MANGA REVIEW | "Colette Decides to Die" - Volume Three
Even with its grim title, Colette Decides to Die sparks a plethora of joy. Watching as Colette and Hades grow closer brings big smiles and a feeling of happiness whenever I read about them. In its third volume (technically Volumes Five and Six), Colette Decides to Die introduces us to a new god and a new feeling from the apothecary: one that itches for exploration. But first, Colette’s got a job to do!
The first patient to arrive for Colette is the god Dionysus, whose love for wine has bitten him in the behind. Not a lover of the Underworld, Dionysus tries to get back to the surface so he can get better and party once more. Fortunately, Colette comes up with a plan to make Dionysus fall in love with the Underworld. It takes an army of the cutest skeletons around to show why the tastes, the sights, and even the clothing of the Underworld are not something you should ever scoff at.
Patient Number Two is an old woman on the surface, whose husband was once treated by Colette. However, the old woman, Adona, refuses Colette’s services, a feeling that bothers the apothecary. Perhaps she worries that Adona doesn’t trust in her skills, as her husband died on her watch. However, the reason behind Adona pushing away Colette is a surprising one, and it shows how much she and the whole village appreciate the hard work of the young apothecary.
There’s bound to be some romance found in Colette Decides to Die, and it’s when Dionysus throws a party in the Celestial Realm. All the best gods are there, with Colette and Hades the guests of honor. Lots to drink, plenty to eat, and even some rounds of Bingo help to make it a party worth praising. However, when Hades has a bit to drink, his more frisky side starts to show up. How Colette reacts, well, she doesn’t hate it.
It leads the two of them to be a little more honest about their feelings for one another. Alas, neither can say “I love you!” without the other being either asleep or too far for them to hear. But there’s progress, be it with some cuddling or when one’s tuckered out enough to use the other as a lap pillow. These moments aid in making Colette and Hades such an endearing couple, the kind many lovers would strive to be!
Dionysus isn’t the only god Colette interacts with in this volume. Her desire to see a childhood friend begins a new journey towards her childhood home. In one instance, she comes across a lost woman, one that makes for some entertaining company. When it’s revealed that she’s the god of fertility, Demeter, the reason behind her mannerisms makes all the more sense.
But Colette’s journey requires a break in the Underworld, one that transforms into a spa day! The poor girl’s feet are completely covered in sores, meaning that her desire to see her friend will have to wait. Just as Colette has done for Hades and everyone else in the Underworld, she gets taken care of in a way that’s almost heavenly. (Hades also learns a way to make a sleeping Colette laugh, which is too silly to spoil here.)
Volume Three of Colette Decides to Die continues to bring joy, beauty, laughter, and hope into every story. The addition of Dionysus and Demeter could bring something far grander in Colette and Hades’s futures, but we’ll have to see how much they show up. Until then, watching as Colette grows into a better apothecary and Hades a more open god will bring smiles to many fans of the shojo genre. It may be called Colette Decides to Die, but that apothecary is finding new ways to live every step of the way!
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
