Is it weird that it’s sometimes uncomfortable reading in front of someone? As in, it almost feels like an invasion of privacy. Long story short, I’m hosting a family member temporarily out of their home for major water damage repair, and it’s been kind of hard to do extended reading time; that and it’s been crazy-time at work but that part’s better now. Anyways, both of those are why I’ve been going back to graphic novels and manga a bit more than usual lately (still catching up on reviews though), and also apparently, the Ancient Magus Bride series and its spin-offs is changing publishers which is might be why there’s been major delay in some volumes. That brings up to volume 8 of The Ancient Magus Bride: Wizard’s Blue.
A major confrontation started in the previous volume and it continues here; Ao and Giselle have been separated as Ao’s been taken by the villainous organization Flamme which wants to destroy the world for reasons. From Ao’s perspective, there’s turns out to be a connection he’d forgotten about (or rather, had his memories blocked/erased) from his past to the current trouble, and he has to start dealing with that as everyone else starts what is likely going to be a major war between alchemist factions/Flamme, including the possible return of a few characters sidelined a while ago. There’s a good bit of action, but also story information, so I’m not too mad about the nearly volume-long fight sequences.
[stop here to avoid minor spoiler}
We also finally get to see Giselle’s full dragon form, meet a new character or two, and some interesting fights are getting started since there’s a nasty surprise that doesn’t work, and a potential new ally previously unacknowledged although he’s been seen before.
There’s a little bit of standard couple stuff between Giselle and Ao, but more in terms of familial-type support, not romantic, but then they’ve never quite been that way from the start.
Overall, even though this was more of a fight-y volume, it’s got some good story progress and some answers starting to come out about what’s been going on the whole time.
