The Abandoned Empress, Vol. 1 (comic) (The Abandoned Empress (Comic), #1)

[Quirky Cat]

Summary:

Aristia was told all her life that she was the girl foretold in the prophecy - the one destined to become the empress. As such, she was raised to be the perfect bride for the future emperor.

Unfortunately, everyone was wrong. When another young woman appears from a different world, everyone quickly realizes she’s the girl in the prophecy, forcing Aristia to the side. This sets up a series of events that lead…well…to bad places for poor Aristia. Unless she gets a second chance, her story has been written.

Review:

I was browsing my local library recently, and The Abandoned Empress, Vol. 1 caught my attention (stunning cover!). So, with little thought or hesitation, I decided to try it! While I found the overall world fascinating, the tone of this story is just too heavy and down for me.

To be clear, I don’t mind an against-all-odds story or a story that begins in tragedy (Villains Are Destined to Die should be an excellent example of that!). But for some reason, this one just didn’t hook me before it got all sad and depressing, which meant I was pretty put off by the story overall. So keep that bias in mind.

The good: I love that Aristia’s (Tia) story is a clever take on the whole Isekai trope. Instead of popping into another world, she gets a second chance at her messed up life. Likewise, I love how she seems to be going about her second chance.

The bad: Everyone hates Aristia, and I do mean hate. The ending starts to help explain some of those reasons…but it’s still pretty stupid and shallow. It feels more like hate for the sake of the story, you know? Combine that with the trigger warnings, and…it’s too much for this reader.

Highlights:
Manwha
Romantic Fantasy
Historical Vibe
Battle for love/throne

Trigger Warnings:
Abuse/Sexual Assault
Depression
Pregnancy/Miscarriage

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