Requiem of the Rose King, Vol. 14

薔薇王の葬列 [Baraō no Sōretsu] #14

by Aya Kanno

Reigning as king at last, Richard slips out of the banquet to celebrate in Buckingham’s loving arms. But due to Richmond’s behind-the-scenes machinations, Richard’s happiness is short-lived. And when questions arise about the true parentage of Richard’s son Edward, the very foundation of his rule is shaken.

Genres: Manga, Historical Fiction, Historical, Fantasy, LGBT, Shojo, Romance

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 16, 2020

About the author

Aya Kanno (菅野文; Kanno Aya) is a Japanese shōjo manga artist.

Former assistant of mangaka Masashi Asaki of Psychometrer Eiji fame, she made her debut in the January 2001 issue of Hakusensha's magazine "Hana to Yume" with Soul Rescue. Her works include Otomen.

Reviews

[kerrycat]

this series is making me crazy . . .

off the hook gorgeous art and incredible writing - this story is sooooo compelling, and this cliffhanger - I don't even know how I'm supposed to wait on the next volume.

[Rebecca]

We're back to beggaring belief, but I'm in too deep to stop this series now. And besides, soon our revels will be ended, and I'm dying to see how Kanno wraps this up.

[marcia]

Vol. 9 ★★★★☆
Vol. 10 ★★★★☆
Vol. 11 ★★★★☆
Vol. 12 ★★★★★
Vol. 13 ★★★★☆

This volume is rough. I couldn't suspend my disbelief. On one hand, I know Richard is insecure about his body and refuses to let anyone examine it. That said, it's silly that Aya Kanno wants me to believe he's been having his period this whole time yet never questions what it means. Even if that's the case, she could've alluded to it in previous chapters so this isn't happening out of the blue.

[Noa Seishu]

Cuando el rio suena, piedras lleva... al final estaba claro que llegaría este momento y ahora queda ver que pasara en estos ultimos tomos que queda... me duele pensar en la posibilidad de que todo se pueda ir a la mierda del todo entre Buckingham y Richard...

[The_noxbook]

Me duele el puto corazón. Siento ser tan bestia, pero este manga me pone los sentimientos a flor de piel.

Sé qué pasó en la historia, pero aún tengo esperanzas que Aya Kanno nos de un cambio ingenioso para que esto no termine como el rosario de la Aurora.

[Kathy]

Requiem of the Rose King #14
Art and Story by Aya Kanno
Reviewed December 16, 2023


Continuing on to volume 14…and then I’ll be taking a break, leaving the finale for a quieter time.

In some ways, this is like a well written soap opera with equally well written sections of alternate history. No matter which way you choose to look at it, it’s a series that has even someone like me with no real interest in manga hooked! In many ways, it is one of the most original interpretations of the legend of Richard III, yet still manages to pay homage to not only Shakespeare but also the history behind the fiction.

Several things happen in volume 14. Richard confesses to Bucky that Edward of Middleham (Richard’s son) is not his own but is, in fact, the son of Anne and her first husband, Edward of Lancaster. It really, really helps to have a good understanding of this era. Otherwise, all the Henrys, Richards, and Edwards can be more than a little confusing! This leads to an argument between Richard and Bucky, and the beginnings of a split in their relationship when Bucky says young Edward needs to be set aside because he’s not a true York, while Richard has come to love this boy, who offers him unconditional affection, as his own.

And now things are getting really interesting, if not a bit bizarre. Preparations are being made for a coronation at York, but before that, Richard visits Buckingham at his estates. There, he reveals that he might be pregnant. Okay, I am willing to suspend belief for this one because what the heck. If I can accept an intersex Richard, I guess I can accept him getting pregnant…but what the...? Hermaphrodites are almost always sterile, and even if this time he (or she?) is fertile, I couldn’t stop myself from thinking, “WTF? Do you mean that all this time, Richard hadn’t noticed that he missed his period?”

Suddenly, we have Bucky wanting to set up house with Richard and prevent Richard from leaving. But Richard isn’t willing to give up the throne he has always sought. Will Richard give up the throne to be with his other half? Will Catesby find Richard before more damage is done? And what about Tyrell, the mystery assassin?

Perhaps this time, we are given a more outlandish story than we’re used to, but in the context of the whole picture, it all works in its own weird and eccentric way.

[Nika✨️]

Todo lo que se necesita saber de esta historia, es que en el momento en que Richard cree tener aunque sea un mínimo de felicidad en el amor, las cosas están destinadas a ir mal :'D

Me preocupa qué significa eso de "Mata a Richard", Buckingham, ¿qué vas a hacer? T_T

[DonutKnow]

Oh Buckingham, you bastard!

[ν1ятυα]

I just wanna post a gif of that old vine where the guy goes "What the Fuck, Richard?" Because that is all that's going through my mind right now.
And also I'm still distrustful of Buckingham...I wish he wasn't so handsome though and stopped occupying my thoughts.

[Gocrope]

El anterior fue muy top y era muy difícil superarlo. ¿Lo consigue? No, pero mantiene lo telenovelesco y Shakespeariano así que solo puedo decir: chapó.

[Heather D-G]

What the hell was that ending?!? Why? Argh!
Also? Buckingham can go take a flying leap.

That’s it. That’s the whole review.

[Yunebooks]

No me esperaba este nivel de locura en los últimos tomos. Me estan destrozando y dando la vida.

Qué acabo de leer 😮‍💨🤯

[Online Eccentric Librarian]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

I am still greatly enjoying this fantastical reimagining of Shakespeare's Richard III. A lot of historical facts are there but Kanno is having a great time playing with them, creating melodrama and over-the-top characterizations in the process. In this volume, we're at the point in history when Richard III has assumed the throne and is dealing with all that entails.

Story: Buckingham has put Richard III on the throne but at the cost of his own heart as he falls deeply in love with the new King. But rumors around court are that Richard is a demon and could not have fathered the young prince who calls him father. As Buckingham and Richard begin a relationship, the Duke decides he does not want to share Richard with England or Richard's wife Anne. Even more problematic, the Princes in the tower are starting to develop a following and could overthrow Richard's rule. Richard, meanwhile, is having issues with his body - issues that could be very feminine in origin.

Making Richard III be intersex was a creative license by Kanno and it has definitely created a fertile ground for the storytelling. Especially in these last years of Richard's life, all leading up to Buckingham's rebellion, the killing of the Princes in the tower, the sudden death of Richard's 10 year old son, and eventually the battle of Bosworth.

In all, great fun and melodrama with an underlying bit of British history. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Printia_books]

"Aunque tengas algo en la mano, no quiere decir que dicho objeto sea de tu propiedad. Abre muy bien los ojos, porque siempre habrá ambiciosos que deseen aquello que portas. Incluso aquellos que crees amigos pueden darte la espalda. Y todo por ese objeto que llegó a tus manos."

Nuevas traiciones, nuevas sorpresas y giros de guión rodean a este tomo de Réquiem, donde nos centramos en la relación entre Richard y dos de sus seres más queridos.

Podemos ver cómo las consecuencias de llevar una corona están haciendo mella en la libertad y la vida de aquel que la porta. Los chismorreos y las malas habladurías son usados como método de presión, todo para poder usar la corona de títere, sin importar la cabeza que la porta.

Aparte, también hay personajes que quieren aprender del camino del amor, todo con el fin de comprender aún más aquello que sienten, y todo lo que les rodea. Para, de esta forma, aprender a proteger mejor aquello que aman.

Aunque, antes de ello, deberán enfrentar cara a cara con sus decisiones pasadas, y las consecuencias que estas han traído al futuro. Uno que parecía ser brillante y prometedor.

[Katja]

Aaah, I finally got this volume, my pre-order was in a limbo for forever. :(

But AAAAAHHHH, what is happening again??? I love it but oh how I dread what is going to happen to the characters. And daaamn that twist with Richard, as if there wasn't enough problems already...! And "Tyrell", I'm waiting for him to remember everything (and dreading because it's gonna happen too late, isn't it.. I'm crying already.). And when will Anne finally say something?? I know it's not gonna help at this point but give me a little something here, please...

And now I'll go lie on the floor for a moment.

(Anime starts soon too! I will stop watching when it gets to the parts I haven't read yet but I hope it's as good an adaptation as possible, I don't think it'll be as impressive as the manga though. But yay Hikaru Midorikawa as Henry VI, it was a little bit surprising casting to me but since he's one of my favourite seiyuus, absolutely no complaints. :D)

[Natalie]

Depression. I actually already finished up to Volume 16 but I've been dragging out the re-read of this volume because I just want to stay in Chapter 61 forever. The final chapter for this volume is actually amazing because it makes so much sense when you know what happens, but in the moment the whiplash is absolutely insane. Buckingham is just too smart for his own good. Richard too, but Buckingham can clock the root of the issue ahead of everyone else but he was also the one who caused it in the first place. So that's the tragedy. That last chapter? Messed up. His methods? Questionable. But in hindsight? He is right. But what is right isn't exactly what Richard wants. So here we are heading for tragedy. Anyway I'm depressed.

[Katja]

This series is, hands down, one of my favourite manga of all time. i always had a soft spot for everything War of the Roses, and this manga provides just the right mixture between fact and fiction. I'm rooting for the characters although of course I know what will probably happen in the end. But everyone here is so torn and twisted and good and bad at the same time, without being too much over the top.

Volume 14 especially tore my heart out and I can't wait to read the next volume because freaking hell, I love this.

[Yamell Lizardo]

Cuando yo tenía tu edad nunca me paraba a pensar en lo hermosas que son las flores.

Las rosas blancas eran un juramento de venganza, las rosas rojas, la prueba de la sangre derramada.

Sufrí con el pequeño Edward, que la corte lo rechace porque no se parece a su padre, el bullying y el dolor que le han causado al niño las malas lenguas. 😭.

Y no soporto a Buckingham, nunca me gustó, siempre dije que sería la perdición de Richard, y ahora se empeña en ser su calvario y condenarlo.

Veo venir un destino que no será en absoluto de mi agrado.

[Miss Susan]

me reading this volume like i'd swear you've never had a period? how are you worried about pregnancy when you've shown no evidence of having intrauterine lining? i know the science might have been less advanced back then but they def knew how the whole periods and pregnancy thing was connected

2.5 stars

[Mireia]

Hasta ahora, este ha sido el tomo que más he disfrutado de la saga, tiene muchos giros (para mi inesperados) y algún otro que a medida que ves los paneles dices: ahhhh, me supongo que pasa esto...

Definitivamente me ha tenido al borde del sofa mientras leía más y más de esta historia. Ahora necesito leer el 15 con urgencia! no me puedo creer que en 3 tomos se acabe esta saga!

[Nea Poulain]

BUCKINHAAAAAM JXJXKDNFNXNXKF CONFÍE EN TI PORQUE RICHARD TE AMA NO SALGAS CON TUS ESTUPIDECES DE QUERERLO DE ATTIC WIFE

En fin, ya lo saque.

La imagen de Richard con el vestido y el grillete en la mano me hizo cosas 😭

[Kristilyn]

There is so much drama and betrayal in this series and I just cannot get enough!

[Ester]

Que Buckingham es el mejor personaje se demuestra a cada tomo. Menuda fantasía. Qué miedo tengo a cómo acabará todo.

[Laura]

Henry VII (though not king yet) seems like a fun guy and maybe a little insane. Fits in well with the rest of the messed up cast!

[Emi]

El término "relación complicada" Se queda muy corta para estos dos. Madre mía, qué mal están!

[M ♡]

Saved it for my birthday!

[CJ]

OH MY GOD. Can the next volume hurry up.

[fawn]

Edward (Richard III's son) is so precious and I officially loathe Buckingham.

[Adne]

follia ??

[J Vignes]

Everything is blowing up at this point and I’m terrified to see where things will go.

And Buckingham??? He’s lost his F*CKING MIND