The Boy I Loved Became the Jaded Emperor Vol. 1 Manga Review

Happy Manga Monday! I picked this one up on Netgalley because, let’s be real, I can’t resist an isekai romance. I’ve been on holiday, just relaxing. I’m already eyeing planners for 2025. I’ve been using a Korean brand, but I’m thinking of switching to a Hobonichi—though, they’re sooo expensive. They even have a 2025-2029 planner, and honestly, I might just get that so I don’t have to think about this every year. Anyway, I’ve rambled enough! Please enjoy this manga review, lol

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As a young boy, Prince Alexei was rescued from certain death by a strange woman with the appearance of a monster. The two of them spent blissful years in the forest , but tragedy struck after his former life caught up with him. Now a young man, Alexei has taken the throne, becoming a cold-hearted emperor intent with no interest in finding love. Little does he know, the person who saved him has been reborn as the daughter of a duke-a taciturn young lady named Eleonora. Soon enough, fate throws them together at the imperial court, but can Alexei overcome his jaded past to see what is right in front of him?

Are we really going to ignore the fact that the two main characters are named Ham and Pie? Honestly, the backstory behind their names was super cute, but the romance? I just couldn’t get into it. She basically acted like his mother in her previous life, and now they’re each other’s love interest? It feels a bit weird

So, quick math: she left her village at 12, spent 10 years alone in the forest, making her 22. Then 3 more years pass, so she’s 25… and he’s 9? The math, quite frankly, is not mathing. However, when they meet again in her next life, he’s already 27 years old. I was so thankful they didn’t make him 18 or 19 or something—at least he was 27. Thank the gods for that.

All that being said, I found the story very intriguing and really enjoyed it. The art style is amazing, but what impressed me most was how different it felt. I’ve read quite a few reincarnation/isekai/romance/fantasy manga, but this one stood out as unique in its own way. I’m not really sure why, since it doesn’t offer anything particularly ‘new,’ but maybe it’s because it gave me strong ‘found family’ vibes—and I’m a sucker for a good found family story.

The first volume is mostly backstory and setup, and I was surprised by how eager I was to keep reading. This is definitely one I’ll keep on my radar. That said, I really, really wish the female lead didn’t have such a maternal role in her previous life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the eARC.

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