Snow White with the Red Hair Volume 1 (Manga): Christian Review and Content Guide

In our Christian review of Snow White with the Red Hair Volume 1, we will explore Sorata Akiduki’s manga from a Christian perspective. Includes a parent guide.

Synopsis of Snow White with the Red Hair Volume 1

Snow White with the Red Hair follows Shirayuki, a gifted herbalist from the kingdom of Tanbarun. Her vibrant red hair draws the unwanted attention of Prince Raj who orders her to become his concubine. Desperate for the freedom to choose her own path, she runs away to the neighboring kingdom of Clarines, where she befriends three strangers—Zen, Mitsuhide, and Kiki. However, these strangers harbor secrets of their own.

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Christian Review for Snow White with the Red Hair Volume 1

If you’re looking for a clean fantasy romance with a refreshing lack of magic and minimal objectionable content, Snow White with the Red Hair is one of the better anime/manga options out there. I am focusing on Sorata Akiduki’s first volume of Snow White with the Red Hair, not the anime, but I plan to write about the anime in the future. From a Christian discernment perspective, it’s one of the better anime out there.

Herbalism in Snow White with the Red Hair: Medicinal Cures or Witchcraft?

Shirayuki is an herbalist, so she studies the medicinal properties of plants in order to cure others. She is passionate about herbal medicine and loves to study and learn. Herbalism is a real life practice, but often, herbalism and witchcraft go hand in hand, which sparks concern from a Christian perspective.

Herbalism is considered a part of holistic medicine, and GotQuestions, one of my go-to sources for Biblically sound articles, explores whether holistic medicine is okay from a Christian standpoint (hint: Biblically, it is acceptable with discernment, as some practices lean into alternative religious ideas, and this is a problem).

As someone who appreciates natural remedies—but is cautious about how modern herbalism often veers into New Age ideology—I was relieved to see that the story keeps the herbalism focused on healing and does not introduce magic or witchcraft. Thankfully, as far as I’ve gotten, Snow White with the Red Hair sticks with medicinal purposes only; there are no rituals, magic, or witchcraft.

I love a good world-building story, but it’s refreshing to have a fantasy story that focuses on character and doesn’t rely on magic to make the story appealing.

How Bad is the Concubine Situation, Really?

When I first saw Snow White with the Red Hair on a list of “clean” anime, I was concerned due to the mention of concubines. Upon first glance, the story might sound dirty and risqué, but it really isn’t.

Shirayuki never becomes a concubine. Raj tries to coerce her and she refuses, sparking Shirayuki’s decision to leave the country and meet Zen. It initiates the plot, and without Raj, Shirayuki wouldn’t have gone to Clarines.

It’s true that Raj doesn’t immediately give up on Shirayuki, but by the end of the volume, he has fully surrendered his “claim” and granted her her freedom. No sexual scenes happen in this volume; although it is mentioned, and characters use innuendo or get a little “handsy,” nothing really happens. It’s rated teen, which is a valid rating.

Shirayuki and Zen’s Dynamic

The way Zen treats Shirayuki contrasts drastically with Raj. Zen respects Shirayuki, protects her, and doesn’t force her into situations she is uncomfortable with. He doesn’t demand sex; he supports her wholeheartedly and desires to help her achieve her goals. Though no religion (as far as I know) exists in this world, we see Zen respecting Shirayuki’s boundaries and not forcing her into uncomfortable situations. Both characters are headstrong and driven and they have a near-instant connection.

Shirayuki and the Other Characters

Mitsuhide and Kiki, Zen’s aides, are two fabulous characters. They don’t look down on Shirayuki for being a commoner; they let Zen interact with Shirayuki and even encourage it. Not everyone supports Zen’s blossoming relationship with Shirayuki, but they do.

Obi is also introduced in this volume. He’s one of my favorite characters, though his introduction is a bit chaotic, to say the least. I mean, he shoots an arrow with a message at Shirayuki to threaten her! He is a bit cryptic, but his character adds interesting chaos to the story.

Are There Any Content Red Flags in Snow White with the Red Hair Volume 1?

Honestly, there aren’t a ton of red flags with this volume. There is a bit of language and some sexual situations that don’t progress past comments or brief, non-explicit touching. I have a detailed parent guide below outlining potential concerns with the content.

The story is a fantasy fairytale, but it doesn’t rely on magic, so there are no concerns there. And Shiryuki’s job as an herbalist? As already mentioned, it’s very based in natural medicine, not witchcraft. I sincerely appreciate this.

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FAQs for Snow White with the Red Hair Volume 1 Review

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Conclusion: Snow White with the Red Hair Volume 1 Review

So, is Snow White with the Red Hair safe for Christians? Is it clean? Overall, I’d say yes, with some caveats. It’s really one of the tamer and more wholesome stories I’ve read since becoming an “otaku.” Each reader obviously needs to make their own choice and listen to the Holy Spirit, but this is one of the series that, so far, I have enjoyed and found minimal (again, it’s not perfect) concerns with. I have only read the first 8 volumes of the series and watched the anime, which doesn’t even cover all eight volumes I’ve read, so I am still making my way through the series.

If romances cause you to stumble, maybe skip over the series. If cute, wholesome romances are encouraging for you, point you to Jesus, and don’t cause you to stumble, this is a great option to consider.

As always, use wisdom and discernment when navigating media, and I’ll see you in my review for volume 2 of Snow White with the Red Hair.

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Content Guide for Snow White with the Red Hair Volume 1 (Manga)

Sex and Nudity in Snow White with the Red Hair Volume 1

• Mention of brothels and concubines.
• A character kidnaps Shirayuki and implies he will give her away for sex—he grabs her and says he could keep her as his own temporarily, clearly implying using her for sexual reasons (this takes place in chapter 2).
• Zen and Shiryuki fall asleep on a bench together, but it’s not sexual in nature.
• They (Zen and Shirayuki) touch hands; Zen says he hopes for a “good view of” Shirayuki.
• Zen nearly touches Shirayuki’s hair.

This volume contains a short story, and the following entries in the sex and nudity category appear:

• Characters touch hands (short story).
• A character touches his crush’s hair (short story).
• Characters hug (short story).

Language in Snow White with the Red Hair Volume 1

• “Infamous fool”
• “Sleaze”
• “Idiot prince” x3
• “Jerk”
• “Rich b*st*rds”
• “Crap” x2
• “Darn”
• “What the heck” / “who the heck” x3
• “Dummy”
• “D*mn”

This volume has a short story and this short story contains the following language:

• “G*eez” (short story)
• “Who/what the heck” (short story) 
• “Heck yeah” (short story)
• “You suck” (short story) 
• “Pooped” (short story)

Violence, Gore, and Intense Scenes in Snow White with the Red Hair Volume 1

• A character falls off of a wall and gets hurt.
• Shiryuki purposefully hurts herself with a sword to prove that her medicine is real and not poison.
• Shiryuki fights her captor to escape.
• A character is wounded.

Substance Use in Snow White with the Red Hair Volume 1

• Shiryuki uses herbs to escape from her captor.
• Prince Raj has wine.
• Shirayuki drinks water that has a toxin in it (it does not affect people).
• A character eats a poisoned apple.
• A character mentions purposefully trying to get a “resistance to poisons.”

Spirituality in Snow White with the Red Hair Volume 1

• Characters mention destiny and say that “red is the color of destiny.”
• Shirayuki is an herbalist, but her studies solely focus on plants and how they can be used (no magic whatsoever in this volume).

Photo credit: Cover image of Snow White with the Red Hair by Sorata Akiduki. Used under fair use for review/commentary/criticism/education purposes. Image via Amazon.com. All rights retained by owners.