En pleine forêt, Stark se fait mordre par un monstre venimeux ! Hélas, Frieren ne s'y connaît pas vraiment en poisons, il va lui falloir de l'aide... Il se trouve heureusement qu'il y a une église dans les environs. C'est là que vit Sein, un prêtre que les trois compagnons ont sauvé d'un péril mortel quelque temps auparavant !
Grâce à sa magie, il soigne le jeune guerrier, qui est instantanément remis sur pied. Ébahi par son talent, le trio apprend alors du frère aîné de Sein que son cadet rêve depuis des années de partir à l'aventure, sans oser sauter le pas : l'elfe lui propose donc de rejoindre son groupe ! Mais contre toute attente, l'homme refuse...
I don't deal with grief well, and I know everyone struggles with it but grief paralyses me. I am apprehensive of books with a heavy emphasis on grief because they can sometimes incapacitate me with intrusive and spiralling thoughts.
However, this series is just beautiful and handles the theme in such a gorgeous manner. I tear up a lot but always remain hopeful by the end of the book, and it reminds me so often to love the little things.
As the party makes its way north, they pick up a priest, Sein, who has swapped the drinking problems of the priest Frieren used to travel with for gambling addiction instead. Stark and Fern continue to be full of hormones and time is slipping away, but Frieren still has her own growing up to do.
There has never been a manga series quite like this that has felt so sharply written and deftly weaves its themes of how the past affects the present and the nature of immortality, plus some very charming romance and a lot of gentle comedy.
As was the case with its predecessors, this volume charts the long journey north for our team and their travails along the way. They meet many people, they learn many things, often Frieren will discover something that recontextualizes her past encounters in new ways. It is, in a word, wonderful.
There is a distinct formula to this series, a continuing use of travel fuelling an array of short adventures towards an overall goal. Flashbacks are frequent, lessons are either learned or applied, rinse and repeat. And it continues to work exceptionally well.
One reason for this is that time is omnipresent and treated with a weight that many fantasy stories lack. It takes time to go on these quests and often the group is forced to wait for things to become open or have to earn permissions that are no small matter. And for Frieren this time is nothing, but six months is a huge ask of her more human comrades.
It doesn’t hurt that often the cast spends this waiting time having adventures that aren’t especially relevant, so they’re told with these adorable single panel collections that are utterly charming and make me want to smile every time the hint of a new one crops up. It’s not overused, simply because every single time makes me want to know more about these quieter moments.
This volume definitely feels like it’s mashing the comedy button a lot harder, with Fern’s endless sulking and Stark’s hopeless antics (not to mention Sein’s raging annoyance that they just won’t get together already). And, in case you were keeping count, the running gag with Frieren’s butt hanging out of something like a bookshelf or shrubbery has still not gotten old.
But amidst that comedy is the lovely melancholy that the series does so well. Frieren has a wonderful conversation with an old dwarf that speaks to promises made and the people we made them for and the fickle nature of memory. An aging ruler has Stark standing in for his dead son briefly and learns a lesson about putting faith in what you have rather than what you lost.
And we have the slow recognizance of Frieren, who may be very old but whose maturity seems equally slow to occur (Sein rightfully observes that he’s the adult in the group), that Himmel was very in love with her. This is especially writ large during Fern’s birthday, which adds in Stark’s embarrassment as a bonus (Stark has no idea how to deal with Fern and it’s great).
Sein makes a good addition to the cast - especially the very silly reason that he ends up an adventurer, which comes down to a promise made in youth that saddles him and his friend with embarrassing nicknames (one of them is far more embarrassed than the other). He gets his chance to prove himself a little quickly, but that story also has a great point about trust and experience.
There are a couple of things that make me a little concerned for the future - the current storyline is really just getting started, but the vicious girl at the centre of it is a little too obviously evil (not that they disguise this fact at all, the story outright says it). Her outfit especially is a little more on the nose than the series goes for.
Still, that story’s shaping up to be a corker otherwise because it has already had Frieren admit to her own fallibility and the most interesting part of it appears ready to focus on Fern, which is a nice change of pace. And when’s the last time you saw somebody pummel a group of bandits because it was the best way to keep them alive?
This series is so good. It is the best manga I have ever read, it’s the only way I can put it. I love absolutely everything it’s doing and the way it does it. It feels full and rich, full of fun and adventure and deep characterization. It even has something to say. I could easily gush for another five paragraphs about how much I love it.
5 stars - a pure delight; may it never dip in quality.
Now that this series is getting an official English release, it receives appropriate title: Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. That title sums up pretty well what this series is all about. (It's basically what I said in my review of the first volume.) I can't wait to read it all over again. This time, with a competent translation by a professional.
In this volume, Frieren's party picks up a new member, albeit temporarily. I've a feeling he'll be back, the party needs more support roles like a priest to balance the abundance of attackers. By the last chapter, it seems that this title will be getting its own version of a shonen manga staple; a tournament arc.
One sentence: I think Himmel should have confessed to Frieren long, long time ago for closure's sake, even though Frieren probably would just shoot him down, or not even understand.
This series really takes slow-burn to a next level, but the plot and the characters are still enjoyable!
У четвертому томі «Проводжальниці Фрірен» дорога на північ веде не лише крізь засніжені перевали, вона пролягає крізь серця героїв. Команда, що ще донедавна складалася з випадкових подорожніх, тепер ще більше стає справжньою спільнотою, з жартами, непорозуміннями, ревнощами, підтримкою й теплом.
Попереду Ойсест, місто, де Фрірен має скласти іспит чарівниці першого рівня. Без цього сертифіката шлях до Північного напрямку закритий. Але випробування починаються ще задовго до самої перевірки. Адже мандрівка вчить не лише долати перешкоди, а й бути поруч, коли комусь потрібна підтримка. І саме це найскладніша магія.
До команди приєднується священник Зайн, чоловік, який змінив келих на пригоди, але не втратив відчуття гумору. Його віра не в богів, а в людей: він уміє слухати, не засуджувати й бачити суть. Зайн додає групі дорослості, якої трохи бракувало (саму Фрірен не враховуємо). І саме через нього ми краще відчуваємо контрасти: Фрірен, хоч прожила століття, іноді поводиться як дитина; Ферн — як сувора наставниця; Штарк — як розгублений підліток, який намагається бути хоробрим. Між ними виникає щось більше, ніж просто товариськість.
Дорога до Ойсеста окрім шляху й ланцюг дрібних історій, де кожна сцена є уроком довіри. Герої вчаться покладатися одне на одного, приймати рішення не самотужки, а разом. Часом вони сперечаються, часом мовчать, часом сміються до сліз. І саме ці моменти створюють справжню хімію між персонажами.
В цьому томі я зрозумів, що ця історія вміє показувати час не як фон, а як повноцінного персонажа. Тут він не летить, а тягнеться. Для ельфійки Фрірен місяці — мить, для людей — випробування. І саме ця різниця в сприйнятті створює певну драму. Фрірен починає ще більше розуміти, що спільна мить для неї ціле життя для інших. Тож вона вчиться цінувати теперішнє, не лише згадувати минуле.
Попри жартівливість і побутові сцени, серія зберігає меланхолію, знайому ще з перших томів. Зайн бачить, як у кожного з них є свій біль, але ніхто не дозволяє цьому болю керувати собою. Ферн і Штарк вчаться довіряти не лише одне одному, а й собі. А Фрірен найповільніше, але найглибше вчиться відпускати минуле і не боятися прихильності. Її шлях це не лише пошук давніх знань, а спроба зрозуміти: щоб по-справжньому жити, потрібно дозволити іншим бути поруч.
Четвертий том «Проводжальниці Фрірен» виглядає тихішим, повільнішим й теплішим. Звісно, усе це перед новими динамічними подіями, які нас чекають попереду. Але це дозволяє ще раз зрозуміти, чому ця манґа така унікальна.
The big action scenes of last volume are behind us as the adventuring party continues their leisurely trek north with frequent stops and diversions. It's very slice-of-life and, since I love these characters, totally mesmerizing.
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Volume 4 introduces a new dynamic to the party with the addition of Sein, a potential priest. The volume delves into his backstory and motivations, providing valuable insights into his character. The growth of Fern and Stark is also evident, as they navigate their roles within the group and mature at their own pace.
Frieren's character remains an enigma, her detachment from human emotions is a stark contrast to the evolving dynamics of her companions. Despite this, her presence continues to be a captivating force within the narrative.
The series' signature blend of action and character development is once again on full display. The introduction of the mage exam adds an exciting new element to the story, promising future challenges and growth for the characters. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End continues to be a rewarding read, offering a unique blend of adventure, fantasy, and introspection.
Every time I finish one of these, I sit down and try to think of something clever to say, so that it doesn’t seem like I’m just simping for this weirdo elven mage and her friends. But I can’t. Because that is exactly what I’m doing. I fucking love this series.
This volume was filled more with small moments rather than major plot developments, but watching the characters grow is a joy. Stein is an excellent addition, and his connection with another character teased in the last volume is definintely interesting. I can’t wait to see where that goes! However, it’s the glimpses of Frieren’s past, especially the things that eluded her, that truly fascinates me. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next one!
J'aime bien le petit groupe qui se forme autour de Frieren et le côté très tranquille de leur aventure. Ils prennent leur temps et ça change par rapport à beaucoup de mangas que j'ai pu lire.