水神の生贄 6 [Suijin no Hanayome 6]

水神の生贄 [Suijin no Hanayome] #6

by Rei Tōma, 藤間麗

水神の力を奪おうとする魔の手が・・・

徐々に水神の心を変えつつある有紗陽。
だがその水神の力を欲する者の魔の手が有紗陽に忍び寄る。
有紗陽を影ながら守る水神が下した判断とは!?
ますます盛り上がる第6巻!

【編集担当からのおすすめ情報】
有紗陽に対する気持ちの変化が水神の行動を変えていきます。
それに伴い周囲の状況も激しく動く目が離せない第6巻です!

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

177 pages, Paperback

First published May 26, 2017

About the author

Rei Tōma (Japanese: 藤間 麗,Tōma Rei) has been drawing since childhood, but she only began drawing manga because of her graduation project in design school. When she drew a short-story manga, "Help me dentist" (ヘルプ me デンティスト), it attracted a publisher's attention and she made her debut right away. Her magnificent art style became popular, and after she debuted as a manga artist, she became known as an illustrator for novels and video game character designs.

Dawn of the Arcana is her first long-running manga series, and it has been a hit in Japan, selling over a million copies.

Reviews

[Dilushani Jayalath · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume was slightly better than previous ones and I can easily say I am slightly intrigued now. Not completely fallen for it as I did for Dawn of Arcana but the plot did catch on in this volume. I am quite far behind the story and hopefully the translations would be done fast.

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

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

Asahi was a little girl happily living with her parents in modern times until she's pulled through a pond and wakes up in feudal Japan. It's now been some years and Asahi has grown into a lovely young woman under the protection of the local water dragon god, the young man she befriended whose village she lives in, Subaru and Tsukihiko, the priest teaching her the duties of a priestess.

Rei Toma is an expert at turning on a dime and taking her story to a place you don't first suspect. And that finally happened in The Water Dragon's Bride vol 6 and I couldn't be happier to see it happen. Our water dragon is starting to realize he cares more about how Asahi feels than he ever thought possible... and what does that mean?! Well he suspects some human emotions are coming to plague him. It's what he realizes after he's taken this big plot leap that was so effecting though!

Asahi has been longing for home and I think its quite telling that the water dragon god knew this... It backs up the actions he takes when she is subject to the machinations of our villain duo. I think Asahi though is surprised about her own feelings. I found that so true to life! We tend to wallow in what we don't have rather than feeling blessed with what we do. It was fascinating to see how her parents dealt with her absence... it is the classic human response to loss and it puts Asahi in a real quandary about how to feel!

Of course I love and adore Asahi and the water dragon god being in the same time... and what about Subaru?! GAHHHH! I was quite tense with events and how they evolved so organically from how the WDG felt... And then to learn what Asahi left behind now I really feel quite divided about what should happen! This hidden relationship can be one that is so powerful in a person's life so I'm wondering if knowing about him will cause Asahi more sadness or will she finally accept where she's at?!

The art is gorgeous, of course! There is a lot of focus on the WDG and Asahi this episode. I actually don't mind that... I do love Subaru but he normally takes center stage to the WDG, so it was nice to see that reversal. I love how this romance is so emotional rather than about two young things... its a sort of May-December romance without being too skivvy. Its not that the WDG chose her, she was thrown into him and was only his "bride" because she became his responsibility.

GAHHHH! Rei Toma wows me with the art in The Water Dragon's Bride vol 6 but this time she's really shocked me with the sudden twists and made me so excited to see what's coming in vol 7!! I know Subaru is NOT one to take a back seat so I look forward to how he reacts to Asahi and the WDG... If you want some light, gorgeous, romantic fun The Water Dragon's Bride series is the one to pick up!

This is a multi-volume series and there may be references to the plot of those volumes... SO READ WITH CARE! Here is my review of 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

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


Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. This has not influenced my opinion.

______________________
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...

[Nathalie DeFelice · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the sixth volume of The Water Dragon's Bride, the Water Dragon God is realizing that his feelings for Asahi are beyond mere curiosity, and acts on instinct to protect her, no matter the cost. When Asahi is terribly injured in an effort to protect him, his fury against the humans who would do her harm pushes the Water Dragon God to do all in his power to protect Asahi, put her in a dream-state, reliving the same day over again. While she's in the dream, Asahi's home again, attending school with Subaru...but she knows something is missing. Something isn't right. As she muddles through to try and remember what she's forgotten, she's able to break past the Water Dragon God's protections, to find out that he missed her too. How will the Water Dragon God continue to protect Asahi from those who would use her power as the priestess for evil-doing, and still keep her close by his side?

This volume was great for the Water Dragon God's character development, and it did not disappoint! Throughout the entire series, the Water Dragon God has seemed aloof and removed from what's happening around him, treating Asahi like a pebble in his shoe, although he has a strange affinity to protect Asahi. His observant gaze often hides so much that he wishes to know. I adore that he seems to grow as Asahi grows, although he does so in an emotional way rather than physical. Asahi helps bring out feelings that he didn't believe he had, and although he may not always like the feelings that burst forth, it gives him a better understanding of human nature. One of the most important themes that I feel is important in this volume is loneliness. Both Asahi and the Water Dragon God experience this in different ways, but ultimately need each other to move past it. It's a lesson that I think is coming a little more slowly to the Water Dragon God than to Asahi. I love that the reader also gets the privilege of seeing Asahi mature and start to become aware of her own feelings toward the Water Dragon God. I can't wait until the next volume!

I received an e-galley of this manga for an honest review from Edelweiss, and will be out on July 3, 2018! Keep a look out for it, and let me know what you think!

[Rylee Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this volume, Asahi faces yet another life-endangering situation, and the water dragon god decides he needs to intervene and protect her. He goes through all his option. First, he tries putting Asahi in a protective water bubble where she has the same safe dream on repeat. It’s cozy, but she can tell something's missing. She busts out of her bubble, and tells the water dragon god that she doesn’t want to go back. On to option number two. He takes away everyone’s memory of him so that the villagers won’t be after her. But she breaks the spell and remembers him, which in turn breaks it for everyone else. Ok, almost out of options. On to option 3. He sends her back to her time! Guys, I never thought this would happen. But it turns out that Asahi feels she doesn’t belong in her time anymore. She misses everyone she knew. The volume ends on a cliffhanger, with Asahi wanting to go back into the pond but her family giving her a reason to stay.

I love the water dragon god’s development. The only time we ever see human traits from him is because of Asahi. First, he’s angry when people try to hurt her. Then, he lies to Asahi to spare her feelings while eating her food (because he can’t taste it). And then when he sends her back to her time, he’s so mopey because he can’t see her anymore. He reminds me of a very melancholy Milla from Tales of Xillia. I just love the whole immortal being learning to be human storyline. And I love that in this one, we finally get to see Asahi go back home. Now that she realizes she’s been gone too long and doesn’t belong there anymore, we can finally move on and she can further grow into the life she’s built for herself.

[Victoria ✮⋆˙ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one made me sad. But it's so cute!

[Erica Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's amazing the things you will do for someone you love.

[eve.lyn._.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌊💦💧The Water Dragon's Bride Vol 4💧💦🌊
Asahi is gravely injured after attempting to protect The Water Dragon god. She is now in a state of unconsciousness and, during that period of time, The Water Dragon god gives her a glimpse into what life she wanted to have. Yet everything seems so achingly familiar, but also imperfect despite it being what she wished to have. Something is missing from Asahi's dream. . . a person she remembers whenever she looks at the water, and a person who was her closest friend. Then Asahi is brought into a wish she yearned for. However, she misses the world that she has come to love and feels displaced.

"When I realized . . . when I understood. What a simple thing it was in the end. I struggle when you struggle. I am happy when you smile. These are feelings."
-The Water Dragon god
I love the interesting premise and direction this plot took! Although the story didn't seem that connected to volume five, it was still enjoyable. Many interesting topics are pondered throughout this novel. It shows how perfect dreams and desires may not be so great as our reality. I was shocked to see the direction this story took but then excited to see where it would go.

"I can't forget it . . . I can't forget the time I spent there. Or the people that I spent time with. I feel so lonely. I want the heart I left behind . . . to come back!"
-Asahi

Seeing Asahi interact with certain characters as well as explore where she truly belongs was intriguing. I enjoyed the small snippet of backstory for one of the antagonists in the plot. The Water Dragon god actually started to grow on me. I loved seeing him doing more selfless actions. However, how easily he allows others to suffer or takes their memories and voice quickly put my reaction to his selfless actions. I just hope he can go through character growth.

Subaru was barely present in this book, to my dismay! Excited to continue with the series!

"Asahi . . . was sent home by the power of The Water Dragon god. Somewhere far away . . . I knew it. It's all right. This is fine. I know you always wanted to go home. So I know you must be living happily there. Yet . . . a world without you in it . . . seems so wretched."
-Subaru
🌊PLOT
🌊PLOT TWISTS
🌊CHARACTERS
🌊=☑️

[Doc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Asahi is in danger and although the Water Dragon God (now known as WDG like in other reviews) saves her from misfortune. However when a trap is set by the crazed priestess (who we get a brief origin story for) ends up injuring Asahi as she pushes WDG out of the way of a cave in he begins to realize feelings welling up inside of him. This is the story about what he does to protect Asahi who has become the target of those seeking the powers associated with the WDG and how the WDG will try to protect her. As usual the art is pretty but seeing the WDG suffer even slightly at the thought of unhappiness or harm to Asahi is a pleasant turn from a god not in touch with his feelings even though the other gods in the story are rather human like. This is probably my fave volume so far. :)

My fave part of the volume is when Asahi accidentally breaks WDG's spell that was meant to protect her and he takes drastic measures to save her. Be sure to read the story to see what sacrifices must be made. :)

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so emotional right now.

[DonutKnow · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Water Dragon God does have a heart- and he’s taken mine as well 💔😭

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Jae's Manga Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume Review: 4/5
I forgot that I read this one a while back so I don't completely remember what happened. I didn't really like Asahi going into the dream world and I'm curious to see what happens. The art is lovely. Sorry, don't have much to say. I'll keep reading this series as it's pretty cool and interesting.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally - here's the volume that pushes this story over the middle-of-the-road to pretty good. Toma does best when she develops and focuses on the relationships between her characters.

[Ruthsic · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I feared, this has wandered into romance territory. As I said earlier in the reviews for Vol.1 & Vol.2, I was not comfortable with the way their 'relationship' has started, more so because she was a preteen when he made her his 'bride'. But I'm trying hard to ignore that part of the story because otherwise it has a compelling storyline. Asahi, being in the Emperor's court, is not entirely safe from the malicious intents of that priestess who wants to use her power and connection to the Water God. In order to protect her, he sort of fulfils her wish - first he puts her in a Groundhog-day dream state (does he ever ask her permission ffs) - then realizes that he misses her, plus she also starts to feel dissonance within the dream. It brings up an interesting scenario - she is happy, but she still feels unsettled, because she knows 'life is hard' and I think at this part it makes you wonder about how your experiences shape your personality (this is not in the manga - just me musing over stuff, and having minor existential crises).

Finally, she does get her wish, what she had been hoping for in Vol. 3, but even that feels hollow because she is a different person now, and she still misses that life, as dangerous as it was. The storyline is basically the Water God finally realizing that maybe he doesn't know the best thing for her, and trying to give her what she wants, and her breaking through his magic anyway - something which leads to a change in the politics of the kingdom and how she is still in danger. On the romance front, I don't like that it has shifted from Subaru and focusing more on the Water God now, but well I try not to hate a story based on ships.

Overall, it is a good development in the story, terrible choice in romance aside.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today’s post is on The Water Dragon's Bride, Vol. 6 by Rei Toma. It is published by Shojo Beat and it is 184 pages long. The cover has Asahi on it with some water drops between her hands. As it is the sixth in the series you need to have read the first five. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this volume. The story is told from third person close of mostly Asahi but sometimes from characters to get character development. There Be Spoilers Ahead.
From the back of the book- Asahi continues to be trapped between power-hungry humans and exposed to ill will. When she becomes gravely injured, will the water dragon god be able to save her? How will these two change during this time of distress?


Review- The Water Dragon is trying to help or protect Asahi from greedy people around her but he just keeps making it worse. So he decides to send her home after he views her dreams. But now she has been gone and her family does not know what to do and neither does Asahi. This was a very interesting volume with the Water Dragon trying different things and he is starting to change from who he was in the beginning. The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger with Asahi maybe summoning the Water Dragon or trying to go back in time again. This series just keeps getting better with every volume.


I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

[Moriah Venable · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of favorite volumes!

The Water Dragon God is starting to realize he has feelings more Asahi that are beyond just curiousity. When she is hurt protecting him, he attempt to keep her safe, he puts in a dream like state where she relives the same day over and over as if she was back home.

But as the days keep occuring, she knows she has forgotten something and wonders what it is. But soon enough she is able to break through the dream. What does this mean?

The Water Dragon's God development has been slow but worth the wait especially with this volume. I can see that he does care about Asahi and worries about the humans who will harm her in order to have the Water Dragon's power for themselves to help their village become stronger.

And the ending of the volume left me wanting the next volume right away!

[frau.meln · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dieser Band war meiner Meinung nach einer der stärkeren dieser Reihe, denn es ist ziemlich viel passiert und ich konnte die Emotionen buchstäblich spüren.

Aber erst einmal zu Anfang. Für die, die die Reihe noch nicht kennen. Der Zeichenstil ist fein, sauber und teilweise sehr detailliert. Allgemein ist die Sprache hier sehr bildhaft.

Grundsätzlich ist die Reihe eher ruhig und schreitet langsam voran. Vorwiegend geht es nämlich um die zwischenmenschlichen Beziehungen.

In diesem Band sieht man vor allem beim Wassergott eine enorme Weiterentwicklung und auch Asahi scheint ziemlich viele Lehren aus einigen Situationen zu ziehen. Zudem verschiebt sich ihr Sehnsuchtsgefühlt und mir blutet etwas das Herz.

Eine wirklich schöne Reihe für Fantasy sowie Romance Leser, voller Emotionen und interessanten Charakteren.

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the strongest volume of the series, the pacing was way off and the storytelling jumped all over the place, which is why I’ve only given it three stars. I think more could have been explored at a slower pace, giving these new ideas more time to grow.

Some of the danger to Asahi was farfetched, and I had a difficult time believing it, thankfully it was nipped in the bud quickly.

Most notable positives in this volume was the character growth of the water dragon god. Very well thought out panels and thoughts conveying the slow change. It was lovely to read. It’s interesting to see him go from disinterested and arrogant to actively trying to understand feelings and do right by Asahi, even though he gets it wrong.

[Amarinske · Rating 3 out of 5]

My feelings don't sway one way or another with this one. I do think it was better than the previous volume, but I have less strong feelings about it. Again I love the way the characters developed their relationships and how feelings start to develop more in The Water Dragon God. He admits he wants to stop her suffering and to make her happy, but at the end, you can clearly see Asahi and him (both the god and her friend Subaru I've not previously mentioned) miss one another a lot. Asahi feels very lonely again because she now fits in even less in our world than she did the world she was transported to.
I'm still hoping Subaru gets to experience our modern-day world like Asahi did his. I wish I had easier access to the next instalment.

[StrawberryShojo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is by far the best volume of the series so far. Asahi struggles as vicious humans try to take advantage of her power, and as the Water Dragon God's feelings for her seem to awaken he gives her the thing she has been wishing for the most...the ability to go home. As I've stated in my other reviews, I don't really care for the Water Dragon God character, but I will say that the character development in this volume was well written and made sense. Though the best part of the volume is when Asahi can finally return to her old life. I won't spoil anything specific, but I really enjoyed seeing Asahi's ambition and her ingenuity in the latter half of the volume.

[Zian B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel bad that Asahi had to go through all of that then return to her world but, a part of me wonders how she hasn’t learned to at least suspect people’s intentions over the years of her living there. Although, I’m going to put that to her just being a very kind-hearted character.
The Water Dragon God finally learning and processing his feelings, only to do a very selfless act for Asahi (albeit after doing a very selfish one) was great to see. I’m enjoying watching his character develop as the story progresses.
I think the characters I’m most curious about those are Asahi’s parents and her younger brother; especially her parents since we only very briefly saw her mother.

[rondoravioli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my favorite volume of the series so far. The Water Dragon God has been gradually getting in touch with his feelings regarding Asahi up to this point, and it's culminated in a desire to keep her safe that results in him sending her back home.

The Water Dragon God, and Subaru, are clearly missing Asahi, while Asahi is struggling to settle in back home. So much has changed since she was taken into the pond, and it's almost as if she's more of an outsider back home, in modern times, now that she's spent so many years away. I'm excited to see what comes of all of this in the next volume.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, this volume! Certainly, it can be described with one complex word: feelings! In the first half, the water dragon god comes to several realizations in his relationship with Asahi. His normally impassive face transforms in small but meaningful ways, particularly in his eyes. With realizations come new decisions that neither I, Asahi, and even the water dragon god saw coming. At least not yet. I'm so excited to keep reading. This volume was, again, feelings!

[Emmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this was the best volume in the series so far! A heartbreaking, beautiful piece that I think will be sitting with me long into the night. So much happened in this one volume, and I want to talk about it so badly to someone. For now, let's just say that it struck a chord with me.

"I want the heart I left behind...to come back to me."

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

New favorite. This one was SO GOOD.

Series review can be found here: 水神の生贄 1 Suijin no Hanayome 1

[Caryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my current favorite volume in the series because it’s all about Asahi and the Water Dragon discovering their feelings about each other (finally!). Each chapter delivered major shock after shock, and I could not get enough.

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great volume with a cliffhanger ending, the resolution to which I now have to wait for.
I like how this volume progressed and how Asahi came back to the modern world.
I'm curious where her adventures will lead next and what will happen to those she left in the past.

[Nightwings81 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautiful series! I am always so happy to see a new volume released and read as soon as I can. In this volume, Asahi's position as the water priestess continues to cause her trouble, to the point the Water God tries to hide her away for her own protection, Lotus-eater style.

[Lauren Schnoebelen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the biggest fan of this volume which is frustrating because it seemed like with each volume I was getting more and more into it. I like that this looked more into the emotions of the water dragon god but the decisions he made really bothered me. Hopefully it changes in the next one.