As someone who enjoys a good Fantasy/Romance, finding one that isn't an Isekai is like striking gold. When I was looking for a new series to get into at my local Barnes and Noble, I stumbled upon Unnamed Memory, and picking it up was one of the greatest decisions I ever made.
Unnamed Memory is the story of the centuries-old witch, Tinasha, and the cursed prince Oscar. Set in the Kingdom of Farsas, we get to see the daily experiences and interactions that these two have. The storytelling is refreshing. It does not focus solely on the big, dramatic events at all times. Rather, it slowly but gracefully shows the growing bond of our two main characters through small occurrences as well as the big events. The side characters get gradually introduced and they never seemed forced in, nor are they ever forgotten. The worldbuilding is done expertly through both dialogue and narration in a way that feels natural, and leaves you with enough relevant information to understand what is going on.
For me, this story had a little bit of everything I would want in a fantasy novel. There’s the grand kingdoms, the inner and outer politics of them, a loveable cast of characters, a detailed magic system, incredible battles, and so much more. One of the best things about it is that it moves away from the generic fantasy tropes we see in so many other light novels. Adventurer guilds, a video game like system, the same old monsters such as slimes and goblins. Not that any of those tropes are bad by any means, but it’s really nice to see a story that feels like a true, original fantasy.
And whenever I would think I knew where the story was going, Kuji Furumiya always found a way to say “no you absolutely don’t”. The twists and turns throughout the story are heart-racing, gut-wrenching, and sometimes comically priceless. I cry-laughed more than once while reading.
As for the “romance” part, the relationship between the witch and the prince actually feels like it’s seriously progressing throughout the story, and it’s truly a joy watching the two of them. Oscar, for one, isn’t the basic male MC we have so often that is either childish, edgy, perverted, or a combination of multiple. He is simply a good, charismatic dude who wants to make sure his kingdom succeeds (and also wants to make the witch his Queen). Tinasha on the other hand is a mystical, elegant beauty who exuberates a frighteningly powerful aura to seemingly everyone (except Oscar). Deep down, she’s kind and sweet, but also hilariously stubborn at times where she comes off as just cute. Main characters aside, seeing the side characters comment on and discuss the relationship between the two feels so great, because it feels like you, the reader, are there with them, sitting down with friends, gossiping over tea about the progress in the Prince and his contractor’s relationship. I think that speaks for both the characters as well as the storytelling done by Kuji Furumiya. There simply is never a dull moment with any of them.
Another thing I love about the way Unnamed Memory is written is that the main climax of each volume is done close to the middle of the story. This allows for the rest of the book to delve into the aftermath of the main event, where changes to the world and characters can be explored in a way that is uninterrupted, rather than waiting for an entire new book or worse, simply being forgotten. I’ve used this word before, but the best way I can describe it is simply “relaxing”.
All in all, Unnamed Memory is an underrated work of art, with excellent storytelling and characters that make for a wonderfully enjoyable experience. I would 100% recommend it to anyone interested in a good romance in a fantasy setting.
Also, the anime is on the way, and I really hope it does this series justice.
