“Navier now knows the identity of her pen pal, and is happy to find herself growing closer to Prince Heinrey (and Queen!). But not everyone is quite so pleased about their friendship…Meanwhile, Rashta's secret has been exposed, leaving her backed into a corner. How far is she willing to go to save her reputation?” (IZE Press)
One of the most impressive entries in the launch of IZE Press (an imprint of Yen Press focused on manhwa), the inaugural volume of “The Remarried Empress” presented a complex and well-written historical drama with light fantasy elements. Led by the strong-willed Empress, Navier, the series found a captivating protagonist with a bold and charismatic persona. Embodying beauty and charm, the large cast consisting of royalty and servants were all drawn into admiration of Navier, beyond the king who opts to spend his days dawdling with his mistress and unloading responsibilities onto his wife.
Volume 2 further focuses on building up the legacy and the story development of several suitors and instigators to the throne, all revolving around her experiences. New characters are introduced, while notable persons are further developed, but all act to further define the strengths of Navier. Notably, elements of romance are put secondary to her role as Empress, and the duty owed to her country stays at the forefront of her mind. This is not to say that she is diligent to a fault, however, but rather an intelligent character that understands the weight actions and appearances hold over her kingdom. While proving a challenge to potential suitors, Navier's pride makes her a strong independent character whose admiration needs to be earned and is not simply granted by status. Undeniably, one of the greatest attributes of the novel is how it forgoes simplistic tropes of the genre for a complex, well-constructed story with romantic elements.
While the large cast of suitors and various events within the book may seem convoluted, HereLee's adaptation of the original story from Alphatart makes the narrative simple to follow. Many readers will find that jumping back into the world of “The Remarried Empress” after a few months between volumes is seamless despite the amount of content–there is no need to go back and revisit the first volume. However, those who struggle to keep up with expansive casts may be better served to read in the WebToon format where they can read in chapters and further ahead than what is currently in print.
Visually, SUMPUL excels at bringing the various nobility to life, giving them unique features that help distinguish people from the large cast. Furthermore, the eye for fashion and elegance will certainly appease those that romanticize the era of nobility and the decadent lifestyle. The work on the background is lacking, losing a fair amount of the implied grandness of the kingdom, yet, this is a pretty consistent trait of many WebToon releases with the scheduling and digital format. Considering the strong writing and character designs, the lack of defined background art becomes permissible.
“The Remarried Empress” is an expertly executed historical romance story that is certain to appeal to those familiar with the genre. It is exemplary of the storytelling prowess that can be found in the WebToon format, and for physical collectors, it is a joy to have the work available outside of the online layout.
