Crown, Volume 1

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this manga. The first few pages made it seem like it was going to be more action-y, yet soon after that I was introduced to the character of Mahiro- a cutesy anime girl if there were ever one. I have to admit, I didn't think I would like it- but I did! The plotline isn't exactly anything new, yet the authors manage to put their own unique spin on it. Mahiro is an orphan, having lost her parents in a horrific accident. To make matters worse, she's lost her home to selfish & greedy family members. It doesn't seem like things will change until she is abducted by two strange men... one of whom is her long lost brother! Unbeknownst to Mahiro, the two of them are heirs to a throne currently occupied by their evil aunt, who would be happier with the two of them dead. Add into this several action filled fights & a strange diamond pendant, & you have 'Crown'. (Don't worry- I didn't know what to think of the summary the first time I read it either!) Really, I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this manga & how much I'd originally thought I wouldn't like it. I was sure that it would be another new manga filled with cliches & nothing really new. I was pleasantly surprised. I loved the dynamics between Mahiro, her brother Ren & his best friend Jake. The author manages to make the relationship between Mahiro & her brother cute & close without making it overly ecchi (there's a little there, but not that much), which is nice- too many manga would have turned it into a series of running gags. I also liked the mixture of action, humor & drama. It wasn't entirely a perfect mix, but it was a nice one. It's something that will appeal to those who want something cute, but want something with a little bite to it. Overall, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to most readers. Fans of die-hard cute or die-hard action may be a little bored, but the rest of us will love this series & long for the next volume to be released!

It is not hard to find a new manga series to read as there is always a new series coming out each month. Finding a manga series that makes you look forward to the 2nd volume, now that is a difficult search. Volume 1 of the Crown shojo manga series came out in December of 2008 yet the bookstores have yet to be able keep their shelves stocked by this author. The author of the Crown series, Shinji Wada paints a hard to believe story line that if it were to be by another author would be found to believe that such events could not occur. The main character, Mahiro comes ask across as being naive in her beliefs but that adds to the charm of the story. Her long lost brother and his best friend will each have their individual appeal to readers. While I could write about incidents that happened this would ruin the fun in reading a new series. Expect the unexpected, for this author sends the story in another direction then what you are lead to expect.