Set in the atmospheric Korean capital in the 1920s, this dynamic manhwa period piece follows two teenagers from different social strata thrown together — and their unlikely connection leads to comedic, emotional, and eye-opening experiences of discovery.

South Korea, 1929. Arisa Jo, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is the most eligible bachelorette in all of Gyeongsung (the capital city). With her Western dresses, movie star hairstyle, and assertive attitude, she embodies bold “Modern” values. Meet her opposite, Jun Seomoon, a young man from the countryside deeply rooted in tradition. When Jun is charged by Arisa’s father to be her escort in the big city, these opposing forces create sparks. Through this unlikely connection, these teenagers open their eyes to new perspectives amidst the rapidly changing world they live in.

Coming off the heels of her acclaimed Raging Clouds, Lovers of the Empire proves Yudori to be a comic artist at the height of her creative powers. On the surface a sweet and funny will they, won’t they romance, this story garners depth from its depiction of Korea at a crossroads: a city occupied by Japan, molded by Western influences, and facing a modernity that stirs inner conflicts within its citizens. Rendered in gorgeous full color, this period piece portrays a fascinating city in a tumultuous time, with two winsome characters at its heart.

Arisa Jo might be the most glamorous girl in all of Gyeongsung, and it’s a carefully constructed appearance reflecting the fashions and influence of the West.

Girls and women gossip about her. Boys are in love with her, but likewise also intimidated. Arisa speaks her mind, is assertive, and is also quite wealthy and can afford the Western style she’s trying to emulate.

Jun, who has been taken under Arisa’s father’s wing, accompanies Arisa to and from school while he’s busy studying to improve his status in life. He comes from a troubled background–his father spent studying his entire life as a Yangban (Joseon nobility) to take the Royal Examination, only to find the examination had been abolished under the new regime. Add to that the Japanese occupation of Korea, which directly touches Jun’s life: his father is beaten to death by a Japanese soldier for being an insulting, drunk nuisance.

Jun and his family are poor now, and live only by the good graces of the Jo family. Jun represents the Old Korea and its old ways, in addition to referring to himself as a “country bumpkin.”

Jun has a tumult of feelings about Arisa. He is enthralled by her, one day observing her carefully shaving her eyebrows to get that Hollywood starlet look; another day he believes she is a fraud and a liar and for men to be wary of her. It also seems like he likes her, too, which just adds more to the mix, which confuses and angers him. He blames Arisa for a lot of his feelings.

He also feels jealousy (and a little bit of shame) at how openly the Jo family, particularly Arisa, displays their wealth.

He also has to listen to his friends obsess over Arisa, as pretty much all the boys are equally befuddled and enamored with her. When Jun’s with them, he “hides” himself so Arisa won’t run into him.

There’s a lot of shame and pining in this first volume, along with the tension of the Old and New Korea, the “invasion” of the West and the actual invasion of Japan. Jun notices this when he and Arisa go to a restaurant after the movies–the waiters speak Japanese and serve European dishes.

I think Jun is probably coming across as the more complex character in this volume just because his emotions and turmoil come out very vividly with his facial expressions and reactions to his circumstances, and of course, Arisa. But we can’t overlook that Arisa has some depth to her, too–it’s just a bit more subtle. Why is she so focused on Western style? What about her desire to read (which her father denies her)? There’s a lot going on with these two, so much to the point that I’m not exactly sure if they’ll eventually get together or not. I mean, I think they will, but I don’t have any certainty of it just because Jun seems to have a love-hate relationship with Arisa.

This is a fascinating, complex opening volume to what I’m sure will be a great historical series. It’s set during a time of great change, one that seems to force people to adapt to it, even when they’re not ready. That brings about a great deal of conflict in addition to the conflicts between our main characters. It’s an enthralling read and I’m looking forward to the next volume.

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Lovers of the Empire Volume 1 is available today. You can order it from the publisher directly or from a wide variety of booksellers online and in store.