I'm going to start off by saying that this is based only off Volume 1 of the light novel, which covers episodes 1-6. Also, I do not enjoy reading anything unless it's online or on my phone in very few sentences.
Now onto the review. I loved it, the novel is great. Remember the novel was the very first thing written, then came a manga, then the anime. From the anime stand point, if you watch the dubs, for something to go from J-Book > J-Anime > E-Anime versus J-Book > E-Book. For all this translating and reversioning, it holds true, very little differences in wordage and story telling.
Some characters don't exist in the book, one being Chloe, Chloe was a character specially made for the anime to add some type of hidden love interest. The original character is a man named Yarei. Besides that, the role he plays in the story is the same.
So you are probably wondering why read the book if the anime is so similar right? Well I can easily answer that. The novel offers so much more than the anime, and it's the things that anime's usually just can't give you. In the novel, you get to know exactly what Lawrence and Holo are thinking, you get to see their thoughts and emotions without them having to see anything, all written out.
Also besides that, there are lots of things that just aren't mentioned. At the beginning of episode 1, that's not just some village that Lawrence was talking to the guard. Lawrence had just stopped in a mountain village and had stopped at a small monastery. You get to see more of the conversion between him and the guard.
Extra days that come between days in the episodes are in the novel, things that the anime never show. Illustrations at key parts are there to show you things.
I could keep going on about how much this is different and how good it is, but I at least recommend you buy the first novel, it is great.
Along side watching the anime this novel is great to have, plus, it's probably the best chance you ever have at finding the ending without a continuation in seasons.
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Also, if you want to extend your reading pleasure, listening to the Spice and Wolf Soundtrack definitely adds to the flavor.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?p=PLD15A0C9D95720512
