This series is so addictive! Someone said they’re like a soap opera and I guess they are—if only soap operas were set in the 17th and 18th centuries and set in the Japanese court of female Shoguns because in this version of history a terrible pox has taken away most of the male population and women now rule the country. This is no kiddie manga. Lots of activity in the rulers bedchamber with a rotating cast of men trying to impregnate the Shogun while pleasuring her too so as not to lose their heads. Role reversals can be so much fun sometimes! 😊 ( )

Wonderful. Soap opera level drama, height of intrigue, beautiful art. Just keeps building up the story and background. Love it! ( )

I’m still enjoying this AU Japan in which most of the men die from the Redface Plague and imperial intrigue is the order of the day, though I do have trouble with the nested flashback structure and also with telling people apart; I imagine if I knew more Japanese history, or even history of Japanese fashion, I’d be doing better, because the outfits do change with the period. ( )