celf's review
adventurous
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
steve_dekart's review
4.0
== Eng ==
Some people consider this book superfluous in history, someone considers it necessary. You can skip this book while reading or read some chapters selectively. Personally, I don't like storybooks, but chapter 3 fell into my soul.
== No spoilers ==
Chapter 1 tells the story before meeting Lawrence when Holo meets the boy Klaus. Sometimes it was long, sometimes boring. Just a nice addition.
Chapter 2 tells the events that you must have seen in the anime about buying and reselling Holo's clothes. Here the story is better
Chapter 3 tells the story from the perspective of Horo during volume 2 with the shepherd Nora. The author perfectly showed the storm of emotions of Holo and her attitude towards Lawrence.
In my opinion, few people liked chapter 1, because we expected to see a story about a merchant and his companion, and here are faces unfamiliar to us, about which we know little. In any case, the story deserves your attention.
==========
=== Rus ===
Некоторые люди считают эту книгу лишней в истории, кто-то считает нужной. Эту книгу можно пропустить при чтении или прочитать некоторые главы выборочно. Лично мне не нравятся сборники рассказов, но 3 глава впала мне в душу.
== Без спойлеров ==
1 глава рассказывает историю до встречи с Лоуренсом, когда она встречает мальчика Клауса. Иногда было затянуто, иногда скучно. Просто хорошее дополнение.
2 глава рассказывает события, которые вы наверняка видели в аниме о покупке и перепродажи одежды Хоро. Здесь история уже лучше
3 глава повествует рассказ от лица Хоро во время 2 тома с пастушкой Нора. Автор отлично показал бурю эмоций Хоро и её отношение к Лоуренсу.
На мой взгляд, 1 глава мало кому понравилось, потому что мы ожидали увидеть историю о торговце и его спутнице, а здесь незнакомые нам лица, о которых мы мало что знаем. В любом случае история заслуживает вашего внимания.
Some people consider this book superfluous in history, someone considers it necessary. You can skip this book while reading or read some chapters selectively. Personally, I don't like storybooks, but chapter 3 fell into my soul.
== No spoilers ==
Chapter 1 tells the story before meeting Lawrence when Holo meets the boy Klaus. Sometimes it was long, sometimes boring. Just a nice addition.
Chapter 2 tells the events that you must have seen in the anime about buying and reselling Holo's clothes. Here the story is better
Chapter 3 tells the story from the perspective of Horo during volume 2 with the shepherd Nora. The author perfectly showed the storm of emotions of Holo and her attitude towards Lawrence.
In my opinion, few people liked chapter 1, because we expected to see a story about a merchant and his companion, and here are faces unfamiliar to us, about which we know little. In any case, the story deserves your attention.
==========
=== Rus ===
Некоторые люди считают эту книгу лишней в истории, кто-то считает нужной. Эту книгу можно пропустить при чтении или прочитать некоторые главы выборочно. Лично мне не нравятся сборники рассказов, но 3 глава впала мне в душу.
== Без спойлеров ==
1 глава рассказывает историю до встречи с Лоуренсом, когда она встречает мальчика Клауса. Иногда было затянуто, иногда скучно. Просто хорошее дополнение.
2 глава рассказывает события, которые вы наверняка видели в аниме о покупке и перепродажи одежды Хоро. Здесь история уже лучше
3 глава повествует рассказ от лица Хоро во время 2 тома с пастушкой Нора. Автор отлично показал бурю эмоций Хоро и её отношение к Лоуренсу.
На мой взгляд, 1 глава мало кому понравилось, потому что мы ожидали увидеть историю о торговце и его спутнице, а здесь незнакомые нам лица, о которых мы мало что знаем. В любом случае история заслуживает вашего внимания.
alexdibo's review against another edition
3.0
The first story was dull, but the other two were delightful and charming!
a_h_haga's review
4.0
Side Colors is a book with 3 short stories that doesn't really have anything to do with the main story-line.
It was both a refreshment and not to read them, as I now am out of Spice and Wolf books to read, and don't know when I'll get my hands on the next in the series! I had hoped to make this one last longer, but I've found that I seem to fly through these books, despite finding the language heavy at times.
Anyway, to this book.
I wrote individual reviews for each of the shorts, and will post them here, then set a rating based on their collective ratings.
Short nr. 1, but the last one I read as it was the longest one.
THE BOY AND THE GIRL AND THE WHITE FLOWERS
The longest short in this book and set long before Lawrence was ever born, it gave a picture of Holo and how she cares for people, but I didn't much like Klass, so kept falling in and out of the story.
Liked the deers, though.
3/5
Short nr. 2, and the first I read.
THE RED OF THE APPLE, THE BLUE OF THE SKY
A fun little story set just after book 1 finishes. It gives a good impression of the relationship between Holo and Lawrence, and I wish it was actually part of the original book, as it was just (mostly) about the two of them.
4/5
Short nr. 3
WOLF AND AMBER MELANCHOLY
Set just after book 2 finishes
This short was written from Holo's POV, and I'm so happy about that! It put some of her actions that seemed random to a tired mind into a whole new light, and I hope there are more of these stories in future books.
4.5/5
It was both a refreshment and not to read them, as I now am out of Spice and Wolf books to read, and don't know when I'll get my hands on the next in the series! I had hoped to make this one last longer, but I've found that I seem to fly through these books, despite finding the language heavy at times.
Anyway, to this book.
I wrote individual reviews for each of the shorts, and will post them here, then set a rating based on their collective ratings.
Short nr. 1, but the last one I read as it was the longest one.
THE BOY AND THE GIRL AND THE WHITE FLOWERS
The longest short in this book and set long before Lawrence was ever born, it gave a picture of Holo and how she cares for people, but I didn't much like Klass, so kept falling in and out of the story.
Liked the deers, though.
3/5
Short nr. 2, and the first I read.
THE RED OF THE APPLE, THE BLUE OF THE SKY
A fun little story set just after book 1 finishes. It gives a good impression of the relationship between Holo and Lawrence, and I wish it was actually part of the original book, as it was just (mostly) about the two of them.
4/5
Short nr. 3
WOLF AND AMBER MELANCHOLY
Set just after book 2 finishes
This short was written from Holo's POV, and I'm so happy about that! It put some of her actions that seemed random to a tired mind into a whole new light, and I hope there are more of these stories in future books.
4.5/5
wordsaremyforte's review
4.0
Huh, this is the first Spice and Wolf volume that I haven't given five stars. Short-story collections are always taboo for me. I'm always just so meh with all of them. Isuna Hasekura didn't necessarily disappoint, but this volume inherently did not live up to his prime capabilities that the author has clearly demonstrated when crafting the main series.
The first novella was... strange. I really was not fond of the direction he took with the characters of Klass and Aryes. Klass's perspective was just so boring compared to Lawrence's (maybe I'm just way to used to him by this point idk), and Aryes... I just don't care about her either. She was basically Norah--the stereotypical shy girl--except 50% less interesting.
Thankfully, the two short stories that followed made up tenfold for the lackluster opening. The plots were mundane from a story standpoint, but I loved reading about Holo's clothes shopping adventures and brooding and lamentations over being bed-ridden and sick, having to rely on he precious sheep, Lawrence. The Lawrence x Holo banter was amazing, as always, and the lack of it in the first novella was probably what immediately put me off on it before I even finished the first page.
And I almost forgot to mention, the last short story is in Holo's perspective!!! Finally!! I finally got a glimpse into the mind of one of my absolute favorite characters ever. What a treat!
The first novella was... strange. I really was not fond of the direction he took with the characters of Klass and Aryes.
Spoiler
Klass is literally, what, 12 years old and he is already claiming he loves Aryes. It only took Holo seven books and thousands of pages to admit she loves Lawrence, so how the eff does that make sense?Spoiler
The whole sentient deer thing at the end really intrigued me, but, by the end, I just ended up feeling really lost with this novella. Like, why would a deer spirit collaborate with Holo just to challenge a little boy and nearly get him killed? None of it made sense to me.Thankfully, the two short stories that followed made up tenfold for the lackluster opening. The plots were mundane from a story standpoint, but I loved reading about Holo's clothes shopping adventures and brooding and lamentations over being bed-ridden and sick, having to rely on he precious sheep, Lawrence. The Lawrence x Holo banter was amazing, as always, and the lack of it in the first novella was probably what immediately put me off on it before I even finished the first page.
And I almost forgot to mention, the last short story is in Holo's perspective!!! Finally!! I finally got a glimpse into the mind of one of my absolute favorite characters ever. What a treat!
Spoiler
And Holo admitted that she is in love with Lawrence!!! Yes!!!chaos_alfa's review against another edition
2.0
This book consist of a novella and two short stories. Which are separate from the main story.
1. The boy and the girl and the white flowers
2. The red of the apple, the blue of the sky
3. Wolf and the amber melancholy
The first is the novella which is about a boy and a girl trying to survive in the wide world after being kicked out of their home. At least this is the impression you get in the beginning. At the end of the story it becomes clear the core of the story was about the love relationship between the boy and the girl. Which was the most boring part of the story. There is no resolution about if they reach their destination. Holo's only part in the story is about helping them survive and helping the couple's relationship progress.
The second story is about Holo and Lawrence buying cloths. Isn't very memorable, because it deal about stuff we have seen before in the course of the series.
The third story was about Holo getting sick and Lawrence nursing her back to health. This was the best story of the three because it was tolled from Holo point of view, which if I remember correctly is a first time for this series. but apart from this not much happened in the story.
The reason why this volume fell flat to me is because it had nothing to do with the main story or developed or progressed anything significant.
1. The boy and the girl and the white flowers
2. The red of the apple, the blue of the sky
3. Wolf and the amber melancholy
The first is the novella which is about a boy and a girl trying to survive in the wide world after being kicked out of their home. At least this is the impression you get in the beginning. At the end of the story it becomes clear the core of the story was about the love relationship between the boy and the girl. Which was the most boring part of the story. There is no resolution about if they reach their destination. Holo's only part in the story is about helping them survive and helping the couple's relationship progress.
The second story is about Holo and Lawrence buying cloths. Isn't very memorable, because it deal about stuff we have seen before in the course of the series.
The third story was about Holo getting sick and Lawrence nursing her back to health. This was the best story of the three because it was tolled from Holo point of view, which if I remember correctly is a first time for this series. but apart from this not much happened in the story.
The reason why this volume fell flat to me is because it had nothing to do with the main story or developed or progressed anything significant.
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