By Hyogo Amagasa and Kyouichi. Released in Japan as “Akatsuki no Majo Lacey wa Jiyū ni Ikitai” by Overlap Novels f. Released in North America by J-Novel Heart. Translated by Alex Honton.

One of the more popular genres recently, which I read a couple of but in general I’m not a fan, is the “thrown out of the party” genre of fantasy. In this genre, our protagonist, who tends to either be overly specialized, too competent, or just in the way, is either told they aren’t needed anymore and abandoned (the “good” kind) or attempted murdered (the “bad” kind). Inevitably, things don’t go well for the party afterwards. I am very relieved to tell you that Lacey Longs for Freedom is almost the polar opposite of this genre. Here we have a party of misfits, each one overpowered but weird except for the hero who binds them all together, defeating the demon lord, parting company… and staying good friends who have each other’s backs. It’s just wonderful to see. It’s also something of a relief, as our heroine is the sort where, if she were abandoned by the hero’s party, would just quietly lie on the side of the road till she died. Yup, another OP introvert.

The Demon King has been defeated and our heroes have returned to the kingdom. They all get one wish, anything they want. But their mage, Lacey, doesn’t use her wish. She already knows her future. She’s engaged to be married to the son of a duke, and will spend the rest of her time being expected to give birth to other powerful mages. She seems depressingly okay with this, even though she’s aware that her fiance doesn’t like her. However, when she sees her fiance cheating on her with the princess of the country – right after she’d seen him cheating with yet another woman – she stands up for herself a bit. And is promptly screamed at by the traditional appalling fiance these books have. Fortunately, the hero is on her side, and is able to help her get what she really wants – not to be tied down to anyone.

For the most part, this is a very good book, especially once we get past the obligatory engagement guff at the start. Lacey is magically super-powered but socially inept, and has to be reminded to eat and sleep. She wants to improve, though, and over the course of the book, as she settles into a nearby village and sets up a shop where she’ll do anything, anytime, anywhere (sadly, though she’s as short as Bill Oddie, there’s not much else similar to the Goodies), she comes out of her shell a bit and can interact with folks – especially when there’s a problem that needs solving. That said, she’s clearly in love with Wayne, the hero, but unaware of it, determined instead to become independent of him taking care of her. Amusingly, Wayne, who is clearly besotted with Lacey, also has not quite hit the point where he’s ready to admit it’s romantic love – he frames it, as she does, as taking care of her as he worries she’ll just fall over dead if he looks away. They reach an understanding at the end of the book, but aren’t quite a couple yet.

This is a good series to read if you like seeing painfully shy girls who can change the weather, heal life-threatening injuries in seconds, and tame magical phoenixes. I think we all like that, really.