Jan 4, 2024
I think with my recent attempts to try to get into the princess/villainess genre (I don't know what the subgenre is referred to as), I am starting to unravel and discover variations in the story type, and I think this manhwa introduced me to a new one. Having been bored reading the same "Oh no I got transferred to XYZ game, my family hates me, now I have to get out of here, but instead my family starts to like me sometime after", I was craving something new and I think this came forward to save me from falling to the pits of boredom.
Now beware,
...
that this is my first time reading this type of story, I don't know if it's a cliché or something, so I have looked at this and wrote a review about it with rose tinted glasses and have a positive outlook on it overall.
With that said, "The Empress of Ashes" uses the regression formula in its story and deals with a prince marrying a runaway slave. A rather Cindrella-esque story but less optimistic and more realistic, at least if compared to the fairy tale. It is a drama through and through, though I don't dislike it. Having a decent enough premise, the plot comprises of surprisingly decent politics in which the characters are involved, their own struggles and solutions to them.
A prince trying to fix the mistakes in his past life, willing to protect his loved one through any possible means. A runaway slave wanting to live a rather simple life but getting dragged in the webs of politics between nobles and aristocrats, trying her best to adapt. It develops a much interesting story than I guessed at start. Seeing through different perspectives of individuals with a drastic gap between the status gives a rather good dynamic to the story, but this aspect is starting to be absent in the latest chapters, where the POV is increasingly getting monotone and focused on only one character. The character themselves may come of as annoying sometimes but they are fine overall.
I think everyone knows about the art if they have even dabbled into this genre a little bit, that they beautify everything. And it does a great job doing so, so no complaints to be made.
About the pacing, it is deteriorating as it is progressing. While the difference is not that apparent but later chapter do feel a bit dragged out. Excessive drama and backstories play a part to it, but the pacing is not a huge problem as of currently.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
