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結界師の一輪華 [Kekkaishi no Ichirinka] (Novel) #1
Bride of the Barrier Master, Vol. 1
For thousands of years, Japan has been protected by five clans wielding barrier-weaving magic. Born to a branch family of one such clan, eighteen-year-old Hana has always been stuck in the shadow of her more capable, beautiful, and popular twin sister. When a strong power awakens within Hana, she chooses to hide it so she can continue living a quiet life out of the spotlight. But that ideal lifestyle begins to slip out of reach when Saku Ichinomiya takes over as the new head of the Ichinomiya clan and sets out to find a bride strong enough to stand by his side. Eager to keep her abilities secret, Hana steers clear of Saku... but will she be tempted to sign a marriage contract if it guarantees the peaceful, quiet future of her dreams?
208 pages, Paperback
First published December 21, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
January 17, 2023
On my eReader today, read today. I needed the escape, so was thankful I had something new to me to read.
This was…ok. Hana comes across as rather mercenary, only agreeing to help save lives when offered a villa on a beach or for scads of money. Though considering her childhood, it makes sense she was looking out for herself since no one else would and she knew it.
She’s 18 and the love interest is 24, so there is a slight age gap, but she’s at least older than most light novels/mangas, so there is that in its favor.
The coincidence involving Hana’s friend’s BF and the mystery was waaaaay too contrived. I could see maybe having the jerk BF be a secondary plot line, but to carry the main mystery plot line? No.
Also, very “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” trope, where only AFTER the bullied person shows their abilities/strengths/powerful friends do they get treated like a human being/as special by others to curry favor. Sad, but realistic. Though I don’t think EVERYone would have been that horrible, but in such a closed community, maybe so?
Hana was rather immature, but it makes sense, due to how she was raised and she wasn’t as bad as she could have been, though I’m upset her maid Sae wasn’t brought with her to her husband’s house. Not sure why that plot point was dropped so suddenly. It would have been nice to have that tied up at least.
Also, Hana heard what her brother-in-law said and her mother-in-law was acting decent, yet those storylines were also brought up and then ignored? It would have been nice to see how their relationships progressed from there.
Not a bad book, but it didn’t go overly in-depth with the classes in the school, which would have been nice to see. It would have been nice to see more of the barrier mending the two did.
The cover makes it seem like a historical/other time, but this takes place in a contemporary setting, which was jarring when things like the police and cell phones were mentioned.
The story arc completed in this volume, so I’m curious to see how the next volume will go. It…could go anywhere honestly. I’m not sure I like the complete open-endedness. Like, the only conflict is he trapped her into the marriage and we already know how that’s going to end up? So what’s the drive to read the next one?
3, solid but nothing to write home about, stars.
This was…ok. Hana comes across as rather mercenary, only agreeing to help save lives when offered a villa on a beach or for scads of money. Though considering her childhood, it makes sense she was looking out for herself since no one else would and she knew it.
She’s 18 and the love interest is 24, so there is a slight age gap, but she’s at least older than most light novels/mangas, so there is that in its favor.
The coincidence involving Hana’s friend’s BF and the mystery was waaaaay too contrived. I could see maybe having the jerk BF be a secondary plot line, but to carry the main mystery plot line? No.
Also, very “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” trope, where only AFTER the bullied person shows their abilities/strengths/powerful friends do they get treated like a human being/as special by others to curry favor. Sad, but realistic. Though I don’t think EVERYone would have been that horrible, but in such a closed community, maybe so?
Hana was rather immature, but it makes sense, due to how she was raised and she wasn’t as bad as she could have been, though I’m upset her maid Sae wasn’t brought with her to her husband’s house. Not sure why that plot point was dropped so suddenly. It would have been nice to have that tied up at least.
Also, Hana heard what her brother-in-law said and her mother-in-law was acting decent, yet those storylines were also brought up and then ignored? It would have been nice to see how their relationships progressed from there.
Not a bad book, but it didn’t go overly in-depth with the classes in the school, which would have been nice to see. It would have been nice to see more of the barrier mending the two did.
The cover makes it seem like a historical/other time, but this takes place in a contemporary setting, which was jarring when things like the police and cell phones were mentioned.
The story arc completed in this volume, so I’m curious to see how the next volume will go. It…could go anywhere honestly. I’m not sure I like the complete open-endedness. Like, the only conflict is he trapped her into the marriage and we already know how that’s going to end up? So what’s the drive to read the next one?
3, solid but nothing to write home about, stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2023
Bride of the Barrier Master is a cute story set in modern Japan with magic and clans protecting the country with it. Families with magic are organised by importance and magical ability, and at the top are the barrier masters who protect the five pillars that support the entire country.
Hana comes from a less-important family and she’s the least important member of it. She’s completely ignored and neglected in favour of her twin sister who is a magical prodigy, whereas Hana is almost without power. She’s emotionally detached herself from her family, so much so that when she suddenly comes to immense power at fifteen, she keeps it a secret from everyone, even though she has to endure constant scorn.
When she’s eighteen, a new barrier master, Saku, comes to power, and he discovers her secret. He needs a powerful wife to bolster the barrier, and so he coaxes her into marrying him, much to the anger and dismay of the entire community who believe he’s chosen a weak bride.
The first volume follows Hana as she changes from nobody to the most important person in the magical community. She’s depicted as selfish and greedy, but in the end she’s the one who saves the day. The romance is on the light side and will likely mostly take place in the subsequent books. Saku was a good romantic hero, though maybe a tad childish for a twenty-four-year-old. Side characters were mostly caricatures.
While I enjoyed the overall story, it wasn’t a terribly good book. The writing style was childish and incredibly repetitive, with same things repeated page after a page, especially in the beginning. It would maybe have worked better as manga. As it is, it made a very light emotional impact. I’m not likely to continue with the series, but younger fans of the genre might like it.
I received a free copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Hana comes from a less-important family and she’s the least important member of it. She’s completely ignored and neglected in favour of her twin sister who is a magical prodigy, whereas Hana is almost without power. She’s emotionally detached herself from her family, so much so that when she suddenly comes to immense power at fifteen, she keeps it a secret from everyone, even though she has to endure constant scorn.
When she’s eighteen, a new barrier master, Saku, comes to power, and he discovers her secret. He needs a powerful wife to bolster the barrier, and so he coaxes her into marrying him, much to the anger and dismay of the entire community who believe he’s chosen a weak bride.
The first volume follows Hana as she changes from nobody to the most important person in the magical community. She’s depicted as selfish and greedy, but in the end she’s the one who saves the day. The romance is on the light side and will likely mostly take place in the subsequent books. Saku was a good romantic hero, though maybe a tad childish for a twenty-four-year-old. Side characters were mostly caricatures.
While I enjoyed the overall story, it wasn’t a terribly good book. The writing style was childish and incredibly repetitive, with same things repeated page after a page, especially in the beginning. It would maybe have worked better as manga. As it is, it made a very light emotional impact. I’m not likely to continue with the series, but younger fans of the genre might like it.
I received a free copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
January 25, 2023
So-so
This novel is neither good nor bad. It’s just a romance novel with all the tropes.
Hana is a special snowflake, her family is mean, Saku is rich and talented, their marriage is one of “convenience”, Saku finds Hana “intriguing” because she treats him “differently”, etc etc etc.
I would say if you enjoy a romance, you’ll probably like this book.
This novel is neither good nor bad. It’s just a romance novel with all the tropes.
Hana is a special snowflake, her family is mean, Saku is rich and talented, their marriage is one of “convenience”, Saku finds Hana “intriguing” because she treats him “differently”, etc etc etc.
I would say if you enjoy a romance, you’ll probably like this book.
March 5, 2023
I'll start off by saying that I finished this weeks ago and waited far too long to review it. There may be details here and there that I've gotten wrong.
In this series, Japan is protected by five clans wielding powerful barrier-weaving magic. Hana and her twin sister Hazuki are members of a branch family of one of those clans. From an early age, Hazuki was known to be a powerful barrier practitioner who might be able to restore her family to its former glory. Hana, meanwhile, displays only weak abilities at best...at least until her 15th birthday. At that time, for some reason her powers suddenly awaken. However, after spending years being viewed as the lesser twin sister, Hana has no desire to tell anyone about the change.
That doesn't stop Saku Ichinomiya, the new head of the Ichinomiya clan, from noticing her, however. He needs a powerful wife to help him with his duties, and Hana seems like his best bet, even if she won't publicly admit to her powers.
One thing about light novel series: even with cover art and a description, it can be hard to tell what you're getting into. The description and traditional clothing on the cover had me thinking that this was going to be a lot like My Happy Marriage - a historicalish fantasy series about a young woman who has low self-esteem due to years of abuse and who gradually begins to blossom around her seemingly icy fiance. Instead, this is a contemporary-set series starring a heroine who was looked down upon as a child and who has responded by developing a thick skin. She couldn't care less about the opinions of most of the people around her and just wants to remain unnoticed for long enough to go and build a comfortable and quiet life for herself.
Instead, she meets Saku. He manages to convince her to sign a contract with him that will bind them together for long enough that she can help him with his duties as clan leader and then let them go their separate ways with everything Hana might want or need to build a quiet life on her own. Except Hana definitely didn't think things through very well, and there are suddenly a lot more eyes on her than there used to be, as everyone wonders why Saku has declared that someone so seemingly useless will be his bride. Well, it's not like Saku's contract said he wouldn't tell anyone about their engagement.
At this point in the story, I was reminded of shoujo romantic comedies. To the public, Saku and Hana looked like a couple drawn together by love at first sight - why else would someone as powerful as Saku want to marry someone as weak as Hana? Meanwhile, Saku's mother (who didn't know any more of the truth than the public did) was deeply disapproving of their engagement. And in private, Saku and Hana frequently clashed, even as they began to learn more about each other and become closer.
This had more ridiculous moments than I went into it expecting. For example, every barrier magic wielder has at least one shikigami, a being that aids them, and Saku's is a woman with pointed dog ears wearing a maid costume. Supposedly this isn't an indicator of his personal tastes. Saku's shikigami instantly latches onto the one shikigami of Hana's (she has three total) most likely to be embarrassed by the attention.
I liked that one of the things that came up several times in this volume was that the face people presented to the world wasn't necessarily how they really felt. There was potential for the relationship between Hana and her sister to become really interesting - they used to be close but drifted apart after the differences in their magical abilities became apparent. Hana recognized the amount of pressure her sister was under and worried about her, but Hazuki kept pushing her away. Now that Hana has taken over the role everyone thought was guaranteed to go to Hazuki, will Hazuki be relieved or angry? Things aren't quite as complicated with Saku's brother, but he seems to have some issues of his own.
Saku was generally a bit too arrogant for my tastes, and Hana too disengaged (she genuinely didn't want to help others if it took too much effort or put her own plans for her future at risk). The writing wasn't great, the logic was sloppy, and there were some weird tonal issues (time to pause the light-hearted bickering and start an investigation into a dismembered body!), but overall I liked this enough that I'll probably read the next book.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
In this series, Japan is protected by five clans wielding powerful barrier-weaving magic. Hana and her twin sister Hazuki are members of a branch family of one of those clans. From an early age, Hazuki was known to be a powerful barrier practitioner who might be able to restore her family to its former glory. Hana, meanwhile, displays only weak abilities at best...at least until her 15th birthday. At that time, for some reason her powers suddenly awaken. However, after spending years being viewed as the lesser twin sister, Hana has no desire to tell anyone about the change.
That doesn't stop Saku Ichinomiya, the new head of the Ichinomiya clan, from noticing her, however. He needs a powerful wife to help him with his duties, and Hana seems like his best bet, even if she won't publicly admit to her powers.
One thing about light novel series: even with cover art and a description, it can be hard to tell what you're getting into. The description and traditional clothing on the cover had me thinking that this was going to be a lot like My Happy Marriage - a historicalish fantasy series about a young woman who has low self-esteem due to years of abuse and who gradually begins to blossom around her seemingly icy fiance. Instead, this is a contemporary-set series starring a heroine who was looked down upon as a child and who has responded by developing a thick skin. She couldn't care less about the opinions of most of the people around her and just wants to remain unnoticed for long enough to go and build a comfortable and quiet life for herself.
Instead, she meets Saku. He manages to convince her to sign a contract with him that will bind them together for long enough that she can help him with his duties as clan leader and then let them go their separate ways with everything Hana might want or need to build a quiet life on her own. Except Hana definitely didn't think things through very well, and there are suddenly a lot more eyes on her than there used to be, as everyone wonders why Saku has declared that someone so seemingly useless will be his bride. Well, it's not like Saku's contract said he wouldn't tell anyone about their engagement.
At this point in the story, I was reminded of shoujo romantic comedies. To the public, Saku and Hana looked like a couple drawn together by love at first sight - why else would someone as powerful as Saku want to marry someone as weak as Hana? Meanwhile, Saku's mother (who didn't know any more of the truth than the public did) was deeply disapproving of their engagement. And in private, Saku and Hana frequently clashed, even as they began to learn more about each other and become closer.
This had more ridiculous moments than I went into it expecting. For example, every barrier magic wielder has at least one shikigami, a being that aids them, and Saku's is a woman with pointed dog ears wearing a maid costume. Supposedly this isn't an indicator of his personal tastes. Saku's shikigami instantly latches onto the one shikigami of Hana's (she has three total) most likely to be embarrassed by the attention.
I liked that one of the things that came up several times in this volume was that the face people presented to the world wasn't necessarily how they really felt. There was potential for the relationship between Hana and her sister to become really interesting - they used to be close but drifted apart after the differences in their magical abilities became apparent. Hana recognized the amount of pressure her sister was under and worried about her, but Hazuki kept pushing her away. Now that Hana has taken over the role everyone thought was guaranteed to go to Hazuki, will Hazuki be relieved or angry? Things aren't quite as complicated with Saku's brother, but he seems to have some issues of his own.
Saku was generally a bit too arrogant for my tastes, and Hana too disengaged (she genuinely didn't want to help others if it took too much effort or put her own plans for her future at risk). The writing wasn't great, the logic was sloppy, and there were some weird tonal issues (time to pause the light-hearted bickering and start an investigation into a dismembered body!), but overall I liked this enough that I'll probably read the next book.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
May 8, 2023
3.5 rounded up.
Hana is what makes this story. After spending fifteen years as the "scrap" twin to her more obviously talented sister Hazuki, Hana has a clear-eyed, if not somewhat cynical, view to the world of "practitioners," which appears to be a way to say "onmyoji." She's seen what Hazuki has been put through and doesn't want any of that for herself, so when she does come into her power, she keeps it under wraps, with the goal of making it out of the family business as easily as possible. Naturally, the plot has a few things to say about this, and she ends up in what she foolishly believes will be an easily-dissolved contract marriage with Saku, the young head of a major practitioner family. Saku is drawn to her for her power (which he can spot, even though she's had three years to cover it up), but he's really interested in Hana herself - she takes no nonsense from anyone, including him, and he likes that she treats him like a person.
This isn't really anything new or exciting, and the modern setting is a little at odds with the style of fantasy being used, but Hana makes it worth it. She's the right blend of cynical and kind, and if the story doesn't quite deserve her, she makes it work.
Hana is what makes this story. After spending fifteen years as the "scrap" twin to her more obviously talented sister Hazuki, Hana has a clear-eyed, if not somewhat cynical, view to the world of "practitioners," which appears to be a way to say "onmyoji." She's seen what Hazuki has been put through and doesn't want any of that for herself, so when she does come into her power, she keeps it under wraps, with the goal of making it out of the family business as easily as possible. Naturally, the plot has a few things to say about this, and she ends up in what she foolishly believes will be an easily-dissolved contract marriage with Saku, the young head of a major practitioner family. Saku is drawn to her for her power (which he can spot, even though she's had three years to cover it up), but he's really interested in Hana herself - she takes no nonsense from anyone, including him, and he likes that she treats him like a person.
This isn't really anything new or exciting, and the modern setting is a little at odds with the style of fantasy being used, but Hana makes it worth it. She's the right blend of cynical and kind, and if the story doesn't quite deserve her, she makes it work.
December 3, 2023
4/10
This was confusingly... bad?
It had a classic Japanese premise, magic, preset enemies and all of the usual romance tropes... I should have loved it; I obviously didn't. The problem was, that it was so poorly written...
1) The author could not pick between first and third person narration.
2) The text itself was very repetitive especially when describing characters.
3) The pacing was very jumbled.
4) The chosen one trope was not well developed/justified within the story.
5) The plot was full of holes the author was trying to teleport around.
6) I hated the characters. I actively dislike overbearing, arrogant characters especially if they have no consistent redeeming qualities.
7) And as if that wasn't enough, we had the usual consent issues that arise in romance manga/light novels, which of course killed any romance that existed. (It wasn't much, just some ridiculous embarrassment scenes and abrupt, random, baseless admiration.)
Seemed like a failed spin of "My Happy Marriage" to me. Depending on how many volumes come out, I might continue the series just for completion points...
This was confusingly... bad?
It had a classic Japanese premise, magic, preset enemies and all of the usual romance tropes... I should have loved it; I obviously didn't. The problem was, that it was so poorly written...
1) The author could not pick between first and third person narration.
2) The text itself was very repetitive especially when describing characters.
3) The pacing was very jumbled.
4) The chosen one trope was not well developed/justified within the story.
5) The plot was full of holes the author was trying to teleport around.
6) I hated the characters. I actively dislike overbearing, arrogant characters especially if they have no consistent redeeming qualities.
7) And as if that wasn't enough, we had the usual consent issues that arise in romance manga/light novels, which of course killed any romance that existed. (It wasn't much, just some ridiculous embarrassment scenes and abrupt, random, baseless admiration.)
Seemed like a failed spin of "My Happy Marriage" to me. Depending on how many volumes come out, I might continue the series just for completion points...
November 24, 2024
Tired of forgiving heroines? Tired of beating around the bush? Then, this LN is what you're looking for. Both leads are very 'in your face' like someone forcefully kicking a door to make way for them
December 26, 2023
I love finding a new light novel series! This one reminded me a lot of My Happy Marriage, except Hana is a much stronger heroine than Miyo. The world is very interesting, and I loved the shikigami aspect of this. I adored our hero as well. He's the perfect grump. Excited to start the next one.
September 22, 2024
Hana is a shitty person but a surprisingly good friend. And she saved a dog which is the only thing keeping this from being a 1.
December 22, 2024
DNF 50%
I've made it halfway.
There's nothing wrong with it. It seems like a cool story, but more geared to a juvenile public.
It didn't tick any of my reading boxes...
I've made it halfway.
There's nothing wrong with it. It seems like a cool story, but more geared to a juvenile public.
It didn't tick any of my reading boxes...
February 14, 2023
In Summary
Bride of the Barrier Master is fun, fluffy stuff. Yeah, Hana’s clan is entrusted with safeguarding the welfare of Japan with their mystical powers, but this volume’s really about the snubbed girl getting back at everyone who badmouthed her and marrying the hottest guy around to boot. It’s obvious Hana and Saku will end up madly in love, but that doesn’t make their journey any less entertaining.
The Review
Hana is a modern-day teenager born to an ancient heritage. Since time immemorial, Japan’s destiny has been safeguarded by five crystal pillars. Because they are constantly under attack by spiritual forces known as shades, five clans blessed with mystical powers have the duty of protecting the pillars, and Hana’s family belongs to one of those clans.
While Hana’s twin sister Hazuki is deemed a genius at a young age, Hana is below average in her magical abilities. Because they are twins, they’re constantly compared, and because their parents are obsessed with power and status, they dote on Hazuki and berate Hana to the point that they don’t think of her as a daughter. So when Hana’s power– one that eclipses her twin’s–belatedly awakens on her 15th birthday, she has no interest in letting her parents take advantage of her and keeps it a secret.
Chapter 1 is the laying out of this emotional groundwork. For anyone who’s been unfavorably compared to a sibling or suffered parents/relatives who viewed them as tools, Hana is definitely relatable. The cover illustration makes her look like a sweet, demure girl, but her personality is cynical and sassy due to her twisted upbringing. The parents are flat from a characterization standpoint, but their terrible personalities make their comeuppance in Chapter 2 deliciously satisfying.
And that comeuppance is catalyzed by Saku, the new head of the clan. He’s sexy, powerful, wealthy, prestigious, and the most eligible bachelor in the five clans. To perform his responsibilities as clan head, he needs a wife with a strength to match his. So when he chances upon Hana as she surreptitiously eliminates a stray shade, he instantly recognizes her capabilities and asks her to marry him.
She initially refuses; marrying him will destroy the quiet existence she desires. Unfortunately, Saku can’t take no for an answer; the candidates vying to be his wife aren’t nearly strong enough. So he promises that the marriage will be a temporary one of convenience, and when he includes a lavish retirement/separation package, Hana gives in.
Thus, in Chapter 3, the announcement of their engagement thrusts Hana into the limelight. Even though dealing with the ire of Saku’s would-be brides intensifies the verbal abuse directed at her, Hana has the supreme satisfaction of flaunting her new rank before the family members who treated her like trash. As she navigates the ups and downs of her new social landscape as Lady of the Clan, Saku gives his support at every turn. Meanwhile, she assists him in barrier master duties, a job more strenuous than she imagined, and they discover they both have strained relationships with their parents. In short, the couple that married for convenience start falling for one another.
The final chapter is brief, a paranormal investigation that demonstrates how well Hana and Saku complement each other as a team. With that, Volume 1 concludes, but not their marriage of convenience. No doubt, future installments will show their businesslike attitude transforming to a relationship of love. And given that we haven’t seen much of the four other clans, they’ll likely get introduced in future shade onslaughts.
Regarding the translation, there are several places the phrasing could’ve been better worded for a Western audience. For instance, Hana has a conversation with Saku’s mother where she addresses her as “Saku’s mother.” Some of the slang is also so dated as to be jarring. In one scene, Saku uses the word “poppycock.” In another, Hana (sarcastically) expresses admiration by saying, “Neat.”
For more manga and book reviews, drop by my blog Keeping It In Canon!
Bride of the Barrier Master is fun, fluffy stuff. Yeah, Hana’s clan is entrusted with safeguarding the welfare of Japan with their mystical powers, but this volume’s really about the snubbed girl getting back at everyone who badmouthed her and marrying the hottest guy around to boot. It’s obvious Hana and Saku will end up madly in love, but that doesn’t make their journey any less entertaining.
The Review
Hana is a modern-day teenager born to an ancient heritage. Since time immemorial, Japan’s destiny has been safeguarded by five crystal pillars. Because they are constantly under attack by spiritual forces known as shades, five clans blessed with mystical powers have the duty of protecting the pillars, and Hana’s family belongs to one of those clans.
While Hana’s twin sister Hazuki is deemed a genius at a young age, Hana is below average in her magical abilities. Because they are twins, they’re constantly compared, and because their parents are obsessed with power and status, they dote on Hazuki and berate Hana to the point that they don’t think of her as a daughter. So when Hana’s power– one that eclipses her twin’s–belatedly awakens on her 15th birthday, she has no interest in letting her parents take advantage of her and keeps it a secret.
Chapter 1 is the laying out of this emotional groundwork. For anyone who’s been unfavorably compared to a sibling or suffered parents/relatives who viewed them as tools, Hana is definitely relatable. The cover illustration makes her look like a sweet, demure girl, but her personality is cynical and sassy due to her twisted upbringing. The parents are flat from a characterization standpoint, but their terrible personalities make their comeuppance in Chapter 2 deliciously satisfying.
And that comeuppance is catalyzed by Saku, the new head of the clan. He’s sexy, powerful, wealthy, prestigious, and the most eligible bachelor in the five clans. To perform his responsibilities as clan head, he needs a wife with a strength to match his. So when he chances upon Hana as she surreptitiously eliminates a stray shade, he instantly recognizes her capabilities and asks her to marry him.
She initially refuses; marrying him will destroy the quiet existence she desires. Unfortunately, Saku can’t take no for an answer; the candidates vying to be his wife aren’t nearly strong enough. So he promises that the marriage will be a temporary one of convenience, and when he includes a lavish retirement/separation package, Hana gives in.
Thus, in Chapter 3, the announcement of their engagement thrusts Hana into the limelight. Even though dealing with the ire of Saku’s would-be brides intensifies the verbal abuse directed at her, Hana has the supreme satisfaction of flaunting her new rank before the family members who treated her like trash. As she navigates the ups and downs of her new social landscape as Lady of the Clan, Saku gives his support at every turn. Meanwhile, she assists him in barrier master duties, a job more strenuous than she imagined, and they discover they both have strained relationships with their parents. In short, the couple that married for convenience start falling for one another.
The final chapter is brief, a paranormal investigation that demonstrates how well Hana and Saku complement each other as a team. With that, Volume 1 concludes, but not their marriage of convenience. No doubt, future installments will show their businesslike attitude transforming to a relationship of love. And given that we haven’t seen much of the four other clans, they’ll likely get introduced in future shade onslaughts.
Regarding the translation, there are several places the phrasing could’ve been better worded for a Western audience. For instance, Hana has a conversation with Saku’s mother where she addresses her as “Saku’s mother.” Some of the slang is also so dated as to be jarring. In one scene, Saku uses the word “poppycock.” In another, Hana (sarcastically) expresses admiration by saying, “Neat.”
For more manga and book reviews, drop by my blog Keeping It In Canon!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2026
I tend to have a rather rocky history with Cinderella stories. They generally stress me out, as I feel the unwarranted abuse of the protagonist tends to drag on for far too long. “Cinderella” will generally be too kind or broken down to do anything but tolerate the abuse, making for a very stressful read. I’m still discovering exactly what I require in a Cinderella story in order for me to enjoy it, and this volume actually helped me out with that quite a bit!
Our protagonist, Hana, is the daughter of a branch of a noble family. Compared to her twin sister and older brother she is incredibly weak, earning nothing but her parent’s disappointment. As her parents are power hungry, they only put stock into the children that could help them gain something, leaving Hana behind in the dust. While she’s never physically abused, she’s all but abandoned by everyone, including her twin sister.
One fateful day, Hana’s true powers awaken. She quickly realizes she’s far more powerful than the apple of her parent’s eye, her twin sister, but decides to stay quiet about it. By this point in the story she’s decided that if her family would give up on her for something so trivial, she would also give up on them—why should they get to know just how powerful she actually is? She doesn’t necessarily hide her newfound talents for the sake of revenge, but rather because she’s grown apathetic.
The male lead, Saku’s, entrance into the story was rather…different. While he first lays eyes on Hana at a big family dinner—she’s has a typical not like other girls scene here, but it was forgivable—he actually gains an interest in her when he discovers how powerful she is. It’s made clear that he has not fallen in love with her by any means, he just needs someone whose strength can rival his.
His entrance into her life could be seen as a bit abrupt and jarring, but the two of them have such good chemistry that it just somehow works. Basically, he comes to her school every day trying to propose to her, and every day she finds a new way to run away from him. While that can sound a bit stalker-like, trust me, the whole ordeal is very funny. Hana just wants to live a normal life, so she runs away at the mere sight of the man. Marrying the head of a powerful family would bring nothing but responsibilities and danger after all.
Once Hana and Saku actually sit down and have a conversation they’re able to come to a mutual agreement—no one is coerced into anything here. While he chases Hana down every day for a little while, it’s only so he can have a conversation with her. She would run away at the mere sight of him, never giving him the chance to plead his case.
As with most Cinderella stories, just because the protagonist establishes herself with the powerful male lead, that doesn’t mean she’s then safe from harassment. Hana is actually abused more after moving in with him—his mother and brother both dislike Hana; Hana’s family is outraged that her twin sister wasn’t chosen; her classmates believe she brainwashed Saku into marrying her—but unlike other Cinderella stories, Hana has a bad personality by this point in the story. She doesn’t waste a moment putting a stop to the abuse whenever she can, allowing for a satisfying read.
Of course she can’t just pumble every problem as they present themselves, especially not the political ones. The ones that require some delicate handling do take a bit longer to come to a conclusion, and thankfully Saku is present to make sure Hana is okay. Honestly, so long as all of the abuse is acknowledged and brought to a stop prior to getting tiresome, I’m able to enjoy the story.
It’s very easy to forget, but there’s actually a mystery happening in the background of Hana and Saku’s romance story. It feels like such an afterthought that I was genuinely surprised when the final chapter focused solely on it. This volume only has four chapters, and throughout the first three, there were only a few select one to two line sentences about dogs being abused. At first, I thought it was going to be a plot device to show some grandiose monster coming, and that was why Saku was so desperate to marry Hana. It was not.
The final chapter focuses on what happened to the dogs, completely changing the focus of the story. It did allow us to see a lot more of Hana and Saku’s dynamic, so I can’t complain all that much. The two of them have very good banter, so anything that allows them to interact with outside forces—say, Hana’s classmate referencing how Hana is madly in love with him—is very welcome. I just wish this sub-plot didn’t feel so much like an afterthought.
Our protagonist, Hana, is the daughter of a branch of a noble family. Compared to her twin sister and older brother she is incredibly weak, earning nothing but her parent’s disappointment. As her parents are power hungry, they only put stock into the children that could help them gain something, leaving Hana behind in the dust. While she’s never physically abused, she’s all but abandoned by everyone, including her twin sister.
One fateful day, Hana’s true powers awaken. She quickly realizes she’s far more powerful than the apple of her parent’s eye, her twin sister, but decides to stay quiet about it. By this point in the story she’s decided that if her family would give up on her for something so trivial, she would also give up on them—why should they get to know just how powerful she actually is? She doesn’t necessarily hide her newfound talents for the sake of revenge, but rather because she’s grown apathetic.
The male lead, Saku’s, entrance into the story was rather…different. While he first lays eyes on Hana at a big family dinner—she’s has a typical not like other girls scene here, but it was forgivable—he actually gains an interest in her when he discovers how powerful she is. It’s made clear that he has not fallen in love with her by any means, he just needs someone whose strength can rival his.
His entrance into her life could be seen as a bit abrupt and jarring, but the two of them have such good chemistry that it just somehow works. Basically, he comes to her school every day trying to propose to her, and every day she finds a new way to run away from him. While that can sound a bit stalker-like, trust me, the whole ordeal is very funny. Hana just wants to live a normal life, so she runs away at the mere sight of the man. Marrying the head of a powerful family would bring nothing but responsibilities and danger after all.
Once Hana and Saku actually sit down and have a conversation they’re able to come to a mutual agreement—no one is coerced into anything here. While he chases Hana down every day for a little while, it’s only so he can have a conversation with her. She would run away at the mere sight of him, never giving him the chance to plead his case.
As with most Cinderella stories, just because the protagonist establishes herself with the powerful male lead, that doesn’t mean she’s then safe from harassment. Hana is actually abused more after moving in with him—his mother and brother both dislike Hana; Hana’s family is outraged that her twin sister wasn’t chosen; her classmates believe she brainwashed Saku into marrying her—but unlike other Cinderella stories, Hana has a bad personality by this point in the story. She doesn’t waste a moment putting a stop to the abuse whenever she can, allowing for a satisfying read.
Of course she can’t just pumble every problem as they present themselves, especially not the political ones. The ones that require some delicate handling do take a bit longer to come to a conclusion, and thankfully Saku is present to make sure Hana is okay. Honestly, so long as all of the abuse is acknowledged and brought to a stop prior to getting tiresome, I’m able to enjoy the story.
It’s very easy to forget, but there’s actually a mystery happening in the background of Hana and Saku’s romance story. It feels like such an afterthought that I was genuinely surprised when the final chapter focused solely on it. This volume only has four chapters, and throughout the first three, there were only a few select one to two line sentences about dogs being abused. At first, I thought it was going to be a plot device to show some grandiose monster coming, and that was why Saku was so desperate to marry Hana. It was not.
The final chapter focuses on what happened to the dogs, completely changing the focus of the story. It did allow us to see a lot more of Hana and Saku’s dynamic, so I can’t complain all that much. The two of them have very good banter, so anything that allows them to interact with outside forces—say, Hana’s classmate referencing how Hana is madly in love with him—is very welcome. I just wish this sub-plot didn’t feel so much like an afterthought.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2024
📖 The manga starts off with things quickly going downhill between Hana and Hazuki. Their parents' blatant favouritism for Hazuki, the only one with the human-like Shikigami, that requires enormous power, drives a wedge in their sweet relationship. Hazuki is now the hope of the clan, and not Hana. She's merely "Hazuki's scraps".
The depiction of the parents is : well done. Even though the glimpse into their childhood was brief, it managed to showcase how cruel Hana's upbringing was.
📖 The turnaround arrives when Hana discovers her own powers on her fifteenth birthday. It's enough to summon two human-like Shikigamis, besides the butterfly she already had. However, already embittered by the practitioners and their cruelties, Hana quickly resolves to hide it : she does not want the life of pressure and expectations that Hazuki leads. In this part, I felt absolutely glad, but I think there could have been a bit more focus on how Hana learnt to control and hide her powers from prying eyes. In general, I would have liked to see her adventures with her newfound powers a bit more.
📖 The storyline progresses into an expected point of marriage of convenience, when the new Lord sets his eyes on Hana (instead of Hazuki) after realising her powers. Hana agrees, because, it seems like she has a lot to gain from the contract. The reader gets a sense of justice, when Saku approaches her frigid parents for Hana's hand in marriage, instead of the daughter they had so carefully crafted to be a Lady of the Clan : and there is also a sense of abject sorrow when one wonders what Hazuki had to face after Hana left with her triumph.
📖 There's a (sudden!) kiss. I do think that could have happened a bit later, given the circumstances : it made the plot feel a tad bit rushed.
📖 The art style is rather adorable and well done, the dialogues are concise and well framed. The storyline is a concoction of various young adult tropes : marriage of convenience, fake dating, first love, etc., and it doesn't fail to exercise it's own charm. With Saku's strict mother in the picture, I'm definitely anticipating the next volume : to see how they navigate the social hurdles while attempting to keep Hana's powers a secret.
Overall, a fun read with nostalgic themes!
The depiction of the parents is : well done. Even though the glimpse into their childhood was brief, it managed to showcase how cruel Hana's upbringing was.
📖 The turnaround arrives when Hana discovers her own powers on her fifteenth birthday. It's enough to summon two human-like Shikigamis, besides the butterfly she already had. However, already embittered by the practitioners and their cruelties, Hana quickly resolves to hide it : she does not want the life of pressure and expectations that Hazuki leads. In this part, I felt absolutely glad, but I think there could have been a bit more focus on how Hana learnt to control and hide her powers from prying eyes. In general, I would have liked to see her adventures with her newfound powers a bit more.
📖 The storyline progresses into an expected point of marriage of convenience, when the new Lord sets his eyes on Hana (instead of Hazuki) after realising her powers. Hana agrees, because, it seems like she has a lot to gain from the contract. The reader gets a sense of justice, when Saku approaches her frigid parents for Hana's hand in marriage, instead of the daughter they had so carefully crafted to be a Lady of the Clan : and there is also a sense of abject sorrow when one wonders what Hazuki had to face after Hana left with her triumph.
📖 There's a (sudden!) kiss. I do think that could have happened a bit later, given the circumstances : it made the plot feel a tad bit rushed.
📖 The art style is rather adorable and well done, the dialogues are concise and well framed. The storyline is a concoction of various young adult tropes : marriage of convenience, fake dating, first love, etc., and it doesn't fail to exercise it's own charm. With Saku's strict mother in the picture, I'm definitely anticipating the next volume : to see how they navigate the social hurdles while attempting to keep Hana's powers a secret.
Overall, a fun read with nostalgic themes!
July 13, 2024
Hazuki y Hana son dos hermanas gemelas que nacieron dentro de una de las ramas del clan Ichinomiya, una de las cinco familias que tienen el deber de proteger los pilares que sostienen a su nación. Los enemigos son llamados sombras, y solo pueden ser combatidos por los practicantes capaces de invocar shikigamis y tejer barreras.
El inicio me recordó a otras historias donde la protagonista es maltratada o ignorada por sus familiares debido a sus débiles poderes (por ejemplo Miyo en Happy Marriage), ya que Hana es comparada con su hermana mayor, quien al principio era más poderosa, hasta el punto de que Hana es conocida como "las sobras o la basura" de Hazuki.
Algo que me agradó mucho es cómo responde Hana a este acoso, ya que decide deslindarse casi por completo de ese mundo con sombras y practicantes, aspirando a una vida sencilla con un trabajo normal y vivir una feliz jubilación. Incluso luego de que sus verdaderos poderes despierten, ella escoge mantenerlos ocultos y dejar que sigan menospreciándola. Ese era el plan hasta que entra en escena Saku Ichinomiya, el nuevo jefe del clan, cuando la descubre eliminando a una poderosa sombra sin esfuerzo.
Oh... cómo me encantaron las interacciones entre Hana y Saku. No es exactamente un rivals to lovers, pero si tienen varios duelos verbales entre ellos. Es genial observar la evolución de su relación, que va de un matrimonio por contrato, a un trato casi de amigos, hasta que surgen los sentimientos románticos (al menos él se enamora primero, pues Hana todavía tiene algunas barreras debido a la forma en que creció). Tengo deseos de ver qué pasará en el próximo libro.
Había pensado darle cinco estrellas, porque en serio me estaba gustando mucho la lectura, sin embargo, en el último capítulo me pareció que los eventos se describen de forma muy escueta y con prisas, por eso se queda con sólo cuatro.
El inicio me recordó a otras historias donde la protagonista es maltratada o ignorada por sus familiares debido a sus débiles poderes (por ejemplo Miyo en Happy Marriage), ya que Hana es comparada con su hermana mayor, quien al principio era más poderosa, hasta el punto de que Hana es conocida como "las sobras o la basura" de Hazuki.
Algo que me agradó mucho es cómo responde Hana a este acoso, ya que decide deslindarse casi por completo de ese mundo con sombras y practicantes, aspirando a una vida sencilla con un trabajo normal y vivir una feliz jubilación. Incluso luego de que sus verdaderos poderes despierten, ella escoge mantenerlos ocultos y dejar que sigan menospreciándola. Ese era el plan hasta que entra en escena Saku Ichinomiya, el nuevo jefe del clan, cuando la descubre eliminando a una poderosa sombra sin esfuerzo.
Oh... cómo me encantaron las interacciones entre Hana y Saku. No es exactamente un rivals to lovers, pero si tienen varios duelos verbales entre ellos. Es genial observar la evolución de su relación, que va de un matrimonio por contrato, a un trato casi de amigos, hasta que surgen los sentimientos románticos (al menos él se enamora primero, pues Hana todavía tiene algunas barreras debido a la forma en que creció). Tengo deseos de ver qué pasará en el próximo libro.
Había pensado darle cinco estrellas, porque en serio me estaba gustando mucho la lectura, sin embargo, en el último capítulo me pareció que los eventos se describen de forma muy escueta y con prisas, por eso se queda con sólo cuatro.
November 16, 2023
Caniving and underhanded foundation
I find it strange that they keep referring to Hana as having a warped personality. The only thing she has that's out of the ordinary is a complete lack of respect towards her parents, which is completely grounded on the fact that they virtually abandoned her. Might be a cultural thing, maybe it's just a societal thing. The idea that you must be filial regardless of how you're treated is something that just doesn't jive with me. I think parents should not be given respect just because they're your parents, you should be grateful if they keep you alive but that's the bare minimum. Human beings are not pets. That aside, the relationship between the two main characters is delightful. They have a wonderful chemistry of comfortable teasing and an "I don't care what you say" personality. I think they make a really good couple, but I really don't like the trickery in the marriage contract. I get that it's a device to keep them together but at the same time it makes the relationship built on really bad things. Lies and deceit in such a way borderline rape. As long as he doesn't take it that far, before she does actually fall in love with him, then it's okay? I don't know it leaves in off taste in my mouth. Regardless, I think I do want to read the next volume. Give my final judgment there.
On a side note, I'm not sure why but for some reason I didn't think it would be based in modern Japan. I'd have to go back and read the description again but I feel like when I read the description there were no implications that it was a modern Japan setting. Not that it makes that big of a difference, it's just school days slice of life resulting genre instead of fantasy settings school days slice of life... But figured I'd mention it.
I find it strange that they keep referring to Hana as having a warped personality. The only thing she has that's out of the ordinary is a complete lack of respect towards her parents, which is completely grounded on the fact that they virtually abandoned her. Might be a cultural thing, maybe it's just a societal thing. The idea that you must be filial regardless of how you're treated is something that just doesn't jive with me. I think parents should not be given respect just because they're your parents, you should be grateful if they keep you alive but that's the bare minimum. Human beings are not pets. That aside, the relationship between the two main characters is delightful. They have a wonderful chemistry of comfortable teasing and an "I don't care what you say" personality. I think they make a really good couple, but I really don't like the trickery in the marriage contract. I get that it's a device to keep them together but at the same time it makes the relationship built on really bad things. Lies and deceit in such a way borderline rape. As long as he doesn't take it that far, before she does actually fall in love with him, then it's okay? I don't know it leaves in off taste in my mouth. Regardless, I think I do want to read the next volume. Give my final judgment there.
On a side note, I'm not sure why but for some reason I didn't think it would be based in modern Japan. I'd have to go back and read the description again but I feel like when I read the description there were no implications that it was a modern Japan setting. Not that it makes that big of a difference, it's just school days slice of life resulting genre instead of fantasy settings school days slice of life... But figured I'd mention it.
January 2, 2024
Hana is determined to live her life on her terms, especially after long ago realizing her family had written her off and didn't care about her in the least, all under the assumption she was weaker than her "perfect" twin sister. Unbeknownst to them, following their 15th birthday, Hana is the stronger of the sisters in terms of raw power, in addition to not caring in the least regarding following family traditions, upholding honor, or being browbeaten to behave a certain way or follow a designated past. Despite her determination to set off on her own, the new Lord of the family sees straight through her masquerade and seems to have set his sights on her. This is all well and good when Hana believes she's getting the better end of the deal with all of the compensation for helping repair the barrier, however, it seems Saku may be more sly than previously given credit for, and genuinely does want Hana by his side. Contracts and clauses aside, the question remains if he can convince her that staying with him is truly more enticing than all of those bonuses previously offered.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2024
3.75 stars, rounded up
Admittedly I went into this thinking it was going to be one of those fantasy stories with a historical-esque setting. But it actually turned out to be a contemporary setting instead, which was a surprise. Hana was easily the best part of this story, even though there were times when I just stared at the page and wondered what the hell she was doing and why. Her familial situation was perfectly aggravating and I honestly wished her treatment by Saku's family wasn't smoothed over that well either. In that regard, I would have loved if she had leaned more into her apathetic, unforgiving side. Though as much as I love a good old fashioned revenge story, I did appreciate the depth Hana and Hazuki's relationship was given; for all that I didn't like Hazuki as a person, she was undeniably a product of their parents' rotten upbringing. That plus the pressure of being the perfect child always expected to succeed... I'm curious to see how that relationship will develop now that Hana's begun overtaking her.
Admittedly I went into this thinking it was going to be one of those fantasy stories with a historical-esque setting. But it actually turned out to be a contemporary setting instead, which was a surprise. Hana was easily the best part of this story, even though there were times when I just stared at the page and wondered what the hell she was doing and why. Her familial situation was perfectly aggravating and I honestly wished her treatment by Saku's family wasn't smoothed over that well either. In that regard, I would have loved if she had leaned more into her apathetic, unforgiving side. Though as much as I love a good old fashioned revenge story, I did appreciate the depth Hana and Hazuki's relationship was given; for all that I didn't like Hazuki as a person, she was undeniably a product of their parents' rotten upbringing. That plus the pressure of being the perfect child always expected to succeed... I'm curious to see how that relationship will develop now that Hana's begun overtaking her.
July 14, 2026
I picked this up because I got hooked on the Ogre's Bride anime, but the novels (by the same author as this series) haven't been translated yet. If you're also coming from that as well, the basic premise is similar, but the execution and tone are vastly different.
It's much more of a comedy with the main character constantly cracking jokes. There's also a bit of power fantasy shenanigans, but it's mostly utilised such that she is much more proactive. Her chemistry with the male lead is entertaining and well written (despite the odd sussy joke) so I'm looking forward to reading the second volume.
It's much more of a comedy with the main character constantly cracking jokes. There's also a bit of power fantasy shenanigans, but it's mostly utilised such that she is much more proactive. Her chemistry with the male lead is entertaining and well written (despite the odd sussy joke) so I'm looking forward to reading the second volume.
January 24, 2023
Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this one. I wasn't expecting much, probably because of the old-fashioned title, but it was really a solid story. It had a good plot and interesting characters. I really got immersed in the entire magical world that the author invented. I could easily consume volumes of stories, not just about the main pair, but simply set in this fantasy world. This particular volume was just a toe dipped in water. Although it was amazing in itself, its potential is even more immense. I'm really looking forward to reading the next volume.
March 10, 2023
really entertaining
I really energized this, I hope there’s more… The characters are rich, and the pots are interesting and entertaining. I like the character development, and it leads you to want to know more about all of them.
I really energized this, I hope there’s more… The characters are rich, and the pots are interesting and entertaining. I like the character development, and it leads you to want to know more about all of them.
March 31, 2023
Fun read! Their dynamic doesn’t start as lovers so I really enjoyed the teasing 😭 but this age gap of six years is so sus man 💀💀 especially given the ending like come on Saku you’re 24 😭 she just turned 18 WYM!!!!!!!!!!
June 15, 2023
Definitely not high-brow literature and quite a few sections are awkwardly worded, but I can’t deny my entertainment. I like the female protagonist and how she deals with the situations she’s been handed. I’ll be picking up the second book.
May 7, 2025
When I first watched My Happy Marriage, I thought the premise had been done before and that there was nothing particularly unique about it.
And this book is a spawn of My Happy Marriage.
That isn't bad in and of itself. I'm a sucker for the isekai genre/trope and despite people complaining about how everything is a copy of each other, I still read on. But I do still have standards.
And Hana isn't meeting those standards. I think she's supposed to be that one determining character which sets the story apart from My Happy Marriage, the answer to the question: What if Miyo grew a spine? Well, turns out I prefer Miyo after all, to this Mary Hana Sue.
The rest of the characters are bland and the romance is bleh. Beautiful cover art, though.
And this book is a spawn of My Happy Marriage.
That isn't bad in and of itself. I'm a sucker for the isekai genre/trope and despite people complaining about how everything is a copy of each other, I still read on. But I do still have standards.
And Hana isn't meeting those standards. I think she's supposed to be that one determining character which sets the story apart from My Happy Marriage, the answer to the question: What if Miyo grew a spine? Well, turns out I prefer Miyo after all, to this Mary Hana Sue.
The rest of the characters are bland and the romance is bleh. Beautiful cover art, though.
May 8, 2026
Nope can't be bothered. Whenever I think it will actually turn interesting we get hit with even more exposition. Like for f sakes let us learn of Hana's life as we go through the story. Why do you feel the need to dump everything within the first chapter.
Not gonna continue. It's not worth my time
Not gonna continue. It's not worth my time
January 31, 2023
Classic toxic shoujo where readers are supposed to swoon over lines such as, "There are times when 'no' actually means 'more.'" and "if you don't like it, why don't you push me away?"
March 10, 2023
It’s like my happy marriage but in a lighter tone.
March 14, 2023
Very entertaining and the main girl is def my favorite. With a messed up personality and being strong to boot while aso accidentally getting stronger. I can’t wait for book 2
July 6, 2023
Finished in one sitting. I’m looking forward to the second book!
July 15, 2023
I enjoyed the premise but disliked the reveal of Hana's true powers. I feel it could have been better timed, though did enjoy it being her showing up Sato's brother.
August 15, 2023
A little choppy at times, but good world building and interesting premise. Excited for the sequel!
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