There aren’t too many options for shoujo readers looking for a fantasy story-especially if you’re feeling a bit over the villainess/otome-reincarnation tropes. That said, we think Sugar Apple Fairy Tale handles the subject carefully, never forgetting the importance or gravity of that dynamic. Series like Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari (The Rising of the Shield Hero) have stirred up debates over slavery representation in fiction before, and it’s not a topic we can easily discuss inside one review. Anne wants to become closer to Challe, but the fairy refuses to open his heart, especially not to someone who ‘owns’ him. There’s also the romantic tension between Challe and Anne brewing, along with the dissonance between Anne’s age (just fifteen years old) and Challe (being somewhere north of seventy, but looking twenty-ish according to the magical rules of manga!). We see Challe’s resignation to his role, and his deep-seated distrust of humans Jonas’ cruel and abusive treatment of his fairy, Cathy, along with her warped love for her own slave-master and of course, Anne’s emotional conflict over wanting to befriend her traveling companion, while quite literally holding his life in her hands. Still, its nuanced handling of slavery is quite unexpected, and handled well from all fronts. It feels strange to recommend Sugar Apple Fairy Tale on such a fundamentally dark and difficult topic. Anne’s kind-heartedness and childish expressions are rendered lovingly, while Challe’s reserved nature and fierce combat prowess splash across the pages with style. Mangaka YozoranoUdon does a fine job of bringing the ethereal beauty of the fairies to life within the fantasy framework, with some excellent comedic beats. Along the way, the pair must grapple with the fundamental gap in their relationship, bandits on the highway, and Anne’s troublesome childhood friend, Jonas. In order to secure herself on the dangerous journey to the royal capital, Anne purchases a beautiful but sharp-tongued ‘warrior fairy’ named Challe.įundamentally good-hearted, Anne attempts to befriend Challe despite his abrasive nature, and ultimately decides she’ll grant Challe freedom once they reach the capital. There is, however, an additional wrinkle to this tale: throughout the kingdom, mankind has enslaved magical fairies as their companions, workers, and bodyguards. With her mother having recently died, Anne intends to honor her mother’s life and follow in her footsteps by becoming a silver sugar master herself. Candy makers recognized by the crown are known as ‘silver sugar masters,’ and our protagonist, Anne Halford, is the daughter of a silver sugar master. If you haven’t read the light novels or watched the anime, Sugar Apple Fairy Tale’s premise is simple-in this world, there exists ‘silver sugar,’ a magically-imbued sugar used to craft intricate confectionary for marriages, ceremonies, royal events and so forth.
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