Synopsis

It is said that Liefes are only capable of conjuring the most difficult and least useful of spells… but that won’t stop Yui from doing what she loves! Despite being born a Liefe, Yui adores magic and learning all she can about it no matter the challenge. The more difficult spells, the better! If only her noble father approved. Deemed a failure to the family name, young Yui and her mother are banished from their own home… but she won’t let that stop her either! After years of struggle and devotion to her studies, Yui is accepted into one of the most prestigious magic academies in the kingdom. Here she will learn from the best magical practitioners in the world—if she can survive amongst all the pompous nobles with more bluster than brains. Constantly ridiculed and undermined by her privileged peers for being a Liefe, will Yui be able to study in peace and prove them wrong? And what ancient mysteries will her research uncover? That is, if the academy doesn’t stop her first… (Source: J-Novel Club)

The True Power of Support Magic!

Written by Kureha and illustrated by Yoko Matsurika, J-Novel Club’s latest title, The Blessing of Liefe, proves that there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to support-type magic.

Following other staples within the genre e.g., The Oblivious Saint and The Fallen Daughter of the Duke, JNC’s newest series is another title looking at a protagonist whose unknown abilities lead them to being persecuted. At the centre of contempt in this series is Yui. Born a Liefe, someone who can only use support-type magic, she often finds herself at the end of harsh words and abuse. This comes to a head when Yui is banished alongside her mother back to her parent’s house. Away from her harsh beginnings, Yui can finally focus on baking and studying the magic that she loves, that is, if she’s able to avoid all the naysayers and distractions.

As far as titles within the banishment genre go, this series gets off to a strong start. The author takes their time to highlight the slow healing that takes place for Yui and her mother after years of abuse at the hands of their noble household. For Yui in particular, these scenes are well realised; her reluctance to move in with her mother and her new husband even after discovering their loving relationship shows that her trauma is deep-seated and needs time.

Furthermore, the series’ first volume introduces a sweet, well-paced romance for the protagonist. Going by the nickname El, he’s the country’s second prince. Introduced as the volume progresses, we learn that the two share a long history together. Their secret meetings together in childhood and their mutual understanding of each other’s weaknesses allow for an equal relationship to take place despite their difference in status.

Unfortunately, this series isn’t without its issues. While The Blessing of Liefe could’ve been a strong contender within the genre, it suffers from an identity crisis. Its cutesy slice-of-life moments and bullying/abuse segments don’t mix. Thanks in part to its paper-thin antagonists, the change between the two themes often comes across as jarring and abrupt.

Diving deeper, the volume also struggles with missed opportunities. Several times throughout, the volume fails to go into further detail about the world’s magic system and how Yui can create new support spells. These support spells play a vital role within the volume, including a pivotal moment in the climax surrounding El’s abilities. With little explanation regarding Yui’s processes to create these new spells, it leads me to be at a loss in getting some of the answers and having to chalk it up to the protagonist’s privilege.

Additionally, some of the characters could’ve done with a better introduction. Yui’s father, for example, Layce, suffers on this front. A cold and calculating prime minister on one side and a doting father on the other—more should’ve been done to highlight these differences in his original introduction by moving his introduction to the royal family to being beside his family introduction.

Overall, while The Blessing of Liefe’s opening instalment had potential, it inevitably fell short. Despite a strong start and an interesting look at healing post-abuse, the lack of depth into the world’s magic system and jarring differences in tone mean I will not be continuing with this series into its second volume.

I Give The Blessing of Liefe Volume 1: 5/10