History Manga / ABridesStory

* RomanticTwoGirlFriendship: Anis and Sherine, with heavy emphasis on ''romantic''; playing their first meeting like LoveAtFirstSight is just the tip of the iceberg, and it reaches ThreesomeSubtext after [[spoiler:Sherine marries Anis's husband at Anis's request]].

* CompletelyMissingThePoint: Several characters do this from time to time, but Amir is definitely the greatest offender. In particular:

* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Amira or Amir? The official English translation went with Amir (which is based on the kana ''actually'' used by [[Creator/KaoruMori Mori]]) yet her name is spelled Amira in other official translations, like Spanish (which is based in "Amira" being the ''actual'', real-world female name). Fans still debate the issue. That [[Creator/KaoruMori Mori]] has made "interesting" official spellings of non-Japanese names in [[Manga/VictorianRomanceEmma other works of hers]] didn't help, either. This applies to a lot of the names due to the ''huge'' disconnect between Japanese and Turkic languages.

* MistakenForSpies: Mr.Smith was thrown into a prison once for this reason and only released a few days latter after Ali vouched for him. It remains a concern for him during his travel in Turkestan afterward, as his obvious European look means he will always be suspected as a Russian spy thanks to the then political tension. For this reason Smith sometime assumes fake identity when he's on the road, such as a doctor or a Tatar.

* RealityEnsues: In volume three, [[spoiler:Mr. Smith and Talas's]] sudden engagement seems to be going along the usual romantic rails, until chapter seventeen. The entire chapter makes it abundantly clear how unrealistic it actually was due to the cultural differences and family ties. [[spoiler:This turns out to be something of a [[SubvertedTrope subverted trope]] in chapter seventy-two, thanks to Talas's determination and the unexpected help from her sixth husband]].

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar:
** At the end of chapter nine, Karluk's parents kiss in one panel, the next one is black.
** There are several scenes with Anis and her husband in bed together and nude. [[DidTheyOrDidntThey Whether they were doing anything or not is unclear,]] but it's implied that they did.
%%** Chapter 79, full stop.

* GildedCage: Anis evidently feels this way about her luxurious home, since her husband is often absent, her baby is being raised by another woman, and she's not allowed to leave or even interact with people other than family. [[spoiler:This feeling is gone when Anis has her husband take Sherine as a second wife; she genuinely enjoys her home and her lush garden with Sherine to share it with, they spend time together as a family, and she gains a new appreciation for her husband and how he cares about her happiness]]. In chapter 86, Anis outright states that before she began to go to the bathes, she was very lonely.

** Doenplayed by the head of Karluk’s town, who thinks that the armaments left by [[spoiler:the Badan]] will increase their chances, but is wise enough to realize that Russia is ''not'' another tribe, although he has no idea just how large it is.

** Somewhat averted by the head of Karluk’s town, who thinks that the armaments left by [[spoiler:the Badan]] will increase their chances, but is wise enough to realize that Russia is ''not'' another tribe, although he has no idea just how large it is.

* TinyGuyHugeGirl: Amir and Karluk. She’s fully-grown, but he’s only twelve and has quite a lot of growing left to do.

* ACupAngst: Anis is a thin, delicate beauty with a practically flat chest; her breasts didn't even grow after she had a baby. She's kind of fascinated with Sherine's big breasts, then gets downright insecure when the ladies at the bathhouse quip that she looks like a bundle of twigs and ought to put some more meat on her bones. However, when she asks her husband if that's true he tells her in no uncertain terms that he likes her the way she is.

* AmbiguouslyBi: Both Anis and Sherine love their husbands, but it is very much implied that their feelings for each other are more than just simple friendship. After [[spoiler:Sherine's husband dies, Anis begs her own husband to marry Sherine as well, which leads to Anis and Sherine getting even more intimate, and their story arc ends with all three being happily in love with each other]]. This arrangement results in Anis spending chapter 83 gushing over Sherine and chapter 85 gushing over her husband. Given the sociohistorical context -- private and public segregation of sexes, as well as commonality of marriage -- it's very difficult to tell what these two women’s preferences are.
* AnguishedDeclarationOfLove: After a brief moment of [[InsecureLoveInterest insecurity]] on Karluk’s part, Amir gives him one in chapter sixty-six. He responds in kind.

* {{Biseinen}} / {{Hunk}}: Many characters tote the line on this one. Azel and Joruk, Amir’s elder brother and cousin respectively, fit this category, as does Mr. Smith’s guide, Ali, to a lesser extent. Yusuf and Mr. Smith (when you can actually see his face) are regular {{Biseinen}}, while Amir’s cousin, Baimat, is arguably a {{Hunk}}.

* BlackWidow: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted.]] Talas ''is'' a serial widow for five brothers, but she did love some of them and had no part in their deaths. Also she or her family gained no extra dowries for the "bonus" marriages.

* CycleOfRevenge: In chapter 68, Mr. Smith's caravan runs into a man who's been hiding in the mountains for sixteen years to escape revenge by the best friend of the man he killed (the victim had no living relatives). Ali notes that killing always begets killing in retaliation: "Even if it was two hundred years ago, if they take one of yours, you take one of theirs. No matter what."
* DatingWhatDaddyHates: Talas' stepfather-in-law won't allow [[spoiler:Mr. Smith]] to even see her.

* SilverFox: Sanira already has a few grandchildren, but is still very beautiful. Her husband, Akunbek, [[LampshadeHanging notes this]] even while she's suffering from a cold. Also, as curmudgeonly as he is, Belqat is ''physically'' attractive.

%% * YuriGenre: Entire volume seven arc. Even if you decide to lean more in favor of emotional ambiguity provided by historical setting, it was clearly meant to be portrayed as girl-girl romance. Refer to RomanticTwoGirlFriendship trope mentioned above for more context.

* KickTheDog:
** The conflict caused by Belqat has him have clan members, including her own brother, try to kidnap his daughter from her PerfectlyArrangedMarriage in order to marry her off to a man who has abused his previous wives, her sisters and cousins, to death.
** The end of [[spoiler:Talas’ first arc]], has the bride and groom split up last minute, due to her mother-in-law (who did approve) remarrying.

** Children have to pay complete obedience to their fathers, people come-of-age a lot earlier, and most marriages are to some extent if not completely [[ArrangedMarriage arranged]]. One example is Amir and Karluk’s marriage -- Karluk is only twelve years old, but in that time period, he would be considered of age. By modern standards, their union would be equivalent to a twenty-one year old college graduate marrying a woman in her thirties. Although the author explained in her endnotes to volume one that the actual average marrying couple in the region realistically would have been fifteen to sixteen years of age, and admits that she decided to have such a wide age gap between the two main leads for dramatic purposes.

* TheJailbaitWait: Voluntarily, rather than legally. By his culture's standards, twelve-year-old Karluk is old enough for marriage and everything that entails. His grandmother is able to bluff to Amir's relatives that Amir is already pregnant with Karluk's child, and while admitting it isn't true, she says it's going to happen sooner or later anyway. Even so, Karluk and Amir both recognize it's better to wait until he's older. So far they're only kissing, holding hands, and sleeping as a couple. Chapter twenty-three still has Amir wishing that he'd grow up faster, as it's strongly implied that she wants to get a lot more intimate with him.

* WiseBeyondHisYears: To modern sensibilities, twelve year old Karluk comes off as surprisingly mature for his age. In the setting, though, he's considered an adult and expected to act as such.

* [[BowsVersusCrossbows Bows Versus Rifles]]: Occurs whenever more traditional groups face off against less traditional ones or groups in bed with Czarist Russia. In chapter fifty-three, in reaction to having seen [[OneManArmy Azel’s]] prowess with a bow, Karluk notes that if you know how to use them, a bow and arrow can outperform a rifle (overruling Yusuf’s objection that they’re harder and more time-consuming). This is TruthInTelevision, as the rifles of the period took a long time to load, were not repeating, and were less than accurate, giving competent archers a considerable advantage; until the wide-spread adoption of repeating firearms, Central Asian mounted archery was nearly indomitable.
%%** The story is set in the 19th century in a setting where BOTH bows and rifles are regularly used, so it does NOT qualify as TheStraightAndArrowPath (read the trope description if you aren't certain).

* TallDarkAndHandsome: Azel and Joruk are both portrayed this way, with a decent measure of snarkiness in the mix.

* ChekhovsGun: Remember how Amir panics whenever someone gets sick and how it apparently took her father seven years to find a groom to despite her many qualifications and being the daughter of clan chief? There’s a reason for that... [[spoiler:Apparently an epidemic killed many members of her clan, combined with Belqat not realizing that the best is the enemy of the good]], and you get the present results. This continues to effect her. [[spoiler:Azel, Baimat, and Joruk]] are unmarried for the same reason.

* TheIngenue: Amir is innocent and occasionally oblivious, so she can come off this way to despite being otherwise mature. This includes a few {{Cloudcuckoolander}} moments (one word: hedgehogs), despite otherwise not fitting the trope.

* TheStraightAndArrowPath: Bows versus rifles occurs whenever more traditional groups face off against less traditional ones or groups in bed with Czarist Russia. In chapter fifty-three, in reaction to having seen [[OneManArmy Azel’s]] prowess with a bow, Karluk notes that if you know how to use them, a bow and arrow can outperform a rifle (overruling Yusuf’s objection that they’re harder and more time-consuming). This is TruthInTelevision, as the rifles of the period took a long time to load, were not repeating, and were less than accurate, giving competent archers a considerable advantage; until the wide-spread adoption of repeating firearms, Central Asian mounted archery was nearly indomitable.

---> '''Karluk:''' .....

* TheIngenue: Amir is innocent and occasionally oblivious, so she can come off this way to despite being otherwise mature. This includes a few {{Cloudcuckoolander}} moments (one word: hedgehogs), to despite otherwise not fitting the trope.

* TheJailbaitWait: Voluntarily, rather than legally. By his culture's standards, twelve-year-old Karluk is old enough for marriage and everything that entails. His grandmother is able to bluff to Amir's relatives that Amir is already pregnant with Karluk's child, and while admitting it isn't true, she says it's going to happen sooner or later anyway. Even so, Karluk and Amir both recognize it's better to wait until he's older. So far they're only kissing, holding hands, and sleeping as a couple. Chapter twnety-three still has Amir wishing that he'd grow up faster, as it's strongly implied that she wants to get a lot more intimate with him.

* LikesOlderWomen: Despite this being a culture in which a girl of twenty like Amir [[DeliberateValuesDissonance is considered old for a bride]], Karluk states that her age doesn't bother him one bit, and in fact he wouldn't have her any other way. [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]] in that it is unclear if Karluk thinks this way about women in general or if it is because Amir happens to be older than him.

** A subversion: the twins try to pull off what by modern standards would be awkward and cute. [[DeliberateValuesDissonance In nineteenth century Central Asia?--]] They're trying to use circumstances to [[ShotgunWedding force attractive guys to marry them.]]

* AnguishedDeclarationOfLove: After a brief moment of [[InsecureLoveInterest insecurity]] on Karluk’s part, Amir gives him one in chapter sixty-six.

** Karluk’s grandmother, Balkirsh, is an expert archer, and while she mostly stopped using her bow after she got married, she’s still got the touch, as well as NervesOfSteel. She also uses her talent for riding ''goats'' to rescue a small child from a steep cliff in a side chapter. [[NeverMessWithGranny She isn’t ''exactly'' young either.]]

** Karluk’s grandmother, Balkirsh, is an expert archer, and while she mostly stopped using her bow after she got married, she’s still got the touch, as well as nerves of steel. She also uses her talent for riding ''goats'' to rescue a small child from a steep cliff in a side chapter. She isn’t ''exactly'' young either.

* BeYourself: A big part of Pariya's character arc, particularly in chapters 50-52. She's [[NoManWantsAnAmazon put off so many suitors]] with her [[BrutalHonesty blunt speaking]] and unladylike enthusiasm that she's petrified of Umar seeing what kind of girl she is and being driven off as well, to the point that she even tries to reinvent herself by copying Karola, the most popular girl in town. But it's only when she talks to Umar directly that she discovers that [[AmazonChaser he's actually really attracted to her energy, enthusiasm and honesty]], and all she needs to do is act natural with him.

** Chapter 79, full stop.

* [[BowsVersusCrossbows Bows Versus Rifles]]: This occurs whenever more traditional groups face off against less traditional ones or groups in bed with Czarist Russia. In chapter fifty-three, in reaction to having seen [[OneManArmy Azel’s]] prowess with a bow, Karluk notes that if you know how to use them, a bow and arrow can outperform a rifle (overruling Yusuf’s objection that they’re harder and more time-consuming). This is TruthInTelevision, as the rifles of the period took a long time to load, were not repeating, and were less than accurate, giving competent archers a considerable advantage; until the wide-spread adoption of repeating firearms, Central Asian mounted archery was nearly indomitable.