The Sacred Blacksmith Vol. 1

The Sacred Blacksmith- the book itself is slightly larger than average and this format suits the art very well. The cover art really draws attention to the book as the artist (Kotaro Yamada) has a style that is both pleasing to look at as well as showing a female swordswoman in an action pose. The character on the cover is Cecily Campbell who has entered the ranks of the Knight Guard, the protecting force of the city of Housman. Hers is a lineage that has commanded the Guard since the city's founding in her grandfather's time. The sword she carries represents her family's heritage and has the misfortune of breaking one month after she joins the Guard. Enter Luke Ainsworth, a blacksmith that can create blades like no other, such as katana and magical blades. After convincing him she is worthy of his talents (after fighting an ice demon-beast) Cecily is told to find jewel steel and Luke will re-forge her blade. Luke seems to know more than he is telling, such as why he stopped forging and how he knows so much about demon pacts. Demons in this world exchange power for body parts and Luke's left eye is made of glass. The book has three chapters and the story seamlessly flows from one to the next. Bonus: After the story the book has a few pages on how katanas are forged in this world. Looking forward to volume 2. Also, it appears this also has been an anime and the books are an adaption. Would like to see a color omnibus of this after vol.3 comes out. Last words are this- Excellent story and art and would highly recommend for purchase.

I am a bit on the fence on this one. I like the concept and the artwork and story are generally pretty good. However the "fight scenes" often take up several pages just to show a couple swipes of the sword, so to me there is a lot of wasted space. I also wouldn't mind a bit more humor thrown in. There is a touch of fan service, but only a few images. I will likely pick up the second volume to see where it goes, but am hoping for a bit of improvement to really grab my attention.

Saw anime first, still enjoyed manga which has a different take and some parts. Also details left out our glossed over in anime show up when reading.

The Sacred Blacksmith is really entertaining. The art is very good and the story is unique. I had a Berserk felling while reading it. It's not as dark and violent as Berserk but it has demons and sword fighting like Berserk. If you like Berserk style stories give this a try.

Great story, beautiful, distinct characters.

Exactly what I wanted for my smithing partner ^.^

Perfect condition!

Cecily is a third generation member of the Knight Guard, setting out for her first battle. Her heirloom sword has seen better days, and the magnificent sword wielded by a mysterious stranger makes her desperate to acquire one from the same blacksmith. Being well prepared is a good inclination, as after forty-four years of peace demon pacts are returning...I had heard of the Sacred Blacksmith manga and anime, but didn't know much going in. From the cover and back description I was expecting light fantasy/adventure, likely with some fanservice overtones. It's actually quite serious most of the time, with dark omens and dire situations constantly around the corner. I like the characters and the story thus far, but none of it is particularly original. As for the fanservice... it's there, and doesn't really fit. I'll discuss below.The art is extremely good, but tends to get in its own way during fights and action sequences. Character designs, details, and intricate town and countryside backgrounds are all excellent. The artist tries too hard for the action scenes though and they get muddled and confusing with way too many action lines and effects.The fanservice is weird. As I mentioned above the manga is more dark and serious than I expected, and then every once in a while in the most contrived way possible we get a pinup shot. They're beautiful, and I don't mind fanservice in some cases, but it's shoehorned in so obviously here it really breaks up the immersion and any tension that had been achieved.Some examples: After her first battle Cecily has an attack of nerves, and clearly begins to fall forward as her knees lock. She suddenly switches direction in the next panel to sprawl BACKWARDS to end up sitting, back arched and legs apart. Later she heroically acts as a human shield and is hit with numerous shards of ice. The total effect of this barrage is to tear off her armor and clothes beneath and cause her to faint into the arms of another character for another pose (if she has some magical shield that protects her skin from cuts none was mentioned...)So overall I'm finding it hard to pin down The Sacred Blacksmith. It's well done for the most part, has strong art and features interesting characters and situations. On the other hand it's pretty standard for the genre concept-wise, is very jarring in mixing tones and seems to be lacking something that would compel me to want to read more. Call it decent, probability of continuing with the series unknown.

I'll start by saying that I have a weakness for medieval European fantasy. Something about swords, close-quarters combat, adventuring, magic, forestry and cool clothes just makes my heart flutter. The Sacred Blacksmith manga (based on alight novel) offers all of these, with some sexy fanservice thrown in for good measure.I don't usually place much emphasis on plot originality in fictional works nowadays. "Nothing is new under the sun" and all that jazz. Especially with medieval fantasy: how many iterations of King Arthur, Middle Earth, Aincrad, Alagaësia etc. have you already come across? Yet each work remains alluring because of it offers an escape from our normal, mundane real lives. With a strong start in world-building, volume 1 presents a post-war setting where summoning spirits (i.e. monsters) have become forbidden due to the massive casualties and collateral damage they caused during the war. Of course, illegal summoning rituals have started up, heralding fresh horror for the peaceful citizens and some action-packed, tense fighting scenes for the reader. Plot-wise it is not terribly imaginative, but the way Isao Miura pulls his own unique twists like mid-battle weapon forging draws the reader in and keeps them attentive.We follow Cecily Campbell, a rookie member of a knights' guild, as she upholds her family tradition of serving the people and protecting the masses from harm, monstrous or otherwise. I found her personality, while a little naïve, to be sincere, endearing, and you know, cute. It also helps that Cecily is quite easy on the eyes (as should be obvious from the cover). She's a dedicated and resourceful member of the Knight Guard, and we're shown this whenever she takes on a gang of bandits – with great gusto – despite being a newbie in terms of combat experience.Cecily is balanced out by Luke Ainsworth, a cynical, highly skilled blacksmith and accomplished swordsman. He's the only person in the setting who wields a katana, a rare weapon sought after by Cecily. Now I'm thinking, "Okay, this is the part where she's forged a blade and becomes, you know, stronger, right?" Fortunately this development is hampered by the fact that Cecily is too poor to afford such a weapon, a fair justification for holding off a potential invincible plot-breaker. The two characters make a nice contrast: enthusiastic, dedicated and novice (Cecily) vs. reserved, loner, and skilled (Luke). The belligerent dialogue between the two – a naïve newcomer and a snarky loner – is also something to look forward to.Art-wise, I found the pages to be neatly and beautifully drawn. You really get a feel of the lush forests, refreshing air, and open skies typical for a medieval setting. The battle scenes are top-notch, too, with many a clash of blades and numerous details like shrapnel, speed effects, and bodily injuries. And a very attractive and supple fighter clad in form-fitting armor that is Cecily, of course.Overall, I found the Sacred Blacksmith vol.1 to be a very decent entry into into the medieval fantasy genre, with enough twists and charming characters to keep the readers hooked. Definitely recommend checking it out.

i was looking forward to this manga having watched the dvd version and i was not disappointed an excellent manga it must be bought

sacred blacksmith is a very good manga,the art is very good as well,cant wait for volume 2 to come out.

Very good

Clásica historia ambientada en la fantasía medieval, con sus demonios y guerras del pasado. Buen arte y mucha acción con toques de humor y fanservice.