S.Q. Eries's Blog, page 7

Manga Review: Ako and Bambi Vol. #1

Haunted houses are usually the stuff of scary stories and nightmares. But for the horror writer protagonist of Ako and Bambi, an encounter with a ghostly apparition is an opportunity for story material! Read on for my review of Volume 1.

Back Cover Blurb

What happens when you put one down-on-his-luck amateur novelist and one amnesiac ghost girl in one bargain-priced haunted apartment? You get the punch line of Bambi’s life. The good news is, Ako is neither the ghost of the person who supposedly committed suicide in the rental nor an unfriendly poltergeist hell-bent on causing chaos. But she needs a place to hang out until she can ascend to wherever ghosts go and Bambi needs source material for his career, so maybe they can have a mutually beneficial relationship…

The Review

Money’s tight for 18-year-old Bambi, a struggling horror writer. The only apartment he can afford is one whose previous occupant committed suicide in the bathtub. He doesn’t actually think it’s haunted though – until the apparition of a teenage girl appears before him. Fortunately, Ako has a pleasant disposition, and Bambi needs ideas for his next story. So the two strike a deal for him to model his next protagonist after her.

There are a few things that are unusual about this manga. First, the formatting resembles 4-panel comics, but it doesn’t follow the standard pattern where each column is a self-contained arc or thought. Rather, the story is presented in a chapter format, but the size/shape of the panels are limited to the one used for 4-panel comics. The panels are read from top to bottom, but scene breaks can occur anywhere, not just at the bottom of a panel column. In terms of printing, they used sepia instead of the usual black ink along with light blue for shading, which you don’t normally get for manga.

Then there’s the genre, which is somewhat difficult to categorize. The combination of a horror author in an apartment where a suicide occurred would lead you to think this is a spooky ghost story or thriller. But even though Ako introduces herself as a ghost, she has nothing to do with the apartment suicide, and we learn within the first third of the book that she’s not actually a ghost. Rather, she’s the alternate personality of a very much alive high school girl, Ako Yamashiro, which manifests when the real Ako is asleep. So while the manga has a strong supernatural element, it’s not scary or creepy. Rather, it feels like a slice of life involving socially awkward teenagers with a mysterious element thrown in.

Thus far, the main driver of the story appears to be the mystery of not-ghost Ako’s true nature and how she is connected to Ako Yamashiro. However, a huge amount of time is spent on detailing Ako Yamashiro’s school routine and Bambi’s writing career. When the psychic Irifune enters the story, she’s more of a vehicle to shed light on Bambi’s pre-writer past than a means to provide new insight on what kind of phenomena Ako is. Plus, the pacing is fairly slow. There’s not much action beyond package deliveries and conversations, so whether you stick with the story will depend on if you get attached to the characters.

I should mention that character interactions require a higher-than-average understanding of cultural references, mostly having to do with Japanese superstitions. Fortunately, the book does explain a lot in the translation notes, but dialogue regarding Japanese characters and name meanings doesn’t translate well into English.

In Summary

Horror writer Bambi has an actual encounter with an apparition in his own home! However, Ako is not malevolent or even that unnerving. She is, though, a bit of a mystery, when Bambi discovers that she’s linked to a living girl’s dreams. It’s a lot of socially awkward characters dealing with a mildly bizarre phenomenon in this slow-paced supernatural tale.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? Vol. 3

Lots of Korean web comics and web fiction are successfully making the jump from the Internet to traditional media nowadays. One of these is What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?. Read on for the review of Volume 3 of the manhwa. (For other reviews of this series, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Youngjun continues to woo Secretary Kim, but he’s got some stiff competition! Miso happens to run into her favorite author, Morpheus—and what’s more, when she flips through Morpheus’s debut anthology, certain eerily familiar details in a story about a kidnapping catch her eye…

The Review

If your rich, handsome lead has an equally good-looking single brother, of course, that brother’s going to take an interest in the leading lady. However, things don’t quite head into the usual love triangle territory. SungYeon’s interest in Miso very much has an I-only-want-her-because-my-brother-has-her vibe. Plus, she immediately rebuffs his attempts to charm her. It’s only when she reads in SungYeon’s autobiography that he was kidnapped as a child that he grabs her attention.

But instead of clarity, SungYeon only raises more questions. Key facts line up, like the time and place of the kidnapping, so Miso’s certain she’s found the right person. However, SungYeon has zero memory of Miso being held captive with him.

To further muddy the waters of the past, YoungJun apparently forgot everything about his brother’s kidnapping shortly after the incident. And although YoungJun wasn’t the one kidnapped, he’s dealing with his own trauma, with actual scars on his ankles to match. Miso also discovers YoungJun had a hand in her becoming his personal secretary nine years ago even though she is far from qualified for the position. Moreover, his mother seems to hold some critical information but is being tightlipped about it.

So there’s certainly a mystery within the Lee family. All the mismatching puzzle pieces will keep readers intrigued as YoungJun’s focus switches from Operation: Sweep Miso Off Her Feet to Keep Miso Away From My Brother. Not to say there are no romantic moments. Through the power of money and corporate clout, YoungJun finagles a second date with Miso, but whereas their first date was over-the-top in every way, Miso takes the reins to force her high-class boss into commoner territory.

Extras include illustration gallery, next volume preview, artist’s note, and translation notes.

In Summary

Rom-com steps aside for mystery when SungYeon reveals to Miso that he was the kidnapped Lee son. But he has no memory of Miso. And his accounts of his childhood years contradict with YoungJun’s. It’s not a love triangle between the three, but the lack of clarity on their history keeps things engaging.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Bride of the Barrier Master Vol. 1

Bride of the Barrier Master has one of those “the fate of the nation depends on this elite magical group” settings. However, it’s less about the accomplishments of this group and more about how our underdog heroine abruptly surges from below average to far above. Read on for the review of Volume 1. For other reviews of this series, click here.

Back Cover Blurb

For thousands of years, Japan has been protected by five clans wielding barrier-weaving magic. Born to a branch family of one such clan, eighteen-year-old Hana has always been stuck in the shadow of her more capable, beautiful, and popular twin sister. When a strong power awakens within Hana, she chooses to hide it so she can continue living a quiet life out of the spotlight. But that ideal lifestyle begins to slip out of reach when Saku Ichinomiya takes over as the new head of the Ichinomiya clan and sets out to find a bride strong enough to stand by his side. Eager to keep her abilities secret, Hana steers clear of Saku… but will she be tempted to sign a marriage contract if it guarantees the peaceful, quiet future of her dreams?

The Review

Hana is a modern-day teenager born to an ancient heritage. Since time immemorial, Japan has been safeguarded by five crystal pillars. Because they are constantly under attack by spiritual forces, five clans blessed with mystical powers have the duty of protecting the pillars, and Hana’s family belongs to one of those clans.

For Hana’s parents, status within their clan is everything. So they lavish attention and resources on Hazuki, Hana’s talented twin sister, and scorn Hana, whose powers are a fraction of her sister’s. But Hana has a secret: her powers are far greater than her sister’s. However, she doesn’t want to be her parents’ tool, so she hides her true abilities with the goal of leading a normal life away from the magical clans. Unfortunately, the new clan head Saku Ichinomiya ruins her plans by asking her to be his bride!

Bride of the Barrier Master is a fantasy involving multiple clans, supernatural objects with very specific rules, and a magical organization with a ranking system and various roles. However, the mangaka conveys these varied world-building details clearly and succinctly even as the narrative focuses on the thrust of the story. Mainly, Hana’s disdain for the people that have scorned her all her life.

Hana’s parents are extremely one-dimensional in that respect. It’s disconcerting how they’ll insult Hana in almost the same breath that they dote on Hazuki. But their motives are crystal clear, as are Hana’s when she makes her decision to deny her parents the satisfaction of knowing she is the extraordinary daughter they dreamed of having.

So while the fate of the world – erm, Japan depends on her clan, Hana’s indifferent to that responsibility. Her aim is a quiet life and comfortable retirement, far and away from the business of guarding mystical pillars. Given the humiliations she’s suffered beneath these elitist magical practitioners, it’s understandable.

And that dream is how our male lead is able to manipulate her to do his bidding. Saku is the complete package: good looks, intelligence, talent, and the authority of the clan head. Only Hana’s not interested in any of that. She’s got zero interest in romance and doesn’t plan on marrying. Saku, though, is interested in her, if only for her magical abilities. As family head, he bears the responsibility for protecting a crystal pillar. Only he can’t do it alone. He needs a spouse who can match his power, and when he catches Hana dispatching a stray shade, he knows he’s found his match.

Thus the courtship begins. Only it’s more like a comedy routine. In a certain sense, Saku is as pragmatic as Hana. He first tries persistence. When that doesn’t work, he makes an offer she can’t refuse – one billion yen, a house, and a generous retirement package in exchange for a marriage in name only. Plus, the satisfaction of the rubbing it in her parents’ faces. The narrative isn’t lovey-dovey in the least yet, but the protagonist is definitely one that I can cheer for.

By the way, the light novel on which this story was based implied the twins are identical, but the manga has presented them as fraternal twins. An understandable choice – that way there’s no doubt which character is which. However, the character designs are really young. Saku and Hana are 24 and 18, respectively, but they look more like 16 and 12. Also, the spiritual forces threatening the clans are more laughable than scary. So far all of them have the same buggy cartoony eyes that aren’t exactly intimidating.

Extras include an afterword and bonus story.

In Summary

Bride of the Barrier Master is fun, fluffy stuff. Yeah, Hana’s clan is entrusted with safeguarding the welfare of Japan with their mystical powers, but so far it’s about the snubbed girl getting back at everyone who badmouthed her with the help of the most eligible guy in her circle. It’s inevitable they’ll fall in love eventually, but for now, everything is business between this hard-headed pair.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: See You in My 19th Life Vol. 1

Lots of Korean web comics and web fiction are successfully making the jump from the Internet to traditional media nowadays. One of these is See You in My 19th Life. Read on for the review of Volume 1 of the manhwa.

Back Cover Blurb

“I’M A BIT DIFFERENT FROM EVERYONE ELSE.” After living through and remembering seventeen previous lives, twelve-year-old Juwon Yun’s heart can’t be moved by anyone…except a strong, lovable boy named Seoha Mun. Just before she can let him in on her secret, however, their time together is abruptly cut short―until she reincarnates less than a year later. Now, as Jieum Ban, she’s determined to make her way back to Seoha’s side…but he’s haunted by the memory of Juwon dying in his arms, so romance is the last thing on his mind! Will Jieum be able to overcome her own past self and find happiness in her nineteenth life?

The Review

12-year-old Juwon Yun is on her 18th life. After being reincarnated so many times, she’s jaded to human relationships. That is, until she meets 9-year-old Seoha Mun. His contrary personality and difficult circumstances has her feeling emotions she hasn’t experienced in ages. So she falls for him – and is almost immediately killed in front of him by a car crash. Thus cheated of love, she resolves to reunite with him in her 19th life.

With its rich and handsome male lead, trauma-induced disability, antagonistic parent, and love that endures beyond death, See You in My 19th Life is a K-drama through and through. Its unique circumstances require quite a bit of set up though. Three chapters, to be exact. However, the way Juwon domineers the uber-rich spoiled brat that is Seoha during those chapters is pretty entertaining. For those who have ever struggled with a mouthy kid, her handling of him is downright satisfying, even as the narrative weaves in the details of her reincarnation.

Seoha eventually falls for Juwon–not surprising given the child’s rather isolated life. The part that is a leap is when that old soul seriously accepts the 9-year-old’s marriage proposal. But she is on her 18th life so she’s not exactly a normal person. Of course, just as she resolves to embrace this relationship, her life’s cut short K-drama style.

But for this character, that just means she’s reincarnated again. She enters her next life almost immediately, so her death essentially results in a 23-year time skip for our romance. Reborn as Jieum Ban, she’s determined to find Seoha again. Unfortunately, he has no way to know she’s reincarnated. And unlike her 18th life, where she and Seoha had the same wealthy status, her 19th family is dirt poor. Without the benefit of the same social circle, she instead draws upon all the skills of her previous lives to become a top-notch corporate employee and places herself in the ranks of Seoha’s family’s conglomerate to await a chance to get close to him.

Not that that’s easy. Seoha still bears the scars from Juwon’s death. The full extent of his hearing disability and the impact it’s had on his social and professional life remains to be revealed, but it’s pretty clear this handsome rich boy is a big mess. Between the guilt he feels toward Juwon’s family and the antagonism between him and his uncaring father, he’s retreated to an overseas branch of the company. It’s only when the hotel once managed by his beloved mother is on the brink of shutting down that he returns to Korea to save it. And that’s when Jieum gets her opportunity.

Juwon/Jieum is an engaging character. With her multiple lives of experience, she is skilled at handling difficult personalities and situations. However, her single-minded goal of reaching Seoha, logical though it is from her perspective, is not one that she can readily share with others. Thus, observers are alternately impressed and mystified by her actions. One character in particular, Jiseok, is aggressively trying to recruit her, and the fact that she refuses his offers to work at a hotel on the decline has him baffled. By the way, this Jiseok has some (negative) history with Seoha, so he’s bound to stick around.

Also in the supporting cast is Chowon Yun, the younger sister to the deceased Juwon. The narrative hints that she has a thing for Seoha, which would make for a fascinating love triangle. Of course, she has no idea who Jieum is, as evidenced when Chowon tries to scout her for the Yun family entertainment business.

In short, there are a lot of complicating factors to keep this reincarnation romance interesting, and enough levity to balance the tragic past that burdens our main couple. The artwork is great at projecting the mood, especially our reincarnated soul’s unnerving vibe on others. Illustrations are rendered in full color on glossy paper, which makes for a nice-looking but hefty book.

In Summary

A 12-year-old girl who has been reincarnated 17 times falls in love with a boy only to die abruptly. What’s a soul to do? Pursue him in her next life, of course! See You in My 19th Life is an interesting take on the fated lovers trope. Other K-dramas have rich, handsome, traumatized male leads like Seoha, but a lead female with Jieum’s depth of experience and unique attitude toward life makes this title fresh and intriguing.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: If the Villainess and Villain Met and Fell in Love Vol. #1

There’s been a lot of variations on the Villainess trope, and If the Villainess and Villain Met and Fell in Love is the latest such series released from Yen Press. Read on for my review of Volume 1.

Back Cover Blurb

The awkward yet heartwarming love story of a scorned, incompetent villainess and an unapproachable, genius villain. Eleven years ago, Brigitte, the heiress of the Meidell earldom, formed a contract with the weakest type of spirit. Since then, she’s been looked down on by all the other nobles, and her fiancé, the prince, even made a public spectacle of ending their engagement. The duke of the Water Clan’s son, Yuri, is the only classmate she has who seems unaffected by these rumors. Yuri is feared for his incredible abilities and icy personality, but with him on her side, Brigitte’s fortunes just might change…

The Review

You’ve seen the otome game trope. Aristocratic students at a magical academy. Accusations of the prince’s villainous fiancée bullying an innocent girl of lower standing. And the prince standing up for the victim by publicly breaking his engagement to the villainess. There have been numerous variations on this theme, and this one tells it from the POV of the villainess.

Only she’s not really a villainess. She’s not reincarnated either, as this isn’t an isekai (at least so far as we can tell). Rather Brigette Meidell is simply an aristocratic inhabitant of a world where magic is commonplace. A person’s magic capacity depends on the ranking of the spirit he/she contracts with, and unfortunately, hers is a no-name spirit. That means that even though she loves spirits and has studied all there is to know about the subject, she can barely wield any magic. Thus her proud and powerful noble family has rejected her. Aside from her devoted servant Sienna, her one hope for friendship and affection was her fiancé, Prince Joseph. To please him, she made herself into his ideal type (i.e., dumb and gaudy). That only further alienated her from everyone except Joseph – that is, until he publicly dumps her for Lisa, the girl accusing Brigette of bullying.

Thus, this title looks like it’ll partly be an underdog story. Brigette isn’t actually interested in getting her fiancé back. Though stung by humiliation, she quickly realizes she’s better off without him and resolves to rededicate herself to her childhood dream of becoming a magic academic. That doesn’t mean Prince Joseph and Lisa are through with her. Brigette’s resilience displeases them, thus inciting them to undermine her efforts. Though their terrible personalities are somewhat one-dimensional, they do their job as antagonists.

The other direction this manga is headed is “enemies to lovers.” The title infers that Yuri Aurealis is the “villain,” but he is more unpopular than villainous. The top student of the Academy of Magic, he’s contracted to not one, but two first-class spirits. He is also blunt, doesn’t care what his classmates think of him, and has the social sensitivities of a rock. For him, the world is very black and white, so when he pronounces Brigette dumb because of her school record, he is genuinely intrigued to discover she has the wherewithal to keep up with him intellectually. Brigette and Yuri’s bickering is entertaining, and Yuri makes just enough of the correct remarks and actions for romance to progress yet maintain a cool exterior. He is a fine partner for Brigette as she struggles to redeem her academic reputation, and the story hints that there’s something about her “no-name spirit” that’ll drastically change her fortunes.

The quality of the artwork is excellent from spirits to magical effects to human characters to backgrounds. The world-building and magical system are easy to follow. Extras include the first two pages printed in color, bonus text story, and afterword.

In Summary

Despite the title and the otome game setup, this is not an isekai, and Brigette is more of an underdog than a villainess. She’s certainly easy to root for as she resolves to re-create herself after being dumped by her royal jerk of a fiancé. The interplay between her and the arrogant genius Yuri is entertaining as well. If you like Enemies to Lovers at a Magical Academy with Just Deserts, this title is worth looking at.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Since I Could Die Tomorrow Vol. 1

Slice of life manga usually focuses on an often young cast whose ordinary lives are interesting because they’re set in far flung places or long ago times. But Since I Could Die Tomorrow is a rather harsh portrait of aging modern Japanese citizens. Read on for the review of Volume 1.

Back Cover Blurb

Sawako Honna, 42, single; she works hard at a film promotion company. One night, all of a sudden, her heart palpitates, and her body goes cold… Could it be that she’s going through menopause!?

Not as hard-working as in your 20s. Not as flippant as in your 30s. The mental and physical changes, and the obstacles you face in your 40s. Sudden illness, menopause, fatigue you can’t get rid of, changes in working patterns, money worries, life plans for the future…

The Review

Sawako Honna works at a film promotion company. She is dedicated to her job, constantly picking up the slack of a flaky coworker to ensure her projects succeed. But one night, heart palpitations send her running to the ER. Confronted with her mortality, she takes a hard look at the life she’s created.

The back cover blurb insinuates that Since I Could Die Tomorrow is about a woman undergoing menopause. While menopause is mentioned several times in this volume, it’s a broader story about women struggling with changes in their bodies and their identities after passing their prime.

We see events primarily from the perspective of Sawako, a single Tokyoite with a career most would consider to be glamorous. However, in Chapter 3, the story delves into the life of another middle-aged woman, Sawako’s high school best friend Toko. On the surface, they are very different; unlike Sawako, Toko stayed in the suburbs where she married and became a stay-at-home mom. But Toko has also been struggling with her gradually aging body and the changes in how people perceive her.

When Toko takes her otaku daughter to Comiket in the city, the two old schoolmates reunite. Interestingly, each sees the other as having taken the better life path, but instead of letting envy consume them, they regard each other with admiration. Moreover, despite their very different personalities and life experiences, they are able to connect and find the understanding they’ve been seeking with regard to the changes they are undergoing.

The manga is categorized as a slice of life, and it certainly is that. It doesn’t pull any punches with job stress, flaky coworkers, unpleasant customers, unintentionally hurtful comments, and health problems. For anyone in the 40 and up crowd, the story is relatable. It is a bit thick on the heavy end of reality though. Despite her health scare, four months pass without Sawako able to make any real changes to her life. The acquaintance she was attracted to turns out to have cancer. Toko is not really rocking the boat with her suburban lifestyle either. It’s difficult to tell where the story is going. Unless the plot starts picking up, this manga is going to feel more like a public service announcement about aging rather than entertainment.

The cast is middle-aged and not at all glamorous, so character designs aren’t exactly eye candy. The artwork does the job of conveying Sawako’s stress and the nuances of aging though. The formatting and placement of some of the text is off. Aside from a footnote converting Japanese currency to dollars, there aren’t any cultural notes, so you are on your own to look up references such as okara and Comiket.

In Summary

Aging sucks, and Since I Could Die Tomorrow drives that point home with its middle-aged cast. Everyone is physically on the decline with gray hairs, frozen shoulders, and even cancer, but no one feels as if they’ve accomplished what they truly wanted even as they become increasingly aware their days are numbered. While there are bits of humor, like TMI moments between Sawako and her much younger coworker, the story thus far is kind of a downer, and I hope things take a (positive) turn for Sawako and Toko in Volume 2.

First published at The Fandom Post.

Manga Review: The Geek Ex-Hitman Vol. #3

There’s no shortage of gangster-centric manga, and it includes a subset of comedies like The Way of the Househusband, where the toughest denizens of the underworld embrace an entirely new lifestyle. The Geek Ex-Hitman falls into this category, with otaku culture as the new lifestyle and the slight variation that Marco is Italian, not yakuza. Read on for my review of Volume 3. (For reviews of other volumes, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Together with the new friends he met in Japan, Marco is making good on his vow to focus on enjoying what he loves, whether it’s playing online games or visiting themed cafés. But when his former boss comes after him, he’ll have to face some old demons to defend all he holds dear…As Marco fights to protect his future, the truth behind his mysterious past comes to light in this thrilling conclusion to the series!

The Review

It’s the final volume! But before we can end Marco’s story, we have to finish learning how he wound up as a hard-boiled hitman in the underworld. His origin story isn’t particularly original – well, aside from how an anime character triggers his new lease on life. But the arc does explain why he was such a menace before Hades Girl Eurydice entered his life.

TO’s origin arc is followed by four standalone chapters. The first is a limited-time theme café visit by hard-core fans Marco and Viviana with Andre coming along for the sweets. It’s yet another episode of fan-gushing fun with Marco using his hitman vibes to keep party poopers in line. Then Mei attempts to get her paws on Marco by inviting him over for a model-building session–only to get completely ignored in favor of miniature mecha. The following chapter switches to video game antics as fantasy versions of Marco, Viviana, Andre, and Gregorio combine their efforts to take down a King Hellhound. The fourth is Marco’s beloved cat Yakuza once more causing trouble for his master in ways only a cat can.

Wrapping up the series is the two-chapter final arc. All of Marco’s otaku friends are gathering for the biggest Hades Girl concert of the year. TO’s old gang’s come to town also – to force him back to the Italian underworld. The first half is otaku gift exchange hilarity (Viviana’s laughably bad artwork makes a final appearance). The second half is Marco defending his otaku friends and lifestyle after he rejects his boss’ orders. It’s a little strange how all the Italian thugs are bald men in sunglasses and black suits, but it makes it easy for readers to pick them out. At any rate, Marco begins his fight alone, but Gregorio, Andre, and Viviana soon come to his aid.

After that, things move quickly to the final conclusion, a happily-ever-after that even ties up final loose ends with Marco’s hitman mentor. Although The Geek Ex-Hitman has a deadly main cast, this manga has primarily been a celebration of fan culture, and its exuberant ending is a fitting finale for this series.

Extras include first page in color, artwork on the inside covers, two pages of bonus comics, and an afterword.

In Summary

Volume 3 delivers the beginnings of Marco’s life in the Italian underworld and how he finally breaks free of it entirely. The Oracle origin story is predictably violent and tragic, but it ends on a hopeful note (thanks to a certain anime figurine). Then the volume quickly returns to much lighter fare involving the Hades Girl fandom, video games, model building, and a mischievous cat. And though the final arc pits Marco against his old gang, even those chapters lean more towards the otaku fun end of the spectrum.

First published at The Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: The Remarried Empress Vol. 5

Lots of Korean web comics and web fiction are successfully making the jump from the Internet to traditional media nowadays. One of these is The Remarried Empress. Read on for the review of Volume 5 of the manhwa. (For other reviews of this series, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

“AND NOW, BECAUSE OF LOVE, I’M GOING TO LOSE EVERYTHING.” Things are coming to a head between the empress, the emperor, and his mistress. Rashta’s secret has been found out, Navier must scramble to save her brother from banishment, and with all the pieces in place, Sovieshu finally readies his opening gambit. The plan? File to divorce Navier! But Heinrey is making moves to capture his queen, and if Sovieshu isn’t careful, he might just end up in checkmate…

The Review

And… Rashta’s secret is out. Both the Empress and Emperor learn about her hidden child, though neither spouse is aware the other knows about it. Unfortunately, the one to suffer for it is Navier’s brother, who is arrested and promptly exiled. Rashta, on the other hand, maintains her position in the palace. For now.

If you didn’t despise Sovieshu before, you will now as he initiates a scheme to divorce Navier, make Rashta empress for a year (to legitimize their baby), then reinstate Navier as empress. Aside from the fact it’s so outrageous that his assistant begs him to reconsider, the Emperor clearly has no regard for either woman. Especially since he’s keeping the full extent of his plan a secret from both.

However, Navier catches wind of Sovieshu’s plan – but only the divorce her and crown Rashta empress part. Shortly after, the Empress runs into Heinrey while visiting the Wilwol magic academy. While this unplanned encounter begins like a lot of their previous interactions, this time it ends very differently.

Navier has never been anything less than upstanding in her personal and private life. No doubt if she were assured of her position as Sovieshu’s wife, she would’ve remained steadfastly faithful to him, even with his dalliances. But the very real threat of divorce has shaken her to her core. So when Heinrey lavishes her with his usual adoration and listening ear, this time she’s vulnerable. And when he innocently tells her he wishes that she could be his queen, Navier seizes upon his words.

Perhaps her actions are – as she herself describes it – calculating. But for her to consider another man under any other circumstances would be out of character. Still, the romantic tension is there, and at this point, the poor woman has been so hurt you want her to have a scrap of happiness. For his part, Heinrey is predictably ecstatic, yet that is tempered by the fact that he realizes there must be something serious behind her sudden change of heart.

Thus, things are more or less in place for the dramatic opening divorce scene in Volume 1.

Despite Sovieshu’s abominable behavior and Navier’s trampled emotions, there are funny bits. The first involves poor McKenna in an incident that looks to be his ultimate tragedy only for Duke Ergi to turn it into a comedy. The second is the Emperor’s scheme to legitimize Rashta that backfires in a very public display. It turns into such a farce that even Navier laughs and cracks a joke at it.

Another element entering the narrative is the unprecedented drop in the number of imperial mages. Magic’s come up before in terms of Heinrey’s transformation ability and the troublesome love potion. Now, however, we’re learning of the role it plays in military forces and, by association, the power each country possesses. It’s not clear how this will figure into Heinrey’s efforts to make Navier his, but given that Navier’s position as empress of another country kind of complicates things, all this talk of mages and military is likely to play a key role.

In Summary

It’s the moment Navier x Heinrey fans have been waiting for… she finally agrees to be his! But only because she’s discovered her husband’s plans to divorce her in order to crown his mistress. The Emperor sinks to new lows in this volume, exiling Navier’s brother, then pinning him as a scapegoat to cover up his own botched attempt to pass Rashta off as nobility. He is definitely looking like the bad guy as we steadily approach the divorce scene in the series opener.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Light Novel Review: Spice and Wolf Vol. #24

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 released the 24th volume of this novel series, and you can read on for the review. (You can also click here for my reviews of previous Spice and Wolf releases).

Back Cover Blurb

The Tonneburg woods are in danger…or so says the forest ranger who approaches Holo and Lawrence with a curious request―help convince his lord to not chop down the trees that have always provided for their people. Sadly, Lord Tonneburg hasn’t made this decision lightly. He must banish any heretical rumors that he worships the forest, as well as pay off his family’s debts to the city of Kerube. As their investigation continues, Holo and Lawrence quickly realize the merchant at the center of these issues of faith and trade is none other than Eve Bolan, who claims to need a vast amount of lumber to aid the Twilight Cardinal’s righteous cause. Is she using Col’s title as a cover to make obscene amounts of profit, or is there more to this story than meets the eye…?

The Review

This volume is part of the Spice and Wolf “Spring Log” series, which began as short story collections. However, Spring Log VII/Volume 24 presents a single story featuring our merchant and wolf, and it has our characters concerned about – among other things – the impending winter. (So much for the spring…) As Hasekura-sensei mentions in the afterword, longer narratives have been easier for him to write as of late. So those who prefer the format of Lawrence and Holo’s pre-marriage adventures will enjoy this latest installment of Spice and Wolf.

The volume opens with Holo and Lawrence getting sidetracked (again) from their attempts to catch up with Col and Myuri. Thanks to their exploits in Salonia, they’ve turned into regional problem-solving celebrities, and they’ve barely left the town when a forest ranger approaches them with a desperate request: find a way to halt the destruction/development of the nearby Tonneburg woods.

Spice and Wolf tales are always at their best when they interweave the competing interests of trade, religion, and politics. This conflict also includes nostalgia and the environment; the trees in Tonneburg are a surviving remnant of the forests that covered the North when Holo roamed with her old pack. To make things more personal, most of those representing the interests at stake are connected to Lawrence and Holo. The guild executive Kieman is a leader of Kerube, the town to which the Lord of Tonneburg owes vast sums. The wily merchant Eve is collaborating with the town of Karlan, which hopes to expand by constructing a road through the Tonneburg woods. And the reason all these parties have launched into action is the drastic changes resulting from Col’s efforts to reform the Church.

Thus, we have a multifaceted, complicated problem and the reappearance of some old characters. Just as Lawrence’s gotten better at understanding Holo and deflecting her verbal jabs, Eve and Kieman are not who they were years ago, and we get to see exactly what parts of their personalities have changed as they strive to get the upper hand in this dilemma.

As for the dilemma at hand, it’s fairly large in scope, with potential repercussions stretching from the Kingdom of Winfiel to Lawrence’s remote Nyohhira bathhouse. So Hasekura-sensei begins by having Holo and Lawrence see only one aspect of the issue in their initial meeting with the ranger. As they travel to meet the different people and areas affected, they grasp additional pieces of the situation until they finally get a full understanding of what’s happening. However, even with the gradual presentation of elements, it’s a lot to keep track of. There were several conversations regarding possible courses of action, and I had trouble keeping up with all the factors involved.

However, the solution – once Lawrence hits upon it – addresses every concern in a straightforward and satisfying manner. Moreover, we get a truly warm and fuzzy moment between Lawrence and Holo in the process.

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

In Summary

Hasekura-sensei delivers a novel-length adventure reminiscent of Holo and Lawrence’s younger days. The cast even includes their former-enemies-and-now-sorta-friends Eve and Kieman. With so many big players and the good name of the Twilight Cardinal involved, this problem takes nearly the entire novel to lay out, but the ultimate resolution is easy to comprehend and surprisingly satisfying.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Light Novel Review: Bride of the Barrier Master Vol. 2

It’s been a while since I’ve read a light novel that actually felt light. The ones on my plate tend to be heavy on military strategy, magical systems, or complex world-building. Bride of the Barrier Master does involve magic and rankings, but they’re mainly to illustrate how our heroine abruptly surges from below average to far above and beyond. Read on for the review of Volume 2. (For other reviews from this series, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Hana held up her end of the deal and is ready to follow through with the plan: get married, repair the barrier, get divorced, and cash in on a big payday! However, Saku has caught feelings for Hana, and he deviously changed the terms of their contract. He’s not letting her divorce him that easily, as he’s on a mission to persuade her to reciprocate his feelings. While Hana is trying to dodge his steamy advances, trouble rears its ugly head. Twins from the Nijouin clan turn up and make it incredibly hard for Hana to lay low at school. Things with her own twin, Hazuki, are as tense as ever. And to top it all off, terrorists are wreaking absolute havoc, and Hana may have to reveal her power in order to stop them!

The Review

While Volume 2 begins with a prologue that insinuates the advent of a terrifyingly powerful enemy, this installment of Bride of the Barrier Master is mostly about Hana’s relationships with Saku, her schoolmates, her sister, and two transfer students. In other words, teenage drama.

Chapter 1 is primarily a rom-com as our main couple spend time in the oceanside villa Saku gives Hana as a reward. However, the picturesque estate is apparently overrun with shades – effectively a haunted mansion. The shades are no match for Hana, but she has to exterminate the pests and keep Saku – who takes any opportunity he can to get handsy – at bay. Add their quibbling shikigami to the mix, and you get a silly romp against a scenic backdrop.

But then it’s back to work for Saku when they learn the Association Headquarters has been robbed of several SS-ranked talismans. In the meantime, Hana’s school life gets disrupted by two transfer students, fraternal twins from the Nijouin clan. Their family is as illustrious as Saku’s, and the sister Kikiyo in particular wants to know why a (perceived) weakling like Hana is Saku’s wife.

It’s a continuation of the disbelief and disdain regarding Saku’s choice of bride. But rather than have it dispersed across several women, it’s all condensed into one girl. And Kikiyo is very persistent. While her harassment of Hana is entertaining, this new character doesn’t have a particularly likable personality. In particular, her crybaby tendencies and lack of self-awareness are off-putting. But it does make it that much more satisfying when she realizes just how powerful Hana is.

It gets even more satisfying when the stolen talismans are used to attack Hana’s school. The faculty and students are instantly overwhelmed, but once Hana decides to blow her cover to save their skins, she stops the assault in its tracks. The enemy almost seems cartoonish in how easily she disposes of them. In every confrontation, there’s no doubt whether she’ll prevail; you simply know she will. So the meat of these chapters is the myriad reactions to Hana’s newly revealed powers.

For Hana’s part, her dream of a quiet life goes up in smoke, but now she gets to tell off everyone who mocked her. Plus, she gets the leverage to help her sister Hazuki, who, as it turns out, isn’t so awful after all.

In Summary

If you want a fun light novel with a happy ending, this is it. There’s a shadowy organization out to destroy the Association of Practitioners, but even though they give Hana a reason to reveal her powers, the story’s really about Hana silencing the critics to her marriage and getting back at the people who’ve snubbed her her entire life. The romance aspect doesn’t really advance much, however, so you’ll have to come back to see if Saku can make any progress on that front in the next volume.

First published at the Fandom Post.