Snow White with the Red Hair Graphic Novel Volume 3 cover image

In Tanbarun Kingdom, a girl is born 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 Wisteria, 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. 3 (Chapters 9 to 12) opens, Zen's older brother, the crown Prince Izana Wisteria, is back, and he is determined to come between Shirayuki and Zen.  To that end, he invites Prince Raj of Tanbarun to visit the Wistal Palace.  Will Izana be successful in causing strife between his younger brother and the girl with the bright red hair?  Also, there are problems with local lords, and a young native woman from an island of Clarines Kingdom and her exotic and talented bird need Shirayuki's help.

[This volume includes bonus manga pages.]

THE LOWDOWN:  Not reading the first volume of the Snow White with the Red Hair manga did not hinder me when I read the second volume.  I have not had a difficult time figuring out the story dynamics of the series.

Snow White with the Red Hair Graphic Novel Volume 3 is simply another serving of a cast of endearing characters.  Creator Sorata Akiduki offers a gentle reading experience as she reveals these interesting characters to us.  A courtly romance between a noble and a commoner, Snow White with the Red Hair has a medieval-like setting, and it is like The Princess Bride with a shojo manga spin.

Snow White with the Red Hair is not a great manga, but it is quite likable.  Also, Vol. 3 closes with the kind of ending that will make many readers feel that they have to come back for Vol. 4.

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

A-
7.5 out of 10