![]() ![]() Harvest Autumn and Wolf is the final story in this collection, and whilst a similar length to the first three, it’s this one that resonates the most with the previous ‘main story’ of Spice and Wolf. For fans, it’s this story and the last that makes this book shine. We also see a returning mention of the funeral attraction to drum up interest in the town during the slow tourism seasons, which is a nice bit of continuity to show how Nyohhira functions as a town and a community. Ultimately the truth is revealed, and problems resolved in a typically-untypical fashion, but it brings forward Holo’s fears about her leisurely life previously explored in prior Spring Log books. The discovery brings a bubble of fear to Holo and Lawrence over the intentions of the deceased traveler and the actions of the church at the body being found. During a scouting trip headed by Holo and to find a useable path between Nyohhira and the neighboring towns, a body is discovered in a hidden cave–long dead, but untouched by nature and rot, adorned in wolves of every type. The fourth story, Blue Dreams and Wolf, is by far the longest, and–as has been the case thus far with these Spring Log novels–the most serious. In addition, the diary itself is not quite what it seems, and the end perfectly highlights why Lawrence and Holo have become such a beloved couple: their good-natured barbs and teasing sincerity complementing each other perfectly. The whispers around Nyohhira is that of an affair, but all Lawrence finds is lovingly detailed reports on food and trickery–as expected of the Wise Wolf. (Even though, of course, we know the truth.) This story also is the only one that includes Myuri and Col, not yet departed to their own adventures.Ĭaramel Days and Wolf is somewhat fanciful–Holo’s new interest in diary-keeping prompting her husband to read whatever secrets she may be hoarding. ![]() Holo, with her youthful looks and child-like brattiness, initially seems to raise red flags to our narrator, but logic ultimately dictates that jealousy is the real fuel behind such accusations. The tone is appropriate, and we learn that rumors have been bubbling about the Spice and Wolf owners possibly being linked to witchcraft. The White Hound and Wolf is an interesting new perspective from the outside of our usual pair, being written from the perspective of a Church Inquisitor. It’s a strong opening to this book, full of the humorous but clever tone this series has become known for, and it’s nice to see a return of the Myuri mercenaries. It’s short but humorous bringing back mercenary Luward of the Myuri, as he explains his experiences with the problematic reality of such charms. The first story, What Falls in Spring and Wolf, hinges on Holo’s seasonal shedding and the inspired idea from her partner to sell protection charms made of her hair to travelers, ensuring safe passage. Throughout the five stories found in this book it becomes apparent which direction this chapter of Holo and Lawrence’s lives is moving to, and by the end, fans will be happy for the new hope and promise it brings. Previously these books have been far more haphazard with the timeline–bouncing to before and after Myuri and Col’s departure–which left the reader with a distinct feeling of these stories being “extras”, rather than ideas worthy of their own novel. Unlike the previous two, which strung together seemingly random events from the now-scheduled lives of our favorite ex-merchant and Wise Wolf, a large chunk of this book manages to follow somewhat concurrent events, as the summer turns to autumn. Objectively, this short story collection is the best of the post-series bunch that we’ve gotten so far. With volume 20 of Spice and Wolf, we’ve reached the third of the Spring Log books–originally written for the 10th anniversary of the series, continuing on the lives of Lawrence and Holo–and the first to promise more for this beloved franchise. In this short story collection from Hasekura we watch the seasons change, from summer to autumn, and how it’s affected our long-time companions. Once again we rejoin the Spice and Wolf bathhouse and its owners, Lawrence and Holo. ![]()
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