“Navier Ellie Trovi was the lifelong companion of Sovieshu, the emperor of the Eastern Empire, with whom she spent her youth discussing the empire they would build together. She was intelligent, compassionate, and courageous. She was the perfect empress of the Eastern Empire, until the day Sovieshu fell for another woman, demanding a divorce. However, it was Navier who shocked Sovieshu, his beloved mistress, and a speechless court as she coldly declared: “I accept this divorce…and request an approval of my remarriage!” (IZE Press)
The genre of Historical fiction often takes liberties with the time period it draws inspiration from, commonly by interjecting elements of fantasy. Additionally, series commonly give its characters more modern personas, whether it be a creative choice to draw in a larger audience or going the, admittedly overused, route of having someone ‘isekaied' into the past. “The Remarried Empress” certainly toys with elements of fantasy, but where the manhwa really excels is in forgoing the modernity of its main character and instead making a refined, admirable, and fastidious lead in Navier. Consequently, the team behind the project was able to turn an archetype that could easily be the villain into a respectable character that is fascinating to follow.
Through Navier's experiences, reflections and friendships formed, “The Remarried Empress” is an eloquently written piece of drama that exemplifies the best of what Historical Fiction can offer. Furthermore, the supporting cast further reflects the determination of the young empress, as respect is not commanded but rather granted by everyone, from servants to foreign dignitaries through her actions. Her rival, the mistress of emperor Sovieshu, who displays traits normally reserved for the protagonist–innocence, passion, clumsiness, warmhearted–actually becomes vilified next to Navier who conveys deep wisdom for her role within the kingdom and the personality traits she must convey to maintain the aura of respected nobility. Comparatively, Emperor Sovieshu comes across as weak-willed and more interested in romanticizing youth and bolstering his ego when compared to the dignified Navier.
The art direction in the book is on the impressive side of digital art, with particular detail given to fashion, elegance, and the decadence of living a life of royalty. Unfortunately, “The Remarried Empress” often foregoes background for a splash of color. This is common to the digital webtoon format, so it can be overlooked in favor of the defined character design, yet it does hinder the overall visual prowess of the story that romanticizes the royal lifestyle. The book itself, like the rest of the IZE Press releases, feels of high quality and the fashion pops on the glossy pages.
“The Remarried Empress” is impressive in its writing and Navier is one of the more admirable characters you will come across in the historical fiction genre. This an easy recommendation for those looking to get into WebToons that enjoy historical, romance, and/or drama comics, while the visual flair may be slightly lacking, but the dialogue is gripping and the direction is deeply engrossing from the onset.
