Okay, while I can see how it'd bother people that all of her characters look similar, personally, it really doesn't bother me at all. I LOVE almost all of Tanemura's work, and, in my opinion, a lot of other manga-ka have been recycling ideas as well. I mean, really, there's only so many ways you can twist a story, and there are a TON of other manga out there.

Anyway, I actually liked this series, though there were certainly parts that ticked me off. I didn't think it was difficult to tell the characters apart, so I can't say that her characters all look the same. However, if you're the kind of person that can't re-read books, then you should probably find your entertainment elsewhere, as shoujo manga in general can be pretty repetitive.
The art was AMAZING, as usual! *really needs to buy one of her art books*

... Last updated on April 19th, 2011, 4:14pm

I know how hard it is to be a mangaka. You have to come up with a cool, fun idea and have poeple like it. I'm an aspiring mangaka (you probably haven't heard of me yet; i'm to be making my debut during a tokyo art exhibition in a few days) and I have a short attention span, but I'm really creative like Tanemura-sensei. She's my inspiration, so don't bash on her! But yeah, I think someone needs to give her a good idea... maybe a bullied girl who commits suicide? Oh, wait, crap, there goes my One Moon series...

Tanemura, you are a talented artist, but that being said, isn't it time to look beyond a fairy tale world of princesses and magical girls, princes and castles, and omgwtfwheredidthiscomefrom drama, and look for a manga writer?

I should have saw this coming, since Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne was pretty random and odd too, and her only truly good work is perhaps Full Moon wo Sagashite, but wow...this particular manga is really weird. I think she was trying to mix in a tragic historical romance with magical-girl lightness, but as you can see, those two don't go together AT ALL!

I love Arina Tanemura, I'm a huge fan of her art and stories and I always will be. I'm loyal and I have all of her stories but...
I'm definitely a little disappointed. Her art's beautiful as ever...but as a lot of other people mentioned, she seems to just be recycling characters...
The concept was pretty good at first, but as I read more I started to feel...meh

and she only has like, three different type of guy designs, most of the males in her manga all look the same...

This manga... I don't know what to say. I mean, the art, the genres and the story itself, I like them all. But what disturbs me is that the story progresses too fast. A few moments ago Sakura was a cute, fourteen girl who refused to marry the prince and now she's this strong, fighting girl who just accepts it without quiestions, fighting of the demon - and this is just chapter one. That doesn't work for me. I'll see if I'll continue reading this manga...

It was intressting reading the description, but it developed too fast...

The one really good thing about this manga is the art work. The character designs are good though for the most part they look much like many other character designs in manga.

The story is not really even decent. There is little consistency or normal reactions in the story. Nothing seems to be right. Maybe if we go further into the chapters there will be explanations for how the characters act and how the storyline develops though I doubt it. I just do not see anything here that makes any sense. Then of course I do not like how the story develops either so that may have a bit to do with not thinking the story is well written.

This is not something that I would recommend to anyone so I will not be reading any more of it even once it is complete.

true, it's pretty much the same but that's her style. You actually can tell who who is but it is indeed annoying that the character traits are always very similar.
Well, more or less every manga-ka has characters/looks they prefer, so what?
Sakurahime Kaden is at least much better than Mistress Fortune, that was a total failure (in m opinion).

... Last updated on August 12th, 2012, 6:04am

@TheAlmighty -

Agreed, it's extremely predictable, especially the two most recently released chapters:



All in all, Tanemura seems to be losing her touch. I'd respect her more if she didn't recycle the same old love-plots and character profiles.

For now, I'm going to give it a 7/10 (even though it probably deserves a lower grade), if it happens to be engaging later on, I may change it.

... Last updated on October 1st, 2009, 12:27pm

Typical Tanemura. Girl with a painful past and tries to hide her pain with a beautiful smile that make the boy wants to protect. It is so predictable.
The drawings are beautiful, that is the only reason I rated it a 1. Also. What is with the getup? It is like a high school uniform glorified.
While the drawings are beautiful, the heroine is still the same. She is literally another Maron with the only difference being a historical setting.

Edit:
I would like to elaborate a bit on my criticism after reading the comments defending this manga.
One of the things I liked about Arina-sensei's works is that she is actually capable of having a darker genre. It's only that the darker romance is always reserved only for the side characters. WHY? This is a personal opinion, but her main characters always have a more light hearted romantic plotline. It is banal and boring, since it basically is the same recycled plotline.

Another thing I would like to point out and this is the main reason to why I cannot take it seriously at all. We are talking about Heinan dynasty Japan. Why oh WHY is the magic girl get up designed after a high school uniform? It is so skimpy and highly inappropiate for someone who is meant to have been born and raised in the first century AD! If she wanted to have some type of magical element in her plotline, she needs to re-think in how to approach it. I am actually surprised that no one else had commented on that. It is so wrong on so many levels. The plot has potential and I am not against having a magical element in a historical setting, but in her haste to satisfy the early teen audience, Arina sensei has made this whole thing more of a joke than anything else.

... Last updated on April 10th, 2014, 7:40pm

First of all, you might be thinking by reading the other comments, that this manga is entirely typical. I thought so too when i read the first chapter, but the first chapter just gives the kind of background for the story. In the chapters following it, the twists and events really become surprising.

Sakura gives off the hopeful, naive, cutesy demeanor at first, but you'll see more of her personality later. You might be thinking that she'll become the typical "strong" female character, but she isn't. I admit that pulling Chizakura out of her hand is a bit silly, but it's not a huge part of the manga later on. She doesn't go on some quest to slay demons while developing feelings for Aoba. I'm not going to give away the really nerve-jerking moments in the manga, but i can say that there's more to the story than you'd expect.

I'd have to say that I find this manga the best that Tanemura has ever composed. Please give it a second chance, and for those of you who haven't decided whether to read it or not, please read it, and read at least through chapter 2 =)