REVIEW: ‘The King’s Beast,’ Volume 4

The King’s Beast Volume 4 is written and illustrated by Toma, localized in English by VIZ Media, published through its Shojo Beat imprint, translated and adapted by JN Productions, and features touch-up art and lettering by Monaliza De Asis. In the last volume, Rangetsu has to find a way to balance the vengeance she so desperately seeks with her new life in the imperial palace. So instead of blaming Prince Tenyou, she’s fallen for him, seeing him as her light. But she doesn’t just know him from a yearning sense, she trusts him, and she is set on protecting him at all costs, even if it’s directly putting her life at risk.

In The King’s Beast Volume 4, someone in the imperial palace is trying to kill Prince Tenyou, and Rangetsu has reason to believe it might be the icy third Prince, Kougai. When things turn violent on the jiju field, Rangetsu decides to confront Prince Kougai directly—and ends up as the prize in a wager between royal brothers. The last volume got more adult and seemed to confront jealousy and emotions rising between Rangetsu and Prince Tenyou, but sadly the yearning continues just to be yearning. The romance is starting to feel more like a one-sided obsession over a “both these characters are hiding feelings” dynamic that we often see in shoujo series. That said, the story in The King’s Beast Volume 4 revolves around showing Prince Kougai’s connection with his beast servant, leaning lightly into BL but ultimately pulling back.

The art in The King’s Beast Volume 4 continues to be stellar, even if the slow-burning story feels more like filler this volume than plot-driven. For example, the jiju field moments are stunningly illustrated, but it feels an additive despite pushing some tension and competition. That being said, that particular feeling might come from my near desperation to see Rangetsu and Tenyou come closer, even if it isn’t romantically immediately; I just want to see more between them that aren’t words unsaid and assumptions.

I’m not sure where this series is going, but I’m hoping it gets there fast, with Volume 4 feeling like it lacks development. One middle-of-the-road volume isn’t enough to drop the series, but slow-burning romances and mysteries need some sort of progression in each volume to make it feel like the pace is worth it. Unfortunately, I haven’t gotten that here in The King’s Beast Volume 4. In fact, after dealing with more adult issues and emotions in The King’s Beast Volume 3, this volume seemed like a regression that worries me for Rangetsu’s future development.

Overall, I’m not sure how I feel about The King’s Beast anymore, let alone Volume 4. I’m sure there can be a path forward, but it needs to happen sooner rather than later.

The King’s Beast Volume 4 is available now wherever books are sold.