Specs
More Information
Reviews
(4.22/5)「お金は取れる時に、取れるところから、取れるだけ、取っておくものだ」
Book 1 had Myne at the absolute lowest point. Now things are finally looking to go her way at least a bit. The merchant Benno has agreed to support her and Lutz and possibly take them in as apprentices once they’re old enough. Their mission: Make paper.
Unlike the first book, this one feels more narratively focused. Myne is no longer fumbling around for possible things she can do, but has a goal she can devote all her attention to. This change alone already makes for a better read (as much as I enjoy slice of life, I do also like plot progression), but there is a different aspect that has improved a lot: The characters and their dynamics. Not only do we get to know new interesting characters, the already established ones get more fleshed out, especially Lutz. Without going into spoilers, there are some fantastic character moments around Lutz in this book.
Language-wise I would say that there’s a slight increase in difficulty from book 1, as we encounter some characters who speak very formally, which may provide a challenge. There are also several trade negotiations, which I found somewhat hard to follow and typically had to reread once or twice.
This volume is adapted in the anime in episodes 6–10 of the first season.
Great Sequel
Story thoughts: This was a great sequel! I enjoyed that this was more plot-heavy, featuring paper making, connections with merchants, and interesting character development. I really like how the author consistently has strong characterization and makes even mundane interactions between the different characters amusing and entertaining. 4 stars.
Japanese thoughts: The paper making part at the beginning is a bit confusing, so I'd recommend googling Japanese paper making and watching a video to learn about it in your native language. Other than that, there are a few economics/contract-related parts that I had to reread to fully understand.