Yona of the Dawn: Manga Volume 18 and OVA's 2-3 Reaction & Review!
Added 2022-05-20 13:01:02 +0000 UTC**TEARSTAINED HEADPHONE WARNINGS**
I feel I've met a right of passage as a "Yona" fan in reading this volume and watching the OVA's, but y'all...where do I even start?
This was by far the most brutal, heartbreaking volume of the series so far and the OVA's drove me to tears (a rare feat), in just how tragic the life of our sunshine dragon is...and why he holds these dragons and Yona so close to his heart. Is Zeno my favorite dragon now? He may just be! Y'all, this is my new favorite volume of the series. Just...CAN WE TALK ABOUT THIS?!
LINK TO OVA #2: https://www.bilibili.tv/en/video/2003810061?bstar_from=bstar-web.ugc-video-detail.related-recommend.all
LINK TO OVA #3: https://www.bilibili.tv/en/video/2007976253?bstar_from=bstar-web.ugc-video-detail.related-recommend.all
Thank you for reading and watching with me, and for the support!
Comments
I agree -- Zeno's story is absolutely GUTTING. And I agree, I'm not sure if Hiryuu just got sick or if there was a reason behind it...I hope it doesn't spell any ill will towards Yona, though. Nope. Not going to think about THAT! The pain and loneliness Zeno faces in this is so tragic and heartbreaking...I agree, Hiro voiced him SO perfectly and him losing Gu-en and feeling his brothers passing? NOPE. Not crying at all. No tears shed here.... T-T Thanks for the comment and have a great day, too!
Romaniablack
2022-06-09 02:13:38 +0000 UTCI don't think Kusanagi-sensei can write a more heartbreaking backstory than Zeno's. I don't think that's possible. King Hiryuu got sick and then died. Is it because he once was a dragon god so he now as a human has a short life too? If yes does this also mean since Yona is the reincarnation she also is short lived? Or is it different than with the dragon warriors? I love the dynamic of the first dragons. When Gu-en died I bawled my eyes out. Zeno crying and screaming that they can't leave him alone broke my heart so much. His whole backstory got me. I'm so glad Shimono Hiro voiced him since his screams are so heartbreaking. He did an amazing job at voicing Zeno's despair. I agree, love that Kusanagi-sensei doesn't write immortality as a good thing. She definitely showed that there is a good side about it (Zeno being really wise because of his long life) but mostly how lonely and painful it is. Wish you a wonderful day!!
Toni simi
2022-06-03 13:01:35 +0000 UTCYeah, we don’t get much with the dragon gods, so that’s curious – it’s something I feel I’ll have in the back of my head reading from here onward, but it’s an interesting thought to note! That is good to note that the dragon gods seem apt to just using the humans to keep Hiryuu safe. I’m glad not all of the questions haven’t been answered, yet! :) Yay! I love a good mystery! That bonus chapter was amazing! Poor Jae-ha – watching out for everyone and now fighting bears to save an immortal brother/friend, haha! You can tell how far he’s already come, from seeming flippant and uncaring to being the “eldest” and taking that role as “big brother” to the group seriously. It’s been such a subtle and gradual growth for our green dragon and I love it! Oh, and Immortal Zeno x Protec Mode Jae-Ha is a dynamic indeed! My two favorite dragons right now!! :D Ahhhh, I’m so glad y’all haven’t spoiled me, because I’m so hyped for what’s to come!! I can’t wait! :D Thank you for the kind words and comment!! :D
Romaniablack
2022-05-26 17:48:49 +0000 UTCHahaha, I’m SO glad y’all didn’t spoil volumes 17-18 - they’ve been SUCH a ride and I feel we’re just starting! @_@ And ahhh, I love that Zeno went around to seeing them all as kids…he really has been looking out for everyone from the start! What a callback to the OP from the anime, right? It was there all along. I love it! Especially considering a lot of that hadn’t even made it to the manga yet! @.@ But yeah, the bonds of our dragon boys is so friggin’ precious! I love them all, but Zeno really won me over in this volume! Zeno’s past is heartbreaking and tragic…y’all weren’t kidding when you said we were in for PAIN in this series. I am excited to learn what his wish is…but that’s going to be fun sorting out the mystery in this series as we go now and YESSSS, I will talk about Episode 24 with Volume 19, but it has SUCH a new meaning now! @_@ Thank you so much for the kind words and comment! This volume definitely broke me, but I’m better for it, especially now that we have Zeno’s backstory! The face that it got me to cry is a testament to this series…I’m ready for my heart to heal up like Zeno’s, haha!! Yeah, unlike AOT, the character with the hardest backstory is pretty clear! @_@
Romaniablack
2022-05-26 17:36:03 +0000 UTCI can see the resemblance being a mix of them, that's true!!
Romaniablack
2022-05-26 17:26:19 +0000 UTCRIGHT?! UGH, the backstory finally on our boy…yeah…SUCH a tragic backstory for a cinnamon roll character! Ooohhh, that’s interesting the know about the drinking game; when I get to volume 21 that will make more sense! I wasn’t surprised by the fact that it was gory for a Shojo (I mean, Banana Fish is a Shojo and that series is REALLY gory), but the fact that it was so gory for YONA! I didn’t know Kusanagi had it in her – the face rip on Zeno still gets me. @_@ But yessss, our boys sticking up for their dragon brother Zeno was so good! Oh wow, and now that I know his VA, it makes sense – you can DEFINITELY hear both Zenitsu and Connie in that voice! It’s a great range and works great for him! UGH, that moment (well, all the moments) with Kaya and Zeno are heartbreaking, because you know that Zeno knows he only has a limited time with her and is trying to make the most of it. Oooohhhh, interesting that Zeno could have been the one helping Yona and Hak escape! And oooh, I love that theory with Guen and Kija and adding a layer to their relationship with Zeno! :3 Seriously, I wish we could have gotten a season 2, but this volume was soooooo amazing! Thank you so much for the kind words and for NOT SPOILING me! I am so hyped for what’s to come now…I can’t wait to read with you all! :)
Romaniablack
2022-05-26 17:19:40 +0000 UTCHahahaha, you're not awful! :) I'm just glad you're not spoiling me! ;)
Romaniablack
2022-05-26 16:57:51 +0000 UTCHahahaha, no worries!! UGH, Zeno and Kaya's entire storyline BROKE ME. And yessss, the OG Green/Blue dragons were fine wines! :) :)
Romaniablack
2022-05-24 04:32:01 +0000 UTCOMG -- Zeno's backstory GOT ME. And the fact that being kind after all those years and hardships is so beautiful! I definitely think that the crest and Kaya's mannerisms have been the guiding light for him up to this point, too! And yes, that's why he's one of my favorites -- he's serious in moments and shows his age but then is so cute and a free spirit! :) Thank you for the comment! I'm glad we can talk about Zeno more freely now!! :D
Romaniablack
2022-05-24 04:26:39 +0000 UTCHahahaha, oh thank you so much for the kind words and comment on here! This volume and the OVA's were a TRIP! :D
Romaniablack
2022-05-24 03:15:34 +0000 UTCI am SO excited to finally be here! :D
Romaniablack
2022-05-24 03:15:00 +0000 UTCOne thing that is often talked about in the fandom is the Dragon Gods' seemingly lack of care for Zeno and the dragon warriors. There's not a lot to go off of when it comes to how the Gods see the people they give their blood to. It seems with the suffering they go through, the short lifespans, and Zeno never being answered by them despite protecting Hiryuu that there's a large disconnect between what to Gods perceive as worth their time and the people that have their blood think. The Dragon Gods in the little moments we've seen them often seem somewhat arrogant when it comes to thoughts on humanity, like when they ask Hiryuu to come back to the heavens with them. Hiryuu talks about how he became a human and now understands and loves them. The dragon gods seeing as they can't convince him make it so people with their blood will protect them. That being said I don't think the gods care about these people aside from how they can be of use to Hiryuu. It looks like they see them as tools for their purpose in protecting their dragon sibling. There's so much mystery when it comes to the Gods, medallion, and Zeno's wish. I'm so interested in the future of this manga even as a caught up manga reader (lots of answers to be had even still). I'm sure everyone else will be talking about Zeno and what he goes through in this volume. I'd love to talk about end chapter, though. It's one of my favorites when it comes to comedy and fluff. I love how Jae-ha attempts to reign in the chaos and how that doesn't work 😂 Jae-ha often takes the initiative to be the one to watch out for everyone else. It's hard to believe he went from outwardly telling everyone he's not there to get close to them to now jumping in front of bears for his immortal friend. He takes his role as the oldest (physically) very seriously now, and along with his lack of self-preservation, it's an easy decision when it comes to him or the other members of the HHB. The character development in this manga is so natural and subtle. My interpretation is that he was closed off from years of abuse, mistrusted people easily of being used, hurt, and is now finally starting to find a place where he feels safe and cherishes it deeply 🥹 Also welcome to one of my favorite character dynamics: immortal Zeno and protect everyone no matter the cost Jae-ha. They have such an adorable and funny relationship, where he'll protect Zeno despite him being immortal, and Zeno being like, "OMG I"M IMMORTAL PLS STOP." Of course, Jae-ha's reaction to when others tell him to stop sacrificing himself for them / take better care of himself is, "Oh, whatever do you mean?" (playing dumb). He won't listen whatsoever. 😭 I love how much they've grown to love each other and the care they show. Moments like with the bear and Kija telling him to take care of himself are so sweet. On the other hand, though; I genuinely think they all need to work on their self-care. Trust me you're going to be yelling in the future too. It only gets worse (or better) from here. It'd be hilarious if the characters weren't bleeding constantly because of it 😭😂
Kotaro 14
2022-05-20 23:59:57 +0000 UTCAnd about the physical ressemblance, i think king Hurryuu is a mix of Yona and Soo Wun !!
Be Happy
2022-05-20 17:38:40 +0000 UTCok, I don't really have too much to talk about this,I'm a lil too tipsy for that, BUTT!! edit, accidentally clicked enter zeno saying he wants to die when kaya is dying, so sadddddddd I cry every time also, OG green dragon got the sharp teeth. I simp. The hottest thing since su-woon. (also OG green x OG blue *suggestively moving eyebrows*)
The truck
2022-05-20 17:18:34 +0000 UTCI wholeheartedly agree with you, we need a second season , badly!! And that chapter you talk about in the end ?!! I CAN’T wait for us to reach it!! We are teasing her 😁😁 we are awful 😝😝
Be Happy
2022-05-20 16:53:54 +0000 UTCSo now you knew why we keep mum about this volume, the so awaited pivotal volume 18!! What’s incredible is all the hints and easter eggs leading to this HEARTBREAKING volume. Kija told Zeno a few chapters earlier when he was sick and opened his eyes,: « you seem familiar > guess it s the subconscious memory that recognized Zeno from their encounter in Kija’s childhood And the four original dragons : I looove them and their dynamics, they were showed to us in the first frames of the season 1 op along with the Crimson dragon king! Well done show 👍🏼 It’s here that you really understand what is the bond between the four dragons, they are godlike creaturew, but not just that, they are also brothers, protectors of the king and have a litteral connexion with one another, this Zeno sensing them die!! It is wonderful also how the original dragons resembles not only physically, but in the attitude also their actual avatars. God it might be so hard for Zeno. And we understand now why he called them white , blue and green. The only one he used names with are the originals : Gu en, Shuten and Abi. Even Yona is called young lady by Zeno, not Hurryuu or Crimson Dragon!! Albight she is the only crimson dragon born after the original king Hurryuu!! And Zeno’s (endless) life, or should I called it tragedy !! Watching all those he love going and he remains !! It is a curse!! But a really well described, amazing and painful one!! Even, when he found love after years of wandering alone, and being just Zeno, not the Yellow dragon, something I think he yearned for, the heavens didn’t grant him his wish and took the love of his life!! I am not crying, it’s just onion !! And him holding her hand in the same position for god knows how much time until she became a skeleton !! PAIN!! 😭😭😭😭 But what is Zeno’s wish ? Is is dying? Meeting the crimson dragon king and the four dragons again? I don’t know and up until now nobody knows, it is a huge mystery and I am here for it ! Remember when Zeno after talking to Yona in ep 24 , went to the field running and thanked the heavens!! Well it takes a whole new meaning after this volume !! A lot of ep 24 took another meaning really !! And Zeno visiting his actual brothers to check on them after Yona is born, because he knew that they will reunite in the future!! Being kind and sweet to the children that Kija, Shinha and Jae Ha were!! My heart !! Also, Shinha knowing he was the Yeloww dragon!!?? Wait What!! 🤯🤯 And him watching Yona makes so much sense to how he joins them in ep 24. !! Gah!! I always circle back to it 😄 also i have a theory: when Yona and Hak fell off the cliff after meeting Tae Jun in ep 5 or 6 , I think it was Zeno that put them when Yoon could found and treat their wounds, because the position they were into were really odd for someone that fell from a high, even if the trees absorbed the impact, the position Yoon found them into seemed so proper to me !! Thank you for a wonderful reaction Romania This was really some of the saddest things I have ever read, I read the chapters and couldn’t get into the OVAs until a week later, because it really broke my heart the first time and I knew it was gonna be the same even worse watching it animated 😭😭 Watching you cry, now that I know that you don’t externalize your tears usually made me tear up really !! It shows us how great and touching this story is I always like to point which character in AOT has the worst life and get torn up, here the question is not even up for debate for me !!
Be Happy
2022-05-20 16:31:25 +0000 UTCZENOOOOOOOO 😭😭😭 Gosh, so much to talk about. I think Zeno is probably my favorite dragon too. I love them all, but I tend to latch onto the one with the most tragic backstory XDDD The drinking game is actually the bonus chapter in volume 21. I let you know on Discord, but I’ll also mention it here that they actually include both the bonus chapters in vol. 19 & 21 in the OVAs. I mean, it works, so I didn’t mind the change. They couldn’t include the lead up to chapter 101, so it was a good substitute. It allows anime-only watchers to stay somewhat in the loop (although, if you only watch the anime, how can you watch these OVAs and FEEEEEEEEEL ALL THE FEEEEEELSSSSSSS) But ahhhh volume 18. Chapter 100 made everyone go “is this really a shoujo?????” bc of how gory it got. Like no one was expecting this level of gore from Yona of the Dawn. The faces of everyone when they call Zeno a monster—I sort of forget that Jae-ha, Kija, and Shin-ah are all sick/in a weakened state from last volume. But they all get pissed when they hear the soldiers calling Zeno a monster, and, despite them battered and beaten, they’re still trying to rush to his side and protect. My heaaaaaart. Welcome to the pain train of AkaYona. You’ve been initiated XDDDD I think Hiro Shimono was the best choice for Zeno’s VA. He’s also Zenitsu from Demon Slayer and Connie from Attack on Titan, and a whole bunch of other animes (he’s iconic 😎😎😎). But the versatility of his voice—he can really pull off the whole sunshine child tone really well but also portrays the intense emotions Zeno goes through with his immortality phenomenally. You can hear the strain and the helplessness and the desperation and the agony of the years looming over him. He deserves all the hugs. One of my favorite symbolistic scenes in the OVAs was the scene where Kaya and Zeno were running in the fields and Kaya says “I wish time would stop.” She walks forward while Zeno stands still, arm outstretched in front of him, looking like he’s reaching out to her but she continues to walk forward. It’s so heartbreaking, and it ties in to the fact that all these people he cares about and how they “return” to heaven when they die, but Zeno is left stuck in place because he can’t die. I’m crying, its too early for these tears T_T I also have another small theory about Zeno. He said he had been watching Yona throughout her whole journey since she left Hiryuu Castle. So in the beginning, when Hak and Yona were being chased out of the castle, an arrow saves them. Its implied that it might have been Min-Soo (King Il’s attendant) who shot the arrow, BUT he never admits nor denies it was actually him. So it’s quite possible that it was Zeno helping them instead. Another theory that I have is about Gu-en (the first white dragon), I think the perseverance of the white dragon both has to do with Gu-En strongly caring about the King but also the regret of never meeting Zeno again after they all separated. Because Kija kept saying that the white dragon inside of him has always been waiting for thousands of years, and he just assumed that it was for the reincarnation of the King. But it could also be Gu-en’s will to see Zeno again like he promised him. Which adds on another layer of heartbreak. And when Kija and Zeno have that conversation before they go to sleep? They’re reunited at last 😭😭😭😭 This volume just solidifies why I love Yona of the Dawn so much. The reveal, the angst, and then that group hug at the end is just 🥺🥺🥺🥺 WE NEED A SEASON TWO GODDAMMIT!!!! This reaction was a long time coming, and now you understand why we had to keep it a secret for this long XD Can’t wait until next reaction. Slowly but surely we are coming up to one of my favorite chapters of the whole series. No spoilers but I can’t wait until you get to it 🤭🤭🤭🤭
Kixkay
2022-05-20 15:44:29 +0000 UTCYesssssssssssss finally! I've been waiting for this! Zeno's backstory is heartbreaking. I cried a lot too! How he remains so kind and caring after being abandoned alone for thousands of years I have no idea. Maybe the comfort of holding on to the crest helps or maybe adopting Kaya's mannerisms to stay positive and keep her memory alive? Most people would have become jaded and cruel over time I think so maybe the yellow dragon saw that Zeno has what it takes to overcome such a hardship. He's just the best! I love how most of the time, he's so carefree and cute but then his age and wisdom sometimes slips through when he's being serious. Ahhhh I'm so happy that we're here in the manga now!
Bambi
2022-05-20 15:41:48 +0000 UTCOmg omg omg.....me rushing now to my room and open my laptop with snacks. I really need this to replenish my drained energy on 5 days of work. I really love watching your akatsuki no yona reactions Romania. 🤩❤️
Let Ying
2022-05-20 13:50:16 +0000 UTCLet’s Go!! I was sooo waiting for this reaction !!
Be Happy
2022-05-20 13:23:12 +0000 UTC
