Nina the Starry Bride Review: A Dark Fantasy Anime

Synopsis: What is Nina the Starry Bride About?

In the kingdom of Fortna, Azure, the second prince, kidnaps an orphan named Nina who has the same eyes as the astral priestess and recently deceased princess, Alisha. Since few know Alisha is dead, Azure tasks Nina with impersonating the princess. However, Alisha is betrothed to an infamous prince in the neighboring kingdom of Galgada, which means that Nina will have to leave her home—and the man she loves—forever.

Nina the Starry Bride Review & Christian Perspective

Nina the Starry Bride, also known as Hoshifuru Ōkoku no Nina, is an anime that blends fantasy, romance, and character growth. Based on the josei (for adult women) manga series of the same name, Nina explores self-sacrifice, love, and complicated relationships. Although the source material is classified as a fantasy, it leans heavily into romantic elements, and certain romantic elements resemble more of a dark romance than a wholesome, fluffy, feel-good romance.

Nina the Starry Bride‘s Animation

I was immediately drawn to the cover art. Nina’s cover design is, in my opinion, beautiful and elegant.

Nina the Starry Bride English Dub Cast

The cast of the English dub did an excellent job embodying the characters. Jill Harris (Fern in Frieren, Naho in Orange), Austin Tindle (Karma in Assassination Classroom,  Liu Siwen in Link Click), and Ben Stegmair (Salamantyll in A Journey Through Another World: Raising Kids While Adventuring) star as Nina, Sett, and Karma in the English dub.

Some other voice actors in Nina include Monica Rial (Steins;Gate 0, Yona of the Dawn) as the bird Neena, Alejandro Saab (Link Click, Horimiya), Emi Lo (Link Click: The Bridon Arc, Horimiya), Jordan Dash Cruz (Frieren, Horimiya) and Kelsey Maher Cruz (Link Click).

The Storyline

The storyline, which was adapted from Rikachi’s manga of the same name, was interesting and relatively well-written. However, it was very fast-paced. After only four episodes, Nina has been taken in as a princess, taught how to be a princess, fallen in love, and decided to sacrifice her freedom to protect people she’s known for four episodes. The quick pace of the first few episodes established Nina’s motivation and her relationship with Azure, so in a way, it’s defensible.

What really caught me off guard was that Nina has two potential lovers. I was expecting the standard “star-crossed lovers” trope for Azure and Nina, but I was surprised to find that isn’t the case; we actually have a love triangle on our hands. While the introduction of the love triangle adds complexity to the story, it felt very underdeveloped. Azure’s kindness and bond with Nina make her romantic indecision feel out of character, given her clear connection with Azure.

Character Profiles for Nina The Starry Bride

Nina’s Character in Nina the Starry Bride

Nina’s morals and virtues shine in the anime. She’s a deeply moral character with an unwaveringly positive attitude, no matter the circumstances. Even in the face of hardship, she finds reasons to smile and uplift those around her.

She holds firm to her beliefs, refusing to compromise her values—even under pressure. Her sense of justice extends beyond herself; when she witnesses women being harassed or threatened, she doesn’t hesitate to intervene. Nina doesn’t like keeping her true identity a secret and questions if she can keep that a secret for the rest of her life.

She values purity and doesn’t give in to sexual temptation, even if it’s the easy way to win Sett’s heart and achieve her goals.

Nina is willing to sacrifice not only her happiness but also her very future for the sake of others—even for those who have done nothing to deserve her kindness. Nina’s kindness earns her the devotion of the castle servants—despite her status as a foreign princess, they quickly come to admire her compassion and humility.

*Spoiler* Even in horrific circumstances, she refuses to abandon others, especially Sett.

Sett’s Character in the Anime

Of all the characters, Sett (Galgada’s prince) undergoes the most apparent change—yet, by the season’s end, it’s unclear whether he has truly changed at all.

When we first meet Sett he is far from chivalrous: manipulative, lustful, and indifferent to the suffering of others. He views women as commodities and is emotionally disconnected from everyone, save for his only companion—a bird named Neena.

As the story progresses, he begins to show glimpses of vulnerability, especially in his interactions with Nina. He does seem to change, growing closer with Nina and opening his heart. However, despite his changes, he’s still a violent, dark character. His past habits and selfish tendencies lurk beneath the surface, leaving us unsure that he’s truly changed.

Azure in Nina the Starry Bride

Azure, the second prince of Fortna, carries the weight of duty on his shoulders. He chooses to love Nina despite her humble past, and desires to protect her.

He’s very much a stereotypical knight-in-shining armor for Nina, which makes her choice to leave Fortna for Galgada—and leave Azure behind—all the more painful.

Yet, Azure doesn’t give up on her and plans to free her from Sett even though she disobeyed him and left him. She made that choice to protect him, but he willingly takes risk to get her back. His determination is applaudable.

Nina’s Ladies-in-Waiting in the Anime

Nina isn’t alone in her kindness. Her lady-in-waiting, Anne, is a steadfast friend whose unwavering loyalty never falters, no matter the challenges they face. Meanwhile, her attendants from Fortna treat her with warmth and maternal care, embracing her despite her humble origins

The Anime Versus the Manga

However, I do want to point out that the anime doesn’t tell the whole story. Supposedly, the Nina the Starry Bride anime only covers the first six volumes of the manga (source; also implied by Goodreads reviews), so there is a lot (and I mean a lot) of content after the anime ends. There are 17 mangas as of November 2025 (15 in English), so the first six volumes only cover about 35% of the currently released story (and it’s still ongoing as of November 2025).

*Spoiler from here until the end of this section* This, of course, means that things are obviously going to continue developing—characters, plotlines, and political ties, among other things.

I was Team Azure when I finished the anime—struggling to see how any reasonable person could choose Sett—a sexually problematic, violent, and dark character—over Azure, Nina’s first love and seemingly perfect match.

However, as I learned more about the future of the series (including manga content), I learn that the story changes a lot—and the characters do, too.

Here’s a Reddit post outlining some manga events that don’t happen in the anime (major spoilers), highlighting how the story changes.

Nina the starry bride
byu/justtt_existing inNinaTheStarryBride

So, is it worth reading Nina the Starry Bride? I really can’t say. I’ve heard mixed information on whether it gets safer than the anime or not, so this is to be decided in the future.

Nina’s Questionable Origins

Nina is first introduced as a thief and an orphan. Though we can sympathize with her circumstances, she never explicitly repents or reflects on her past actions, even after stepping into her new role as a princess. Despite her positive traits, she isn’t perfect.

Sett’s Family in Galgada *Spoiler*

Galgada’s royal family is corrupt. Sett’s brothers are lustful, greedy, dangerous, and driven by power. Meanwhile, the king rules with cruelty and manipulation.

While on the surface, Fortna appears more noble than Galgada, its leadership is far from pure. The king is depicted as ruthless and power-driven, proving that corruption is not exclusive to Galgada’s borders.

FAQs for Nina the Starry Bride (Anime)

Nina the Starry Bride Review Conclusion

Honestly, though I did enjoy the storyline, the political intrigue, and Nina’s strong morals, I still want to caution Christian viewers who are considering the show. The sexual content, particularly in Episode 4 and 5, is very uncomfortable to watch, and Sett is a very dominant character. Azure and Nina, in contrast, have a much purer and wholesome relationship, but it’s far from perfect. Additionally, the show’s worldview is polytheistic and fatalistic views are present.

Parts of the show emphasize positive themes, while others deal with darker, more mature content. I would not recommend Nina the Starry Bride for anyone under 16, and I recommend skipping the scenes I mentioned in Episodes 4 and 5.

As with any media, discernment is key.

Nina the Starry Bride Review: Parent Guide

Please note, some quotation marks may serve as stylistic markers; others may highlight actual quotes.

Sexual Content in Nina the Starry Bride (Anime)

• The outro shows Azure holding Nina’s head back with her hair with their faces close together.
• Characters hug, kiss, hold hands, hold each other close, nudge with their nose romantically.
• Male characters show possession over female characters (especially Nina).
• People admit their love for others, and on one occasion a character’s chest gets tight.
• Bidoh is the lustful prince, and his guards are women. He wants to “increase the amount of treasures he can enjoy” and kisses women. He also wants to marry Nina.
• A character is depicted as homosexual (Yor) and another character cross dresses and pretends to be a woman.

Specific Sexual Content

• Eps 1: Characters take off a female character’s shirt; she tries to cover her boobs but it’s still a bit revealing.
• Eps 3: In the recap, Nina is topless.Nina imagines that her future husband is muscular.
• A male character has multiple potential brides.
• Eps 6: Bandages partially cover Nina’s skin. Patches of skin of her chest are visible, but her breasts are covered. Sett comes into her room and touches her chest, and it seems like he may try something. He’s stopped.
• A guard tries to take a girl away to be punished (likely sexual in nature). Nina attempts to save the girl.
• Nina switches clothes with her friend, who has a hard time wearing Nina’s clothes because her chest is quite a bit bigger than Nina’s.
• Sett pulls Nina close, touches her waist, and kisses her. She says “Without love it’s nothing.”
• Yor mentions cutting off Nina’s legs because Nina “doesn’t need both to perform her duty.” Yor’s people hold her down, but Sett comes to save her, unbuttoning part of her chest to show the scar. He claims Nina is his.
• Mention of a past affair.
• Sett catches Nina, grabs her and picks her up.
• Azure touches her foot but Sett pulls her back a bit roughly, saying “touch her again and I’ll kill you.”
• Sett picks up Nina. He kisses her and says “You don’t want these without love, do you?”
• Three characters are in a love triangle.
• A character plans to save the woman he loves before she gets married.
• Azure nearly touches Nina’s hand. Sett attacks him and threatens him.
• A female character “has a flame burning” for multiple men.
• A character grabs Nina’s face.
• The anime depicts a male character with a bare chest.

Episode Specific Sexual/Romantic/Nudity in Nina the Starry Bride

*Please note, the detail here may be graphic.

• Eps 4: The after-credits scene shows Sett in bed, naked, with some other girls. A blanket covers his sensitive areas and we see cleavage/side profile of breasts/part of breasts. Sett gets dressed. He’s shirtless but he has pants on. This is entirely skippable.
• Eps 5: Sett slices Nina’s chest, and mentions that he’s the only one who will end up seeing her body. Nina assumes that he means he will marry her.
• Eps 5: Sett throws Nina onto a bed, pressuring her to “perfo[rm] her duty.” He removes his belt and mentions a sexual obligation. Nina fights against him, saying she isn’t ready and reminding him they aren’t married. He gets into a sexual position and whispers before admitting he was messing with her and releases her. There is also a flashback to a naked woman he murdered. We just see part of her arm and side of chest not really much more.
• Eps 6: Sett thinks Nina “is a thing meant to be tainted.” He grabs her, pulling her towards him and kisses her, then says she “might’ve grown up a little.”
• Eps 7: Nina and Sett share a bed. They comment on whether something sexual will happen, but nothing does. The bed is large, and they have plenty of space between them. The scene is more about character development and they are not sexual. Nina does fall asleep really close to him and he notices her breathing. The next morning, they wake up close together/cuddly. Sett wants Nina to dress him, and she does with her eyes closed.
• Eps 12: This episode depicts Nina without a shirt on around 13 minutes in (a side profile). It’s clear that she has breasts, but they aren’t detailed.

Language

The language in Nina the Starry Bride is very mild for an anime. There is infrequent use of “d*mn (approx 4 times)” and “p*ss, (approx 1 time)” along with words like “dang, x1” “wretch,” “guttersnipe,” and “shut up.” One unusual word, “dastard” (yes, with a “d”), caught me off guard because of its similarity to a harsher curse word. Additionally, someone refers to something as “poop.” Fool also occurs.

Violence/Gore

• The intro depicts blood and fighting.
• Fighting, blood, and injuries
• A father hits his son, causing his death.
• A character murders another character. It’s bloody.
• A male character slices a female on her chest, causing her to bleed a lot.
• A character fights another.
• A male character holds a blade to a female character.
• Multiple characters receive chest injuries.
• Mention of tainted blood.
• Blood draining/letting occurs.
• Nina slaps Sett after he acts oddly.
• A character plans to cut off another person’s legs. His servants hold the victim down before another character attacks them, saving the victim.
• Cutscene depicting graphic and gory fighting occurs.
• A character used to kill quite a bit.
• A character commits suicide and it’s very bloody.
• A character threatens to kill another.
• The outro has blood. 
• There’s a tournament and blood. The main opponent keeps killing people even after they surrender.
• A character plans to kill someone during the tournament.
• Someone shoots their opponent.
• Sett threatens and attacks Azure.
• Sett grabs ninas face as he talks about torching the palace and talking over fortna. Sett says he wont fight even if the king orders it, he seems happy that shes happy again.
• A character pulls out a daggar, planning to murder someone.
• Someone poisons another character, who starts spitting up blood.
• Someone is stabbed with a hairpin.
• A character plans to harm another character.
• A character allegedly commits suicide.
• Assassins try to kill some messengers.
• A character murders their brother.

Frightening/Intense Scenes

• A child gets sick and dies.
• Two characters, including a child, fall down a well.
• A carriage falls off a cliff on one or more occasions.
• A tiger nearly kills a main character.
• Sett’s backstory is rather frightening and intense involving a priest, a suicide, and blood draining. It’s very uncomfortable.
• Characters believe there’s danger, but it ends up just being a tiger cub.
• A character commits suicide. It’s graphic.
• A character drinks poisoned mead that immediately sickens him; he starts spitting up blood. It immediately makes him sick and he starts spitting up blood.
• Another character plans to commit suicide, and then it seems like he’s followed through with it.

Spiritual Concerns

• The world of Nina the Starry Bride contains a pagan religion with a “god of the stars” people pray and swear by.
• A character is an astral priestess.
• A character dislikes the “written in the stars business.”
• Mention of divine punishment.
• Sett believes he isn’t ready to die because he needs to do more good.
• A character mentions battling with god and that they are losing.
• Mention of a god of the underworld who doesn’t answer.
• Characters pray to god, but it’s not the God of the Bible.
• Characters believe blood can be tainted, and even believe in blood draining.
• Sett believes that “love is a curse” or something similar to that.
• Mention of which star someone is born under.
• Mention of “joining the ranks of the underworld” or something like that.
• Mention of “Hands of fate.”
• A character believes that “he is bound to live in eternal emptiness.”
• Mention of a servant of the underworld.
• Mention of a “curse” from a “temple of blood.”
• “Heart’s truth.”
• The anime conveys a story about Star people; it’s a fantasy pagan/religious story serving as Fortna’s creation story.
• Mention of “god of death” and “war god.”
• A character refers to another as “god.”

Drugs/Alcohol

• A servant gives their lady poisoned mead, which the lady drinks with another character.

Other Concerns

• Nina cross-dresses early in the story, disguising herself as a boy to survive on the streets.
• Later, in Episode 8, she steals a guard’s clothes to escape from Sett’s brother.
• Another character cross-dresses and serves as one of Nina’s ladies-in-waiting, though Nina remains unaware of his true identity for much of the series.

Cover Photo Credit: Screenshot of official Nina the Starry Bride anime art from IMDB. Under fair use for review/commentary/education/criticism. All rights retained by owners.