My Happy Marriage (Light novel), Vol.1

Set in Taisho period, My Happy Marriage follows the tale of Saimori Miyo, a girl who's been enduring abuse from her family after her mother died. Her stepmother hates her, her stepsister looks down on her, and her father does absolutely nothing to stop them. As the result, Miyo is forced to live like a servant until they send her away to marry. Her fiancé, Kudou Kiyoka, is rumored to be cruel and cold-hearted, and her family is so certain he's just going to throw her out and leave her to die in the streets.

Well, of course that's not what happens. Instead, we get a Cinderella story as Miyo slowly heals from her trauma and finds her own happiness.

The fantasy elements involve beings known as the Grotesqueries, which can only be seen by Spirit-Sight. It's an ability possessed only by the Gifted, and Miyo's family treats her terribly because she was born from a political marriage to pass down the Gift, yet she doesn't seem to have it. Or at least most of the characters believe she doesn't. Due to this reason, Miyo is mostly uninvolved in any supernatural happenings in this book, which leaves the fantasy vibes rather thin. Still, I enjoyed the atmosphere of the Taisho period, as well as the subdued feel of the story. Some may find it boring, but I think it suits Miyo's personality really well. This may change in the next books though, since it is heavily hinted that she's not as powerless as they think. the main portion of the first volume is Miyo's introduction to Kiyoka, and how they genuinely start to grow fond of each other.

Oh, and how her family goes up in flames. Literally.

While Miyo may seem like a really passive character at first, she does grow after experiencing happiness with Kiyoka and Yurie. Her progress is slow, but it's understandable since she's been belittled and abused for so long. If you're not interested in the healing process or can't find it in yourself to empathize with an abuse victim, then you should find another book that offers a sturdier main character. But I do want Miyo to be happy after everything she's gone through, so I will definitely pick up the rest of the series.

The first paragraph of introspection snf Miyo's anxiety and low self-esteem is already established. My precious girl. Miyo's birth family is disgusting. Certainly her sister and stepmother for obvious reasonsbut even more so her father, for ignoring everything the women put her through. It's also interesting to see a bit of an introspection of Kaya. It was already clear that she treats Miyo so badly because of her mother's example and encouragement and her father's ignoting it all, but it's a bit more to it than “you're my daughter, and you're better than that woman's daughter to Kaya's terrible personality.This shows that the family dynamic is a bit more complicated than it first seems. Kaya is, while perhaps not well aware of it, but knows to an extent that if she fucks up too much, her mother's ire will, though not as badly, turn to her as well.

The bud of Miyo wanting something, her want to be with Kiyoka more and being scared of losing the tiny sliver of kindness in her life. It's so tragic, but also it's warming to know that she'll have it from him. The way she opens up, bit by bit, as she comes to understand more what she's not had, what she's offered, and that it's unconditional, no matter if she has any skills, Gift, or anything else. Her realising that not everyone will treat her poorly, because then everyone would have to be like her father, her stepmother and sister. That realisation she has is so good for her. The years she's suffered from the abuse from her family isnt' going to get fixed with just a bit of kindness, but she's healing, little by little, and her change from the prologue to the epilogue is sucha proof that she's getting more comfortable with both herself and her situation.

Kouji is a good guy, certainly, but I've always loathed the whole “only I can protect you” thing. The fact that he understands that he needs to ask for help to save Miyo, and doesn't let stupid pride stop him from seeking Kiyoka out, shows growth in him. That he decides to take responsibility for the Saimoris and try to make something better of that family, though they certainly don't deserve it, particularly those adults as Kaya is really still just a child who needs and probably can go through a lot of growth, and that he decides to learn how to properly use his Gift rather than being content with just having it, is also a sign that he's growing as a person.

Kiyoka is, in the beginning, a seemingly unfeeling guy. He's had his fair share of hurt though, it seems; he's guarded and wary. From the way he thinks about his previous trial-run fianceés, Kaya wouldn't have been a good match for Kiyoka wben before he liked Miyo. But the surprising way that Miyo acts has him open up as well, has him warm to her. He is a kind man, though icy when he needs to be - and when he's genuinely angry for the sake of what and who he cares about; as Kouji gets to see, it's the quiet rage that is the scariest kind of rage. He's stern and private, but his gentle side is so warm and fluffy. I also really appreciate that he's telling Miyo that it's alright to cry. So often, a crying character is told - particularly be a male character - that they shouldn't cry. That kind of advise is often well-meaning, in this comparison, but it's not ideal. Crying is a very good outlet, and having a male lead say that it's alright to cry is a very good thing. I'm glad that Kiyoka knows that one doesn't just repair trauma with just a few words. Love heals all is a nice sentiment and all, but it's really not that simple and realistic, and it's nice to see that acknowledged in a romance story.As a note on Kiyoka and his emotions, I love that toward the end of the book, Miyo has started to recognise Kiyoka's feelings for what they are than before. Where she'd have taken his sheepish frown from anger in the beginning, now she can tell that he's just embarrassed. She didn't acknowledge that she can tell, now, but that's almost nicer than if she did.

Death might be painful, but there'd be no more suffering afterward. She'd be free.

she's been through so much, she had nothing to live for any more. This is what she thinks at first, but then, when faced with that very possible scenario at the hands of her stepmother, she has the desire to live. To struggle for happiness. She thinks that she can't can't stand up for herself, but the fact that she chooses not to apologise any more, that is a very small way of doing so. Small, but significant. It's a change she has gone through, as she finally stands up to her abusers. And Miyo meeting the gaze of her sister and stepmother, refusing to do as they want made me cry with pride.

It could also erase part of her growth, though I'm only coming from the standpoint of having watched the anime, so I don't yet know if she changes or drops any honorifics as she grows and blossoms.

Kiyoka's reaction to Miyo's first smile. Aaaaaa!!.