Light Novel Review: Spice and Wolf Vol. #07

Spice and Wolf is a wildly popular light novel series that has spawned off an anime, an Internet radio show, and a manga series. While its European medieval setting is typical of high fantasy, this series has  a unique bent. Rather than swordfights and magic, the plot focuses on economics, trade, and peddling in a way that skillfully blends adventure and romance.

Yen Press has recently released the seventh volume of this series, and you can read on for the review. (You can also click here for my reviews of previous Spice and Wolf releases).

The Review

For those curious about Holo, Lawrence, and Col’s ongoing journey, you’ll have to wait a bit longer. Volume 7, as the back cover states, takes a break from their adventures to present a series of short vignettes. They consist of the novella, “The Boy and the Girl and the White Flowers,” and two short stories, “The Red of the Apple, the Blue of the Sky” and “Wolf and Amber Melancholy.”

According to the author’s notes, the novella features “Holo’s big-sisterly side” as it delves into Holo’s past. I’d hoped it would be about how she came to settle in her wheat field, but it has nothing to do with her old village or even Yoitsu. Instead, the story tells of an earlier journey. However, the journey is not Holo’s but that of two children. Former occupants of a rustic estate, they find themselves thrust into the wide world with only one another to rely upon.

The two young sojourners are opposites. The boy Klass is uneducated while the girl Ayres can read and write, but she has led such a sheltered life she’s never seen flowers growing in a field. So when the manor’s new master throws them out, Klass is constantly having to help Ayres. But Klass himself is only ten, and they soon find themselves in dire straits. Fortunately for them, they encounter Holo, who takes them under her wing. But her aid is not without a price. She teases poor Klass is badly as she does Lawrence, which surprised me given the gentler treatment she displays toward Col in Volume 6. Meanwhile, Ayres gets spared the brunt of Holo’s jabs and jibes. By the end of the novella, I felt thoroughly sorry for Klass, and Holo came off as a mean big sister figure indeed.

The short stories, on the other hand, feature Holo’s gluttony, according to Hasekura-sensei. Lawrence appears alongside her in these stories, which were both included in the Spice and Wolf anime. In “The Red of the Apple, the Blue of the Sky,” Lawrence gets to show off his business sense as he and Holo go shopping for clothes. Of the three stories, this is the only one that focuses on trade, though it isn’t quite an economics lesson. And though Lawrence does teach Holo something new, she, of course, manages to one-up him in the end.

Poor Lawrence seems ever at the mercy of Holo’s demands and sharp tongue so “Wolf and Amber Melancholy” is a refreshing change of pace. It is, as Hasekura-sensei mentions, the first time he writes from Holo’s perspective. Not much talk of business, but there is a bit of medieval medicine theory with our wisewolf sick in bed. Considering how much she frustrates and embarrasses Lawrence, it’s fun to see her frustrated and embarrassed as she deals with illness and jealousy. It’s also nice to know exactly how the wisewolf feels about her travel companion for once.

I should mention that the text is a bit choppy. I’m not sure if it’s because of the original Japanese text or the translation, but there are several short phrases and short sentences bunched together that makes for a less than smooth read. Plus, there are also a couple grammatical errors in the text.

This light novel includes the title page, three two-page spreads, and the table of contents printed in color as well as ten black-and-white illustrations.

In Summary

Hasekura-sensei takes a break from Holo and Lawrence’s wanderings in the north to share three Spice and Wolf vignettes. Fans of the anime and manga series will recognize the two short stories, which feature Lawrence and Holo. The novella, on the other hand, takes place far in Holo’s past as it tells of her journey with a pair of children who’ve been cast out of a manor. And though she earns points for protecting the poor little waifs, we discover that even children aren’t spared a wisewolf’s mischief.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: A Bride’s Story Vol. 4

Kaoru Mori is best known for her work, Emma, an exquisite romance/slice-of-life set in Victorian England. Her latest work to be released in the United States, A Bride’s Story, is also a historical/slice-of-life but is vastly different than Emma. Set in Central Asia in a rural town near the Caspian Sea during the early 19th century, A Bride’s Tale revolves around a young woman, Amir, who arrives from a distant village across the mountains to marry Karluk, a boy 8 years her junior. Volume 4 has recently been released, and you can read on for the review.

Back Cover Blurb

As he journeys to India, Mr. Smith is snapped out of his melancholic reverie by a tumble from his camel into a river and by the pair of identical twin girls who dive in to pull him out. Leili and Laila have reached marrying age, but their minds are more on mischief than romance.

Meanwhile, back in the Eihons’ village, Pariya has finally caught the interest of a suitor. But now that the moment has finally arrived, will Pariya’s outspoken personality draw him in or drive him away?

The RevieW

Volume 3 hinted that trouble might be stirring for Amir’s native clan, and in Volume 4, we discover just how bad things get when a clan can’t provide a necessary bride. The opener is tense with the Halgal facing potential starvation, and Amir’s brother and his companions get the dangerous task of negotiating an alliance with another clan. Even beyond the Halgal, emotions are running high in the region, with everyone from Russians to Persians to tribesmen on edge. Mori-sensei’s illustrations are excellent as usual, and she inserts stunning scenes of wolves that parallel the ongoing human drama.

The story then steps back from the broader geopolitical situation to focus on more personal matters–namely marriage. The tone quickly goes from suspenseful to comical with marriage talks for Pariya. This episode is relatively brief, but those who like the outspoken, slightly surly baker girl will enjoy the two new characters who take up the rest of the volume: the twins Laila and Leily.

Much about these fishing village girls will appeal to modern readers. They’re spunky. They’re loud. They talk back to their elders. They’re also like Amir in that they’re very athletic, but the place where they shine isn’t on horseback with bow and arrows, but in the water with nets and baskets. Their chapters are full of illustrations of them swimming, and they make their grand splash of an entrance by rescuing Mr. Smith from drowning.

Despite these traits, the young teens know very well that they must marry, and indeed are already concerned about becoming old maids. The way they go about their dilemma, however, is very modern. Having grown impatient waiting for their father to find them prospects, they decide to get their own grooms. Their selection criteria, though, is best described as shallow, and ditzy as they are, the story turns into a sitcom as the girls fail over and over to catch a “big fish.”

The comedy continues when dad finally finds their less than ideal matches. The story does take a sentimental tone as the girls warm up to their fiancés but drops right back into comedy with mom giving her slacker daughters a crash course in bridehood. As the reluctant students suffer through their mother’s teachings, readers get a glimpse of what marriage negotiation, wedding preparations, and the role of women in an Aral Sea fishing village are like. The story wraps up just before the double wedding, and like Mr. Smith, I’m looking forward to the celebration.

In Summary

Bride’s Story switches from melodrama to sitcom with two new brides, the twins Laila and Leily. These Aral Sea girls are very different from the women encountered so far, but marriage is just as important to them! With their father slow to bring them prospects, they take matters into their own hands with ridiculous results. Volume 4 definitely has a modern ditzy-girl-desperate-to-find-Mr.-Right flavor, but despite the silliness, Mori-sensei continues to beautifully showcase different aspects of life from this time period.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: Aron’s Absurd Armada Vol. #1

An oft-used archetype in popular literature are pirates. Pirate stories are so numerous nowadays, you can find all sorts of buccaneers, ranging from romantic to sly to sinister, and now joining to the ranks of Captain Hook and One Piece’s Luffy is the idiot pirate Aron!

Back Cover Blurb

On a whim, Aron Cornwall decides he wants to live a pirate’s life of thrills, sailing on the high seas in search of distant lands and buried treasure. And when you’re the son of a duke, you generally get what you want. Accompanied by his reluctant manservant, Robin, Aron scrounges up a crew – including a cook who cannot cook, a transvestite assassin, and a boy (girl?) genius – and sets off on the craziest pirate adventure you’ve ever seen!

The RevieW

If you’re looking for an introductory manhwa (Korean graphic novel) for someone used to Western comic strips, consider Aron’s Absurd Armada. Buccaneers on the high seas and European-style royalty in castles comprise the characters and settings, and although story arcs last several pages, they’re presented in comic strip-sized bites.

The format is similar to the Japanese 4-koma with four panels read top to bottom, but Armada’s format is slightly wider. Occasionally, Kim divides panels into smaller sections to squeeze in more details. Each strip also includes a side illustration based on the main punchline. Some Korean cultural references are made, but they are explained with footnotes. In addition to the strips, a few arcs in full-page format are interspersed through the book. The entire manhwa is printed in color on glossy stock, and except for smudges on a couple pages, the print quality generally does justice to Armada’s elaborate period costumes.

The title is Aron’s Absurd Armada, but while the main character is Aron and he is absurd, he doesn’t really have an armada. Instead, as the back cover declares, Aron and company are pirates. But it would be more accurate to say Aron is a wannabe pirate with a crew of misfits compelled to follow him.

Most of the comedy stems from the fact that Aron has no business being a pirate. The son of a duke, Aron is a spoiled imbecile with zero fighting ability and no sense of responsibility. Wealthy as he is, he has no need for nor interest in obtaining booty. The one time his crew goes on a treasure hunt, he doesn’t bother to join them. He simply wants to be known as a pirate because he’s bored and thinks they’re cool.

Obviously, such an idiot can’t survive on his own. Thus we have Robin, Aron’s bodyguard. Beautiful and vain, Robin’s narcissism is only matched by his love for money. Between the sizable allowance received from Aron’s overindulgent mother and Robin’s unsurpassed sword skills, they keep the rest of the crew in line. That crew, by the way, consists of a girl whom everyone thinks is a gay boy; a transvestite assassin hairdresser; a brawny chef who can’t cook; and two flunkies who serve as the straight men for this ridiculous cast.

With this hodgepodge of characters, the plot is less action and adventure and more about the mental damage they inflict upon one another. In one arc, Aron’s ship has a run-in with the Marines, but it’s not so much a naval battle as it is about Aron putting the Marines’ lieutenant Luther, who just happens to be Aron’s childhood pal, into a pinch. By the way, this Luther is also the illegitimate son of an admiral; gets no respect from his subordinates; endures a peculiar bullying from his half-brother; and is madly in love with his half-niece who happens to be his ensign. That’s the type of craziness Armada has in store for readers.

I should mention that this title is rated older teen, partly because of violence and language, but also because the characters continually rip on one another about cross-dressing, sexual orientation, and BL (boys love).

Regarding the artwork, don’t let the front cover fool you. Kim does use deformed characters when the occasion warrants, but for the most part, illustrations are clean shojo-style artwork with a predominantly attractive cast. And although Yen Press presents this book as Volume 1 of Armada, it actually contains Volumes 1 and 2 of the manhwa as released in Korea and provides the character introduction pages used in both.

In Summary

Beware Aron the pirate! Actually, the ones that really need to look out are Aron’s misfit crewmates as their inept leader gets into one scrape after another. If you want to see all the havoc that one self-centered duke can cause country, family, and friends by charging onto the high seas with a gender bending crew, give Armada a try. And while the $18.99 cover price might seem a bit steep, the book is printed in full color and actually contains Volumes 1 and 2 of the original Korean releases.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Best Manga of 2012

So at the close of 2012, Chris, the editor over at the Fandom Post, asked his contributors to write a list of our top five for the year. That was a little challenging for me because I’m pretty bad about remembering exactly what I’ve read and when I’ve reviewed it. But after slogging through my manga pile and my 2012  reviews, these are the gems I pulled out.

1). Bakuman: Viz’s translation of this series is up to its 17th volume, and I still find myself eagerly anticipating each new release. A manga about mangaka might not sound too interesting, but the team of Ohba and Obata has turned Bakuman into a battle manga where the magazine Jump is the battleground their characters use to prove themselves. Although some of the recent challenges for Team Ashirogi have veered into the realm of unrealistic, the plot remains engaging and the main characters relatable even as they grow beyond their teenage years.

2) Bride’s Story: I love so much about this title – its historical setting, Mori-sensei’s exquisite artwork, its vibrant characters. It is a slice of life tale, meaning the story often slows to showcase different aspects of Amir’s culture, such as food and needlework, but a slower pace doesn’t mean a boring story. The bonds Amir forges in her new home draw readers in, and conflict between different tribes and European forces keep the tension up. The main reason Bride’s Story didn’t take first place is the age gap between Amir and Karluk. I don’t have a problem with their marriage per se; arranged marriages are the norm for many cultures. However, Mori-sensei draws Amir as a mature woman while Karluk looks like a little kid so there is a squick factor when Amir develops romantic feelings for him.

3) Spice and Wolf: Like many fantasy stories, Spice and Wolf has a medieval style setting with complex geopolitical elements, but what sets this manga apart is its economics bent. Knights, priests, and kings do exist in this world, but the main characters are a young merchant and his wisewolf companion, who is thoroughly knowledgeable about humans and their business dealings. The pair get into one exciting scrape after another in the pursuit of profit, and as you follow their adventures, you might just pick up some economics principles along the way.

4)  Bamboo Blade: A sports manga about a girls kendo team, this title is both uplifting and funny. Kendo may not be a mainstream American sport, but the quirky cast of Bamboo Blade presents it in a way even newbies can enjoy. Although it does go a bit overboard with its “alternative manga rendition” of events, you can’t help but get swept up in the characters’ enthusiasm as they strive to improve themselves.

5) 07 Ghost: A supernatural action title, 07 Ghost tells the tale of an underdog hero caught in an epic battle between good and evil. It’s definitely shonen fare, but female readers will appreciate the fine looking bishounen that make up the cast.  Go!Comi originally licensed the title but only released the first few volumes before they stopped publishing in October 2009. However, Viz Media has recently picked up the series so hopefully all the adventures of Teito and his friends will finally get translated to English!

First published at the Fandom Post.

GA: Geijutsuka Art Design Class Vol. #04 Manga Review

While most manga are written in chapter format that does not mean the comic strip is unknown to Japanese artists. Known as 4-Koma manga, four-panel comic strips aren’t nearly as widespread as their long-format counterparts, but they are no less entertaining.

One of the few 4-Koma titles translated to English is GA: Geijutsuka Art Design, a lighthearted series centered around five art students. Yen Press has recently released Volume 4 and you can read on for the review.

Back Cover Blurb

It’s time once again for art school, full of the spirit, love, and laughter of youth! Kisaragi and the GA girls return to class, shifting their focus to the history of Western fashion and textiles. But as with every serious art lesson in this department, crazy antics (not to mention a game of dress-up and a food fight) are never far off! And when the GA welcomes a new face – a transfer student from France – will the department’s regulars scare off the new girl and make her hightail it back to her homeland?!

The RevieW

The cover touts this volume as “GA History of Fashion,” and indeed there are five installments of “Fashion Lore,” color pages that provide a mini-history of Western clothes. It’s fun to see the characters in different outfits as they explain the designs of various eras, and the Professor looks absolutely exquisite in ancient Greek dress. They also cross-reference the Western styles with their contemporaries from Japan and other lands, and unless you’re well read on worldwide clothing terminology, you’ll find yourself flipping to the notes to figure out what they are.

For those who enjoy a bit of dress-up, you’ll also get to see the GA girls in Halloweenish costumes when Sasamoto-sensei has his class undergo a modeling/sketching exercise. The front cover is actually a color illustration of the GA girls in the outfits from that segment. Kiyuduki-sensei also takes the opportunity to show several other classmates in costume, and this arc includes two color pages.

If you’re still hungry for fashion, there’s yet another fashion-themed arc towards the end of the book. Instead of the Japanese GA girls exploring Western fashion, it’s a Western (French) exchange student, Marianne Van Tienen, learning about the Japanese yukata in textile class. The girls turn it into an interesting discussion on fashion, trends, and Western-Japanese fusion. However, you will need the translation notes as the girls use several Japanese terms in their jokes, one of which is a kanji pun.

As for the remainder of the book, it’s a mixed bag of general school silliness with various brief arcs focused on the Art Design Club, the GA third years, and even the teachers. There are four pages of translation notes, and yes, you will need them. For the most part, the explanations allow you to get the point of the narrative, but there were a few van Gogh jokes in the Uozumi-kun colorblind arc that I didn’t quite understand even with the notes. On the other hand, Noda’s adventures with the lost and found box, which was one of the more creative arcs, was laugh out loud funny thanks to Kiyuduki-sensei’s visuals of art tools wreaking havoc on the comic strip.

In Summary

The GA girls maintain their usual brand of silly classroom humor, this time with a fashion twist. For those who like learning about the history of clothes or seeing characters in different outfits, this is the copy to pick up. But be warned. Though the visuals are consistently cute, full understanding of the comic strips requires flipping to the translation notes as the topics range everywhere from Japanese ukiyo-e art to tetrachromacy to silver electroplating.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Light Novel Review: Spice and Wolf Vol. #06

Spice and Wolf is a wildly popular light novel series that has spawned off an anime, an Internet radio show, and a manga series. While its European medieval setting is typical of high fantasy, this series has  a unique bent. Rather than swordfights and magic, the plot focuses on economics, trade, and peddling in a way that skillfully blends adventure and romance.

Yen Press has recently released the sixth volume of this series, and you can read on for the review. (You can also click here for my reviews of previous volumes).

Back Cover Blurb

As Holo and Lawrence begin the final leg of their journey, Lawrence decides to accompany Holo to her ancient home of Yoitsu, if only to forestall their parting just a bit longer. Boarding a ship from the port of Lenos (much to the chagrin of the wisewolf, who is none too fond of water!), the pair’s fate becomes entangled with that of a boy named Col, whose tale of his circumstances – combined with the gossip of the sailors – leads to a shocking revelation about Holo’s homeland!

The Review

Volume 6 is very much a transitional novel in this series. Previous volumes contained standalone business type stories under the larger arc of Holo’s journey home. So when Volume 5 ended with Lawrence swindled by Eve, I anticipated Holo and Lawrence cutting their losses and moving on to a new location and venture. Instead, Volume 6 continues the fur scheme with the two going after Lawrence’s former business partner, and even by the end of this book, the matter of Eve remains to be resolved.

This installment is also transitional in that this is the first time Lawrence and Holo have deliberately detoured from their search for Yoitsu. Up till now, they’ve been traveling steadily north, but having gotten so close to Holo’s homeland, something new has to arise for their journey together to continue. That change comes in the form of a new mission they seize upon after hearing rumors of suspicious Church activities and in the shift in Lawrence and Holo’s relationship.

I should note that Yen Press makes a critical (in my opinion) bit of rewording in Lawrence’s dialogue. In Volume 5′s epilogue, Lawrence kisses Holo’s cheek and says, “I like you,” which felt rather wishy-washy. But in Volume 6, that phrase (which comes up in a moment of reflection) gets translated as, “I love you.” That changes Lawrence’s confession into something much stronger and passionate, which is definitely necessary as the two engage in a not-exactly-lovers’-quarrel in Volume 6. As to the source of the quarrel, it is not surprisingly Lawrence’s fault, and like a new boyfriend blundering through his first relationship, he spends half the book trying to figure out why Holo is mad at him.

Another thing that sets the story apart from the others in the series is that the economics element isn’t as strong. There’s a kind of accounting mystery and some talk about coinage, but it’s more along the lines of a scammer’s tricks than business strategy. Plus, Lawrence isn’t directly involved in this scheme; he’s just trying to puzzle it together to while away the time as he and Holo travel downriver. The really annoying thing is that Hasekura-sensei doesn’t reveal the secret behind the extra chests of copper at the end. (And no, I haven’t been able to figure it out on my own.)

What Hasekura-sensei does give us is a new character in the cast. Originally from the north, the boy Col has his own mission, but he’s the type that’s book smart and street stupid. Lawrence and Holo come across him when he’s at the end of his rope, and when his plight arouses their sympathy, we get to see a hitherto unseen gentler side of Holo. Lawrence, for his part, has fun playing “master” to his “apprentice.” Also, Col, despite his desire to study Church law, has pagan roots and provides an interesting new perspective on the Spice and Wolf world.

This light novel includes the title page, three two-page spreads, and the table of contents printed in color as well as eight black-and-white illustrations. It also comes with a dust jacket that doesn’t match but mimics the cover illustration. (Ayakura’s cover illustration depicts Holo in peasant clothes, and the dust cover features a Holo cosplayer.)

In Summary

Hasekura-sensei mentions in the afterword that this volume “had fewer economic elements,” which I found to be the case. There is a bit of an accounting mystery, but our traveling duo’s lives and funds aren’t directly impacted by that scheme so the story lacks the energy and urgency other volumes have. Still, fans of the series will want to pick up this volume as Lawrence and Holo become entangled with the waif Col, and from the looks of it, he’s going to be a regular in the series.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Spice and Wolf Vol. #06

Spice and Wolf is a wildly popular light novel series that has spawned off an anime, an Internet radio show, and a manga series. While its European medieval setting is typical of high fantasy, this series has  a unique bent to it. Rather than swordfights and magic, the plot focuses on economics, trade, and peddling in a way that skillfully blends adventure and romance.

Yen Press has recently released the sixth volume of the Spice and Wolf manga, and you can read on for the review.

Back Cover Blurb

As Lawrence and Holo put the final phase of their plan to extricate themselves from the jaws of financial ruin into motion, they are confronted by an unforeseen obstacle. With the wolves at the door – both figuratively and literally – can the travelers keep their wits about them and come out ahead of the pack?

The Review

Since arriving at Ruvinheigen, Lawrence has played the swindled fool and the desperate man, but now he gets to take more of a heroic role. As it turns out, the greatest threat to him and his friends in their gold smuggling scheme is not the city authorities nor the forest wolves but their co-conspirators. Lawrence and Holo are separated when Holo takes off to deal with the forest pack, and when the Remelio Company turns on him, Lawrence must fight without Holo’s strength. Although the poor young merchant gets the snot beaten out of him, his desperate efforts to save Norah raise him in my eyes as a character.

Holo, of course, returns in time to save the day, and thanks to Lawrence’s excellent bargaining skills, it’s the wolf to rescue the shepherdess from the humans. Koume-sensei’s artwork does an excellent job of conveying Holo’s power and the fear she strikes when her true form bursts onto the scene. Once Norah is rescued, the mood shifts to a more humorous one as Holo “assists” Lawrence in striking a deal with Remelio that, although it’s not perfect for everyone, will rescue them all from the brink.

One thing that is a little disappointing about this arc is the interaction (or lack thereof) between Holo and the head of the forest pack. As it turns out, he’s one of Holo’s kind. Considering the landscape isn’t exactly crawling with giant wolves (I’d assumed they only inhabited Yoitsu), I’m surprised he didn’t make more of an impression on Holo. Instead, their conflict is resolved in no time at all, and Holo has little to say about the encounter other than to criticize his immaturity.

Included with this volume’s extras are two cute bonus manga about Lawrence nursing a sick and slightly jealous Holo back to health.

In Summary

Danger strikes in the forest! But treacherous humans pose a greater threat than the wolves. The gold-smuggling arc comes to an action-packed end in this volume of Spice and Wolf.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: A Bride’s Story Vol. 3

Kaoru Mori is best known for her work, Emma, an exquisite romance/slice-of-life set in Victorian England. Her latest work to be released in the United States, A Bride’s Story, is also a historical/slice-of-life but is vastly different than Emma. Set in Central Asia in a rural town near the Caspian Sea during the early 19th century, A Bride’s Tale revolves around a young woman, Amir, who arrives from a distant village across the mountains to marry Karluk, a boy 8 years her junior.

Back Cover Blurb

A young widow, Talas opens her home to the researcher Mr. Smith, who has ventured to her town to continue his studies. However, when Talas’s uncle begins to see Smith as an impediment to his plans to wed his son to Talas, the old man’s schemes land the Englishman in prison! Far from friends and even farther from home, Smith’s outlook seems grim…

The RevieW

Fans of Emma will really enjoy Volume 3 of A Bride’s Story, the main focus of which is Mr. Smith. Mori-sensei seems to have a penchant for Englishmen falling for women that come from completely different backgrounds. In Emma, it was a young man of the gentry and a maid; here we have Mr. Smith and the widow Talas.

There are actually quite a few parallels between Talas and Emma. Talas’s household consists of her and her mother-in-law, and the affection the two have for one another is akin to that between Emma and her mistress Kelly. Talas’ mother-in-law worries about what will happen to Talas once she passes on, but Talas is reluctant to remarry and leave her mother-in-law behind. Talas even looks similar to Emma, though Mr. Smith is the one wearing the glasses.

The wonderful thing about the attraction that grows between Talas and Mr. Smith is that it comes about gradually and is rooted in mutual respect. The other nice thing about their relationship is that, unlike Amir and Karluk, there’s no awkward age gap. Both are adults and approximately the same age so modern Western readers can enjoy their interaction without any squick factor. But just as in Emma, a patriarch in power disapproves of the couple’s relationship so the volume closes with Mr. Smith and Talas forcibly separated. I really hope though that that’s not the last we see of her.

This being a slice-of-life, it includes several scenes of Talas doing chores as well as an entire chapter about Amir, Karluk, and Pariya scrounging up a meal at the market. “Eating at the Market” doesn’t advance the plot, but it’s a fun and fascinating glimpse into the foods of Amir’s world.

One final note: I absolutely adore this book’s packaging. The brown hardback binding and gold lettering are an elegant touch, and the colorful dust jacket is a treat for the eyes. It’s almost double the price of its paperback counterparts, but Yen Press presents A Bride’s Story as one would a classic piece of literature, a nice match for Mori-sensei’s beautiful artwork.

In Summary

The series title is A Bride’s Story, but Volume 3 could be called “A Nearly Engaged Englishman’s Story.” Mori-sensei introduces a romantic interest for Mr. Smith in the form of the young widow Talas, and those who enjoyed Emma will likely enjoy the interactions between these lovers from vastly different worlds.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Light Novel Review: Spice and Wolf Vol. #05

Spice and Wolf is a wildly popular light novel series that has spawned off an anime, an Internet radio show, and a manga series. While its European medieval setting is typical of high fantasy, this series has  a unique bent to it. Rather than swordfights and magic, the plot focuses on economics, trade, and peddling in a way that skillfully blends adventure and romance.

Yen Press has recently released the fifth volume of this series, and you can read on for the review. (You can also click here for my review of volume 4).

Back Cover Blurb

Lawrence and Holo take a respite from their travels north, but a true businessman never rests! It isn’t long before an opportunity for profit in the town of Lenos presents itself to Lawrence; one that could fulfill his dreams of owning his own establishment. But as always the promise of great reward carries with it great risk – and risk is never greater than when one plans to use a werewolf as collateral!

The Review

The adventures of Lawrence and Holo continue with their arrival in the fur trading town of Lenos. As always, Holo is on the prowl for clues of her homeland, and while they do find records about her origins (including a story specifically about Holo), the focus is less “which way” and “how to get there” and more on their growing anxiety at the thought of parting at journey’s end. Unfortunately, the emotional tension plays out as cryptic conversations interspersed with Lawrence’s thoughts, which are so confused they don’t actually provide much clarification. Fans of Lawrence/Holo will find the ultimate resolution sweet, but trying to interpret the meaning behind certain conversations felt like work.

Spice and Wolf would not be complete without some business finagling, and this particular arc centers on a trade war resulting from the canceled military campaign that nearly bankrupted Lawrence. Of course, politics and the Church have a hand in the economic maelstrom, but this time, Lawrence doesn’t interact much with the clergy. Instead, Hasekura-sensei introduces Eve, a female merchant, and those who like female characters tough, clever, and mysterious will find her fascinating.

Unfortunately, the actual particulars of Lawrence’s latest moneymaking scheme are, like his conversations with Holo, difficult to follow. Figuring out all the players in the trade war took some mental effort as did understanding the multiple steps of Eve’s proposal and the rationale behind them. In addition, during Lawrence’s investigation of Eve, there were a few places where he’d get a piece of information and draw a conclusion that seemed to skip a few steps of logic. As much as I love Hasekura-sensei’s characters, I felt a bit exhausted at the end of this journey.

This light novel includes the title page, three two-page spreads, and the table of contents printed in color as well as eight black-and-white illustrations. It also comes with a dust jacket that doesn’t match but mimics the cover illustration. (Ayakura’s cover illustration depicts Holo in peasant clothes, and the dust cover features a Holo cosplayer.)

In Summary

This arc is a more difficult read than previous installments of Spice and Wolf, both because of the complex business deal featured and the clumsy portrayal of the emotional awkwardness between Lawrence and Holo. Still, romantics who stick it through will be rewarded by a bit of Holo/Lawrence fluffiness at the end.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: My Girlfriend’s A Geek Vol. #05

Within anime/manga fandom, there is a subset devoted to yaoi or boys’ love type stories. Fans of this sort tend to be very passionate about their favorite genre, and My Girlfriend’s a Geek (based off a popular Japanese blog) relates the adventures of a non-otaku dating one such fan.

Yen Press has recently released the final volume of this series, and you can read on for the review. (You can also click here if you’re interested in my reviews of earlier volumes).

Back Cover Blurb

Dating a “rotten” girl geek is no easy feat, as Taiga knows well. But after overcoming some of the strangest hurdles and learning to accept Yuiko’s fangirl tendencies, he’s over the moon now that their comical but loving relationship is stronger than ever! But when the fanfic he’s been diligently writing for Yuiko brings Taiga some sudden and unwelcome Internet notoriety, will he be able to withstand the onslaught of a zillion Yuikos, or will he run away screaming from his happy ending?!

The Review

Shinba-sensei strikes me as having lost steam with the Taiga/Yuiko relationship. Of four chapters, only one really focuses on the couple so it doesn’t surprise me that this is the final volume. Still, this installment was much more entertaining than previous volumes I’ve read, mainly because of new characters Koharu and Youhei.

Shinba-sensei puts a new twist on the normal-person-sucked-into-yaoi-fandom theme with a college-age doujinshi writer and his roommate. Unlike the Taiga/Yuiko relationship where Yuiko capitalizes on her boyfriend’s affection to drag him into her “rotten” world, Youhei has no such leverage with Koharu, meaning that Youhei has to resort to other kinds of trickery to force him in. Koharu, though, is hardly the pushover type so the roommates’ interactions are much more interesting than Yuiko and Taiga’s weird romance.

As for the series conclusion, My Girlfriend’s a Geek generally felt like a collection of one-shots, and its lack of a strong driving story arc meant its final chapter seemed like simply another chapter. In fact, I wouldn’t have guessed the series had concluded if not for the “FINAL” on the cover.

By the way, this final volume’s extras include an afterword essay (where Pentabu gets the best of Y-ko for once), a mini comic about Akari, and bonus illustrations.

In Summary

The series concludes! The Taiga/Yuiko relationship has grown somewhat stale, but Shinba-sensei makes up for it with the comic interactions of a male closet doujinshi author and his straight-laced roommate.

First published at the Fandom Post.