Red Haired Snow White, Vol. 01 by Sorata Akizuki

Red Haired Snow White, Vol. 01 Reviews

• 
  Maya

  "Red-haired Snow White" ("Akagami no Shirayukihime") will appeal to a very particular group of readers, only.
  
  This series is 100% innocent and pure, peaceful and calm. Despite the fantasy fairy tale middle age-ish setting, the main genre of it is without argument Slice-of-Life. It is episodic without an overlaying story, and the “conflicts” are quite simple stuff, usually resolved within one chapter.
  
  There is kind of a love story between Shirayuki and Zen, but the series is way too innocent to let its characters consider anything beyond a kiss on the hand, let alone dating.
  
  Shirayuki is actually pretty cool. She is strong, smart, can stand up for herself, but she is also frustratingly dutiful and altruistic. The kind of character who will overwork himself to the point of collapsing without telling anybody, because he doesn’t want to bother them.
  
  So, depending on which kind of reader you are, you will find this work either wonderfully relaxing, calming and sweet, or utterly boring. It is certainly recommendable for young readers, because Zen is the perfect gentlemen-prince, who will take care of Shirayuki, but never push her. If you want something fluffy and don’t mind a romance moving at a snail’s pace, it’s also a good choice. Personally I had real difficulty keeping my attention fixed on the book. It was too full of nothing. I’m not looking for fluff, but for a good story. As said, not a bad series, but for a particular audience.
• 
  Rod Brown

  Oh. So. Dull.
  
  And. Dumb.
  
  This fantasy series riffs off Snow White, but only to the extent that one character says "Mirror, mirror," and there are some poisoned apples and a prince.
  
  The heroine attracts everyone's attention because she has beautiful and rare red hair, as we are reminded over and over and over again. She's supposed to be plucky and independent, except she applies all her skill and energy only to the goal of being close to the guy on whom she has a crush. Real empowered female there...
  
  I have two more volumes on hand from the library, and normally I feel obliged to read every single thing I check out, but I'm going to make an exception here. I am done with this super-blah series.
• 
  Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer

  
  Shirayuki's naturally bright-red hair has gotten her into a lot of trouble forcing her to flee to the neighboring kingdom... but fortunately it allowed her to meet the prince of Clarines, Zen! Thus starts a friendship between a most unusual herbalist and a lovestruck prince.
  
  Snow White with the Red Hair vol 1 doesn't really have a lot to do with Snow White. Well there are apples involved... poisoned apples to be precise but Snow White that doesn't make. Funnily enough I still quite loved this refreshing read. It's really about this girl who gets into a lot of trouble because of her red hair, but who is really a simple herbalist who wants to go about her business helping people. When she meets a boy and he gets embroiled in her troubles she ends up forming a bond with him that will be tested over and over since he's a prince!
  
  The trouble and the embroiling and the bonding all get off to a quick start. These are quick chapter snapshots that draw this couple together. The best chapter by far is the final one where she has the opportunity to get closer to Zen. I did like our Snow White, Shirayuki, and how she was never waiting to be rescued, each time she was actively working to free herself of whatever trouble she was in.
  
  This is quite clearly a romance center shoujo set in an old fashioned kingdom with princes... but it also has an iyashikei slice of life sense to it that I found quite Japanese. Iyashikei manga are peaceful and while conflict happens it doesn't raise your stress level and in the end is cute and happy. I'm not sure if this was deliberate but I found it a rather neat change of pace instead of overt angst with a side of love triangle action.
  
  Snow White with the Red Hair vol 1 is basically just setup at this point but has the potential to get really fun, really fast despite the lack of magic or fantasy elements beyond the kingdom setting.
  
  If I hadn't really liked both Shirayuki and Zen then I probably wouldn't have enjoyed Snow White with the Red Hair vol 1 at all... But they are a couple I found myself rooting for. She is feisty and willful but also kind and helpful. He is a responsible prince but also passionate and free-spirited! They seem to be more friends at this point but with Shirayuki's plans I'm hoping she gets embroiled in kingdom politics too. I can totally see this going somewhere amazing and then we have this slow burn romance as an added bonus!
  
  There was something so charming about the art in Snow White with the Red Hair vol 1. The background art impressed me right off the first page as I got a real sense about where we were and what kind of story this is... It gives you a sense of a fairy tale that is emphasized by iyashikei feel to the story. We know though right from Shirayuki's character design though that this is an unconventional girl... she cuts her hair and leaves behind a taunting token to the man who forced her to such actions... This isn't your soft maiden at all and it came out through the art. And Zen with his dramatic flair impressed me with his princely actions and form.
  
  At the heart of a shoujo manga is the couple... and Shirayuki and Zen have the magic something that is needed to carry the story... but will it be enough? Snow White with the Red Hair vol 1 gave us an excellent read that sets us up with characters to love and plenty of things happening to stir up trouble. Where we go from here will have to come through the next volume in the series!
  
  At the end of the volume there is a lovely bonus story called The Colorful Seasons of August. It was so cute about a color blind boy who meets a girl who helps him to see what the color blue must look like. If this is a example of the powerfully touching story that Sorata Akizuki can bring us then I am fully on board with Snow White with the Red Hair vol 1!! The art is a strength, of course, but the moments between these two kids were just WOW! Isn't that what a relationship is all about? The touching moments that draw a couple together!? Shirayuki and Zen you are going to take us on a wonderfully touching ride... I'm sure to check out volume 2 to find out!
  
  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Authenticity
  ⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐⭐ Tension
  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Plot
  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Art
  
  Thanks to Edelweiss and VIZ Media for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. It has not influenced my opinions.
  
  ______________________
  Please like this review if you enjoyed it! *bow* *bow* It helps me out a ton!!
• 
  Tamara

  Quick Summary - Strong willed main female character
  
  I'm enjoying this anime series so much!! ^_^ Good animation , very good ambience , terrific music , strong main female character, about the plot or the main goal cant tell yet, but enjoying it so far so I'm definitely going to check out the manga as well :D
• 
  Elizabeth Aguilar

  Very fast-paced. We go from the introduction of Shirayuki running away to another kingdom to escape becoming a concubine, to getting help from friendly strangers, to one of them eating a poisoned apple, to being kidnapped while out in town, to someone trying to push Shirayuki from Zen's side, to taking a test to become an herbalist apprentice.
  
  Not saying that's bad at all. I love political intrigue and angst but this fantasy slice-of-life style is easy to devour. Excited to read the rest of the series.
• 
  chelsea

  shirayuki & zen’s friendship is so cute
• 
  Shae

  I CANNOT BELIEVE I HAVE A LEGAL, PHYSICAL COPY IN MY POSSESSION!!!
  Thank you Viz Media and Shojo Beat for blessing me with an early copy of this love volume of manga!
  Welcome to the story of Shirayuki. Her beautiful, natural, apple red hair, has gotten her into some interesting situations. She has been ordered by the Prince of Tanbarun to be his concubine, because he loves her hair. Instead of going to be his concubine, she cuts her long hair short, leaving the hair for him to have.
  She escapes to the neighboring kingdom and runs into the ever so handsome Zen, who promptly wants to believe she would poison him. After earning his trust, she begins to learn bits about him and his two friends, Kiki and Mistuhide.
  Our fantastical adventure starts from there. I don't want to give any more details away. Watching Shirayuki go on this journey to be with her friends, and fight for what she wants warms my heart. She truly inspires me.
  Zen is the white haired boy of your dreams, who is not only handsome and strong, he has a good heart, and is loyal to those in his inner circle. Zen will do everything he can to protect Shirayuki and keep her by his side.
  The Prince of Tanbarun you ask? He is a spoiled rotten pig who needs to learn how to handle life when he doesn't get what he wants. Shirayuki running from him is something he didn't expect, and is surprised by her any time he is around her.
  Please go and pick up this lovely manga series. This is great for fans of series like Yona of the Dawn and The Ancient Magus Bride. Add a little more romance to those, and you've got this series!
• 
  Beth

  I read this first volume a few months ago and, although I was somewhat indifferent to it, decided to keep my copy anyway. A second reading has improved it.
  
  The art is charming, with a lot of effort in ornamentation and backgrounds, and without the over-commercialized look that can make manga feel rather soulless at times. Characterization is a little lacking here; I don't have a good idea of what motivates anyone. Story-wise there are a few too many mild-peril-and-rescue scenarios.
  
  In general, this is mellow and harmless, and could easily evolve into a heart-warmer as the author more fully explores the cast and the world. Her interest in herbalism shines through in the last story in this book, so there's another potential way for things to go. I have the second volume and am interested in seeing what it's like going forward.
• 
  Megan

  5/5 stars
  
  I watched the anime of this years ago and absolutely loved it! I finally got around to reading the manga and it's been really good so far!
  
  I really love the friendship between Shirayuki and Zen (and I very much ship them!) This manga is just so pure and wholesome! It was so refreshing to dive into this story again!
  
  Shoujo fans, fairytale fans, and cute romance fans will probably enjoy this series!
• 
  TheBookishHobbit

  This was a cute shojo retelling of "Snow White", however, it did not hook me like many other manga series I've read and loved. Now that I have quite a limited space on my manga bookcase, I am reading though and getting rid of series I probably will not finish out eventually. This is one of them, although the artwork was nice, the story sweet, there are other shojo series that I have I love ever more. If my library gets these books, then I will be more than happy to finish this series. Otherwise, I will put it down for now and maybe watch the show.
• 
  Andrea

  Definitivamente los mangas no están hechos para mí y con La Blancanieves pelirroja tiro la toalla. Eso sí. Al menos en esta ocasión el dibujo me ha gustado. Pero lo que es la historia en sí... Sin comentarios. En parte también porque el problema es mío y sería injusto "despotricar" a diestro y siniestro acerca de la trama, personajes... En fin. Que la puntuación es en base al estilo de dibujo y al hecho de que entre todos los mangas que he leído en mi vida este es el que menos me ha desagradado.
• 
  Julia

  Meh
• 
  Shea ☾⚂

  2.5
• 
  Despair Speaking

  I have quite a number of friends who liked this manga and still do as a matter of fact so I decided to check it out. I'm into historical fiction, with or without magic although I prefer the former. And this turned out to be... well, not for me? I couldn't bring myself to continue reading it.
  
  The beginning WAS good. I was interested in what Shirayuki would do and hoped she could continue outwitting Prince Raji. But a few chapters after finally escaping the prince's clutches thanks to Zen, it became boring. I lost interest and stopped reading.
  
  This might be your cup of tea (why the term cup of tea by the way? Why not cup of milk, coffee, or something else?) but it certainly isn't mine.
• 
  Alli Brooks

  Reread
  
  This story was just as enchanting the second time. I really enjoy Shirayuki's journey throughout this and it's such a fun take on the Snow White trope. I am excited to keep collecting these volumes!
  
  --
  I absolutely LOVED the bonus story at the end of this. It was so adorable.
  
  I'm really quite enjoying this so far! It's cute and fun and I'm really anxious to see where it goes!
• 
  Xia Lake

  DNF
• 
  Unabridged Bibliophile

  Cute, but not the most engaging.
• 
  agri

  was this innocent and cute? Yes.
  
  did our meek main character also have to get saved like 3 times by the charming prince who is a little too possessive over someone he just met? Also yes.
• 
  Sarah Ryder

  So cute! I’ve seen the first episode of this anime several times (and only a few after that… I really need to get back to watching it!) and LOVE IT, so I really wanted to give the manga another chance. I say “another” because I tried it once before but wasn’t in the right frame of mind/mood to like it, so I wanted to give it one more chance, and I’m so glad I did!
  
  The first chapter is the only Snow White retelling part of the whole volume, and even though it’s very loose I was able to pick up more subtle aspects of the fairytale which made me feel incredibly smart, lol! This volume is very much set up like several one shots or short stories that are loosely connected (which is only because the mangaka started this story only as a one shot), but despite the rather strange format I really enjoyed it and found it super relaxing and cute.
  
  The characters are wonderful even if I am still basing them mostly off the anime, and I was only confused a couple of times at how to read the order of some of the panels. If you want to start with a really clean, sweet yet also intense at times manga with a fairytale feel, this series would be perfect for you!
  
  Also, there’s an extra one shot at the end titled Colorful Seasons of August, and I just thought it was okay. 🤷🏼‍♀️
  
  I’m really excited to keep reading!
  
  
  ‼️Content‼️
  
  Language: crap; bastard; what the heck; damn
  
  Violence: a character is kidnapped, tied up, and chased (nothing over PG); a man slams his elbow into another’s stomach; a girl is held at torch and sword point; an arrow is shot at a girl (doesn’t hit her)
  
  Sexual: a girl is ordered to be a man’s concubine (nothing happens aside from threats); a man kidnapped a girl to sell her and possibly wants to “keep her for himself” (this could mean anything, but the vague hints made me think he was going to sell her as a sex slave or something similar—nothing is outright stated in this way though)
  
  Other: a girl uses some herbs to slow someone down; a character is poisoned
• 
  Yub Yub Commander

  Don't shoot me. Please.
  
  A really good friend recommended this too me. We have similar tastes, so I was super excited to read this......and I was really, really bored. I found myself unable to remember anyone's name other than "Zen." I found the characters flat and unrecognizable from the NPCs scattered throughout the story. I'm really uncertain what the plot is other than Zen exists and I guess likes the main character and the main character wants to become an herbalist.
  
  The constant plot repetition of Shirayuki (I think that's her name?) and her red hair being the focal reason why anyone remembered/cared about her dragged on and on. Every chapter opened with this being brought up and basically recounting the exact plot from each chapter which was dull. This read less like a story and more like random vignettes about some characters that were never fleshed out enough to make me know what was going on.
  
  Be that as it may, I'm giving it until book three before I decide to DNF, just to give my friend the benefit of the doubt because she loves this series and I really do want to like it. But if the other books are as bland as this is then no thank you.
• 
  m!!

  kinda insta lovey but the characters r cute
• 
  Ana

  Genial para pasar un rato entretenido. Para no leérmelo de golpe, he ido leyendo un capítulo por día, y la verdad es que lo he disfrutado mucho.
  
  Me encanta la idea de una Blancanieves que no sea una princesa y que su única particularidad (de primeras) sea su pelo rojo. Y ojo con Zen 🥰 Este primer número es bastante introductorio, así que no hay mucha chicha, pero ya se van conociendo a los personajes y motivaciones de algunos. Además, cuenta al final con una historia extra que no tiene nada que ver con Blancanieves y es muy tierna.
  
  Si no le pongo el cinco es porque, sobre todo al principio, me costaba muchas veces saber lo que estaba pasando o quién estaba hablando, porque salta muy rápido de una escena a otra. Pero, vamos, lo entiendes todo, solo que dedicándole un ratillo más.
• 
  maryamongstories

  *3.5*
  
  The plot is quite fun, and I definitely want to keep reading the series! I had some issues with the pacing though - it felt too quick, and there wasn't enough focus on the characters for me. But hopefully we'll get more of that as the story continues :)
• 
  Artemis Crescent

  A nice, sweet little shoujo manga that's so slice-of-life it's barely a fantasy, and the name of the heroine and the semiotics of apples are really the only connection it has to 'Snow White'.
  
  But 'Snow White with the Red Hair' is a lovely, episodic fairy tale manga with inner strength and dimensions.
  
  Manga, manga on the wall, what themes are contained within most of all?:
  
  Devotion, dedication, gratefulness, friendship, and a blossoming romance link everything together.
  
  Rarer than any red hair tone is my capacity to wholeheartedly care about a romance. And I actually like the two main leads and their relationship in 'Snow White with the Red Hair'. Zen is a handsome, charming, sensitive, brave and friendly rebel prince. And Shirayuki...
  
  Let's talk about Shirayuki:
  
  To all appearances she is a typical pretty, demure, frail, and helpless shoujo female lead. But this graceful girl who's not a princess has depth. The story starts with her refusing to become a spoiled, stupid prince's concubine - her rare apple-red hair has been a bane to her her whole life, but she pushes forward and rises above it in optimism - and just before she runs away from her village, she cuts her hair and has it delivered to the prince (who fills in the role of the evil queen here, I might add), because, and I quote, "If I agreed... I'd be no more than an apple he bought at the market... I left him a bundle of my hair... to stare at until he's sick of it."
  
  Sure, a few times Shirayuki is a damsel in distress, but she manages to save herself, without really needing Prince Zen, whom she's dedicated her path of destiny and happiness to, to come and rescue her. She's angry and/or aggressive only when she needs to be.
  
  Her ambition throughout the story is to become an herbalist - a chief herbalist at the court now so that she can be together with Zen, yes, but at this stage it's out of gratefulness to him and to ease his loneliness at the palace. A caring, thoughtful personality does not make a weak heroine.
  
  Shirayuki is smart, well-educated and well-read for a peasant girl, and she's determined, assertive, sarcastic, and possesses sass - and it's subtle. Behind a gentle shell there is bravery and defiance beyond compare. No death threat can stop her. Zen doesn't need to be so overprotective of her, and he'll learn this.
  
  There's a critique of class, royalty and the monarchy, and privileged upbringing in 'Snow White with the Red Hair, Vol. 1'. Also contained within this calming, beautiful gem of reflection are: a female bodyguard named Kiki, a female chief herbalist named Garak, two hilarious royal palace guards, and a collectively sweet and pleasant atmosphere, even with the threats to Shirayuki.
  
  Recommended to any shoujo manga fan, or anyone who wants a short, relaxing break time. Like reading a visual, fairy tale version of Natasha Bedingfield's 'Unwritten'.
  
  
  
  "This is the path I choose. And I won't allow my story to be written by another."
  
  
  
  Final Score: 4/5
• 
  Alice 🌙

  4/5 ⭐️
• 
  Kaja (red panda) *:･ﾟ✧

  This manga contains the most wholesome manga couple in all of existence, fight me.
  
  This is one of my absolute fave fantasy shoujos mangas and I'm incredibly excited for all of you, who read mangas in english, since as far as I know, first volume releases in english next month! If you end up picking it up, I hope you have an amazing time with it!
  
  RTC (whenever I can bring myself to get together a coherent review in english)
• 
  River (Neko Libritos)

  Akagami no Shirayuki-hime, snow White with the Red Hair o Blancanieves con el cabello rojo es una hermosa historia que nos contará la vida de Shirayuki y como su cabello rojo le ha traído una serie de problemas. Cuando piden su mano en matrimonio ella decide huir, dejando su cabello atrás y será cuando se topé con el enigmático Zen, quien le mostrará que en la vida se puede ser independiente aún si se sigue el destino.
  Una historia que adoro y espero continuar leyendo, ya voy bien adelantada en realidad, pero decidí releerlo ahora en físico para coleccionar está hermosura.
  Para mí sorpresa este tomo contenía un One-shot muy bonito sobre los colores y la vida misma.
  Súper recomendado para todos los que buscan amor, aventura, felicidad y drama en una misma obra.
• 
  Jes

  This was definitely very sweet and wholesome and I understand why it’s a shoujo classic, but like I said earlier this weekend. I’m addicted to josei, I fear.
  
  I feel like josei skews closer to the romance novels I read whereas shoujo is a bit too out of my age range. Granted, I��m only 21 but even so. I like grown women who work nine to fives and make stupid decisions with their love lives.
  
  I’m gonna try reading Fruits Basket tonight but something tells me it’s not going to be what I’m looking for. Again. Josei might be where my manga interests like (outside of Jujutsu Kaisen, naturally.)
• 
  Lucía Cafeína

  Le tenía muchísimas ganas, porque lo cierto que es que la sinopsis era muy cuqui, y los comentarios que había oído lo ponían por las nubes.
  Aunque es verdad que ha sido entretenido, no ha logrado transmitirme demasiado, y los personajes (al menos por ahora) me han parecido un poco planos. De todas formas, probaré el siguiente tomo, no me vaya a ocurrir como con Yona, que mejoró a partir del tercero y ahora es oro puro.
• 
  It's Jess✨

  Pacing was so fast - I loved the anime so I wanted to pick up the manga for more content and the first volume covers a bunch of episodes!
  
  (Bonus I don’t love when there’s a long bonus story that’s unrelated to the the characters)
  
  Wish it took more time to tell the story