The characters were fun and I enjoyed the humor. Not a ton happened in this volume, but it was a promising star to the series. The art is gorgeous, I love it.

So The Boy I Loved Became the Jaded Emperor (volume 1) is a fascinating sort of taken on destined reunions and reincarnations and I was riveted once I got a few chapters in to see where it was going!

Prince (now Emperor) Alexei is in line for the throne-- until his family decides they'd rather get rid of him in a tragic "accident" so they can take their own path. But he survives (in a way) (or we'd have no titular Jaded Emperor) and comes to live in a forest with a malformed human who loves and cares for him and names him "Ham" after the food she most longs to eat-- and in turn he calls her "Pie," his favorite food. But when it's known the young prince may still be alive, that's when the real tragedy begins... which ends up in a reincarnation situation, and the passing of ~20 years.

I kept reading, intrigued by the developments on the Emperor's messy family and Eleonora's stepfamily situation, how they mirror each other yet are separate, and when these two fill find out who each other are/were! Plus the various hints that what the nobles are taught isn't what reality is like on the ground.... I'll definitely keep up with this series; it was pretty unique!

Thank you to Kodansha and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for review!

This was actually so cute and I cannot wait for volume 2. I found the story to be very unique and so interesting that I finished it in one sitting!

The Boy I Loved Became the Jaded Emperor Volume 1 is by Ii Oshikawa and focuses on Prince Alexie as he tries to overcome his childhood trauma of seeing someone he loved be killed in front of him, and as others attempt to marry him off. "Pie", the green monster that lovingly cared for Alexie while he was in the forest has been reincarnated into the body of Eleonora who has her memories and dialect from when she lived in the forest. Because she speaks in a "lowborn" manner, her family makes her an outcast and forbids her from speaking. Due to this, she is considered mysterious at court and highly eligible.

Most of this novel gives the backstory of "Pie" and "Ham" (Alexie's name when he is living in the forest) so there is not much in the way of relationship development. I really enjoyed the art and worldbuilding in this series, but there were times where I was confused what was going on. Having the characters in the flashbacks have not only different, but outlandish names was one of the things that made it difficult to follow along, especially when later on, the characters start talking about the food pie and ham!

I feel like the court intrigue in this reminded me of "The Apothecary Diaries," so if readers are a fan of that series, they may like this one too.

The Boy I Loved Became the Jaded Emperor 1 is a bittersweet story that weaves fairytale magic with the harsh realities of royal life, and it doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to tugging on your heartstrings.

As a child, Prince Alexei’s days in the forest with a kindhearted creature were like something out of a dream. But that dream shattered when duty called him back to the palace, leaving behind both the forest and the joy it brought. Now grown, Alexei sits on the throne, hardened by tragedy and consumed by the need for revenge. Little does he know, the creature who once saved his life now walks the halls of his court, reborn as the quiet, enigmatic daughter of a duke.

The story beautifully contrasts the innocence of childhood with the weight of adulthood, creating an emotional depth that lingers long after the last page. The palace is as much a character as the people in it, brimming with intrigue and secrets. Every interaction between Alexei and the duke’s daughter is charged with unspoken history, and you’ll find yourself holding your breath, hoping they’ll somehow recognize each other while knowing how complicated their reunion could be.

The artwork elevates the story even further, with delicate linework and intricate details that make every scene feel alive. From the lush, dreamy forest to the cold, imposing palace, the visuals capture the emotional stakes perfectly.

This is the kind of manga that leaves you aching for answers while savoring every moment. With its rich world-building, beautifully layered characters, and poignant storytelling, it’s a story that invites you to lose yourself—and maybe get a little misty-eyed along the way. 4 stars for a stunning beginning to what promises to be an unforgettable tale.

This was really good and I look forward to reading the second one when it comes out in English. Artworks is beautiful and descriptive. I like the backstories of our MCs. The boy who couldn't stay dead and the woman who was green. Now the King of the land who has grown into a hard man, and a daughter of a duke who is a reincarnation. Now that the two have met in the here and now, can they figure out who they once were to each other? Eleonora doesn't talk like a noble is expected to and watching them interact has already been entertaining. The next step in the story should be a good one.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for this eARC

I went into this manga not knowing what to expect, but surprisingly, I loved it. This is the sort of story I would love to see adapted to an anime as it’s so full of intrigue and romance. I understand some are a bit put off by Pie and Hams history, but I actually quite liked the chemistry on reconnecting. The artwork is gorgeous, and Pie’s accent was a charming little added bonus. I would love to read the next volume, and will be looking out for it eagerly.

Thank you so much for letting me read this manga. Very pritty artwork and an intriguing story. I just flew through this manga and want to read more of it.

The Boy I Loved Became the Jaded Emperor opens with a heartwarming and wholesome tone. Rather than diving straight into romance, this first volume focuses on establishing its two protagonists, Alexei and Eleonora. The pacing is slow and deliberate, offering a thoughtful exploration of their backstories and relationships.

The art is absolutely lovely, exuding a fairytale-like atmosphere with clear Cinderella influences that enhance the magical tone of the story.

The volume ends on a cliffhanger, which is both thrilling and a bit frustrating. Just as the story seems to gain momentum, it cuts off, leaving the reader eager for more. While this abrupt ending makes it feel more like an extended prologue than a full chapter, it sets the stage for what promises to be an engaging series.

Thank you, Kodansha Comics, for the ARC!

A gorgeous and sweet manga that was heartwarming, silly, and with just the right amount of angst. It kept me engaged and loving the story all the way to the end, and I can’t wait for the next volume!

This was so cute! Not what I was expecting when I picked it up but I was pleasantly surprised. The story is unique and interesting. I cannot wait to read more in the next volume.

I did not end up finishing this volume as I really did not mesh with the story and just could not waste the time finishing it. Thank you for the opportunity!

I think this is the first I’ve read reincarnation! It was cute and I loved the Cinderella vibes mixed with fantasy. Volume one gave a lot of info about the characters & was easy to follow. I look forward to the next volumes!

Thank you NetGalley for providing the e-arc for me to read! I loved the story and the art style! I cannot wait for a sequel and hope the characters growth is as good as I imagine it will be!

First a BIG Thanks to NetGaley, the Author and the Publisher for this ARC.

It reminded me a bit of a combo between Cinderella and the Prince and the Pauper.
The FMC was shunned and poor, living a peaceful and kind life in the woods on her own until she gets reincarnated and starts living as a duke's eldest and prettiest, sweetest but shunned, humiliated and sort of enslaved daughter.
The story is sweet and soft, with a dark lurking at the edges. It is funny and I adore the FMC love for food. It's just perfect.
I'm really looking forward as to where the story is going and would like to read more.

the boy i loved became the jaded emperor is cute, sweet and wholesome. in this first volume, there’s minimal romance as it focuses on introducing the two main characters, alexei and eleonora.

within the first couple of chapters, we meet “ham”, a prince who was banished by an evil stepmother into a forest occupied by dangerous magical beasts and “pie”, a woman who created a home within the forest after she left her village at the age of twelve due to her grotesque features. “pie” discovers “ham” and decides to care for the prince, creating a newfound bond between them that makes a lasting impression. when alexei’s imperial knights eventually find him in the forest, the events following this moment transform alexei from a once kind, sweet prince into a cold, jaded emperor.

fast forward to the future we meet eleonora, a stunning noble woman, known as the ‘silent beauty’ as she's been urged to avoid conversation due to her unusual and uncouth accent. we find out that eleonora’s “pie”, the woman of the forest who has been reincarnated and has somehow retained her accent from her last life. in a second chance encounter, “ham” and “pie” reunite at the emperor’s ball—a ball that has been held for alexei to find a wife—and have a meet-cute situation over a conversation regarding pies. i'm curious to see where this meet-cute situation leads and how the romance between alexei and eleonora continues to blossom!

Ich war wirklich begeistert von dem Zeichenstil. Ich tu mir bei Mangas wirklich schwer, wenn mir die Zeichnungen nicht gefallen, egal wie toll die Story ist. Aber hier hat beides einfach gepasst. Mir haben wie gesagt die Zeichnungen sehr gut gefallen, vor allem die Bunny-Einhörner, die sind einfach so niedlich, aber auch alles andere. Und auch die Story hat mir wirklich sehr gut gefallen und ich bin sehr gespannt, wie es weitergehen wird und freue mich bereits auf Band 2. Es hat bisschen was von Cinderella, ich denke aber, dass es sich schnell in eine andere Richtung entwickeln wird. Ich mag auch beide Hauptcharaktäre, Ham und Pie, sehr gerne und ich freue mich, dass sie sich nach dem traurigen Tod von Pie unter diesen Umständen wiedergetroffen haben.

The Boy I Loved Became the Jaded Emperor surprised me and this one is actually only two books long. But I should've known, since it's josei and they just tend to be better. When Prince Alexei was a kid, he was saved by this weird looking creature he started to call Pie. Pie then called the little boy Ham and they had wonderful time in the woods together. But, soon Alexei's past as a royal caught up to him and Pie died. This made Alexei begrudged and mostly a nasty soon-to-be emperor except the creature has been born again, now as the daughter of a duke. This may seem cliched, but in reality it isn't. The prejudiced world is interesting and the creature is actually wise and understanding - even as a young woman. The best part is being inside Pie's head now and at least this first part isn't fluffy, which is great.

The art looks good and works well with the story. Sadly so the cover looks like your basic love manga when this isn't. I hope the latter part will be as wonderful as this and show that there can be different kinds of manga series even in this genre.

This was really weird. Idk what the authors intentions were, but it came off really creepy. How old was the woman supposed to be when she met the boy for the first time? Either way, she was older than him and referred to herself as a mother to the animals in the forest, and kept referring to him as her “little ham”. It would be a really cute and fun story if it wasn’t for this creepy ick factor making me feel uncomfortable about it. I also hate that it didn’t conclude in this volume. I want to know what happens. I want to know the ending. But it just left off on the biggest cliffhanger and I hate that so much because I just sat through this whole thing for what feels like no reason now. Idk. I’m so conflicted about this. I wish I knew the author’s intentions so I could judge this one better. I guess I’ll do 3 stars so represent that I’m on the fence with this one until I have more information about the author.

There are some definite issues with the premise of this one. It's a reincarnation story, more similar to the BL novel series You Can Have My Back than any isekai title in that one-half of the main couple dies and is reincarnated swiftly afterward in the same nation. The person in question originally went by the name of Pie – yes, like the food. She was a nonstandard human who fled her village at age twelve after being ostracized for her odd, saggy green skin, never having been given a name, and that means she's in the right place to save six-year-old Prince Alexei when his stepmother attempts to have him killed. But then three years later, Pie is killed by the royal knights, and, blessed with Alexei's powerful magic, she quickly is reborn as Eleonora, daughter of the Purpleus dukedom…but with her atrocious lower class accent intact. As far as reasons for a character to embark on a Cinderella storyline go, that one feels fairly lame.

Ostensibly, this is a story about Pie/Eleonora and Alexei (who went by the name of Ham while he was with Pie) finding each other and getting married. It's a bit questionable, however, when Pie was very much Ham's parental figure for those three years in the forest, or at the very least an older sister. Their love was strong but platonic, and now that she's eighteen and he's twenty-seven, the story wants to change that. (It doesn't hurt that she's exquisitely beautiful.) There's something just a little awkward about the set-up, and even though I do want to see them reunited, I'm not comfortable with the reunion taking on a romantic edge. Still, it's hard to argue with the fact that losing Pie had a terrible effect on Alexei; he's become cold and angry, taking a minister's statement that Pie died because Alexei didn't have enough power to heart. And that's not the only terrible experience the poor man's had: before her death, his mother “blessed” him with the ability to return to life after being killed, and before he met Pie he'd died and come back at least three times. That's the kind of experience that can mess someone up, and the story does appear to want to acknowledge it, even if developing it doesn't seem to be on the table.

Issues with the premise aside, this isn't a bad book. It ends on enough of a cliffhanger that I want to read volume two, although I admit to thinking that the original light novel is probably a better version of the story in terms of information and the fact that obvious narration works better in prose than comic form, in my opinion. The art is beautiful, too, so if you can get past Pie and Ham's relationship and how it turns into Eleonora's and Alexei's, this is a nice read.