Ciel: The Last Autumn Story, is a beautiful tale, like a refreshing breeze, or delicate glass figurine. The late 19th-century French setting is wonderfully illustrated in an airy and delicate art style. Yvienne Magnolia, a country lass, attracts the eye of a local count's son. To save herself from being kidnapped, she decides to flee from her hometown. Before she can do that, she is invited to join a school for young witches and sorcerers. So her mother packs her off to Lowood Magic School. In this world, witches are much more powerful than sorcerers (males). And they are pairedup with a life-long partner witch. Thus we follow the story of Miss Magnolia and her partner, Lariatte, and their life inside and outside of school.

Despite the fact that witches hold the power here, there are lots of important male characters. All of the characters are very interesting, and show a lot of depth. Of course, there's Yvienne, who looks like a sweet innocent girl. But she freely uses her beauty and feminine charm to manipulate the gentlemen. Larriatte is a cold, lonely, impassive girl. The one everyone avoids. There's also January, the self-depreciating young lord (he's my personal favorite). The enigmatic and powerful Daughter (that really is his name). The scary, oddball teacher Krohiten.

Ladies rule the roost here, which is a fun element. And they are capable characters, rather than weak or overbearing stereotypes. And they wear wonderfully elegant and trim uniforms. There is a very light tone of shoujo-ai as well as shounen-ai. Very light, I say; I don't think there's enough to scare away anyone who doesn't like it.

Sometimes funny, sometimes serious, Ciel is a delightful shoujo series, that keeps getting better and better as it continues.