The Princess's Dangerous Vampire Mate

The general overview of Gorgeous Carat, if you're considering whether to read it, centers around a phantom thief who becomes captivated by a young man's jewel-like eyes and resolves to possess them at all costs. This summary might lead one to dismiss the series as a trashy yaoi. While this is the basic premise, and there are indeed elements reminiscent of trashy yaoi within this manga, I don't believe this fully encapsulates Gorgeous Carat as a whole. The narrative is far more intricate than that, with the story holding greater importance than any sexual or fanservice content.

One aspect that surprised me was that the story doesn't primarily focus on Ray's exploits as the phantom thief Noir. Initially, I anticipated something akin to CLAMP's Man of Many Faces but with a darker tone, or perhaps Maurice Leblanc's Arsène Lupin tales, which clearly influenced the work. However, the story took a different direction. After the first volume—really, after the first few chapters—Ray didn't engage in many heists. Instead, the plot revolved around a rival crime syndicate, the Black Hand, with branches across the world. Florian inadvertently encounters them, dragging Ray into the fray, but in the second volume, we discover a deeper connection between Ray and the Black Hand. The rest of the story delves into the villain's obsession with Ray. It feels like You Higuri wasn't entirely certain what kind of story she was crafting and allowed the narrative to guide her. As a writer, I empathize with this, but typically, one can revise and refine the story to make it appear intentional. This inability to revisit and adjust is a drawback of serialized storytelling, and Gorgeous Carat particularly suffered from it.

Yes, this manga is dark. It tackles themes such as human trafficking, physical and sexual abuse, drug addiction, and manipulation, which some readers may find difficult to engage with. If these topics discomfort you, I wouldn't recommend picking up this series. One aspect I admire about Gorgeous Carat is that You Higuri doesn't shy away from portraying the negative consequences of these actions and avoids romanticizing them. Florian, who endures much of the abuse, experiences trauma that doesn't vanish once the ordeal concludes. A crucial point to address is the power dynamics, as it's a recurring issue in yaoi manga where one partner is abusive, and the other passively accepts it, often depicted as a healthy relationship. Initially, Ray fits this mold. He essentially purchases Florian from his financially struggling family and whips him to extract information about a jewel he intends to steal from Florian's family. However, after the first or second chapter, Ray ceases mistreating Florian, allowing their relationship to evolve into something better (though still not ideal), making it plausible that they could fall in love. Unlike many trashy yaoi stories, they don't immediately become intimate; in fact, they only kiss twice in the fourth volume (I anticipate more in the sequels). The primary source of darkness stems from the villain Azura's obsession with Ray and his use of Florian to exploit Ray's vulnerabilities. This isn't presented as fanservice, as another manga might, but rather as a logical progression of a somber tale.

The supporting characters are also well-developed. I especially appreciate Laila, as complex female characters are rare in yaoi. Every phantom thief needs a detective adversary, and for Noir, that's Solomon Sugar, who is somewhat engaging but lacks depth. There are hints suggesting he has connections to Ray and the villain Azura, so perhaps Solomon will be further developed in the sequels. Other characters like Noel, Louise, and Fatima feel like distinct individuals with their own aspirations and motivations.

Typically, I discuss historical accuracy in my reviews, but I lack sufficient knowledge of early-20th-century France, northern Africa, or the Crusades to evaluate this aspect in the manga. Aside from one initial question—why would Mughal rulers (who were Muslim) embed a precious jewel into the forehead of a Hindu statue?—which was never revisited, nothing else raised any historical concerns for me. That's the best assessment I can provide regarding this element.

Gorgeous Carat is far from flawless; I readily admit that. The plot escaped the author's control, and some of the darker elements might be considered in poor taste. Despite these flaws, I found Gorgeous Carat utterly engrossing, a story that grips you and refuses to let go. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It offered the darkness and complexity I appreciate in fiction, with male-male relationships serving the story rather than the story catering to yaoi fanservice. This is an excellent historical adventure featuring queer characters, if that appeals to your interests. <p>

I absolutely love the story of Howling. I can't wait for more.

Every few weeks, I still revisit this book. Just in the hopes that it will someday be updated,

Skip chapter one as its incorrect. Chapter 2 is the actual Chapter 1.

Thank you very much thx a lot im sooo happy thank you ❤️❤️❤️❤️