The art of Koi Moon’s Moonlight will astound readers, but the story has room to improve. Although the characters are alluring in their appearance and the magic they possess is displayed in imagery almost perfect, the journey they are a part of does not do them justice.

This first volume serves mainly as the background to the action readers will anticipate to see, which perhaps may appear in future volumes. At under 100 pages for its first volume, Moonlight gives only a brief taste of its characters’ potential to capture the hearts of readers.

Moonlight, the heroine of this manga, is both naive and adaptable. Her shyness around royalty leads her to respond like a fangirl upon first meeting the prince. Once she finds out his motive for bringing her and her father to his palace, it is almost as if she becomes a completely different person.

The prince, however, does not seem to have Moonlight’s adaptability. Despite being able to trick his peers into believing he is a down to earth prince, he remains a selfish and childish individual, who is obsessed with being the sole owner of rare objects. Moonlight is one of those objects and even when enemies come to overtake his castle, he would rather have her killed than let anyone else own her or set her free.

The prince’s interest in Moonlight is apparent in her beauty, but could there be something more to her than her appearance? Welding fire is a gift of the prince’s, but he is the only one who seems to have magical powers at this point, making readers wonder if Moonlight has any similar abilities.

Beauty seems to be her only gift so far and it has served to bring her into the gravest danger, yet also helps her gain another chance at life when a young man brings her away from the castle and the prince’s clutches.

Overall, Moonlight could move more slowly through the action and give readers more time to get accustomed or even attached to the characters. The way they are pictorially displayed already has readers interested, but their emotions and back stories seem rushed. There is a sense throughout the manga that there are great things to come and that perhaps the development of the story has been pushed off for a purpose.

As a preview of a volume, this installment would be an excellent taste of Moonlight’s story but as an entire volume on its own, it is lacking. It does, however, draw readers to expect more in upcoming installments and presents enough questions to keep fans wanting more of these alluring characters.

Overall Rating: 3/5

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About the author

Kala Istvanek
Presently, I am attending Carthage College in Kenosha, U.S.A. I will be graduating with a degree in Asian Studies, with a minor in English and Studio Art. I have been a bookworm ever since I could read and I can never turn down a book. Art is also one of my loves and discovering new artists is always a thrill for me.