Review by Frank Plowright

Remy Pullus is a witch who’s very talented when it comes to potions, particularly using forms of tea, but she prefers to conceal her true capabilities by working in the king’s kitchens rather than actively serving on the Witches’ Council.

A disturbing undercurrent came to a head in Vol. 2, when the prince the twelve year old princess Stella is expected to marry turns up. Balin Durendal is an arrogant warrior, and Remy opposes the marriage so challenged him to a duel. It’s a clever scene for defying expectation, which would be that a warrior with a powerful enchanted sword would easily defeat someone who works with potions. That’s not how things play out, and the value of preparation is evident from the start.

The previous volumes have seen the subtle application of potions, but there’s little nuance about a battle, and it makes for a very different experience. Artist Yorifuji is adapting Ameko Kaerudo’s novel, only available in Japanese, so whether the emphasis of the battle is extended there is difficult to know without having read it, and despite Remy’s restrained manner this is half a book of combat, which hasn’t been the state of play to date. There are clever, moments, not least the revelation of Remy’s intervention in the battle that made Balin’s reputation, but a prolonged battle wipes away the series originality.

Once the battle is ended the mood changes to mystery with the king informed there’s a traitor in his castle. Interestingly, they’re quickly revealed, and their reasons for subterfuge are interesting. War promoting faster progress, and therefore being of greater value than peace is fundamentally flawed logic discounting the effect on people, but many in this world believe it.

As in previous volumes, when Yorifuji draws people in palace finery there’s a beautiful delicacy to her work, and she poses those people to good effect. Over the battle scenes, though, the uniqueness evaporates as there’s little that’s elegant or courtly.

There’s another cliffhanger ending, but Remy seems to be in control. We’ll see in Vol. 4.