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カンタレラ [Cantarella] #2
CANTARELLA T02
Faced with the dark truth surrounding his accursed birth, Cesare is driven over the edge of sanity, straight into the arms of Hell. Will his other worldly transformation tear from him the last shred of humanity and leave only the ruthless conqueror in its stead?
Paperback
First published September 13, 2001
About the author
You Higuri
108 books66 followersYou 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
Source: Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
February 13, 2017
A second book and I cannot express how I love it!
October 9, 2019
This series is like a trashy, historical soap opera and I kind of love it.
August 16, 2021
Cesare’s secret is exposed to him by an all-too gleeful Don Juan, driving him to the edge…literally. The assassin sent to kill him may be his only salvation, the key to deciding his fate. Especially with the help of a moth magician who just happened to be fluttering by. (I had a theory about this magician which I’m delighted to say turned out to be true, not that readers learn anything about it in this volume.) Elements of the otheworldly blend intriguingly with historical events and Renaissance intrigue, reimagined through gossipy witnesses, experienced by the Borgias as they take dangerous risks in a cut throat world of power where any misstep could be their last.
It’s interesting to see how recorded events distorted and confirmed by various historians interweve with the fantastic while the hints of budding love affairs sprout amidst them. At the heart of it all is Cesare Borgia, directing and controlling the deadly games of politics in Renaissance Italy while he learns to control both his own darkness and humanity, latching onto Chiaro as an anchor amidst all this. All the while Chiaro, Lucrezia, and everyone else in his orbit responds to him. All of this is depicted in You Higuri’s exquisite and unique art style, drawing intense interest in the world she’s reimagined, keeping readers in her thrall, wondering how things will happen, even if history gives us an idea of what will happen next.
It’s interesting to see how recorded events distorted and confirmed by various historians interweve with the fantastic while the hints of budding love affairs sprout amidst them. At the heart of it all is Cesare Borgia, directing and controlling the deadly games of politics in Renaissance Italy while he learns to control both his own darkness and humanity, latching onto Chiaro as an anchor amidst all this. All the while Chiaro, Lucrezia, and everyone else in his orbit responds to him. All of this is depicted in You Higuri’s exquisite and unique art style, drawing intense interest in the world she’s reimagined, keeping readers in her thrall, wondering how things will happen, even if history gives us an idea of what will happen next.
September 27, 2020
Cesare is one of the most gorgeous bishies from my childhood. Those piercing golden demon eyes, ugh! He's got a tragic backstory and learns how to survive in a harsh environment. I love abused characters who get smart because they had no other choice.
September 13, 2017
Totally in love with this series. Story is perfect. Love the characters. Art is gorgeous. Recommended to fans of historical fiction and manga.
January 27, 2020
Read in Dec 2019... not sure exactly when
January 15, 2025
Love these series assassins creed 2 vibes fr
May 23, 2022
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
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
August 9, 2015
The cover of this is lovely but I'm being rather generous with the stars. More like 2.5. The art inside is pretty nice, along You Higuri's usual lines. THe storyline is still a mix of history and fantasy but it hangs together a bit better in this one than the first.
Between his father and his brother, Juan's treachery and rejection, young Cesare grows despondent and when Michelotto refuses to take his life, he tries to do it himself. During this Michelotto meets the magician who can turn himself into a butterfly (seen in vol 1 as well) who explains why injured, naked Cesare is being attacked/ravished by a smokey black demonic wolf (it's the demons Cesare's father attached to him, healing him but making him more under their control.) Michelotto ignores the advice to kill him now but does plan to kill Cesare if he goes too evil.
The rest of the book deals with family problems, Michelotto's captive father and Cesare's father's Machiavellian manipulations that lead him to being pope while he marries off both Lucrezia and Juan to royalty. Cesare is moved up the ladder in the priesthood. The story of course flirts with the rumors of Lucrezia and Cesare being in love (or at least she is in love with him, though ignores the historical rumors of her being involved with her father. Current thought is lucrezia was much maligned in her day and neither rumor is true). It also flirts with the closeness of Michelotto and Cesare (though Michelotto is also drawn to Lucrezia).
If you're looking for flat out yaoi, so far this will disappoint you. Storywise, it's not bad but I never bought more than this back when I first got it. I'm reviewing it now, years later as I purge my collection.
Between his father and his brother, Juan's treachery and rejection, young Cesare grows despondent and when Michelotto refuses to take his life, he tries to do it himself. During this Michelotto meets the magician who can turn himself into a butterfly (seen in vol 1 as well) who explains why injured, naked Cesare is being attacked/ravished by a smokey black demonic wolf (it's the demons Cesare's father attached to him, healing him but making him more under their control.) Michelotto ignores the advice to kill him now but does plan to kill Cesare if he goes too evil.
The rest of the book deals with family problems, Michelotto's captive father and Cesare's father's Machiavellian manipulations that lead him to being pope while he marries off both Lucrezia and Juan to royalty. Cesare is moved up the ladder in the priesthood. The story of course flirts with the rumors of Lucrezia and Cesare being in love (or at least she is in love with him, though ignores the historical rumors of her being involved with her father. Current thought is lucrezia was much maligned in her day and neither rumor is true). It also flirts with the closeness of Michelotto and Cesare (though Michelotto is also drawn to Lucrezia).
If you're looking for flat out yaoi, so far this will disappoint you. Storywise, it's not bad but I never bought more than this back when I first got it. I'm reviewing it now, years later as I purge my collection.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2022
Artwork is still pretty good. There’s certainly a particular style to it. I like the transition half way through the volume, from Cesare still as a young boy into Cesare as an older teenager. Michelotto as well. The whole series is rift with inconsistencies to the Borgia history but by this time the series is taking on a life of its own. We see Cesare at his most vulnerable here, which we won’t see much of after this; and the ending leaves us with something to mull over. Looking forward to the next volume.
July 27, 2009
i love how the politics that has plagued the church was captured. it was brilliantly captured. though, as a catholic it always pains me to read how the papacy was manipulated for political ends. popes should be picked through prayer and devotion to God. i always get sad when i think of such an important position gets twisted into doing work that is outside of the churches teachings. side-note, chiaro is kinda hot.
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August 2, 2011I didn't enjoy the previous volume much, and tried this one, in case the plot gets more interesting as the time passes.
It didn't.
The only improvement was in a more stable artwork (and less weird proportions and expressions).
I also tried advancing to the third volume, but stopped halfway through.
I am only glad I borrowed it instead of spending money on it.
It didn't.
The only improvement was in a more stable artwork (and less weird proportions and expressions).
I also tried advancing to the third volume, but stopped halfway through.
I am only glad I borrowed it instead of spending money on it.
April 9, 2011
Cesare accepts the power that the demons within can grant him and begins to use/abuse said power. The plot thickens as romantic tensions begin to veer toward what is bound to be one messed-up love triangle. It all made for passable bathtub reading, but may not ever rise above that.
April 29, 2016
This series is continuing to be intriguing. More of the mystery is unraveled as Cesare grows up and his father's pact is sealed. The adorable Chiaro becomes a major player as he witnesses Cesare's rebirth. It was a bit darker and more political than volume one, but certainly remains entertaining.
January 30, 2008
An improvement over volume 1. The characters grow up and become more twisted.
February 10, 2011
I love this series - can't wait to read the rest!
Read
May 11, 2011F HIG cantarell v.2
June 24, 2011
Very interesting story.
February 16, 2012
The second volume of Cantarella leaves me wondering if I'll continue to like the series, but it's kind of hard not to like Chiaro and Cesare. They're kind of cute...in a very creepy kind of way.
April 22, 2012
Vol. 2 is when the story really gets going... Glad I decided to read this again. ♥
November 26, 2012
Kinky!!! Such pretty faces and high libidos! I like this series, but I don't find it amazing. I think that I will read one more and judge from there.
August 18, 2013
Amazing Story........... A perfect mixture of history and fiction.......... One of my favorite titles............. Ever Green in my heart........... Love you Cesare.............
August 24, 2013
I love Micheletto and Cesare, and how this book puts a new interesting twist on the Borgia family, nice to see a new side of Cesare
September 30, 2015
Solid horror plot. Art so very pretty.
February 19, 2016
yaoi subtext anyone? amazing art work btw
March 21, 2016
Review coming soon
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September 4, 2018DNF
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews