Some shoujos are really good. BUT you are right: this manga is AMAZING and SPECIAL for many reasons.
This isn't just "shoujo". It's high quality manga, I'd even call it "gekiga". In other words: real Art! Shoujo is manga for girls, and I'm an old guy, and I can't get over how good this is. I bet I'm not the only non-girl Kaoru fan. Hail lady Mori Kaoru sensei!! Anybody agree? (all say yes)
My husband loves this manga too and he's not even a manga reader . He saw me reading this and in his own words,"I'm addicted!" He starts reading other manga now and trying to get his Dad to read this manga
That's what I mean. Names like shoujo or shounen or yaoi are referring to one specific fragment of the readers public. Like Dance music or Country music. Really GOOD manga are like Mozart, Bach or Beethoven: anrybody who loves beauty and art, will love those.
Mrs Kaoru is one fine artist, one of the very best.
I hope she doesn't ruin her health working too hard, so she can enjoy her work and our admiration for a long time...
This is the only shoujo that hasn't made me cringe even after diving headfirst into the flames of yaoi. Mori kaoru, thank you for this wonderful work, and for respecting the culture of 1800s central asia. Your attention to detail, and unbiased storytelling makes this story truly authentic which is hard to come by these days. Also, thank you for the extensive research you put into this work, it hasn't gone unnoticed and please keep doing what you do. The world of Otoyomegatari and ALL its characters have left such a huge impression on me, I am glad I took up this manga. ^-^