“The Kept Man of The Princess Knight” official synopsis from Yen Press: “While the beautiful princess Arwin selflessly delves into the dungeon searching for a way to save her kingdom, Matthew aimlessly wastes his days (and her money) on brothels and booze. Causing trouble wherever he goes on the rough streets of the Dungeon City, Matthew is scorned by everyone—except for Arwin. When it comes to her, Matthew’s loyalty may run far deeper than his deplorable reputation lets on. Could his attitude be nothing more than a facade to hide the true lengths he would go to for the princess…?”
It is difficult not to leave the inaugural volume of “The Kept Man of The Princess Knight” with much positivity. On a rudimentary level, the dark fantasy/action title succeeds in bringing an edginess highlighting the violence and overt sexuality, which will land for those looking for just that. However, an integral element is missing to push the story beyond its titillation and shock value; the manga goes beyond the ‘anti-hero’ trope to give an irredeemable and despicable lead that most readers will want to see fail.
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The introduction to protagonist Matthew is about as unsavory as it comes, using sexual intimidation to gain some coin for an evening at the brothel. Throughout the inaugural volume, Matthew is defined by his despicable actions and opportunism under a loose veil of heroism. Conversely, Princess Arwin’s only defining characteristic is her overt sexuality and her dependence on affection. Even being liberal and forgiving the work as an anti-hero story, “The Kept Man of The Princess Knight” presents itself as a niche within a niche with how unapproachable its characters are; it fails to elevate beyond disgust and disdain.
However, the manga still has the potential to grow beyond its awkward opener. Notably, Matthew’s secret abilities imply he may be an actual hero instead of a sex pest, and it is teased that Arwin may be the dominant one in the relationship. Both these point to a potential drastic switch in character perception that could drastically shift the tone of the work. Unless readers are hard up for crass and edgy content, waiting for subsequent volumes and more cemented impressions is the best way to approach the series.
To be generous, one element that the manga does land is its provocative content, with the overt sexuality and cruelty of the world being aptly captured. This will speak to those who like darker, more unforgiving fantasy stories with ample lewd content. The art of Keyyang is key to bringing the world to life. At the same time, “The Kept Man of The Princess Knight” is not as constantly violent or erotic as other mature titles currently included in Yen Press‘s release schedule. Unfortunately, the sensational content only comes in spurts.
“The Kept Man of The Princess Knight” offers an unfavorable initial impression; it does not do anything exceptionally well and only teases at a potential that may not manifest. It could get exciting, but with an abundance of recent stand-out titles from Yen Press aimed at mature audiences, like “Honey Trap Shared House” and “Game of Familia,” it may be best to sit this one out or read the light novels instead.
