My rating would've been a measly 2.0 if it weren't for the delightful art and decent start. The plot was poorly executed - with terrible pacing, nonsensical lore, and rampant cliches. The cast of characters were memorable for how I detested them, most especially Leonora (our silver-haired idiot for an MC). *sighs* I tried...I really tried to like it.

Normally I refrain from commenting on manga that's simply not to my taste, but this one had additional problems that stood out way to much, so I dropped it before the plot had become clear. While I picked this one up for the hell of it, it's not like I did not know what to expect OR that I thought there would be a decent measure of historical accuracy. BUT there is a complete and total carelessness as to accuracy culturally, especially considering that the mangaka has works of a similar providence.

1. Until the 19th century, "Italy" was a purely geographic designation. The story of the sword is about England (it's in the Arthurian legends, among others).

2. No woman would have learned to fence unless her father was EXTREMELY unusual. Certainly not a merchant's daughter.

3. Catholic clergy (priests, nuns, monks, bishops, cardinals, and popes) cannot marry and are supposed to be celibate, so no children of the pope. Obviously this wasn't always followed (there were a few cases during the renaissance, including Alexander VI), but Cesare's position is impossible: an unrecognized papal prince would have been placed in a monastery from infancy. Also, the election process is well known, as it is globally broadcasted: the entire college of cardinals remain hold up in the Sistine Chapel the entire time. Furthermore, excluding nuns, the clergy is entirely MALE.

4. Additionally, with all the time spent on Leonardo da Vinci, one would think that the fact that he kept no botagia -- that he had no apprentices, certainly not Raphael Santi -- would have been understood.

5. The date of the manga does not exist: Alexander VI (1493-1503) was followed by Pius III, the infamous Julius II, and THEN Leo X de' Medici (1513-1521). In the manga's chronology, ten years and two popes are missing.

As I said, while I had not expected historical accuracy, this degree of ignorance is rather a bit much. Most of these are very easy to look up, and if one is publishing a historical work, surely doing that much research is advisable. Aside from the routine sentimental shoujo romantic fluff, the work is littered with a combination of cultural and historical nonsense without doing anything interesting with the gender bending. It is one thing to be lacking one or the other: it is quite another thing to neglect both aspects of background in an historical manga when they are central to the plot.

Side note: Rather amusingly, Leo X was a notoriously ugly pope (even when painted by Raphael) best known for saying at his coronation: "God gave us the Papacy, now let us enjoy it." Thus Luther.

... Last updated on July 3rd, 2015, 8:53am

Haven't quite decided if I'll read this yet but wanted to address some things first:

@Saons
What?! First of all, PrincessVera was comparing similar (or dissimilar, as the case may be) shoujo heroine styles. She/he never claimed they were by the same author. Besides, you didn't truly promote the manga at all with your little spiel. Your review made me even less likely to read it as the only redeeming trait you mentioned it had was based on your nostalgia. And your little 'ahem' was pretentious to the extreme.

I'm going to read it now to decide for myself, but your review was lackluster in its praise of a story you are so 'fond' of.

eta:
This manga is awful. Pass. =.=

... Last updated on January 3rd, 2013, 3:49am

It's probably an okay manga. I read until volume 5, which is a pretty long way, in my opinion....
I had to stop. Nothing bad against the manga...but I couldn't really stand the lead female. She is strong, but she doesn't ACT like it. She always wails for her prince charming to save her. She is impulsive.... Sigh. It just got too much all of a sudden.
This manga is deeply rooted in Italian historical context. Pretty interesting, if you like historical manga.
The art is not really my type, but I do admit it is beautiful.

@ PrincessVera, I must correct you. Red River or Anatolia Story is not by Saito Chiho, but by Chie Shinohara. Please make sure you have your facts correct before giving a review of a manga.
*ahem*
Anyway, for the most part, I must agree with most comments made. The author, Saito Chiho, has never had particularly influential plotlines excluding Revolutionary Girl Utena, and even then it was the anime adapted from it that really shone. Everything else that I've read of her work has been shallow, predictable, and annoying. Some are more tolerable than others, but in general I am not a fan. The art style is not really my taste, either.

Kakan no Madonna is one of the more tolerable ones; I was a fan of it when I was first introduced to manga, but it never got father than five volumes (scanlated). As such, I dropped it. Seeing it being picked up again, or at least updated after such a long while, I came to take a look. I do recall the manga fondly, but its not my taste any longer.
Still, I have to back it up just a little bit. If you're extremely bored and have nothing to read (and don't mind reading something incomplete), and maybe if you feel like laughing a little at the cliches, then sure, give it a try. Just know that you're not getting into anything unique or inspiring.

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 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

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

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

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,