our Champions go from here.

[Sassy Sarah Reads]

3.75 stars

This is a fascinating concept as far as Viz pursuing Westernized manga, and I loved 1) how queer this was and 2) the Philippano representation and inspiration. I must admit that I don't read much Phillipano-inspired fantasy, but this was gritty and dark. The tone felt similar to Attack on Titan, and there were panels that reminded me of those tense action sequences of peril. I think the concept of a competition that is thrown by the King and the priests (very similar to the Catholic Church), but the competition itself moves way too fast in this volume. One panel we will be a task 8, and the next task 22, without much shown besides a few slashes of a sword or a throat being slit. The characterization of both the princess and the champion is very underdeveloped. I know their extrinsic motivations, but I don't know them intrinsically. I do think that this series shows promise, despite my having major issues with pacing. The first chapter felt like a slog to read (it's 75 pages), and the lack of detail in the championship battles. However, I do think this could be a captivating series, both for queer representation and Philippano manga representation. I am happy that I finally buckled down this morning and finished this one without stopping. It was a rough start, but by the end, I liked it much more than when I started. I will be keeping an eye out for volume 2.
Thank you to Viz Media for a copy of this manga in exchange for an honest review.

[Kate]

Everyone loves a tournament, and I am no exception.
This opening volume was more gripping than I anticipated, and I found myself engrossed in Rey's story very quickly. Set on not only proving himself as a capable swordsman but also trying to earn his freedom and passage back to his homeland, Rey finds himself selected as champion, fighting for the newly declared heir to the throne, Princess Rosa. However, the rules of this contest change as it progresses, and each champion, bound by blood pact, must follow these new rules lest their lives be forfeit. When Rosa and Rey uncover a disturbing secret about the tournament, the stakes are further raised and their resolve strengthened.
The character designs and art style of this series are very pleasing to look at, and there is a nice diversity to the designs as well. The level of detail is beautiful in both the backgrounds and the luxurious clothing worn by the characters.
The only small nitpick I have about this volume is the pacing. A good chunk of matches blow by in a matter of pages, and while I understand that not every match needs to be expanded upon in great detail, I feel like it does detract a little from the intensity of the tournament itself.
Overall, looking forward to the release of volume two, and hoping it's soon! I need to see Rey's character development in the face of everything thrown his way.

Thank you to Viz and Netgalley for the ARC copy!

[Mike Foley]

Great art and story concept but I feel like the book wasn't trans enough. Besides a couple of mentions at the beginning, the MC doesn't really explore being Trans. I feel as though his being Trans is really unimportant and not explored enough when compared to the much bigger problems in the book such as classism, racism, and religious persecution.
It's cute but I don't feel like the main character being Trans really affects the story at all which is a shame, it almost feels like the author made the MMC Trans just for fun or to add one more minority to the story to appeal to readers.
I mean I can't be excited about a Trans main character if his Trans-ness is almost nonexistent or be a bigger part of the story. Maybe that's the point, that he's no different just because he's trans but if you're gonna advertise a trans swordsman, then give me more trans.

I loved the dark atmosphere and violent action but I wish it was more fleshed out. The initial tournament alone could have been several volumes but it felt rushed. I would have loved to see more story telling with the other characters in the tournament that die and while doing that, exploring more of the possible romance between Rey and Rosa.

[Caitlyn]

Incredible. Jaw-dropping action mixed with the underdog you can't help but root for.

This volume follows Rey and Rosa. Rey is a trans man trying to earn enough money to go back to his home, Himala. Rosa is the princess and newly crowned heir of Sagrada, where Rey decides. When the King announces a tournament, Rey and Rosa become reluctant allies.

This manga has an anti-imperialist message as well as themes about embracing your heritage, equality (in race and religion), and queer relationships. The characters are very nonchalant about Rey being trans, although it is mentioned briefly at the beginning. I wonder if that will be touched on in the future as we learn more about Rey and his past.

The story was action packed right out of the gate, and it never let up. I will 100% be reading more volumes as they are released.

Trigger Warning: This book depicts death (although it's not very graphic) and the use of blood magic.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Viz Media for giving me an advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

[Viggo]

Thanks to the publisher for an ARC copy of this title!

Set in a fantasy world inspired by colonial Spain, Champion of the Rose, rewrites that colonial history from the point of view of the colonized. The Empire of Segrada (fantasy Spain) is the most powerful nation in the world, fiercely religious and hungry for land, gold, and blood. We learn about this world through Rey, a trans man whose homeland was colonized by Segrada. Now an oppressed minority, Rey and his friends dream of earning enough money to buy passage back to their home. On the other side of this picture is Rosa, the biracial princess of Segrada who has just become heir to the throne following the sudden death of her elder brother.

But you know these colonists are not going to let a biracial woman come into power. On the same night as her crowning, Rosa's father, the king, announces a tournament. The prize: Rosa's hand in marriage.

Rather than give up her inheritance without a fight, Rosa hires on a champion - Rey - to fight for her own hand. As the tournament goes on, becoming bloodier with each round, it becomes clear than not all is as it seems and there's more at stake here than just who ends up on the throne.

Volume 1 of this series does a great job of establishing the characters and their world and setting up mysteries I'm eager to delve into. And with absolutely stunning art throughout. I'm definitely going to pick up the second volume when its out. 

[Isa Newbury | reading_isa]

**Thank you to VizMedia for the gifted ARC; all opinions are my own.**

5 ⭐️

This was a masterpiece. It was excellent. Champion of the Rose (vol.1) is an alternative historical fantasy manga with queer characters, religious trauma, colonizer violence and more. I thought it was really well done, and not only was the art beautiful, but the story was written beautifully as well.

Rey, the MMC, is a trans swordsman who wants more than anything to go back to his home. Rosa, the FMC, is the crown princess who wants to change the world for the better. Rosa's father wants to marry her off despite her just being named the heir- he also starts a tournament to the death essentially (with guidance from the church) to see who will win her hand. Rosa does not like this and hires Rey to her own Champion. Unfortunately things start to get worse before they seem to get better. I am very much looking forward to volume 2!!

☆trans MMC
☆queer characters
☆alternate history
☆fantasy manga
☆religious trauma
☆colonizer violence

[Zaidee]

WOW! What a start to a series! Champion of the Rose is dark, adventurous, raw, and powerful. The art is an interesting mix of softness in facial features and expressions, incredible detail in clothing and environments, and a surprising amount of intensity in battle scenes. I loved the combination of historical and fantastical elements, laced throughout with a clash of cultures and religions. The clear and defiant message of anti-imperialism and colonization burns through main character Rey, with a range of desires represented by fellow tournament champions. The cast of characters is complex, varied, and queer and trans representation is a strong undercurrent throughout. While I did not feel as strongly attached to Princess Rosa as I did Teo and Rey, I think there is plenty of potential for growth in her character, and I look forward to seeing how this trio will continue to work together.

Many thanks to NetGalley and VIZ Media for the digital ARC!

[Alicia]

I wanted it to feel like it could be any place or any time in history or in the future, but I didn't get that sense the way I did with a similar story that I adore, Squire. However, there are elements of colonization and war, but also religious fervor and a kingdom at the crossroads as the princess who will ascend decides she wants to find a way to hold her own power without having to give it away through marriage and comes upon a trans fighter to help.

The occasional contemporary swearing seemed misplaced and ruins the tone that I weirdly couldn't get over however the determined focus of Princess Rosa was appreciated. While it was not a favorite of mine per se, I can see why others would enjoy it and would continue with the graphic novel series.

[Maia]

Princess Rosa is newly the heir to the throne of Sagrada (fantasy Spain). She prays to the Dying God for the chance to be a more just and charitable ruler than her father. But that opportunity grows increasingly distant when when the king declares a massive gladiatorial tournament of death and blood magic to win her hand in marriage. In desperation, Rosa makes a deal with a trans swordsman, Rey, a refugee from Himala (fantasy Philippines) which Sargrada has violently colonized. Action packed and gorgeously illustrated, this tale of blood and magic doesn't shy way from the brutality of colonial violence or religious fanaticism. I'm hooked! For fans of The Locked Tomb, there's some fucked up death cult and necromancy stuff with some queer themes to enjoy. Thank you to Viz for sending me an advanced copy to read!

[Jessica]

Welcome to the Empire of Sagrada, a wealthy kingdom built on blood, slavery, and the riches of colonized lands. The King has announced a tournament in tribute to the Dying God with the hand of his heir Princess Rosa as the prize to be won. Unwilling to lose her chance to rule and make true change in the empire, Rosa selects Ray, a trans swordsman from the colonies, as her champion. Together the two must fight and scheme to survive, and, hopefully, change the world.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about this manga at first because the illustrations were detailed and complex (and often obscured by Viz’s watermark), but I was eventually won over by Rosa and Rey’s fight to overcome the horrors of colonialism and the worldbuilding around a corrupt religion and a restricted system of blood magic. With an exciting twist at the end, I’ll be enthusiastically waiting for future volumes.

[Christiana]

Rating: 4.5

I loved this book’s alternative twist to historical facts. This tale references the colonization of the Philippines by Spain while integrating an element of brutality associated with one of the most infamous known colonizers of all time - the Coliseum of Ancient Rome.

So, if you’re looking for an action-packed ride with an indigenous hero whose motivation quickly goes from self preservation to revengeful, this is for you. If you wish to see an unlikely trio fight against the government and Church’s imperialist desires, this is also for you.

Now be warned… death happens from all corners of this tale, closely watched under the eyes of the Dying God whose motivation may be the most frightening one of all… to see his subjects suffer like him and offer up their blood for exchange of power. Would you make the sacrifice?

[librariSAM]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to the e-ARC for review.

Unfortunately this one just simply wasn't for me. I was confused most of the time and there was a lot going on. I had a hard time following the panels and knowing what was going on. For example, it was hard for me to tell who was winning a fight, etc.

With that being said this novel was in no way "bad", it just wasn't something I personally enjoyed. I think the plot was very interesting and engaging and the art was really fun and unique and matched well with the characters and plot.

If you are looking for an action-packed story with a lot of violence and mention of religion and politics, this one is for you.