Finally, my review of Yona Of The Dawn Vol 1 is here. I will preface this review by saying that this series has been recommended to me multiple times, especially on the shoujo Reddit. Aside from knowing that it’s a long-running fantasy series currently at about 30 volumes, I am going in blind. I will summarize my review chapter by chapter to be as thorough as possible.
Chapter 1
We are introduced to a nearly 16-year-old Princess Yona who is doted on by her widowed father. Yona and her servant/young general of her kingdom Hak, bicker constantly. So far, I love their dynamic together. In this first chapter, Yona comes off as spoiled, so it seems like she needs someone like Hak to keep her grounded. We are introduced to Yona’s cousin Su-won (I have a bad feeling about him.) Yona believes she is in love with him, but her father refuses to let them marry. (Thank god.)
Yona’s birthday arrives, and she is over the moon when Suwon gives her a hairpin and compliments her. Later that night, Yona visits her father when she realizes the usual guards can’t be found. When she enters the room, she sees that her father has been murdered! The culprit? None other than Su-won?!
Chapter 2
Hak has no idea of the atrocity that has occurred within as he patrols the outside of the palace. Su-won surprisingly wastes no time in confessing to Yona that he killed his uncle, the king. He explains that it was to avenge his father, who he says Yona’s father, King Il, murdered in an act of betrayal. Suwon seems like he wasn’t expecting Yona to barge in on him, but when his supporters realize that Princess Yona is a witness, they order that she be killed so that he may become ruler of Kohka.
Fortunately, Hak’s instincts tell him something is amiss, and he soon encounters Princess Yona as she is fleeing for her life. Hak is undoubtedly no general in name alone, as he intends to square off against Su-won. Hak is referred to as the thunder beast. Shocked by Suwon’s betrayal, Hak and Yona begin to escape with the help of Minsu.
Chapter 3
This chapter gives us a flashback to about three years ago when Hak was just 15. He was a bit of a brat, based on his interactions with his adoptive grandfather, head of the wind tribe, and even King Il. Somewhat adorably surprising considering how loyal and dedicated he seems in the present.
Throws you off guard, you say? Maybe he loves her. I ship it.
Hak defends Yona against unwanted attention in the flashback. Yona was about 13 at the time. I’m just going to call it and say that Hak loves her beyond Princess and servant he’s probably just a Tsundere. The chapter ends in the present, where Hak reaffirms that he will protect Yona and honor his king, all while the exhausted Yona rests.
Chapter 4
Chapter 4 also begins with a flashback. Yona seems to be about 6 or 7 because it is before the death of Su-won’s father, who died ten years before the beginning of the series. Yona, Hak, and Su-won play in the snow and soon get sick together. This is shortly after the death of Yona’s mother, and Yona feels lonely as Hak’s grandfather and her uncle visit the boys, but her father doesn’t visit her.
Soon, Yona’s father visits and tries to make her favorite dish as an apology. It tastes awful, but Yona eats it happily. When the children are better, Suwon says he wishes they could stay together. Soon, it cuts to the present, where Yona replays Suwon’s betrayal. It is then that it is revealed that Yona was dreaming about her childhood and Suwon. Suwon is alerted that Hak and Yona have successfully fled. For now, it seems that Suwon intends to let them live.
Chapter 5
Yona is still in complete shock over her current situation. Hak notes that she doesn’t eat and behaves much like a doll. Hak seems a bit heartbroken that Yona has still kept the hairpin Su-won gave her on her ill-fated birthday.
Hak holds onto it for a while until he realizes that Yona is desperately looking for it. This is the first thing she has done of her own free will since fleeing the palace. Hak decides that if the hairpin and Yona’s feelings for Su-Won that she can’t let go of help keep her going, he’ll accept that for now. Poor Yona nearly gets herself bitten by a venomous snake in her attempt to find the hairpin. Hak Assures Yona that the safest place they can go for now is the capital city of the wind tribe. Hak’s home.
Impressions
Ah, I see what all the hype is about! It’s well-plotted. The atmosphere reminds me of one of my favorite K dramas, Scarlet Heart Ryeo or Queen In-Hyun’s Man. I love it. I’m here for it.
