Mangaka: Higuri You

Content:

Mood: Angst/Masochism/Sadism

Bishounen-Alert: Ludwig II, Richard Hornig

Know as/for: Its historal accuracy; realistically beautiful settings

Most drool-worthy pairing: LudwigxHornig

Smut: So-so. There aren't many full-fledged scenes, just vague steamy ones.

Sample quotes: �You said you believed in the immortality of the soul. In that case, I�ll be with you � always.� � Ludwig to Hornig [That almost made me cry]

Scanlation site: Obsession

Ludwig II is, well, the story of Ludwig II. The affair between Ludwig II and Richard Hornig ( Head of the Stables) is fiction, but other than that, there are a lot of historically accurate facts that make up the plot. Ludwig lives in a world of his own, and he frequently frolics around, playing with other men. But there is a lot of political tension in the series, but most of the time Ludwig doesn�t pay attention. Be prepared to fall in love with the maniac king.

Even though the prologue has marked the death of Ludwig, you can�t helped but refuse to let go of the mad but insanely lovable king. At the end of the manga, you�ll be in tears (or at least, very close to tears). In this manga, Higuri You-sensei has made the characters of Ludwig and Hornig come alive, and you�ll fall prey to the charm of Ludwig and the loyalty of Hornig. The art, especially for the location settings, is exceptionally beautiful, and the attention to details is stunning. The character art is quite consistent, but then this is Higuri You-sensei we are talking about.

Though the stories of Ludwig�s personal life and the progress of Bavaria are quite balanced; but one can�t help but want to know more about the Ludwig-Hornig relationship instead. Of course, to non-history buffs, everything might be a bit boring.

Ludwig is perhaps, the most magnificently illustrated character in this story. This story, after all, is about him. Ludwig�s insanity marks every turn of the story, and this produces a dark, angst-ridden atmosphere, which quite suits the storyline. However, it is safe to say the entire manga is very serious, and a sophisticated and mature mind is needed to understand the darker themes of Ludwig�s life.

Hornig is an extremely loyal character, and he is portrayed very well as Ludwig�s lover as well as his anchor. Think you�ve seen too many crying ukes? This is different. Although Hornig does cry a lot, you won�t think of punching his face. He�s submissive and gentle, and can be quite sweet at times. Trust me, you will love him to death and will want bonk him.

By the time I reached the epilogue I was already drowning in my snot.

Rating:

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