Yona of the Dawn Manga Review – Tons of Adventure and Romance!

Kusanagi, Official Art, Yona of the Dawn, Viz Media.

Yona of the Dawn – Plot Summary

Yona of the Dawn is a historical fantasy manga filled with action, adventure, and a slow-paced romance.

It’s a well-loved series due to its engaging plot, lovable characters, exciting romance, and much more! This manga series has a lot to offer, and has solidified its reputation as the standard for historical fantasy shoujos.

The story follows the spoiled 15-year-old princess Yona of the Kohka kingdom. At the start of the manga, Yona has no worries other than taming her red, frizzy hair in order to look nice for Su-won, the object of her affections.

Unfortunately, things soon take a dark turn for Yona during her 16th birthday celebration. Her father, King Il, is murdered during a takeover of the palace… by Su-won himself! Poor Yona happens to witness this too; forcing her to run for her life full of heartbreak and grief.

Luckily, Yona escapes with the help of her personal guard and childhood friend, Son Hak. Hak is well known as one of the five generals (or leaders) of the kingdom’s main tribes—in other words, he’s a very strong and capable fighter. He was even given the nickname “thunder beast.”

Together, these two begin a difficult journey that will lead them through all kinds of adventures and trials they never could have imagined.

Why I Enjoyed Yona of the Dawn

Plot:

Yona of the Dawn is a truly impressive manga that tackles all kinds of interesting topics—grief, revenge, politics, war, romance, friendship, loyalty, and so much more. It’s honestly difficult to know where to start when talking about the story, as it is rather complex and full of creativity.

The plot of this manga starts off rather quickly, but it doesn’t feel rushed or uninteresting in any way.

The writing swiftly and skillfully introduces many of the main characters, their personalities, and their relationships. Before you know it, this manga pulls you into the story with an interesting premise, high stakes, suspense, and a gorgeous art style on top of it all.

The shoujo also does a fantastic job at maintaining an interesting plot throughout every chapter; showcasing thrilling battles, new environments, plenty of new and interesting characters, and difficult obstacles meeting Yona and her friends at every corner.

At first, things will seem a little unexplained as you’re reading; but as you continue on, more information is revealed, allowing you to slowly unravel more and more pieces to a much bigger plot.

In other words, Yona’s journey doesn’t just appear before her. As a princess driven out of her palace, she thought she would be reduced to quietly living in hiding and staying put. But reality soon chases her down, forcing her to fight for her life and see what the kingdom of Kohka is really like outside of her comfy home.

If you didn’t know already due to the immense popularity of Yona of the Dawn, there are four other characters that play major roles throughout the plot; known as the four “dragon warriors.” 

The dragon warriors are thought to be powerful beings who protected an ancient king of the Kohka kingdom; not just a king, but a god known as the “crimson dragon god,” who descended to earth as a human and founded Kohka.

Kusanagi, Volume 35 Cover Art, Yona of the Dawn, Viz Media.

The dragon warriors are reincarnated over and over again in order to protect the reincarnation of their beloved king; yet the crimson dragon god’s reincarnation has yet to appear for many years. 

So, just as Yona realizes she won’t be able to live a life of peace, she is told by a priest to go find these dragon beings. He recounts her kingdom’s legend, and how these dragons were split up amongst the kingdom.

He instructs Yona to go make allies with these dragon warriors so that she and Hak can live with their support.

The introduction of each dragon happens in succession and feels both slow and fast at the same time. This arc of the manga lasts several volumes, but feels more introductory; like its purpose is to sort of set up the rest of the story.

Although I didn’t hate this arc or anything, it sort of pales in comparison to the much more exciting and significant plot you’ll see later in the manga. 

Although I say that, this arc holds a lot of significance for the start of Yona’s personal growth, which is one of the absolute best aspects of the entire series. And I’ll admit that the mid and latter half of the manga would not be as impactful without this slower build-up.

War and Politics

Once the dragons are introduced, the manga immediately dives into several major plot developments. Yona explores her country and each of the tribes, learning what the people of her kingdom are truly experiencing, and even how the neighboring nations affect Kohka.

There are many battles, wars, and political elements shrouding this middle-arc of Yona of the Dawn. They are written very well, and this part of the manga is probably the most exciting arc overall. 

I truly enjoyed seeing the mangaka’s portrayal of war and politics; showing just how badly war affects people, the inequalities of social hierarchy, and how fighting back may be necessary for freedom.

I usually hate war-related stories and movies, as they just don’t sit right with me. However, Yona of the Dawn does an amazing job at showing humanity for all the countries involved, as well as the ruthlessness and evil that stems from war—regardless of what side the protagonist is on. 

It’s very well written, and simultaneously tells a suspenseful plot that makes you root for a happy resolution for all, rather than just for a single group.

The Romance

But perhaps you’re more interested in the romance found in this manga! I don’t blame you, as Hak x Yona is a fan-favorite ship in the shoujo space. The romance in Yona of the Dawn might be a slow burn, but boy is it super exciting and satisfying once things get going. 

Yona has a lot of growing and maturing to do as a person before any real romance can happen—but her relationship with Hak grows more and more as they endure all sorts of hardships, battles, and emotional trials.

I feel like the slow build-up to the romance allows it to not only be timed really well, but also feel so much more dramatic, too. 

Kusanagi, Volume 28 Cover Art, Yona of the Dawn, Viz Media.

I really loved seeing Hak and Yona yearn for each other until their feelings practically burst out. It’s romantic, exciting, and everything I could ask for in terms of a slow burn romance. 

They give such a cute dynamic; the obviously-in-love dedicated bodyguard and his oblivious yet admirable princess. That being said, I will warn that Yona is pretty dense for much of the series when it comes to romance or flirting, haha. 

In fact, when going into this manga, you shouldn’t expect the romance to be the main topic… but you can look forward to it being a major perk of the overall plot. You’ll have several volumes of plot to get through before any romance starts to show significantly, so you’ll really need to be interested in the other things this series has to offer.

I will say though, the dramatics of war and other stakes within the series sort of help support a more dramatic, serious atmosphere for the romance, so it really all blends together well!

For example, the author often makes them have to separate, rather by choice or by force, which often creates feelings of yearning and desperation for each other. Their reunions are dramatic, passionate, and intimate.

Hak takes the lead often in the flirting and intimacy, and is truly the epitome of a strong, reliable, and romantic male lead.

The author does a great job at making things feel dire and uncertain, which only amplifies the romantic tension between Hak and Yona. 

Their presence to each other provides a sense of calm and safety that releases their fears and anxieties, and instead refills their hearts with hope and happiness. It’s truly so heartwarming to see and really fits the dramatic, dreary yet hopeful vibe of this dramatic, war-filled story.

There’s also something I need to clarify for new readers: Yona of the Dawn is not a harem. She does travel with the four dragons, and while some of them may develop deeper feelings for her, nothing substantial happens that would interfere with the main romance or couple. 

It’s mostly used as a comedic element, so I’m sorry if you were hoping for a true reverse harem. You could always try Prince Freya if you are looking for a reverse harem historical fantasy manga!

In addition to these teased romantic feelings from the dragons, Yona of the Dawn actually has other forms of comedic relief. 

In other words, the story isn’t serious 100% of the time, and does a good job of balancing the more serious topics of war and death with some lighthearted silliness. The characters often have unique banter that showcases their personalities, and the plot often has some great situational humor, too.

Characters:

Yona

It only feels right to start this section by talking about the star of this manga: Yona! Yona is undoubtedly one of the best written shoujo leads, as she undergoes such a high level of character growth that is just so satisfying to witness. 

She starts off with a spoiled, childish demeanor. Once kicked out of her cushy palace life, she’s unable to handle the sudden new reality she is forced into, being that she is very unfamiliar with a life outside of luxury.

She may be helpless and full of grief at the start, but other emotions quickly begin to overpower those characteristics.

Yona quickly learns that she can’t sit around if she wants to survive and not be a burden to Hak. And once she sees what the people experience outside of the palace, she quickly picks herself up.

These new emotions don’t completely rid her of her grief, but it does allow her to create important bonds with many, many people.

Through hardship, perseverance, and her unyielding resolve to create change, Yona slowly becomes the kind of person who can imbue passion and determination into those around her. 

She becomes a fiery, unstoppable wave that perfectly matches the red hair she was born with. The plot doesn’t hold back from this metaphorical imagery either; often referencing the warmth and color of the dawn (which can also fittingly symbolize new beginnings).

I really enjoyed seeing Yona grow—it is never an easy journey, but through her struggles, frustration, and hard work, she achieves quite a lot mentally and physically.

Hak

Then there’s Hak, the reliable bodyguard, childhood friend, and primary love interest in Yona of the Dawn. 

From the very start, Hak is clearly capable, loyal, kind, and emotionally intelligent for his age—yet also has a playful cheeky side to him. 

He doesn’t show affection to others very often, but slowly begins to open up over the course of the manga (although from the very start he enjoys teasing Yona in a flirtatious sort of way).

For the dragons, Hak is a reliable fighter and a bickering companion; for his tribe, he is a major form of inspiration and encouragement. 

He’s incredibly strong, and has a rather funny personality—Hak even surprisingly serves as a form of comedic relief at random in the story, either through sudden, unexpected emotion, or the complete opposite; a sort of dry humor that I really enjoyed.

He often hints at his feelings for Yona through crude jokes, yet you can tell he would never truly do anything she wouldn’t like. These moments allow for a bit of romantic comedy, but outside of that they have a really strong bond. 

Kusanagi, Volume 2 Cover Art, Yona of the Dawn, Viz Media.

Hak is overprotective of Yona, and Yona simply wants to be less of a burden—and protect Hak in her own way, too. I really liked this dramatic dynamic between them, especially when things get more serious or feel more dire.

Outside of his role as a romantic interest and occasional comedic relief, Hak is a developed character with his own personal struggles. He admired Su-won and cared deeply for Yona, so having their happy little life destroyed in an instant takes a toll on him. 

I loved seeing Hak’s perspective and thoughts now and then, especially in regard to his raging emotions, as it gives his character proper motivations for his actions and a bit more depth overall.

The Dragons and Yun

Besides Yona and Hak, there are literally so many other characters I could talk about. The four dragons and Su-won are the most significant, but I’ll save my thoughts about Su-won for the in-depth portion, as it will involve a ton of spoilers.

As for the four dragons, I think I’ll just provide a short piece for each of them as to avoid making this Yona of the Dawn review longer than it already is, haha:

• Gija, the white dragon: The first dragon we meet, and the most dedicated. Gija looks elegant and has righteous beliefs, but is very protective of Yona and therefore often acts hilariously out of character (violent).
• Sinha, the blue dragon: My favorite of the dragon warriors. Not only do I think he has the coolest design and most interesting power, but he also has some really heartwarming character growth that made me like him even more!
• Jaeha, the green dragon: Holds a bit of a leader/communicator position often, and despite his sort of weird jokes, has a much more endearing personality than I originally expected from him.
• Zeno, the yellow dragon: The last dragon we meet, who has a happy-go-lucky sort of personality. I had my suspicions from the very beginning that there was more to his character than he let on at first, but I never could have guessed what would unfold later in the manga.

And then we have the last member of the main group: Yun! A sassy but reliable character who is just incredibly cute. Yun is not physically strong, but plays a very important role as a medic for the main group or practically anyone who becomes injured. He’s very clever, and very brave.

I truly could talk even more about the characters in this series, but I’ll just let you discover the others on your own!

Art:

The art style found in Yona of the Dawn is absolutely perfect for a historical fantasy shoujo. 

It’s beautiful and detailed in all aspects—characters, clothing, expressions, environments, and more. The action scenes aren’t difficult to follow, and overall the manga is just so well illustrated!

I also really enjoyed the designs for the main characters. Yona, Hak, the dragons, and even other supporting characters all have such fun, unique designs. 

Hak’s design is especially refreshing, as he gives off a more rough and sturdy feel than most shoujo male leads. He’s got a stern look and sharp eyes to match, but can still be gentle when it comes to Yona. Such an appealing character design! 

Overall the art style is very lovely. Yona of the Dawn started back in 2009 and lasted until 2025, and so some shifts in style over the course of many volumes is to be expected. 

This means some aspects of the art start to round out and take on that more modern look in the mid to later volumes, compared to the earlier volumes which sort of take on a bit of a classic 2K shoujo look.

Although I really love the art style from beginning to end, I started to miss the extra-detailed hair and charm from the earlier volumes!

Any Cons?

I’d hate to say it as I really enjoyed Yona of the Dawn, but the manga does mildly give “villain of the day” vibes. The main crew goes from tribe to tribe, country to country, fighting one conflict to the next.

All of these are very relevant to the story, but I will warn that it sort of just feels like one thing after the next. 

Major spoilers in these paragraphs… Not to mention, all of the characters have major plot armor, so I felt like the story didn’t have very high stakes and was a little predictable. Luckily, the writing is good enough to keep things exciting and engaging.

I was sort of hoping it could get more drastic, but at the same time, I’d probably be really sad if my favorite character died so I can’t say I totally disliked this aspect, either.

For the next con, I want to warn that the romance is a slowwww burn which I’m typically fine with but others may not be (like 100+ chapters before the ball really gets rolling).

Lastly, the ending. It feels rushed, just as everyone says. It does tie up many important loose ends, and isn’t the worst ending I’ve ever seen, but I couldn’t keep up with the sudden bizarre plot points and what was really happening towards the end (and this was with a full reread of the series).

It wasn’t really what I expected, and I’ll admit I was mildly disappointed by it. 

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t read Yona of the Dawn—you’ll be missing out on A LOT of good content. I still strongly recommend this amazing shoujo manga! But if you’re curious, you can read my thoughts on the ending in the in-depth section below.

More In-Depth Review (Warning: Spoilers!)

About the Ending:

As I mentioned in the cons section, I just didn’t fully enjoy the ending. The plot and developments in the manga all felt so creative, complex, and well thought-out up until the last handful of volumes.

For the most part I can forgive most of the ending; everything except for the fact that the dragon warriors all leave immediately after the conclusion. 

I felt strongly against this, particularly because the series continuously questions throughout the plot whether the dragon warriors adore and follow Yona because they want to or because of their blood—and then the manga ends with all of them immediately leaving. 

The plot practically diminished their strong bond to nothing.

I do believe it makes sense for them to eventually return to their villages, fix things, and live their own lives outside of being literally born for Yona eventually… but it just felt so sudden and unexpected, like something that would be shown in prologue chapters, not the main story.

They had literally just fought to stay together on earth.

Not to mention, their togetherness was always such a major plot point throughout Yona of the Dawn, particularly their closeness and family-like relationship. It made me very sad to essentially see all of the dragons be like “okay bye” at the very end of the manga. At least we saw them all still in communication with Hak in the extra chapters.

Next, I didn’t really expect Yona to become queen—at least at first. I know it was heavily foreshadowed plenty of times towards the mid-to-end of the series, so I was like “oh, that’s how the story will end, huh.”

But I personally always thought she’d keep traveling with the others and keep doing what she had been doing: helping the country from within. 

I don’t hate that she became queen and was given her status again, but it just wasn’t how I thought things would go, regardless of how it makes perfect sense for tying up the plot. 

I really thought the sickness would be cured and Su-won would become the great ruler that Hak always imagined him being. At least we got to see how Yona’s growth and experiences over the course of the series would allow her to rule much better than her father, and in some cases, better than Su-won.

On the bright side, I liked that Hak sort of fulfills this role at the end instead, as he gets to travel to support the kingdom and serve as Yona’s “eyes.”

I do also appreciate that Su-won admits his wrongdoings (killing the previous king) and that being the reason for him allowing Yona to rule instead. It sort of finishes off his character’s redemption arc, and re-solidifies his relationship with Hak and Yona; which may not have been as feasible had he stayed king.

Overall Yona of the Dawn ended realistically and sort of bittersweet, rather than the perfect happy little ideal I had expected from the beginning. I’m neutral about it… I don’t hate the ending, but the last few plot developments leading up to it make it hard to love wholeheartedly. 

The Chalice Arc:

As a part of my last point, the ending of Yona of the Dawn was just sort of hard to follow. 

Firstly, the battle with emperor Chagol and his army didn’t feel as important or dramatic as the previous wars. I felt like he was defeated rather easily; which was perhaps just a way of showing just how much Yona and Kohka had grown.

But then, the very next arc where they are dealing with / put inside the chalice was just confusing and sudden. It just didn’t really feel right for the manga’s story. 

We hadn’t seen the actual dragon gods much or really at all till this point, so their presence was just too new. I didn’t care about them, if I’m being honest.

Zeno’s behavior was also very sudden, which does bring in some more drama, but it also made me disappointed in his character. 

All this effort to rescue the kidnapped dragons, yet he just randomly takes their lives into his own hands? He seemed desperate to finally end things for himself, but this desire was just so out of nowhere and with little regard to Yona’s feelings. 

I know he was shown to have suffered due to his immortality, but this specific incident just didn’t have the lead-up it needed.

The story showed Yona’s visions of the dragons and how she knew something was going to happen, but I still just feel like it wasn’t really enough to justify Zeno’s sudden villain arc.

Maybe if Zeno was shown being more significantly bothered by it towards the middle to end of the manga I wouldn’t feel like this. He was usually so selfless, so seeing him suddenly try to take advantage of the situation felt strange. The plot just very quickly shifts from important battles to “oh by the way, the dragons are gonna die soon and Zeno is super desperate to go too.” 

Kusanagi, Volume 25 Cover Art, Yona of the Dawn, Viz Media.

About Su-won:

I really wanted to save a specific section just for Su-won. He is the perfect example of a well-written villain. 

He isn’t just made to be evil without cause, but actually has clear motivations that explain his actions; and is shown to still have some humanity left in him time and time again.

His motivations are not all for revenge (although this is part of it), and he does take action again and again that does good for the kingdom.

Yona of the Dawn portrays his character so well, reminding you often of his one major wrongdoing as well as his similarities to his father (known for being cruel), all while showing his hints of regret and sadness. 

He may have taken the fate of the country into his own hands—but to do so, he had to sever his ties with those who considered him like family. The writing is excellent, as it balances his relatable human characteristics with a more menacing, merciless feel. 

His character is hard to hate and hard to love, which I think makes for a pretty solid and complex villain. He may have negatively impacted Yona and Hak’s lives for a majority of the story, but is also frequently shown making a real difference for the kingdom’s tribes. 

He even shows up to make change where Yona’s typically a step ahead of him, making it clear that he was very aware of the kingdom’s problems.

He receives the approval from practically every other main supporting cast member in the manga. Multiple times we see characters say or think about how King Il wasn’t a great leader and how Su-won is making important moves. 

Many of them feel sorry for Yona when thinking poorly of her father, but even Yona realizes that her father was not doing everything he could for Kohka.

Overall I think this manga does a great job at showcasing the complexity of the kingdom’s rule and politics, and utilized Su-won as an excellent driver for the plot.

It also justifies Hak and Yona’s admiration of Su-won by showcasing his humanity and competence, while never diminishing their heartbreak over his brutal act of revenge.

About Hak:

I wanted to talk about Hak a little more, as at first glance his character looks as though his only motivation for fighting is his romantic feelings.

However, I feel this isn’t true, as Hak was willing to give up on his feelings for Yona at the very beginning, and even encouraged Su-won to pursue her.

Additionally, it eventually becomes apparent that through their adventures, Hak began to see Yona as someone worth following and supporting. Her passion and determination affected Hak the same way it affects everyone else in this series, regardless of his romantic feelings for her; which sort of makes him mature with time.

She was determined to help those in need and make a real difference—and everyone was impacted by her strong determination and goodwill.

Hak felt the same way about Su-won, but that trust and dedication was extinguished by Su-won’s horrid actions at the beginning of the story. I really liked seeing how this betrayal of trust and friendship affects Hak, too. But throughout the manga, his hate and desire for revenge is replaced by understanding.

Overall I really liked the character depth that we got to see for Hak in this manga. Not every series gives this much focus to the love interest, and I think it really helps add more to both the romance and story. 

However, I will say I was disappointed in the manga completely reverting Hak back into a simple traveling bodyguard at the end; especially in how it doesn’t show Hak in any sort of named leadership position. It just makes so much of his character growth pointless.

He grew into so many leadership roles that not showing him at Yona’s side ruling or at least commanding a team is, in my opinion, a major disservice to his character. I do like that he at least gets to serve her by keeping an eye on what actually happens throughout the kingdom, but a title for him was merely alluded to and he is left as what feels like a nobody.

I really liked that he didn’t want to take the spotlight from her by marrying her at the same time as her coronation, but I really wished the story would have granted him an important leadership title of some sort or at the very least timeskipped to show us their married life in the future.

With the way the manga ended, Hak’s character feels like it has been reduced to a romantic interest who only ever lived and existed for Yona’s sake. You could make a point that the main character is Yona, and so he may not deserve that much focus at the end, but with how significant of a role he played throughout the entire manga, I feel like his ending was a little disappointing.

Final Thoughts

Yona of the Dawn is such an iconic and classic shoujo read. It features a lot of engaging plot points, appropriate humor throughout the story, lovable characters, and a beautiful art style. 

The manga skillfully captures your attention and makes you grow a love for so many of the characters. It’s the kind of story that when you finish it, you feel a bit sad or perhaps hollow afterwards—you just crave more of that feeling you had while reading it!

This shoujo is practically the standard for engaging and exciting historical fantasy mangas. The story and romance get better and better as you progress through each volume, too. I’d highly recommend Yona of the Dawn for my fellow manga enthusiasts or any shoujo manga newbie!

Disclaimer: Any images used for this blog are for illustrative purposes only, are not owned by me, and are under ownership of the artist or publisher.

Images Credit: Kusanagi, Mizuho. Yona of the Dawn. VIZ Media LLC, 2009.

More Recommendations!

Heroine Hajimemashita Manga Review – When the FL is Super…

You’re My Cutie Manga Review – All Things Cute and…

Tokyo Crazy Paradise Manga Review: An Action-Packed Shoujo!

Comments