リーゼロッテと魔女の森 5

リーゼロッテと魔女の森 [Liselotte to Majo no Mori] #5

by Natsuki Takaya

In the east of the east of the east, Liselotte's rambunctious house still attempts to coexist with the witch's forest. Hoping to break down the seal Vergue has cast to keep them out, Anna ventures off on her own to pay the witch a visit. Can she convince Vergue to give humans another chance, or has she walked right into a trap...?

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Shojo, Teen, Graphic Novels

188 pages, Comic

First published November 20, 2013

About the author

Name (in native language) : 高屋奈月

Natsuki Takaya (高屋 奈月 Takaya Natsuki, real name Naka Hatake) is the penname of a Japanese manga artist best-known for creating the series Fruits Basket. She was born on July 7, 1973; (Tanabata). Takaya is left-handed and once revealed that she wanted to be a mangaka since first grade, when her sister started drawing.

She was born in Shizuoka, Japan, but was raised in Tokyo, where she made her debut in 1992. She enjoys video games such as the Final Fantasy series or Sakura Wars, or working on her different manga series, such as Fruits Basket, which is the second best-selling shōjo manga ever in Japan, and the top selling shōjo manga in North America. Fruits Basket has also been adapted into a twenty-six-episode anime series.

In 2001, Takaya received a Kodansha Manga Award for shōjo manga for Fruits Basket.

According to Takaya (in a sidebar of a Fruits Basket manga volume), she enjoys drawing girls (girly ones) more than she does boys. Takaya also enjoys electronics and music, but dislikes talking about herself. Also revealed in a sidebar of Fruits Basket, Takaya broke her drawing arm (left) after Fruits Basket volume six was published. She had to go into surgery, and as a result, had put Fruits Basket on a brief hiatus. Takaya made a full recovery, but complains that her handwriting had gotten uglier, due to the surgery. During her hospital stay, she gained an interest in baseball.

Reviews

[Marguerite · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars.

Naturally, the last volume in a series which has been on hiatus for several years is the volume that I decide this series is really great and develop a need to read on immediately *deep sigh* Guess I'll just reread these again soon! :)

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course this last volume is when things start to get really interesting. I hope one day in the future the rest of the series is made or at least we can find out some details of the original ending for the series.

[Anna Quilter · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting short series.
Now seemingly on hiatus for a while.
It did seem to take an intriguing turn with a new character at the end of this volume..
But perhaps now we'll never know....

[S.Q. Eries · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Summary

If you like characters who bear the scars of abuse and rejection, you will have much to enjoy in this volume. If you prefer lovey-dovey moments, you’ll find a beautifully illustrated romantic scene between Liz and En, although En’s behavior is somewhat perplexing given his evaluation of Liz in the volume’s opening pages. There’s not much brawling in these pages, but with the arrival of Liz’s brother and the return of the witch Woglinde, the stage seems to be preparing for something big.

The Review

In Takaya-sensei’s previous series Fruits Basket, there were a lot of antics and silly interactions, but once you got to know the characters, you discovered each one carried deep trauma. If you enjoy that sort of story, you can eat your heart out in Volume 5 of Liselotte and Witch’s Forest. The previous couple volumes delved into Liz’s tragic past, and now we shift to the rest of the cast, starting with En.

Given his memory loss, he doesn’t have much past to dwell on. The bits he retains suggest a desperate existence before he entered the Berenk household. However, his current circumstances aren’t particularly ideal either, as an interaction with the Eiche spirit reminds us. This is the first time we really get to delve into En’s thoughts, and there’s dark humor in his blunt assessment of Liz and his utter incomprehension of why he was so devoted to her.

Next up are Anna and Vergue. Liz is determined to befriend Vergue despite his attack on the house and repeated rejections, but interestingly, she’s not the one to crack through Vergue’s shell. On the surface, ever-smiling Anna doesn’t have anything in common with the irritable male witch. However, she recognizes the similarities they bear, and when she tells Vergue about the upbringing she and Alto suffered, it’s a confession, a rebuke, and an invitation for him to strive for something better.

The POV then switches from Anna to Vergue. We don’t get as many details on his wretched past but like the twins and Liz, he suffered undeservedly when he was a human. However, Anna’s words do impact him, and it shows in his actions, even if his speech and manner remain prickly as ever.

The focus then returns to the main character with Liz hearing about Heil Village’s spring festival. While it is strange how Liz’s companions unanimously encourage her to see it, the trip there gives Liz and En a chance to be alone. It also allows Liz to cross paths with Richard, the brother that exiled her. Liz’s guilt at seeing her brother isn’t too surprising, but what is surprising is En’s displeasure over the situation, especially since he’s lost his memories of Richard. If a visit from the regional lord isn’t enough, Woglinde, the true witch of the frontier forest, also returns home. With so many powerful characters in Heil Village, I’m anticipating something big in the works.

Extras include four illustrations in full color, story-thus-far, character line-up, and embedded author’s notes.

For more manga and book reviews, drop by my blog Keeping It In Canon!

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This most recent volume of Liselotte & Witch's Forest was published in 2013 in Japan, and the series went on hiatus after that. It ended on a mild cliffhanger, so I'm assuming that author Takaya intended to continue it, but couldn't due to circumstances beyond her control. After six years, its high school-aged intended audience would have graduated from college by now, so I don't see this continuing.

I'm not too disappointed about that, since this series never really came together for me. I can't help but compare it to Fruits Basket, Takaya's most popular title, and find it lacking. It is nowhere near as cozy, compelling or moving. So many of Liselotte's characters are frantic, angry, or depressed, and there isn't enough fun or whimsy to counterbalance the downbeat mood. But maybe it comes down to it committing a cardinal sin of shoujo (girls') manga, not having any male characters who particularly appealed to me. I can be shallow when it comes to my fluffy entertainment!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I. NEED. MORE.


Nhhhggggggg there is so much just SO MUCH going on here

[Selena Pigoni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume was amazing. Liselotte & Witch's Forest gets better with each volume.

And now it's all ground to a halt. This series has been on hiatus since 2013, and I haven't heard anything about it coming back. I guess I'll just have to hope that Takaya-sensei gets back to this one eventually.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This serious just keeps getting better with each book. Sadly it's been on hiatus for a few years now. I hoping that Natsuki Takaya will continue this at some point in the future.

[B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This ship has sailed.

[Eyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, this one I really liked. The plot is really starting to roll with witches returning and seeing Lord Richard. Unfortunately, with the series on hiatus in Japan, we will not be seeing the next volume for a long time. I hope that Natsuki Takaya gets well soon and that she can get back to doing what she loves, creating manga. (She is working on Fruits Basket Another at the moment, though, so who knows, she might return to Liselotte soon.)
Anyway, I love Engetsu and his cheeky behaviour and Liselotte's quick transitions from overjoyed to devastated and how that shaped her character. Anna and Vergue have an interesting relationship and I like the contrast that comes with it. The future with these characters is something I am looking forward to.
Anyway, if and when Takaya returns to the manga, I am planning to continue reading it.

[Martina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nooooooo I want to know moreeeeeee!! Things were getting so gooodddddd.

*sighs

I hope the author comes back to this series.

I know I’ll be rereading the volumes out over and over again. It has some of my favorite scenes and panels of all time and I really come to love the characters and the magical forest cottage atmosphere of the story. I really love the outfits and the fairytale feel.

I LOVE Anna and Vergue’s beginnings. I liked seeing more of Liselotte’s unfiltered troubles as she likes to cover them up with a smile. Richard is so so interesting, I really want to learn more about him.

[Phyllisity · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an amazing series that was really getting interesting. It had magic, romance and of course interesting conflict... I wish I was able to read more! After finishing it, I tried finding the next volume only to realize... there isn't one. It does leave on a cliffhanger. Though if I had known this was an incomplete series before, I might not have picked it up. It's a shame, but it's still a great series!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ughhhhh. I really want to know more about these characters' backstories and find out what happens, but the series is on hiatus with no signs of returning (as of this moment). Please, please keep going!

The artwork is stunning, as usual.

[Usagi Tsukino · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is for the Italian edition.


...And that's why I hate reading manga which has not been complete yet. The things started to get really interesting and -bam- 2018, and the serie is still on hiatus. T^T

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, somebody who's actually in charge of something shows up! On both the human and the witch sides, it seems...I wonder if the two will meet each other, or if they'll both only meet Liselotte? And, if so, when will they move in with her?

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series has been something different and I've enjoyed it.

That said, I wish I had looked into the whole series before I started it. The series was put on a hiatus over 10 years ago, so there is no ending!!!

[Bee (BacchusVines) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why is this series on hiatus ?? And She might never pick it back up?!

T_T

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was precious.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than the last volume but now it’s on hiatus sooooo.... not sure we’ll ever get more :(

[Cecilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

And so the plot thickens!!! DUN DUN DUN!!!

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wish this series had continued!

[🌟Star🌟 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope Takaya-sensei picks this up again soon. It’s such a good series, it’s a shame to keep it on hiatus just when things are picking up and getting interesting.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kind of always feel like not reading this series but it is still so cute and weird and still interesting enough to keep going???
Plz to publish more!!!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Things were just starting to get good, but I guess this series is unfinished? Oh well.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

And this apparently stops here for the time being. I knew that but still sad about it. I want to know what happens next because it got a lot more interesting.

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, an end to a series on hiatus. Better than volume 4 and left on a cliffhanger.

[Shawne Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ugh. The series finally hit its stride and then ends at a cliffhanger. I’m glad I read it but really wish there were more volumes coming so that the story could be wrapped up.

[Ambre ✩ · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Critique de la série entière à ce jour] J'ai procrastiné de lire "Liselotte et la forêt des sorcières" pendant presque 10 ans. D'abord parce que je n'étais pas attirée par l'aspect "fantasy mignonne", puis parce que, la publication ayant été mise en pause, je me suis dit qu'il valait mieux attendre qu'elle reprenne. Bon, ça fait 11 ans qu'elle est en pause... Ayant acheté l'intégrale des œuvres de Natsuki Takaya, je me suis dit qu'il était temps de donner sa chance à Liselotte. Je n'avais rien à perdre de toute façon, ce n'était pas grave si cette série qui ne m'inspirait pas plus que ça n'avait pas de fin... Bon ben faut que je me mette dans le crâne que les créations de Natsuki Takaya sont forcément géniales. Énorme coup de cœur inattendu pour cette série qui me réconcilie presque avec un certain type de fantasy. Comme d'habitude avec les mangas de Natsuki Takaya, ce qui commence par être une histoire mignonne avec des personnages drôles et attachants, tourne très vite au drame, aux larmes, aux traumatismes et aux vies brisées. Mon pauvre petit cœur est en miettes, merci pour tout Natsuki Takaya. Je ne pensais pas qu'elle pourrait re-créer une romance tragique à la hauteur de Kyô et Tohru, mais Liselotte et Engetsu se posent là. Je suis absolument fan et maintenant je peux rester frustrée que la série soit en pause indéfiniment. Pitié que Natsuki Takaya la termine un jour...

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna gives Vergue a kiss and wants him to come visit Liselotte and everyone at the house. Vergue helps fix Liselotte's house. Liselotte wants to go to the festival she sees her brother Richard and Erwin there and faints from seeing Richard. Engetsu confronts Richard on what he intends to do with Liselotte. Woglinde returns and restores Liselotte's hair.

[Marianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wished the auhrk finished this series, but oh well 😄. Love it anyways 😄