I'll keep this review brief.
I started reading this manga because it was part of the recommendations for the "Kingdom" manga. Let me tell you for anyone who wants to read this for the same reason; there's so little similar about the two mangas you'll probably end up as pissed as I am.

I've never wrote a manga review before, but after reading about half-way through I got so annoyed by the complete and utter genre change from action/drama to a buddhist/hippy/drama, I just had to write my first one.

The manga starts off about a young boy thats struck with hardships and turns into a hard person and warrior. And as the manga progresses it seems he is trying to reach enlightenment, through the author's views of enlightenment. Theres alot of religious/anti-religious banter and rants that occur through-out.

At the end of the day, I absolutely hate this manga for what it has turned into and the people that've recommended reading this after Kingdom. Kingdom starts off a certain way and keeps on that track and the character development all continues along the same path. Vinland Saga starts off one way and transforms the manga into something else.

I don't recommend this manga to anyone looking for a war/action/strategical supplement to Kingdom. If you enjoy sob stories and read the Gandhi biography over and over, then you will enjoy this.