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s_books's review against another edition
3.0
Like volume 3, this volume focuses less on Amir, the bride we originally started with, and more on the people Dr. Smith meets as he travels (except even he is featured less in this volume as well). The twins, like Pariya, are loud and energetic and may be a bit much for people who preferred Amir's genuine and kind spontaneity but they're supposedly featured in the next volume as well so it seems like it will unfortunately be awhile until we focus back on Amir.
shanbear16's review against another edition
3.0
Not my favorite one in the series so far. I did like the twins, but there was far too much shouting going on. I didn't feel as invested in this story as I did in the others.
mlindner's review against another edition
3.0
http://marklindner.info/blog/2015/01/12/mori-brides-story-4/
michaelgreenreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
The story shifts again! love that the twins are portrayed as headstrong, annoying, and yet so romantic. It’s a fine narrative needle to thread, but Kaoru Mori does it!
Kaoru Mori has truly outdone herself. The drawings of wolves!! The exquisite nature of her under water drawings!! It is stunning to see someone draw with such talent.
octavia_cade's review against another edition
4.0
I'm at volume four now, and finally I can call one of these stories an actual romance (using the term as romance writers use it, or so I understand). Twin sisters Laila and Leily think their dad's taking too long to find them husbands, so they scheme to track down their own. They end up getting engaged to the twin sons of a family friend, and the whole thing is hilarious. I'm in the local library at the moment, having just finished reading, and I had to keep stifling my giggles as I did so. The girls are... very determined, shall we say, and that's amusing, but hands down the funniest part is their father, and the grooms' father, negotiating bride price. A close second is Laila and Leily's mum putting them through what is essentially bridal boot camp, as she makes sure that they really do have the skills to run a household. Mr. Smith's there as well, basically in the background as a means to introduce the twins, but the book doesn't really need him to do anything else.
Apparently the next volume is the wedding of these two well-meaning little monsters, and I can't wait to read it.
Apparently the next volume is the wedding of these two well-meaning little monsters, and I can't wait to read it.
romancelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
I was apprehensive to continue with the series after reading the last volume and it's story being predominately about Mr. Smith. But then we get to meet the twins! And I LOVE the crazy twins and their story line. I am all for an out of control, boundary testing, take charge of creating their own crazy adventures type of character ... and in this case, the author gave us two! These new characters and their storyline had me reinvested in the series and excited about the story progression again.
beatitude's review against another edition
3.0
This volume has the same structure as volume 3 - we check in briefly with Amir, Karluk and their family from the first two volumes, and then we join the English doctor on his trip across Turkic Central Asia. This time he ends up at the Aral Sea, where the action quickly moves away from him and onto the adventures of two twin girls who are desperate to get married.
I think it's great that Mori is exploring different areas and cultures in her story, and she does so with the same historical accuracy and attention to detail that made me fall in love with A Bride's Story in the first place. I loved learning about the village culture around the Aral sea, and how it differed from the other cultures we've seen in the series. But. I'm afraid that the doctor's adventures aren't all that interesting compared with Amir, Karluk and co. from the first two books. The two twin girls who dominate this volume are pretty dull, and the story quickly devolves into manga cliches, which the first three volumes avoided. I didn't find myself struggling to suspend my disbelief, but I did roll my eyes at the convenient way some plot points were resolved.
The most interesting bit for me was learning about the 'bride price'. This was a price paid by a groom's family to the bride's family, in sheep or gold. Some of the money went to the bride's family, but the bulk of the price went to the bride herself. It was her fortune for the rest of her life, which she owned independently and her husband was not allowed to touch. (So a good bride price was very important). Husband and wife were expected to contribute equally to the household expenses. By comparison with what was happening in parts Europe at around the same time with dowries, this was a really enlightened arrangement that afforded a high degree of independence to married women, and probably also encouraged them to be wise with spending. Learning about these kinds of things is what makes this series especially worthwhile to read.
The art of this volume is as brilliant as the rest, particularly in the early section where Maoru uses fighting wolves as a metaphor for Amir's tribe, as they make alliances and go to war. The way she draws the wolves makes them almost leap off the page, just like her horses. She also does a great job with the swimming and boats in the later sections. She must have spent a lot of time researching animals and period dress to get the detail right, and the result is wonderful. Even if the story continues to only be of mild interest, the fantastic art alone makes this series worth reading.
I think it's great that Mori is exploring different areas and cultures in her story, and she does so with the same historical accuracy and attention to detail that made me fall in love with A Bride's Story in the first place. I loved learning about the village culture around the Aral sea, and how it differed from the other cultures we've seen in the series. But. I'm afraid that the doctor's adventures aren't all that interesting compared with Amir, Karluk and co. from the first two books. The two twin girls who dominate this volume are pretty dull, and the story quickly devolves into manga cliches, which the first three volumes avoided. I didn't find myself struggling to suspend my disbelief, but I did roll my eyes at the convenient way some plot points were resolved.
The most interesting bit for me was learning about the 'bride price'. This was a price paid by a groom's family to the bride's family, in sheep or gold. Some of the money went to the bride's family, but the bulk of the price went to the bride herself. It was her fortune for the rest of her life, which she owned independently and her husband was not allowed to touch. (So a good bride price was very important). Husband and wife were expected to contribute equally to the household expenses. By comparison with what was happening in parts Europe at around the same time with dowries, this was a really enlightened arrangement that afforded a high degree of independence to married women, and probably also encouraged them to be wise with spending. Learning about these kinds of things is what makes this series especially worthwhile to read.
The art of this volume is as brilliant as the rest, particularly in the early section where Maoru uses fighting wolves as a metaphor for Amir's tribe, as they make alliances and go to war. The way she draws the wolves makes them almost leap off the page, just like her horses. She also does a great job with the swimming and boats in the later sections. She must have spent a lot of time researching animals and period dress to get the detail right, and the result is wonderful. Even if the story continues to only be of mild interest, the fantastic art alone makes this series worth reading.
nerdella_reads's review against another edition
5.0
The twins are adorable, and the traveling Englishman is as hilarious/sad as ever. Hilarisad?
kenyuen1's review against another edition
5.0
I think the author realized Pariya is one of the best characters in this story, so now there's two of her, in the form of twins. The twins are hilarious and it's a good time.