Emma Volume 10 Review: The Bittersweet Ending of Kaoru Mori’s Victorian Romance Manga

In our review of Emma Volume 10, we will discuss the final volume of Kaoru Mori’s Victorian romance manga series from a Christian perspective. Includes a parent guide.

This review is about Emma Volume 10 by Kaoru Mori. For our Emma series overview post with a link to all posts in the series, click here, and to read our previous post, Emma Volume 9, click here.

Synopsis: Emma Volume 10

In the final volume of Emma, Kaoru Mori presents a selection of short stories and four-panel comics featuring many of the characters introduced over the past nine volumes. We discover how Adele and Maria first met in Germany, see Emma and William enjoying their engagement, witness Eleanor and Ernest at the close of their summer together, and follow Arthur at school as he takes on the role of dormitory supervisor.

We also learn more about Stephens, the butler who serves the Jones family, Tasha’s life without Emma, and discover more about Grace, William’s sister. Of course, the highlight is Emma and William’s wedding, surrounded by friends and family. But have the Joneses finally accepted Emma’s place in William’s life, or do they remain distant and cold toward her?

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Emma Volume 10 Review: Kaoru Mori’s Bittersweet Final Volume

The last two volumes were weighed down by side stories that, while somewhat enjoyable, didn’t contribute to the main narrative. Some of the side stories felt like filler material, which goes against the usual writing protocol of trimming what doesn’t add to the plot. Kaoru Mori acknowledges the unnecessary side stories, and I appreciate that. While they weren’t entirely uninteresting, they felt extraneous, and, ultimately, didn’t advance the main plot revolving around the romance between Emma and William. Additionally, the inclusion of nudity in the past volumes felt unnecessary, as it didn’t add to the themes or character development, but seemed included just for the sake of it.

However, this final volume was a refreshing and welcome end to the series. We finally got not one, not two, not even three, but four chapters focused on Emma and William—ironically, since the series is called Emma, and she should have been featured more prominently in the side stories. Additionally, the sexual content was very tame in comparison to the last few volumes (see my content guide below for more detail).

Emma and William as a Fiancé

William is a respectful and chivalrous fiancé, even apologizing when he realizes he hasn’t paid enough attention to something that could harm Emma.

Emma, on the other hand, often apologizes unnecessarily and struggles with feelings of self-degradation due to her lack of status. Still, people—Hakim included—gently reassure her that she hasn’t done anything wrong.

Another Sweet Moment at the Meredith’s

At the Meredith’s house, Dorothea is taking a while to get ready for the wedding. Erich complains about this, causing Mr. Meredith to reprimand him for his words and reminding him that women take time to get ready and that a gentleman waits for her.

Emma Volume 10: A Welcome Reminder That Hakim Exists *Spoiler*

Hakim makes a random appearance, and to be honest, I kind of forgot he existed. He adds his usual unique perspective, now in a phase where he enjoys airplanes. His presence provides a lighthearted and humorous tone, and since Kelly cannot be present at the wedding, it feels fitting that Hakim, another key ally, is there.

Al: Emma’s Connection to Kelly *Spoiler*

As for Al, he acknowledges that Emma is getting married but chooses not to attend, despite being welcome. It’s a poignant moment, as Al is the closest thing Emma has to her life with Kelly, outside of William. His absence feels especially sad.

Commoners and Nobility at Emma’s Wedding

At Emma and William’s wedding—a union of servant and gentry—both servants and masters are invited to partake in the festivities. It’s a beautiful symbol of class unity between William and Emma.

The Church

Their wedding takes place in a church that appears to be on the Jones’ property, though sadly, it had been used for storage until now. William’s friend, Robert, also has a church on his estate, but his family turned it into a conservatory—a quiet reflection of their lack of religious priorities.

Signing of the Marriage License *Spoiler*

One of the most beautiful parts of the wedding is the signing of the marriage license. Emma is asked to provide her maiden name. Since she doesn’t have one, William suggests she use “Stownar,” Kelly’s surname. It’s a deeply meaningful moment. For the first time, Emma has a last name. It reminded me of how God adopts us into His family (Galatians 4:5–7).

The Lively Wedding Party

The wedding party is… lively. While it’s touching to see servants and masters celebrating together, the party gets more boisterous than what’s typical at formal events. The presence of excessive alcohol also leads to some rowdiness.

Emma Volume 10: The Dynamic Between Emma and Grace

Though Grace and Emma meet, there’s an awkwardness that keeps them from truly finding peace with one another. Grace’s husband, Lionel, is kind to Emma and explains why Grace acts the way she does, but unfortunately, the two women don’t really bond. Arthur and Grace are both surprised to see the other at the wedding, yet Arthur makes it clear that William is family.

William’s Father

Then there’s Richard, William’s father, who doesn’t attend the afterparty. He says he doesn’t want to be closed-minded, but he still doesn’t approve of the marriage—which is disheartening, especially since he never interacts with Emma directly.

Emma Volume 10: Emma’s New Role in Noble Society *Spoiler*

Unfortunately, we don’t see much interaction between Emma and noble society. Though destined to become part of this world, we see her preparing for and attending a couple of parties with Auriela and Dorothea, but that’s about it. Given the stark contrast between the working class and the gentry, I felt we deserved to see more of Emma’s interactions with society—getting to know William’s friends, winning over his relatives, and struggling to become the perfect noblewoman. Instead, her interactions are limited mostly to Auriela, Dorothea, Wilhelm, and William (and I guess Hakim, but does he really count?).

We never truly see her transition into a noblewoman, and since the story ends after their wedding, we miss out on her adjustment to that life. While I was thrilled to experience Emma’s wedding, it offered brief satisfaction, and my hunger for a deeper exploration of Emma’s world remains unsatisfied.

The Joneses Marriage *Spoiler*

Auriela deciding to move back home with Richard is a surprisingly beautiful ending note. They’d been living apart for some time, and it’s always sad to see married couples divided. Their reunion offers a small but hopeful glimpse of reconciliation.

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FAQs for Emma Volume 10

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Conclusion: Emma Volume 10 Review

This is the best of the side story volumes (Emma Volumes 8–10) for several reasons: it consistently features Emma and William, ties directly into the main plot, remains relatively clean, and ultimately delivers the long-awaited wedding between Emma and William.

However, the ending still leaves me unsatisfied, wishing for more content centered on Emma and William’s deepening relationship, Emma’s adjustment to noble society, and her integration into the Jones family. Sadly, as this final volume is nearly 20 years old, it seems we may never get that closure.

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Content Guide for Emma Volume 10

Language in Emma Volume 10

• “Language fool,” “runts,” “cheeky little bugger,” “idiot,” “old woman,” “tight-arsed old wench,” “ach”
• Phrases like “whatever you bloody well like,” “shut up,” “where the devil”
• William is called “foolish,” “scatterbrained,” and “unreliable”
• Swear words include: “arse,” “bastard,” and “my god”
• One character rants about how people expect him to marry, saying if you’re lonely, clubs are better because you don’t get “henpecked” there.

Sexual Content & Nudity in Emma Volume 10

• Nothing pornographic or overtly explicit—occasional sensuality, but scenes are mostly romantic or humorous, not graphic
• Emma is shown in the bath, essential parts are covered (pg. 28–29), not explicit—no detailed nudity shown; more focused on her thoughts about William and a bruise from a fall.
• Emma and William wait in a room together, share a sweet, romantic kiss. William holds her close. She blushes. Intimate but wholesome.
• One man is teased about blushing after passing someone in the hallway
• Characters lightly comment on a guy “getting frisky”
• Several scenes with women dressing, showing cleavage or Victorian-style undergarments (not explicit or sexualized)
• Maria and Adele both seen in undergarments or nightgowns, typical for Victorian period wear
• Adele seen in her undergarments with a man after implied intercourse (nothing explicit shown). She’s dressed modestly in appropriate underclothes, and he is clothed. On the first page of that chapter, his belly is visible, but no private areas shown.
• Emma and William share tender moments like hand-holding, cheek kisses, whispering
• Ernest expresses feelings to Eleanor; she leaves with him, holding hands—no proposal but affection implied.
• Girls talk about romantic interests, guys, lovers, etc.
• Mr. Meredith kisses his wife’s hand; Adele kisses Hans (who asks if she’s drunk—she says she’s not but “feels good”).
• Tasha shares a bed with another maid simply out of loneliness (not romantic or sexual)
• Hakim’s dancing girls appear again—dressed in outfits that show cleavage and bellies.
• Tasha’s shirt is partially unbuttoned (no cleavage shown).
• A character asks to write a lady a letter and is declined.

Violence and Gore/Frightening Scenes in Emma Volume 10

• Emma falls while learning to ride a bike and bruises her leg.
• A boy falls out of a boat and nearly drowns (rescued quickly).

Substance Use in Emma Volume 10

• Multiple scenes of heavy drinking, especially during the final wedding party (characters clearly become drunk)
• Emma drinks to the point of drunkenness
• Adele brings alcohol and smokes with Maria
• Vivi (a young girl) tries alcohol even though she’s not supposed to
• Arthur also gets drunk and falls asleep; others decorate him with flowers
• Hans and Adele drink together; Hans keeps alcohol “as insurance” to bribe his way out of chores
• Comments made about stealing cigars from the library
• Boisterous party behavior includes dancing, singing (Tasha sings on a table), general chaos among guests
• Several characters, including women like Adele and Maria, smoke
• Smoking is portrayed casually, as part of leisure or social activity
• Someone suggests stealing cigars from the library

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Religious Themes in Emma Volume 10

• Tasha performs a humorous “ritual” in an attempt to be a better maid—other maids comment on it (not real occultism, just played for laughs)
• Emma and William marry in a Christian wedding, held in a church on the Jones’ estate
  • The church was previously unused and repurposed for storage, highlighting spiritual neglect
• Robert’s family converted their own estate’s church into a conservatory, implying a lack of spiritual emphasis

Cover Photo Credit: Screenshot of Emma Volume 10 cover from Amazon used under fair use for review/commentary/criticism. All rights retained by respective owners.