Title

Dawn of the Arcana

Also known as: Reimei no Arcana, 黎明のアルカナ, Reicana, Arkana'nın Şafağı, 黎明的阿爾卡納, L'Arcane de l'aube, Dawn of Arcana

by Rei Touma

Score from AniList: 73/100finished13 volumes65 chapters

FantasyRomance

Buy or read official Read with StoryHoard Community Sign in to vote for this week's Top 10

Princess Nakaba of Senan is forced to marry Prince Caesar of the enemy country Belquat, tantamount to becoming a hostage. While Caesar is pleasing to the eye, he is also selfish and possessive, telling Nakaba outright: “You are my property.” With only her attendant Loki at her side, Nakaba must find a way to cope with her hostile surroundings, her fake marriage...and a mysterious power! (Source: VIZ Media) Note: Includes 12 extra chapters.

Chapters available: 65
Type: Manga

Hoard Verdict

The StoryHoard editorial verdict

★ 3/5

A shoujo romance in which a princess is traded as a hostage-bride to an enemy prince, with a possessive lead and a mysterious power that adds intrigue.

Pros

An intriguing hidden-power hook
A vivid kingdom-politics setting
Finished 65-chapter run

Cons

The possessive romance may trouble some readers
Early chapters lean on setup

Read this if you liked:My Happy Marriage Akatsuki no Yona

Read the full take

Dawn of the Arcana sets its stakes early. Princess Nakaba is forced to marry Prince Caesar of an enemy country, which makes her a hostage in all but name. Caesar is handsome but selfish and possessive, and he tells her outright that she is his property. With only her attendant Loki beside her, Nakaba has to survive the hostile court and the fake marriage, and a mysterious power may be her only ally.The series is most engaging in its politics and in its gradual revelation of Nakaba's power. The kingdom setting gives the marriage a broader context, and her perseverance makes her a sympathetic lead.The weakness is the possessive romance dynamic, which may trouble some readers, and early chapters that lean on setup. Those who enjoy shoujo fantasy with political stakes will find a satisfying read. Readers wanting a more equal romance may find it uncomfortable, though the intrigue keeps it moving.