This Academy arc was sometimes confusing and I'm not sure about the ending. Nevertheless I adore the drawing style and this magical realm is really fascinating and easy to get sucked into.
A new arc begins? Oh thank God. I haven’t enjoyed much of this academy arc. I felt it took our main characters away from the plot and put them on an extremely long and unexciting side quest where they hardly interacted because it was too focused on new side characters and their drama. Sure, these new characters were somewhat interesting but it was a bit much.
Can't believe after so many volumes this particular arc is at an end! I'm so proud that Philomela was able to not just ask for help, but voice it in a way that gave her the strength she needed to confront her demons. Her backstory is just heart wrenching still but what a way for that arc to end especially with the unseen and totally unexpected curse.
I'm intrigued by the way this volume ended since it feels like some time has lapsed by the look of Chise's hair but it's the opening to another arc so we'll see what happens since my library only had up to vol.19 so I'll have to wait 😁
Not a bad spot to stop reading the series if you're getting tired of the series. This volume closes the current story arc completely. There is a cliffhanger hinting at some major turbulence coming for the next story arc but you don't have to keep going if you're getting tired of the series.
I don't know that the conclusion to this arc was nearly as satisfying as the first. But that tease for the next arc has me feral. I need to know what's happening there.
Quelle surprise que ce tome, j’avoue. Alors que ce premier arc de l’Académie me semblait archi brouillon et longuet depuis le début, il accouche d’un final bien plus sympathique que ce que j’attendais, relevant le niveau et me donnant envie, contre toute attente, de poursuivre l’aventure. Décidément, je suis faible ^^!
Philomela a arrêté de prier pour enfin tendre la main vers ses amis. Lizbeth a fusionné avec le grimoire et s’est transformée en un monstre toujours obnubilé par son fils. Adam est devenu une malédiction programmée pour tuer sa propre mère. Au beau milieu de ce chaos, la déesse Morrigan refait son apparition et annonce la fin d’une lignée…
Dans une ambiance pleine de sombre magie, de liens qui se font et se défont, de transformations et de trouvailles, les héros affrontent au final leurs plus grandes peurs en affrontant l’ennemi qui est devant eux, ce qui donne un ballet fantastique aussi fin qu’émouvant dans une ambiance un peu rude. J’ai beaucoup aimé cette mise en scène fantastique pensée par l’autrice pour faire ressortir les traits de chacun, cela m’a donné l’impression de venir au bout de quelque chose qui avait été amorcé depuis plusieurs tomes et que je ne comprenais pas toujours très bien. Les camarades de Chisé commencent ainsi peu à peu, eux aussi, leur cheminement sur l’âge adulte et l’indépendance, se défaisant avec parfois difficulté d’un certain héritage familial pour trouver leur place, grâce à cet affrontement.
Il y a vraiment de la poésie dans les histoires alambiquées de Koré Yamazaki et ce tome qui réunit à la fois la nouvelle ambiance, avec la fin de l’arc Académie et l’affrontement de Lizbeth et Morrigan, et l’ancienne, avec le retour aux sources chez Chisé pour panser les plaies de chacun ensuite. C’est très bien trouvé. On sent que désormais Chisé a trouvé une vraie communauté où grandir et trouver sa place et qu’elle n’est plus enfermée dans ce duo avec Elias qui était bien solitaire au final malgré les rencontres fantastiques qu’elle faisait. Alors je regrette un peu l’ambiance désuète de cette époque où un vieux fantastique ancestral nous cerné dans le quotidien banal de la fillette. Mais j’aime aussi le principe de la voir au sein d’un groupe d’individus variés où chacun a à apprendre de l’autre. C’était le cas dans cet ultime combat, ça l’est encore lorsqu’ils vont se reposer et cela s’annonce à nouveau au coeur de la suite à venir avec cette histoire de dragon divisant le pays entre humains et non-humains. J’ai hâte !
Graphiquement, ce fut en plus un très joli tome où la noirceur gothique de l’autrice s’est parfaitement prêté aux combats à la fois explosifs et intimes qui se jouaient. La cristallisation des âmes des personnages dans leurs pouvoirs était superbe et c’est d’une riche inventivité niveau bestiaire et autres représentations du fantastique. Sans oublier que l’autrice joue à merveille sur les atmosphères et a su passer du feu vif des combats au calme serein de l’après bataille quand tout le monde se repose chez l’héroïne, dans son singulier cottage qui peut donner envie de les rejoindre malgré son étrangeté. Une très émouvante immersion.
Je pensais arrêter la série à la fin de cet arc que j’ai trouvé bien maladroitement mené, le rendant très brouillon. Et pourtant, ce final me donne envie de poursuivre grâce aux émotions soulevées et à l’évolution touchante des personnages. Le futur arc qui devrait reposer sur la division et la réunion ne peut que susciter mon intérêt, surtout si c’est pour voir de si belles manifestations de pouvoirs fantastico-gothique comme ici. Car peu importe que j’aime ou non l’histoire, j’en prends toujours plein les yeux et j’aime ça !
With the college arc coming to an end, I am hopeful for the a new arc.
While the college arc had some interesting and enriching aspects, ultimately I could never connect to it fully. It left me feeling rather conflicted. I did not care about Philomela to be honest, although it was great to see Chise connect with Philomela's struggles. I found the story not really engaging and not very unique. I wanted more slow-going moments in their little cottage with the Silver Lady or other fun adventures from Chise and Elias together. I understand that they had to grow as individuals separately at some point, but I still would've liked to see it executed in a different manner.
I definitely preferred the first arc to this, but I am almost certain the coming arc will be more to my liking again considering the little sneak peek at the end of the volume.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Di questo volume ho apprezzato l’evoluzione delle protagoniste indiscusse di questo arco narrativo👇
Durante la battaglia contro la divinità, Chise mette a disposizione il suo potere. A differenza delle altre volte però, di fronte alla preoccupazione di Elias, la ragazza ammette di non volerlo fare perché DEVE, ma perché sa che è la cosa migliore/giusta da fare.
Philomela, invece, abituata a essere trattata come un’inetta incapace e costantemente insultata e rimproverata, ha paura di non essere in grado di fare la sua parte. Tuttavia, il (divertente) supporto dei suoi compagni/amici la rinvigorisce. In altre parole, trova una forza nuova, capace di rompere i fili che la manovravano come una marionetta e la maledizione della nonna.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Con questo numero si conclude il ciclo del College, che non mi ha particolarmente entusiasmata... La trama è stata molto contorta e, a volte, confusa, così come molti personaggi poco interessanti. Ci sono stati troppi "spiegoni" e molti archi narrativi non sono stati risolti. Inoltre il rapporto tra Elias e Chise è rimasto come in stasi, senza evoluzioni. Leggendo questo ciclo, ho come l'impressione che si sia tentato di diluire la storia, non vi sia stato un piano preciso per farla crescere ed evolvere in modo organico. Spero che con il prossimo ciclo si respiri un'aria diversa. I personaggi principali hanno davvero molto potenziale e tanto da dire, sarebbe un peccato mortale sprecarli.
I really have to say that, for me, this is not the series that I enjoyed in the beginning. I am not sure if I just don't care for the directions that its been taking, or if the author is just grasping at storylines to keep it going, but it doesn't have the same feel as it once did. I keep hoping that it will get back to what it was (and the ending of this volume made that seem at least a little bit possible), but I'm not as impressed with it as I once was.
3,5 stars but I'm rounding up because the last chapter was lovely. The academy arc wasn't my favourite so I'm hoping the next will have more of the feel of the first arc. At least Lindel's appearance and mention of dragons make me excited.
the ending of the college arc had my mouth AGAPE. holy COW, the art was breathtaking and I was DESPERATE to see each next panel. seeing chise struggle with her darker desires is soooo interesting & I cannot wait to see where it leads-- hint hint teenage rebellious phase please.
Tras una ardua lucha en la que varios se vieron involucrados, Chise y Philomena lograron derrotar la maldicion que caía sobre esta última, sin embargo Philomena perdió algo "importante"
Wow! The ending of the college arc leaves us with more questions than get answered. It was great to see the alchemist apprentices warming up to Chise and Elias as mages. The teaser for the next arc at the end though, better than a t.v show's cliff hanger at the end of a season.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
After the masterpiece that was Volume 18, this volume is a bit of a letdown, as it focuses on tying up loose ends, giving the characters breathing room, and setting up the next arc. It's fine, but not particularly captivating.
Caught up with the anime! I had a lovely time revisiting this world and these characters, though I did miss the anime's delightful musical cues for the neighbours. I very much look forward to when my holds for the rest of the existing volumes will come in so I can find out what's next!
(Aviso: lectura hecha en ejemplar en español, publicado en México. La presente nota se modificará cuando se dé de alta en GR la edición correspondiente).