The final volume of La Esperanca finishes with a grand swell of drama, intrigue and romance. At last, fans will learn all about the secrets that have lain hidden, all tragic pasts will be laid bare, and hearts may yet be set free. Georges sets off with the unlikeliest ally to find the secret to his past and the truth behind his connection to Grace. Robert hears of this and is in a frenzy to find him and he too is joined by an unexpected companion. When Georges hears the truth behind his birth and Grace’s, will he find the strength to go on? Or will his heart be forever caged by the sins of others?

The grand finale is one full of revelations and turning points for the characters fans have come to care about. It fully resolves the questions raised about Georges ties to Grace, Robert’s past, and their relationship. I don’t want to give too much away, but I would find it hard to imagine anyone walking away from this book without a contented sigh

La Esperanca stands out from all other manga of its genre for its outstanding artwork and rich story telling. It has the most fully developed characters I’ve read in any yaoi to date. And the art style, so finely detailed and wonderfully textured, cannot help but grab the reader’s attention and imagination. Chigusa Kawai has done a tremendous job of capturing a European flavor for the story and the backgrounds. It is so well done that I could easily imagine this romantic saga as a novel or a movie in the likes of Jane Austen. The story has that similar kind of Gothic romantic appeal.

It’s that story telling style that is one of its main strengths and attractions. Unlike many yaoi that have been licensed over here, La Esperanca isn’t focused on sex, it is firmly based on developing the romance and the characters of its story. The European feel, the slow progression of the romance hampered by tragedies and family secrets, is more in line with a Jane Austen story than the average yaoi manga. But then again, there is nothing average about La Esperanca. The incredible artwork and delicate romantic relationship, and lovely storytelling make it an outstanding manga on every front. 

IN SUMMARY:
La Esperanca is one of the most romantic yaoi stories that you will ever read. It also has some of the beautiful artwork of any manga.