This manga is similar to Red River and Basara in their theme of "a strong female lead destined to go great things for their country" (both better works by different mangaka). The difference is that the main character is constantly getting captured, being selfish, putting other people in danger, and generally being useless. She shows a strong personality at times, but she is also extremely dumb (and very dependent).

See, at first I really liked this series. But it gets to the point where you want to shake the main character and tell her WAKE UP! Stop being selfish and hasty and putting everyone in danger! Stop trusting people who betray you repeatedly! Don't go alone with a man who's tried to rape you half a dozen times! And she continues to do it over and over. I want to know how this ends, but not so badly that I will sit through more of the heroine's foolishness.

All the other characters are pretty much stereotypes. The villain is the most interesting guy, but he gets really predictable too. The sidekicks don't have any strong personality points. The plot is a typical political shoujo - a girl destined to unite the country, save people, etc etc. (She doesn't actually save people - she depends on other people to do the work.) Seriously, this manga is way overrated.

... Last updated on April 21st, 2012, 3:12pm

I love her stories ^^ and her artwork is not very bad. This is a very intersting storyplot though it is..a little twisted...^.~

FANTASTIC Manga, i absoloutly love it, They stopped scanlating at the most AMAZING part. Aargh.
Saito Chiho's Manga's are all amazing, but this is my fravourate, detailed art, great storyline, not your typical Romance manga,
Leonara has a very detailed character, her personality is very strong and she does what she feels, no what others tell her too. Although i do feel that Prince Falcon is a little 'girly' but i LOVE Cesar (even more if he wasnt a murderer and into his sister)
My Fravourate Manga (up there with skip beat and first love (also a Saito Chiho, check it out. ^_^) x

Chiho Saito give us one of her best series with Kakan no Madonna. Leonora, Cesare, Falco, Da Vinci, are excellent characters. Falco is a bit silly (*no spoilers*), and Leonora is näive too, but it's not a problem at all. Both of them mature a lot as the manga goes on. And Saito uses pope Joan legend to create her story. I could not believe it.

Kakan no Madonna is not a historical manga, its romance, fantasy with loose historical roots. But it's really good, like Cantarella (by You Higuri). And her Cesare is too bad and to good to be hated, as higuri's one. ^_^ Ah, and someone wrote that Red River is Chioiho Saito's work. It's not true. Red River author is Chie Shinohara.

I LOVE this manga, i'm even going to buy it in japanese just to add it to my collection, if i was asked about the best Saito Chiho work, this would be my choice, GO ON READ IT

i love this manga best, of all saito chiho's mangas.Great plot, intriguing storyline and characters plus a twist of historical costumes.

I agree with Princess Vera you took the word right out of my mouths sure it looks good but its just a repeat and she is constantly repeating her mistakes oh come on thats just plain stupid

Great manga, the drawing is a little weird because it is older but you get used to. I love all the characters and I am so mad that they stopped translating. I want to know what happens so bad,

this manga is great,i love everything bout it.but at d end of vol 5 theres something happened to the main character..i can't stand it and stop reading this manga.

saito's works never fails to impress me. this is no exception. i've always had a liking for girls disguised as guys.

i found the raws for the last two volumes. but no translations. Nooo!! D:

... Last updated on June 24th, 2007, 8:20pm