Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Earl and The Fairy #1

The Earl & the Fairy, Vol. 1

Rate this book
Lydia Carlton is a fairy doctor, one of the few people with the ability to see the magical creatures who share our world. During one of her rare trips to London to visit her father, Lydia’s quiet life is suddenly transformed when she is rescued from kidnappers by a mysterious young man!

Edgar Ashenbert claims to be descended from the human ruler of the fairy kingdom, and he urgently needs Lydia’s help to find and claim his birthright, the legendary sword of the Blue Knight Earl. Things will never be the same for Lydia as she is pulled into a dangerous quest against dark forces!

182 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2008

89 people are currently reading
5095 people want to read

About the author

Ayuko

36 books10 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
2,885 (43%)
4 stars
1,933 (29%)
3 stars
1,367 (20%)
2 stars
341 (5%)
1 star
105 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 325 reviews
Profile Image for Sesana.
6,268 reviews329 followers
May 7, 2012
Sadly, not for me. I was drawn in by the very pretty art on the cover and the promise of a Victorian story with fairies. The art certainly didn't dissappoint me. The clothing was especially well done. And I did like Lydia, the fairy doctor, as well as the little bit we get to see of the fairies. But the plot as a whole wasn't drawing me in, and I have to say that I dislike Edgar. There just wasn't enough that was good to keep me going.
Profile Image for Sarah Ryder.
1,044 reviews239 followers
September 13, 2021
I stumbled across this manga at my library, and the pretty cover and intriguing blurb had me pick up on a whim. Which I’m glad I did because it’s very good!

Lydia is a total dear whose kindness and no nonsense attitude are going to help her a lot in the volumes to come! I really admire how she’s willing to help Edgar in his quest even if she’s not completely sure about him and his motives, and I TOTALLY relate on being the odd girl out. Edgar is…confusing, lol. I like how he’s polite to Lydia and sees her as more than the odd girl who talks to air, but I also dislike how demanding and rude he can be along with being a bit manipulative, though it’s understandable due to his background. I don’t know, but I do hope he gets better as the story goes on. Nico acts like a typical cat despite being a fairy, haha, but I like that about him. The rest of the cast I don’t have clear opinions on yet since I hardly know them, but I’m sure that will change as I get further in. ☺️

The artwork is gorgeous and I love the historical with a dash of fantasy setting—so very neat! And while I’m still a bit confused and fuzzy on what is going on (which will probably be answered in the next volumes) and how certain things happened (like how did Edgar and Lydia switch ships so quick? I’m still confused about that), I’m interested to continue and see what happens.

Content: blood and violence (nothing over PG-13); characters are kidnapped and held at knife and sword point; a sleeping pill is given; mild swearing
Profile Image for DianaRose.
864 reviews164 followers
August 17, 2025
a great first volume full of fairies, mysterious men with multiple identities, and danger!
Profile Image for Laura A. Grace.
1,966 reviews306 followers
December 10, 2022
VIDEO REVIEW HERE: https://youtu.be/s74vpRedzBw

This was absolutely delightful!

The perfect blend of mystery, "fantasy," and a shippable romance that I am here for!

I didn't know this was something I needed until I started reading it but I deeply enjoyed how it's quite different then manga I have been reading recently. Lydia is a fantastic heroine to cheer for and loved how she still believes (and adamantly affirms in conversation) that fairies are real and should not be ignored. Her being a fairy doctor was fascinating and do echo her question as the story progresses if this is what fairy doctors are suppose to do. LOL! Her interactions with Nico are priceless!

Edgar is quite the hero, especially with those opening pages where he seems like he's NOT the hero. I honestly felt a lot of Lydia's feelings of should I trust him or should I not. However, I was really touched by his story at the end. Granted, I belief Lydia was too despite her words, but my heart ached for him.

Overall, this was an excellent shojo manga that I would recommend to fantasy lovers, those who enjoy action in their shojo, and a nice dose of mystery!
Profile Image for Mizuki.
3,368 reviews1,398 followers
August 24, 2018
Basically it is a light-hearted romance/fantasy/adventure light novel, I'm not sure how accurate is the fairy mythology in the story but the details look reasonable enough for me.

The heroine is a rather typical 'nice girl' who has the second sight enabling her to see and communicate with fairies, but at the very least she didn't blindly trust the male lead simply because the dude is handsome and stuff.

PS: the heroine's sidekick/guardian Nico the Cat (who isn't really a cat, mind you) is soooooooooooo adorable!
Profile Image for Jen.
3,437 reviews27 followers
September 2, 2024
Meh. I like that the MC h has a backbone, but dislike that despite that, she is at the mercy of the male characters. Makes sense for the time period, but that’s about all that does make sense for this storyline so far.

I’m the distinct minority for this book and series, but the action scenes didn’t make visual sense to me, the male protagonist and antagonist look incredibly similar to one another and with the “protagonist” acting so horrible, it’s difficult to know who is really the bad guy, though at the end when he protected her from being harmed, I guess that showed the one doing the harming was the bad guy. How much of a good guy the protector is is still up in the air. It was in his own best interest to protect her as she has information he needs to achieve his goal.

Shrug, whatever. I feel like I’m going through a book slump. Nothing is catching my attention…sigh.

2, didn’t work for me and I won’t be continuing the series, stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Rabia.
33 reviews1 follower
March 22, 2013
When he says "smile for me." I'm just looking and going... y..yes sir, whatever you say.

He is almost completely like Usui from Kaichou wa Maid-Sama!!!! Thanks to that, I love him already!!!

Anyways, the manga, The Earl and the Fairy, is about a guy named Edgar, who is amazingly irresistibly hot and handsome and wants to succeed his ancestor's will. It is said that the man with the most noble blood from the family will receive the chance to obtain a position and will be able to see fairies and other creatures. They will rule a fairy land and become the leader of all the many creatures out there. However, he doesn't have the MOST noble blood and cannot see the fairies and kelpies, and so on. So, he hears of a fairy doctor who can help him get to his destination. That fairy doctor turns out to be a very pretty girl with caramel colored hair called, Lydia. They both set out to make Edgar the one and only powerful successor. Many creatures and successors come in their way to stop them and many battles are fought along the way. As the story progresses, Edgar continues to propose and display his love(forcefully many times) to Lydia and she just continues to fall deeper and deeper into the mysterious, yet sweet trap of love.
Profile Image for ℓуηη_σƒ_νєℓαяιѕ.
500 reviews69 followers
September 3, 2019
Victorian period, faeries, a mythical sword, and abduction. What's not to love? And did I mention there's a talking cat? He's really a faerie, but looks like a cat. And he's super sarcastic and suspects everyone of wrong-doing lol. Nico is the best!!


I found Lydia adorably naive & kind. Raven & his sister Ermine are secretive, aloof. I'm still not sure if they're good or bad per se. Then we have Edgar. He's nice then not, vulnerable and then threatening, generous but bossy. He's so many things. I like him but don't entirely trust his motives. Then of course Huxley and his gang are on their tail, everyone wanting the fabled sapphire.

Guess you could describe it as a "jewel mystery to solve and then steal" kind of plotline lol. It's a fun read with more to come in the next books. And the artwork is lovely and really draws you in. This was definitely a good choice to help get my toes wet in the world of many as ^_^
Profile Image for haven ⋄ f (hiatus).
803 reviews14 followers
August 22, 2020
Enjoyable but not too remarkable.

The story is laid out in a fairly logical way but is quite slow in this volume. It’s an unusual story and one that I would see more often in a novel than a manga. Regardless, it worked in a pleasant way.

What is pictured on the cover is a good representation of the art within. The lines are thin but not too thin. From nearly every angle pictured the art was drawn well. I found it pleasing to look at.

I did have some issues with the story (ex. the kidnapping) but I am curious to see how the author will deal with that issue even further.

The historical elements were depicted well and nearly everything was correct or close to it.
1 review
Read
March 5, 2019
I read this book the Earl and the fairy volume 1. I thought it was inspiring book It made me think more about life. the book was very romantic. Because the guy was very Missouri and I thought that the book could of had more romantic scene but I thought the fairy doctor and the night should be together they would be a cute couple. My favorite part was when the guy rescued her and it was so sweet and romantic. I recommend this book to my bff claudia. If you like mystery and romantic and action then you should read this book I thought it was perfect.
Profile Image for Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls).
2,157 reviews5,097 followers
October 26, 2022
2 stars; an interesting premise and we got most of their backstories done in this first volume, so yay for no wondering or teasing hints about their pasts. It didn’t pull me in though.


Content:
1 bastard, 1 b*tch, 2 d*mn; All about fairies and such (mermaids/sirens, silkies, pookas, spirits, etc); Fighting, shooting, injuries, & blood (not overall graphic); Starts with the male lead threatening someone with a gun & that man being killed (not grafic); many mentions of murders, deaths, hangings, killing, thieves/stealing, & criminals (including a man who killed over a hundred people in America who had a cross tattooed on his tongue (was actually a branding from when he was a slave)); Mentions of torture & human experiments; Some drinking; He changes his top in front of her (he’s a twig, so there’s nothing shown expect her being frazzled); a few mentions of kissing and French kissing (barely-above-not-detailed); a couple mentions of not molesting/touching a girl; a mention of some slave boys resorting to prostitution to survive.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Aguilar.
616 reviews60 followers
January 25, 2021
RTC

I'm honestly a little confused. Not in the usual way you'd be with a new manga series. Moreso in a "did I miss something?" kind of way.

Profile Image for Julie J..
608 reviews36 followers
April 16, 2020
Die Handlung in dieser Manga-Reihe wechselt gekonnt zwischen ruhigen Handlungselementen, kurzen romantischen Momenten und Kämpfen bis hin zu einem Mord. Die unbekannten Elemente, wie die Feen oder der blaue Ritter, werden durch Untertitel erklärt oder durch Einschiebungen, in denen die Legenden erzählt werden. Der Leser hat also nie das Gefühl unwissend bezüglich seinem Allgemeinwissen zu sein. Der Manga überzeugt auch durch seinen Zeichenstil, es wurde mit viel Liebe zum Detail gearbeitet.

Merged review:

„Hakushaku to Yōsei“ ist eine Light-Novel-Reihe, die im Deutschen als Manga unter dem Titel „Earl & Fairy“ erscheint. Ursprünglich von Mizue Tani, stammt die Manga-Adaption von Ayuko. Daneben gibt es auch eine Anime-Serie, wie ein Hörspiel.
Seit 2008 wurde die Serie von Ayuko umgesetzt und seit Herbst 2012 gibt es den Manga, zumindest mal den ersten Teil, auch auf Deutsch.
In 4 Bänden wird die „zauberhafte Reise“ abgeschlossen sein.

Die Geschichte spielt im viktorianischen England. Im 19. Jahrhundert haben die Leute nicht nur die Fähigkeit verloren Feen und ähnliche mystische Wesen zu sehen, sondern sie haben auch den Glauben an diese verloren.
Die 17-jährige Lydia Carlton kann diese nicht nur sehen, sondern auch mit diesen kommunizieren; sie ist eine sogenannte „Feen-Doktorin“.
Genau aus diesem Grund wird sie entführt….

Ihre Mutter starb früh, der Vater arbeitet als Naturwissenschaftler in London. Zu Ostern befindet sich Lydia auf dem Weg zu ihm, als die zuerst entführt und kurz darauf von einem mysteriösen jungen Mann befreit wird, der sie um ihre Hilfe bittet. Er stellt sich als Edgar J.C Ashenbert vor, Nachfahre des legendären blauen Ritters, um dessen Erbe er nun kämpft. Lydia soll im helfen das „Schwert der Merrow“ zu finden, mit dessen Hilfe er seine Erbschaft beweisen will.


Der Manga überzeugt vor allem durch seinen Zeichenstil. Mit viel Liebe zum Detail entführen einen die Bilder in die damalige Zeit. Gebäude, innen wie außen, Kleidung, die Gestaltung der Umgebung – jede Seite besticht den Leser.

Lydia ist eine optimistische, junge Frau, mit strahlend grünen Augen und wilden, langen Haaren. Ihr Blick mit großen unschuldigen Augen zeugt von ihrer Unschuld und Ehrlichkeit.
Ihr ständiger Begleiter ist Nico, eine flauschige Katze, mit der Lydia sprechen kann, die aber auch nur von ihr, dank ihrer Feen-Doktoren-Fähigkeiten verstanden wird. Nicos Aussagen sind amüsant und öffnen Lydia regelmäßig die Augen für die Realität.
Neben Edgar gibt es noch seine zwei Angestellten Raven und Ermine, düstere Gestalten, die alles für Edgar tun würden, ihn als Anführer sehen, all seine Geheimnisse verbergen und bewahren. Edgar erzählt Lydia gegen Ende des 1. Bandes, wie und wo er die beiden traf. Kein Part für schwache Nerven und ein klarer Beweis, dass es sich bei diesem Manga nicht nur um einen süße, romantische Geschichte mit einem Touch Märchen ist.
Edgar scheint ein ganzer Adeliger zu sein – groß, gutaussehend, charmant, stilvoll. Was er l

Die Handlung wechselt gekonnt zwischen ruhigen, sogar kurz-romantischen Momenten, Kämpfen bis hin zu einem Mord. Die unbekannten Elemente, wie die Feen oder der blaue Ritter, werden durch Untertitel erklärt oder durch Einschiebungen, in denen die Legenden erzählt werden. Der Leser hat also nie das Gefühl unwissend bzgl seinem Allgemeinwissen zu sein.
Profile Image for Angigames.
1,413 reviews
March 9, 2018
La storia parte un po' in sordina, ma con lo scorrere delle pagine si riprende molto bene!
Arrivata alla fine mi ha lasciato una piacevole curiosità.
Bellissimi i personaggi, soprattutto quello del Conte! Tanti segreti e diverse cose ancora da chiarire. Lydia è simpatica, ma forse è quella che mi è piaciuta di meno, troppo incline al raggiro… spero migliori!
I disegni non mi fanno impazzire, lo ammetto!
Profile Image for Pearl Angeli.
707 reviews972 followers
November 24, 2025
4 Stars!



The Earl & the Fairy, Vol. 1 had more depth than I expected, and I loved that it has a classic, almost old-fashioned Victorian London charm running through it. The art style is especially beautiful in this manga! I loved how it was drawn and executed. And I loved the cozy and mysterious atmosphere!

The story follows our main heroine, Lydia Carlton, a young ''fairy doctor'' who can see and communicate with fairies-- something most people don't believe in anymore. Eventually, she ended up getting involved with Edgar Ashenbert, a handsome but extremely suspicious man who claims himself to be the legendary ''Blue Knight Earl''. He pulled her into a quest where they need to find the stolen sword.

I enjoyed this manga! My only tiny issue was Edgar himself. I expected a different kind of characterization from him. Sadly he didn't turn out exactly the way I imagined. But even with that, I can't deny the swoon factor between him and Lydia. Edgar has that mysterious, charming, and slightly infuriating charisma that makes you want to keep reading.

I see its appeal as a whole. The world-building was genuinely engaging and Lydia is such a refreshing female lead. She's gentle but not passive, kind, and she holds her ground even if people are doubting her. I also loved the pacing that was not rushed.

description
Profile Image for Amy Keeley.
Author 17 books22 followers
April 10, 2012
The Earl and the Fairy has a lot of typical shoujo manga/romance elements. We have the "wealthy, bad boy up to no good hero", involved with the "far too kind for her own good heroine". There's flirting, feinting, and moments when she's not sure who to trust.

However, there's a number of elements that draw me in.

Part of it is the artwork. It's very lovely, especially the way the characters are drawn. Hats off to Ayuko there.

Part of it is the plot. The Earl, in this case, is Lord Edgar Ashenbert, supposed descendent of the Blue Knight, a mythical member of the fairy realm given a title by King Edward I and land to go with it. However, the fairy blood in Edgar's veins has been diluted so much that he can no longer see the fairies he's supposedly going to rule if they can get the sword that proves his title. He doesn't even really believe in them.

That's where Lydia Carlton, fairy doctor, comes in. She can see things he can't, and knows things he doesn't. The only problem is that she isn't sure she can trust that he is who he says he is. You see, he looks a lot like an American murderer named Sir John.

What saves this particular bad boy is his relationship with two other characters. One, a young man named Raven, has a violent tendency that seems to only be used at Lord Edgar's command. And he only commands it when truly necessary. In fact, more often than not, he's telling Raven not to use violence.

The other character is a beautiful girl in a suit named Ermine. There's obvious affection between the two of them and I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out there's something more than friendship there. It's through this relationship that we get a better sense of who Lord Edgar is.

Well, that's not entirely true. Lydia, with her enthusiasm and incredible kindness, manages, in true romance fashion, to bring out more of his true self than any other character. It's with her that he shines best, especially in the last chapter of the volume.

There are some plot twists that made me raise my eyebrows in disbelief. Sir John's mark and where it was placed was one. That said, the plot is pretty good.

As for what kept me reading, Lord Edgar especially intrigues me as a man who's completely focused on a myth, yet doesn't believe in the creatures who are part of that myth. His reliance on Lydia is both professional and increasingly personal, and yet, by the end of the volume, we realize there's another conflict he's dealing with that goes deeper than the search for the Merrow Star. That's what hooked me by the end of the volume. And finding out more about Lord Edgar is the reason I'll buy Volume Two.
Profile Image for Mary.
472 reviews92 followers
February 7, 2017
"Have you experienced such despair?"


Lydia Carlton is a Fairy Doctor. She communicates with fairies, but her connection to them has earned her the titles of "crazy", "changeling" and more lovely names.

When she is abducted by Mr. Huxley, she finds herself in the care of a thief named Mr. Edward, who claims to be the descendant of the Blue Knight. The Blue Knight aided King Edward 1 in battle and has earned his sword to prove their friendship. If Edward recovers the sword, he will be rich and powerful.

The problem is he can't see fairies. And he needs Lydia to help.

But Lydia soon realizes that there's much more to Mr. Edward than he lets on and helping him might be more dangerous than she imagined.


What a read! Such a shame that the manga was based on a novel, which we'll likely never get localized in English. Lydia is a fantastic heroine who's spunky but smart, too kindhearted and naive. She has the best of intentions but is easily swayed.

Mr. Edward is literally Mr. Steal Yo Gurl. He's a smooth talker, he's sinfully attractive, and he's always a step ahead.

The world is fascinating, the art is stunning, and I'm honestly really intrigued to see where this goes. Will pick up the novels since they've been translated by fans.

Definitely worth checking out!

*I own all the manga I read/review and don't support scans.
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
694 reviews57 followers
November 18, 2018
This was an interesting story, and I enjoyed watching the events unfold. Can Lydia trust Edgar? Is he lying to her? Is he what he claims to be? The human drama was interesting, and as various characters try to manipulate Lydia, she struggles to know whom to trust. However, this first book in the series functions mostly as a setup to later installments, and nothing about the main quest—finding the sword or connecting to the fairy realm—has been resolved. I enjoyed this as I read it, but I doubt I’ll continue with the rest of the series.
Profile Image for Alex.
576 reviews76 followers
April 1, 2015
Un bell'esordio *.*
Profile Image for kuristina- tabreez.
1,013 reviews
November 19, 2023
Lies, lies, and deceit… It only took me about ten years of having the first three volumes in my collection for me to finally read them, and by now, this manga feels a bit lackluster when compared against the backdrop of the entire genre just like this which has spawned in more recent years. In spite of that, there are still peculiarities to this series which give it a certain charm; right now, it’s mostly the potential I can see not only in the story itself but also in the structure of it. It paints itself a mystery which slowly unravels, but it paces itself a little odd. Even so, my favorite part is how it’s all from Lydia’s perspective, making us all as blind to the situation as she is. It leaves an air of intrigue and mystery, and helps the reader become more immersed as well.

I think 10 or so years ago, the aesthetic, style, and time period is what really drew me to this manga series… as well as the art depicted. I was drawn in by how it was drawn, *what* was drawn, and the cat (actually a fairy) on the back.
Profile Image for Becky (romantic_pursuing_feels).
1,280 reviews1,708 followers
April 27, 2022
Really enjoyed the first installment of The Earl and the Fairy - I love the historical feel with some paranormal twists. The heroine is a fairy doctor and can see fairies - the hero needs her to help him get revenge. I was definitely into it and wanted to jump into the second part right away.
Profile Image for Judyth.
1,725 reviews41 followers
March 12, 2012
~3.5/5
I always get so excited when Shojo Beat releases new manga. I've read a majority of their titles, and usually try, and like, their new ones. There are probably only a handful that I haven't read, honestly. This one wasn't any different.
I only read the top description on the back of this before I got it (intentionally this time, though), and so again I kind of took it at face value. The art looks very sketch-y, and so I was worried that I wouldn't like it, but I did. It looked like it would be an elegant, light read, so I was surprised when I started it and found that it was a bit more heavy, dark, than I'd thought. In a good way, though. It's also set in an earlier, European time, which seems to be happening a lot lately. I don't mind it, though, even really like it, which is very different to when it comes to novels. Maybe because I get to see the elegance, and because of the clothes?
(Anyway:) It starts by showing us a guy (who we later find outs' name is Edgar Ashenbert, Earl of Ibrazel) threatening some guy with a gun for information about some jewel, and he's told about a fairy doctor that can help him. Then it goes to the fairy doctor, Lydia Carlton, who can see and talk to fairies and creatures that most people don't believe in. She gets a letter from her father and goes to see him, but on her way, she gets unknowingly kidnapped, and then saved by Edgar.
Edgar is apparently a descendant of a Blue Knight from a fairy tale, and he needs Lydia's help to find the sword, encrusted with the jewel, that the Blue Knight left behind somewhere. There are some clues, but he needs Lydia's fairy knowledge to find out what they mean.
Lydia, and her fairy-cat Nico, don't trust him. They don't know what to make of him, and there are rumors going around of a guy who killed a hundred people in America and possibly the same guy who harmed (killed?) a man named Gotham, with a description very like Edgar's. Nico is suspicious, and while Lydia is as well, she still kind of trusts him. She's very kindhearted, and when he protects her, and explains some things to her, in a sob-story kind of way, it makes her stay.
I'm liking... all of the characters, I think. Lydia maybe needs to smarten, toughen, up some, but I do like her. Edgar seems a bit devious, dark, and sad, and I want to know more about him. And Edgar has two servants, Ermine and Raven, who have a dark past that's hinted at (like Edgar's is) and are, particularly Raven, are prone to fighting. I'm looking forward to finding out more about them. All of them.
The story line is good, too. There's still some mystery as to who, exactly, Edgar is, which Lydia seems to be finding out. His servants, as well. And they're trying to find out where the sword is, while also running from, and fighting, Gotham's family, who are also trying to find the sword. The Gotham gang has been trying to convince Lydia that they are the good guys, but I'm pretty sure that Edgar is. By the end of the volume, though, Lydia has decided not to run from him; they are going to stick it out together, which is good.
Oh, also, another Gotham (I'm a bit confused about all of these Gothams that are showing up, because I don't think the one they're fighting and this one are the same?) goes to Lydia's father, who is already pretty sure that Lydia is the one that was kidnapped from the ship at the beginning of the volume, and convinces him they need to work together to find her. Things are just getting set in motion, it seems.
The mystery and darkness of the story I wasn't expecting, but I'm rather enjoying it. I'm enjoying all of it, really, and am a bit excited for the next one.
[Taken from my blog: http://geekyreading.blogspot.com/2012... ]
Profile Image for Audrey Light And Smell.
941 reviews27 followers
November 6, 2022
Si vous aimez l’Angleterre victorienne, le petit peuple, les histoires de vengeance et de haine, et les personnages auxquels on ne peut s’empêcher de s’attacher, The Earl and the Fairy de Mizue Tani devrait vous plaire. Entre le mystère, l’aventure, les différentes créatures, les dangers, les secrets, la manipulation et des sentiments qui se développent au fil des péripéties, vous ne devriez pas voir le temps passer !

Avis complet sur https://lightandsmell.wordpress.com/2...
Profile Image for Ashly Lynne.
Author 1 book48 followers
February 9, 2017
Synopsis

Lydia can see and talk to the fairies that live around her, around all of us. She’s what is called a Fairy Doctor. She’s a young girl who has not quite found her place in the world and is on her way to visit her father in London. However, she’s stopped abruptly, when she is rescued from men who were planning to kidnap her. But, was she really rescued, or was she just kidnapped by someone else who wants to use her gifts for their own benefit?

The Earl and the Fairy, Volume 1 by Mizue Tani and Ayuko

★★★½
Genre: Manga/Fantasy
Release Date: January 2008
Source: Library – Borrowed
On My Shelf: No

This was a fun, quick read. I can’t say I’m overly enthusiastic about this story one way or the other. I did enjoy reading it, but I didn’t love it. I also didn’t not love it.

The story was cute and interesting. I like where the plot is going. Although we just get a lot of set-up in this first volume and very little story building, I am hoping to see more plot development in the second volume.

I did think this volume developed the characters well. We get to know a little about each character, what’s driving them, and how that plays into the storyline, even if I’m not quite sure what the grand storyline is as of yet besides 1 overall goal. Still, the characters did a great deal to drive this story forward, and I don’t mind reading something that is character driven.

I will say I’m intrigued by the plot and the mystery of it all. I liked that the action moved quickly yet slowly at the same time. There was so much going on, but I didn’t think there was too much going on. I’m curious to see what’s going to happen next with the kidnappers and the plot to use the MC Lydia’s gifts. I’m really hope that fairies actually play a part in the story eventually.

Last but not least, the artwork was beautiful. I loved how everything was drawn, the details, and how each panel brought the action of the story to life. I’m incredibly impressed with this artist and their ability to add to the story being written. These two artists work very well together.

Oh, also, v. important: There is a talking cat.

Overall, I would recommend this book.
It’d be great if you’re looking to get into manga or if you’re looking for a new, interesting fantasy story that is unique and fun. I’ll be looking out for Volume 2, but I’m in no hurry to get my hands on it.

Review originally published on my Wordpress blog Dreaming Through Literature.
Profile Image for Jessica (ThatDamFangirl).
422 reviews27 followers
January 18, 2023
The first book of the year finished! Yahhhhh!!!

The art style in this manga is absolutely gorgeous! Every character looks adorable. Lydia is my favorite character. She is strong female for living in thhe 19th centuries and can stand up for herself. I would love to be a fairy doctor! I feel like it would be fun ans I would get to see fairies. The plot of this book is well structred but there are some aspects of the book that I am confused with.

I'm really confused about who Huxley is and why he's chasing Edgar. I know it explains it but I didn't completelty understand the reasoning. I feel like both Edgar and Huxley have too many fake names and it makes the book confusing. You only need one fake name! I also think the book was a littlw too fast paced and some things went by too quickly.

I am adding Edgar to my fictonal crush list even tough he kidnaps, steals and murders people. (Many fictonal characters are like that tough so it's not like this is new.)

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to a new year of reading!
Profile Image for Eden Silverfox.
1,222 reviews99 followers
January 21, 2014
Lydia is a fairy doctor. She has the ability to see fairies, but the problem is, not much if anyone believes in fairies anymore.

Lydia makes a trip to London to visit her father, but she is kidnapped and then rescued by some mysterious man.

That man is Edgar, who says he is descended from the human ruler of the fairy kingdom. And he needs Lydia's help to find the legendary sword so he may claim his birthright. Lydia agrees to help, but soon finds out just how dangerous this quest will be.

Nice artwork and very interesting story. I like Lydia, but at times she seems to be a bit helpless. I like that she is a fairy doctor and can see fairies though. That is quite cool. As for Edgar, he's a mystery. He seems dangerous one minute and caring the next. I'm not sure what's real and not real with him.

I think this is a great start to the series. Really kept me interested and I can't wait to see how the story and characters develop.
February 11, 2014
I seldom have much to say about manga books, and this isn't an exception.

The earl and The Fairy is full of all the lovely artistic stylings I love with a likable, if waifish, leading lady. Throw in a rakish, devishly good-looking earl with a mysterious past, a serial killer, a lost fairy sword and there you have it. Slap happy amusement. I liked it, it was cute.... I won't be running out to pick-up volume two at full tilt but I will most likely end up reading it ;)
Profile Image for Librarian Jessie (BibliophileRoses).
1,723 reviews88 followers
November 30, 2022
I re-read this manga recently after finally getting my hands on my own copy (Thank you to the library who willingly let me read their copies till they ended up falling apart). This manga is absolutely adorable, and a bit cheesy due to age, but a classic in my heart nonetheless. It features Lydia a young girl who can communicate with the fae, and Edgar, a young man seeking out a treasured belonging. The two end up working together and slowly fall in love.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 325 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.