While it’s been a while since the last volume of A Bride’s Story, it’s been even longer since the manga has checked in on the original couple: the young Karluk and his much older (and unusual) bride Amir.
A Bride’s Story volume 10 is divided into two distinct parts. The first (and longer) section is more like A Hunter’s Story than A Bride’s Story. The book opens with a textless two pages about a goat.
Yes, a goat.
Karluk is learning about hunting and falconry with Amir’s family, and Kaoru Mori — as she does time and again — showcases this beautifully. Mori isn’t afraid to show some of the slaughtering by both man and beast as well how the hunters snatch baby falcons in order to train them. And let me tell you, every scene with the falcons is visually amazing. These are photographs in manga form.
With the temperatures dropping, hunting becomes even more important, and Karluk has to work extra hard to keep up with the more experienced (and older) men of Amir’s family. While the age gap has always been a factor in Amir and Kaluk’s marriage, Kaluk believes this will make him more a mature, manly husband. With the two of them living separately, he has time to think about his relationship with her. Even comments about female falcons being better hunters than males hits a little too close to home.
Eventually, the two have a frank conversation, and then the story shifts back to Smith. Smith has joined up with a caravan, but the weather has stalled their journey. From his perspective, we see some of the old-fashioned ways of justice and a bit of the city life. This also serves as a way for Mori to insert some information about the geopolitical situation in the region. I don’t know if that will play a part with the manga’s focus on rural life.
But with the ending, is a new bride going to be the focus? It certainly seems so, although the new bride is actually a returning character. I didn’t really remember her, and judging from the note at the end, not many Japanese readers did either. It’s been a long time since she was in the story.
I could go on and on about how gorgeous A Bride’s Story is, and nothing should stop you from gazing at its amazingly-detailed pages. Story-wise, though, each part had some weaknesses. The first features some great insight into life as a 19th century nomad, but Karluk’s self-imposed mission to make Amir a happier wife ends exactly as readers expect. On the other hand, Smith’s section actually ends with a surprise, but the rest of it is rather dull. Shaving designs into camels is visually impressive, but the manga is called A Bride’s Story, not A Writer’s Journey.
Again, though, it’s the art that makes this manga the wonder it is, and while this volume isn’t the best of the series, it’s still a beautiful, high-quality work that should be added to your collection.