The concept of harlequin romance manga genuinely entertains me. Shoujo romance manga has its own set of clichés, while romance novels have another, and if the two were to merge, it might result in a chaotic blend of trashy girly romance — dreadful, yet potentially amusing.
That being said, Three Wishes did not align with any of my preconceived notions, for better or worse. Honestly, it is no more and no less than an average romance novel with illustrations by a manga artist. The storyline — a girl encounters a genie who wishes to grant her desires but ultimately falls in love with her — is absurdly predictable but still tolerable. Fans of shoujo romance won't find themselves rolling their eyes more frequently than they typically would while reading other brief, superficial shoujo titles. However, this mediocre plot is paired with equally unremarkable characters who are neither particularly intriguing nor relatable, making it a rather lackluster tale overall.
One standout aspect of Three Wishes is undoubtedly the art. Illustrated by Matsuri Akino, a highly productive mangaka renowned for supernatural mystery and horror works like Pet Shop of Horrors, her venture into cheesy romance is quite comical. She opted to retain her usual style, adding just a few extra flowers and bubbles in the background. Given how distinct her art is from the typical shoujo style, it's surprising how well it turned out. It may feel slightly out of place amidst hearts instead of blood, yet it retains its unique supernatural essence and is easily the best feature of this title.
In conclusion, harlequin romance manga wasn't as terrible as I anticipated. Still, it lacks distinction in terms of story or character development, so I would only suggest picking up a harlequin title if you're a fan of the mangaka behind its illustrations.
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That being said, Three Wishes did not align with any of my preconceived notions, for better or worse. Honestly, it is no more and no less than an average romance novel with illustrations by a manga artist. The storyline — a girl encounters a genie who wishes to grant her desires but ultimately falls in love with her — is absurdly predictable but still tolerable. Fans of shoujo romance won't find themselves rolling their eyes more frequently than they typically would while reading other brief, superficial shoujo titles. However, this mediocre plot is paired with equally unremarkable characters who are neither particularly intriguing nor relatable, making it a rather lackluster tale overall.
One standout aspect of Three Wishes is undoubtedly the art. Illustrated by Matsuri Akino, a highly productive mangaka renowned for supernatural mystery and horror works like Pet Shop of Horrors, her venture into cheesy romance is quite comical. She opted to retain her usual style, adding just a few extra flowers and bubbles in the background. Given how distinct her art is from the typical shoujo style, it's surprising how well it turned out. It may feel slightly out of place amidst hearts instead of blood, yet it retains its unique supernatural essence and is easily the best feature of this title.
In conclusion, harlequin romance manga wasn't as terrible as I anticipated. Still, it lacks distinction in terms of story or character development, so I would only suggest picking up a harlequin title if you're a fan of the mangaka behind its illustrations.