A Promise Of Romance

Lighter reading with the typical shy romance beginning, deepening into love after a few twists, turns, and flares of jealous temper from Lord Edward's cousin, Angelica, who wished to marry him, yet Edward has set up an arrangement with a Japanese foreign theatre student named Satsuki. The story premise is good, but it becomes a little uneven once dialogue begins for Satsuki is rather shy and quiet, then suddenly becomes bold and challenging, and it just didn't seem very subtle. The dialogue of the central characters of Neville, Edward and Satsuki, also called May, all changed too suddenly from scene to scene. Really out of characterbut this is the first illustrated novel I've read of this genre so I guess the hurried tone is to be expected. Sudden, choppy, it really could have been smoother. I may seem critical but I do editing work, so this could easily have been corrected by the writer or editor to make this a better story. Overall though, it was ok, and if you have an hour or so to pass, and don't have Nobel Prize standards, A Promise of Romance is an average read.

Story: 7/10 A Promise of Romance is a very (well maybe a little) cliche story. I didn't mean it in a bad way though. In fact, I loved cliche stories myself. You know, a love story between a rich and a commoner. Though this one is a male to male pairing. Most of the scenes were really predictable though. Getting in a fake engagement contract, rich person paying the commoner for the deal, both parties falling in love with each other. Something like that. Art: 7/10 It was drawn by one of my fave mangaka, Miyagi Touko-sensei. The art is nice but considering that this novel was written and drawna long time ago, I think Miyagi-sensei's art style now is really much better. Though I wonder why the illustrations were only 5 pages (or was it 6)? I mean... they could have made her draw more scenes. It was such a shame. Just like in Love Water (different writer but same artist). Characters: 7/10 Well nothing much here, the uke and seme are your typical "couple". Enjoyment: 8/10 Like I said, I loved cliche stories so I like this. BUT I was kinda disappointed with the last few parts and the ending. It felt so rushed and it would be better if this has a sequel. Because if you asked me, I think a sequel is really essential. The author, Akitsu Kyoko-sensei, could have prolonged the story more. Overall: 7/10 I recommend it to people who likes non-complicated, cliche story. Nothing really "super explicit".