Snow White with the Red Hair Graphic Novel Volume 2 cover image

In Tanbarun Kingdom, there is born a girl with beautiful hair that is as red as apples.  When she grows into young womanhood, Shirayuki's red hair earns her the unwanted attention of Prince Raj of Tanbarun.  Prince Zen, the second prince of the neighboring Clarines Kingdom, rescues Shirayuki and brings her to Wistal, Clarines' capital.  Zen moves her into Wistal Palace, where Shirayuki hones her skills as an herbalist, and thus, a love story begins.

As Snow White with the Red Hair, Vol. 2 (Chapters 5 to 8) opens, Shirayuki begins her apprenticeship as a “court herbalist.”  She also meets her mentor, Ryu, who is a prodigy as an herbalist.  But he is 12-years-old!  Later, Shirayuki joins Zen and a small military contingent as they travel to Fort Laxdo.  There, Shirayuki earns her first official duty – quell an illness that has struck down the men of the fort.

[This volume includes the manga short story, “Connect Us,” and bonus manga pages.]

THE LOWDOWN:  I did not read the first volume of the Snow White with the Red Hair manga.  My VIZ Media rep sent me the second volume, and I found that I did not have a difficult time figuring out the story dynamics of the series.

Snow White with the Red Hair Graphic Novel Volume 2, if this is your first volume, will introduce a cast of likable characters.  I find myself intrigued by the fact that Shirayuki is an herbalist, and I like the offbeat manner in which creator Sorata Akiduki is developing the relationship between herbalist and prince.  Akiduki adds more than a touch of darkness by introducing an important character late in this volume.  Snow White with the Red Hair is not great, but fans of The Water Dragon God may find that this is their kind of shojo manga.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:   Fans of fantasy-themed shojo will want to try the Shojo Beat title, Snow White with the Red Hair.

B+
7 out of 10