bickering couple – Faceless One Blog

My Magical Career at Court: Living the Dream After My Nightmare Boss Fired Me from the Mages’ Guild! Vol. 3 Review

Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, School Life

Sub-Tags: Strong Lead, OP, Tsundere, Bickering Couple, Banishment

Synopsis:

Noelle may be a commoner from the middle of nowhere, but she’s a rising star in her dream workplace—the Royal Court Magicians’ Division! It seems like a world away from her horrible old job at the Mages’ Guild, but life as a royal court magician comes with its own challenges. She’s already fought off a dragon and battled her way through the perilous Weissrosa Abyss, but can she survive making a fool of herself in front of all the magi? Now, Noelle has been thrust into the unexpected situation of being picked to take part in the famous World Magic Championships—and she hasn’t even been a royal court magician for a year! Along with her old friend Luke, another impressive young magician, she has to face off against some of the toughest magicians from around the world. On her new globetrotting adventures, Noelle is confronted with sneaky aristocrats, powerful magic duelists, the mysterious Fairy Queen…and maybe even some romantic developments! (Source: J-Novel Club)

The Court Mage and the Magic Championship!

Upon conquering the strongest dungeon in the kingdom, the latest chapter in the Magical Career saga sees Noelle face her toughest challenge yet, the World Magic Championships. Filled with some of the most powerful magicians on the Western Continent, Noelle and the chosen few selected for the tournament will be tested to their uppermost limits, but the competitors aren’t the only thing they’ll have to contend with. At the heart of the tournament lies a noble conspiracy willing to do anything and everything to put wilful commoners like Noelle in their place.

The Ultimate Underdog

Continuing to prove her naysayers wrong, this volume gives Noelle the largest stage yet to show off her abilities – the World Magic Championships. From nobility from across the globe, the hordes of spectators in the stands, and even her fellow competitors, this volume has finally given me the impetus to ask: How many volumes does it take before my patience runs thin with the never-ending perspectives from Noelle’s detractors? This volume cuts it close.

Three volumes in, and this series has answered a longstanding hypocrisy within my reviewing methods – tropes and striking the right balance. When it comes to the trope of “secretly overpowered individual in a world full of naysayers,” the balance personally is struck with the relative vocality of a main character’s supporters. A hard measure to quantify, the third volume of Magical Career falls foul of the line due to the sheer number of detractors in comparison to her supporters. After all, there’s only so far someone can go on willpower alone.

Thankfully, this seems set to change as the number of Noelle’s allies grows throughout this latest volume.

Willing a Victory

Fortunately, beyond this volume’s balancing act issues, there’s still plenty to enjoy. The tournament itself is suitably grandiose. It features a slew of powerful individuals that would normally be deemed impossible for anyone to defeat. Only Noelle could treat some of these opponents as if she were doing regular court magician work on a weekday.

Of the competitors introduced, Evangeline holds the most potential. Fairy Queen and naturally gifted magician, her frankly odd personality meshes well with Noelle. Their blossoming friendship by the end of the volume gives off positive vibes for the future of the series.

Additionally, the competition provides some much-needed character development for Luke. The boy-wonder whom everyone perceives as a prodigy who, in reality, is the hardest worker of anyone. There’s a genuinely heartfelt moment to be had as his efforts see him piped at the post by an overwhelmingly powerful opponent. In some ways, following Luke’s story would’ve made for a better series. The only thing stopping this reality is the fact that we wouldn’t get enough of Noelle’s infectious personality.

Despite the latest volume of Magical Career’s initial teething trouble regarding trope balancing, there’s still plenty of entertainment to be drawn from the story. The tournament is well-presented, offering everything one could want, from vivid fight sequences to interesting opponents. Moreover, there’s ample character development, especially for Luke. His segment ending in defeat is genuinely heartfelt.

My Magical Career in Court Vol. 3

My Rating: 7/10

If you like what you read and what I do, why not consider supporting me through Ko-Fi. Any donation helps keep this site up and keep me writing.

You can read the third volume of this series digitally on the J-Novel Club website.

My Magical Career at Court: Living the Dream After My Nightmare Boss Fired Me from the Mages’ Guild! Vol. 2 Review

Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, School Life

Sub-Tags: Strong Lead, OP, Tsundere, Bickering Couple, Banishment

Synopsis:

Noelle is living the dream! Not so long ago, she had nowhere to turn after losing her awful job at the exploitative Mages’ Guild. But one day, she had a lucky run-in with her old friend Luke, an extremely talented royal court magician. Now she works at the royal court too, and it’s even better than she hoped it would be! Her coworkers are friendly, she gets to flex her muscles as a magician, and she’s been rising through the ranks almost as fast as Luke himself. It isn’t all smooth sailing, though. Noelle has already dealt with assassins, goblin hordes, and more—all while trying to adapt to the new environment of the royal capital. With a dragon waiting at her front door, it doesn’t look like her life is getting any quieter. How will she handle intimidating new opponents, such as a strict university professor and an elite swordsman? And what does Luke have planned for him and Noelle…? (Source: J-Novel Club)

Seekers of Love and Fame!

All For the Sake of Love

Having defeated dragons and gone toe-to-toe with the strongest mage in the country, for the blog’s latest review, I’m following Noelle’s journey as she faces her toughest challenges yet.

Still determined to showcase her skills as more than a mere commoner, Noelle’s continuing story in My Magical Career at Court has her attempting to climb to the top of magehood. Once again, her ambitions have her facing ever-tougher challenges, from a bought with the kingdom’s strongest knight to fighting on the frontlines in the world-famous dungeon. Additionally, Noelle isn’t the only one making moves. Luke, Noelle’s partner in crime, is also looking to make his dreams a reality.

In the second volume of the series, the story primarily focuses on the other member of the partner-in-crime duo, Luke. Ever in awe at the barriers Noelle’s able to smash through, both physical and emotional, Luke has come to see her as more than just a friend. In light of this revelation, as part of this volume, Luke attempts to move his romantic aspirations forward and ensure that Noelle can continue to live without restraint.

As a part of this storyline, we see a different side to Luke, which is quite out of the norm. When it comes to Noelle, Luke’s noble persona disappears, replaced by a shy and awkward young man in the throws of first love. Battling between keeping her as a friend or potentially ruining their relationship with a confession leads him to create roundabout ways to keep Noelle out of the sight of nobility.

Noelle Knows No Limits

As for Noelle’s part in the second volume, her abilities continue to defy everyone’s expectations. Unaware of Luke’s meddling behind the scenes, she deafly deals with all the challenges that come her way. The changing point in her attitude, however, comes during her mission in the kingdom’s infamous dungeon.

Fighting against the dungeon boss on the 80th layer is a task that even the powerhouse Noelle struggles with. To eventually defeat this terrifying nightmare requires both Noelle and Luke to fight in perfect harmony. A move that changes more than one opinion about Luke in Noelle’s mind.

To conclude, the second outing of My Magical Career at Court continues to keep up the first’s level of entertainment.

Switching focus to the duo’s other half has opened new possibilities. Developing the series’ romantic aspects and adding new depths to Luke’s character shows forethought for the series’ future. Meanwhile, this volume continues to showcase Noelle’s abilities in all their glory.

My Magical Career at Court Vol. 2

My Rating: 8/10

If you like what you read and what I do, why not consider supporting me through Ko-Fi. Any donation helps keep this site up and keep me writing.

You can read the second volume of this series digitally on the J-Novel Club website.

My Magical Career at Court: Living the Dream After My Nightmare Boss Fired Me from the Mages’ Guild! Vol. 1 Review

Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, School Life

Sub-Tags: Strong Lead, OP, Tsundere, Bickering Couple, Banishment

Synopsis:

Magic is everything to Noelle. She loves it so much that she puts up with her horrible job at the Mages’ Guild to practice it. The hours are long, the pay is rock-bottom, and the boss is a nightmare! But as long as she has magic, she can withstand the hardships. At least, until the day she hears these dreaded words:“You’re fired.” Noelle’s hometown in the outskirts of the kingdom doesn’t offer many alternatives for a career in magic—especially now that she’s been blacklisted from guild work! Just when it seems like all hope is lost, Noelle’s old friend Luke shows up to give her an opportunity she never could have imagined: a job as a royal court magician. Now Noelle is living the dream, rubbing shoulders with the kingdom’s greatest magicians and showing off her skills. She has a beautiful new workplace and a generous new boss, but how will she cope with intense entrance exams, her marriage-obsessed mother, and the rules of etiquette? What awaits Noelle in her magical new career? (Source: J-Novel Club)

A Battle of Rivals Racing to the Top!

A Rookie Climbs the Ranks

Few could quite be described as obsessed with magic as much as Noelle is. Magic has consumed her and is the only reason she’s been able to endure the hardships that life back in the boonies has brought. While for most, being fired and blacklisted from every magic organisation in town could spell the end for their magic, for Noelle, this spells the beginning of a new and exciting journey when an old friend uses the opportunity to make her his apprentice. What follows is the start of a light-hearted story about challenging people’s preconceived notions.

Beginning her journey as an apprentice to the royal court sorcerers, it isn’t long before her actions catch the attention of those around her. Humble to her own abilities, she outshines others by performing menial tasks in record time and being instrumental in saving the nation from several types of monster attacks. As a result, she easily gains the respect and admiration of those around her.

Unlike at her previous employ, Noelle’s perseverance and hard work pays off. In the royal court, good work doesn’t go unnoticed, resulting in the second-quickest rise in the ranks. Most would be pleased with these achievements, but Noelle simply can’t enjoy merely coming in second, especially if the pole position belongs to her rival, Luke.

Rivals, Friends, Lovers?

Whilst magic has always been there for her, it isn’t magic alone that has allowed her to progress to the levels she’s at today. Arguably of equal importance is her long-standing rivalry and friendship with fellow court sorcerer Luke.

The opening volume goes into great detail about their intertwining path, navigating the waters of rivalry to becoming best friends with the possibility of something more on the horizon. The constant bickering and bantering between them adds a wonderful comedic quality to the series whilst showcasing how deep their bond lies.

Noelle isn’t the only one touched by their bond with Luke also developing as a result of their relationship. Noelle is one of the very few to have touched this noble’s heart. Her genius and constant pushback against the world’s natural order was the wake-up call Luke needed to bring him out of the view that the world revolves around his every perfect action. Her representative challenge opened Luke towards a whole new world of emotions, eventually leading him to fall head-over-heels for the series’ protagonist.

Overall, My Magical Career at Court makes for a wonderful addition to the ever-growing list of J-Novel Club titles thanks to its well-placed comedic undertone and overwhelmingly positive atmosphere.

Whilst Noelle’s constant challenging of people’s preconceived notions is well realised, it’s hard to argue that the story’s best moments are often found in the interactions between Noelle and Luke. Constantly bickering but thick as thieves, they bring the story to life as they challenge each other to ever-greater goals.

With the opening volume ending on a cliffhanger, it’s hard to imagine that there won’t be more crazy adventures to come for this headstrong airhead.

My Magical Career at Court Vol. 1

My Rating: 8.5/10

If you like what you read and what I do, why not consider supporting me through Ko-Fi. Any donation helps keep this site up and keep me writing.

You can read the first volume of this series digitally on the J-Novel Club website.

The Apothecary Witch Turned Divorce Agent Vol. 2 Review

Tags: Action, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life

Sub-Tags: Otome, Bickering Couple

Synopsis:

When Carla heads off to attend the annual “gathering of the witches,” Thane declares that he will accompany her. His motive seems to be tied to the foresight witch—the root of his distaste for witches in the first place. Although Carla reluctantly agrees to let Thane tag along, the arrangement leads to an unexpected job! It turns out they must help one of Ange’s clients with their divorce in order to meet the foresight witch. Will Carla take the case to help out the man she can’t stand? Find out in the second volume of this workplace fantasy, featuring the contrary couple of a witch who dislikes knights and a knight who despises witches! (Source: J-Novel Club)

An Apothecary’s Intertwining Past!

The Past and Present Collide

After successfully saving a royal marriage, Carla’s dealings in divorce aren’t over yet. To discover the secret behind Thane’s hatred of witches and the strange death of his father, Carla looks to settle a divorce as a favour to one of her fellow witches, known as Ange, The Foresight Witch.

The past has always been a running theme throughout the series, but the second volume brings the events of the past into the forefront. Fifteen years ago, the Kingdom was under considerable strain, a time when corruption and criminality were rife. Seldom did those escape the clutches of terror, and neither Carla nor Thane were so lucky.

For Thane, these traumas of the past become especially raw when Carla mentions a trip to a lakeside witch’s meeting. Under the impression that a witch known as the Foresight Witch was the reason for his father becoming obsessed with gambling and bankrupting the family, Thane forces his way onto the trip.

Their trip to the lakeside was more successful than not. They get Ange to agree to share the information in return for Carla’s help on a divorce case. What’s truly positive from the trip is the development of the relationship between Carla and Thane. Given Carla’s ongoing trauma surrounding knights, it’s a big step for her to be able to sleep anywhere in Thane’s presence, showing that she trusts him.

The Case of Sleep Paralysis

As for the case that Carla’s been tasked to solve, it involves a rather complicated situation at the homestead of Viscountess Marsden. In a shocking development, the royal knight’s order had also been wary of the family ever since a burglary occurred at the home.

The Viscountess is looking for a divorce as she fears that her husband is poisoning her. Using her transformation abilities and the new additions of Nettie’s magical technology, Carla solves the sinister case by proving it’s something less sinister and more misguided.

Once again, the past plays a big role as two twins look to settle their differences with their father, and whilst Carla believes that she failed as a divorce agent, Ange agrees to the truth behind the incident 15 years ago.

The Foresight Witch

The climax of the volume follows the fuller perspective on what went on between Thane’s father and Ange. Thane’s father was more to blame for the incident than Thane was led to believe. He became obsessed with seeing the future, stalking Ange endlessly to the point he almost killed her. The only part of this mystery left is who ended up killing Thane’s father.

Ange’s visit to the apothecary also sparks new truths behind Carla’s past. Behind the long-winding mysteries of Carla’s mental block lies the potential reason behind her lack of magic power. Yet, this mental block is the only thing keeping her safe from her parent’s murderers. As soon as she remembers, they’ll come after her too.

To conclude, Apothecary Witch’s latest volume continues the high-quality storytelling of the first volume. Moving from an Otome setting, the second volume follows a more murder mystery-esque plot. The author has been clever in which mysteries to unravel and which to keep firmly on the back burner.

Moreover, the sequel in the series has opened up the stage for more witches to get involved in the plot. This volume saw more from both Ange and Nettie and how they can use their abilities. As the series moves forward, it would be interesting to see witches who are more antagonistic and are less likely to cooperate in future.

The Apothecary Witch Vol. 2

My Rating: 9/10

I hope you enjoyed my review and would love to see what you thought of the volume in the comments! If you like what I do and want to see more, consider supporting me by buying me a coffee on Ko-Fi.

You can read the second volume of this series digitally on the J-Novel Club website.

The Apothecary Witch Turned Divorce Agent Vol. 1 Review

Tags: Action, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance

Sub-Tags: Otome, Bickering Couple

Synopsis:

Carla is a down-on-her-luck witch whose skills aren’t up to snuff when it comes to both magic and her work. Although her main business is running an apothecary that’s been in decline ever since her master passed away, she also runs a divorce agency on the side (even though all of her clients seem to reconcile, for some reason). One day, Carla receives a request she can’t refuse. The queen herself sends Thane, a knight who makes no effort to hide his distaste for witches, to pass along her message. Carla isn’t a fan of knights herself, leading the pair to fight like cats and dogs…but maybe first impressions aren’t everything! (Source: J-Novel Club)

The Witch, The Knight and the Messy Broken Engagement!

A Request from the Queen

Where do you turn to when your apothecary skills aren’t up to snuff? For a witch like Carla, it means leaning on your abilities to change into anyone you have enough information on and act as a divorce agent! Unfortunately, Carla’s not very good at this role either, but that doesn’t stop a request from the Queen for her services regarding a broken engagement situation of national importance.

Carla’s unique skills are needed in the case of Prince Abel and Patricia, who’ve been having major issues with their engagement. From the information gathered, Abel has been having an affair, and his mistress is using her powers to get rid of Patricia.

This makes up for the majority of the plot in volume one. This usually typical set-up for an Otome-like storyline is made all the more interesting due to the unique perspective it’s told from. Having an outsider mess around with these tropes creates the opportunity for a whole load of shenanigans. In this example, the story has Carla change into Patricia confronting the prince and his actions head-on for maximum derailment.

Carla’s unsubtle approach was enough to coax the truth of the matter out of Prince Abel. Not only is the prince still in love with Patricia, but Lilith’s actions weren’t totally her own. Under threat from powerful nobility, she had no choice but to use her magic to try and hurt Patricia.

The Witch and a Certain Knight

Carla isn’t alone in trying to solve the Queen’s issues; by her side is a knight named Thane. The interactions between them are another aspect that really elevates the series. They act like an old married couple, constantly bickering with one another, in turn making the volume a more entertaining read.

The relationship between the two is more than just surface-level interactions, with the author going to great lengths in fleshing out why they act that way with each other – stemming from Carla’s hatred of knights and Thane’s distrust of witches.

By the end of the first volume, however, Carla and Thane have moved on from their hatred of one another towards a friendship and possible blossoming romance. Their relationship has taken such great strides that Thane even manages to help Carla from being exploited by a business partner.

Overall, Apothecary Witch is a refreshing entry into the Otome genre. Elevating the story through the charismatic interactions between Carla and Thane, and using unique perspectives to derail the usual tropes found in this genre, has made this a series to watch out for.

The Apothecary Witch Turned Divorce Agent Vol. 1

My Rating: 9/10

I hope you enjoyed my review and would love to see what you thought of the volume in the comments! If you like what I do and want to see more, consider supporting me by buying me a coffee on Ko-Fi.

You can read the first volume of this series digitally on the J-Novel Club website.