Bride Stories Vol. 15

乙嫁語り [Otoyomegatari] #15

by Kaoru Mori

M. Smith est de retour en Angleterre après des années d'absence, accompagné de Talas. Mais la mère du jeune britannique refuse catégoriquement de rencontrer la jeune femme et ne souhaite pas la loger sous son toit. Henry et sa promise s'installent donc dans une autre demeure, à l'écart de la ville, et Talas découvre sa terre d'accueil.

Genres: Manga, Historical Fiction, Romance, Seinen, Comics, Graphic Novels, Historical

222 pages, Paperback

First published November 20, 2024

About the author

Kaoru Mori (森 薫) is a Japanese manga author. Her stories tend to be intricately drawn female lead historical dramas set in exotic locations like Britain and along the silk road. Her series include Emma (2002-2008), Shirley (2003-present) and the best known A Bride's Tale (2008-present).

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talas and Henry Smith finally reach England and attempt to start a new life despite the befuddlement and disapproval of Henry's family. As they think about the people they left behind in Central Asia, the scene jumps across the distance to give little catch-ups for Talas' grieving mother-in-law, the stoic guide Nikolovsky, and young aide Ali, whose family thinks it is time he too should take a bride.

Each installment of this series in an immersive experience thanks to the gorgeous art and rich relationships of the characters. Every time I read a new one, I have to resist an urge to go back and read the entire series from the start. One day I'm going to cave . . .


FOR REFERENCE:

Contents: Chapter 102. Shipboard Cat -- Chapter 103. Homecoming -- Chapter 104. Parents and Child -- Chapter 105. New Residence -- Chapter 106. Mother-in-Law -- Chapter 107. Visitors -- Chapter 108. Ali of Tabriz -- Chapter 109. Ali's Wedding -- Afterword

[Walkíria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg, Henry and Tallas are getting married finally!!!
Sorry Henry's mother, but your son can decide for himself!

And... I caught up with the last volume... Now it's just waiting...

[Ariya · Rating 4 out of 5]

จริงๆ ถ้าอ.โมริเลือกจะจบเรื่องราวไว้ตรงนี้ก็ทำได้เลย เพราะทุกอย่างที่เกิดขึ้นแถบเอเชียกลางมาจนถึงใกล้ช่วงที่จักรวรรดิรัสเซียเข้ามายึดครองแถบนั้นจนน่าจะทำลายภาพโรแมนติกของเขตทุ่งหญ้าสเตปป์เข้าไปทุกทีแล้ว แต่เล่มนี้ก็ยังขยายความต่อไปถึงเรื่องราวของเฮนรีกับทาลัส(และชูวัล)ที่อังกฤษเพิ่มมาด้วย อดรู้สึกไม่ได้ว่าอ.โมริก็รู้ดีว่าไม่สามารถเล่าเรื่องความขัดแย้งกับสงครามได้ในงานเขียนประเภท slice of life ที่พยายามคงภาพความงดงามของตะวันออกกกลางได้แบบนี้ ฉากการเดินทางกลับอังกฤษของตัวละครเฮนรีที่เป็นนักมานุษยวิทยาที่จดบันทึกเรื่องราวเส้นทางสายไหมยิ่งตอกย้ำถึงข้อจำกัดในสถานะของคนเขียนที่พยายามจะสื่อสารความงดงามและการเล่าเรื่องละเอียดอ่อนของวัฒนธรรมที่หาได้ยากแล้วด้วยข้อจำกัดทางภาษา ระยะทาง และวัฒนธรรม และเหมือนกับที่ทาลัสพยายามจะทำอาหารพื้นถิ่นตัวเองด้วยวัตถุดิบที่มีในอังกฤษ การจะรักษาอัตลักษณ์และคงความโรแมนซ์ของวัฒนธรรมต่อไปได้คือต้องปรับตัวและหล่อเลี้ยงคุณค่าวิถีดั้งเดิมในความทรงจำไม่ว่ามันจะออกมาในรูปแบบใดหรือมีข้อจำกัดอะไรก็ตาม มันคือความสวยงามของการเสริมแต่งกลั่นกรองและต่อยอดจากสิ่งที่ไม่สามารถเอาคืนมาได้แล้ว

[Devero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finalmente Mr. Smith torna in Inghilterra e vediamo le reazioni della sua nobile e ricca famiglia al suo desiderio di sposare "una indigena", secondo le parole della madre, perfetta bacchettona vittoriana.

Dopo averci deliziato con le ottime rappresentazioni delle aree turcofone ed iraniche dell'Asia centrale ed intermedia, Mori sensei ci mostra che non ha per nulla dimenticato l'Inghilterra della sua precedente opera.

Meno avvenimenti rispetto agli ultimi numeri, e più profondità, nonché un ribaltamento della situazione del viaggiatore: adesso non è l'inglese ad essere solo in terra straniera, è la donna turca.
Non mancano scorribande per vedere come se la cavano i comprimari rimasti nelle steppe.

In attesa di vedere come la Mori risolverà la conquista e distruzione di Bukhara e dintorni, dove vivonno Karluk ed i suoi parenti, posso dare tranquillamente 4 stelle, e mezza in più, a quest'albo.

[chvang · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. A joy to read and lose myself in these peoples' lives.

For the first time, we're taken out of Central Asia, but it still follows the theme of a bride's story as she makes a new life in her husband's household. The story follows Talas and Mr. Smith as they head to England. Smith's family is not pleased about his marriage to Talas, a "native", so they head to stay at Harris's unused hunting lodge in the countryside and Talas gets some sheep. That's it. But it's very cozy and low-stakes and comfortable. We do return to Central Asia to see what's happening with Talas's ex-mother-in-law and Ali getting married.

Recommended if you're in the mood for a cozy weekend read. This series is the literary equivalent of snuggling inside of a pile of clothes fresh from the dryer or a warm cup tea on a slightly drizzly day.

[Othy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great volume of slow story and visual poetry. Most of the volume is about Smith and Talas, with a few peaks at side characters such as Ali. At first, I was disappointed with the lack of reaction from Smith and Talas in their new location, but then I remembered that both characters keep so much to themselves. Their inner thoughts are expressed through landscape and domestic detail, such as slotted spoons or Talas looking out over the landscape at the sheep. The emotions are more than happy/sad or comfortable/troubled, and sitting with the characters through their experiences gives a sense of their feelings more than anything definite.

I also really enjoyed how Mori depicted the shifting setting: images of boats and houses made it seem like the view was from a bird passing quickly over the landscape.

[Lucille · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un tome de retour en angleterre pour la majorité du récit ! Ca reste passionnant, j'adore suivre cette série

[Anna Quilter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henry and Tallas have come to England and that brings its own challenges i.e. Henry's Mother.
while back in the desert...Ali considers taking a bride..

[Jerome · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henry quitte l’Asie centrale pour retourner en Angleterre. Il emmène avec lui Talas, qu’il compte épouser une fois arrivé chez lui. Malheureusement, sa mère s’oppose à l’union de son fils avec une “autochtone”. Le couple n’étant pas bienvenu dans la demeure familiale, il trouve refuge dans un pavillon de chasse prêté par Hawkins, un ami d’Henry. Une fois installée dans son nouveau foyer, Talas souhaite acquérir des moutons et démarrer un élevage. Une façon pour elle de mieux appréhender le dépaysement total que représente sa venue sur le sol anglais.
Changement de décor dans ce 15ème tome puisque l’essentiel des événements se déroule en Europe et non plus en Asie Centrale. Henry se débat avec les préjugés familiaux et sa future femme, consciente d’être, au mieux une intruse, au pire une paria, se demande si elle va réussir à s’acclimater à son nouvel environnement. C’est toujours aussi bien dessiné, la psychologie des personnages est parfaitement maîtrisée et cet épisode “européen” donne un nouveau souffle à la série, même si Kaoru Mori propose pour finir quelques chapitres asiatiques avec Ali, l’ancien guide d’Henry, qui va devoir faire face à de nombreuses courtisanes après son retour au village. Deux ans d’attente depuis le tome précédent mais le plaisir de lecture reste intact, c’est bien le principal !

[Maia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series will always be S-tier for me. I adore it and all the characters. There is really nothing to compare this to, the art, the different interesting historical perspective, the slice of life lack of drama. Love love love it. Thanks Jewel!

[Adriano Barone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Il più grande fumetto storico di tutti i tempi l'ho già detto, ma a ogni volume va ribadito.

[Cel Red · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fue interesante ver cómo la familia Smith recibía a Talas, pero me hubiera gustado pasar más tiempo en Asia que en UK.

Al final regresa Ali, lo que me gusta mucho porque es de mis favs.

Tristemente, no Azel en este volumen.

[Elizabeth (Miss Eliza) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfection! Talas and Mr. Smith journey to England where Talas is less than welcome. I liked the slight meta nature of Kaoru Mori going back to England like in her Emma series. Though as she points out in her afterward, the end of the 19th century and the middle of the 19th century in England are like two different countries. Also the glimpses of the people who helped get Talas and Mr. Smith get to England and their HEA's was the cherry on top of the cake. Damn I love this series but now I have to wait forever for a new volume! At least in the afterward it's promised as sooner rather than later, but still we're always a year behind release because of the translation...

Henry Smith's time in Asia has come to an end, or so his family has decreed. He has been captivated by his study of the Silk Road and the people he has met along the way. But his family are worried about him, his sporadic correspondence might be to blame, and they have "requested" that he return home. His family friend in Ankara, Mr. Hawkins, has been asked to intercede on their behalf as he himself is leaving the conflicted region. The fact that Henry is still alive is a bit of a shock to Mr. Hawkins, but nothing to the shock he will receive. Henry had wished to retrace his steps and say a fond farewell to all those he had met along the way, to try to capture them forever in his mind and on film with a camera he was able to acquire. This would have been a long, parlous, and probably impossible journey with the movement of Russian troops, but Henry has an additional hitch. Awhile back he met a young widow, Talas. They had fallen in love but her duty to her mother-in-law made her say goodbye to the scholarly Englishman. Yet her love for him endured and she has followed him to Ankara. Mr. Smith now intends to take her on this journey as his wife. Not just through their abbreviated sojourn among his past acquaintances, but all the way back to England. Mr. Hawkins begs him to reconsider but Henry's mind is made up. Eventually Henry, Talas, and her beloved horse Chubar, make their way to the Port of Bombay. There they book passage back to England. But Henry's homecoming is anything but welcoming. His mother won't even meet Talas and will do anything to stop them from actually marrying. The scandal would ruin them. Or so she claims. Thankfully Mr. Hawkins comes to the rescue. His family have a disused hunter lodge that Henry and Talas can live while things settle down at home. Henry will work on assembling his copious notes for publication while Talas will keep sheep. English sheep might look different, but a sheep is a sheep and she knows what she's doing. She's a practical woman. She's even considering putting Chubar out to stud. Yet Henry is her opposite, a true dreamer. Which is why he decides that if he presents Talas and his marriage as a fait accompli his family will accept her. They set out for Scotland with his brother and Mr. Hawkins as co-conspirators. But will their plan work? Only time will tell.

I first discovered Kaoru Mori back in 2010 through her manga series Emma. I was so desperate to read this story that was out of print stateside that I ordered the first volume from England. Thankfully the proceeding six volumes were available through my local library. Though, if you are a fan of this manga about a Victorian maid finding love, you will perhaps notice that my library didn't have the final three volumes and I had to wait until they were rereleased in an omnibus format to finally read the ending. And that didn't happen until seven years later. All this is to say that when a Kaoru Mori book comes out you buy it. You do whatever you can to buy that book because before you know it you won't be able to get your hands on it ever again. Yes, I'm looking at you Shirley. You're the holy grail. When A Bride's Story first started getting released in English in 2011 we were spoiled in that twice we got two volumes in a single year. Now it's a volume about every other year. Not that I'm complaining. Kaoru Mori's art is so intricate and amazing, down to the finest detail of fabric or bread, that I can't believe she can even keep to a biannual schedule. From the day I picked up this series I have been captivated but this "slice-of-life tale that is at once wholly exotic, yet familiar." The stories of each and every character have captivated me. They are my friends. We readers have journeyed with Mr. Smith along the silk road and met nomadic tribesmen, overstimulated twins, skilled hunters, sister wives, and blunt bread makers. When he started to head towards Ankara in Vol. 10 it was wistful. Because as readers it felt that once his journey came to an end the series would come to an end. And as he traveled with Talas to Port Bombay it felt like a farewell tour. We weren't just saying goodbye to these characters but this way of life that Russia would soon destroy. Yet this volume showed how this story could continue outside of Asia. We see Talas and Henry struggling and succeeding to make a life. It's a different, solitary kind of life, but I can't help feeling that as long as they have each other they will survive and thrive. Though what touched me most was the quiet moments. Kaoru Mori always has these vignettes that don't tie into the rest of the story but show a moment in time in these characters' lives. Here it was how Chubar was struggling on the sea voyage and how the ship's cat came to befriend and therefore calm him. It was this moment of two animals living symbiotically that brought a smile to my face on the darkest of nights. This series just keeps me in it's thrall. The black and white line work, the characters, their stories, I never want it to end. I can't wait for Vol. 16, but it will be at least two years. Perhaps I should reread it all again? Or maybe reread Emma... You can never have enough Kaoru Mori in your life.

[Tachan · Rating 5 out of 5]

15 ans que l’autrice dessine et écrit cette série et c’est toujours une merveille. En Asie ou à l’autre bout du monde, dans le désert ou la folie londonienne, son trait et ses histoires font toujours mouche !

Je ne suis pas une grande fan de Smith, pourtant le récit de son retour en Angleterre où il présente Talas à sa famille comme sa fiancée, avec ses airs d’Emma, autre succès incroyable de l’autrice, m’a beaucoup plu. L’autrice a un talent fou pour les histoires d’amour et notamment celles avec des complications. Elles vibrent de réalisme.

Ainsi nous reprenons la route de »la civilisation », notre civilisation dans ce tome et ce qu’on appelait autrefois le »choc des civilisations » est très finement joué. Alternant sans cesse avec de petits épisodes de ceux étant restés dans les pays quittés par Smith, elle nous compte aussi combien au final ce choc n’est pas un choc car partout dans le monde les choses se ressemblent à quelques variations près. C’est très beau, très doux, très mélancolique.

Plus que Smith, qui est vraiment tête en l’air et ailleurs la plupart du temps, j’ai énormément apprécié le personnage de Talas dans ce tome, cette femme courageuse qui a tout abandonné par amour pour lui et qui doit découvrir un nouveau pays. Les tableaux imaginés par l’autrice sont somptueux et d’une tendresse. Elle accorde une place magnifique à la nature et aux animaux qui a fait chavirer mon coeur, dès l’épisode du bateau et du cheval de Talas, mais également ensuite dans cette campagne où ils vont se réfugier et élever des moutons. Utilisant astucieusement des éléments culturels de chaque peuple, elle tisse finement une alliance entre les deux en la personne de Talas : passionnée de broderie par sa culture, amoureuse des chevaux également, ce qui est aussi le cas des Anglais, qui ont également la même passion pour le fil et la laine à travers leurs troupeaux. La boucle est bouclée.

Avec une force tranquille à faire pâlir d’envie chaque écrivain, l’autrice déploie ainsi une histoire simple et pourtant universelle : une histoire d’amour avec des obstacles que rien n’arrête pourtant. Une famille qui ne souhaite pas reconnaître cette épouse étrangère qu’importe. Une maison retirée à la campagne et solitaire, on en fait un très doux cocon de nouvelle vie. Des coutumes différentes, on cherche à les comprendre et les rapprocher des nôtres. C’est simple et terriblement beau. Et avec la même force nonchalante, on revient nous donner des nouvelles de ceux laissés derrière. Avec la même émotion que pour Talas notre coeur fond pour sa belle-mère d’abord, le temps d’un chapitre très puissant. Puis on retrouve avec beaucoup de malice le jeune Ali qui accomplit son rêve de se marier avec une bien drôle de compagne, mais tellement sincère (et qui fait penser aux jumelles au passage). Aucune fioriture, juste la puissance d’écriture de l’autrice et quelle puissance !

Ces histoires d’épouses continuent donc de conquérir mon coeur à chaque tome, peu importe le lieu, peu importe la personne. Elles sont toutes puissantes dans leur résilience et leur beauté à voir la vie comme un challenge et non un obstacle. Talas m’a totalement conquise ici avec cette découverte, à travers ses yeux, de l’Angleterre (au passage richement documentée comme toujours par l’autrice). J’ai adoré également retrouver brièvement quelques uns de nos amis indo-orientaux pour continuer à m’émouvoir de leur vie. L’autrice a une grande force pour raconter ces destinées proches et lointaines à la fois avec une grande justesse et vivacité. C’est juste terriblement beau ❤

Article complet : https://lesblablasdetachan.wordpress....

[Luana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forse era da più di un anno che non usciva un volume di questa serie 🤔 il tratto dei disegni rimane sempre bellissimo, soprattutto quando vengono mostrati i dettagli dei ricami o le tavole dedicate ai paesaggi.
Questo quindicesimo volume si concentra sul ritorno a casa di Smith, accompagnato da Talas. La sua scelta di sposare una donna straniera lascia straniti i familiari: se il padre e il fratello maggiore cercano di capire, anche se con fatica, la scelta di Henry, la madre non vuole sentire ragioni, mossa da pregiudizi che, a dirla tutta, esistono ancora oggi. E siccome la signora non vuole avere Talas in casa, Henry e la futura moglie si spostano in campagna, dove portano avanti una vita piuttosto semplice e tranquilla. E se ci sono ovviamente delle differenze, non mancano i punti in comune: d'altronde certi aspetti della vita e certe situazioni si possono incontrare un po' ovunque, indipendentemente che ci si trovi nel Regno Unito o in quello che qui viene chiamato Turkestan. Quel che è certo è che, agli occhi di una famiglia tradizionalista e piuttosto inquadrata, certe azioni e scelte di Henry possono sembrare assurde e decisamente poco comprensibili. In mezzo a tutto questo trambusto, Talas è chiamata a ricostruirsi una vita in un mondo totalmente nuovo, circondata da gente che, nella migliore delle ipotesi, la considera una presenza esotica o che la guarda con disprezzo e sospetto. Sarà interessante vedere quali effetti avrà tutto questo sulla loro relazione. Loro due insieme sono molto carini, vogliono solo farsi una vita tranquilla, senza disturbare nessuno, ma temo che dovranno affrontare vari ostacoli.
Stando alla postfazione, il prossimo volume dovrebbe dedicare un po' più di spazio ai personaggi in Asia Centrale (anche se qui sono stata contenta di vedere l'ex suocera di Talas, che ora sa che la giovane non è morta, ma che è partita) e probabilmente vedremo anche il fantomatico matrimonio tra Henry e Talas in Scozia. Speriamo di non dover aspettare un altro anno...

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I waited SO LONG FOR THIS and it was with the wait!!! 😭

Talas & Henry Smith are easily the couple I’m most invested in so knowing this volume was mainly about them, it made the 2+ year wait for this almost unbearable.

Even that far away, I still remembered most of the characters and their connections. It helped that this one mainly takes place in England so it’s more new characters too.

The story at the end of Ali’s marriage was amazing too! He spent all that time saying he’d go back and get married and then when he’s getting offers he seems a little flummoxed which was funny to see. I love that he ended up with Madina, a childhood friend who actually cares about HIM and not his newfound wealth.

As for Talas and Henry - the only regret in this story for me is that we STILL haven’t got to their marriage. I love that Henry isn’t budging on wanting to marry her, got her a place in the county to raise sheep and their little country life is so sweet it makes me want to cry (I also might just be feeling a little emotional in general but I so wanted to cry seeing them together…)

We really couldn’t expect Mama Smith to be on board but I’m glad his brother is helping and his father isn’t cutting him out. I hope they come around to meet and know her properly even though it’s set in the 19th century and that’s unlikely to happen.

But Henry sticking to his guns is just fantastic. 👌🏽

You know why I think I was so emotional reading this - I forgot how gorgeous the art is. I have taken so many pictures of the panels of Talas. She’s such a beauty and I wanted to save every little bit of this.

I don’t want to wait another 2+ years for more 🥲 but given there’s no volume 16 listed yet… I might cry from the wait I know is ahead of me!!!

[Alexandra (busy for a few days!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why did I finish this volume? Now I have to wait for the next one!

Oh, the artwork, the artwork. I could go on about it forever. Nobody does it the way you do, Mori-sensei, I am all admiration. The details. The beauty. The richness.

The plotting and character development in this volume felt perfect to me. Talas and Henry Smith travel to England together. (Yes, we are changing locations radically!) I was happy that this volume was mostly about them. I loved the sea voyage and how Chunbar, Talas’ horse, became friends with the ship cat. I think that Kaoru Mori just wanted an excuse to draw a glorious sailing ship as well as a beautiful horse and a cute cat walking on deck together.

The Smith family is not happy with Talas, oh no. Bringing home a fiancée from “Turkistan”? It just won’t do. What a scandal! Talas and Henry do find a home. What are they going to live on? Henry: Oh, I’ll organise the notes from my journeys, some publisher will probably want them. Talas: We’ll raise sheep! Go, Talas, go, that’s all I can say.

I enjoyed watching them being domestic so much! (They do get some sheep, he he.) It touched me deeply. Don’t tell me that being useful to each other isn’t romantic, I will have a thing or two to tell you right back.

”The things that go into making a life… are the same no matter where you go.”

That’s it, this is all that happens. But this is also a manga version of coming home on a rainy day and getting yourself a cup of tea and a warm blanket.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The continuation of Henry's and Talas was so beautiful and heart warming, the care and love they have for each other is so lovely. The fight that Henry has with his mother is so sad and understandable of the time. However this leads to them gaining a house from Hawkins and they can start to live their life together. The scenes back to Turkistan were lovely seeing Tala's mother in law and how she is doing, also that she now knows that Tala's is alive is lovely. Seeing the grandfather back with his family and his new plans to move to Ankara was brilliant and lovely. Also the hassle that Ali faced when he got home and who he was going to marry was hilarious. His new wife Madina was just perfect for him and I hope we will see more of their lives together in the next volume. This volume had such beautiful art work and the story was so lovely and cozy, it really kept me glued to the pages and I was so sad when it ended. This was so worth the read and such a beautiful continuation.

[genrejourneys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminiscent of Mori’s earlier series Emma, this volume has Henry and Talas finally arrive in England as we touch base with other characters from their storyline. No one is quite sure what to make of Henry’s foreign wife and there’s the expected backlash. But Henry and Talas continue onward, rather unshaken, having gone through too much to really stumble now. Between Henry’s placid “well, I’m marrying her” attitude and Talas’ steady affection, I continue to, even now in the belly of the beast, think they’ll turn out alright.

Mori’s storytelling continues to be the best. In one scene, as spare inner dialogue lets us in Talas’ determined joy, we watch her find her way through cooking dinner. She bites into a slice of a vegetable entirely new to her and you can see her register its flavor and where she can use it. Perfect.

[Elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Henry Smith regresa a Inglaterra con Talas y anunciarles a su familia que se casa con ella, lo que desata la consternación total de su familia, ya consiguieron una casa con un amigo de la familia, Talas se dedica a cuidar ovejas ahí como lo hacia en su tierra natal y Smith pasa sus días terminando su libro sobre su aventura en aquellas tierras de Asia central y la parte suroeste. En los últimos capítulos se dirigen a Irlanda para celebrar su matrimonio sin el permiso de los padres de Henry.

Después de esto pasarán años para que salga otro volumen pero por el momento ha sido un lindo viaje a través de esta linda historia y hermoso arte. Ojala pronto continué y podamos ver más de Amir y Azel, junto con sus familias.

[David H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume is focused on Smith and Talas heading back to England, though it took me a while to remember what was going on and why (it's been 2.5 years since I read the last volume). Anyway, Smith and Talas are pretty cute, though I feel like it must be quite isolating for her to only be able to talk to Smith, especially as Mori has done a great job showing the vibrant community among women in Turkistan. We also get a few vignettes of people back home, usually using Smith/Talas thinking about them for us to 'revisit' them. I'll be curious if Mori keeps this up as the series format or eventually has them return to Turkistan.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this volume the focus returns to Henry and Talas, who have made the long journey back to England. Henry's family is understandably shocked that he has returned a married man, and even more shocked (I would say his mother is actually appalled and clutching at her pearls) at whom he has married. Everything in England is new and strange to Talas, until the day she lays eyes on some sheep grazing in a meadow.

I truly love this series. It's like meeting up with old friends, and now that we're on book 15 and having to wait in between the publication of new volumes, I find I'm savoring each page. Hope there are many more volumes to come.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate that Mori followed Henry Smith and his fiancee Talas to England, to explore how she would (or would not) be accepted by his aristocratic family.

There is also a follow up on a couple of other plot threads—as I’ve been reading these books over the course of a decade, I didn’t remember the relevant part of Talas’s plot, but Mori wove enough reminders in that it wasn’t a problem.

The way the volume ends, it could almost be the conclusion of the series, but in the author’s note at the end, she indicates more to come.

[Niniane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bride Stories est l'un des meilleurs mangas que j'ai pu lire et ce tome-ci s'était fait attendre ! On retrouve cette fois l'alliance des deux grandes passions de Kaoru Mori avec l'Asie centrale qui rencontre l'Angleterre victorienne.

C'est tout simplement magnifique. J'ai regardé certaines pages plusieurs fois. Les gens et les animaux sont dessinés avec un grand soin du détail. Kaoru Mori sait vraiment sublimer chaque instant.

[Chiara Rizzarda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could finally finish reading this series after 14 years, as I fortuitously found the issue I was missing.

The tale is splendidly narrated, and it's a wonderful "monogatari" in some of the most genuine ways: different stories of different people are woven together and revolve around the same place. But what will make you fall in love is the drawing, intricate, and hyper-detailed and amazingly delicate.
An omnibus for this series is vastly overdue.

[VKNask · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it as I have loved every book in this series. So glad to have another volume after a fair wait. While I do prefer the silk road settings more, and was filled with anxiety on how our beloved characters would be treated in England, the variety was still interesting. Particularly loved the shipboard cat and the new variety of sheep. Happy to have also seen how our companions Ali and Nikolovski are doing now that Smith has left and they have each returned home.

[Erik B.K.K. · Rating 1 out of 5]

HOT DOCILE PEDO-BAIT TRADWIFE CHICKS IN YOUR AREA

......

More orientalist, misogynist and fetishizing rubbish from Kaoru Mori's gross mind. It's even worse than the worst Naruto fanfiction I read when I was 13. The drawings are getting lazier and lazier too (which is the only reason I still skim the volumes lol).

[Ina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, I could continue reading this great story. As always it is very enjoyable and shows marvellous art. So heartwarming.
I hope this will be published in German or at least in English soon, as that is easier for me to read.

I just read, that the series found a new publisher in Japan, so I hope its future releases will come more regularly.

[Brenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent addition to the series. Talas and Smith aren't my favorites, bit this was a very sweet entry with them trying g to adjust to living in England and what that would be like as someone from a different culture in the mid 1800s. I liked that they showed Ali and his marriage as well and snippets from Central Asia.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

One thing I always struggle with manga is that as the story continues it seems to lose steam. Not so in this case. I loved this story and this volume was lovely. I like that even though the author is filling out a bit of an idealized story, she doesn't ignore the politics of the time. I just wish we hadn't been left with such a cliffhanger. 😅