Yona of the Dawn Vol 2 by Mizuho Kusanagi

Yona and Hak make it to the Wind Tribe's home, but the five tribe generals have been called to the capital to accept Su-Won’s claim to the throne (in the Wind Tribe's case, Hak's grandfather goes). The Wind Tribe refuses Su-Won's ascension, and the Fire Tribe, their neighbors, exact revenge. Hak and Yona both independently realize they can’t stay with the Wind Tribe unless they continue to put the tribes' lives in danger. They leave to seek out priests in hiding who may help Yona find out what to do about her kingdom. Before they get very far, Fire Tribe soldiers ambush them, and Yona starts to stand up for herself and Hak when he becomes gravely injured.

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I'm liking the slow progression of Yona becoming her own person.  Is it her fault that her father sheltered her? never let her touch a weapon? never told her what was going on around the kingdom, or even within the palace walls?  She's starting to realize that she can no longer afford to be the spoiled, sheltered princess, and she must learn survival skills and stand up for herself if she is to live, much less win back her kingdom.  The mangaka has given Yona sufficient time to grieve her father and be numb, but now it's time to put on the big-girl-panties and get stuff done.  I am a little more annoyed with Hak and his innuendos at Yona, which doesn't hold up with his overall character traits of loyalty to the royal family.  The art for this volume continues to be stunning, and the mangaka gives a special shout-out to her assistants for creating such beautiful backgrounds of the Wind Tribe's village.  

VIZ rates this series for Teen, and the only thing about this volume is the amount of sexual jokes Hak makes to Yona, but they're more so used to underscore how helpless she is (at one point he asks how she thinks she's going to pay him for his services, with her body?).  There is violence and some bloodshed as the Fire Tribe clashes with the Thunder Beast (Hak), but nothing gory.

Sara's Rating: 9/10
​Suitability Level: Grades 9-12

Reviews of previous volumes in this series: vol 1

Tags: Rating: 9/10, Suitability: High School, Manga, Fantasy