Yona of the dawn is a very good manga. I really like every volume. The art, characters, and storyline is great.

It happened. It happened. Everyone stay calm. Yona of the Dawn Volume 31 sees the group recover from both battle and love confessions. VIZ Media’s imprint, Shojo Beat, brings readers Mizuho Kusanagi’s fantasy epic in English. The story follows a young princess and her bodyguard who are sent on the run after a coup on the palace by those they trusted. The English Adaptation is by Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane, with translation from JN Productions and touch-up art and lettering by Lys Blakeslee.

No one can deny that both Volume 29 and Volume 30 were absolute knockouts with high stakes and emotion. Yona of the Dawn Volume 31 slows the pace down because the story needs it. The characters and readers both haven’t had a chance to breathe, let alone really talk to each other in a good chunk of chapters. While it may not be the most titillating in terms of action, Kusanagi still has ways of keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

Okay, okay, let’s get to the elephant in the room: Yona confessed to Hak. Hak realized he was not dreaming…kind of. Their awkwardness is adorable, especially since Yona cannot initially speak due to the throat injury she sustained from the fire. While the rest of their found family can read the two like books, both Yona and Hak are hopeless when it comes to reading each other. While it adds a great layer of comedy to the romance, it also comes from a real and tender place. Both of these kids wanted to respect the others’ trauma, and never wanted to force feelings. They went so hard on respecting each others’ emotional consent that now it is difficult for them to process that they both have the “okay” to be in love with the other.



On the political side of things, everyone may have played nice for the battle, but once again the positive results have a ripple effect across the country. Keishuk knows immediately that there is no way Hak can be branded as a criminal after leading the troops to victory and earning their trust. Additionally, Keishuk admits that Hak’s physical and tactical prowess make him essentially an unmatched warrior in this lifetime. All of this means that Keishuk is back to his scheming in Yona of the Dawn Volume 31.

Keishuk’s motives are still unclear, but through comments made by various characters, a picture is put together. Whether it is clearer is up to the reader. The mysterious man claims to not be involved in the coup and Su-won’s reign for personal gain, but out of admiration for Su-won’s father. As far as we know, Su-won’s dad wasn’t a great guy…so that isn’t the greatest endorsement. Additionally, Keishuk seems completely unbothered by whatever trauma he has to put Yona through to achieve these goals.

Yona of the Dawn Volume 31 indeed sees Yona begin to confront that trauma, and Kusanagi beautifully makes our heroine’s journey come full circle to illustrate her growth. This isn’t to say she is unaffected. In fact, facing her trauma is difficult to witness as a reader. However, a lot of this volume focuses on how Yona and Hak have realized they have a family they want to protect, and they are willing to stare Hiryuu Palace in the face.

It isn’t just them. The Four Dragon Warriors are also realizing what this family has done for them. Even centuries-old Zeno is breaking out of his shell, which the gents notice. The developments are so subtle that it sometimes takes a clever side comment from a character to make readers really reflect on how far they’ve come. Once again, this is brilliant work on Kusanagi’s part.

Yona of the Dawn Volume 31 may feel slower for some, but that is only because breathing room is needed. A lot of weight is given to the characters reflecting on how far they’ve come and where they’d like to go. It is a necessary addition to the story in order to move forward. Also: YONA SAID, “I LOVE YOU” AT LAST. Enough said.

The exiled Princess Yona travels neighboring kingdoms, brokering peace among warring factions and solving problems for everyone she meets. She's accompanied by her childhood friend Hak and 5 dragon warriors of Legend.

I love the blend of fantasy and history in this series. Yona is growing steadily in each new volume.

Eeek, this one really stressed me out (don't get me wrong I loved it, this is one of my favorite series) - that major battle is over and one of the moments I've been waiting for forever (hmm like 30 volumes) finally happened and then nothing....like come on throw us a bone and solidify that a little more please! Then Keishuk is up to no good following the battle, suggesting Yona and the 4 Dragon warriors go back to the capital with him and ally themselves with Su-Won...I had this horrible feeling this was going to happen at some point and have been dreading it finally occurring. So in a word stressful volume. I definitely need the next one sooner rather than later, although with the way this one ended the next one might stress me out even more. Such a great great series, and the emotions and stakes just keep getting higher and higher...highly recommended to not just fantasy or shojo manga fans but also YA Fantasy readers.

Such a thoroughly enjoyable series. This volume delivers on romance, political intrigue and a new plot development that may fundamentally shift the lives of Yona, Hak, Yun and the dragons and involve the broader network of characters we've been introduced to over the course of the series. I'm already looking forward to volume 32!

The political intrigue! With the battle from last volume over, Keishuk decides it is in the country's best interests to offer Yona and the Happy Hungry Bunch an alliance. While going back to the palace city is definitely a gamble for the HHB, it's a gamble they decide to take. Kusanagi's art is gorgeous as always (though the screentone used for Geun-tae's skin tone is a bit odd).

This was a really satisfying volume of this long-running series. I'm excited to see how the story continues in the next volume.

Thirty-one volumes in and I can still see why Mizuho Kusanagi is a fabulous author. The way the story has built to this point, the politics and plot threads that have been woven through the story. It's crazy just how far the characters have come to this point, as they are so different than when we first met them.

This is yet another thrilling chapter in Yona and the Happy Hungry Bunch's story, and, as I say with every single one of these reviews, I cannot wait to see how it further unfolds. We're reaching a climax, either of the end or of a major plot thread--I'm not sure--but you can feel it as you read, how everything is starting to fall into place and come together. And I'm still not sure of the outcoming, but with the story on display for the last thirty volumes, I know it'll be a good one.

I loved so much about this volume! The upcoming story arc is going to be truly amazing, as we have all of the characters in play. Yona's true strength continues to come out in this volume, and I am so excited to continue my journey with them.

Yona and Hak escape from the burning palace, but Yona has lost her voice. When the Sky tribe offers her medicine to help, the first words out of her mouth are a confession of love to Hak. Hak doesn’t know how to respond. Yun is offered a chance to work with the Sky Tribe at Hiryuu Palace. Yona decides it’s time return to the palace and confront Su-Won… but it’s all a set up.

Another great addition to this series. I cannot believe Hak said nothing when Yona confessed her love. Of course, it just builds it up, doesn’t it? Another great series with action and comic relief. Glad to see many characters have returned to the scene for the next arc.

Thank you Netgalley and VIZ Media for this ARC. I love this series! It never gets boring and I will continue to read and encourage my students to check it out! As always, I cannot wait for the next installment!