Knight of the Ice, Vol. 1

銀盤騎士 [Ginban Kishi] #1

by Yayoi Ogawa

A KNIGHT ON ICE

Chitose is a career woman, with a job at a magazine and serious aspirations...except her childhood friend is an international figure skating star who won't stop distracting her! On the ice, Kokoro Kijinami is a flawless, gallant knight, winning trophies and hearts alike, but behind his glittery costumes and breathtaking spins lies a secret: He's actually a hopeless romantic otaku who can only land his quad jumps when Chitose is on hand to recite a spell from his favorite magical girl anime! So when a business trip takes her away from Kokoro's biggest competition yet, what will happen without Chitose there to work her magic?

Genres: Manga, Romance, Sports, Graphic Novels, Comics, Young Adult, Contemporary

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Associated names : 小川弥生

Name (in native language) : 小川彌生

Birth date : December 1

Zodiac : Sagittarius

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gentle romance with possibilities. Kokoro Kijinami is a world class figure skater who gets the yips unless his childhood friend, Chitose Igari, soothes his nerves with a little recitation from their favorite anime right before he competes. But what will happen to Kijinami's career when Igari's office job and her handsome boss start to interfere with the the ritual and the hidden feelings it represents?

The love triangle and inability to communicate feelings is pretty standard for romance manga, but I like the figure skating and otaku elements. I did feel a little overwhelmed by the more than two dozen characters introduced in the first volume though. How am I supposed to keep them all straight? (Rhetorical question. I keep a note sheet of characters, of course.)

I have the next two volumes on hand from the library, and I'm looking forward to diving into them over the next couple days.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a little surprised that this came over when Ogawa's previous figure skating manga (Kiss & Never Cry 1) never did, but I guess they aren't as related as I assumed. This is fun, in any event, if not quite as good as You're My Pet Vol. 1, and I love her brand of "semi-ugly josei" art.

[Shae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't even with this manga! It is so fun, the art is beautiful, and Kokoro is my precious son. I love that Chitose cares so much for him. I am excited to see their romance continue to blossom throughout this series. Though I feel some of the drama in this first volume is a little unnecessary, I am still very invested in the direction of this series.
The fact that Kokoro can share all of himself with Chitose makes their love so pure. I also wasn't anticipating her to be older than him also. This is going to be an interesting dynamic for sure, and I am living for it!
READ THIS ONE PLEASE!!!!

[Chelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kokoro is a rising international figure skater who only has one thing holding him back - he only skates his best when his childhood friend, Chitose, recites a spell from their favorite magical girl anime right before he skates. But Chitose has a job herself that she likes. When she gets sent on assignment to Brazil on the same weekend of a major skating competition in Canada, everything gets put on the line.

This was cute! The manga is well-drawn, and I enjoyed the skating aspects. I also like the romance potential between Se and Kokoppo. Actually, I thoroughly enjoyed most of their interactions. However, Kokoro's skating manager has some very awkward scenes (telling him he should grab her boobs if he needs physical release, etc.). Also, Chitose is 23, and Kokoro has to be only a few years younger than her, so I'm not 100% sold on the teen factor.

[Mahdiye HajiHosseini · Rating 4 out of 5]

یه رمنس معمولی، دو نفر که همو دوست دارن اما نمیتونن ابرازش کنن. نکته جذابش کوکوروئه که به شدت روحیه شکننده‌ای داره و ذره‌ای اعتماد به نفس درش وجود نداره، یه اتاکوی خالصه و فقط وقتی میتونه تو مسابقاتش شرکت کنه که چیتوسه طلسم انیمه بچگیشون رو روش بذاره. مشکل اینجاست که چیتوسه هم زندگی خودشو داره و نمیتونه از این کشور به اون کشور آویزون کوکورو شه و هیچکدوم هم نمیخوان بار روی دوش دیگران باشن.
یه مدیر برنامه بِچ هم داره کوکورو که حقیقتا ازش بدم نمیاد (شاید حتی ازش خوشم بیاد) اما تقریبا تنها کاری که میکنه بیشتر تحت فشار گذاشتن کوکوروئه.
طنز تمیزی داره که بیشتر حول شخصیت چیتوسه و کوکوروئه و البته سردبیر مجله‌ای که چیتوسه توش کار میکنه و به طرز عجیبی از اوتاکوها خوشش نمیاد (اوتاکوی پنهان شاید؟) شکل میگیره.
من یه سافت اسپات برای رمنس‌های اینطوری و شخصیت‌های اینقدر شکننده دارم، حالا که سریال کره‌ایا و مانهواهای ابکیم همه آن‌هولدن تا آخر دسامبر- تقریبا همراه همه چیز توی زندگیم XD- و بعد از این همه دارک فانتزی با خشونت های اغراق شده واقعا نیاز داشتم به چنین داستانی تا واقعا از ته دل بخندم، حقیقتا درمان‌های سلامت روان خراب منن.

[Tammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I love graphic novels, I haven't read that many Manga. The premise of this one sounds entertaining, but it lacked in plot and character development for me to rate it any higher. Manga fans might enjoy it more than I did.

[Ambur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful start to the series!!!! The first volume of KNIGHT OF THE ICE was adorable and hilarious! I can’t wait to see what else this rom-com series has in store! Highly recommend!

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Thought this was gonna be like Yuri on Ice, disappointed it's not. But a typical shoujo story with some promise.

[Village Idiot · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was funny and the main characters were cute, but it's pretty much a typical shoujo. one kinda annoying part was how there was no set-up? the story starts when everything's already in place. chitose and kokoro already like each other, kokoro is in the middle of some kinda championship, and chitose's career is taking off too. all the other stuff just seemed forced and unnecessary. the way chitose is drawn is a bit..... why are her eyes so HUGE😭 not bad overall, but i will not be continuing it.

[mikaela (spinebreaker) · Rating 3 out of 5]

hmmm it was not the cuteness explosion that i really wanted, but i like ice skating a lot and it might scratch the part of my brain that From Lukov with Love occupies, so i'll probably continue at some point

[Forthright . · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chitose's childhood is an international figure skating star whose success hinges on a rather geeky superstition. She has to leave her office job and rush to his competitions in order to cast the magic spell from an anime they loved when they were kids over him. Without her, he's sure he'll fail. And it's patently obvious (to everyone but Chitose) that she's special to him for other reasons. Cute!

[nush 𐔌՞ ܸ.ˬ.ܸ՞𐦯 · Rating 3 out of 5]

i mean it was okay, i expected way more because ive seen this around so much and talked about so adoringly. i see the potential. it was a solid first volume but not too exciting tbh

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

After some thought, brought this one down to 3 solid stars. Didn’t like it as much as some other 4-5 star manga imho, but not bad.

Original thoughts below.

I really liked this one. Glad I got the first two volumes so I can go straight to the next one. 4 solid stars.

[Nella ☾ of Bookland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Awww this was cute ☺️

[ninapasta]

ONE ABOUT ICE SKATING? SIGN ME UP!

[Kira Thebookbella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute story between Chitose ( a 23-year-old carrer woman) and Kokoro Kjinami (a renown figure skater). Chitose is the good luck charm for Kjinami and also there is a super cute romance going on in here. Chitose is left trying to balance her career and Kjinami's need for her. Kjinami is very mentally delicate and seems to improve with the prescience of Chitose.

This was a quick and easy read. With fun characters that I absolutely adored and and a sport that I love. This was bound to be a winner for me.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, but I’m giving it room to grow for the future. What an odd story - he’s a figure skater and closet otaku who needs a magical girl spell to perform properly and she’s a childhood friend working for a magazine and has to be the one who recites the spell.

It’s got a lot of typical drama and some good chuckles and a lot of figure skating. I firmly think that any sports story is enhanced when the competitor has a risk of losing or outright fails, so points for that. Also, Se, the female protagonist, has a life besides being a potential love interest - she feels like a real character trying to balance two disparate lives.

It feels like a well thought out story from the get-go and I’ll be interested to see where it‘a heading. Even the secondary characters have some depth - there’s a care here that first volumes don’t often have. Nice work.

[Miss Susan]

@god please let this get so popular kodansha purchases the rights to tramp like us and does a rerelease, please, i beg you, i have been trying to acquire volume 13 for TEN YEARS

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm so disappointed. I love the premise and I love figure skating...I just didn't love this. I didn't connect to the characters and found the sexual innuendo uncomfortable. It was supposed to be funny, but, while not really graphic, it seemed inappropriate. I think it has potential if the characters are a bit fleshed out more personality wise instead of just showing what they are going through. I probably won't stick with it. I should mention that I'm really not into manga. I keep thinking I am, but realized I only really love a couple of series, like a few more and find the rest I've tried to be like this one: Blah. So, I'm probably not the right audience in the end.

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I'm unsure of how to rate this because I feel like a total wuss. 🙈

I LOVE the story and I love Chitose and Kokoro, but I really didn't enjoy some of the more adult content. I know it's not THAT adult, but I also know that because a VERY large part of my reading (like 99% of what I read) is "fluffy," I just couldn't fully get behind this first volume FULLY. It's a good story and it's engaging (especially the figure skating), but I just don't know.

I'm giving it one more volume to decide if I'll keep reading the series or not because I also like the blend of what seems to be a blooming romance and the sports so I'm curious where it will go.

[Cara Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a slow, charming josei manga seasoned with a healthy dash of sports and magical girl ridiculousness. I’m head-over-heels in love with the relaxed pacing and adorably awkward romance. I like my fast, crazy drama-filled series as much as the next romance manga addict, but it’s really nice to slow down once and a while with a warm and gentle love story. You know? Sometimes I need a hot cocoa at home as I cuddle in with a cozy blanket versus a caffeinated coffee to-go. This story is my hot cocoa night in.

[Heather D-G · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a chapter or so to get into this, but I think it ended up being quite enjoyable. Chitose and Kokoro have an interesting dynamic which keeps verging on unhealthy without quite going over into that territory.

Chitose literally makes herself sick trying to balance her own work/life along with being at the beck and call of Kokoro (or really, his slimy manager). Over time, he and his team have come to rely on her as a kind of lucky charm; needed to “cast a spell” from his favorite anime (he’s an otaku) on him right before performances.

When a big important competition arises that conflicts with an unmissable work trip, trouble ensues. Of course, partly this is caused by budding romantic feelings, but another part is definitely due to outside pressures that the pair will need to overcome.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read volumes 1-3. Was excited to try it out, as I really enjoyed Tramps Like Us. Unfortunately, didn’t pull me in like that series did. Plot wise, it didn’t really feel like there was much going on. Kokoro has competition after competition. Chitose is there to perform her “magic.” They like each other. Meh.

They also never felt like anything more than brother and sister, so the romance was a tough sell for me. Not sure if I’ll continue with this series.

[Lillian Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable but, damn, where are all the gay ice dancers?

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! It's really funny and I love a good love triangle, which this seems to be shaping into. Can't wait to pick up the next volume!

[BreAnna (Bre'sBooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh, the male lead was weak and the ice skating in this one didn't interest me.

[Demelza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Squeeeee! I loved this and am hooked.

[Rebecca Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is was good start to a sports manga. I find the main couple super interesting and I'm rooting for them! The side characters are all pretty horrible, though.

[H.K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute series so far.