Sea Princess Azuri

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

Sea Princess Azuri was a manga series by Erica Reis (now Erica Leigh Currey).

Azuri is the princess of the Orcans. She is engaged to Princess Unagi of the Eel Kingdom, but is in love with Pthalo, a palace guard. The story revolves around this arranged marriage and was to focus on the Eel Kingdom's treachery until the series was cancelled by Tokyopop.

Tropes used in Sea Princess Azuri include:
  • Arranged Marriage: Unagi & Azuri's marriage would end the rivalry between the two kingdoms.
  • Executive Meddling: Word of God states that the series was originally slated to be a 3 parter, with the second book a cliffhanger and the third to resolve everything. Alas, no.
  • Fridge Horror: It is stated at the start of the story by both nations that the Arranged Marriage between Azuri and Unagi is vital to the treaty between the two kingdoms. So when Azuri and Thalo run off together at the end, they are potentially dooming their country to return to war. In addition, they leave behind them Azuri's friends Gibbi and Cinabelle, who helped them escape; and Thalo's friend Mica is last seen single-handedly attacking a fair number of angry, well-armed Eel guards to give the lovers time to get away. None of which can possibly end well.
  • Impossibly Cool Clothes: The merfolk all had ornate costumes and fancy clothes for everyday wear. Azuri's refusal to wear them unless neccessary was a sign of her nature.
  • Interspecies Romance: Mica is a cross between two types of dolphin mermaids. The question of what Prince Unagi and Princess Azuri's offspring would look like is mentioned.
  • Jerkass: Unagi, at least in the first volume.
  • Horse of a Different Color: The seahorse mounts used by the Eel Kingdom.
  • Pet Baby Wild Animal: Awa the sealicorn.
  • Rebellious Princess: Obviously.
  • Runaway Fiance: Azuri fless the kingdom with Thalo at the end.
  • Seashell Bra: Sometimes they're present, sometimes they're not. It's a wardrobe choice.
  • Unscaled Merfolk: The Orcans and several other mermaid characters.
  • What Could Have Been: Pthalo was originally supposed to have been turned into a human and the plot against the Orcans fully-developed.