tsundere – Faceless One Blog

My Magical Career at Court: Living the Dream After My Nightmare Boss Fired Me from the Mages’ Guild! Vol. 3 Review

Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, School Life

Sub-Tags: Strong Lead, OP, Tsundere, Bickering Couple, Banishment

Synopsis:

Noelle may be a commoner from the middle of nowhere, but she’s a rising star in her dream workplace—the Royal Court Magicians’ Division! It seems like a world away from her horrible old job at the Mages’ Guild, but life as a royal court magician comes with its own challenges. She’s already fought off a dragon and battled her way through the perilous Weissrosa Abyss, but can she survive making a fool of herself in front of all the magi? Now, Noelle has been thrust into the unexpected situation of being picked to take part in the famous World Magic Championships—and she hasn’t even been a royal court magician for a year! Along with her old friend Luke, another impressive young magician, she has to face off against some of the toughest magicians from around the world. On her new globetrotting adventures, Noelle is confronted with sneaky aristocrats, powerful magic duelists, the mysterious Fairy Queen…and maybe even some romantic developments! (Source: J-Novel Club)

The Court Mage and the Magic Championship!

Upon conquering the strongest dungeon in the kingdom, the latest chapter in the Magical Career saga sees Noelle face her toughest challenge yet, the World Magic Championships. Filled with some of the most powerful magicians on the Western Continent, Noelle and the chosen few selected for the tournament will be tested to their uppermost limits, but the competitors aren’t the only thing they’ll have to contend with. At the heart of the tournament lies a noble conspiracy willing to do anything and everything to put wilful commoners like Noelle in their place.

The Ultimate Underdog

Continuing to prove her naysayers wrong, this volume gives Noelle the largest stage yet to show off her abilities – the World Magic Championships. From nobility from across the globe, the hordes of spectators in the stands, and even her fellow competitors, this volume has finally given me the impetus to ask: How many volumes does it take before my patience runs thin with the never-ending perspectives from Noelle’s detractors? This volume cuts it close.

Three volumes in, and this series has answered a longstanding hypocrisy within my reviewing methods – tropes and striking the right balance. When it comes to the trope of “secretly overpowered individual in a world full of naysayers,” the balance personally is struck with the relative vocality of a main character’s supporters. A hard measure to quantify, the third volume of Magical Career falls foul of the line due to the sheer number of detractors in comparison to her supporters. After all, there’s only so far someone can go on willpower alone.

Thankfully, this seems set to change as the number of Noelle’s allies grows throughout this latest volume.

Willing a Victory

Fortunately, beyond this volume’s balancing act issues, there’s still plenty to enjoy. The tournament itself is suitably grandiose. It features a slew of powerful individuals that would normally be deemed impossible for anyone to defeat. Only Noelle could treat some of these opponents as if she were doing regular court magician work on a weekday.

Of the competitors introduced, Evangeline holds the most potential. Fairy Queen and naturally gifted magician, her frankly odd personality meshes well with Noelle. Their blossoming friendship by the end of the volume gives off positive vibes for the future of the series.

Additionally, the competition provides some much-needed character development for Luke. The boy-wonder whom everyone perceives as a prodigy who, in reality, is the hardest worker of anyone. There’s a genuinely heartfelt moment to be had as his efforts see him piped at the post by an overwhelmingly powerful opponent. In some ways, following Luke’s story would’ve made for a better series. The only thing stopping this reality is the fact that we wouldn’t get enough of Noelle’s infectious personality.

Despite the latest volume of Magical Career’s initial teething trouble regarding trope balancing, there’s still plenty of entertainment to be drawn from the story. The tournament is well-presented, offering everything one could want, from vivid fight sequences to interesting opponents. Moreover, there’s ample character development, especially for Luke. His segment ending in defeat is genuinely heartfelt.

My Magical Career in Court Vol. 3

My Rating: 7/10

If you like what you read and what I do, why not consider supporting me through Ko-Fi. Any donation helps keep this site up and keep me writing.

You can read the third volume of this series digitally on the J-Novel Club website.

Disciple of the Lich Vol. 6 Review

Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, Harem, Isekai

Sub-Tags: Misunderstandings, OP, Tsundere, Gods

Synopsis:

HIGH FIVE WITH THE UNSEEN HAND

Grede’s dirty dealings in Ploroque City are taken care of thanks to Kanata and his crew. It turns out everything was orchestrated by the Unseen Hand of the Gods and their leader, King Veranta, the Ruler of the World, and they’re not too happy about Kanata’s meddling.

With the Hand’s grasping digits in hot pursuit, Kanata tries to pull information out of the obstinate dragon Ramiel—only for King Veranta to show up at the worst possible moment! Meanwhile, Lunaère is keeping close tabs on the gang with her ill-gotten Tiamat’s Eye. Good luck getting out of this one, Kanata! (Source: Seven Seas)

Kanata and the God’s Secret Weapons!

The Last of the Unseen Hand

After the fifth instalment’s side quest left the series on shaky ground, the sixth volume of Disciple of the Lich proves that there’s a slew of interesting ideas left in the tank.

In the latest volume of the series, the story finds Kanata and the gang up against their fiercest enemies to date. Upon defeating the homunculus and capturing Ramiel, the main cast has well and truly caught the eye of the Unseen Hand. Determined to rid Locklore of the aberration, the leaders have finally got to make their move, but they’re not the only ones with bad intentions. High above the world, the Gods have become sick of Kanata’s victory and are ready to play their secret weapon, one that could decide the fate of the world forever.

With the prospect of heavy battles ahead, the newest edition starts with a lull in the action. Expecting to face off against the leaders of the Unseen Hand, these plans go awry when an unexpected reunion with Lunaère solves this problem for them. Ever the dutiful tsundere, she completely de-fangs the organisation, worried about what they had planned for her beloved Kanata.

It’s great to see Kanata and Lunaére back together again. One of the series’ strongest aspects, the interactions between them, were a thing of joy, and I’m glad to see that even after their time apart, their relationship hasn’t skipped a beat. What’s more, now that Lunaère is together with the whole gang, the story provides a nice outsider’s perspective, showing how hopelessly in love they are.

Fallen Saints and Angels

With the whole gang back together and the members of the Unseen Hand persuaded to join, the latter half of the novel finds the lot of them facing off against Naiarotop’s final solution.

Hoping to stop Kanata once and for all, Naiatop’s last move has him summon into the world imprisoned beings who’d gotten a little bit too powerful for the Gods to control. As enemies go, both Reniement and Lucifer make for great bossfights. Either equal in strength or more powerful, they act as one of the few great challenges for Kanata and the first time we’ve seen him struggle since first landing in Cocytus.

The battle against Lucifer is especially poignant. Stronger than both protagonists and the climactic battle of the volume, he forces Kanata and Lunaère to fight together. These scenes then show how in sync and made for each other the two of them are.

Having concluded the sixth volume, Disciple of the Lich’s latest outing is one of the strongest so far by playing the series’ original strengths. Featuring a cornucopia of overpowered bossfights and a touching reunion between Kanata and Lunaère, it reminds me of all the positive reasons that drew me to the series in the first place.

As the series reaches its dramatic conclusion in the next volume, I’m looking forward to all the thrill this series still has yet to throw at me.

Disciple of the Lich Vol. 6

My Rating: 9/10

If you like what you read and what I do, why not consider supporting me through Ko-Fi. Any donation helps keep this site up and keep me writing.

You can read the sixth volume of this series digitally from the list of distributors found on the Seven Seas website.

My Magical Career at Court: Living the Dream After My Nightmare Boss Fired Me from the Mages’ Guild! Vol. 2 Review

Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, School Life

Sub-Tags: Strong Lead, OP, Tsundere, Bickering Couple, Banishment

Synopsis:

Noelle is living the dream! Not so long ago, she had nowhere to turn after losing her awful job at the exploitative Mages’ Guild. But one day, she had a lucky run-in with her old friend Luke, an extremely talented royal court magician. Now she works at the royal court too, and it’s even better than she hoped it would be! Her coworkers are friendly, she gets to flex her muscles as a magician, and she’s been rising through the ranks almost as fast as Luke himself. It isn’t all smooth sailing, though. Noelle has already dealt with assassins, goblin hordes, and more—all while trying to adapt to the new environment of the royal capital. With a dragon waiting at her front door, it doesn’t look like her life is getting any quieter. How will she handle intimidating new opponents, such as a strict university professor and an elite swordsman? And what does Luke have planned for him and Noelle…? (Source: J-Novel Club)

Seekers of Love and Fame!

All For the Sake of Love

Having defeated dragons and gone toe-to-toe with the strongest mage in the country, for the blog’s latest review, I’m following Noelle’s journey as she faces her toughest challenges yet.

Still determined to showcase her skills as more than a mere commoner, Noelle’s continuing story in My Magical Career at Court has her attempting to climb to the top of magehood. Once again, her ambitions have her facing ever-tougher challenges, from a bought with the kingdom’s strongest knight to fighting on the frontlines in the world-famous dungeon. Additionally, Noelle isn’t the only one making moves. Luke, Noelle’s partner in crime, is also looking to make his dreams a reality.

In the second volume of the series, the story primarily focuses on the other member of the partner-in-crime duo, Luke. Ever in awe at the barriers Noelle’s able to smash through, both physical and emotional, Luke has come to see her as more than just a friend. In light of this revelation, as part of this volume, Luke attempts to move his romantic aspirations forward and ensure that Noelle can continue to live without restraint.

As a part of this storyline, we see a different side to Luke, which is quite out of the norm. When it comes to Noelle, Luke’s noble persona disappears, replaced by a shy and awkward young man in the throws of first love. Battling between keeping her as a friend or potentially ruining their relationship with a confession leads him to create roundabout ways to keep Noelle out of the sight of nobility.

Noelle Knows No Limits

As for Noelle’s part in the second volume, her abilities continue to defy everyone’s expectations. Unaware of Luke’s meddling behind the scenes, she deafly deals with all the challenges that come her way. The changing point in her attitude, however, comes during her mission in the kingdom’s infamous dungeon.

Fighting against the dungeon boss on the 80th layer is a task that even the powerhouse Noelle struggles with. To eventually defeat this terrifying nightmare requires both Noelle and Luke to fight in perfect harmony. A move that changes more than one opinion about Luke in Noelle’s mind.

To conclude, the second outing of My Magical Career at Court continues to keep up the first’s level of entertainment.

Switching focus to the duo’s other half has opened new possibilities. Developing the series’ romantic aspects and adding new depths to Luke’s character shows forethought for the series’ future. Meanwhile, this volume continues to showcase Noelle’s abilities in all their glory.

My Magical Career at Court Vol. 2

My Rating: 8/10

If you like what you read and what I do, why not consider supporting me through Ko-Fi. Any donation helps keep this site up and keep me writing.

You can read the second volume of this series digitally on the J-Novel Club website.

Liar, Liar, Vol. 1 Review

Tags: Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, Harem, School Life

Sub-Tags: Misunderstandings, Game Elements, Traditional Games, Tsundere

Synopsis:

From Worst to Best in Less Than A Day!

On the massive island called the Academy, students compete in star-hunting Games to advance their ranks. And among the many competitors, none is better than Sarasa Saionji, the Seven Star Empress. At least, not until unranked newcomer Hiroto Shinohara beats her by accident. To protect himself and the status quo, Hiroto must fool everyone into thinking he’s the new top student despite almost failing his entrance exam. Will he be able to keep this lie going when every student on the island wants to take him down? (Source: Yen Press)

Can a Liar Remain on Top?

A Cheat to Win System

For my latest review on the roster, I look at a series that others have rightly pointed out marks a certain resemblance to a popular edgelord, school-life fantasy.

Liar Liar, a long-running title from the MF Bunko J label, follows the misadventures of Hiroto Shinohara as he starts a new life on an academy island where games determine prestige. Contented with living under the radar to achieve his goal, his life is turned upside down after accidentally defeating the island’s strongest competitor. Now, to keep his secret from getting out, Hiroto has to continue playing games with opponents way above his level to survive.

Had this series decided on a serious approach, I suspect my review would’ve taken a much more negative direction. As it stands, however, the story will escape its fundamentally flawed verdict due to the series’ clear signalling that it should be thought of as fun yet irreverent. Thus providing the series with a little more leeway when it jaunts into fantastical elements.

Secrets and Lies

Your typical harem fantasy is what best describes this series. True to this genre’s style, as the titular protagonist decides to rub his remaining brain cells to reach a solution, it isn’t long before he’s swaddled by a group of beautiful women. In this volume, Shinohara’s bluff and bluster earn him favour with both Himeji and Saionji.

As for the story, the gist of it finds Shinohara struggling to stay at the top of the pyramid through competing in a series of games. This is where the author gets to be at their most inventive, creating both easily recognisable and more complex games that are then switched up through the use of a student’s set abilities. These abilities grow more powerful and numerous as a student climbs up the starred ranks (seven being the highest).

Unfortunately, it’s with these abilities that some of the series’ main flaws come to light. Being a fake seven-star means that Shinohara only has the abilities that he had before the battle with Saionji – a one-star. As a result, he doesn’t have the power to go up against some of the island’s strongest competitors and often falls back on a team that cheats for him.

Whilst he manages to win every game in the first volume, none of them feel particularly deserved. Save for the final battle, where his acting abilities come in handy, Shinohara’s wins mainly come about due to cheats, coincidences or deus ex machina.

Furthermore, character motivations throughout the first volume are a bit spotty. Both Shinohara and Saionji have secrets that they need to keep hidden, but by the end of the first volume, these seem to have gone by the wayside as their actions run counter to these goals, more often than not hindering their efforts.

Fun but flawed, Liar, Liar makes for an entertaining read, provided you don’t look too deeply into the mechanics of the plot. Its fast pace and misunderstandings style humour bring an overall light feeling to the affair.

Unfortunately, even as fast food, the flaws still manage to make themselves known. Its constant victories hanging on through coincidence and characters that flip-flop on motivation are hard to ignore.

I will give this series a second shot, but with a second volume focusing on a battle royale, I’m not sure whether it’ll improve.

Liar, Liar Vol. 1

My Rating: 6/10

If you like what you read and what I do, why not consider supporting me through Ko-Fi. Any donation helps keep this site up and keep me writing.

You can read the first volume of this series digitally and physically through the list of distributors found on the Yen Press website.

My Magical Career at Court: Living the Dream After My Nightmare Boss Fired Me from the Mages’ Guild! Vol. 1 Review

Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, School Life

Sub-Tags: Strong Lead, OP, Tsundere, Bickering Couple, Banishment

Synopsis:

Magic is everything to Noelle. She loves it so much that she puts up with her horrible job at the Mages’ Guild to practice it. The hours are long, the pay is rock-bottom, and the boss is a nightmare! But as long as she has magic, she can withstand the hardships. At least, until the day she hears these dreaded words:“You’re fired.” Noelle’s hometown in the outskirts of the kingdom doesn’t offer many alternatives for a career in magic—especially now that she’s been blacklisted from guild work! Just when it seems like all hope is lost, Noelle’s old friend Luke shows up to give her an opportunity she never could have imagined: a job as a royal court magician. Now Noelle is living the dream, rubbing shoulders with the kingdom’s greatest magicians and showing off her skills. She has a beautiful new workplace and a generous new boss, but how will she cope with intense entrance exams, her marriage-obsessed mother, and the rules of etiquette? What awaits Noelle in her magical new career? (Source: J-Novel Club)

A Battle of Rivals Racing to the Top!

A Rookie Climbs the Ranks

Few could quite be described as obsessed with magic as much as Noelle is. Magic has consumed her and is the only reason she’s been able to endure the hardships that life back in the boonies has brought. While for most, being fired and blacklisted from every magic organisation in town could spell the end for their magic, for Noelle, this spells the beginning of a new and exciting journey when an old friend uses the opportunity to make her his apprentice. What follows is the start of a light-hearted story about challenging people’s preconceived notions.

Beginning her journey as an apprentice to the royal court sorcerers, it isn’t long before her actions catch the attention of those around her. Humble to her own abilities, she outshines others by performing menial tasks in record time and being instrumental in saving the nation from several types of monster attacks. As a result, she easily gains the respect and admiration of those around her.

Unlike at her previous employ, Noelle’s perseverance and hard work pays off. In the royal court, good work doesn’t go unnoticed, resulting in the second-quickest rise in the ranks. Most would be pleased with these achievements, but Noelle simply can’t enjoy merely coming in second, especially if the pole position belongs to her rival, Luke.

Rivals, Friends, Lovers?

Whilst magic has always been there for her, it isn’t magic alone that has allowed her to progress to the levels she’s at today. Arguably of equal importance is her long-standing rivalry and friendship with fellow court sorcerer Luke.

The opening volume goes into great detail about their intertwining path, navigating the waters of rivalry to becoming best friends with the possibility of something more on the horizon. The constant bickering and bantering between them adds a wonderful comedic quality to the series whilst showcasing how deep their bond lies.

Noelle isn’t the only one touched by their bond with Luke also developing as a result of their relationship. Noelle is one of the very few to have touched this noble’s heart. Her genius and constant pushback against the world’s natural order was the wake-up call Luke needed to bring him out of the view that the world revolves around his every perfect action. Her representative challenge opened Luke towards a whole new world of emotions, eventually leading him to fall head-over-heels for the series’ protagonist.

Overall, My Magical Career at Court makes for a wonderful addition to the ever-growing list of J-Novel Club titles thanks to its well-placed comedic undertone and overwhelmingly positive atmosphere.

Whilst Noelle’s constant challenging of people’s preconceived notions is well realised, it’s hard to argue that the story’s best moments are often found in the interactions between Noelle and Luke. Constantly bickering but thick as thieves, they bring the story to life as they challenge each other to ever-greater goals.

With the opening volume ending on a cliffhanger, it’s hard to imagine that there won’t be more crazy adventures to come for this headstrong airhead.

My Magical Career at Court Vol. 1

My Rating: 8.5/10

If you like what you read and what I do, why not consider supporting me through Ko-Fi. Any donation helps keep this site up and keep me writing.

You can read the first volume of this series digitally on the J-Novel Club website.

The Invisible Wallflower Marries an Upstart Aristocrat After Getting Dumped for Her Sister! Vol. 1 Review

Tags: Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life, Shoujo, Villainess

Sub-Tags: Business, Personal Growth, Tsundere

Synopsis:

Can An Ordinary Aristocrat And A Nouveau Riche Tsundere Find Love In An Unconsummated Marriage?!

Iris, the daughter of a marquess, not only had her fiancé stolen by her younger sister, but she also ended up having to marry Lord Lucas, a nouveau riche merchant who was shouldering her family’s debts. However, this former-commoner-turned-baron’s reason for marrying her was just to have Iris teach him and his servants how to survive in high society!

“I was told that I lack presence and that I’m like air. If someone as plain and dull as myself could be of any use to you, I will be more than happy to help, Lord Lucas,” Iris said with complete seriousness, throwing Lucas off guard. Will Lucas be able to resist being slowly drawn to the dedicated Iris, who strives to support him and the people in her life? A complicated romcom that starts with a marriage blanc begins here! (Source: Cross Infinite World)

The Disgraced Old Blood Meets the Nouveau Riche!

To Find the Best in Oneself

Her fiancé stolen and forced to fulfil a political marriage for the sake of her family’s debt; The Invisible Wallflower’s opening volume follows Iris at a rather tumultuous time.

Typical of this genre, the protagonist is viewed as plain and unappealing and has internalised this as a lack of self-confidence. However, it is clear from the outset of this series that what Iris may lack in confidence, she more than makes up in determination. Despite travelling to unfamiliar territory with a man surrounded by unsavoury rumours, she’s more than willing to make a success of the situation not only for her family but also for her own sake.

Rather than a typical marriage, her new husband, Lord Lucas, wishes for her to act more like a governess overseeing their progress to becoming perfect members of the upper class. Through determination and armed with knowledge from the capital, Iris can grow closer to all members of the Stock household.

The results of Iris’s efforts are best illustrated by the author in two ways. The first is through Iris’s maid Kiki, and the gardener. Constant conversations and allowing for a safe environment enable the two with noble traumas to finally open up.

The second is the effect Iris has on the Stock business. With everyone able to address nobles formally, the same nobles are unable to low-ball stock, which means a rise in profits and wages for everyone.

The Rocky Starts of Romance

By getting closer to members of the Stock household, it allows the main focus of the story to move forward also. This series is primarily focused on romance, and the overall impression of the relationship between the two is awkward yet cute.

Iris’ dogged effort to teach formal mannerisms doesn’t fail to get the attention of her political husband, Lucas. Slowly but surely, Iris’ efforts work on him as well, turning their once unconsummated marriage into a situation where sparks have begun to fly.

That isn’t to say that their loving relationship by the end of the volume hasn’t faced hardships. With the two lovebirds noticeably getting closer as the story progresses, both childhood friend Coldola and favourite servant Leikzig start to have issues.

Both issues stem from fierce loyalty, worried that Iris won’t be strong enough to help Lucas when times inevitably turn tough. Iris solves these problems by showing them that she’s more than just princessly noble.

Overall, The Invisible Wallflower’s first volume starts the series off strong. With a sharp focus on personal growth, the series succeeds in showing how new influences can lead to positive change.

For Lucas and the members of his household, Iris’ influence sees many open up about past traumas and signals a way to move forward positively. For Iris, moving to unfamiliar territory finds her trying new things and becoming more independent away from the influence of her oppressive family.

As the series moves forward to confront trauma’s of the past, there’s lots still to look forward to.

The Invisible Wallflower Vol. 1

My Rating: 8/10

I hope you enjoyed my review and would love to see what you thought of the volume in the comments! If you like what I do and want to see more, consider supporting me by buying me a coffee on Ko-Fi.

You can read the first volume of this series digitally through the distributors listed on the Cross Infinite World website.

Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte EX Review

Tags: Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life, School Life, Villainess

Sub-Tags: Tsundere, Otome, Game Elements

Synopsis:

Endo and Kobayashi have successfully guided Sieg and Lieselotte to the Happy End to End All Happy Ends with their words of wisdom. But what about the Happily Ever After? Goddess Lirenna works her magic, and the four friends from different worlds are finally able to meet in person at Sieg and Lieselotte’s wedding. Now that the opportunity presents itself, Kobayashi leaps at the chance to read the real Lieselotte’s Memoir, the book that inspired Endo and Kobayashi’s affection for Lieselotte. How much have its contents changed compared to the version the duo read in the game? Find out in this sequel novel! Also includes short stories that were originally released as store-exclusive bonuses in Japan! (Source: J-Novel Club)

A Tsundere Villainess’s Happily Ever After!

Gods as Wedding Guests

Saving their beloved villainess from despair and setting her on the path to happiness, the two gods from Japan have one last job to do – attend Sieg and Lieselotte’s wedding.

As the series’ final outing, the volume follows Endo and Kobayashi as they make their way into the world of the game, thanks to the power of the Goddess Lirenna. True to Kobayashi’s nature, finally being able to meet her favourite characters in the flesh has gotten her fangirling something fierce. There’s no stopping the group as they reminisce about old times and read from Lieselotte’s precious memoir.

A Happy Ending for All

The volume features a mixture of stories from both before the defeat of the Witch of Yore and after. Most of these are original and new stories telling missing elements of the relationships between the main characters. In the case of Lieselotte and Sieg, these involve romantic outings and the beginnings of misunderstandings between villainess and heroine.

Some of the more outstanding moments from these short stories involve life beyond the grasp of the witch. Many of these feature characters who only had a supporting role to play in the story, thus leaving much more potential for development. This potential is actualised in the EX disc as Fabien and Leon get more page time to develop their respective relationships.

The final volume also features a conclusive ending. Heartwarming and filled with fluff, the two school students from Japan are given an everlasting message from the main characters of the game, thanking them for the happy ending they deserved.

Concluding, the EX disc is more than just a collection of short stories and flashbacks. Focusing on the acts left unsaid over the previous volumes, these short stories flesh out supporting cast and relationships. The resulting effect is a side volume filled with substance – a volume not to skip out on!

Endo and Kobayashi Disc EX

My Rating: 9/10

I hope you enjoyed my review and would love to see what you thought of the volume in the comments! If you like what I do and want to see more, consider supporting me by buying me a coffee on Ko-Fi.

You can read the EX volume of this series digitally on the J-Novel Club website.

Disciple of the Lich Volume 5 Review

Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, Harem, Isekai

Sub-Tags: Misunderstandings, OP, Tsundere, Gods,

Synopsis:

THE PIXIE’S WINGBEATS…IS CLOSING DOWN?!

Leaving the Garden of Dragons behind for Ploroque, Kanata and the gang run into an item crafter: Mel. Her store is stocked with ingenious inventions, so why is it on the brink of bankruptcy? Greed, the company CEO holding the strings of the city, seems to be responsible—but perhaps the shady underbelly of Ploroque is to blame? It’s a race against the clock to clear Mel’s name and stay one step ahead of the higher beings! (Source: Seven Seas Entertainment)

How to Defeat Ploroque’s Dark Underbelly!

Saving a Business in Another World

Returning to Ploroque after a successful venture to the Garden of Dragons, the entire plot of the fifth volume sees Kanata attempting to get Rosemonde to visit the Ruler of the Skies, so they might get information about the Unseen Hand. Rosemonde agrees to the request only on the condition that Kanata helps out her friend, who runs a failing business in the city. Owner of an artefact shop, Mel has garnered the attention of Grede & Co’s syndicate, who are never known for playing nice.

Despite Ploroque’s whitewashed façade, the city hides a seriously dark underbelly. The city is run by a single company, and they use all manner of dirty tricks to ensnare newcomers into debt and toward the horrible slums that lie beyond the city’s centre.

To help Mel avoid ruin, Kanata comes to the rescue by suggesting they create items from Japan, a plan that would go well if Kanata knew how anything worked from his old world.

The Depths of Greed

Creating a successful otherworld item, these efforts are all in vain as the company moves to more violent methods of getting what they want. Resorting to kidnapping Philia would’ve worked in any normal situation, but being the powerhouse she is, it ends up being the beginning of their downfall. Ripping through the Bloodied Coin gets the attention of Grede himself, ultimately giving Kanata a reason to visit his establishment.

Grede’s motivations are the strongest aspect of his character, especially since he barely lasts five minutes in a fight. His warped sense of the world is born through his creation, his love snatched away due to human depravity. This shapes his ultimate goal – a system of pure unadulterated capitalism.

Overall, Disciple of the Lich’s latest volume is a fun little detour from the series’ overarching plot. With lots of moving parts and action moments, the series has proven itself able to stand on its own two feet, even when Lunaere is barely present.

Unfortunately, as much as this is a fun adventure, it still remains a detour. Very little new information about the series antagonists is given, and their actions overall are small and insignificant in the grand scheme of the series. With the series only two volumes from completion, it leaves a worrying mark as to whether the author will be able to solve all the plot threads by story’s end.

Disciple of the Lich Vol. 5

My Rating: 8/10

I hope you enjoyed my review and would love to see what you thought of the volume in the comments! If you like what I do and want to see more, consider supporting me by buying me a coffee on Ko-Fi.

You can read the fifth volume of this series digitally and physically through the list of distributors found on the Seven Seas website.

The King’s Proposal Vol. 2 Review

Tags: Action, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, Harem, Ecchi, Gender Bender, Sci-Fi, School Life

Sub-Tags: Perverted Protagonist, Futuristic Setting, Tsundere, Vtubers

Synopsis:

READY, SET, STREAM!

Mushiki Kuga has slowly gotten used to his double life as the powerful mage Saika Kuozaki. However, both identities are chosen to represent Void’s Garden in the upcoming interschool exhibition match against Shadow Tower. To make matters worse, Clara Tokishima —a popular live streamer on MagiTube and representative for Shadow Tower— challenges Saika to a duel for the position of Mushiki’s girlfriend! Now he has to fight to win, well, himself and figure out how to prevent their secret from being exposed during the match. Meanwhile, an annihilation factor that Saika sealed many years back is starting to awaken… (Source: Yen Press)

Streaming a Battle of Love!

Influencer Status

After the defeat of her, Mushiki finally seems to be settling into his new life in the Garden. However, this fickle moment of relaxation doesn’t last long, as the next set of issues befalling the protagonist quite literally falls into his arms. Clara, a famous Vtuber-esque character, is a true force of nature, immediately making her presence known throughout the Garden with a shocking love confession toward the series’ protagonist!

As a representative in the interschool exhibition match, Clara’s arrival in the Garden isn’t the first incident of derailment she causes throughout the series’ second volume. Upon hearing that Mushiki’s heart belongs to another, she doubles down on her actions hijacking part of the exhibition and the exhibition celebrations to hold a competition of love between herself and Saika.

Hijinks heavy, the competition sees Mushiki judging which of the two has the best makings of a future girlfriend. Whilst the outcome is set, given Mushiki’s almost obsessive love of Saika, there are some hilarious moments as Mushiki and Kuroe struggle to keep on top of the transformations to ensure Saika’s secret doesn’t get found out.

The Invasion of Immortals

Derailment remains the name of the game as the volume reaches its climax. The exhibition match goes awry when the Tower participants and students are revealed to be immortals.

Fallout over Saika’s murder and soul movement is a central theme of the series. In this volume, the fallout looks at the annihilations factors previously killed by the Garden’s creator, with one, in particular, starting to regain power. Once again, the series shows how powerless the world is without Saika, with a mythic beast infiltrating the academy for the sole purpose of starting a new world.

Clara forefronts this assault with the main characters fighting for the world’s survival. It’s not as spectacular a fight as the one in the previous volume, but it raises some important developments for the future of the series. The first showcases Saika’s importance to the continued survival of Earth. The second highlights the underlying problems with Mushiki’s power. To activate his abilities, he needs to do it for the sake of Saika.

Overall, King’s Proposal’s second volume continues to raise the game by adding more ingredients to the chaos. The series’ strong suit remains the slapstick hijinks, as in this volume, Saika and Clara fight for Mushiki’s affection. Things are looking hopeful for the series’ future as the next volume will focus on Mushiki and Ruri’s family dynamic.

King’s Proposal Vol. 2

My Rating: 8.5/10

I hope you enjoyed my review and would love to see what you thought of the volume in the comments! If you like what I do and want to see more, consider supporting me by buying me a coffee on Ko-Fi.

You can read the second volume of this series digitally and physically through the list of distributors found on the Yen Press website.

The King’s Proposal Vol. 1 Review

Tags: Action, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, Harem, Ecchi, Gender Bender, Sci-Fi, School Life

Sub-Tags: Perverted Protagonist, Futuristic Setting, Tsundere

Synopsis:

Two Bodies in One

With looks to die for, Saika Kuozaki is the most powerful mage in existence and the only one who can thwart the annihilation factors that attempt to destroy the world once every three hundred hours. When Saika is mortally wounded, however, she bequeaths both her powers and body to the normal high school boy who happens to find her, Mushiki Kuga. Just because Mushiki inherits her abilities, though, doesn’t mean he can control them. To stand a chance of saving the world, Mushiki will have to attend an academy for mages as Saika—while trying to keep his true identity under wraps! (Source: Yen Press)

An Imposter in the Garden!

My newest review looks at Yen Press’ latest ecchi series, King’s Proposal, featuring mages, knights and the constant prospect of annihilation!

The series stars Mushiki Kuga as he struggles to come to grips with his new life after witnessing the final moments of Saika Kouzaki – the most powerful mage in history. Inheriting her abilities, the two converge, leading to Mushiki’s mind being in Saika’s body.

Now welcomed into the world of mages, Void’s Garden, Mushiki’ll learn what Saika meant to the world the hard way. The earth is in ever-present danger and only Saika and her band of knights can stop it. For everyone’s sake, Mushiki must control her powers all while keeping the convergence a secret; a simple task…if he didn’t constantly change back every time he does something lewd!

A Nostalgic Vision

The first thing noticeable about this novel is the author’s flair for the dramatic and the perverse. From the very first line, the author attempts to make grand spectacles, especially starting the series on a tragic first love and making Mushiki’s introduction to the garden coincide with an annihilation event.

Unique in the light novel space, this dramatic sensibility helps in creating a level of omnipresent threat as well as the tension deserved in the larger-scale fight sequences.

Alongside its serious dramatic side, the author also has a talent for perverse fan-service elements. There’s something innately nostalgic in how these elements are presented to the reader. Throughout the novel, I was constantly brought back to the ecchi action-harem series of the 00s and 10s.

Lots of lucky pervert moments and trope-laden potential harem members lead the nostalgia train. Great as tension breakers but not so much when trying to make a well-rounded main character.

Mushiki and the Knights of the Garden

While managing to convert his aims into action by the novel’s end, Mushiki’s character at the start is far from believable. Focused almost solely on trying to get Saika to like him, he often lacks critical thinking or any thinking at all.

It takes characters around him to ask the right questions or to get the mystery moving. There are no questions from him about where he is? How he ended up in Saika’s body? Why are annihilations threatening the Earth? Or even who tried to kill both him and Saika? This lack of curiosity about anything other than Saika’s favourite hobbies could detach the audience from his character.

The one thing that Mushiki has going for him is his overwhelming natural ability to become a saviour and that his morals overall are in the right place.

Luckily there are some great side characters. Anviet, Kuroe and Mushiki’s sister Ruri are particular highlights. All of them are much more well-rounded and are perfect players for interesting development down the line.

Anviet comes over as hot-headed at first, but his teacher role reveals him to be measured, tough but fair. Kuroe seems like the typical kuudere, yet there’s something deeper going on under the surface. Finally, Ruri plays the role of the typical tsundere, loving her brother yet always wanting him to leave the Garden. What’s interesting about both of them stems from their unusual family dynamic.

Past and Future

Closing out the novel and the volume’s mystery is a spoilerific boss-fight action sequence. Trying not to cover any potential spoilers, there’s a wonderful use of descriptive imagery, making the scenes extremely vivid. One can certainly picture the world’s created as if they’d be adapted into an anime.

Furthermore, the action sequence sets the bar for future stakes in the series. Character mortality and the potential consequences of not achieving Saika’s full power all come into play, and whilst everything ends up okay, I can’t imagine that this status quo will continue as the number of volumes grow.

Overall, King’s Proposal sets the bar high with its first volume. Featuring a healthy mix of comedy, drama and action, it’s sure to satisfy anyone looking for something different other than the usual isekai fare.

King’s Proposal Vol. 1

My Rating: 9/10

I hope you enjoyed my review and would love to see what you thought of the volume in the comments! You can help support my work by buying me a coffee over on my Ko-Fi account.

You can read the first volume of this series digitally and physically from the Yen Press website.