The Ancient Magus Bride, tome 3

魔法使いの嫁 [Mahōtsukai no Yome] #3

by Kore Yamazaki

Les Slay Vega disposent d’un pouvoir immense… Mais en contrepartie, ils portent un funeste destin sur leurs épaules. Chisé se retrouve aux prises avec le magicien à l’origine de la souillure d’Ulthar ! Blessée, elle tombe inconsciente… C’est alors qu’Elias révèle la puissance associée à son ancien surnom, celle du Pilum Murialis !

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Comics, Magic, Romance, Fiction

208 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 10, 2015

About the author

Name (in native language) : ヤマザキコレ

Born in Hokkaido. Also known as Yamao Mitsu.

Reviews

[Angela (Angel's Book Nook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this third installment we see Elias get vulnerable in protecting Chise and she has to reassure him.

It’s got a nice balance of fae, magic, and supernaturals. We get to see slices of regular life moments and it helps us to understand Chise better and experience a little of her life with Elias. She is finally at home in the world, making friends and forming bonds. I liked seeing Chise with Elias. Their moments are awkward in the best ways. He doesn’t understand the feelings that are arising and Chise barely understands too.

I think the best part was learning a little about Elias’s past and seeing all these feelings come to the for front that Elias has no idea what to do.

Overall another enjoyable installment and the artwork is still superb.

Rated: 3 Stars

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ooooh this third volume was a delight to read! I don't want to talk about the plot because it's one of those series you're better off reading not knowing much about.

All I will say is that there is a lovely new friendship between Chise and 'Ruth'; plus we learn more about Elias' transformations and the effect that is has both on him and his bride-to-be, and Chise is slowly learning more and more about what it means to be a sleigh beggy.

Plus, I'm loving the tricksy nature of will-o'-the-wisp and Echos' familiar!

[Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out more manga and graphic novel reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...

This is a review of volumes 3-6 which I read together back to back. See the plot section for my thoughts on the individual volumes.

We first meet Chise, chained by the neck and wrists being passed over to her new owner, a bone-headed mage whose name she learns later is Elias. A penniless orphan sold on the black market she learns about herself, the magical world filled with fairies and other fantastical creatures as well as what it means to be a part of a family. Her new life as a mage's apprentice is just the beginning as it comes with the secondary title of Ancient Magus' Bride...

To be honest the title is what first drew me to this series... but once I opened the first volume I was totally hooked!! It is crafted lovingly in my favorite type if manga art style. A modern, crisp and clean version of the big-eye style with a subtle ornateness that makes the entire style stand out. The humor is a little more subtle than other shonen series with the stark style rounding out into the cute Chibi style when emo moments happen. It's the best of both worlds! The creatures and magic are visually quite cool and add so much to what is a 2D world.

There is this lovely balance of fae, magic and the supernatural that works so well with the slice of life nature of the manga. We regularly start or end with quiet moments for regular life. The celebration of a holiday, the success in some studies and a chat with a new friend! Whatever is happening is a part of the fabric of Chise's life and helps us to understand her better and experience a little of what her life with Elias is like. I LOVE IT!! Chise is finally at home in the world, and as a result she is making friends and forming bonds... (and I love every one of those moments!) Most of all though I love Chise with Elias. He is awkward in the best of ways, doesn't understand the feelings that are arising and Chise herself only barely understands!

In volume 3, we see Elias get vulnerable protecting Chise and she has to reassure him. And then in volume 4, along with Chise, we learn some of his history with Lindel and what he has experienced with humans. Then in volume 5 we learn how Silky came to take care of Elias' home! And in volume 6 a friendship develops with a most unlikely alchemist apprentice! It's lovely and you never know when the dastardly Cartaphilus will appear or if it will simply be one of the dangerously amoral and beautiful fae who will threaten someone this time. It could be fae culture we're learning about or a deeply poignant moment between Chise and Elias we are experiencing. Whatever it is I'm engaged and loving it!

Over our head like an axe is always the knowledge that Chise is NOT safe. Not from the fae denizens, though Elias will protect her, not from the magic she is able to absorb. That tension runs through every single moment of the manga. You wonder when the next blood spurting moment will happen... if this time she won't be able to come back to herself... It makes the sweet moments sweeter and the dangerous moments more harrowing... Always the question lingers will Chise and Elias be able to reach the pinnacle of their relationship before her time is up?! That makes for a beautiful and emotional journey, of which I enjoy every second!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Authenticity
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tension
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Plot
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Art

______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my manga and graphic novel reviews in a special feature called Saturday Morning Cartoons...

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a lot of ways, The Ancient Magus' Bride reminds me of Jane Eyre, and the more I think on it, the deeper the comparison goes. First, we have Mr. Rochester and Elias. Mr. Rochester lives at Thornfield Hall. Elias has a nickname, Thorn. Mr. Rochester is a mysterious character, not all that pleasant to look upon (so we're told), and is Jane's benefactor as she comes to work for him as a governess to his ward. Elias is also wrapped in mystery, his appearance is monstrous, and he is Chise's benefactor as he has bought her and now has her under his tutelage as an apprentice mage. Chise is not as fiery as Jane in personality, but given the hints of Chise's background that we've seen thus far, these two ladies would certainly have something to talk about as both were orphaned, not wanted by extended family, and left to the whims of fate (or providence).

The comparisons may continue. There is definitely a subtle romance developing, but both Elias and Chise have a ways to go before either heart would be ready, or so I think. Chise is still trying to find herself, having had to fend for herself for so long, she's just relieved to have a roof over her head and a place to stay. In this volume, she is learning that that is not enough, and that she needs to be more proactive about her future. Elias, on the other hand, I think thinks he has things all figured out but is going to find that he doesn't.

The art in this series is gorgeous. And when it's not, it's grotesque on purpose to elicit the disgust of the evil in the Magus' Bride world. I am excited to see where our story will take us next!

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings about this volume. There's a reveal about the main villain that felt kind of antisemitic to me and turns out yep, it's based on an antisemitic medieval legend. Not a fan of that and I'm a little uncomfortable with the main relationship that seems to walk a line between parent figure and slow-burn romance. I think this is a common trope in manga but it's still worth examining. Otherwise, I am enjoying Chise's story and am curious to see what happens. I love that her grim reaper dog familiar is named Ruth.

[Sara Saif · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW, I went by this so fast...

[Victoria ✮⋆˙ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forgot to add this when i read it a while back but I absolutely adore this series

[Bogi Takács]

I had misgivings about this series but kept on reading, because it did seem to at least attempt to examine the massive power imbalance inherent in the setup.

But this volume had something really blatantly anti-Semitic just randomly dropped into the middle of it, so I think I'm going to stop here.

Spoiler cut for details:

The cartoonishly evil antagonist is revealed to be "Cartaphilus, the Wandering Jew" and the whole thing about how this is an anti-Semitic medieval legend is not examined at all. Maybe don't base your worldbuilding on anti-Semitic medieval legends?

[Mary ♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars

[Ioana · Rating 3 out of 5]

În Mireasa Străvechiului Mag 3 continuăm povestea lui Chise și a lui Elias. Aceștia sunt puși față-n față cu o nouă provocare, dată de această dată de un tânăr alchimist. Pe lângă asta, relația dintre magul cel neobișnuit și copila Sleigh Beggy cunoaște o nouă transformare, ce implică o vulnerabilitate specială.
Normal că acum sunt curioasă de următorul volum, sfârșitul acestuia promițând aventuri și mai spectaculoase ce implică și dragoni zburători.

[Kitkat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like that there's progression in the main character.

[Calatea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will be heart broken when I’ll reach last volume of this series. I don’t even wanna know how long it is. Please don’t tell me

[Alice4170 🌙 · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐️

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world-building is getting nailed down more firmly.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as the first two, although I did like that there was character development and the introduction of Ruth and how he became Chise’s familiar was lovely. However, it felt like it dragged at times and there is only so much the story can be progressed by characters just popping in and this volume definitely would have been better without Joel and the pointless porn faerie leannán sídhe. It didn’t add anything to the story and had none of the otherworldliness and ambiguity that I had enjoyed in depictions of the fae in previous volumes.

Content warning: Near the beginning of this volume, we learn that an over-the-top cartoonishly evil villain is named Cartaphilus, or, as another character helpfully explained, “the Wandering Jew.” What. The. Fuck. I was shocked when I read it and learning it comes from an actual medieval tale makes it all the more offensive in my opinion.

[Dana Cristiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5, I would say.
Besides the confusing translation in the beginning (where I didn't know what was happening but realised a bit later; although this is not the first time happening to me with this series), this volume was fast-paced, more interesting and we get to find out more about Elias's past.

I was also happy to see Angelica again. She's nice and has great intentions.

Somehow I ship Chise with *Ruth* rather than Elias. Sorry, not sorry.

That ending was an amazing cliffhanger and I can't wait to read volume 4.

[BumfuzzledNerd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Der Anfang ist super verwirrend und es ist nicht immer ganz klar, wer spricht. Aber ansonsten gefällt mir die Reihe sehr und zum Glück habe ich Band 4 und 5 griffbereit!

[Raechel · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's real improvement in the art style here! Also I really need these sad protective animal stories to stop because they keep making me cry.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume didn't seem as whimsical as the first two volumes, but the art is still gorgeous. More time was spent developing the setting, although the author is still stingy, for my taste, about the details of the magic building, and I still feel like we don't know what's going on. This is suited to the fact that Chise is ignorant of much that is going on, and hasn't taken the initiative to ask Elias about it because she doesn't want to make a nuisance of herself because she's afraid of being turned out. However, it's still frustrating, and I'm hoping that it's not because Kore Yamazaki just hasn't decided what's going on yet.

Two separate conversations in the book occur in which people basically tell Chise that she should stop being super passive and value herself enough to have some agency. I'm hoping that this is eventually the case, though I appreciate that it's not some instantaneous affair.

[Cindee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this volume of this manga this series is always interesting to me and just love how the world in this manga works. I still really love the characters especially Chise and I now really like Ruth he is such an interesting character. Since Chise was abandoned and lived without love or care for so long she takes any she can and does not think of how it would seem to other people she has a lot to learn. I really liked the plot it picked up from where it left off so there were more things learnt and some mysteries starting to be unraveled. So overall I loved this volume of this series will read more soon.

[Věra Škodová · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yolo, I'm dead inside. Asi jsem měla počkat, až se tahle sérka vydá celá. Nevim, co jako budu do srpna dělat. A pak ty další díly... :))

Lidi, nečtěte to. Ne, když nemáte po ruce hned další díl. Teda, tím vás nenabádám, abyste to nekupovali, protože to musíte, jinak by nám přestali vydávat překlady, ale bože, tohle je jedno velký utrpení.

[Adriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the art and I'm intrigued by the little glimpses we get of bigger things.

[Iryna *Book and Sword* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guess who cried reading this?
My goodness this volume was perfection. Also, if there's a dog in the story - I will cry. And I did.

This manga is getting better and better with each volume, and I'm honestly scared to read further because how do you top perfection?

If I had to describe The Ancient Magus' Bride in 3 words:
beautiful, soft, sensual

And a favorite.

p.s. I will not survive if anything happens to Ruth.

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[Amber-Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I'm still enjoying the story overall, this one seemed to drag a bit. Maybe it's because I made the mistake of watching episodes 1 to 9 of the anime (which is startlingly loyal to the manga, by the way) before finishing it, so it's a bit like hearing the same story twice...

[l u b o · Rating 3 out of 5]

slabšie 3

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good continuation. I quite like that the Grim is now named Ruth and will be around more! The last chapter with Chise going back to the dragon nest and seeing Nevin's tree was sweet. I also hope that Elias starts sharing more with Chise soon though

[jessica. · Rating 4 out of 5]

jest okej, na pewno dokończę tę serię w miarę moich możliwości ale chyba nie będę wielką fanką mang 🤷🤷

[Katelyn Thornton · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a battle with another patron at the library who is also reading this manga. Gonna have to speed through vol 4 cause it's overdue now & she has it on reserve :')

[Liliana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like where this series is heading and how it's not what I expected.

[Dubzor · Rating 4 out of 5]

The muse...oh God the muse. So heartbreaking.