I don't have it in me to review each installment individually, but just wanted to say that I'm starting to get the feeling "bride" is not necessarily singular. Although I'd like to get back to Amir and Karluk at some point, it's exciting how the story is expanding in multiple directions. ( )

Series Info/Source: This is the fourth volume in A Bride’s Story series. I received this book as a birthday gift.

Story (4/5): Most of this story is focused around Mr. Smith again as he tries to continue his journey to Ankara. When he falls off his camel into the ocean, Mr. Smith is saved by two precocious young women, the twins Laila and Leily. Most of this book deals with Laila and Leily as they try to find husbands and are eventually married to two brothers who they have grown up with. The story also talks about some issues with Amir’s tribe and the Russians to the north, I wasn’t a huge fan of these political talks. Again, this is very much “a day in the life of” type of story; I enjoyed it but it isn’t really all that exciting.

Characters (5/5): I continue to enjoy watching Mr. Smith navigate these foreign cultures, he’s a fun character and watching him serve the town as a doctor (which he is not) was entertaining. Laila and Leily were incredibly fun as well and full of energy. Seeing their goals and ambitions and how they fit in this culture was entertaining. All the characters in this series have been great to read about, they are generally caring and kind and just fun to read about.

Setting (4/5): The seaside small town setting was fun and I continue to enjoy the look into the culture and history of this region and time.

Writing/Drawing Style (4/5): This is well written and absolutely beautifully drawn. It is an incredibly high quality manga and I have been enjoying reading it. I am adjusting to the fact that this is more of a wandering “a day in the life” type of series. I would still love to see some more action in here, but this just isn’t that kind of story.

My Summary (4/5): Overall this is a very well done manga that is beautifully drawn and well written. I enjoy it but I don’t love it because the pace is a bit slow for me. I do enjoy the look into the history of a different culture and the characters are well done. I would highly recommend this to those who really like “a day in the life of” types of historical fiction. I personally don’t plan on picking more of these volumes up, they are a bit expensive and hard to get and I don’t love them enough to keep making that sort of investment in them. ( )

Stunning. Art is beyond compare. Story is delightful and charming and an excellent vehicle for deep study and devotion. Love this series more and more. ( )

The Englishman Mr. Smith is on his long journey to Ankara and meets a pair of spirited identical twins, Laila and Leily, who are busy fishing for husbands. In this installment, we take a break from Amir and Karluk and instead meet these entertaining young girls who seem to be experts at getting themselves into trouble. Very entertaining series and wonderful art. ( )

Bride's Story v.4 is incredibly cute! While Smith (a linguist?) is detained pretending to be a doctor for the inhabitants of an entire region of Asia, the story focuses on the twins, Laila and Leily, as they go about looking for husbands. In a seaside town, these adorable twins girls hatch a half dozen impossible schemes to find rich, handsome husbands before their family eventually pairs them up with some boys they grew up with. After the four go on cute, if less than romantic dates they eventually pair off and decide the boys aren't as worthless as they thought. However, as opposed to the other brides' stories from this series, Laila and Leily, who are flighty as nymphs and have only been apart for two days in their entires lives have a rather rude awakening in store for them in the form of some grueling married woman bootcamp training courtesy of a very worried mother. It made me so jealous I almost cried! There's definitely more manga-like slapsticky content than in past Bride's Story volumes, but the girlhood was just adorable and the seaside culture was a welcome switch.

Oh! And there is a really cute chapter on how some of the local women met their husbands that had me "aww"ing. ( )