S.Q. Eries's Blog, page 24

Just Published: Cheonson and the Admiral!

2019 has been a gratifying year. Three months ago, my Cultural Revolution story Hidden Heritage was printed in Cricket Magazine.  This month, Cricket published another story of mine: Cheonson and the Admiral!

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Click here for the link to the magazine!

Like Hidden Heritage, this is a historical; unlike Hidden Heritage, Cheonson and the Admiral is set in 16th century Korea. The aforementioned admiral is Yi Sun-Sin, a brilliant commander who turned the tide against the invading Japanese in the Imjin War (23 wins in 23 naval battles!). As for Cheonson, he was a young cowherd who brought Yi information critical to the Battle at Hansan.

Although Yi’s a national hero to Koreans, he’s relatively unknown in the West, and I have my husband to thank for introducing me to the admiral. He saw a feature film about Yi (The Admiral: Roaring Currents) during a flight to Korea, and it so impressed him he came home gushing about Yi’s trademark turtle ships. So when I saw the “Make a Splash” theme on Cricket’s Call for Submissions website, I figured Yi’s story was worth telling.

However, the tricky thing about writing Cheonson was the lack of reference materials. Korean texts about Yi and the Imjin War abound, but there’s not a whole lot in English. Pretty much only university collections have anything on the subject, and fortunately, Stanford University’s library has a limited public access policy so I was able to see the few books they had about Yi.

I was also fortunate to have friends help me with story details (thanks, Dorthy and Esther!). I’m of Chinese descent so I had a level of comfortability depicting the Bao family of Hidden Heritage. Cheonson and the Admiral was definitely outside my culture, and I was grateful that my Korean-American friends and their Korean-born parents were willing to vet out my portrayal of Koreans in the Imjin War.

I’m thrilled Cheonson and the Admiral made it into the world, and I hope you get to enjoy it in Cricket’s May/June 2019 issue!

Light Novel Review: Saga of Tanya the Evil Vol. #04

The Saga of Tanya the Evil anime was a surprise favorite for me in 2017. With a title like that, I was almost too scared to give it a try, but conniving little Tanya turned out to be nothing like I anticipated. Yen Press has released Volume 04 of the light novel adaption, and you can read on for the review. (For reviews of other Tanya the Evil works, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

A devil wanders the battlefield in the guise of an adorable young child and her name is Tanya Degurechaff! After returning from the sandy southlands, Tanya receives an incredibly suspicious order from headquarters to embark on a training exercise. In reality, command has sent her on a covert mission to initiate a border conflict with the Federation. Soon the Empire finds itself embroiled in another fight it cannot back down from, even if it means making the entire world their enemies!

The Review

Having fought on the Empire’s north, south, and west fronts, Tanya now gets sent east. The Federation is the one neighbor that has maintained peace with the Empire, so when the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion gets yanked from the Southern Continent and receive orders to infiltrate the Federation under the pretext of a training exercise, it’s clear trouble’s brewing.

In previous conflicts, the narrative generally described the war’s outbreak and provided a heap of commentary before throwing Tanya into that battlefield to participate. This time she’s actually a witness to the outset of the war. And because the Federation and the Empire are being highly secretive—even to their own officers, the tension in the opening chapter is wonderful.

Once the fighting breaks out, things get even better. Against previous adversaries, Tanya never harbored personal hatred; taking them down is just her job. The Communists, however, fall into a completely different category. Our former salaryman and believer in market values loathes Communists, and seeing Tanya get so het up about an enemy is a fascinating change. The lengths she’ll go to undermine the Commies are surprisingly extreme and not only from a military tactical standpoint. Suffice to say, her raid on the Federation capital is a thrill to read.

I am guessing that Zen-sensei himself is also not a fan of Communists because he depicts the Federation as the worst type of Stalinist regime. Not only is it a state whose soldiers are as terrified of the ruling regime as they are of enemy armies, but Comrade Loria, the dictator’s right hand man, is a pervert with no redeeming qualities. He’s definitely a villain with a truly icky POV.

After the initial clash with the Communists, Zen-sensei switches back to his usual style of over explaining the rationale behind everything. In Chapter III, Tanya and her officers spend 9 pages debating whether or not they should rescue forces trapped at Tiegenhoff, and the text describing the actual mission only takes a page. Fortunately, he’s more generous with his play-by-play of a daring combat-search-and-rescue in Commonwealth Territory.

In contrast to Tanya’s brilliant individual victories, the fortunes of her country continue to decline. As result, we get a refrain of an earlier theme: efforts intended to snag a cushy desk job result in yet another assignment on the front lines. In spite of Zen-sensei’s long-winded prose, the twists and turns of the plot remains compelling, and I look forward to the next volume.

Extras include map and fold-out illustration in color; appendixes explaining military strategy and history timeline; author afterword; and six black-and-white illustrations.

In Summary

A new front breaks out for the already beleaguered Empire. Previously, we’ve had precious little about the Federation to the east; now the Stalinist leadership clashes head to head with Tanya, who absolutely detests Communists. If you’ve stuck with the series this long, Tanya’s passion against this new adversary will be a fun and engaging new element in this military chronicle.

First published at the Fandom Post.

 

 

 

Manga Review: Spice and Wolf Vol. #16

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 released the final volume of the Spice and Wolf manga, and you can read on for the review. (For my reviews of previous Spice and Wolf releases, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

The journey of the wisewolf and the traveling merchant comes to a riveting conclusion! Lawrence and Holo have thrown in their lot with Hilde and those loyal to the original mission of the Debau Company. Will they be able to wrest back control of the territory from the radical contingent?

The Review

It’s obvious from the cover illustration that this series will end with a joyful wedding. As if to emphasize that point, the title page is a full-color illustration of Holo in a second wedding outfit. All told, the artist draws Holo in four different wedding dresses in this final volume. It’s a visual treat for the romantic types and assurance to the readers that things will end well in spite of the dire situation in the book’s opening chapter.

Despite Holo’s dramatic intervention at the close of Volume 15, things remain dicey for our main characters and the Myuri mercenaries. Although they’ve managed to withdraw into Svernel, the town head Millike (who also happens to be a non-human) does not want to get mixed up in the Debau Company’s internal fight. If an armed force comes to his gates, he’s quite willing to hand over Hilde and the Myuri Company to preserve the peace. Worse, the wounds Lawrence sustained were serious enough to threaten his life.

With the Debau radical faction’s armed forces en route to Svernel, our heroes are stuck. However, Lawrence and Holo are not so much involved in the conflict as they were forcibly dragged in by Hilde’s scheme. As such, Holo and Laurence are offered the opportunity to run away from the mess while the rest face the consequences. It’s a heart-wrenching decision for the couple, but Holo makes her choice decisively. Despite the way she’s teased and harassed Lawrence throughout the series, he is what’s most important to her, and her concern for his well-being gets emphasized over and over in these chapters.

But as with all Spice and Wolf predicaments, our couple finds a way out. In this case, it’s Lawrence exposing the secret behind the Debau radical faction’s cash reserves. However, the narrative rushes through the thought process by which he unravels their very complicated scheme. In addition, it draws in elements from several volumes ago, which I’d mostly forgotten about. As such, the abruptness of Lawrence’s revelation made his moment of inspiration feel like a deus ex machina. However, if you don’t care about such details and are more interested in watching Holo and Lawrence team up against the bad guy, you will be plenty satisfied.

The final two chapters are dedicated to Holo and Lawrence’s wedding five years later. Like a lot of conclusions, it tries to fill us in on what’s happened to everyone in the cast. Unfortunately, it glosses over a lot, like the reason behind shepherdess Norah’s new occupation as a town priest (if you want the details behind that, you’ll have to read the novels.) However, it does do a good job of depicting Holo and Lawrence’s mutual affection and foreshadowing the happiness that lies ahead of them.

Extras include title illustration in color, the bonus manga “Rainbow Music and Wolf,” and afterword.

In Summary

As they say, it’s darkest before the dawn. Holo, Lawrence, and their companions wind up with their backs against a wall in Svernel, but Lawrence saves the day by exposing the Debau radicals’ crooked practices. The explanation of the economics behind it comes in a complicated, bewildering rush, but romance fans will be gratified to see this incident spur Holo and Lawrence to commit to one another.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Sword Art Online: Progressive Vol. 007

Sword Art Online was undoubtedly one of the most popular anime of 2012. Based upon a series of light novels by Reki Kawahara, SAO’s near-future characters, gorgeous fantasy setting, and life-or-death stakes drew an enthusiastic fan following. Yen Press has released Volume 7 of the Sword Art Online: Progressive manga adaption, and you can read on for the review. (For my review of  other Sword Art Online manga, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

The mysterious player Morte has manipulated the human guilds into fighting BOTH side of the Elf War! While Kirito challenges him to a duel, Asuna has an important task of her own: steal the battle plans from the Forest Elves so she can end this quest before it turns deadly. They need to stop the war before someone loses their life–permanently!

The Review

Volume 006 was devoted to a lot of complicated set up with the Elf Quest and the newly formed guilds. Volume 007 presents the payoff in the form of three simultaneous fights: the Dragon Knights Brigade vs. the Aincrad Liberation Squad; Asuna/Kizmel vs. the Falconer; and Kirito vs. Morte. If you like action, swordplay comprises most of this volume. If it was animated (which I really wish it was), the entire contents would probably take up only two episodes.

Interestingly, the fight involving the most humans (the guild fight) gets the least attention, and Kirito’s one-on-one with the schemer who pitted the guilds against each other is arguably the most intense. Their duel is thrilling with some really exciting perspectives of the action. In addition to the players’ abilities, the fight also reveals their character. Morte is no doubt a precursor to the PK groups that would later plague Aincrad, and he’s cast in the worst possible light. Not only does he have a twisted personality and use underhanded tricks, he actually possesses reasonably powerful skills—which he prefers to use against other humans rather than game bosses. As for Kirito, Morte’s egging shows just how strongly he feels about Asuna.

Asuna’s fight also shows how strongly she feels—about Kizmel. Her affection for the NPC goes beyond common gamer sense. For Asuna, their battle against the Falconer is as much about helping Kizmel exact retribution for her sister’s death as it is completing the ”Infiltration” quest. And her devotion to the dark elf results in some surprising responses from Kizmel, which drives home the point that SAO is no ordinary game.

After all that fighting, things resolve happily all around, and even though the Elf Quest had nothing to do with beating the Third Floor Boss, the players safely complete the third level in the span of a few pages. This rushed ending is probably because a different artist, Shiomi Miyoshi, is taking over the Progressive manga starting with the fourth floor. Although Himura-sensei’s artwork has been heavy on the fanservice (even the guild members get fanservice in this volume), his depiction of the SAO world has been engaging overall, and I hope Miyoshi-sensei continues in that vein (minus the extraneous panty shots).

Extras include the first page printed in color and messages from various SAO collaborators.

In Summary

Himura-sensei delivers an action-packed conclusion to the Elf Quest. Between the dynamic illustrations and mid-battle surprises, the swordfights are a thrill to behold. Fans of happy endings will also be satisfied at how the arc wraps up. It’s a little rushed toward the end, especially the pace at which third floor gets cleared, but that’s probably because another artist is taking over the series. I don’t know if it will continue as part of this series or launch as a new one, but I look forward to Shiomi Miyoshi-sensei’s version of the Progressive world.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: The Royal Tutor Vol. 10

Rich, handsome young men, each with his own distinct personality…this type of bishounen cast is a staple in shojo manga. And if you like yours with a generous helping of chibi humor, you should definitely check out Higasa Akai’s The Royal Tutor. Read on for my review of Volume 10. (For my reviews of other volumes click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Three of the princes have left home to study away from the castle and the guidance of Heine, but Leonhard remains, still under the strict observation of the Royal Tutor! Beneath the surface of everyday life lies the fierce will to fight for the right to the throne! With change all about them, now comes the time to grow and learn…

The Review

With his brothers leaving home, Leonhart’s the sole prince left at the palace. As such, he appears in most of Volume 10’s chapters. However, the volume begins with an interesting family gathering in the wake of so many departures: The Queen Mother summons Adele, Leonhart, and Eins for a tea party.

The Queen Mother’s motivation is entirely innocent; she simply wants quality time with her grandchildren. Neither Leonhart nor Eins can deny their grandmother her wish. But neither can they deny their true natures, so the two can’t help but pick at each other’s faults. And because Leonhart is involved, their sniping takes on a distinctly childish tone.

The princes’ bickering is a foregone conclusion, but what is a surprise is a private exchange between Heine and Count Rosenberg, who are also present at the tea party. Up till now, Count Rosenberg has always played the part of a cool-headed conniver. However, when Heine bluntly states that the king deems Eins unfit for the throne, the count responds with uncharacteristic emotion. Although the series’ focus has been on the flaws of the younger princes, this lays the groundwork for scrutiny of Eins’ character, which has previously been assumed perfect.

But Akai-sensei doesn’t delve into that immediately. Instead she shifts the focus back to the other princes. Licht may have left the palace, but he’s still in town, which means Heine remains his tutor. Independent living means Licht requires a different education, and his cooking lesson in “A Lifestyle Lesson” is reminiscent of their overnight stay at the boss’ quarters. Next we get a glimpse of Bruno adjusting to life in Orosz, a Russia-like country, where his greatest challenge is getting along with his academic peer Smerdyakov. Then poor Kai only gets a passing mention before the focus returns to Leonhart at the palace.

The last three chapters have the White Lily prince in three separate situations: a brush with an old tutor at the library, a visit to Licht’s workplace, and a wardrobe quandary with Adele. Although his simple-mindedness is the source of humor for these scenes, it is thankfully not the primary focus. Rather, these chapters show where he’s been and point toward the type of person he now aspires to be. Which is a relief because Leonhart’s stupidity can only carry the plot so far.

Extras include bonus manga on the inside cover and first page printed in color.

In Summary

If you like Leonhart, you’ll like this installment. Although we get updates on the other princes, Leonhart dominates this volume. His academic incompetence continues to be the source of jokes, but this volume focuses less on his stupidity and more on his changing character. And speaking of character, Akai-sensei inserts some very interesting scenes that raises questions about the fatal flaw to Prince Eins’ character.

First published at The Fandom Post.

 

Manga Review: Tokyo Tarareba Girls Vol. #02

The midlife crisis isn’t just a popular trope in American entertainment; it’s the subject of manga also, and Akiko Higashimura, creator of Princess Jellyfish, delves into the woes of 30-something singles with her series Tokyo Tarareba Girls. Read on for the review of Volume 2! (For reviews of other volumes, click here.)

Back cover Blurb

“What if I had done this…” “What if I could just..” After years spent spinning these what-if tales, Rinko woke up to find herself a 33-year-old woman with rusty romantic instincts. Even at that age, she doesn’t know her next move. She doesn’t even know what kinds of relationships are acceptable anymore. Strap in for this seriously real thirty-something fumbling-in-the-dark love(?) story!!

The Review

In one of the volume’s bonus manga, Higashimura-sensei describes her colleagues’ desperate and despairing reactions to this series. In fact, a friend calls it as a “horror comic.” That’s because, even if Higashimura-sensei’s intention is to create comedy, the circumstances that she’s created for her characters are pretty depressing. It doesn’t help that Rinko’s codfish milt and liver (which her friends also start to see) make commentary that’s generally caustic and dismal.

At the end of Volume 1, I expected some kind of relationship to emerge between Rinko and Key. However, she wakes up alone after their one night stand. And not only does he leave that morning without a word, he has the gall to criticize her when she complains to her friends about it.

Clearly, sex has not changed things between them. As a result, Rinko harbors insecurity and self-doubt. At this point, it’d be easy to write Key off as a heartless bastard, but then Koyuki discovers that he lost someone he dearly cared about. While this makes Key more human, the knowledge that he holds greater affection for a woman who’s dead is an even bigger blow to Rinko’s self-confidence.

To make things worse, her friends join in the can’t-find-a-decent-guy misery. After reminiscing about the unsuccessful musician she broke up with five years ago, Kaori discovers he’s hit it big—and is dating a young model. But even though Kaori knows she’s lost her chance with him, she sleeps with him anyway. As for Koyuki, she falls for a salaryman, and when he tells her point blank he’s married, she starts an affair without any hesitation.

It’s a grim world for these middle aged women. The moments when they gripe about their problems are supposed to be funny, but they’re so bitter and vicious that it’s painful to read.

Extras include embedded cultural footnotes, two bonus manga, and translation notes.

In Summary

Higashimura-sensei creates a harsh reality for her characters. Instead of launching into a complicated relationship between an older woman and a younger man, we get no relationship at all when Key leaves Rinko without a word after their one-night stand. While she reels from his cold treatment, her two girlfriends wind up in dead-end relationships. Pathetic? Yes. Funny? Not really.

First published at The Fandom Post.

Light Novel Review: Wolf and Parchment: New Theory Spice and Wolf Vol. 3

Holo and Lawrence of the  Spice and Wolf light novel series have reached their happy ending, but for those who haven’t gotten enough of the Spice and Wolf world, creator Hasekura has a spinoff series: Wolf and Parchment. Read on for the review of Volume 3.

Back Cover Blurb

The companion of the young man who wishes to become a priest, Col, is the daughter of the wisewolf, Myuri, and she urges him to make her his wife. After leaving the pirate islands, the two get caught up in a storm and arrive the port town of Desarev in the Winfiel Kingdom. In this town, where the Church lies dormant, Col is called “The Twilight Cardinal” and is treated like a savior. He also has to face Myuri’s unrequited love, so he forbids her from calling him “Brother,” and tries to change their relationship. Before them appears a merchant girl who calls herself Ilenia. She is the embodiment of a sheep and asks them to help her with some “big plans!”

The Review

The world of Wolf and Parchment/Spice and Wolf is predominantly one of the humans. Even though the main cast includes nonhumans, the narrative treats them like creatures whose era is long past. As such, whenever the occasional new nonhuman enters the story, they’re generally striving to survive as a member of human society.

Volume 3 changes this dynamic. It begins with a storm forcing Myuri and Col to land in Winfiel’s town of Desarev. There, Col sees firsthand how Winfiel’s conflict with the Church has impacted ordinary citizens. As with so many stories in this series, religion and economics loom large in the details. In this case, because the corrupt Church has retreated from the kingdom, the populace reaps material benefits but also spiritual insecurity. On top of that, Winfiel’s king is demanding churches pay taxes as retribution. And it’s in the midst of this strife that Col and Myuri chance upon Ilenia, who’s the embodiment of a sheep, and rumors of the Moon-Hunting Bear.

In the Spice and Wolf series, the Moon-Hunting Bear was only found in dusty manuscripts, and I assumed it died like so many other creatures of legend. However, Ilenia tells of a recent naval expedition that was almost completely destroyed by a monster in a land far to the west. She’s convinced it’s the Moon-Hunting Bear. Moreover, she views that western land as a place where nonhumans can live freely.

At this point, the story takes on elements of the Age of Exploration in addition to aspects of the Reformation. On top of that, the one striving to go to the new world is a sheep girl who wants to create a county where beings like her can live in their true forms. This sounds like a massive hodgepodge, but Hasekura-sensei links everything such that the narrative not only makes sense, it sheds extra light upon previous actions of the Church and the Winfiel royal family. In addition, it also draws several non-human characters, new and old, into the narrative.

As such, this volume is a delightfully multilayered read from beginning to end. Even the troublesome element of Myuri’s obsessive crush is addressed satisfactorily when Col makes her realize that she’s unable to address him by any name except “Brother.” The only problematic detail is that smoke inhalation isn’t an issue in the dramatic final scene, but that aside, Hasekura-sensei combines a host of disparate elements into a cohesive, engaging story.

Extras include the first eight pages printed in color, world map, seven black-and-white illustrations, and afterword.

In Summary

Amid growing political and religious tensions come rumors of a monster to the far west. The reemergence of the name of the Moon-Hunting Bear seems abrupt in a very human conflict, but Hasekura-sensei weaves the story such that the interests of humans and nonhumans are intertwined, although not aligned. This brings to light a whole new aspect of the conflict between the Church and Winfiel and builds anticipation for the next step in Col and Myuri’s journey.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Ne Ne Ne Vol. 1

The romance market is full of titles where an innocent girl is romanced by an older, sophisticated man. But how about if the older man is just as innocent as the girl? That’s the situation in the fantasy historical manga Ne Ne Ne. Read on for the review of Volume 1!

Back Cover Blurb

Awkwardly ever after! Married off to a man more than twenty years her senior, Koyuki has no idea what her new life has in store for her. She’s so in the dark, in fact, that she hasn’t even seen her husband’s face! But Koyuki isn’t alone in fumbling through the intricacies of wedded bliss. Mask-donning Shin might have many years on his young wife, but as it turns out, he’s just as naive as she is! Will this pair of innocents ever get past their awkwardness (and the age gap)?!

The Review

According to the writer’s afterword, the title carries the meaning of “nenne,” someone who’s young and unsophisticated or naive about sexual matters. That pretty much describes our newlywed main characters, even if one half of the pair has a physical appearance that gives the opposite impression.

That’s Shin, a man in his thirties. Because of his ability to see and attract the supernatural, he’s beholden to wear a half-face mask to avoid being possessed. And because of family interests, he’s beholden to accept an arranged marriage with Koyuki, a pretty teenage girl. Sounds a creepy lolicon set up, but it’s not.

That’s partly because the story’s set in Meiji-era Japan, but mostly because Shin, despite his age, is so clueless about romantic matters that he’s essentially a teenager in the body of a middle-aged man. Although Shin is a respected, accepted member of the community, his supernatural abilities (and mask!) have prevented others from getting close to him. Which means he’s unfamiliar with intimacy, physical and otherwise. Compounding that is his father-in-law’s threat to “rip [his] spinal cord from [his] living body” if he touches Koyuki before she turns twenty. As such, even though Koyuki and Shin are married from page 1, there’s absolutely no sex, and the consummation of their marriage looks like it’s years away.

Meanwhile, Koyuki is completely unaware of her father’s threat to her husband. But despite having no choice in her marriage, she’s fond of and fascinated by Shin, whom she views as utterly sophisticated. As such, she’s determined to be a good wife and frustrated because Shin, although he is kind, treats her like a child.

And there we have the basis of most of the comedy in the story. Both genuinely want the marriage to work and have growing affection for the other. However, because they’re new at that type of relationship, misunderstandings and awkwardness ensue. Koyuki is the type to wear her emotions on her sleeve, but Shin’s mask makes him appear calm and collected even when he not. So it’s a fun contrast between Koyuki’s impression of Shin and his actual panicked emotions when they get just a little too close.

By the way, there’s no strong story arc. Chapters are episodic, and their interactions mainly take place in a household context. Shin may be connected with the supernatural, but the narrative focuses on a very domestic relationship. So even though the couple has a pet dragon, Pochimaru acts like the family dog more than anything else.

Extras include six pages in color, the creators’ afterwords, and translation notes.

In Summary

Ne Ne Ne has a random set up, but it’s surprisingly cute and funny. Despite its unlikely cast, the awkward romance between Shin and Koyuki can only be described as innocent. If you’re looking for something sweet that’s set in a bygone era with a touch of supernatural, this title delivers.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku Vol. 2

A few years back I reviewed My Girlfriend’s a Geek, which was about a normie guy dating a fujoshi. But how about romance between two otaku types? Wotakoi explores that kind of relationship, and you can read on for the review of Volume 2! (For reviews of other volumes, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

NOTHING VENTURED, NO XP GAINED Frustrated at the slow pace of their relationship, Hirotaka asks Narumi on a real date, with one critical stipulation: They can’t show their otaku sides at all! Can the two find something to bond over in the absence of games, manga, and anime? Meanwhile, Hanako and Taro revisit the origins of their own tempestuous relationship back when they were in high school, and even Naoya seems to be spending more time with a new friend!

The Review

As with the Volume 1 of the English-language edition of this series, Volume 2 is comprised of two installments of the Japanese edition (Volumes 3 and 4). Meaning you get 270 pages of Wotakoi for the $17.99 MSRP.

Japanese Volume 3 is a mishmash of various scenes involving different combinations of the four friends. Although Hirotaka and Narumi’s romance is the central relationship in this series, only Chapter 19 focuses on that relationship, and for some reason, Fujita-sensei breaks that chapter into four parts and intersperses them in between other chapters. The content itself is actually entertaining (the pair have a normie date at an amusement park, in which otaku behavior is forbidden), but having to read it divided up is a little weird.

For those familiar with the anime, Japanese Volume 3 covers the same material in the latter portion of the TV series, except for Chapter 15, which is an April Fool’s episode, and Chapter 19, in which Hirotaka’s friends try to freak him out with scary stories. As in the previous volume, the chapters poke fun at otaku idiosyncrasies, especially Chapter 17, where Narumi and Hanako have a fujoshi dispute, and Chapter 18, where the four friends go shopping together. Footnotes and translation notes explain obscure references, so as long as you are somewhat versed in otaku culture, these chapters are fun.

At the conclusion of Japanese Volume 3, Naoya meets a shy schoolmate who plays a significant role in Japanese Volume 4. I assumed Naoya’s role in this series was simply to serve as a contrast to the otaku adults’ excesses. However, Fujita-sensei has chosen to pair him up, and because this series is subtitled “Love Is Hard for Otaku,” our resident normie winds up with a hard-core gamer, Ko Sakuragi. Unlike the other pairings, this one is characterized by innocence. This is partly because Ko is shy to the point of being asocial and partly because Ko’s gender ambiguous name and appearance cause Naoya to mistakenly assume she’s a he. As such, their interactions are mostly Ko struggling to converse normally and Naoya treating Ko like a guy buddy.

Also taking up a chunk of Japanese Volume 4 is Chapter 26, the origin story for Hanako and Taro’s relationship. Like Chapter 19, this chapter gets broken up and interspersed through Volume 4. The anime touched on this subject, but the manga goes much deeper into showing them as athletes and how an otaku purchase got used as blackmail. If you are fans of this couple, you should definitely pick this volume up.

Extras include a ton of translation/cultural notes, character profiles, author’s afterword, and 18 pages printed in full color.

In Summary

Even though Hirotaka and Narumi are the main couple, most of the otaku romance takes place with the other characters in this installment. Hanako and Taro have a well-established relationship now, but a trip down memory lane reveals its contentious beginnings as well as the start of Hanako’s fujoshi habit. In addition, otaku gamer Ko joins the cast as Naoya’s new friend. For now the two are just gaming buddies (which is plenty entertaining given the difference in their abilities), but considering the title of this series, that dynamic is probably going to change real quick.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: A Bride’s Story Vol. 10

Kaoru Mori is best known for  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 Story 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 10 has been released, and you can read on for the review. (For reviews of other volumes, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Karluk has left home to become a man! For four months, he’s off to learn falconry from Amir’s brothers, living with them at their winter camp. As his training commences, what will Karluk learn about himself, and Amir, in the process?

The Review

Now that Pariya is safely married, the focus returns to our original couple, Amir and Karluk. As one would expect from a series called “A Bride’s Story,” their marriage has primarily been told from Amir’s perspective. However, Mori-sensei makes an interesting shift by having Karluk live with his Halgal in-laws for several months.

This is an interesting turn of events considering the trouble Amir’s father brought upon Karluk’s hometown. Or perhaps Karluk used that past offense to pressure his in-laws into accepting his request. At any rate, Mori-sensei doesn’t spend time rehashing hard feelings. Rather, Karluk’s focused on growing stronger as a man so he won’t suffer the same indignity of helplessness that he did during the attack on the town. And Azel and his two sidekicks are quite willing to teach the boy their skills.

Thus, the narrative, which has explored several exclusively female realms, now gives a taste of a male-dominated realm. Karluk’s not a new bride, but he’s leaving the familiarity of home to join a markedly different community. Readers learn about the Halgal’s nomadic lifestyle as Karluk does, and his lessons in archery and falconry are informative as well as a feast for the eyes.

And of course, Karluk is hanging out with these fine male specimens because–even after all these volumes–he still looks like a kid. Which means his well-meaning wife treats him like a kid. The age gap is awkward for Amir, but it’s worse for Karluk. Although the two manage to talk through Karluk’s insecurities, I, like Karluk, hope he catches up to Amir soon.

Then the story shifts back to the luckless Mr. Smith, who has somehow reached Ankara in one piece. As he meets with his English colleague Hawkins, we get a picture of the military tensions flaring up in the region. Considering Mr. Smith’s lack of fighting skills and his recent run-in with bandits, I expected him to take his friend’s advice to return to England. However, he chooses to stay. While the scholarly basis of his resolve is somewhat unbelievable, it doesn’t compare with the astronomical improbability of his unexpected reunion with Talas.

Considering all that has gone wrong for Talas and Smith, both are overdue for some good luck. And obviously readers would also like for the pair to has a happily ever after. However, the previously insurmountable barriers of disapproving relatives and distance vanish in a flash, and suddenly, Talas and Smith are free to be together. While the circumstances that reunite the pair seem just a bit too convenient, uncertainty still shadows their future, especially with war brewing in the region.

Extras include Mori-sensei’s manga style afterword.

In Summary

After multiple scenes of girls embroidering their dowry, how about one of a guy hunting pelts for a bride price? Karluk goes to spend a few months with his in-laws, and Azel and Company teach the boy the skills required of a man in the high plains. Even though the series is called “A Bride’s Story,” it makes a fun shift to the groom’s perspective in Mori-sensei’s tale of Central Asia.

First published at the Fandom Post.