Things are back to normal for Sei, but a crisis in herb supply sends her and Albert off to the Klausner Domain, which supplies said herbs to the kingdom. Then things really start to happen… in other manga that you are probably reading.
This is, politely put, glacial without being interesting enough to warrant the pace it’s going at. The saint goes somewhere, a muscled dudefellow shows up, it turns out she’s amazing at making highly effective potions.
You would be forgiven if you thought that the story had, in fact, lapped itself at this point.
This is not a bad series and if you’re in a more charitable mood than I was reading this and just want the courtly trappings and the Sei making friends and learning of it all, sure, that’s fine. It just slows way, way down.
The art in this is beyond reproach, it is some of the most consistently well done in any series and absolutely gorgeous at depicting the vast land that Sei and Albert travel across. Even the nothing feels a little more special when it’s drawn like this.
And said art gets their occasional meaningful glance dead on, for as infrequent as anything in this story veers towards romance, which would spice up the downtime immensely. I did like seeing Sei having actual female friends and that they don’t spend their time talking about men. That’s a welcome touch of reality.
It’s not that this is bad, it just feels like nothing much happens and what does happen has pretty much happened before. The alchemist at the castle is a nice addition to the cast, but this story isn’t doing much with anybody.
It’s impossible for me to look at this story and not immediately think of The Apothecary Diaries, which also features a knowledge hungry protagonist, a blindingly handsome male presenc, and the peculiarities of medicine, but the magic in that series puts anything in this one to shame.
Obviously this is a fantasy isekai, but even the sparks that flew out of it in the first volume have essentially sputtered out for a very traditional form of this story, mostly held aloft by the art and having an incredibly charming lead character. It’s not that I don’t enjoy it, but this is kind of bland and I want to enjoy it more.
3 stars - if you like the life bucolic, round ‘er up. For me, I felt like I needed the patience of a something-or-other for sections of this one.
I was especially happy to see Jude once again!! And hear him more or less telling Sei how she is going to get into trouble with the Director for the high amount of potions she's made (again)! LOL! Funny enough though, she DID get into "trouble" with Johan, but there are more graver reasons as to why, which was quite surprising with that new development. (Though I loved how she was like, "Is it because I've made too many potions that we've run out of herbs?!" LOL!!)
I think I had two favorite chapters in this volume (which surprisingly weren't romantic LOL), with one being seeing Albert and Johan together and hearing the lengths they have taken to try and help Sei have a peaceful life. They're another "trio" where I absolutely love the fact that Albert fully trusts Johan because he knows that Johan won't try and "steal his girl." Johan cares for Sei just as much as Albert does, but it's not in a romantic way, and have deeply appreciated that throughout this series. I think that appreciation really hit home the most when Sei shares what she would like to do next.
And YAY for new characters! I have loved everyone (except Prince Kyle *rolls eyes*) in this series so I was excited to meet new characters even if I was sad to leave Magus Drewes, Johan, Liz, and Jude behind. They're all amazing and I especially liked how we still see Magus Drewes's excitement for Sei's magic before she embarks on her new adventure! LOL!
But back to the new characters, I really really liked Corinna! (Moments with her were my second favorite part about this volume!) I love her interactions with Sei and how she is willing to teach her new things, which Sei is always looking for (learning new things). I also LOVEDDDDD Leo! He's so fun and can really feel his excitement gushing off the page! I was surprised by that last chapter in this volume because his expressions were SO different compared to when he interacted with Sei earlier! :o
Now I know I mentioned that my favorite moments were NOT romantic but I LOVED the breadcrumbs we did get! Albert is one of the most sweetest and amazing guys I have read in manga because he is so so so supportive! The way he gets SO happy for Sei in her being able to learn at this new place they are currently at gives me all the warm fuzzies. You can really feel and see the happiness that Sei brings him and I love it! <3 Granted, we can sort of see that with Sei when it comes to Albert, but her moments of awkwardness in how she reacts make it harder to see, though I think Albert DOES see it. (She is way too adorable with her expressions! LOL!)
I'm bummed to know that the next volume is the "last" in the sense that no more binge reading these volumes because I'll be all caught up! *sobs*
I recently watched the second season of the anime for this series so nothing is new to me but it is still good to read which for me is a sign of a good series when I don't get bored reading it after watching!
Nothing really happened, but there is some obvious setup for things to come. The art is lovely as always, the story still has a sweet tone, but I do wish the romance would grow some legs.
I loved seeing sei in a new environment! she's establishing a name for herself that is much different than the various rumors allude to. interested to see what she can learn from corinna, and how her relationship develops with leonhardt...glad he and albert seem to have a mutual respect for each other.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Not too surprising that people seem to be attributing all of the rumors about the Saint to the same saint and not differentiating between the two girls. At this point in the story though, it seems most who discuss "the Saint" are referring to Sei as she's the only one to have produced the Saint arts at this point and has been the most involved with the excursions. Even with that, it's clear she still loves herbs and is looking at how to improve her work and skill even more. Fortunately, it seems she's getting along with everyone in this new castle as they wait for the knights and the mercenaries to determine what the next steps should be to deal with the monsters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
An herb shortage and a request of knightly support send Sei and the Third order knights to the Klausner Domain. Sei gets to learn more about this world's herbs while also doing her duty as the saint.
And then they meet the mercenaries who have been actively guarding the area in the absence of the knights. And all I'm gonna say is, if Sei gets Albert, I'll take the new guy. I love me a big beefy himbo.
Finally Sei gets to travel around the country to help around now that she has come to terms that she is the saint.... she still doesn't know how to activate it but its fun watching her trying to figure it out.... loved how people still protect secrets to protect future generations. Kinda hoped to have more interactions between albert and sei but alas the author keeps on teasing us. next volume please
Moc se mi líbila Corinna a její vnuk, velitel žoldáků. Skvělé přírůstky k ansámblu. Líbí se mi, že většina postav v této manze jsou prostě obyčejní lidé, většina dokonce pozitivně naladěná, žádní darebáci, kteří by se pro sebe pochechtávali a nakrucovali si vousy. Prostě pohoda.
New area to explore and better healing potions to learn as they head to the fiefdom that is known for healing herbs. The rest is introduction to the region and plot development.
It has been one year since Sei was summoned to Salutania and monster activity around the capital has died down but the other territories of the kingdom are suffering and requesting help. She agrees to go to the Klausner. From her work at the Medicinal Flora Research Center she knows the area is famous for herbs and potion making but they have been struggling recently. While Albert investigates the monster behaviors, Sei works with locals to imbue potions and meets the lead mercenary. * * * * *----------* * * * *----------* * * * * We continue with more slow paced slice of life. Sei meets and befriends a few new characters. The react shocked to her abilities and humility. While she is overcoming conflict in a way there is not any real tension. The artwork is still good and the narrative is not confusing in any way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.