Told you I wasn't totally lazy these past few days, haha! Here's one of the mangas I read over the holidays entitled First Girl by Saitou Chiho. Let me just say one thing before I delve further, once you read it make sure you are free to finish it because it won't let you do anything else. Yep, it's captivating and the storyline is just the right combination of scandalous and morally defiant. All 18 chapters are sure to satisfy your reading bugs. It's quite an old manga though published from 2002 to 2003 in five volumes.
linked image credit to owner
As always, a summary to tease your attention:
Satsuki Miu, was a seventeen year old girl sold to Leon Rosas, a rich son of a South American family, by her tango dancer of a mother to pay off debt. She was then brought to Leon's home country with marriage arrangements in place and where Leon was able to win her heart. While there though, a rebellious activity have threatened the family which resulted to the whole family being massacred save for Leon who was showing Miu a field of blue roses at the time.
Bent on getting revenge for his family, Leon sought the rebels and was reported killed during a stand off. This breaks Miu's heart of course thus her fleeing only to encounter the commander of the rebels himself, Juan Ortes, who she believes was the one responsible for Leon's death. During Miu's captive though, Juan somehow developed a liking for her which showed through out their next encounters. Miu then escapes the rebel camp and sought refuge at a tango house owned by Marianna. There was a beautiful scene of Miu dancing the tango which captivated Marianna's attention, allowing her to let Miu stay at her place to hide.
The refuge wasn't for long though as the place was raided by Captain Carlos Ricardo, who was a family enemy of the Rosas and the man behind the massacre. He has taken a new name of General Shilba and turns out he had a bitter history of being rejected by Marianna in the past. As a man who doesn't do well with rejection and things not going his way, he commandeered another raid of Marianna's tango place resulting to most of the civilians being killed including Marianna herself. Of course, Miu was captured as well as Juan who came to know where she is. They both escaped the general's camp before Juan can be sentenced to death for being the commander of the rebels. The general though has taken to liking Miu when he danced the tango with her to display his political power to the public.
Miu went back to Marianna's place and learned of her death as well as the civilians'. She was blamed for what happened and the remaining civilians weren't cozy to help them save for one. Miu then learned from Juan that Leon may still be alive. General Shilba's army caught up to them by this time and Juan was shot. Miu was rescued by a helicopter and placed on a boat bound for America where she was reunited with Leon. In America though, they had to separate so as not to endanger Miu but a sudden turn of events got our girl involved with some gangsters in which she was saved by a tango choreographer, Isaac Prince. At first, Isaac treated Miu as his dancing muse but eventually fell for her and convinced her to sleep with him by instilling doubt for Leon's love in her mind.
Not long after, Leon was able to track Miu where she was forgiven for sleeping with another man. Shilba and his cronies though have also caught up with them so they sought refuge yet again, this time, in Japan. The couple was reunited with Miu's mother where a juicy background concerning Leon's mother, Marianna and Miu's mother was revealed. It also turns out that Miu's step-brother was also in love with her and her mother's new beau was a spy for Shilba. The general caught up with the couple and had sentenced Leon to a public execution while forcing Miu to marry him to prove his power. They were both surprisingly saved by Juan who has survived death in a previous attack by Shilba's army. Shilba was then decided to be sentenced through the legal means with the ending result of Juan being elected as president. And after some years, it was to be decided that Leon is to be next president if he is willing in which he will make Miu as his first lady.
So yeah, quite a lengthy summary back there but believe me, those are just some of the exciting and juiciest parts. It may be a cliche plot of the powerful and the damsel in distress but the mangaka was able to tickle my attention until the wee hours of the morning with the beautiful artwork and emotions going on through out the story. I also like the fact that for a shoujo manga, the main character has developed from a helpless girl to a woman willing to fight for the man she loves. Since it's categorized as a josei, you can expect adult themes so if you're a minor, know that you have been warned.
Anyhow, as much as I like this manga there are some aspects which kinda makes me take a cringe and puff air through my nose. One is the fact that almost every significant man has fallen in love (in some way or another) with the main character which is understandably one of the characteristics of a shoujo manga. Another is the fact that Leon was gone for most of the chapters albeit it was implied that he's behind the mysterious rescue and other activities to bring Miu to safety. I mean, can't it have happened that we still have a reader's view of what's happening to Leon while Miu is going through one hardship to another? It would have brought more excitement to the time that they can see each other again to be honest or maybe that's just me. You guys decide.
Though some parts may seem unrealistic in some way or another, I still love the fact that the mangaka didn't overdo the damsel in distress theme though are some dangerously close instances. Another thing I didn't like about this manga was the unnecessary incestuous facet with the step-brother. It was just a mundane side story, not really doing any significant part for the manga as a whole. I didn't like the personality of the brother as well though I like that the fact that he loves his step-mother like his real mom. I can't decide if I like the long view ending though even if it implies a happy one for Miu and Leon. I would still rather see it for myself that they'll be living their lives in love and happiness rather than a mere implication. Yep, I'm a hopeless romantic in that sense. Not even gonna deny it. LOL.
So there you have it, my first manga review for 2016. I hope to write another one tomorrow before I get busy with interviews next week since I'm excited to share more of the mangas I read over the holidays with you guys. If you have read this manga already, let me know your thoughts about it. I'll surely enjoy discussing it with you. :)
You may read it here though if you want to support the mangaka, you may also opt to buy it at any leading online or local book/comic store available to you. Publication details are based from Wikipedia and MyAnimeList.
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