The Coppersmith's Bride

nathandouglasdavis May 30, 2021

2

This one is tough because I almost want to like it--I feel like if it was just minorly tweaked, then I would like it--but the simple fact is that I don't like it. I find it boring. It tells the story of an exuberant (and somewhat childish) girl named Shiina and the low-energy and antisocial artisan named Shuu that fe has just recently gotten engaged to. They have talks about the future--which largely feel kinda vague, honestly--and there is also some tension with Shuu's cranky grandparents that kinda-sorta gets resolved. But more than anything, this manga feels like a vehicle to show off the work of artisans. At times, it almost feels like a travel guide putting on display the local specialties within the areas of Japan the characters live in. And it delves into some of the techniques involved with copper-hammering. Shuu is trying to improve feir technique and produce work which can get feir grandfather's seal of approval before the two of them get married (with the hope that fe will have reached that point by the time Shiina graduates university). I dunno. Sometimes, the dialogue can feel awkward and the settings can feel dry or stilted. And it just doesn't evoke that gooey feeling in me. Of course, the artwork is really nice. The girl is cute and the tools and items and stuff are all well-drawn. And there's nothing technically wrong with the personalities of the characters, or even with the slice of life, low-drama setting. But it's still just boring. I dunno what else to say... [Reviewed at chapter 10]