I ended up enjoying this much more than I thought I would initially. I had originally assumed this was just another "I was killed in my previous life, and I've been reborn to start over so I can change the events of the previous timeline so I can live this time!". This story was very much not that! The two main characters have such a natural chemistry, and it's so refreshing that it's implied that they like each other as people first, and not just as romantic conquests. This volume goes into the back story a bit longer than I expected it to, but it makes sense, the back story is the basis for the entire present plot. I also love that while this has dramatic elements, there are some comedy elements as well. Hilariously, the comedy elements might be what will elevate the dramatic elements in the end. I'm very interested in seeing how this manga plays out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

4/5! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was a really cute second chance romance, and Ham & Pie are both so loveable. Definitely going to continue this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The one aspect that really stood out to me was the fact that the prince's first love is not stereotypical. Otherwise, this is a pretty standard story if you're familiar with the beats of fantasy-flavored romantic light novels or webcomics. It's not a bad thing, someone is going to love this, but I personally was hoping for something more out of it, story wise. At least the reincarnation wasn't from another world this time!

After Pie, the person who saved him and treated him like family after his step-mother tried to murder him, was killed, Prince Alexei swore revenge and has now become the Demon Emperor feared by all. He has no idea that Pie was reborn as Eleonora, a duke's daughter, who retains her memories of her past life as Pie thanks to Alexie's magic. Unfortunately, Pie only knew Alexei as "Ham," and last saw him at 9 years old so when she finally meets him when he's looking for an empress, neither recognize each other.

I need volume 2 now because the pieces are falling together!!! I can't wait for them to both realize their connection and see what her family thinks after they shunned her away.

This was a cute story with lots of potential with the magic they've touched upon. The art was lovely and I'm excited to read more.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Feat: romcom, cinderella vibes

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Kodansha Comics, and Ii Oshikawa for the opportunity to read this manga in exchange for an honest review.

A wholesome slow burn romance with in depth character backstory and a lead-up leaving the reader itching for more!

Alexei, shunned and put to death by his family as a young boy, holds his mother's priestess protection, being brought back to life after many deaths in the forest. When a green-skinned froggish lady saves him from another nasty death-by-bear, he finds her to be sweet and caring, where her family and the people of her village shunned her for her appearance. They call each other Pie and Ham.

After Pie's death, Alexei had grown so close to her over the years of living in the forest that his power explodes outwards in his grief and anger. He aims to climb in power so that he will never be unable to protect the person he loves again. His power and wish is that Pie will live. And so she dies. Reincarnated into a noble girl with all of her memories in tact, Pie wants nothing more than to see Ham again, and Ham seeks to find the reincarnation of his loving Pie.

A wholesome found-family connection that will easily become a romance. The first volume focuses on the characters backstories and interactions during Alexei's youth. Very slow-burn with a lead-up to a cliffhanger that will have the reader absolutely itching for the next one!

I don't think I liked this one. I think it was the pacing - it just felt kind of off the entire time I was reading this. I think there was too much flashback relative to the amount of time spent in the present and that the backstory we did get did not really make sense. I was also really not sure what vibes I was supposed to be getting near the end. I would skip this one.

Well drawn and a cute take on a Cinderella story line. The first novel sets the stage for the characters to grow more in future editions.

The art is absolutely gorgeous. This volume was a lot of background, we learn about their time together when he was young and her in her previous life. We see their reintroduction and from her view point, it very sweet. She has been waiting a long time to meet back up with Ham to show him her love for him again. I can't wait to read the next one. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for !y honest opinion.

A more unique premise for a fantasy romance manga!

The female lead Eleonora seems so unique, I love the way her accent stays (no spoilers). It added a very down-to-earth feel to this story. I'm curious about the future relationship dynamic between the leads; it is a little complicated. They are cute together though. The story also feels a little whimsical with the enchanted forest setting scenes.

For a first volume, feels a little short but the art is pretty and the plot and pacing is comprehensible. I'm actually familar with this manga, I also know it develops quite well in further volumes (but is a slow-burn), so I would definitely recommend this as a simple, yet with depth, read.

Thank you so much to Kodansha and NetGalley for the ARC, my thoughts are my own.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own.**
☆Review posted to Goodreads on 9/27/2024.☆

4.5⭐️

This was an enjoyable start to a series! I feel like it could have been a bit longer for a first volume, to really set the scene, but overall, good! I will be continuing this series!

A wonderful first volume! Alexei isn't that interesting so far as a character since I've seen his type of male lead plenty of times, but Eleonora is FASCINATING to me! Their shared history is compelling and I hope the author does not take too long to get to them recognizing each other. I am also interested in the kinds of conflicts their relationship will face in the future!

Art: 4/5 nothing super unique but it's polished and fits the story
Plot: 5/5 definitely a great premise and I hope it continues to surprise me
Characters: 4/5 most of the cast are tired tropes but the FL seems promising

Following an assassination attempt, Prince Alexi finds a better life living among the strange creatures of the forest - including a frog-like person who he names Pie. When Alexi is torn away from the woods and Pie is killed, he grows into a bitter young ruler. He never expected that a young noblewoman who is presented as a potential marriage candidate is Pie reincarnated, memories included. Nothing is as it seems in the empire.

This is sort of a reverse beauty and the beast retelling. The chronology is a little wacky - which make some parts confusing, but I see some great potential in this plot.

I loved this ! Havent heard about this manga until I saw it on NetGalley but it should be more known about. Its a reincarnation story but not villainess or revenge which I tend to read often. Its about a friendship that ended in tragedy but through a blessing overcomes that and will hopefully become a beautiful romance.

The art is very beautiful, I will say this makes me want to read more! Although, it is a bit slow in this volume but there is a lot of room to expand with the storyline. I'm hoping for more drama and romance in the upcoming updates! Definitely a fairy tale story with magic and humor that will capture your heart and support. Overall the art is truly stunning and so eye catching, never change that!

This story was adorable. You have a prince who someone tried to kill him, and he gets saved by a girl who does not look human. You get to see as these two get close and then something happens. The story turns in a different direction, and I am for to see where it will go in book 2!

Such a cute story! This is pretty different from the usual reincarnation or shoujo fantasy romance. I really enjoyed it. It's a little slow-going so far, but I'm sure in future volumes we'll get more romance/plot happening. I will definitely continue reading once more come out!

I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would!

I was hopeful but I felt unsure when I heard someone mention it was bittersweet, which is not how I prefer my romance if I'm honest. LOL!

Surprisingly though, there really isn't that much romance in this first volume! I feel like the majority of the story was the flashback of the leads, which was SO engaging and broke my heart a little bit! The happy bits that "Ham" and "Pie" had together were so beautiful and extremely precious that Ham's anger about what happened really wrapped around and engulfed me as a reader. Goodness, I was shocked and angry too!

The ending was extremely hopeful and I am planning to get the second volume because while the beginning of their story may have been tragic, I really feel it will end with love and happiness (especially based on the pose of the second cover LOL).

But rewinding a little bit, one thing I thought incredibly interesting is Eleonora's accent! What a fascinating concept of when reincarnated you still have the accent from your previous life! It's the first time I've read something like that and think it added a very down-to-earth feel to this story when she was living out her life as Eleonora.

Again, I enjoyed this a lot and will be writing the new volume's date on my preorder list because I'm excited to find out what happens next!

*(I originally received an e-copy via NetGalley, but ended up buying a physical copy early because I was so interested in reading it!)*

This odd, yet humorous, manga has quite the first volume!

A bumpkin frog monster gets reincarnated as a duke's daughter, and fully retains her memory. Because of this, she also retains her hillbilly speech! Thankfully, she's raised as a proper lady so she often refrains from speaking so that she can ensure proper speech. As a result, what happens is this dichotomy of how she's presented to the world and what is actually going on inside her head! People find her demure, yet she's inwardly thinking of things like eating and gardening.

The backstory of the two main characters is truly sweet. It's easy to tell that both still deeply care about the other, despite not knowing what happened through the years. They don't even know if the other is still alive or in the area- yet they still constantly think of their old friend.

I'm genuinely intrigued to know how things will go now that they've run into each other. Their first conversation was hilarious (from a third party standpoint).

Who will be the first to recognize the soul of their previous friend? Will it be odd that they're close in age now? Do either of them have magical abilities still?

My only true area of concern would have to do with her originally being older and sort of like a mother to him. Now that she was reincarnated, she's actually younger - despite having her old memory. I'm really curious how this will unfold.

Overall, banter is phenomenal and the potential for magic intrigues me even further! I love Ham (i.e. the Jaded Emperor) and Pie (i.e. Lady Eleonora). I want to see their friendship rekindle!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

5 out of 5 stars.

'The Boy I Loved Became the Jaded Emperor' by Li Oshikawa is a beautifully constructed manga about reincarnation, magic and the power of love. Join Ham and Pie as they grow together in an enchanted forest.

The art style is impeccable and the characters nearly as gorgeous as the plot. Nearly. I have seen a lot of plots, but this one just hits different for me. I need the next book right now, asap!!! This was just so good and I don't even read a lot of manga. Maybe it's time to start thanks to this book?

I highly recommend you read this if you haven't already.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

At first, it was a bit odd but then it became more fun to follow the story of Ham and Pie and how they got the chance to meet again. It is like a fairy tale.