Spice and Wolf User Reviews

With many of the newest titles from Japan I've come across, there have been dating sim spinoffs, series sequels, shows milking off the moe craze, or titles that reuse plot elements commonplace in its specific genre. Here in Spice and Wolf, there's a focus on medieval times with a mixed emphasis on mercantilism and pagan deities. Enter merchant Craft Lawrence and wolf deity girl Horo the Wise. Horo travels with Lawrence to return to her homeland since the village she used to occupy no longer depend on her presence for harvests.

Spice and Wolf's main focuses are the character chemistry between Horo and Lawrence and the world of merchants that Lawrence serves. First, I'll focus on the mercantilism theme. I have heard some bloggers found it difficult to love or hate Spice and Wolf mostly due to the heavy focus on mercantilism. As his life profession, Lawrence has to constantly make sure he makes the best profit possible out of any items he buys or sells or contracts he agrees to from trading companies. He has to always be watchful of whatever he acquires or gets involved with as getting involved in the wrong decision could put his social status as a merchant or life at risk. Enough discussion is made on the value of specific currency or items and any activity that is connected to the Church. With Horo by his side, Lawrence gains a partner with centuries of experience in persuading other merchants or customers to get anything off him or for him for the best profit possible. It was often hard for me to follow some of the discussions, but learning more about medieval economics was quite interesting for me to see out of this series.

The character chemistry between Horo and Lawrence also caught my interest with this series. There was a mix of humor and bonding between the two as their journey pressed on. The humor came off of the difference in personalities between the two as Lawrence often criticized Horo's haughty attitude while Horo thought Lawrence was too soft and inexperienced when it came to hard decisions as a merchant. The loneliness of the two from their different lifestyles bring the two closer together. The series often hinted the possibility that the two could become more closer as their journey pushed forward.

The journey of the two was left unresolved. But this was one of the better titles I could enjoy out of 2008 thanks to the original premise and the character chemistry of Holo and Lawrence.