Feb 7, 2016
What is most enchanting about Absolute Witch is its intertwining of history, folklore, magic, and witchcraft. A young girl almost alone in the world with powers that she can't control tugs on the magical girl genre that many people adore, yet the story also deals with the deep and dark pasts of those wronged by fate and cursed by spells and unlucky ancestry. Right from the beginning the reader knows that this is not an ordinary story about the heroine becoming a full grown witch and saving the world, but also about the journey of finding herself and her identity despite coming from nothing.
The beginning
...
of the manhwa is more or less an apt explanation of how Skyla came to be in her current situation, but the way it was spaced between random time skips was a little confusing for me. The story honestly did not pique my interest until about the middle of it, from where drama in the land around her began to unfold. But even then, when new characters were introduced with equally mysterious backgrounds, I was a little frustrated with how long it took for their pasts to be explained and sometimes I wasn't sure if I understood correctly.
For a lot of manhwa, the most prominent feature is the gorgeous artwork. At first I was a little perplexed at how long the women's hair was, but they were still gorgeous to look at given all the detail the artist put into it. There is also a lot of effort put into striking gazes, formidable poses, and intricately designed clothing. For the time period, the author must have studied a lot about this point in history in order to illustrate these outfits so closely.
I was also quite taken aback by the backgrounds and scenery. Old churches and towers were very detailed; farmlands were sketched carefully; everything was just marvelous.
A minor complaint (purely by preference) would be the way the men looked. Sure, they were beautiful, but their long hair and equally long lashes made me wonder a few times if they were women before I knew of their identities. If you're one for bishounen, though, this should be perfect.
Skyla, the young witch who turns into a powerful and experienced one, is every bit the courageous and strong protagonist anyone could wish for. In addition to being lovely, she can speak her mind and even beat people up with her hands if she doesn't do so with magic. Despite her strength, she is sometimes saved by a curious man named Kaylus, who I will mention next. Anyway, Skyla is also accompanied by a familiar named Will, who primarily appears as a frog.
When Kaylus makes his first appearance, he seems to be an ornery man who likes to pick on Skyla and call her "kid" (the latter of which I despise). He is a skilled alchemist known for his abilities throughout the land, yet his origins are a mystery to many. He seems to have some kind of interest in Skyla. While he's a cool dude, I don't like how he is unbeatable in every battle he participates in. It's a little too perfect.
To be honest, while I shipped these two in the beginning, their pairing did not seem so attractive to me after a certain part of the story because they initially were a bickering duo and then jumped a step to the next part of their relationship. I understand both of them can be impulsive, but I value a relationship that progresses more gradually. On the attractive level, though, they're both very good looking, so there's that to consider.
Given the length of chapters, I was expecting this manhwa to be a bit more appealing than it was. I wished it delivered more in the beginning as it did nearing the end. Throughout it, though, I loved the artwork, and the history of witches was intriguing to me because I enjoy reading about legends. I suppose in romantic aspects, if you enjoy something a little quick, it wouldn't be bad.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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