I love to read historical fantasy stories. This manga has enraptured me from the moment I read the first chapter. Coming of age stories featuring strong, independent and ambitious young women are amongst my favourites. Following Arte's journey to becoming a master artisan in her own right will certainly be an interesting read. Arte is a beautiful, independent and ambitious young lady, whose childhood encouragement from her father motivated her to defy societal norms set for women in the 1500s . Her willingness to learn and her resilience at the face of all odds is very charming to me. I also enjoy reading her interactions with this fictional representation of the one and only Leonardo da Vinci. Leo's own character is very interesting. Coming from a poor background and working hard to overcome obstacles has made him value talent and potential over the sex of the person and it is interesting to see the similarities between him and Arte, who wants nothing more than to be acknowledged by the men in her trade as a woman capable of holding her own weight and being acknowleged for her skill. Her passion towards art is awe-inspiring and is something we should all aspire to have, in whatever endeavours we may take, whether its art or anything else. Arte is a strong, ambitious young lady who paves a path for herself in a world that looks down on women and is an example of how women should carry themselves in daily life. She does not want to be looked down for being a woman, and her pursuit towards her goal is sonething to be admired.
Arte