What do you think?
Rate this book
狼と香辛料 [Ookami to Koushinryou] (Comic) #2
Spice & Wolf, Vol. 2
Newly arrived in Pazzio, the traveling merchant Lawrence and his companion, Holo the Wisewolf, are poised to turn a huge profit on a currency scheme. But when the deal goes sour and Holo is abducted, will Lawrence's dreams of earning enough to become a proper town merchant fade? Or can this meek merchant devise a new strategy to rescue both his profits and the girl before Holo is delivered to the hands of the Church?
188 pages, Paperback
First published January 27, 2009
33 people are currently reading
633 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
July 16, 2017
This series is such a perfect balance of historical accuraccies in a fantasy setting! It's clever, has just enough action to keep it going, and a hint of romance without being too sweet. Definately one of my top 5 favourite manga.
August 8, 2010
Very Entertaining!
Read
January 1, 2024More tender and interesting than the anime ever could be. And the anime was great.
May 30, 2012
Stuff I Read – Spice and Wolf Vol 2 Review
So despite volume one not exactly knocking my socks off, here comes volume two of Spice and Wolf. I was hoping that the second installment of this series would amp up the action a bit, and luckily it comes through to some extent in getting and keeping my attention, though it does suffer from some of the same problems that bogged down the first volume. Mainly, the volume has a tendency to get fairly exposition heavy, giving huge stretches of text that are meant to show just how complicated a plot the characters are working with. And while I appreciate to some extent the way this series is trying to take something as oddball as trade negotiations and make it more exciting, there is a lot of this volume that comes off as a bit forced and falsely exciting, I guess. It’s a bit hard to explain, but the effect is a bit boring. On the plus side, the series does show some good interactions between the characters and Holo in particular is a fun person to be around. Seeing her interact with the male main character is interesting and more fun than the actual plot of the series so far.
But first my problems with the volume. As I said, it does go through a large amount of text, and mainly with the aim of convincing the reader that the plot that the characters have found themselves in with the changing of silver and all that is very complex. And so the volume pauses in many places to make this seem very exciting, like an elaborate game of chess that the characters are playing. But part of it just comes off as supremely boring, because we’re not actually seeing anything happen. This is all theory and maneuvering without action. So yes, we see these dramatic images of chess pieces being moved around the board but the actual motion this conveys is more like something out of a Phoenix Wright game, with the characters gesturing wildly and yelling over things that really seem more somber and restrained. And these scenes tend to drag, with diagrams and such to make sure the reader is aware what’s going on. And it does make things clear, but almost unnecessarily so, as in the end I really stop caring about these machinations because they seem so easy for the characters to figure out.
At the same time, the action of the story is increased, as the characters are attacked by members of a rival faction and Holo is captured. This does nicely raise some tension, as now we have Holo being threatened with being turned over to the church and such. This adds another wrinkle, but here again a lot of the actual action of these events aren’t shown. The main male character never really does much but explain things and wait. At least Holo is also upset that it’s not even him who risks his life to save her. But that the complaint is brought up in the text itself doesn’t make it less valid. It would have been nice to actually see what happened there instead of being told vaguely about it through more diagrams and plans. It takes a lot of the tension out because there really isn’t a whole lot that the reader has invested in the escape from captivity.
At least the character moments with Holo are fun. The art and the dialogue does a great deal to teach us more about this character, who is at the same time wild and vulnerable, mercurial and sensitive. The moments with her and the main male character are normally quite good, often at the man’s expense, because she is just obviously more comfortable than he is with everything. The reader can really get a sense for what she wants and who she is by her reactions to events and by what she chooses to say. She is definitely the star of the show, and the reason why I’ll continue to read this series for the time being. She cannot truly bring the series back from where it’s at, but she does provide for a lot of entertainment. She adds some much needed excitement into things, an element of fun. Otherwise the volume doesn’t do a whole lot, though it shows some promise of what the series could be if it concentrated less on the minutiae. That it could be better only warrants this volume a 6/10, however.
So despite volume one not exactly knocking my socks off, here comes volume two of Spice and Wolf. I was hoping that the second installment of this series would amp up the action a bit, and luckily it comes through to some extent in getting and keeping my attention, though it does suffer from some of the same problems that bogged down the first volume. Mainly, the volume has a tendency to get fairly exposition heavy, giving huge stretches of text that are meant to show just how complicated a plot the characters are working with. And while I appreciate to some extent the way this series is trying to take something as oddball as trade negotiations and make it more exciting, there is a lot of this volume that comes off as a bit forced and falsely exciting, I guess. It’s a bit hard to explain, but the effect is a bit boring. On the plus side, the series does show some good interactions between the characters and Holo in particular is a fun person to be around. Seeing her interact with the male main character is interesting and more fun than the actual plot of the series so far.
But first my problems with the volume. As I said, it does go through a large amount of text, and mainly with the aim of convincing the reader that the plot that the characters have found themselves in with the changing of silver and all that is very complex. And so the volume pauses in many places to make this seem very exciting, like an elaborate game of chess that the characters are playing. But part of it just comes off as supremely boring, because we’re not actually seeing anything happen. This is all theory and maneuvering without action. So yes, we see these dramatic images of chess pieces being moved around the board but the actual motion this conveys is more like something out of a Phoenix Wright game, with the characters gesturing wildly and yelling over things that really seem more somber and restrained. And these scenes tend to drag, with diagrams and such to make sure the reader is aware what’s going on. And it does make things clear, but almost unnecessarily so, as in the end I really stop caring about these machinations because they seem so easy for the characters to figure out.
At the same time, the action of the story is increased, as the characters are attacked by members of a rival faction and Holo is captured. This does nicely raise some tension, as now we have Holo being threatened with being turned over to the church and such. This adds another wrinkle, but here again a lot of the actual action of these events aren’t shown. The main male character never really does much but explain things and wait. At least Holo is also upset that it’s not even him who risks his life to save her. But that the complaint is brought up in the text itself doesn’t make it less valid. It would have been nice to actually see what happened there instead of being told vaguely about it through more diagrams and plans. It takes a lot of the tension out because there really isn’t a whole lot that the reader has invested in the escape from captivity.
At least the character moments with Holo are fun. The art and the dialogue does a great deal to teach us more about this character, who is at the same time wild and vulnerable, mercurial and sensitive. The moments with her and the main male character are normally quite good, often at the man’s expense, because she is just obviously more comfortable than he is with everything. The reader can really get a sense for what she wants and who she is by her reactions to events and by what she chooses to say. She is definitely the star of the show, and the reason why I’ll continue to read this series for the time being. She cannot truly bring the series back from where it’s at, but she does provide for a lot of entertainment. She adds some much needed excitement into things, an element of fun. Otherwise the volume doesn’t do a whole lot, though it shows some promise of what the series could be if it concentrated less on the minutiae. That it could be better only warrants this volume a 6/10, however.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2016
It's ok. I like the interactions between Lawrence & holo. Super freaking cute. But all the talk of competing merchant companies & King & privileges is really confusing. I couldn't understand. Hopefully book 3 will be better. If not.... I'm taking these back to the used bookstore.
September 29, 2020
Aufmachung
Holy moly. Dieser Zeichenstil hat mich beeindruckt. Nicht nur, dass sowohl die Charaktere als auch deren Kleidung sehr detailliert dargestellt werden. On top gibt es zahlreiche wundervoll gestaltete Hintergründe und Settings.
Auch der Erzählstil hat mich zugesagt, denn der Einstieg ist recht ruhig, wodurch man die Charaktere und die Welt kennenlernen kann.
Charaktere
Holo ist ein Wolf in Menschengestalt. Sie lebt schon sehr lange und ist nicht nur schlau, sondern ein echtes Schlitzohr.
Lawrence ist fahrender Kaufmann, clever und durch und durch ein guter Mensch
Fazit
Ein Unlauter erscheinendes Geschäft, welches in Band 1 auf den Tisch kam, rückt im
zweiten Teil in den Fokus (inklusive strategischer Züge zur Problemlösung) und wie es nunmal so ist, wird ein Problem gelöst und ein neues taucht auf. Auch alte Bekannte trifft man wieder, die alles noch viel schlimmer machen. Spannend, was?
Was soll ich sagen, bisher ist es eine wundervoll gezeichnete Fantasystory mit atemberaubendem Zeichenstil und Settings.
Besonders das miteinander der Charaktere gefällt mir sehr gut, denn es schwingt mittlerweile unheimlich viel Offenheit, Ehrlichkeit und Vertrauen darin mit.
Holy moly. Dieser Zeichenstil hat mich beeindruckt. Nicht nur, dass sowohl die Charaktere als auch deren Kleidung sehr detailliert dargestellt werden. On top gibt es zahlreiche wundervoll gestaltete Hintergründe und Settings.
Auch der Erzählstil hat mich zugesagt, denn der Einstieg ist recht ruhig, wodurch man die Charaktere und die Welt kennenlernen kann.
Charaktere
Holo ist ein Wolf in Menschengestalt. Sie lebt schon sehr lange und ist nicht nur schlau, sondern ein echtes Schlitzohr.
Lawrence ist fahrender Kaufmann, clever und durch und durch ein guter Mensch
Fazit
Ein Unlauter erscheinendes Geschäft, welches in Band 1 auf den Tisch kam, rückt im
zweiten Teil in den Fokus (inklusive strategischer Züge zur Problemlösung) und wie es nunmal so ist, wird ein Problem gelöst und ein neues taucht auf. Auch alte Bekannte trifft man wieder, die alles noch viel schlimmer machen. Spannend, was?
Was soll ich sagen, bisher ist es eine wundervoll gezeichnete Fantasystory mit atemberaubendem Zeichenstil und Settings.
Besonders das miteinander der Charaktere gefällt mir sehr gut, denn es schwingt mittlerweile unheimlich viel Offenheit, Ehrlichkeit und Vertrauen darin mit.
June 6, 2019
This was a good continuation to the manga. I enjoyed the plot and the graphics. It was well paced and flowed nicely.
The two main characters are great and it was interesting seeing some points revealed about other characters.
Most of the questions of this and the previous volume were wrapped up in this one, though problems or information that was revealed has been set up for resolution in future volumes.
It's a pretty good series so far and I'm definitely enjoying it. Holo is adorable.
The two main characters are great and it was interesting seeing some points revealed about other characters.
Most of the questions of this and the previous volume were wrapped up in this one, though problems or information that was revealed has been set up for resolution in future volumes.
It's a pretty good series so far and I'm definitely enjoying it. Holo is adorable.
September 1, 2019
Hoje meu dia foi bem corrido, e só agora a noite que consegui finalizar essa mangá, e devo dizer que já iniciei o terceiro da série, e estou me divertindo muito com esse casal, pois nada e convencional com ele, e então se torna muito divertido, e também devo dizer que já terminei a primeira temporada do anime e eu amei.
Não resisti em não assistir e bom, é excelente, devo dizer.
Bora Continuar com a aventura de Horo e Craft Lawrence..
Não resisti em não assistir e bom, é excelente, devo dizer.
Bora Continuar com a aventura de Horo e Craft Lawrence..
August 9, 2020
Nie podobała mi się ta historia. Niby próbowali z tego zrobić fantasy, bo dali furraskę główną bohaterkę, ale co właściwie daje to, że ona jest tą boginią plonów? Niewiele. Dodaje jej to tylko uszy, ogon, kły oraz wyostrzone zmysły, co praktycznie nie ma żadnego znaczenia. Według mnie ta manga jest nudna, za dużo gospodarczej gadki, nie rozumie się wiele z tego, co oni mówią. Kreska też niespecjalnie przypadła mi do gustu :/
August 4, 2025
2.5
Frankly not my jam so I won't bother continuing the series. I can see the potential but it does not do it for me. It just feels boring or off or however to put it to my brain. despite the fact I have read things more boring than this and enjoyed it. So I'm sorry this is not for me even if there are parts I did like about the concept and world.
Frankly not my jam so I won't bother continuing the series. I can see the potential but it does not do it for me. It just feels boring or off or however to put it to my brain. despite the fact I have read things more boring than this and enjoyed it. So I'm sorry this is not for me even if there are parts I did like about the concept and world.
June 29, 2020
I really liked this volume because there was conflict and a semi-surprising betrayal from a minor character. I got immensely worried for Holo but thankfully she’s alright. Now hopefully the pair can make a speedy getaway in the next volume.
May 8, 2024
Absolutely amazing. The characters the art everything is fantastic. For a volume that is almost entirely dialogue the intensity and the fast pace never slow for a second. This volume also shows the immense depth that the main protagonists have.
August 23, 2024
The plot involving the currency continues and its secrets are revealed. Holo and Lawrence have incredible chemistry and seeing them on page together is the highlight of this series so far. The art is detailed and full of life. The world building is also well done and fleshes the story out.
December 10, 2018
And even better.
4/5*
4/5*
January 13, 2021
I love this manga series. Holo and Lawrence are the best companions together.
May 9, 2022
Good plot and character development. A solid second book.
January 6, 2023
Rating: 4.5/5
December 11, 2023
I have no idea what's going on and the translation is a bit rough at times but I'm having fun.
June 3, 2024
1.75 stars
December 7, 2025
Die Storyline holt mich nicht ab. Leider werde ich mit der Reihe nicht warm.
December 30, 2025
The story progressed at the expense of the characters. The plot has become complicated but it put the heartfelt connection with the characters second.
December 2, 2019
Surprisingly, I enjoyed this a lot more than the first volume
January 5, 2015
I mean, how can I give it any less than 5 stars? Maybe I'm biased because I absolutely adored the anime, but I honestly can't find anything wrong with this manga. Sure, it's a light read. There are definitely more serious manga or books out there--ones about war, loss, tragedy, etc. But if you're looking for that sort of stuff, I highly doubt you'd be reading Spice & Wolf in the first place.
It achieves everything it sets out to do--forming an interesting conflict based on economics, building a realistic medieval world, and developing the relationship between Holo and Lawrence. I think I've read some reviews where people say that not much happens in S&W, and while everyone has a right to their opinion, I have to disagree. It's just that the plot development is subtle. For me, this manga is about Lawrence and Holo. That is why it's called Spice & Wolf, after all. So as long as their relationship is moving forward, I'd have to say that something is definitely "happening" on these pages.
As a side note, I absolutely adore the artwork and character designs. That's why although I thought about reading the light novels, I decided that since I was such a fan of the anime, I'd probably prefer the manga to the novels. And you know what? Totally the right choice.
Anyway, in conclusion, if you don't need constant sword fights and guns firing or magic or...well, you get the idea. If you're just looking for a smart read with witty, funny characters, I recommend picking this up (and, of course, the first volume) and giving it a try.
It achieves everything it sets out to do--forming an interesting conflict based on economics, building a realistic medieval world, and developing the relationship between Holo and Lawrence. I think I've read some reviews where people say that not much happens in S&W, and while everyone has a right to their opinion, I have to disagree. It's just that the plot development is subtle. For me, this manga is about Lawrence and Holo. That is why it's called Spice & Wolf, after all. So as long as their relationship is moving forward, I'd have to say that something is definitely "happening" on these pages.
As a side note, I absolutely adore the artwork and character designs. That's why although I thought about reading the light novels, I decided that since I was such a fan of the anime, I'd probably prefer the manga to the novels. And you know what? Totally the right choice.
Anyway, in conclusion, if you don't need constant sword fights and guns firing or magic or...well, you get the idea. If you're just looking for a smart read with witty, funny characters, I recommend picking this up (and, of course, the first volume) and giving it a try.
August 14, 2014
Holo and Lawrence might just be raking in the largest profit they'll ever make in their career together! But with great fortune comes great danger, and as Holo is kidnapped and is threatened to be turned over to the church to be burned at the stake, Lawrence will have to risk everything to save her...
Ohohohh~, Lawrence is beginning to fall for Holo~. Kekeke! This blooming romance is something I want to see struggle a lot, but I want them to end up with a happy end! I think that no matter how wise Holo is, she isn't very good at distinguishing her own feelings of budding romance apart from friendship. But, I'm the same way, so it's all good! L0L! But more than anything, Holo wants friends. She doesn't want to be alone, or feel loneliness for ages again. And honestly, romance is amazing and all, but... friendship is much, much better. You can be friends in a relationship, but then things such as sex and jealousy get in the way. I don't know. I've had quite the peculiar love life, I suppose. So because of my experiences, my views might be a bit skewed. Oh, but Holo really is cute. :3 And I enjoyed not having to worry about any nudity in this volume! I mean, it's nice to see every now and then, but if this series was just going to have a lot of nudity, I don't know how I would have been able to get past a couple more volumes. Smart move, Isuna Hasekura-sensei!
Ohohohh~, Lawrence is beginning to fall for Holo~. Kekeke! This blooming romance is something I want to see struggle a lot, but I want them to end up with a happy end! I think that no matter how wise Holo is, she isn't very good at distinguishing her own feelings of budding romance apart from friendship. But, I'm the same way, so it's all good! L0L! But more than anything, Holo wants friends. She doesn't want to be alone, or feel loneliness for ages again. And honestly, romance is amazing and all, but... friendship is much, much better. You can be friends in a relationship, but then things such as sex and jealousy get in the way. I don't know. I've had quite the peculiar love life, I suppose. So because of my experiences, my views might be a bit skewed. Oh, but Holo really is cute. :3 And I enjoyed not having to worry about any nudity in this volume! I mean, it's nice to see every now and then, but if this series was just going to have a lot of nudity, I don't know how I would have been able to get past a couple more volumes. Smart move, Isuna Hasekura-sensei!
June 16, 2017
I have a feeling I'm reading a somewhat iffy translation of this, since I'm reading this online instead of trying to find an actual print version. Also this is probably problematic, since most of the story lines in this series have to do with economics. This is explained within the story but I can't help but think maybe something might be lost in translation especially since I heard the actual English version is a very good translation. Anyway I want to read an actual print version of the manga (and the original novel) before continuing any further in this story.
April 22, 2015
Has a few more pages (100) than the good read site lists, and even though I'm not much for reading I did love every one of them. This book is the 2nd in the series and follows another adventure of Kraft and Holo, this time Kraft makes a bad deal and ends up getting tossed to near bankruptcy. The adventure follows them to two different towns, oversees interactions between two trading guilds, and ultimately results in smuggling gold. Excellent book, would recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2014
this book picks up were the first one left off. it goes deeper into this merchant and god combo. but it starts to hint at a love story between holo and lawrence. and in this book these more TAIL AND EARS!! love them i do got to say Jyuu Ayakura and Keito Koume did exalent jobs on drawing the characters and the surroundings.
April 24, 2015
Well, this volume was a lot better than the first one, though I will admit the coin selling/exchanging storyline is really confusing. I'm not really sure what exactly is happening on that front other than two different companies want to sell tons of silver coins to the king? Something like that.
Hopefully the storyline will continue to pick up!
Hopefully the storyline will continue to pick up!
March 18, 2012
The story is a bit messy in my opinion but the art is very good for a manga that is an adaptation of a light novel. I'm probably not following with the series, though. There are better series I want to buy. Sorry, Holo..
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews