Tag: knight of the ice

Knight of the Ice is the story of Kokoro and Chitose, childhood friends and longtime fans of Magical Princess Lady Lala. Now an adult, Kokoro is Japan’s leading male figure skater, all the while hiding the depths of his Lady Lala love. Though he is talented on the ice, he lacks confidence and needs Chitose to recite the special magical spell from Lady Lala before he skates. This ritual often distracts Chitose from her job with the health magazine SASSO.

As the series progresses, Kokoro and Chitose’s transition from longtime friends to budding romantic partners in a not-so-surprising twist. Their adorable affection for each other tends to be the main cause of their relationship struggles: Chitose worries that her health problems will distract Kokoro during his skating competitions and Kokoro worries that his reliance on Chitose burdens her in regards to her health and her job.

The side characters are a lot of fun, and it would be nice if they received more development. Kokoro’s manager Moriyama is tough but supportive. Kokoro’s figure skating peers are also explored throughout the series, though much of the exploration is how they react to Kokoro. I found these tidbits of development interesting, not only for the skaters, but also for Kokoro. Kokoro is awkward and uncertain, and though much of the series revolves around Kokoro developing self-confidence, it’s interesting how his more quiet strengths affect those around him. Chitose is a wonderful character and is definitely the soul of the series, but Kokoro is most certainly the heart. I really enjoyed him and how others perceive him.

Knight of the Ice is a sweet manga that would be appropriate for an adult or older teen collection. Most of the characters are twentysomething adults, but the romance is lighthearted with not much physicality beyond kisses and cuddling and innuendo.