Cereah's manga / #Royalty(5)

A manga non like any other manga. Based in the city of Baghdad, ruled by the sultan who turned to tyranny because of his past. Then cue his future half, which makes his entrance in disguise as a part of the sultans harem to spare his sisters life. To avoid another virgin slaughter he seduces the sultan with a story and a promise to tell him stories each night. No longer a part of the harem, but the royal bard, the storyteller eases in to the mind of the tyrant himself and slowly but surely reveals the scarred child behind. Can I just say that this manga is a masterpiece? From the plot to the characters and the relationship which slowly develop between the sultan and his storyteller. It's certainly not one of those in your face couple's and the manga is more plot-driven than your average shounen ai. The stories themselves are very good and refreshing(as I suck at history, and haven't read the original OAON), and relevant to the characters and their development. Yes, they do halt the original plot, but it's not annoying. It keeps the suspense up and the readers on the edge of their seats. It may in a sense be called a filler, but it makes also sense to say it's not. Unlike your typical fillers, the couple themselves are also engaged in the stories, they develop and shows it has an effect on the original plot. Which is what makes this OTAON esque manga so unique. The art is beautiful, and even entrancing at times. It stays relevant to the era and the several locations. (Although there certainly is a lack of dark skinned characters.) [SPOILER] The ending was perfect. A great conclusion to this roller coaster of a manga. I'm a sucker for happy endings (like who isn't?), but I want to admit that it wouldn't be any less amazing and spectacular if the sultan hadn't survived. The death was a great character development for Sehara. Then again I also loved the input of Sharyar's love for books and stories as he travels the east -- the effect of Sehara's influence. I just love everything about this manga. It was one of those great reads you know. Never to be forgotten. Def worth a re-read in the future.