Kaoru MoriRecensioni

One of the more heartwarming books in the series. I'm starting to become sad that I'm nearing the last of the published volumes.

A truly mesmerizing and delightful series continues.

This volume is really lovely. The camel shearing! 🤩

I really loved seeing the development of Pariya and Umar's budding relationship and friendship (awww!). Also, I'm in love with their traditional braided hairstyles and had to search for real photos online. Was not disappointed — they are stunning!

I don't have it in me to review each installment individually, but the series is still interesting, nuanced and educational.

What I'm loving about this series is that its tendrils are reaching out in multiple directions at once to pull additional characters, and their respective stories, into the tale. I kept expecting Anis to get hurt as she seems so naïve, but everyone around her seemed to have good intentions. If I were to find a fault with this series, it is that nearly all the characters, with the exception of "the bad guys," are almost too good-hearted to be true.

I don't have it in me to review each installment individually, but the series is still pretty fun, though this one contains a lot of conflict and violence.

I don't have it in me to review each installment individually, but the series is still pretty fun!

I will forever be in awe of the artwork.

It was nice to see all the characters again.

4 Stars

A book of odds and ends: cheesecake pin-ups, short stories about maids, promotional art for Mori's Emma and A Bride's Story series, appreciations of corsets, fireplaces and Agatha Christie. It's all a little random, but Mori's beautiful artwork makes the quick flip through it quite worthwhile.

FOR REFERENCE:

Contents:

• Foreword: So What is Kaoru Mori: Anything and Something?
• Welcome to the Mansion, Master! (Fellows! Vol. 16D)
• To Come to See (Megane Fellows!)
• Burrow Gentleman's Club (Bunny Fellows!)
• Baggy-chan (Costume Fellows! 2011)
• The Swimsuit Bought Long Ago (Swimsuit Fellows! 2009)
• Miss Claire's Ordinary Daily Life, Part 1 (Fellows! Combined Edition: Brides Story & Ran and the Gray World)
• Miss Claire's Ordinary Daily Life, Part 2 (Fellows! Combined Edition: Brides Story & Ran and the Gray World)
• Illustration for floating pen
• Cover Story (Fellows! Vol. 4)
• Maudlin Baker (Maid Fellows!)
• Fellows! and Me (Fellows! Vol. 17) [Collaborative story with Satoshi Fukushima, Aki Irie, and Kaoru Maruyama)
• Sumire's Flowers (Monthly Comic Beam September 2004 issue) [Script and layouts by Satoshi Fukushima]
• Middleword [Author commentary on the preceding stories]
• Book Cover for Fellows! Vol. 2
• (Untitled)
• A Brides Story & Ran and the Gray World [Illustration in collaboration with Aki Irie]
• Comic Natalie, Power Push
• Fellows! Retrospective
• POP [Point of Purchase] Slips of Amir, Emma, & Shirley for Kinokuniya Bookstore commemorating the publication of A Brides Story, Vol. 2
• Shirley & Emma Relief Plates
• Commemorating the publication of Emma, Vol. 10, for Toranoana store
• Commemorating the publication of Emma, Vol. 10, for Bunkyodo
• Commemorating the publication of Emma, Vol. 10, for Melonbooks
• Shirley Cospa T-shirt
• Emma Cospa T-shirt
• Fellows! Vol. 9, Shirley preview
• Manga packaged with the Shirley figure
• British romance comics fair paper
• "Emma: A Victorian Romance" DVD booklet
• (Untitled)
• Illustrated signing sheet commemorating the publication of Emma, Vol. 2, and Shirley (3/8/2003)
• Illustrated signing sheet commemorating the publication of Emma, Vol. 5 (4/10/2005)
• Illustrated signing sheet commemorating the publication of Emma, Vol. 7 (5/10/2006)
• Illustrated signing sheet commemorating the publication of Emma, Vol. 10 (4/29/2008)
• Fellows! Fiesta 2010 paper
• Comic Zin POP illustrations
• Illustration for Monthly Comic Beam's 10th anniversary celebration
• PR illustration for the launch of Monthly Comic Beam and Fellows!
• Signing paper for Machi☆Asobi, Vol. 7
• Karasawa-san's Manga and Me (Naoki Karasawa, Kasumi-den collected edition)
• Corsets of the Victorian Era (Emma Animation Guide, Vol. 3)
• Fireplace (Emma Animation Guide, Vol. 2)
• A Guide to the British Servants Found in Christie (A guide to Agatha Christie's Passenger to Frankfurt)
• Princess Festival (Fellows! Vol. 15)
• Afterword: A Milestone on the Maid's Journey

I don't have it in me to review each installment individually, but just wanted to say that I'm starting to get the feeling "bride" is not necessarily singular. Although I'd like to get back to Amir and Karluk at some point, it's exciting how the story is expanding in multiple directions.

I don't have it in me to review each installment individually, but the series is still great!

I don't think I have it in me to review each of the 14 volumes individually. Just know that I'm so far really loving this series. The slice-of-life writing style is pretty charming, and it's educational to boot. I plan to see it through to the end.

This extended manga tale opens with the arranged marriage of Amir and Karluk in 19th-century central Asia. Amir is twenty. Karluk is twelve. In this first volume, Amir becomes acquainted not only with her new husband but also with her new extended family and community, to which she brings considerable bravery and self-confidence, as well as a few surprises. Her native family, however, is having second thoughts about the arrangement.

I'm so curious to see how this saga unfolds, as I sense some interesting subplot tendrils spiraling off from the main narrative. I've already learned a great deal about the local culture, which is almost a whole vibrant character in itself. I've never read a lengthy manga series, but I think I'll stick with this one.

As always this is a beautiful, soft and thoughtful volume. Mori is amongst one of the most talented manga-ka I have the pleasure of reading.

It was both a heart warming volume as we followed how Talas and Mr. Smith reconnected and somehow tearful as she loves him so much, but is willing to accept being his servant because she does not feel worthy.

Her assessment of his character is spot on however; he is gentle, considerate and harbors no aggressive spirit. Together they're awkward, but genuine.

I wonder how their story will conclude, but I sincerely hope its a happy ending.

Prelim Review: I'm really glad that Yen Press decided to translate this little treasure trove of work from Kaoru Mori. Very few publishers deem collections like these to be worth translating since it doesn't fit in with established series. In fact though this collection of short comics, editorial notes, illustrations, sketches and whacky doodles is quite an insight into Mori.

Her trademark love of maids is ever-present in several tales, however there's also a comic about a woman explaining why she never got rid of a bathing suit she'll never wear again, a young girl's growing pains, a hostess assurance that things will never change, how to capture an elusive 'master' and much more.

Full review to be published at Poisoned Rationality

Prelim Review: Kaoru Mori is a favorite manga-ka. Her artwork is gorgeous, her stories are engaging without being flashy and her historical attention to detail is stunning. Emma (Victorian Romance Emma) was a treat for my eyes and mind with Mori's rendering of Victorian England. She uses small things to convey so much emotion.

This all said, her series aren't for everyone. There are very few 'action' scenes throughout her works. There are a few more in this volume, with Amir hunting rabbits or later Karluk's grandmother standing up to Amir's family, but overall one shouldn't go into Mori's work expecting thrilling action sequences that keep the blood moving.

Full review to be posted at Poisoned Rationality

Time for some new brides!

The looming threat of Russian invasion has some Central Asian clans considering a potential alliance. Marriage between two clans would help cement the proposal, but first the Halgal men will have to prove themselves worthy by defeating the Jandiq women in a thrilling horse race that takes up majority of this volume's pages.

Beautifully illustrated, as all books by Kaoru Mori are.

Diving into yet another volume of this manga is a sheer delight. At times I found myself moved almost to tears by the beauty leaping off the pages. I love the slow pace.
Longing for the next one now…

Honestly, I do not know of any other manga series that is more beautifully, lavishly, lovingly drawn. This is a feast for the eyes and for the heart.

I really like the way Kaoru Mori tells women's stories - women carving out place and space for themselves in a world and a society where they are not supposed to have either.

Let's not forget the meticulous historical research and all the nerdy details - in this volume, we went through collodion process photography in detail, and why not?
Highly recommended, and please keep them coming...

This volume was particularly excellent. When two separate het couple moments make me tear up you know it's serious!

A particularly low-key entry in the series starts with two chapters of what the ensemble cast does when they are bored then transitions to a slow amble through what they do when they have only minimal things to do. It's a lovely visit with terrific characters even if nothing much occurs.

As always, it is beautifully drawn.

As always, the art is beautiful! However, this volume was just less interesting for me, plot-wise. The first two chapters are literally about different characters being bored. Also, this volume does not feature Amir very much and she's my favorite

This volume is mostly about Pariya, which I really enjoyed. Pariya is a relatable character. While I love Amir very, very much, I also like reading about a character who isn't the best at everything. There's also some very sweet side stories about Amir and Karluk