Danica Davidson
April 27, 2025 
The Margraves’s Daughter & the Enemy Prince is an escapist read about a heroine with a lot of moxie who is determined to avenge her slain father. Starting out, Anna is a misfit in her family, because she likes swords and doesn’t behave the way she’s culturally expected to. She seethes under the double standards of how society says men and women should act. Then her father is killed in battle while fighting the neighboring kingdom, and her older brother, the heir, is captured as a prisoner of war. The family suggests trying to get the heir back by sending one of their daughters to the other kingdom, as tribute.
Anna is more than ready to be sent as tribute. She’s not gung-ho on getting married. No, she plans to assassinate the general of the enemy’s army.
The creepy general obliviously accepts Anna as tribute, but before she gets a chance to assassinate him, something throws a wrench into the works. Specifically, it’s the kingdom’s prince, Kenneth. He likes Anna’s more, shall we say, unladylike actions. He says she’s interesting and he wants to marry her. Anna agrees on certain conditions that will benefit her family and her kingdom. But what is she getting herself into?
The prince says some things that are surprising, concerning, and mysterious. What is he getting out of this marriage? Why does he say things against his own kingdom? It’s not even really clear what the war is about, and it has the potential of going into a deep back story.
As things are now, Anna is a fun heroine for her tenacity and grit. It’s also worth noting that she travels to the other kingdom along with her servant, Raven, who is very nice and obviously interested in her, so things seem to be lining up for a love triangle. The artwork is well done, and succeeds in capturing character personalities, action sequences, and the frilly details of court life. If you want heroines with swords, castle escapism and a mysterious male lead, The Margraves’s Daughter & the Enemy Prince is a fun way to pass the time.
Story & Art: An Ogura
Publisher: Tokyopop
Translator: Katie Kimura
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
