Hello hello. I recently finished a manga that I enjoyed a lot, although it is out of my comfort zone, so I was somewhat confused here and there. However, Ian and Jack are endearing characters that I want to know more about, and you can get to know them if you grab a copy of Eternal Covenant, Volume 1, by Haejin. As always, many thanks to the publisher for the review copy!
- Print Length: 264 pages.
- Publisher: TokyoPop
- Publication Date: September 2, 2025.
- Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Gay, Manga, Romance.
- Rating: 3/5 stars.
A sweeping fantasy full of magic, political intrigue, and spicy romance.The first volume of the popular webtoon for fans of epic fantasy, spicy romances, and of the author’s previous webtoon “The Sweetest Man"“I wonder what awful sin I committed in my past life… to be punished like this now…"After being abandoned by his parents, Ian Gloucester is taken in by a powerful church member named Cardinal Brixton who raises him to rise amongst the ranks to become a decorated knight of the Knights Templar. But Ian is hiding a big secret—one that the cardinal intends to keep hidden: Ian is "cursed," meaning he can harness his internal energy and turn it into raw power. As Ian struggles to keep his secret hidden, he encounters a mysterious noble named Jack who helps him control his magic. In the process of working together, he uncovers corruption in his beloved city of Derwin… as well as new feelings for Jack.This high-action fantasy romance is the first volume in the series that explores themes of identity, loyalty, and the quest for self-acceptance.
The main idea is similar to what I have seen in some other manga and anime, about the guy who has this mysterious force, being, or gift inside him that makes him a pariah. Does it ring any bells? Probably. However, Ian is not the noble hero some other characters aim to become. He is not perfect or ideal or upbeat at any point. This dude is bitter for all the right reasons, which makes him very human.
Jack is also an interesting character that I want to know more about, especially because we barely scratch the surface about who and what he is, what he might represent (beyond being an obvious love interest), and how the story might change because of him. Ian is already a strong character, but Jack seems to be the one that catalysts a lot of new things and experiences for him, which could go to either extreme.
However, due to the political intrigue, which I'm not as familiar with, I couldn't follow some of the elements of the story, so I had to re-read a few times. While this is mostly a personal experience and preference (I tend to read simpler books), I couldn't help but wonder if it could have been clearer from the beginning. Just in case, take this part with a grain of salt.
All in all, I loved learning more about this world, about both main characters, Ian's backstory, and fell in love with the art one panel after the other. The whole volume feels cinematic because of how everything develops, showing us just enough to get an idea of what's happening. If you enjoy fantasy stories that play with your expectations from the beginning, I recommend you pick a copy of Eternal Covenant, Volume 1.
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