Yona of the Dawn, Vol. 6

暁のヨナ [Akatsuki no Yona] #6

by Mizuho Kusanagi

A red-haired princess loses her family and her kingdom… Now she must rise and fight for her throne!

Princess Yona lives an ideal life as the only princess of her kingdom. Doted on by her father, the king, and protected by her faithful guard Hak, she cherishes the time spent with the man she loves, Su-won. But everything changes on her 16th birthday when tragedy strikes her family!

Yona finally meets Jaeha, the Green Dragon. Unfortunately, Jaeha has no desire to follow her on her quest! Yona offers to help Jaeha and his fellow pirates, so Captain Gi-Gan challenges her with a perilous quest to test her courage. Will Yona be able to pick the Senju Herb from the steep cliff face of the Vanishing Cape?

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Romance, Shojo, Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Adventure

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 20, 2011

About the author

KUSANAGI Mizuho (草凪みずほ) used to work as an assistant for Yoko Matsushita.

Circle(s): JAKE

Loves: drawing and considers herself to have a 'super fetish' for voices. As such, she loves seiyuu (voice actors) but also actors with good voices.

Favorite Food: Ramen. Prefers vegetables to meat.

Favorite Movies: Anything by Miyazaki, whom she loves! Also, The Sound of Music and Lord of the Rings.

Reviews

[Melanie (meltotheany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

➽ vol. 1 ★★★★
➽ vol. 2 ★★★
➽ vol. 3 ★★★
➽ vol. 4 ★★★★
➽ vol. 5 ★★★

"Even if it were growing in the middle of a battlefield, with arrows flying everywhere... I'd try to get it."

oh friends, this was my favorite in the series yet. we pick up right where we left off, in this little port town where the green dragon resides! we also get to meet his pirate captain, who sends yona on a quest to gather senju herbs to heal some of the crew, and after they come up with a plan to try to stop officer kim ji and the horrible acts he is committing within this town.

yona and captain gi gan's heart to heart? i actually shed a tear. so so so beautiful. and just seeing yona really become the leader she wants to be is such an amazing journey to witness. i love her empathy, i love her selflessness, and i love how both of those elements are felt by the people she chooses to surround herself with.

lastly, i must note that i was losing my actual mind at the honey hands.

trigger + content warnings: mention of death of a child, blood and wound depiction, kidnapping, human trafficking (with underlying threats of sexual abuse), physical abuse/violence, and captivity

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[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Yona shows her grit and character. No notes. Y'all are sleeping on this series.

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this volume so much too!! In this particular one, I feel like Yona goes through a great development and she definitely gets stronger for it, which I loved to read!
I also adore the fact they're joining the pirates to bring down a very bad guy! The pirates are a super fun and cute bunch too, actually, and I love Captain Gi-Gan!
It seems like stakes will be higher in the next volume, I'm very excited to read it! 😊

[Medha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
In this volume, Princess Yona joins the Green dragon's crew and devises a plan to rescue captured girls who are going to be sold for a huge sum of money. She blends in with the girls and tries to take down a ship that belongs to a heartless villain who's been charged with many cases of human trafficking.

I also got to know the Green Dragon better in this book and I'm curious about the Blue Dragon. He doesn't talk much and that makes him all the more mystifying!

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

VIDEO REVIEW HERE: https://youtu.be/iT5HciwzgJw

3.5 stars

REALLYYYYYY missing Sinha and hime being a focus in this one. Honestly wish this illustration on one of the opening chapters was canon in the actual manga (even though it looks fairly romantic and I do NOT ship them, but I LOVE the idea of Yona being able to look at/in his eyes).



I'm not sure why, but I didn't connect with this volume as much. I love how this story is diving into deep topics such as human trafficking because I don't think I have ever seen that in a SHOJO manga before. I think I am just still not attached to Yona. She IS growing. I see it plain as day, but I feel I'm interested in everyone BUT her. *nervous laughter* I also still feel conflicted about the dragons following her even though I really like Gija and Sinha so much. It makes me sad in a way that Jaeha will eventually embrace his dragon, but I do like that it is still not right away. Yona and him have some good conversations and a good bonding moment at the cliff.

Lastly, I am SO glad that the mangaka mentioned a comment of someone saying they want more female characters. Yes please! I know this isn't a reverse harem, but sometimes it really felt like it (just without the romance) and I think its bothers me more then I realize despite that there are some excellent things about this series that truly is not your average shojo.

This was a pretty good volume with Yun and Yona growing specifically. (I definitely enjoyed some of the fierce-looking panels of Yona!)

Looking forward to the upcoming battle though!

[Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Princess Yona is the pampered daughter of her kingdom's king. Isolated and doted on she has two childhood friends, Hak, a general who also protects her and her cousin, Soo-won who helped her mourn her mother's passing and who she is crushing on big time. On her 16th birthday her entire world implodes to to a crippling betrayal... She must decide if she will fall in line or rise up and take back her kingdom.

I was surprised Yona of the Dawn vol 6 had a pretty cute cover!! Is this the end of the ugly cover saga?! I sure hope so, because the internal art is blowing me away... I love the new character designs and that moment when Yona gives the villain a nasty glare is priceless! And I think the moments between Hak and Yona are so good too... I actually was tense during the moments when Yona was facing off with the villain and his goons because if they learned who she was... Well you'll have to read it to see how they got out of it!

The plot is totally fun! We're with pirates and human smugglers after all! Yun is cross dressing as a woman (and he looks better than Yona, hahahahha!) I really appreciate how we get a really strong female example not only as a reader but for Yona in this volume in the captain. She needs that example as she becomes more and more the queen she's meant to become. I like how everyone has a roll to play and its not just the dragons but the dragons unique gifts are utilized!!

Yona of the Dawn vol 6 is actually one of the first in the Yona of the Dawn series in that this portion of the story is in the middle of the arc... what that means is nothing is resolved within the volume. The thing is that this is still quite a fascinating part of the story because we see Yona step up and really show her mettle! Not only with the villain but with the pirate captain too! I was totally captured by her which is quite amazing as she was such a throwaway character at the start with her crush and blind love for the men in her life.

Yona of the Dawn vol 5-6 make for a fun romp as we meet the green dragon and realize its going to be a long haul to convince him to join up! The fun comes in as we meet some pirates and Yona comes up against their captain, a strong female who challenges the princess to prove her mettle! Now to see how this all resolves is Yona of the Dawn vol 7!!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Authenticity
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tension
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Plot
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Art

[julianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE SHIN AH MY LITTLE CHILD.

I will protect him with my life.

[Mary Emma Sivils · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I'm starting to like the Green Dragon a little more. His interactions with Yona are oddly sweet.
Boy, Yona really shines in this volume! It's kind of hard to reconcile this side of her with the naive princess at the beginning of the series.
I like Hak, but I gotta say...that part with the honey was kind of weird and creepy.

[libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE ENDING LMAO

[Kaya Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yona of the Dawn Volume 6 was also incredible! Trigger warning for moderate depictions of trafficking though. Again: the artwork is just stunning. Some highlights*:

please don’t ask me why i suddenly started typing in small. i didn’t notice until halfway through, so i’m sorry. this is how i normally text lol.
we’re hanging around pirates now y’all! the conversations between the pirates and Yona’s crew had me rolling. The humor really is impeccable.
jaeha (the green dragon) is a surprisingly complex character. he doesn’t want to join Yona just on account of him having dragon blood, and he has an interesting dynamic with Hak.
there was actually some plot tension in this book?! villains and pirates and cliffs and an unresolved cliffhanger took this series to a place where it really hasn’t gone to before.
finally: we get a strong female character in the pirate captain!! she’s wise and clever and strong, and her conversation with Yona was really emotional.
Honestly, the only reason this isn’t 5 stars is that Yona annoyed me just a bit when she was talking to Jaeha. I also didn’t get the full 5 star feel.

jaeha has my whole heart. 4.5 stars.

[Aleksandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

LISTEN UP-




First and foremost, the highlight of this volume:


CAN SOMEONE PLEASE CHECK MY VITAL SIGNS AFTER THE HONEY SCENE 'CAUSE I‘M-

B r u h

Hak, I need you to chill, for all of our sakes (especially Yona‘s, 'cause you‘ll give the poor girl a heart attack at this point)😭





Now, after calming dOwN, it is Ao‘s appreciation time - that squirrel is getting more and more adorable with each volume😭 The fluffy tail and it‘s cheeks-
Just too adorable, I swear!


Something else to be appreciated: this cover, which is just too cute🥺


And you got to love how Yona‘s character shows promising development for the upcoming parts, becoming braver and more fearless as the story progresses✨
We love a badass princess🤧


It is obvious that the dragons will become besties in no time, so I‘m also really looking forward to that bonding hehe





Looking forward to volume 7.☺️✨

[Estíbaliz Montero Iniesta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este tomo tiene muchas cosas geniales, como todos, pero para mí ha sido especialmente espectacular la evolución de Yona, que se esfuerza por aprender a valerse por sí misma, por ser más fuerte para proteger a los que le importan y ser una princesa digna de su pueblo. Es maravillosa ❤️.

[Sarah Ryder · Rating 5 out of 5]

November 2025 Reread: I really have no new notes to add, Past Sarah sums things up nicely, haha.

What I do really appreciate upon rereading this arc is how the mangaka approached the topic of human trafficking by showing enough of the horror of being turned into a slave but never taking things too far in a sexual direction, especially for a teen audience, but allows the reader to fill in the gaps based on their own maturity level/knowledge of the world—I just think it’s very well done and never once over or underboard.

*****

July 2021 Review: I loved the continuation of this arc! And the cover is super cute. 🥰

Yona’s bravery and strength in the midst of weakness is such an encouragement to me, and I love her loyalty to all her friends no matter how long she’s known them for. Jaeha, Hak, and the others continue to grow and knit tighter together as well, and in a way it’s great reading some of these a bit backwards as I can see how far they’ve all come in such a short time and how well the mangaka wrote their arcs and relationships. 🥰

Also Yona and Yun were so brave to infiltrate the trafficking ring! I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to do something like that—I’d probably prefer to fight on deck with Hak and the dragons if I had a choice, lol.

And the end comic is priceless. Truly dork Tae-Jun at his best. 😆🤣


‼️Content‼️

TRIGGER WARNING: human trafficking (no actions shown, just women being kidnapped to be sold); characters infiltrate a trafficking ring by becoming “merchandise” (nothing happens aside from them being locked up); captured women are called “merchandise” and “goods”

Language: bastard; what the hell; pissed; gosh; damn; what the heck

Violence: injuries and blood (PG-PG-13); a wave almost knocks characters off a cliff; girls are dropped through a trap door; a man kicks, punches, grabs the hair of, and steps on the head of several different people

Sexual: mild suggestive hints/comments; a guy is called a pervert; a boy dresses as a girl

Alcohol/Drugs: a woman smokes

Other: reincarnations of spiritual dragon warriors and king; magical powers; human trafficking (no actions shown, just women being kidnapped to be sold); pirates; characters infiltrate a trafficking ring by becoming “merchandise” (nothing happens aside from them being locked up); captured women are called “merchandise” and “goods”

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is getting really intense.

[Francesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Che serie carina! Mi sta piacendo moltissimo e adoro quasi tutti i personaggi (Hak, Jaeha, Shin-ah 😍).

[Rodger’s Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️ twas another fun entry. Sinha and Pu-kyu are the best but none of the characters are really making me feel things yet and I’m still wondering…what is the plot? 🤣

[Violet ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look who's on the cover! Yona and Sinha ✨

Yona made another brave move to save others! And it is not a simple task.



Meanwhile, the green dragon is quite impressive!💚

[melhara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like that Yona is slowly becoming braver as she tries to prove to the pirates and other dragons that she's also useful and worthy of being a hero.

The cover is also really cute and is giving me Totoro vibes

[Anahisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

it’s actually insane how good this series is at pacing yona’s character growth and not shying away from critiquing her upbringing!!!

[Nur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jae-ha'nın Yona'ya kapılmama ve ejderha kanına isyan etme halleri çok tatlı. Ama elden ne gelir, kader baştan yazılmış. :)

Jae-ha'nın kışkırtmaları ıile Hak'ın Yona'ya olan bakışı da değişmeye başlıyor, tabii davranışları da...

Hak'ın Yona'yı her şeyden koruma isteği sürerken diğer yandan güçlenen, kendini keşfeden, bambaşka bir yanını gösteren prensesi izlemekten, ona hayran kalmaktan kendini alamıyor. Bir yandan kal derken, bir yandan tehlikelerin tam ortasına atılmasını izlemek istiyor. Yona'yı güçlü görmeyi seven Hak'ı ben de ayrı bir seviyorum. :')


Yona'nın her cilt, her bölüm biraz daha cesur ve atılgan olmasını da çok seviyorum. Bazıları bu gelişimi yavaş buluyor ama bence yerinde. Bu kadar korunaklı yetişen bir prensesin dünyayla yüzleşmesi, kendini değiştirmesi zaten birden bire olamaz. Beni kendine hayran bırakıyor. ♥

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cada vez todo es más emocionante!!!
En este tomo Yona se supera más a si misma.
A medida que avanza la historia la evolución de la Princesa Yona es sorprendente, de cómo se da cuenta de las cosas y decide que no puede simplemente quedarse sentada sin hacer nada, sino que tiene que actuar.👌👍👏

Y Hak y Yona!!!!
Dios ellos dos son Amor Puro.
😍😍😍

[jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

the honey scene!!

[Jess | jadecanread · Rating 4 out of 5]

*screams because of honey licking and kabedoning Hak*

pirate attack arc. Yona gathers herbs from a treacherous cliff side then volunteers to be abducted so she can send a flare to notify pirates where they are. Yun goes with her. Volume ends before shit hits the fan.

still squealing over Hak admitting to himself he has been suppressing his own feelings.

[Queens Love Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Her desire not to lose anyone is making her push forward on those shaky legs."



Volume 6 of Yona of the Dawn really highlights Yona’s growth and determination. We get to see just how far she’s willing to go, even when faced with the most difficult challenges. Her strength isn’t just about physical abilities—it’s about her unwavering resolve and the deep sense of purpose that drives her. This volume does a great job of showcasing her transformation from a sheltered princess into someone who is willing to fight for what she believes in.

Of course, Hak continues to be a scene-stealer, and his dynamic with Yona is as compelling as ever. There are moments where his feelings for her are more obvious than he’d like them to be, but he forces himself to keep his emotions in check. His internal struggle adds so much depth to his character. Jae-ha is also introduced, and while he reminds me of a toned-down Sanji from One Piece, he brings his own charm to the story. There’s also a particularly heartwarming interaction between Yona and the Captain that stood out as a highlight.

The only downside is that this volume felt too short—I wanted more! The pacing keeps things moving quickly, but I wouldn’t have minded a little more time to sit with certain moments. That said, the mix of humor, action, and emotional depth makes this an incredibly engaging read. With every volume, Yona of the Dawn continues to prove why it’s such a fantastic series, and I can’t wait to see where the journey takes Yona and her companions next.

Date Read: 2025.03.23

[Kogiopsis · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the things I love about manga is that, because of its serialized nature and the uncertainty of initial success, every story that makes it past the first few volumes has more to offer than it first let on. Yona's Green Dragon arc - which starts in Volumes 5 and 6 - is my favorite plotline so far; now that the story is firmly established, characterization and plot are getting more complicated and Yona, in particular, is having her assumptions and motivations challenged. The whole 'heir to the kingdom must reclaim the throne' schtick is kind of tired and, well, regressive in this day and age... but Yona, increasingly, is seeking not just to restore the Kohka of her father but to improve upon it. Her royal lineage doesn't make her entitled to the throne, but instead gives her a sense of obligation to the people, which is a much more palatable narrative route.

[Lucía Cafeína · Rating 5 out of 5]

¿Cómo puede ser que me llegue ya por el sexto tomo y solamente vaya a mejor?
Es que cada vez estoy cogiendo más y más cariño a los personajes, a los dragones, a Yona, a Hak, a Yoon... y no pueden ser más divertidos y adorables; además, se está viendo un desarrollo brillante en el personaje de Yona, que se esfuerza por demostrar su valía, y necesita desesperadamente ser mejor, ser lo que debe ser un gobernante para con su pueblo... ¡es estupendo! Qué rabia que haya sido un tomo de esos que te deja el arco abierto, ¡no puedo esperar para leer el siguiente!

[Guada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este es mi tomo favorito hasta ahora sin duda. Y una de las cosas que más me gustan de leer el manga es que puedes detenerte en las expresiones de los personajes, ya que en el anime no puedes parar a cada segundo. Me encanta el dibujo y lo gracioso que puede ser todo con una sola imagen.

[Dilushani Jayalath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this is an amazing cover :D

[AlenGarou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Questo volume contiene fin troppe piccole perle <3

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sinha, so adorable! I’m glad he’s got friends now!