Quick summary: Don’t expect in depth politics, intrigue, full blown strategy for this series, but if you’re looking for a fluffy romance that’s positive read with consistent character development, Ookami Heika no Hanayome is a very good, well written and well paced historical light shoujo read. There are politics, intrigues and plot involved, but it takes a backseat in the story and serve more as a setting for the relationship development of the leads.
For the politics in the historical setting of this story, a lot of people have been comparing it to Saiunkoku no Monogatari, which I think shouldn't be compared. Both are equally well written, and with good execution and pacing, but Ookami Heika no Hanayome is lighter on the details of political intrigue compared to the other oft compared/previously mentioned title. It's not saying that this manga's political plots do not make any sense.. there are plots that are obviously quite thought out and have potential to be very complicated if the author chose to delve into them, but I think it wasn't the author’s purpose to write that kind of manga. The political plots do make sense, but they're made to be used more to frame and support the environment, setting that progresses relationship of the two main characters and not really concentrating the development of the country in question. There are some whodunits but its more on the lighter side of story telling. Not to say that there are no consequences for characters actions, there are still indication of dark ramifications, but it is not expounded too much if it doesn’t forward the relationship of the two leads.
The female lead can be labeled as somewhat naive, but it doesn't necessarily mean that she is an airhead. She has strong sense of responsibility and is quite aware of her deficiencies, which do not actually stop her from moving herself forward but instead use it as a motivation to improve. This is actually a good trait that makes the female lead much less of a damsel in distress type against the ruler-of-the-land male lead, and it makes the story move forward positively. The characters are portrayed more in a light manner (often comedic but not in a slapstick manner) and its similar to the gist and feel of the political plots which confirmed for me the author's intention to make a more easy and lighter historical shoujo. The relationship may feel somewhat childish and unrealistic to the reader during the first few volumes, but I promise the author gives a plausible and believable explanation how and why they actually do work together, and why their feelings do develop once their backstories are shown later in the series. Theres still a very slight suspension of belief but it didn’t really bother me, as mentioned, this was written as a more light romance historical shoujo approach. Side characters do have their own personalities and quirks, but they are not developed extensively with their backstories in lieu of developing the story for the main leads.
One thing to note: Surprisingly, up until the latest chapter i've read (ch74) there have been no other major characters that are involved in actual/concrete love triangles for the main leads, which I think is actually very interesting writing. Most shoujos, even historical ones, have some sort of love triangle that (sort of wreck a bit of havoc and) move the development of the leads relationship forward, but this one actually doesn't and yet still pulled off a a very satisfying read.
I didn’t regret reading this, it's really a very enjoyable read. As the previous commenter mentioned, if you can pull through and read past the first few volumes (which to be honest isn't really that bad either), things start to unfold and you’ll start to understand and appreciate how well the story is written and planned 🙂
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