Vol. 1 - light novel, Spice and Wolf

Bought this for my girlfriend a little while back. This short little book gives a little more insight into the character's thoughts then the anime could have. Certainly worth picking up if you're a fan of the series, though it was a little shorter then I expected. Looking forward to vol 2.

*Spice & Wolf* is certainly a unique - but I think fun - light novel. Basically, it is not the thrilling tale most expect from a fantastical story. Oh, there is excitement in this first and other volumes, but that is not the emphasis. The main thrust and concept of the tale is one of the economic give and play in a setting that is similar to medieval Europe (and later) but different from it.

The story takes place in a land that is analogous to medieval and early industrial Europe, where there is a change being undertaken. The ways of science are overtaking those of folklore and tradition. Even of older religions. The dominant religion, which is basically a fantasy counterpart to Christianity, is even having it's power threatened by these new scientific methods of planting, of new commerce, so on, thus resulting in the Church involving itself in the worlds of science and economics in order to stave off any future difficulties. This is actually a key plot point and resemblance to the real world in that the Church adapts, whereas the old ways and old beliefs seem unable to do so.

The main characters are Lawrence, a traveling merchant, and his new companion, a wolf-god named Holo. Holo is a god in the sense of being a more powerful life-form, presumably created by the real God. The church is badly mistaken and corrupt in their single-minded hate of such forms. The adventure begins when "Holo the Wisewolf" stows away with Lawrence when he leaves a town he did business in.

Holo seems to live by "inhabiting" a pile of wheat. She came to the village centuries ago via the wheat she was bound to, and stayed there due to a promise to a boy in the town who asked her to help them. At first, the town appreciated her, but came eventually to view her as a myth or a demon of sorts. This is logical in a sense. Not only is she so powerful and different, and not often seen, but sometimes she had to make tough choices to do the job she was entrusted with. This meant that sometimes Holo had to actually cause bad harvests to allow the land to rest. Not understanding the science of agriculture yet, the townspeople blamed her and thought her capricious and mean.

Added to this was the fact that the newly developing scientific agricultural techniques could handle their planting problems, and she wasn't needed. Faced with this new independence, the increasing belief and scorn the townspeople had for her, and the fact that the science meant that her promise was fulfilled since the people would be okay, she no longer wished to stay. She also seems to be quite homesick for her ancestral home in the northern lands. So when she saw her opportunity, she attached herself to a sheaf of wheat in Lawrence's wagon he happened to have ready to sell, and stowed away.

So the adventure begins, as they try to make an investment by turning a scam they fall prey to to their advantage, and avoid those who would see them killed for the sake of their own commercial prospects.

The story has many fantastical aspects, as I said, but it mainly doesn't focus on those, but on the economic, political, historical, and sociological interplay of the world the story takes place in. It's somewhat like *Log Horizon* or *Mayuu* in this respect. Indeed, while the fantasy elements are important to the tale at times, they take a second seat to the practical, economic adventures. Yes, Holo's wisdom accumulated over centuries and her powers are important to the tale sometimes. Yes, her search for home are part of the over-warching plot - along with Lawrence earning enough to start his own business, but the individual adventures are more these real-world areas with the supernatural in a supporting, not dominant, role.

I would say that that is where the charm comes in. The stories are about the intellectual facts of the story, the planning and gambits on economic, sociological, so forth, areas, and the interplay of Lawrence and Holo and other characters, not the supernatural elements. Think of it this way for comparison. The charm and fun of *Sherlock Holmes* stories lay not in the few adventure scenes, but in the intellectual mystery, the camaraderie of Holmes and Watson, the wit of the characters and so forth. It is a similar idea here.

Of course, Holo and Lawrence are both fun characters. Holo is wiser and stronger than most anyone else in the story, but lonely and needs Lawrence's company. She almost *always* (at least so far) gets the better of Lawrence in their banter, for obvious reasons like several centuries of greater knowledge. Lawrence is smart and tough for a human, and you wonder if he wouldn't be as clever as Holo if he could live as long, and together they make a great team. Of course, Lawrence often gets saved by Holo a lot, which I hear in later books she teases him about.

As I said, this is not your usual thrilling fantasy tale. Some might not like it and find it quite boring. I mean ideas and discussion of economics, medieval commerce and other facets of the series might not be to one's liking. Not every has the same interest in their cup of tea, after all But it might be worth giving a try and seeing if you like it. If you don't, so be it, if you do, well, you discovered a fun new series.

Kraft Lawrence is a clever traveling merchant traveling a medieval countryside hoping to earn enough to realize his dream of owning his own shop. His life gets significantly more complicated when he inadvertently gives a wolf goddess a lift away from the village she's been watching over for centuries. Wanting to go back to the land of her birth, Holo vows to help Lawrence in his trades in exchange for traveling with him.

At the center of Spice and Wolf is a well developed journey with compelling lead characters. This is a decent adaptation with good art. The story and characters are great, with the trading and economic angle giving this an unique hook and feel. But this is my third time through the material. Loved the anime. Found the light novel good but a bit dry/boring in parts. This is somewhere between the two.

Spice and Wolf remains excellent at its core, but there's not really enough unique or stunning about the version to warrant continuing for me. New readers will find a lot to like though.

Kraft Lawrence is a clever traveling merchant traveling a medieval countryside hoping to earn enough to realize his dream of owning his own shop. His life gets significantly more complicated when he inadvertently gives a wolf goddess a lift away from the village she's been watching over for centuries. Wanting to go back to the land of her birth, Holo vows to help Lawrence in his trades in exchange for traveling with him.

At the center of Spice and Wolf is a well developed journey with compelling lead characters. This is a decent adaptation with good art. The story and characters are great, with the trading and economic angle giving this an unique hook and feel. But this is my third time through the material. Loved the anime. Found the light novel good but a bit dry/boring in parts. This is somewhere between the two.

Spice and Wolf remains excellent at its core, but there's not really enough unique or stunning about the version to warrant continuing for me. New readers will find a lot to like though.

I love world building and this setting is a strange yet familiar place that draws me in with every page. The view point, at first, is from a traveling trader, a young merchant called Kraft Lawrence. One night when he is about to go to bed he encounters the harvest goddess, a wolf, in the form of a young girl - Holo. The history of this world, and the background of both characters, slowly unfold as we absorb the manga, enjoying each detail as it is given to us. Sometimes it DOES feel like a data dump. We get a lot of information about the Church, the economy, even coinage. Yet the story was interesting enough for me to buy the first text volume. This is one of those reviews in which I don't wish to say much - I don't want to spoil it for you. But on the other hand I don't wish to give the wrong impression. It's good but I don't think it's great. In some ways I feel the text novel is a tad better at delivering the story. Holo is a wisewolf but also kind of a flirt with Kraft, which seems to happen a lot in manga and anime. I think I would have found it more interesting if they were not at all interested in each other. I mean, she has ears and a tail! Looks cute but in real life he should find that a tad off putting. In the text novel he wonders if she is some kind of demon. He believes that in the manga at first. I would think it would be more realistic to keep that thought in the back of his mind - poking him like a thorn. It seems fun and mature but sometimes just a tad too fantasy for me. Even the map in the front of the book seems a tad too simple. Is this our Earth? A different Earth? A alien planet? Middle-Earth? Quarter-Earth?
I would suggest reading it but maybe getting it used or out of the library - if any library would have it.

I've been hearing a lot about this series, mostly from people who are saying that the series deserves more attention than it is currently getting. After reading through the first light novel, I can agree that Spice & Wolf deserves more attention than it currently gets & is sure to become very popular. I also want to let people know that even though this is NOT a manga, it is worth purchasing.

This first volume of Spice & Wolf begins with the traveling merchant Lawrence slowly approaching a small town rumored to worship pagan gods- if the local churches are to be believed. Once there, Lawrence is quickly sent on his way after he secures a bundle of wheat for sale. The town is in the middle of a festival where they worship their local deity (Holo the wolf god) in hopes of securing a good harvest next season- outsiders aren't welcome during this time. Stopping to rest for the night, Lawrence discovers a beautiful young girl resting in his cart- a girl with wolf ears & a tail to match, a girl who calls herself Holo!

While this is a very cute & interesting story, I do have to say that the translation of the source material felt a little flat. This can sometimes happen when something is directly translated & not slightly adapted for the different slang/speech of other cultures. It is a better translation than some of the other books out there, so readers shouldn't be too disappointed.

Possibly as a result of the translation, the story was a little slow to capture me entirely but as the story progressed & I saw more of the interactions between Holo & Lawrence & got hooked. An interesting point of interest to the story is that while the story is entertaining, it is pretty informative when it comes to trading & bargaining. Much of the story's plot surrounds Lawrence attempting to perform his chosen profession & Holo assisting him with the wisdom she's gained through living such a long life. To some this might sound dull & to some it will be a little dull, but the relationship between Holo & Lawrence as well as the beautiful illustrations will keep them entertained enough to keep reading.

I also have to give credit to the writers that he didn't turn Holo into an idiot, brat, weepy girl, or fanservice character. She's a bit arrogant, but that should be expected with a supernatural creature like her. She's not only intelligent, but she is realistic. I've heard that her personality here is slightly different from the manga, so if you are someone that has read the manga & gotten irritated at her portrayal, you'll like this book.

Would I recommend this to anyone interested in the series? I would- it is an interesting read & I'm intrigued to see what will come next in the series.

EDIT:

The initial review for this was for the novel version of the series, which the store somehow decided to link to the manga version. For my review of the manga, please see the comments section.

I must say, this make medieval economics interesting!
I am not one that can say I saw the anime first. I walked into this series blind on the recommendation of a friend who knew that I prefer to read the original novel before seeing adaptions. At that time the second book was available, so I read that first. I must say, as I've read the series, I've found that the writing gets stronger throughout, so that means the first was the weakest, but its very good for a debut novel.
The travelling merchant Kraft Lawrence is passing through a small village holding a pagan festival when he first comes across Holo, the goddess of the harvest. She has grown weary of presiding over the town and hopped into Lawrence's cart unnoticed as he was leaving, believing herself unneeded by the people. He discovers her as he's settling down for the night and they make a deal - he'll take her to her beloved hometown in the north if she grants him fortune in his business. They then begin their travels together, where they come across a young merchant who tries to hook them into a deal. Suspicious, the two begin to investigate...
All of the characters are memorable and the banter between Holo and Lawrence is witty and clever. I remember smiling as I read. I NEVER smile when I read, except for when the book is truly great.
Reader be warned: there are some pictures involving some nudity. If you are uncomfortable about that, as I am, don't worry too much as it only occurs early on.
I highly recommend this!

Because of the picture, I was worried that this volume was printed with the photograph cover-- Especially since I heard that for the original American release the Japanese cover was only available as a dust cover for a short period of time. Luckily, the dust cover was the American title and the Japanese cover was on the actual book.

Haven't read it myself, but this was a birthday gift for my husband and he was ecstatic!

Kraft Lawrence is a traveling merchant making his way through a medieval land caught between the church and the old ways. While passing through a village during a harvest festival, his wagon picks up an unexpected passenger. She looks like a beautiful woman, but has ears and a wolf tail and calls herself, Holo, the same name as the harvest goddess. Together the two begin a journey to return Holo to her home in the north, trying to make a decent profit while they're at it, but along the way they are caught up in a conspiracy, trapped between two companies who care for profit. Holo and Lawrence begin to see that, in the end, they can only rely on one another if they want to survive.

The Spice & Wolf manga series is based on Hasekura's light novel series (also available from Yen Press), with art by Koume, based on the character designs of Ayakura, who did the illustrations for the novels. Hasekura's story is mature in all the best ways: accepting of adult behavior and adult in interest and tone. The series will probably be something of a disappointment to readers who might be attracted by the M/Mature rating and the naked Holo.

Lawrence and Holo are trying to figure out the game that is obviously being played by a fellow merchant and so there is a lot of discussion of economic principles--not usually a topic considered to be smutty! As the two travelers become caught up in the conspiracy, the level of detail becomes greater, requiring readers to pay attention closely to understand the machinations. But it is obvious to readers that Lawrence's concern with economics is not only driven by his own pocket. He knows that destabilizing a country's money could destabilize the country itself, a nifty bit of foreshadowing that sets the tone for the volumes to come. Holo does spend some time naked, which makes sense when you consider that she is also a wolf. Lawrence is at first taken a little aback by this, unsure of how to behave, but there is a great scene in volume one where readers see him accept that in some situations--such as changing clothes after a heavy rain storm--modesty can be a silly constraint.

Koume's art carefully walks the fine line between showing Holo's personality and giving in to fanservice. There are a few very beautiful images of her naked where it seems more like the latter, but for most of the nude scenes, you can tell that Holo is a trickster who isn't above using her good looks to get what she wants. The fun is that she seems to almost be unable to keep a straight face while doing so, and both readers and Lawrence are willing to go along with the joke just to see what might happen. As the two become closer in volume two, the attraction between them slowly begins to move out of the realm of teasing and into genuine affection, which will appeal to romance-minded readers who are willing to be patient. The medieval-like setting is very detailed and the characters fully fleshed out. There are only color pages in volume one and they aren't at the beginning, but a little ways in, where Lawrence meets Holo. Her skin in the moonlight is breathtaking and those pages suck readers in the same way that that skin draws Lawrence to his strange new companion.

These two volumes are obviously only the beginning of Lawrence and Holo's journeys together, but patient, careful readers will be eager to see where Hasekura's tale will head next. Holo and Lawrence's attraction to one another winds gently around the conspiracy that binds them and it will be interesting to see how that plays out along their journey. A good start to the series.
-- Snow Wildsmith

by Matt Reeves

The Art of Adaptation

Mentioned briefly in my review of the novel by Isuna Hasekura, "Spice and Wolf" was also adapted into a Manga (Japanese word for comics) series soon after its breakout publishing success. With 4 books currently published in Japan, the series was licensed by Yen Press and released in English for the first time this April.

This wouldn't be the first time that a bestselling novel series in Japan was adapted into a Manga. It's long become a tradition for Japanese franchises to spread out into as many mediums as possible. However, when these cross-overs are attempted, there are almost always concerns over the faithfulness of the adaptation.

For those unfamiliar with the storyline of Spice and Wolf, it's the not-so-average tale of a medieval merchant who discovers a naked wolf-girl in the back of his wagon one night. Claiming to be the ancient wolf, who by tradition of the nearby town is bound to keep crops healthy, she wishes to leave her daily life behind and return to her homeland in the far North. However, she needs his help. With wolf ears and a tail, she's an open target for persecution by the ruling authority of the Roman Catholic Church. She wants to travel alongside the Merchant and proposes such a plan to him. Agreeing under the condition that she repay all debts, the young Merchant possibly makes the best or worst decision of his short career. With only this oral agreement between them, the two set out on their journey unaware of the life threatening dangers on the horizon.

I am happy to report that the worries over whether the adaptation of Spice and Wolf would stray dramatically from the original source material are needless. Keito Koume does an excellent job of staying extremely close to the original. In fact, much of the dialogue appears to have been taken directly from the pages of the novel, word for word. There are almost no noticeable changes from the novel for the most part, with the exception that scenes have been cut down for time and page count.

The first Manga covers the first quarter of the debut novel by Hasekura, beginning with Lawrence's arrival in Pasloe and ending with his heated conversation with the young merchant at the bar. Fans hoping for new material or better perspectives on events shown in the novel may feel disappointed. This is a strict adaptation that doesn't add any new material to the storyline.

Now for the next big question, how is the artwork? With the original novel already having illustrations by the talented Ju Ayakura, could the Manga stay true to the character designs while standing out as its own work? Apparently, yes. Koume's art style retains the basic designs while providing an original style that crosses between moe and pencil sketches. It's unique enough to stand out on its own and faithful enough for a fan to instantly recognize the characters. However, as one reads through the first volume, it becomes obvious that Koume is constantly debating within himself on how he should draw the main female character. In one scene, Holo may take on a more "cute" look while in a number of pages her design may morph into something more mature in style.

On the subject of the artwork, there is one more important point that will need to be taken into consideration before purchasing this title. Most Manga adaptations in Japan that deal with nudity in bestselling stories are usually famous for ambiguity, usually drawing any nudity without specific details to keep the age rating low and potential audience large. However, Koume apparently decided that he was not only going to remain faithful to the events but to the details mentioned in the original novel. What this translated into is that during the introductory scenes of Holo, her exposed breasts can be seen with all their detail as well as during the scene in the room at the church when she takes off her wet clothes. As such, this Manga contains a warning on its front cover regarding the content. Very few of the pages actually contain any of this material and it should be clarified that there is very little of anything "sexual" in this volume. Any nudity is handled tastefully and realistically for the sake of the original story.

To conclude, the Manga adaptation of Spice and Wolf is a close and faithful rendition of the original novel, but lacks the length and depth of the original. Fans will definitely want to add it to their collection, but newcomers may want to read the debut novel first.

An interesting take on the over-saturated "Adventure" genre. It follows a traveling merchant and a girl who wishes to see the world.... The interpersonal events and emotions make this a very fun read. It's certainly not for those wanting a thrill ride. It's just a sweet/funny story that will certainly put one's empathy on full display.

by Matt Reeves

In a genre that is as growingly popular as it is seemingly cliché, it's hard to imagine something coming along that could potentially shatter the mold, especially when it seems authors are bent on repeating the same formula over and over again. However, that is exactly what happened last December when Yen Press, a Manga/Graphic Novel imprint of Hachette Book Group, jumped into the world of Young Adult literature for its second time and published the debut Werewolf themed novel "Spice and Wolf". It was a big gamble with even larger financial risks involved for the publisher. Could a Manga (the Japanese word for Comics) publisher make a successful bid at YA fiction?

Before going any further, I feel it's necessary to explain something. "Spice and Wolf" is a Young Adult novel from Japan. It originally debuted in 2005 as an entry in the prestigious nationwide Dengeki Novel Prize competition, going on to win the Silver Medal to much critical acclaim. It was the young twenty-seven year olds first step into the world of publishing. One year later, the Dengeki Bunko imprint released his novel to the masses and from there it became a sensational bestseller almost upon arrival. To date, there have been fifteen novels published in the book series since its initial publication, with the sixteenth due in the near future. All together, the series has sold nearly 4 million copies. It has been featured three times in the yearly Japanese YA Book Guide "This Light Novel Is Awesome!", placing first in 2007 and winning the award for `Best Female Character'. Besides receiving mass acclaim, it has also been adapted into several hit television shows as well as a popular ongoing Manga.

Recognizing the potential sales and wishing to diversify its operations, Yen Press purchased the license for the book series and released the first English edition in December of 2009. It was the second novel published by their company, and unlike their first attempt, did not already have as big of an existing fan base in America. Facing the reality of previous attempts to publish Japanese YA, nearly all of which failed miserably on a financial and marketing level, the Manga imprint braced itself for low sales. Would Americans be open to foreign YA? That was the question on many peoples' minds at the time of release.

Leaving aside those details for the time being, let's get to the heart of the review, which of course is the novel itself.

Set within Europe during the Medieval Ages, the story introduces us to the laid back merchant Kraft Lawrence as he travels with his horse and wagon across the rolling country side. Moving from one town to another he sells and trades differing goods ranging from wheat to animal skins. The world in which we find our main character is one under the strict and oppressive rule of the Roman Catholic Church, but one in which the seeds of descent are spreading as rumors of Church financial problems surface along with higher taxes on trade. It is a world extremely foreign to our Modern settings and therefore all the more magical.

The novel begins with Lawrence's startling discovery of a naked young girl in the back of his wagon one night after trading in a nearby rural town, and it quickly grows stranger. This young girl has a set of wolf ears atop her head and a large bushy tail protruding from her lower back. All of this is made even more beyond belief when she announces her identity as Holo. This name is recognizable to Lawrence. It's the name of the nearby town's local harvest deity. "Are you a God?" he asks incredulously. "I have been called a God by some for a long time. But I am nothing as great as a deity. I am merely Holo." With these simple words, a heated discussion begins between the two. At the end, it comes down to a request from the girl. She has grown tired of helping the town's crops and longs to return to her homeland in the North. She can't do it on her own as she would be crucified by the Church if discovered. So a deal is reached between the spice trader and wolf. As long as she repays all expenses, he will allow her to travel beside him on his way north. Agreeing, the two start out on their journey, unaware of the dangers that await them. Could the young merchant have made the best or worst deal of his short career? Only time will tell.

What can I say about this novel? First, the translation is top notch. While mildly rough at the beginning, I would be willing to bet this is more the fault of the writer then the translator since it was a debut work, it quickly evens out and reads off seamlessly. Filled with witty conversations, richly painted settings, thought provoking events and intelligent well developed characters, there is nearly nothing to not like about this work of fiction except for perhaps one thing. It's "too" good a page turner. While the first three chapters for the most part progress very gradually, building up character's and settings, from the fourth on till the end it is a non-stop ride to the finish line. I found myself flipping through it so fast that by the time I was at the end I was frustrated with how quickly the story was wrapped up. Be prepared, you will want to keep reading even after you finish. The world of Spice and Wolf is not one you can depart from easily. Luckily, the second book in the series is already out in English.

To bring this review back around full circle, what "Spice and Wolf" represents is a shattering to the mold that has become Werewolf fiction. It has proven that you don't need to have a Werewolf named Jacob or a girl named Bella in order to be magical; that you can combine romance and medieval economics to give birth to something truly original and enchanting. Ironically and appropriately, it's published by an imprint under the very publisher that brought us those two famous fictional teens.

So how did it fare when it came to America? Better than anyone could have imagined. While not experiencing the same sales it has in Japan due to a lack of advertising, it has sold quite well and proven that there is in fact a growing market within America hungry for new stories and ideas.

So what are you waiting for? Go pick up a copy of this phenomenal novel at your local bookstore as soon as possible. You'll be sure to sink your fangs, I mean teeth, into it.

Excellent condition, I was hopping to get the dust cover version one but it was the regular edition. Also the only thing about the translation was the "holo" instead of horo, just a little picky detail.

I bought this title, because I enjoyed the anime version and thought a graphic novel version might be able to fill in some of the detail that necessarily gets left out of the former. Since the label for the product says, "Spice and Wolf, Vol. 1 (manga) (Spice and Wolf (manga))", I figured I'd get the first volume of the manga. Instead, I received a light novel translated into English.

I have tried reading several other translated light novels, but have yet to find one that is handled by a translator who knows how to make the words "sing". Instead, I am treated to an almost word-for-word literal translation of Japanese, or am stuck with amateurish attempts at writing, either from the original language or from the English writer's keyboard, or both.

This does not make me at all confident that this will be a good read, especially having noticed in a couple of reviews how the writing starts off poor but eventually climbs only to mediocrity.

I am seriously considering returning the book, even if I do have to pay to ship it back, because the false advertising led me to purchase the title, expecting one thing but instead getting another, less desirable, product. Do the publishers seriously think they deserve $10.39 for a paperback novel?