Sugar Apple Fairy Tale (Manga), Vol. 4

シュガーアップル・フェアリーテイル [Ginsou Shi to Kuro no Yousei] (Comic) #4

by YozoranoUdon (Artist), Miri Mikawa (Original Story), Nicole Wilder (translator)

When Anne heard of a money-making opportunity for candy crafters, she took on the job request with gusto. But the task turns out to be tougher than she imagined when the Duke of Philax repeatedly rejects all her work with no explanations whatsoever! To make matters worse, Challe is no longer by her side! Can Anne create a sugar sculpture that pleases the Duke of Philax? And will she be able to reunite with Challe? Find out in the final volume of this sweet, beautiful fairy tale!  

Genres: Manga, Fantasy

196 pages, Paperback

First published March 4, 2024

About the author

夜空のうどん

Reviews

[Talia Melesi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sad this is the last volume in the series 😭

[Maddie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was genuinely very disappointed by this volume. As it is the final volume of the series, I had quite a few expectations, all of which fell flat. I had hoped there would be something of a conclusion to Anne’s story, and I also really hoped that this volume would focus on Anne and Challe’s relationship. Instead, we’re forced to watch the Duke and his storyline—something I could not care less about.

Perhaps in the light novel he’s a more fleshed out character worthy of compassion, but we really don’t get to see enough of his background in the manga for me to care about him. While sure, it’s sad that his fairy companion disappeared right in front of him however long ago, it doesn’t excuse him locking Anne up until she makes a candy that he approves of. As Anne is the protagonist of the story, it only makes sense for readers to dislike a character that would imprison her, right?

He’s clearly meant to be a villain, so why is so much of this volume spent focusing on him? Even when Anne is in the driver’s seat of the story, the focus is still mostly on the duke—a character who just appeared towards the end of the story. Why oh why is so much of the finale spent focusing on him!? I also genuinely can’t understand how Anne was able to feel compassion for him to the point that she opted to stay and make candy for him once help arrived. While yes, her job is to create sugar candy, I feel like she would be excused for not creating candy for her literal captor.

While we do get to see a bit of Anne and Challe together in this volume, the large miscommunication born in the previous volume left a bad taste in my mouth that lingered. I found it difficult to believe that after all the time they spent together, Anne simply telling Challe to go away—with teary eyes and a voice full of hesitation, at that—had him actually leaving her alone to be a prisoner in the mansion. There’s no way he didn’t know that she was under some form of duress.

All of this miscommunication, mixed with the Duke being the main character of this volume, left me feeling rather disappointed. When I first started this series I had assumed we would follow Anne on her journey to become an accomplished sugar crafter, following in her mother’s footsteps. Instead, we really only saw the very start of her journey. Everything was set off course when just about every side character began treating Anne cruelly, and it never really got back on course. Even when Anne accomplished an amazing feat at the Duke’s mansion, the narrative that “she satisfied him in bed” came about. Even when she does good, the world has to try and bring her down!

While I found Anne’s endless kindness to be a praiseable attribute, I can’t help but be frustrated at the happenings of the manga. No matter how good a person you are, you shouldn’t forgive people who prove they will only betray and badmouth you whenever given the chance.

From here, I’m planning on giving the light novel a try. Hopefully I will be able to enjoy it more, as I did truly enjoy the first two volumes of the manga.

[Angie Heaps · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating is for the whole series (4 books) as I read it all in one sitting after finding it on an app.

The premise was great and had so much potential. Along with that, the characters were fun (if not a bit anime cliche at times).

The ending, however, was very disappointing. It felt like we were made to focus on the tragedy of a side character and when that problem was resolved, everything else was wrapped up in a chapter or two. There were many character arcs that felt unfinished, questions that were never answered, and issues in the world that aren’t addressed.

I now know there is an anime, so hopefully it fixes those problems.

[The Book Dragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Needless drama as Anne sends Challe away because of Jonas’s blackmail. Meanwhile, an army marches on the castle and Anne might get caught up in the fighting, but stubbornly refuses to leave until she makes the sugar candy commission to satisfy her customer.

I mean, good for her, being a professional, but at some point you really ought to run from an army with swords.

Anyway, this is the last volume so expect all the drama to be resolved by the end because this is fluffy fairy shojo. It’s exactly what it says on the tin.

This series has 4 volumes.

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess for an end to the manga series, I was hoping for a bit more of a love story between Anne and Challe. Instead the most we get is them coming back together and a long hug. I was hoping that I'd at least get a confession out of them... I mean even mithril lid pod knows how they feel about each other, why can't they just admit it. I am sad to see the manga over with, and I'll watch the anime, but I don't see myself picking up the light novels or anything.

[Skye (Skye's Scribblings) · Rating 2 out of 5]

4/25 2.5 Stars. While the short 4-volume series had a lot of unique elements, they were a little too odd and I wasn't really that interested in them or the world (which we occasionally learned about in sudden infodumping and kind of unnecessary detail). I liked the MCs well enough I guess, but I can see why this didn't last long.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish this series had time to properly flesh out and develop before it ended, yet this final volume packs in a bunch of grief, loss, and loyalty for maximum impact. It's not the greatest, but I'm glad I read it. The feels are there.

[Kimi Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay I am a smidge salty that we didn’t even get a single kiss. But overall this was adorable and I loved it.

[dobpizzazz · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5)

[Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the art but the story didn’t feel complete. Meh. 2.5 rounded up for the sake of the art.

[Shiba · Rating 4 out of 5]

great

[Bookmouse 🐁 📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good series and what beautiful art!!!