Disclaimer: This review is NOT sponsored by or affiliated to Tapas media (or any of the creators). I read this comic/novel on Tapas with Ink bought using my own funds and I am voluntarily writing a review of the same. I do NOT own any of the images related to this comic. All credit goes to the original artist.
Blurb: As Maurina, she’s on the run as the last of her kingdom’s royal line. Disguised as Marie, she is just a maid, serving the victorious empire. She’s never been very good at anything, so when she’s told to make a wish, she asks for the ability to help others and bring them happiness. Now as visions of brilliant and skilled people fill her dreams, she’s imbued with a bounty of abilities perfectly suited for any dilemma. But will her secrets last as the crown prince seeks out both Maurina and Marie?
My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Another superb comic that I can read multiple times and I highly recommend! Clean, enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romance, mystery and magical dreams!
Marie is not your typical heroine. She’s timid, clumsy, simple-minded and hiding her identity to keep away from the blood-thirsty Crown Prince, Rhael. Her only motivation in life is to help others. But she fails in that area as well since she is too clumsy to do anything right.
In the beginning, I felt like the plot was just thrown into a tangent when Marie helps a dying prisoner and he asks her to seek a wish in return. Her wish itself is so detailed that it feels out of character for the simple-minded princess-turned-maid. But as the story progresses I realise that Princess Maurina is a much more intelligent, determined and resourceful character than the maid she pretends to be. That was a really nice piece of character development.
As the story goes, the prisoner blesses Marie and dies in peace. There is no backstory on who he was or why he was imprisoned or how he is able to grant her wish like that. (Another oddball!) However, as a result of his blessing, Marie starts to see magical dreams that help her become more efficient and secretly she’s able to provide solutions to various problems around the palace. Very soon she first catches the attention of the one person she wants to stay away from – the Crown Prince! He begins searching for the mysterious palace helper in order to reward her but Marie thinks he might recognise her true identity and so chooses to remain anonymous.
Despite all the tangents and oddballs, I loved the story. It is fast-paced, entertaining, diverse to some degree, full of palace intrigue and full of hope for the runaway princess. Before long, she has made allies of two of the most powerful men in the empire, who still don’t know that she is the person they are looking for. It feels like all they have to do is investigate her background and how she arrived at the palace, but they don’t even think about it. Luckily, the plot moves forward without giving the reader a chance to nitpick on this front. Rael has definitely fall in love with her and is continuously denying his feelings because he can’t marry a maid without antagonising his people. Yet, he wants to keep her by his side forever while Marie is thinking of ways to win her freedom and run away for a second time.
To be honest, it took me a while to start liking Marie. Her only flaw is her sad backstory as the princess of Cloyan Kingdom, which got conquered by the empire. She bears no hatred or resentment against the Crown Prince who destroyed her family and is trying to subjugate her people. It just doesn’t feel natural or rational. She begins to admire his good side all too quickly. No lingering trauma or negativity from her past experiences either. Too much good in any character is unrealistic.
Rhael is my favourite, though. His backstory is also sad but provides ample justification for his blood-thirsty character. He conquers Cloyan Kingdom and massacres the entire royal family. In the name of justice for his people, he is willing to kill or be killed. For all the responsibility he has given himself, he suffers from sever insomnia and struggles to keep a clear head each day. He is proficient in all his work but seeks no personal reward. He can be cruel and unforgiving to criminals when needed. He is also kind and just to the deserving. His character shows a rational balance of positive and negative traits.
Other characters are also enchanting and lovable. Artwork is good but not the best. Story is on a haitus now and I’m not sure when it will pick up again. I really would like to get to the ending. What do you think Rhael will do when he finds out Marie’s true identity?
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