On This Page
Description
Continuing their journey north, Lawrence and Holo stop in the village of Tereo in hopes of finding a local abbey where they might uncover more information regarding the fate of Holo's ancient home, Yoitsu. Soon after their arrival, though, the companions are caught up in a local dispute between Tereo and the neighboring town of Enberch that could cost Lawrence and Holo both their fortunes and their lives! With the Wisewolf's help, can Lawrence devise a way to save an entire town from ruin - show more and his skin and that of his traveling companion in the process? show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
The fourth volume of Isuna Hasekura's Spice & Wolf light novel series, illustrated by Jyuu Ayakura, was originally published in Japan in 2006, about a year after the author won the Dengeki Novel Silver Prize for the first volume. Yen Press released the English edition of the fourth volume, translated once again by Paul Starr, in 2011. I enjoyed the first two volumes well enough, but it was the third volume that convinced me that I had made the correct choice in pursuing the series. It's a light fantasy, focusing more on day-to-day life and economics rather than grand quests and high magic, although there is a little of that mixed in, too. But what really makes Spice & Wolf work for me are the two endearing leads: Lawrence, a traveling show more merchant, and his companion by chance Holo, a wolf spirit revered as a harvest goddess. Since I particularly enjoyed the third volume, I was looking forward to reading the fourth.
Following the trail of information that they discovered in Kumersun, Lawrence and Holo continue the search for her home in the north, Yoitsu. They have learned of an abbey near Tereo that is said to collect pagan stories. Although it sounds strange for the Church to be involved in something like that, they hope to find out more about what happened to Yoitsu while Holo was away for centuries. On their way to Tereo, Lawrence and Holo pass through the larger city of Enberch, unwittingly setting themselves up as scapegoats for someone else's schemes. The relations between Enberch and Tereo are strained and it won't take much for the situation to turn volatile. Unaware of this at the time, Lawrence and Holo continue on to Tereo, quickly realizing their trip was more dangerous than they bargained for.
While the Church has always been a prominent element of the world-building of Spice & Wolf, it is of particular importance in the fourth volume. Holo and Lawrence must deliberately seek out the abbey for more information even though it is much safer for them to avoid the Church entirely, Holo being the wolf spirit that she is. The Church is a powerful economic force, which makes it a powerful political force as well. For a largely pagan town like Tereo, this is very problematic and one of the reasons that Lawrence and Holo are treated with such suspicion. They are outsiders to begin with, but their interest in the abbey is particularly unwelcome. Tereo stands to lose a lot if the Church becomes involved in its affairs and so the less attention the town draws the better.
The relationship between Holo and Lawrence remains my favorite part of Spice & Wolf. In the third volume, Lawrence had to confront just how important Holo had become to him in such a short period of time. In the fourth volume, it is clear that the two of them have grown even closer and are more comfortable with each other. There is still plenty of good natured bantering and teasing, and Lawrence still embarrasses very easily (which I find adorable), but he has also gotten to the point where he can more readily read Holo's moods and wishes. Life as a traveling merchant is extremely lonely, and Lawrence and Holo's experiences in Tereo show just how dangerous it can be to be alone. They've both come to value each others companionship a tremendous amount. As a reader, I'm happy to watch their relationship continue to develop and deepen.
Experiments in Manga show less
Following the trail of information that they discovered in Kumersun, Lawrence and Holo continue the search for her home in the north, Yoitsu. They have learned of an abbey near Tereo that is said to collect pagan stories. Although it sounds strange for the Church to be involved in something like that, they hope to find out more about what happened to Yoitsu while Holo was away for centuries. On their way to Tereo, Lawrence and Holo pass through the larger city of Enberch, unwittingly setting themselves up as scapegoats for someone else's schemes. The relations between Enberch and Tereo are strained and it won't take much for the situation to turn volatile. Unaware of this at the time, Lawrence and Holo continue on to Tereo, quickly realizing their trip was more dangerous than they bargained for.
While the Church has always been a prominent element of the world-building of Spice & Wolf, it is of particular importance in the fourth volume. Holo and Lawrence must deliberately seek out the abbey for more information even though it is much safer for them to avoid the Church entirely, Holo being the wolf spirit that she is. The Church is a powerful economic force, which makes it a powerful political force as well. For a largely pagan town like Tereo, this is very problematic and one of the reasons that Lawrence and Holo are treated with such suspicion. They are outsiders to begin with, but their interest in the abbey is particularly unwelcome. Tereo stands to lose a lot if the Church becomes involved in its affairs and so the less attention the town draws the better.
The relationship between Holo and Lawrence remains my favorite part of Spice & Wolf. In the third volume, Lawrence had to confront just how important Holo had become to him in such a short period of time. In the fourth volume, it is clear that the two of them have grown even closer and are more comfortable with each other. There is still plenty of good natured bantering and teasing, and Lawrence still embarrasses very easily (which I find adorable), but he has also gotten to the point where he can more readily read Holo's moods and wishes. Life as a traveling merchant is extremely lonely, and Lawrence and Holo's experiences in Tereo show just how dangerous it can be to be alone. They've both come to value each others companionship a tremendous amount. As a reader, I'm happy to watch their relationship continue to develop and deepen.
Experiments in Manga show less
Probably my favorite book in the series so far. After getting a tip in Kumersun during the last book, Lawrence and Holo continue their search for information about Holos homeland in the small village of Tereo, where they were told of a monetarist that had collected books on the pagan gods. However not everything goes as planed when they are dragged into the local political/religious battle between Tereo and its neighbor the town of Enberch. Now Lawrence and Holo have to walk a fine line between the pagan residence of the Tereo while gaining the trust of the local Church priest and preventing the machinations of Emberch to make Tereo subservient to them.
As the religious tensions play a main part of the story the Church is expanded and show more you also get to learn about the different pagan traditions. Hasekura also did a wonderful job weaving local politics with religious problems while also showing the dynamics between the small village and town as the village try's to balance their independence with the demand of the more powerful town. At the same time there is an interesting subplot about the insular nature of a small village and how a person can be ostracized.
While in the 3rd book we see Lawrence confronting how important Holo is to him, in this one they both seemed to have formed a deeper bond and can read each others moods better. Although, Holo still can get the best of Lawrence most of the time in their lively banter. I really liked this growth for both Lawrence and Holo as even though I find the economic threads interesting the interactions between these two is really the strongest part of the series.
Overall another good addition to the series that does some good world building and character growth. show less
As the religious tensions play a main part of the story the Church is expanded and show more you also get to learn about the different pagan traditions. Hasekura also did a wonderful job weaving local politics with religious problems while also showing the dynamics between the small village and town as the village try's to balance their independence with the demand of the more powerful town. At the same time there is an interesting subplot about the insular nature of a small village and how a person can be ostracized.
While in the 3rd book we see Lawrence confronting how important Holo is to him, in this one they both seemed to have formed a deeper bond and can read each others moods better. Although, Holo still can get the best of Lawrence most of the time in their lively banter. I really liked this growth for both Lawrence and Holo as even though I find the economic threads interesting the interactions between these two is really the strongest part of the series.
Overall another good addition to the series that does some good world building and character growth. show less
I had to drop the "economics" tag for this book in the series, because economics turned out to simply not be nearly as significant a factor in the story, and politics took its place -- because the machinations of politics, mostly behind the scenes but still very evident, moved the plot. I did not enjoy the tale any less than its predecessors, though.
I'm not in a good headspace to write a more thorough review, but if you've gotten this far in the series and agreed with my previous reviews I doubt you need to see my review of this volume to decide to pick it up for yourself.
I'm not in a good headspace to write a more thorough review, but if you've gotten this far in the series and agreed with my previous reviews I doubt you need to see my review of this volume to decide to pick it up for yourself.
Während des ganzen Romans habe ich darauf gewartet, wann denn nun der Wirtschaftsteil der Handlung ins Spiel kommt, aber er kam quasi gar nicht. Dafür wurde die Charakterisierung der Figuren und die Entwicklung der Beziehung zwischen Holo und Lawrence weiter voran gebracht. Sehr schön :)
Mar 23, 2015German
Ratings
Members
- Recently Added By
Author Information
All Editions
Some Editions
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Work Relationships
Is contained in
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Spice & Wolf, Volume 4
- Original title
- 狼と香辛料 (4) (4)
- Alternate titles
- Ookami to Koushinryou (4) (4); 狼と香辛料〈4〉 (電撃文庫) (電撃文庫)
- People/Characters
- Kraft Lawrence; Holo; Elsa Schtingheim; Gyoam Evan; Iima
- Important places
- Tereo; Enberch
- First words
- The six days of winter travel haden taken a toll on his Body.
- Quotations
- “I doubt I’ll find a souvenir for you, though.” [said Lawrence]
“…I care not.” Holo’s eyes opened slightly, and she added in a sweet, soft voice that sounded like she might drift off to sleep at any moment, ... (show all)So long as you return…”
He knew it was a trap, yet he was still unable to conceal his fluster.
Holo’s ears pricked up happily.
She might not be getting a souvenir, but she’d been able to see his foolish face.
“I’ve already got my souvenir. Good night.”
Worrying about someone was the same as not trusting them.
It was a common saying that while God reveals the model for righteousness, He does not execute its proof.
Knowledge of others’ suffering does not lessen one’s own suffering, after all. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Lawrence chewed his last piece of cookie and thanked whatever good had given him this bittersweet sensation.
- Original language
- Japanese
- Disambiguation notice
- This is the light novel. Please do not combine with the manga adaptation.
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, Teen, Fantasy
- DDC/MDS
- 895.636 — Literature & rhetoric Literatures of other languages Literatures of East and Southeast Asia Japanese Japanese fiction 2000–
- LCC
- PZ7 .H2687 .S — Language and Literature Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Juvenile belles lettres
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 188
- Popularity
- 174,610
- Reviews
- 4
- Rating
- (4.32)
- Languages
- Chinese, English, French, Japanese
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 5
- ASINs
- 3
