From
Friendship Scans:
Beginning of 16th century, Alexandra was captured by slave traders in Ukraine during one of their many raids. When the traders arrived in Greece to sell the female slaves, a young handsome man named Mateus bought her and promised to give her true freedom. He hired countless teachers, scholars, and palace ladies to train her into the one perfect woman of her time.
Mateus's kindness has caused Alexandra to deeply fall in love with him, and she secretly wishes to be his concubine. But cruel fate! Mateus has already promised her to his best friend, who is Suleiman the Great, Emperor of the Ottoman Empire! Mateus promised Alexandra of true freedom, but where is freedom when she is in another man's harem and can only look at the one she loves from afar?
Not willing to endure this agony, Alexandra promises herself that one day, she will free both of them from their bird cages. But Mateus is the Grand Vizier, a power only second to the Emperor himself. So Alexandra must become the most influential concubine in order to have any hope—which also means bearing Suleiman's son. However, Suleiman already has a son by another concubine, and this woman is determined to keep her son as the only prince and only heir.
Thus begins the story of a slave that becomes the story of one of the greatest empresses of all time, Alexandra, the woman who would one day be known as Roxolana, Empress of the Ottoman Empire.
Average: 8.4 / 10.0 (139 votes)
Bayesian Average:
8.05 / 10.0
| 10 |
44% (61 votes) |
| 9+ |
15% (21 votes) |
| 8+ |
17% (23 votes) |
| 7+ |
12% (17 votes) |
| 6+ |
5% (7 votes) |
| 5+ |
1% (1 votes) |
| 4+ |
1% (2 votes) |
| 3+ |
1% (2 votes) |
| 2+ |
1% (2 votes) |
| 1+ |
2% (3 votes) |
(+89)
(-75)
That aside, I can see how the mangaka has been more mature in this series compare when she made Red River. It has better characterization, characters with their own good and bad side. Volume 1 is not very impressive, but after that I can see more of how these characters struggle, how she is trying to survive as a woman in a very cruel and competitive place such as harem but still showing her kindness (in a reasonable way). Hürrem is smart and brave (she fought back when bullied), which the mangaka was trying to do that too to Yuri (Red River) but IMHO failed, Yuri was depicted like a miracle girl who can do anything everything and love by all yet always needed to be saved, and unreasonably desirable to opposite sex. Hürrem doesn't have a beautiful face but she still manages to attract these men because she has enchanting voice. I like how male characters here are not-that-soon crazily infatuated with her after the first sight and then goes into I'm all over you mode. Well my guess, sooner or later, we will have to see these guys turn into Possesive lovers mode. But so far I like these characters and their interaction. Also, I would like to think there's subtle shounen ai here mixed in the love triangle between sultan, his concubine, and his most trusted servant. 
The two series have similarities! Read it since the other series is a masterpiece. I REALLY HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR THIS ONE <3 <3
