“Aristia la Monique was the child of prophecy, raised to be the companion of the future emperor—until she wasn't. When the actual child of prophecy appears on the palace grounds, Aristia is immediately cast aside by both fiancé and country and forced to watch as Jieun is handed the love, future, and throne that was supposed to be hers. Her only reward for a lifetime of obedience is death…or rather, a second chance at life! When she unexpectedly wakes up in her ten-year-old body, Aristia resolves to escape the shackles of prophecy no matter the odds. This time, she'll take fate into her own hands!” (Yen Press)
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“The Abandoned Empress” is one of those series that perfectly balances contradictions with an upbeat visual tone masking the dark story within. On one hand, the visuals are overly bright, saturated in pastels and colors traditionally used in romance or fantasy titles to appeal to a cute, female focused aesthetic. However, the story itself goes into mature territory, addressing themes of inequality, violence and manipulation, all set in the Victorian era.
The inherent drama that comes with kingdoms conspiring against each other, sets the backdrop for a personal tragedy as a young woman is stripped of her dignity and used as a plaything by a despicable prince. It is not an unfamiliar story, but Ina & Yuna bring it to life with an intensity that makes it a challenging work to approach for a younger audience – themes of sexual assault being a big reason to not assume it is a general audience title in spite of the welcoming cover art. At the same time, there is more to the story than just adult focused drama as the first volume takes some fantastical turns that are best left unspoiled. Regardless, the story will appeal to fans of psychological comics that play with the character's emotions through themes of romance. It is a hard balance, but one that is perfectly executed within the pages.
Dealing with some themes of violence towards women, it is important to note that the protagonist Aristia la Monique is a deeply empathetic character whose intelligence and morality makes her the target over a perceived ‘helplessness' of the sex during the period. Working within the timeshare of Victorian era culture, stories where women are seen as doe eyed and malleable to the whims of others are not out of the realm of believability, yet it is always joyous to have a strong and determined one to push the narrative in the confines of a intelligent historical romance title.
The majority of titles released in webtoon format are created digitally, of which “The Abandoned Empress” suffers from the limitations of this approach. Notably, the characters have a certain coldness to their design which always seeps its way into digital art; lines too clean which lack personality of the human touch and layered textures that feel drag and dropped. However, what makes the title stand out among many of its contemporaries is Ina's wonderful use of color. Lush and vibrant, the shortcomings of the digital format become moot the further you get into the series. The release is, easily, one of the best looking digital comics you will come across.
A defined visual direction and an engaging narrative ensures that “The Abandoned Empress” will find favor with comic and manga fans alike. Furthermore, It is invigorating to see publishers, like Yen Press, bringing Manhwa to the forefront of their catalogue offering a platform for South Korean creators. If you are looking for a good jumping on point to experience what the webtoon format has to offer, “The Abandoned Empress” is an idyllic choice.
