40 chapters in:
I saw that an anime was coming out, and got me interested in this. Did a quick search of it and decided I wouldn't wait for the anime, and I'm glad I didn't.

I really like fantasy, and I like magic. While I do enjoy those isekai anime or magic anime, this is kind of the ones I'm really looking for but can never find. Truly, the setting has a very fantasy and magical feel to it, with fae, mythical creatures and a sense of wonder.

The series' strong points are its setting and general feel to it, and the characters. The relationship between the main two characters - the magus and his apprentice - is really amazing. It feels like dependence and love (not in the romantic way, at least yet), in its purest yet twisted form. And it's not in the cliche way like love at first sight or those things, but it feels natural and real.

Chise (the main girl) has risen up the ranks in my list of favourite characters quickly. It's not because she's quirky or has particularly amazing traits, but because of how well she's done. She can be mild and seemingly a very normal girl - yet not boring. She can be stubborn. The thing is, whatever she's doing or how she's acting, she's always in character. The character development is just really great.
Same goes for the other main character, Elias. There are just so many sides to his character - wise, uncaring, emotionless, emotional?, selfish, and most of all innocently childlike (in that sense, he's actually very like one of the fae folk). And all of these make sense, and work well. They're not just a walking character archetype.

The story doesn't have a very fast pacing. This isn't a complaint. In fact, for this, I actually most enjoy chapters where they are just interacting peacefully and Elias is explaining the magic of things to Chise. But things do happen. And from early on we do understand that their current relationship (again, not romance, yet) is not going to be easy. We're reminded, time and again, of this. Not through words which hold little meaning, but from what we observe as we read on. Thus the quiet peaceful chapters too hold a special meaning for me - the wonder in the beautiful chapters of them just going about with their life.

Overall, I'll describe this series as beautiful and strangely touching at times. It's not an exciting type of manga at all. It gives a very light and otherworldly feeling with its storytelling and setting, but it can also be complicated and tug at the heartstrings. Characters are really amazing and truly carry the story. It makes me really care for them and hope for the best for them. The art is beautiful and all the fae folk and fairytale/magic things are really interesting.

I'd love to give it a 10 - because this is probably the first manga that I have zero complaints about. I'll think about changing it after more chapters. Even my favourite pandora hearts isn't perfect, but Mahuotsukai no yome might as well be perfect as far as I'm concerned. I'll recommend this to everyone - especially those with a love for fantasy with great characters with an appreciation for complex character relationships, and for those who want a break from all that cliche stuff. Read slowly, and enjoy the moments - that's what I think is best to get the most out of this manga.

Edit: chapter 55
In recent chapters, there's less of the immersive, fantasy atmosphere at the start which I really enjoyed, now that the setting has changed a little, disappointingly. It's slow-paced still, so it'll be a while before I expect to have that again. It's still interesting, but less immersive for sure. I think it'll change in the future as I'm sure we have many more story arcs to go - but just a little thing of mine.