Chaos In The Darkness; Salvatores's Salvation

Page count into a rape scene: 29  

Make no mistake, the first volume of Maiden Rose is outright porn. It may have some semblance of a "story" to connect the scenes, but it's as shallow as saying, "I'm not at the beach; this is a bathtub." The sex scenes themselves are cringeworthy and filled with tired one-liners. Thankfully, these forced encounters—forced both narratively and literally—are largely absent from the rest of the manga. However, the first volume alone is enough to leave a very bad first impression.  

The plot seems to exist solely as a mechanism to bring the two protagonists together most of the time. It’s clear that the story isn’t the primary focus here; being a BL manga is. This issue is compounded by the lack of worldbuilding, which is particularly problematic for a military story set during a fictional world war. Without much information on politics, geography, country relations (beyond the generic "fictional Japan doesn't like the fictional West"), or history, any military operation depicted feels like meaningless filler. Readers can't grasp their importance or how they impact the larger conflict. For a better example of world war in a fictional setting, check out *Saga of Tanya the Evil*. Again, as mentioned earlier, a strong narrative isn't the main priority for this manga—or what its target audience desires.  

At times, I got the sense that even the author didn’t know where the story was headed. This is somewhat understandable given the irregular publication schedule, which has resulted in only 25 chapters being available after nearly 15 years of being "published." At that point, I’d probably forget my own plans too.  

Surprisingly, the art is decent for a BL manga. By "decent," I mean it doesn’t assault your eyes with anatomically incorrect monstrosities, and the artist can actually draw backgrounds and other details. While I wouldn’t call it great, I can see why some might appreciate it compared to other works in the genre. My biggest complaint lies with the character design of one protagonist, whose face looks like it got smashed with a brick.  

Overall, this isn’t a good manga by general standards, but it is above-average within the BL genre. That’s partly because the baseline for yaoi is so low. The high average rating likely stems from a specific demographic that gives glowing reviews to anything featuring hot guys having sex, with few others venturing into this niche.

I prefer "heart to heart" over physical.  
But Klaus makes it different; whenever the adult scenes happen, every word he speaks with those Japanese idioms is truly impressive.  

Taki, you're beautiful, but I don't really like your personality—except when you're with Klaus; that's your destiny.  
I love this pairing.  
Sure, there might be some cultural plot twists that could throw you off, but it was still a nice story overall.  
I really wanted to read the RAW; I think it would have been even more impressive.  

Nice story.  
<p>

Overall Rating: 9.5/10  

Art Rating: 9/10  

The artwork is undeniably impressive, but one particular main character isn't very appealing visually. It might be intentional on the author's part to avoid making all characters flawless and perfect—except for Taki, whose appearance seems crucial to his character—but I can't help noticing how Klaus's looks gradually improve over time. Maybe we just grow accustomed to him as the story progresses. It's not a major issue, though there are occasional instances where certain elements appear slightly off or disproportionate compared to the rest of the characters.  

That said, overall, the artwork is breathtaking! Inariya Fusanosuke excels at illustrating fight scenes and intimate moments with remarkable skill. Even the "chibi" scenes at the end of the manga volumes are beautifully simple, and let's face it, most chibis are inherently adorable. Moreover, she's widely praised for her exceptional talent in drawing romantic bedroom scenes. While I haven't heard anything about her bedside manner, her artistic abilities in this regard are truly commendable!  

Story: 10/10  

According to Reader Response Theory, the storyline's interpretation largely depends on the reader. This is precisely the essence of Maiden Rose! The RRT is heavily integrated into the narrative—it's practically shoved in our faces. The plot is intricate and surprisingly profound. This manga has inspired me as a writer and is honestly the reason I continue reading. I've spent countless hours pondering its themes—what could it mean? Why the repeated references to the "Name of thy Rose" poem? The seamless integration of the RRT through that captivating poem, which recurs throughout the series (especially prominently in the fourth book), is nothing short of brilliant.  

It's crafted in such a way that the storyline varies depending on how each reader perceives it. I haven't encountered anyone who interpreted the story the same way I did. However, if you'd like to know my take...  

I had written several paragraphs, nearing a fifth or even sixth, before realizing it was filled with spoilers. So here's a summary:  

Maiden Rose follows the adventures of two soldiers in a fantasy world reminiscent of pre-WWII Japan and Germany. Klaus, pledged as Taki-Sama's knight (bodyguard), plays a more dominant role behind closed doors than their public dynamic suggests.  
(WARNING: THIS SERIES INCLUDES RAPE(?))  
(You'll understand the question mark once you read it.)  

And let's not forget the thrilling battle scenes!  

Originality: 10/10  

Maiden Rose is extraordinary! Few works come close in terms of depth and thoughtfulness, surpassing many novels across languages. While it touches on themes previously explored, it introduces something entirely fresh and unique.  

Additionally, it's a well-crafted yaoi! Most yaoi focuses on the uke as the protagonist, but in Hyakujitsu no Bara, the majority of the story unfolds from Klaus's, the seme's, perspective.  

Characters: 9/10  

I genuinely enjoyed the characters! Taki-Sama is strikingly handsome, and learning about his backstory adds layers to his appeal. Klaus, too, is far more complex than he initially appears. Both characters grapple with personal demons they must confront before addressing the external conflicts surrounding them.  

Enjoyment Rating: 10/10  

This series holds immense significance for me. I've never encountered a manga, let alone a yaoi manga, that matches its brilliance.  

By the way, the two OVAs bear little resemblance to the books. They're disappointing! It feels like a poorly executed adaptation turned into an animated snuff film. Avoid them at all costs!

How did this drop ranking by so much lmao it was rank 10 like a few days ago

do you know when the next chapters will be released I just finished 536 chapters

My first impression after a few chapters is that the system sucks. The system is annoyingly a retard. I understand the author wanted it to have a more comedic tone but its really frustrating to read a system that does not even give the most important information to the MC. Its like having a pig teammate, who keeps joking around, when playing ranking games in LoL or Valorant. I do not know if this would continue in the following chapters but if you do not want a system that is a retard then please don't give yourself some suffering.

I just read up to chap 40 Characters and mc are making stupid choices. Like spilling milk your self and cleaning it your self. Does it get any better. Or is there other factors responsible for ratings Well novel has good ratings so ?

No new novel?