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乙嫁語り / A Bride's Story #7
乙嫁語り 7 [Otoyomegatari 7]
第4の乙嫁、アニス編を収録!
旅を続ける英国人スミスと案内人アリ。アラル海にある双子の村から山を越えて南下し、
たどり着いた場所はペルシア。
逗留先の主人から歓迎を受けるふたりであったが、そのウラでは第4の乙嫁アニスが、
誰にも打ち明けられない悩みを抱えていた……!
姉妹妻と呼ばれるこの地域の習慣を題材に、いま描き出される真の友情の物語。
人気絶好調のシリーズ第7巻!
旅を続ける英国人スミスと案内人アリ。アラル海にある双子の村から山を越えて南下し、
たどり着いた場所はペルシア。
逗留先の主人から歓迎を受けるふたりであったが、そのウラでは第4の乙嫁アニスが、
誰にも打ち明けられない悩みを抱えていた……!
姉妹妻と呼ばれるこの地域の習慣を題材に、いま描き出される真の友情の物語。
人気絶好調のシリーズ第7巻!
190 pages, Paperback
First published February 14, 2015
15 people are currently reading
372 people want to read
About the author
Kaoru Mori
103 books847 followersKaoru Mori (森 薫) is a Japanese manga author. Her stories tend to be intricately drawn female lead historical dramas set in exotic locations like Britain and along the silk road. Her series include Emma (2002-2008), Shirley (2003-present) and the best known A Bride's Tale (2008-present).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
January 6, 2018
I had sort of forgotten I had been reading this series, so needed to go back to my reviews of the first six books. 2 ½ years since I had read a volume! This is gorgeously drawn historical manga set in the 19th century, along the Silk Road, where brides like the one who is focused on here are typically married by 12-13. We get personal stories situated in historical context, of course, and a close look at cultural artifacts and traditions. Strong girl (and other girls, and sometimes women) focus from Mori, who also provides afterwords to explain her process, talk to readers. Maori loves to draw period costumes, and maybe women in particular.
The focus in this volume is on Anis, young and bored and isolated wife of a wealthy tradesman, who is being visited by a westerner, Mr. Smith, but she is not allowed to see him, per customs. Her connections with men are very restricted. This is the first volume in which women in this region wear the burqa. But Anis discovers a way to connect with women, at the public baths. I should also say Anis is the only wife of her husband, though he could have as many as four wives.
She also learns of a practice with which I was unfamiliar, Khwahar Khwandagi, where two women can become “avowed sisters,” bff formally constituted for life. There’s an almost-marriage-like ceremony they go through, and sometimes they might even be buried together. There are financial commitments that are possible, too.
So Anis finds a woman very quickly she connects with, Sharine. Recall now, these are cis-gendered women, married. Then a tragedy strikes, which creates a change in Anis and Sharine's life, and necessitates a decision that Anis initiates, very interesting.
The art and history are stunning. In this one you have the burqa and also, in the baths, you have a lot of female nudity. As I said, Mori just loves drawing women, clothed or not! I would very much call this feminist work. The series would seem to be primarily about the emergence of something like a strong female identity amidst a culturally enforced oppression of females. Pretty cool.
The focus in this volume is on Anis, young and bored and isolated wife of a wealthy tradesman, who is being visited by a westerner, Mr. Smith, but she is not allowed to see him, per customs. Her connections with men are very restricted. This is the first volume in which women in this region wear the burqa. But Anis discovers a way to connect with women, at the public baths. I should also say Anis is the only wife of her husband, though he could have as many as four wives.
She also learns of a practice with which I was unfamiliar, Khwahar Khwandagi, where two women can become “avowed sisters,” bff formally constituted for life. There’s an almost-marriage-like ceremony they go through, and sometimes they might even be buried together. There are financial commitments that are possible, too.
So Anis finds a woman very quickly she connects with, Sharine. Recall now, these are cis-gendered women, married. Then a tragedy strikes, which creates a change in Anis and Sharine's life, and necessitates a decision that Anis initiates, very interesting.
The art and history are stunning. In this one you have the burqa and also, in the baths, you have a lot of female nudity. As I said, Mori just loves drawing women, clothed or not! I would very much call this feminist work. The series would seem to be primarily about the emergence of something like a strong female identity amidst a culturally enforced oppression of females. Pretty cool.
May 14, 2019
In this installment of this wonderful manga series we cut back to Mr. Smith and his travels. He is now in a region of Central Asia where the women wear burkas, and he is surprised to learn that he cannot meet/see the wife of his gracious host. Other than Mr. Smith and his guide, we are introduced to a totally different set of characters.
Anis is the only wife of a wealthy man who clearly loves her. She has a baby son. She is so lucky and happy, right? Well, while that is true, she is also really lonely as her closest friend is a reluctant Persian cat. One day she visits a public bath and discovers an entirely different world than she is used to, and her life will never be the same.
I continue to love this series, and with each new installment we explore lives of women along the Silk Road, and their agency or lack of it. Most of the girls are married off really young - think tweens/early teens, and their lives are governed by the strictures of the culture they are raised in. I really love that we see that different regions have different norms, and that is just the way it is.
Anis should be blissful all the time. Her home is luxurious with beautiful gardens, she has maids, and a husband who refuses to marry additional wives, though he clearly can afford to, but somehow something is missing. This feminist tale showcases the lives of women as they flourish in a world prescribed by men. This region has a tradition of Khwahar Khwandagi, where two women become avowed sisters. It's essentially a marriage between two women; a life companion who is often buried with, and inherits from the other. Mind you, these are not queer women, but rather a way to create a different way of being in the world. I have only heard about this kind of relationship in Chinese stories, though not as formalized maybe, and I for one love the idea of having an avowed sister. Why do we not do this today?
The art continues to be lovely, though very different in this volume as there is lots of nudity - we do spend lots of time in a bath house after all. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in this series.
Anis is the only wife of a wealthy man who clearly loves her. She has a baby son. She is so lucky and happy, right? Well, while that is true, she is also really lonely as her closest friend is a reluctant Persian cat. One day she visits a public bath and discovers an entirely different world than she is used to, and her life will never be the same.
I continue to love this series, and with each new installment we explore lives of women along the Silk Road, and their agency or lack of it. Most of the girls are married off really young - think tweens/early teens, and their lives are governed by the strictures of the culture they are raised in. I really love that we see that different regions have different norms, and that is just the way it is.
Anis should be blissful all the time. Her home is luxurious with beautiful gardens, she has maids, and a husband who refuses to marry additional wives, though he clearly can afford to, but somehow something is missing. This feminist tale showcases the lives of women as they flourish in a world prescribed by men. This region has a tradition of Khwahar Khwandagi, where two women become avowed sisters. It's essentially a marriage between two women; a life companion who is often buried with, and inherits from the other. Mind you, these are not queer women, but rather a way to create a different way of being in the world. I have only heard about this kind of relationship in Chinese stories, though not as formalized maybe, and I for one love the idea of having an avowed sister. Why do we not do this today?
The art continues to be lovely, though very different in this volume as there is lots of nudity - we do spend lots of time in a bath house after all. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in this series.
November 18, 2015
Holy shit, this book is gorgeous! A little light on plot, but you'll probably never notice that because you're too goddamn busy picking your jaw up from the floor due to the very sensual nature of the illustrations Mori decided to bless her readers with. Not surprising, really, as the volume is about baths, avowed sisters and the deep friendship between two women. It's handled with a light touch and with enough grace that it doesn't end up feeling like fan service; in fact the male gaze is completely removed here as the arc deals primarily with women! Mori herself says in the afterword that she changes her style relatively drastically in order to differentiate this light novel from the war and battle-heavy volume that was volume six.
That said, don't read it on the bus.
That said, don't read it on the bus.
November 1, 2017
Otra historia"de relleno" y es que, al contrario de lo que yo pensaba, parece que esta es la estructura de la serie, la de una narración principal que se alterna con historias secundarias sobre otras novias, engarzadas a lo largo de la travesía del antropólogo inglés, Mr. Smith, en su camino a Ankara.
En este caso se presenta la historia de Anis, una mujer rica de un país musulmán de Asia Central, que sola y apartada en su casa, busca establecer un lazo fraternal para toda la vida con otra mujer, el Khwahar Khwandagi, que incluye un ritual de hermanamiento que recuerda mucho a una boda. Por lo que he investigado, esta costumbre es real en algunos países musulmantes que Mori aprovecha para explorar de forma muy sutil la relación amorosa entre las dos mujeres en un ambiente opresivo, hay una corriente sensual y homoerótica muy intensa en la historia (Anis se interesa por Sharine, una mujer pobre, por pura atracción física, tras verse desnudas en los baños públicos. Algo que también resulta interesante, en los baños, un espacio de libertad para las mujeres, todas se relacionan con todas, no hay diferencias sociales). Pero a fuerza de mantenerse en la ambigüedad, quizá cae en lo inverosímil en la conclusión y el comportamiento y evolución de los personajes. Incluso a veces parece que el relato se burla suavemente de la ingenuidad de la protagonista. La verdad es que me ha dejado muy intrigado esta historia y probablemente no la haya entendido del todo bien porque quizá maneja unos códigos y una tradición, la del manga shojo y sus subgéneros, que yo desconozco totalmente.
En lo gráfico el volumen es estupendo, un dibujo exquisito, sensual, elegante y estilizado, entre las CLAMP y P. Craig Russell (por poner una referencia occidental), la secuencia de la lluvia es fantástica. Es un estilo bastante diferente al que Mori maneja habitualmente en la narración principal, supeditado al tono de la historia.
En este caso se presenta la historia de Anis, una mujer rica de un país musulmán de Asia Central, que sola y apartada en su casa, busca establecer un lazo fraternal para toda la vida con otra mujer, el Khwahar Khwandagi, que incluye un ritual de hermanamiento que recuerda mucho a una boda. Por lo que he investigado, esta costumbre es real en algunos países musulmantes que Mori aprovecha para explorar de forma muy sutil la relación amorosa entre las dos mujeres en un ambiente opresivo, hay una corriente sensual y homoerótica muy intensa en la historia (Anis se interesa por Sharine, una mujer pobre, por pura atracción física, tras verse desnudas en los baños públicos. Algo que también resulta interesante, en los baños, un espacio de libertad para las mujeres, todas se relacionan con todas, no hay diferencias sociales). Pero a fuerza de mantenerse en la ambigüedad, quizá cae en lo inverosímil en la conclusión y el comportamiento y evolución de los personajes. Incluso a veces parece que el relato se burla suavemente de la ingenuidad de la protagonista. La verdad es que me ha dejado muy intrigado esta historia y probablemente no la haya entendido del todo bien porque quizá maneja unos códigos y una tradición, la del manga shojo y sus subgéneros, que yo desconozco totalmente.
En lo gráfico el volumen es estupendo, un dibujo exquisito, sensual, elegante y estilizado, entre las CLAMP y P. Craig Russell (por poner una referencia occidental), la secuencia de la lluvia es fantástica. Es un estilo bastante diferente al que Mori maneja habitualmente en la narración principal, supeditado al tono de la historia.
April 23, 2015
This volume might come as a surprise to anyone who's been reading the series, which has been so far "family friendly" with brief glimpses of nudity. Much of this volume takes place in the women's public bath, and the women's bare bodies are drawn with loving detail. There's a lush yet innocent eroticism to the story of a sheltered young bride who desperately yearns for a female friend and falls head over heels for a beautiful stranger at the baths. At a political level, some may well take issue with the way the story elides issues with the seclusion of women and romanticizes polygamy (fair complaints), but as a sweet, romantic tale it's lovely and satisfying.
November 12, 2015
i am continually amazed at kaoru mori's ability to draw extended scenes of naked women without setting off my NO, BITE ME GROSS MALE-ORIENTED FANSERVICE reflexes. i guess it's hard to be bitter when it's in the context of super cute stories about female homosociality and friendship?
4 stars
4 stars
August 11, 2015
Miten kauniisti voi piirtää joutilasta hiljaisuutta, herkkiä yksinäisyyden häivähdyksiä ja sattumalta syttyvää suurta ystävyyttä...
December 1, 2020
La primera mitad de este tebeo es deliciosa: plantea una relación entre dos mujeres cuando una de ellas experimenta un flechazo al ver a la otra por vez primera en unos baños públicos. Mori transmite mucho ternura detrás del enamoramiento, en las visitas al lugar donde se ven y en la espera del momento de reencontrarse. Sin embargo todo esto se tuerce un poco por la necesidad de encajar esa historia en la del viaje del doctor a Estambul; como el hombre no tiene excusa para mantenerse en esa ciudad el tiempo suficiente para poder desarrollar bien todo lo que rodea a la relación entre las mujeres, esta se precipita y acelera hasta quebrar un poco la magia. Una pena que Bride Stories tenga que desarrollarse así, con personajes vehiculares, y no como colección de historias.
August 4, 2019
3.5/5
As with all the previous volumes in this series, the artwork is stunning (the detailed patterns and settings are gorgeous).
This volume focuses primarily on a new character, Anis. Feeling lonely, Anis decides to look for an "avowed sister" and convinces her husband to let her go to the public baths, which is where women in her village go to socialize and make friends.
I didn't really enjoy this volume as much as the previous ones (probably because the characters weren't full of life like the other characters in this series) but it was still very interesting. There's also a lot of nudity (boobs and butts - not that I mind) from the public bath scenes. I also thought the ceremony for becoming avowed sisters was intriguing - it's almost like a wedding ceremony where two women vow to be each other's best friend for life.
There will apparently be a bonus story on Anis and Sherine in the next volume so I'll be looking forward to reading that and seeing how they get along as avowed sisters .
As with all the previous volumes in this series, the artwork is stunning (the detailed patterns and settings are gorgeous).
This volume focuses primarily on a new character, Anis. Feeling lonely, Anis decides to look for an "avowed sister" and convinces her husband to let her go to the public baths, which is where women in her village go to socialize and make friends.
I didn't really enjoy this volume as much as the previous ones (probably because the characters weren't full of life like the other characters in this series) but it was still very interesting. There's also a lot of nudity (boobs and butts - not that I mind) from the public bath scenes. I also thought the ceremony for becoming avowed sisters was intriguing - it's almost like a wedding ceremony where two women vow to be each other's best friend for life.
There will apparently be a bonus story on Anis and Sherine in the next volume so I'll be looking forward to reading that and seeing how they get along as avowed sisters .
January 8, 2021
One of my favorite things about this series is the way they cover periods of history and areas that you don't normally see in other stories. The drawings of the plants and bath houses are beautiful. Oh yeah, a lot of bathing in this volume so nudity warning.
What really surprised me about this story is what I'd call a lesbian relationship in modern times. In the translation they call them "avowed sisters" or "khwahar khwandagi", but when I looked up the latter term to find out more, I only got results for this manga. So who knows how accurate this story was. In any case, it's an interesting intersection of culture, religion, and sexuality that I haven't read about much before.
There is a very good cat in this volume
What really surprised me about this story is what I'd call a lesbian relationship in modern times. In the translation they call them "avowed sisters" or "khwahar khwandagi", but when I looked up the latter term to find out more, I only got results for this manga. So who knows how accurate this story was. In any case, it's an interesting intersection of culture, religion, and sexuality that I haven't read about much before.
There is a very good cat in this volume
February 10, 2016
Another gorgeous volume in the Bride series by Mori featuring a new character and a focus on a type of marriage between two female friends. The art, though more simplistic than previous volumes, is gorgeous. My only complaint is the two ladies we're following aren't very well developed. Their story was a nice aside, but the other brides in this series are much more vivacious and interesting!
July 18, 2020
The story continues as … Mr. Smith extends his journey [into Persia]. This time, he is welcomed into the home of a wealthy tradesman and his wife, Anis. Custom dictates that, as a woman, Anis is not permitted to meet their visitor face-to-face, but even so, she counts herself blessed to live in such a beautiful estate and be married to a man who devotes himself solely to her. Still, one cannot help but long for the companionship of another person when one's closest friend is a reluctant Persian cat. In her loneliness, Anis visits the public bath house and discovers a place where she feels immediately free among her fellow sisters.
After the action in Volume 6, we are squarely back in the women’s sphere - this time in Persia instead of the plains of Central Asia. With the change in countries, we see an exploration of another culture - the burqa makes an appearance and more strict segregation of the sexes. This is a depiction which is more familiar and as a result, there is a shock of recognition when those parts come up. However, there was stuff which I didn’t know anything about - especially the concept of “avowed sisters” (Khwahar Khwandagi) which is a formal, life-partner / marriage type ceremony.
I’m got some serious homoerotic undertones with Anis and Sherine’s relationship. The way Anis looked at all the women - there was fascination and awe. There is no explicit erotic longing acknowledged by them but that is what I took away from it. I am so ingrained in the western idea of relationships that I immediately saw Anis and Sherine as romantic - but maybe this was common in the period and in Persia. I don't know but I found it to be an intense, longing relationship.
It made me think about the nature of desire - sexual or otherwise, or both wrapped up together. Despite what I took away from my read, it could also just be interpreted as an intense friendship too. The series doesn’t judge - it lets the women just be - free
The background and culture explored were fantastic. The beginning, with the gardens and water especially hooked me - there was minimal dialogue but it captured the emptiness of Anis’ life. The art was great - with a strong focus on the female form. There were all shapes and sizes impartially captured in the nude.
The theme of how different men and women’s sphere of life was both touching and sad. There was a panel where the husband wants the quiet of the male baths and she wants the chatter of the female. He was surprised at why Anis liked the public baths. He didn’t understand her fascination because he had never been circumscribed in his world. It hit me quite a lot.
Despite my fascination with the culture and the themes, I am giving the volume 4 stars. It was probably because Anis was too twee and we didn’t get to spend too much time directly with Sherine who seemed to be a more interesting character. The last minute drama with Sherine I could have avoided. It ended the volume in an odd place - it felt too pat and simplistic. Almost as if the author was trying to force these characters into a happy ending which wasn’t deserved.
PS I did LOVE the Anis’ grumpy cat and how it angled and then ran off in a huff when ignored 😋 — sooo cute
After the action in Volume 6, we are squarely back in the women’s sphere - this time in Persia instead of the plains of Central Asia. With the change in countries, we see an exploration of another culture - the burqa makes an appearance and more strict segregation of the sexes. This is a depiction which is more familiar and as a result, there is a shock of recognition when those parts come up. However, there was stuff which I didn’t know anything about - especially the concept of “avowed sisters” (Khwahar Khwandagi) which is a formal, life-partner / marriage type ceremony.
I’m got some serious homoerotic undertones with Anis and Sherine’s relationship. The way Anis looked at all the women - there was fascination and awe. There is no explicit erotic longing acknowledged by them but that is what I took away from it. I am so ingrained in the western idea of relationships that I immediately saw Anis and Sherine as romantic - but maybe this was common in the period and in Persia. I don't know but I found it to be an intense, longing relationship.
It made me think about the nature of desire - sexual or otherwise, or both wrapped up together. Despite what I took away from my read, it could also just be interpreted as an intense friendship too. The series doesn’t judge - it lets the women just be - free
The background and culture explored were fantastic. The beginning, with the gardens and water especially hooked me - there was minimal dialogue but it captured the emptiness of Anis’ life. The art was great - with a strong focus on the female form. There were all shapes and sizes impartially captured in the nude.
The theme of how different men and women’s sphere of life was both touching and sad. There was a panel where the husband wants the quiet of the male baths and she wants the chatter of the female. He was surprised at why Anis liked the public baths. He didn’t understand her fascination because he had never been circumscribed in his world. It hit me quite a lot.
Despite my fascination with the culture and the themes, I am giving the volume 4 stars. It was probably because Anis was too twee and we didn’t get to spend too much time directly with Sherine who seemed to be a more interesting character. The last minute drama with Sherine I could have avoided. It ended the volume in an odd place - it felt too pat and simplistic. Almost as if the author was trying to force these characters into a happy ending which wasn’t deserved.
PS I did LOVE the Anis’ grumpy cat and how it angled and then ran off in a huff when ignored 😋 — sooo cute
March 17, 2025
As always this is an exquisitely drawn historical romance manga by Kaoru Mori. This volume centers around Anis, a lonely bride living in seclusion who desperately wants to form a friendship with another woman. One of the household's maids, Mahfu, suggests Anis visit the women's bathhouse, a place where most women go to socialize. There Anis meets the mysterious Sherine and they begin to form a friendship.
The story of this volume is very simple. Two lonely women start to bond over the differences and similarities between their social situations. However, the story has some very sexual undertones. There are many chapters that are set in the bathhouses where the panels are filled with nude and voluptuous women. Main character Anis is drawn to Sherine because she has huge breasts. While previous volumes of this manga series deal mostly with themes like friendship, family, gender roles and coming of age, it feels like in this volume Mori is claerly describing a homosexual relationship. I doubt those were common in the Middle East of the 19th century . The way Mori goes about it feels salacious. It feels Mori doesn't want to explore a lesbian relationship but wants to boost the sales of her manga with copious nudity probably aimed for the reading pleasure of her male audience. This is also the first volume of the manga that comes with a full colour fold out page of, you guessed it, the two main characters fully nude.
So I was kind of embarrassed while reading this. This is not what I expected from this series when I started reading and it has left me disappointed.
The story of this volume is very simple. Two lonely women start to bond over the differences and similarities between their social situations. However, the story has some very sexual undertones. There are many chapters that are set in the bathhouses where the panels are filled with nude and voluptuous women. Main character Anis is drawn to Sherine because she has huge breasts. While previous volumes of this manga series deal mostly with themes like friendship, family, gender roles and coming of age, it feels like in this volume Mori is claerly describing a homosexual relationship. I doubt those were common in the Middle East of the 19th century . The way Mori goes about it feels salacious. It feels Mori doesn't want to explore a lesbian relationship but wants to boost the sales of her manga with copious nudity probably aimed for the reading pleasure of her male audience. This is also the first volume of the manga that comes with a full colour fold out page of, you guessed it, the two main characters fully nude.
So I was kind of embarrassed while reading this. This is not what I expected from this series when I started reading and it has left me disappointed.
November 11, 2020
The continuing adventures of Dr. Smith...sorta.
Just as a warning this series is basically Older Teen and sometimes has full on breast artwork as well as a some women drawn with incredible bodies. That said this book has a lot of upper body nudity as portions are in a bath house and the women with in are basically nude so please consider this before offering his series to a younger reader or if nudity in manga bothers you.
We get to meet a new couple as Smith finds himself at the estate set up by one of his friends. Our cover girl Anis is a kind and honest woman but she is not allowed to be seen by their visitors for they are men and as their host her husband works hard to entertain and help Smith experience their culture. However unlike volumes before with Smith being unable to be in the same scene as Anis the story focuses primarily on her and the discoveries she learns as her husband finds himself less able to be with her.
In a way I kind of feel this is not just a story about a man and a woman who not only are married and have a child but possibly a sort of female on female attraction (though the girl Anis meets possibly reminds her of her poor cat who does not like being played with very much.) Anis's new friend and she click and their destinies are bound as Anis seeks out her new friend as an Avowed Sister. Of course the blushing moments and interest in each other might just be a reflection of innocence these two women feel after growing up in a society where they are forbidden to show themselves in the open and finally being able to open up to another. Who am I to judge. :)
All in all like many of the volumes in this series this one was a piece of art put to a story about making connections to another and the bonds created from taking that first step. Hopefully Amir is doing alright after all of the hardships she had to deal with in the last volume and I will be glad to see what is come up next as we continue to walk down the Silk Road.
Just as a warning this series is basically Older Teen and sometimes has full on breast artwork as well as a some women drawn with incredible bodies. That said this book has a lot of upper body nudity as portions are in a bath house and the women with in are basically nude so please consider this before offering his series to a younger reader or if nudity in manga bothers you.
We get to meet a new couple as Smith finds himself at the estate set up by one of his friends. Our cover girl Anis is a kind and honest woman but she is not allowed to be seen by their visitors for they are men and as their host her husband works hard to entertain and help Smith experience their culture. However unlike volumes before with Smith being unable to be in the same scene as Anis the story focuses primarily on her and the discoveries she learns as her husband finds himself less able to be with her.
In a way I kind of feel this is not just a story about a man and a woman who not only are married and have a child but possibly a sort of female on female attraction (though the girl Anis meets possibly reminds her of her poor cat who does not like being played with very much.) Anis's new friend and she click and their destinies are bound as Anis seeks out her new friend as an Avowed Sister. Of course the blushing moments and interest in each other might just be a reflection of innocence these two women feel after growing up in a society where they are forbidden to show themselves in the open and finally being able to open up to another. Who am I to judge. :)
All in all like many of the volumes in this series this one was a piece of art put to a story about making connections to another and the bonds created from taking that first step. Hopefully Amir is doing alright after all of the hardships she had to deal with in the last volume and I will be glad to see what is come up next as we continue to walk down the Silk Road.
December 25, 2021
این جلد رو فقط چون ماجرا هاش توی ایران میگذره خوندم، وگرنه از داستان انیس خوشم نیومد.
شاید بد نبوده باشه ولی اصلا مثل داستان های فرعی قبلی قشنگ و دلنشین نبود.
شاید بد نبوده باشه ولی اصلا مثل داستان های فرعی قبلی قشنگ و دلنشین نبود.
February 3, 2019
So Kaoru Mori is also responsible for Victorian Romance Emma, an anime I loved (and a manga I have not yet read but definitely will after this). A Bride's Story is set along the Silk Road in the nineteenth century and it is amazing.
The eponymous bride, Amir, is only in about half of the volumes; the rest split off and follow an English anthropologist named Mr. Smith as he tries to get home. After the first two volumes it becomes very slice-of-life, which honestly I prefer; it lets Mori show off her research and truly incredible art, plus we get a lot more character development.
The basic setup is that Amir, a twenty-year-old girl, has come to marry Karluk, a twelve-year-old boy. Naturally the marriage is a little weird for both of them, but they're making it work (and being very sweetly cute along the way). Unfortunately, Amir's family has decided they can give her to a better tribe, and wants her back. No one except Amir's brothers want that to happen. Things get dark in a hurry.
And then get light again as Henry Smith, an anthropologist staying with the family (and a delight), has to make his way home through several other stories- the bittersweet story of Talas, a young widow; Laila and Leyli, a set of twins who would like to be married but to very specific people; Anis, a lonely young wife, and her friend Sherine; and more.
These are so good, guys. The story is well told, the art is absolutely flabbergastingly incredible (seriously, google this stuff), the research is impeccable. I'm mad the last two volumes aren't in English yet (or at the very least aren't anywhere I can get my paws on them) because I want mooooore.
The eponymous bride, Amir, is only in about half of the volumes; the rest split off and follow an English anthropologist named Mr. Smith as he tries to get home. After the first two volumes it becomes very slice-of-life, which honestly I prefer; it lets Mori show off her research and truly incredible art, plus we get a lot more character development.
The basic setup is that Amir, a twenty-year-old girl, has come to marry Karluk, a twelve-year-old boy. Naturally the marriage is a little weird for both of them, but they're making it work (and being very sweetly cute along the way). Unfortunately, Amir's family has decided they can give her to a better tribe, and wants her back. No one except Amir's brothers want that to happen. Things get dark in a hurry.
And then get light again as Henry Smith, an anthropologist staying with the family (and a delight), has to make his way home through several other stories- the bittersweet story of Talas, a young widow; Laila and Leyli, a set of twins who would like to be married but to very specific people; Anis, a lonely young wife, and her friend Sherine; and more.
These are so good, guys. The story is well told, the art is absolutely flabbergastingly incredible (seriously, google this stuff), the research is impeccable. I'm mad the last two volumes aren't in English yet (or at the very least aren't anywhere I can get my paws on them) because I want mooooore.
March 30, 2019
This was a very interesting volume, and brought a flavor different from the previous volumes. "A Bride's Story", for the most part, focused on the lives of Central Asian women living in more of a rural or village setting. Amir, our protagonist, comes from a partially-nomadic tribe and is married into a rural clan. This arc, however, focuses on a woman living in more of a metropolitan(?) area.
Mr. Smith and Ali have arrangements to stay at a wealthy man's mansion for the current duration of their travels to Ankara. Though the man is married, Mr. Smith never sees his wife, Anis, as it is custom for women to not show themselves to women. The volume is primarily about Anis, a woman who lives a carefree life with her husband, but is lonely because of her lack of company. When her infant son's nanny(?) suggests she visit the women's public baths to meet others, Anis loves the liveliness and social gathering of it all. She meets a woman named Shirene, and they become very close friends.
Mr. Smith and Ali have arrangements to stay at a wealthy man's mansion for the current duration of their travels to Ankara. Though the man is married, Mr. Smith never sees his wife, Anis, as it is custom for women to not show themselves to women. The volume is primarily about Anis, a woman who lives a carefree life with her husband, but is lonely because of her lack of company. When her infant son's nanny(?) suggests she visit the women's public baths to meet others, Anis loves the liveliness and social gathering of it all. She meets a woman named Shirene, and they become very close friends.
May 2, 2016
Amo esta historia. La amo. Me encanta cómo la autora se mete por cada rincón de Asia Central y dibuja las costumbres con ese talento para el detalle. En este caso el volumen se centra en una región musulmana donde las mujeres no pueden mostrarse libremente ante los hombres, y la historia en particular de Anis, la esposa joven de un acaudalado señor. Anis muere de ganas por tener una amiga para dejar de lado su vida solitaria, y apela así a la costumbre de "amigas por voto". Debe encontrar una amiga con la que jurarse eterna amistad. El volumen describe su vida, la sociedad que la rodea y sus tradiciones, y su encuentro con quien será su amiga elegida. Acá no hay espacio para "lo ideal", es muy directa ilustrando dichas costumbres que no coinciden con nuestra mentalidad occidental, y eso es algo que adoro =)
April 19, 2019
This was a really neat volume. We get to see some customs of Persia thanks to Henry Smith's traveling. This volume focuses on Anis and her longing for a good friend. I hadn't heard of the custom of avowed sisters (khwahar khwandagi) before but it makes sense that there would be some kind of ceremony for same-sex relationships in the time period; other parts of the world had similar ideas as well even when they weren't called "marriage." It's portrayed very much like a marriage ceremony in the manga and according to the end notes it basically was one. I was wondering if the manga would tackle more "underground" topics that existed in the past and I'm glad to see that was the case.
As an aside, I really expected Anis to be some kind of fairy or demigod. There wasn't any justification for this thought process outside of the wispy, ethereal design she has though. XD I enjoyed the volume!
As an aside, I really expected Anis to be some kind of fairy or demigod. There wasn't any justification for this thought process outside of the wispy, ethereal design she has though. XD I enjoyed the volume!
May 28, 2021
I have this unproven theory that Mori is gay for some reason. There's something about the way she approaches female sexuality and her art that makes me think that way, but I don't really like to assume how people are based on a couple of chapters from some random manga (though, I do remember a bonus chapter in one of the volumes featuring Mori herself getting all excited about some female guards so... maybe?).
Anyway, from a technical standpoint, this is the most beautiful volume so far. And I also like the diversity in the portrayal of Islam, up until now it hadn't hit me just how different it is from what I'm used in the media. I loved everything about this: the new characters, the setting, the subtle feelings arising in a repressive world...it's so very beautiful. A truly remarkable manga.
Anyway, from a technical standpoint, this is the most beautiful volume so far. And I also like the diversity in the portrayal of Islam, up until now it hadn't hit me just how different it is from what I'm used in the media. I loved everything about this: the new characters, the setting, the subtle feelings arising in a repressive world...it's so very beautiful. A truly remarkable manga.
March 18, 2017
The story was interesting on the cultural side, the avowed sisters was a nice custom in a part of the country where the women were hidden. I also liked the cat and the scenes with Anis and her husband were warm and cute. Otherwise, the focus on the public baths (with many nudes) and friendship wasn't really entertaining, it lacked the usual action, emotions, beautiful clothes and the characters I'm invested in.
December 28, 2017
I have enjoyed each book in this fantastic series, but found this volume, which takes place in the Central Turkic area, to be the most unusual. The story describes a developing relationship between two young women which is cemented by a union called khwahar khwandah. It is like a marriage in many ways. I am sure that you will want to learn more about this very interesting union so will do some searching after the book is finished to learn more about this custom.
January 28, 2018
In this volume we meet the beautiful Anis who lives in a gilded palace with a very loving husband and a beautiful healthy sun. Yet she feels lonely and when she convinces her husband to let her attend the women’s public baths she meets a woman called Sherine and feels an instant affection for her . The two engage in a deep friendship and when tragedy strikes Sherine’s home Anis asks her husband to bring Sherine into their family.
June 12, 2019
This particular volume was stunning! This is another one of our side stories that prominently features two women who end up married to the same man, while having a beautiful relationship together as well. These women meet in the bathhouse (as is the custom of the time) so there are a lot of naked women in this particular volume. Women of all shapes and sizes. All beautifully drawn.
PLEASE READ THIS SERIES!!!!
PLEASE READ THIS SERIES!!!!
December 17, 2024
This habit was quite interesting to know
July 7, 2018
This manga was sooo queer coded, I loved it.
We follow the story of two different women, one is rich while the other isn't and you can't tell me they don't have a crush on each other.
The writer even tell at the end that it come from an ancient tradition called khwahar khwandah and that it was basically a marriage between two women
We follow the story of two different women, one is rich while the other isn't and you can't tell me they don't have a crush on each other.
The writer even tell at the end that it come from an ancient tradition called khwahar khwandah and that it was basically a marriage between two women
April 1, 2019
Gorgeous and heartwarming
The tale of Anis and Sherine, combined with the sweet short story of Karluk’s parents, is a tale guaranteed to tug your heartstrings. Beautiful art, heart melting stories, and a bit of intrigue into Mr. Smith’s life... everything you could want from Kaoru Mori and more!
The tale of Anis and Sherine, combined with the sweet short story of Karluk’s parents, is a tale guaranteed to tug your heartstrings. Beautiful art, heart melting stories, and a bit of intrigue into Mr. Smith’s life... everything you could want from Kaoru Mori and more!
February 23, 2024
Very lush and lavish, much moreso than previous installments. Interesting historically too for the separation of men and women, but that women had, basically, a marriage bond with another woman. Warning, tons of nudity.
April 1, 2015
It is slightly different than the previous stories, though i love the main protagonist. This volume also shows us a different culture, and it is refreshing to learn about them.
November 20, 2015
Another wonderful story--this volume features a young lady from around the region of present-day Iran. Lovely illustrations and charming characters as always.
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