Cantarella, Volume 4

カンタレラ [Cantarella] #4

by You Higuri, Valentina Spitale (Translator)

Cosa sceglierà Cesare Borgia, che scalpita mentre la realtà ostacola le sue ambizioni? Cederà alle tentazioni del "Male" o accetterà l'amore sincero di quanti gli stanno a fianco?

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

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 19, 2002

About the author

You Higuri (氷栗優) is a Japanese shōjo and yaoi manga artist. She is known especially for her drawings of beautiful fantasy men in romantic storylines set in historical Europe, such as Gorgeous Carat in early 20th-century France and Cantarella during the Italian Renaissance.

Source: Wikipedia

Reviews

[Dorian Jandreau · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is getting the way I wanted this story to go. >:)

[Lanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it, but mostly found it frustrating that Ceaser and chiaro won't just admit that they love each other. :/ not my favorite volume. still good though. Loved the drama between Ceaser and his sister. Poor gal. She's so sad.

Recommended to fans of historical fiction and manga.

[Alexander Adrien Ren Grey · Rating 2 out of 5]

So his sister, Lucrezia is in love with him. So there is like incest and yaoi. I mean, he turns her down but still she is made to be a pawn but he also protects her (at first). There is also incest between a brother and sister Cesare walks in on.

[MarcMiccia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Della serie "Cantarella" ho molto apprezzato i disegni, un pò meno, ovviamente, che la serie si sia interrotta in Italia al numero 10 e non al 12, diventando, di fatto, monca del finale.

La storia segue quella dell'Italia dell'epoca, degli intrighi politici e soprattutto, di quelli della famiglia Borgia. Quello che manca alla serie, a mio parere, è lo sviluppo di alcuni personaggi. Oltre Cesare, ben narrato nella sua indole indomabile, alcuni personaggi sono stati poco sfruttati. Una su tutti Lucrezia: nella storia dell'epoca da agnellino sacrificale diventa un personaggio importante, invece in questo fumetto resta agnellino sin all'ultimo albo. Altri due personaggi che avrebbero meritato sicuramente uno spazio maggiore, sono il papa Rodrigo e il Cardinale Della Rovere, relegati invece, il primo, ad un ruolo da comprimario dopo i primi volumi, ed il secondo, non è stato rappresentato come concreto ed effettivo oppositore dell'ascesa dei Borgia.

In generale comunque i primi volumi sono ben realizzati, poi la trama si perde andando avanti negli albi.

Voto generale ★★★/5

[Starbubbles · Rating 4 out of 5]

i don't understand why juan was put in-charge of the army. the pope must have known he was an incompetent boob from the start. so why not cesare? i think the pope cares somewhat about him. think scarlet letter. cesare wears his letter (demon pact) on the outside while the pope secretly hides it. that's why he was avoided when he was younger, not acknowledged when older, etc. to keep him from going full-blown demon, he forced him to go into the church. someplace away from evil urges to keep him as somewhat human. i think it was done half out of love, and half out of necessity to keep himself in power.

incest. ah, a hot topic. let's define what the church could view as incest for the 15th century. it could be anywhere from trying to marry someone who is a sibling to someone you were previously engaged to, to being somewhere on the cousin line (i think it's like if your genetic lines converge somewhere in the great-great-great grandparent range). so yes, brother and sister is a no-no. but the incest of royals being referred to really means cousins, not brother and sister like the ancient egyptians.

divorce. yes, the church does not support it. yes, being sexual impotent was grounds for a marriage being annulled. but failing to consummate the marriage is not sufficient grounds for an annulment.

get lucrezia to a nunnery! it was common for women to go to a monastery to avoid marriage, or to get out of a bad marriage. chess is a common comparison to women and marriage in these sorts of power struggles. that's why the queen can move in so many directions. women weave unique power webs through marriage and/or the church, and it was fun to see that referenced in this book. but i fail to see how cesare does not see similarities between what he is asking of his sister, and all of the girls he meets who he calls filthy.

oh, the ending. way to put everything you've got into capturing cesare sancia! yeah, stalking and being rebound worthy. awesome.

[sucker4synth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, those Borgias! Lucrezia is starting to suspect her super love for her brother might be something more, which everyone else has been saying about her, anyway. Cesare is feeling pretty down about being demonic or whatever, and his feelings for both Lucrezia and his assassin buddy Chiaro are getting all mixed up. The art is ever so lovely. Reading about Italian Renaissance politics (with some magic thrown in) from a manga is all kinds of international awesome. Also, everyone is just so gorgeous!

[Melissa Kidd · Rating 3 out of 5]

More flirting with Chiaro, but now it seems almost unconscious on Cesare’s part. Interesting. This volume deals a little with the rumors of the incest between Cesare and Lucrezia. Historically they are only that, and the series takes that approach as well. The history while present, seems to have a tendency to slide to the background, behind the characters themselves. Artwork is great; the character’s clothing seems to be getting more attention. Looking forward to more.

[Dexter · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much better than the third volume, and I'm now interested in the series again. It's still not my favorite manga series, but it's starting to get good again. Chiaro and Chesare are pretty much the only things that keep me reading.

[Steph · Rating 2 out of 5]

The beginning of vol. 4 was sloooow, but it picks up by the end.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly beguiling - Irresistible - Love Cesare. Heartbreaking.

[Nawal Al Hosani Scorpion DOADA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Story........... A perfect mixture of history and fiction.......... One of my favorite titles............. Ever Green in my heart........... Love you Cesare.............

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great! Another mix of historical fact and dramatic fiction. This is my favorite volume yet! The introduction into the Lucretzia and Ceasere affair.