On this week’s Reader’s Corner: Re:Zero starts a new light novel collection, puppy love starts with dog owners crossing paths, a new Sword Art Online Alternative story begins, and much more!
A Condition Called Love (Vol. 9) • Dark Souls: Redemption (Vol. 1) • Father, I Don’t Want This Marriage (Vol. 1) • In Another World, My Sister Stole My Name (Vol. 1) • Overgeared (Vol. 4) • Pupposites Attract (Vol. 1) • Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World: Short Story Collection (Vol. 1) • Sword Art Online Alternative: Clover’s Regret (Vol. 1) • Unholy Blood (Vol. 3) • The Villainess Is the Heroine’s Biggest Fan (Vol. 3)
Sword Art Online Alternative: Clover’s Regret, Light Novel Vol. 1
Clover’s Regret is a spin-off work by Soitiro Watase, with guidance from SAO author Reki Kawahara. It occurs after the events of the first few story arcs (i.e., shortly after the second season of the anime). Nayuta is a young woman who teams up with a friend and an in-game detective to help an old man, Yanagi, complete a quest in the VRMMO Asuka Empire. The catch? Yanagi wants to complete the quest within a week, but there seem to be some bugs, and the quest may be taken down indefinitely for maintenance… I can’t say too much without giving away spoilers, but Clover’s Regret is a poignant entry in the SAO franchise, with a lot of bittersweet moments. And some wham! scenes that hit you in the gut; in particular, the scene when we are introduced to Nayuta’s family near the beginning takes on a completely different meaning when reread in light of the story’s ending. The story lacks the epic stakes and feel of the original SAO, which it only intersects with in slight but significant ways, but that’s okay; it’s driven more by the characters and the way they face the themes of loss and artificial intelligence (which, after all, are subjects that lie at the core of SAO). If you like SAO, or just want to read a good near-future light novel that is well-written and pretty much lacks the flaws that this medium is known for, I can’t recommend it enough. (P.S.: I should also mention that my copy apparently had a problem at the printer’s, as it has strips sliced off the margin of the pages and cover. Not enough to interfere with reading, but annoying nonetheless.) ~ NegativePrimes
Sword Art Online Alternative: Clover’s Regret is published by Yen Press.
Unholy Blood, Manhwa Vol. 3
Hayan and Euntae go head to head with Sahan, the vampire who can control minds! The first half of this volume covers the strategies both sides employ, and so is full of literal mind games. Good is ultimately victorious (spoiler!), however. Then our attention turns to Euntae: the detective seems to have been hiding something from Hayan all along, and she gets suspicious and begins digging through his belongings. Her findings lead her to Euntae’s estranged sister and the discovery of how vampires destroyed their family. And the volume ends on quite the cliffhanger… The symbolism takes a bit of a back seat in this installment of the series, to make room for the action that resolves one story arc and for the character development prompted by Euntae’s backstory. There’s plenty of violence, as expected of a vampire action story, but there’s still as much heart as there are hearts. Just don’t expect the same depth as the first two volumes, since this one is busy resolving old plot lines and setting up new ones. ~ NegativePrimes
Unholy Blood is published by Yen Press.
A Condition Called Love, Manga Vol. 9
It’s time for the annual school fair! While Hotaru and Hanaoi’s relationship continues to grow stronger after they were apart over the summer, Hotaru is struggling to be happy after their reunion as she sees one of her dearest friends struggle with a one-sided love. With how busy the preparation is for the school fair and even the event itself, is there anything she can do to help support and encourage her friend? This volume was so, so, so heartfelt, and I’m so very grateful that Hananoi lets Hotaru be herself and lets her put her friends first! Not saying Hotaru doesn’t put Hananoi first, but even though Hotaru has and is changing because of him (I would definitely say in a good way!), Hananoi has never tried to change that part about caring for her friends and wanting to be there for him. I almost got teary-eyed when he said that was something he loves about her, because I feel that is who Hotaru is: caring for everyone around her. Having said all that, the majority of this volume really focused on Hotaru and her friendships, most specifically with Shibamu. I definitely felt my heartstrings being yanked on and became emotional more than once because it was so touching! This series excels at showing how wonderful friendships can be, and how hard too! I really loved it when Sensei spoke about the fact that we’re allowed to set and have boundaries (even with friends!), but that it’s important to explain why we have those boundaries too. Beautiful, beautiful messages that I love seeing conveyed! The ending was fantastic! I want to share so much about it, but I don’t want to spoil it either. Ha! But I will say that it ended on a cliffhanger that left me eagerly and a little bit nervously looking forward to the next volume! ~ Laura A. Grace
A Condition Called Love is published by Kodansha.
READ Reviews of A Condition Called Love: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2 // Vol. 4 // Vol. 5 // Vol. 6 // Vol. 7 // Vol. 8
Pupposites Attract, Manga Vol. 1
Dog lovers, unite! There is a manga that is completely centered around dogs! The most timid Rottweiler and the most energetic Pomeranian—and these two dogs’ owners couldn’t be more different either! A smaller woman having a big dog and a taller man having a small dog? Each owner is shocked by the other person and the kind of dog they have, but they quickly learn there is more to the other—and to their dog—as they keep crossing paths. This manga was perfect in every single way! I laughed so much, and at one point I even had to remind myself every one in my household was asleep and I couldn’t laugh that loud, but seeing these two opposite “couples” (human x dog) was one of the most precious things I’ve read recently! The misunderstandings in how Chiharu and Kiyotaka perceived one another, based on their dogs and how they acted with their dogs, was quite funny, especially in the beginning! I definitely appreciated how it had the right balance of misunderstanding, though! It didn’t feel like it was drawn out too much, nor did it rush them realizing there is more to the other person than what they first thought. Again it was perfect! The creator says this is a “feel good,” story and I would say that is more than accurate, as I felt so happy while reading this (and even afterward too)! I am eagerly looking forward to volume two releasing, as this officially is my favorite read of this month! Also, it definitely goes to show that dog manga can be just as wholesome as cat manga! Highly recommend this new series! ~ Laura A. Grace
Pupposites Attract is published by Kodansha.
In Another World, My Sister Stole My Name, Manga Vol. 1
What would you do if a family member not only stole your name, but your entire identity as well? For Ichika that becomes a reality when she is taken to another world through a magical mirror. Having conversed with a young boy on the other side of the mirror before this point and told her sister of the conversations she’s had, she never knew it could make her “teleport”—or that her sister would be so conniving as to steal everything from her. This manga was so, so, so good! I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a fan of love triangles at all. However, this one? I’m all on board because I love both the guys! They are as opposite as night and day, but that’s why I love them both! I equally loved the story itself, which was also very, very good! I really love Ichika and how amazing of a heroine she is in light of her sister really stealing her name in another world! I felt she handled things far more calmly than I ever could as well as not letting herself cave into discouragement when it felt like her freedoms had been taken from her. I’m not really sure how things will unfold moving forward because that ending was a huge cliffhanger, and I have no doubts it made her sister furious and has completely changed things moving forward. I’m sure she will still be enraged, and I think will even see Mr. Grumpy Swoonworthy continue to warm up to Ichika, but I think she is going to gain a lot more favor with the people overall. In the short time she’s been in this new world, she’s already won over many hearts with her earnestness to learn more about this new world. After reading this volume once, I’ve already skimmed through it twice because I enjoyed it so much the first time! Definitely another series for which I desperately need volume two to hurry up and release! ~ Laura A. Grace
In Another World, My Sister Stole My Name is published by Yen Press.
Father, I Don’t Want This Marriage, Manhwa Vol. 1
The title may not imply it, but Juvelian is a jealous villainess whose life ends in tragedy when she’s accused of poisoning the princess. However, Juvelian realizes that is the ending of a romance novel she read and, of course, wants to do everything to avoid that kind of ending as a “reborn” Juvelian. Vowing to herself to live a quiet life and survive off her father’s money until she can be independent, she does all she can to achieve her goal, but what is she supposed to do now about this rude man who keeps popping up in her life?! I was surprised by how much I laughed when reading this volume, because I wasn’t expecting that with how serious and upsetting the first chapter was! I read the first three chapters digitally, so I knew it would “lighten up,” but a lot of the expressions Juvelian makes and the misunderstandings that follow had me laughing out loud more often than not! I really like how because of her change in character, her actions are already causing changes in the “original story” very, very early on! I think this made the story a fast read, because it felt like everything was changing, but I wouldn’t say in a rushed kind of way! More like in a way where I appreciated the story being told a lot more! Juvelian wasn’t expecting her father to want to grow closer to her, but he’s already making an effort to do so, which was honestly one of my favorite parts! Overall, this was a super fun read! I feel a little conflicted about picking up the next volume, but I know that’s because of the heavier price tag, as I had such an enjoyable time reading this! ~ Laura A. Grace
Father, I Don’t Want This Marriage is published by Inklore.
Overgeared, Manhwa Vol. 4
Half the time, I don’t recognize Overgeared‘s side characters. I don’t remember the quest Grid is on nor do I have a firm grip on the developing storyline about a cultist faction. And I breeze right past all the stats for every single item that drops (and there are many). Despite all that, I’m enjoying Overgeared pretty thoroughly. As I mentioned in my volume three review, Grid has become a pretty likable character by this point; although he’s fundamentally flawed as a person—his selfishness and immaturity frequently rear their ugly heads—he’s also funny, diligent, and an underdog to root for in a world where far worse players are common. So when Grid continues his quest to discover Pagma’s Sword Dance in this volume and gets some revenge on real-life bullies, for instance, you only cringe a bit; there’s too much enjoyment to be found in the manhwa’s fast action, humor, and beautiful illustrations. All these elements play a part in the enthralling final portion of volume four, which has Grid and others facing a major villain; although I once again didn’t recognize characters that the story indicated I should know by this point, I still enjoyed the boss battle. This volume was such a quick read that I was left wanting for more, much more. I’ll be eager to pick up from volume four’s finale and see what more unfolds when volume five eventually arrives. ~ Twwk
Overgeared is published by Yen Press.
The Villainess Is the Heroine’s Biggest Fan, Light Novel Vol. 3
The fallout between Aria and Mary Bell continues, leaving Mary Bell frustrated, upset, and hurt. Thankfully, Ethen is there to help and takes her on an outing where she doesn’t dwell on her feelings and has a little bit of fun. Yet as Mary Bell realizes how deep Ethen’s feelings are for her, it leaves her feeling more confused and unsure than ever before. As the original storyline continues to derail, Mary Bell is increasingly faced with what she’ll do in light of the future. The things I wanted to happen after the previous volume do take place, leaving me so happy, even if I felt bad for Mary Bell! She has finally noticed that the story is not the same, and therefore she can make many choices differently than she thought she had to. This, of course, is leading her to be anxious and frustrated, and I don’t blame her! When you’ve spent such a long time thinking you know exactly how everything unfolds, only to realize that nothing is unfolding as you planned, that could leave anyone feeling overwhelmed! The ending was quite the cliffhanger, and I can only desperately hope that Mary Bell will return Ethen’s feelings! It’s obvious she does care for him, but she has buried those feelings for so long that I don’t think she knows what to do. Combined with her guilt of taking “Aria’s man,” that’s a lot to handle! However, Aria is very much in Mary Bell’s corner, and that “final” conversation leads me to believe that Aria is going to keep pushing Mary Bell into loving her fiancée more so than ever before. He he! I am truly bummed that I don’t have volume four on hand and that I don’t have an e-reader so I could at least read volume four digitally! If I did, I would start reading the next volume ASAP, as I have deeply loved this series and am very glad I gave it a chance! I’m eagerly looking forward to seeing how this story unfolds and have very high expectations that it will end strong and wonderfully as this volume did! ~ Laura A. Grace
The Villainess Is the Heroine’s Biggest Fan is published by Editio Publishing.
READ The Villainess Is the Heroine’s Biggest Fan Reviews: Vol. 1 // Vol. 2
Dark Souls: Redemption, Manga Vol. 1 “Humanity Lost”
Confession time: I’ve never played any Dark Souls game, or any Souls-like such as Elden Ring (something I intend to remedy eventually). So I went into this manga blind. And I really liked it. Mangaka Julien Blondel creates a style and feel that instantly made me think of Tsutomu Nihei’s work (Blame!, Knights of Sidonia, Aposimz, Kaina of the Great Snow Sea, and others). However, Blondel’s images are a bit clearer, at least to me: Nihei’s visuals sometimes seem to become a bit too indistinct, which does admittedly contribute to the feel of the story; Blondel recreates the same bleak yet tense impressions but more distinctly, which I appreciated. The story opens with a group of knights setting out to stop some sort of evil that threatens the post-cataclysmic world. Then we find a young woman awaking from what appears to be her tomb. Both she and the reader have to seek for answers: Who is she, and why is she here? Before long, she crosses paths with the knights, and…wait, they’re trying to kill her? Are they the bad guys? Who is friend or foe in this world? What is going on? I’ll leave it at that to avoid spoilers. Dark Souls: Redemption seems to be a good read if you want something dark (surprise!) and suspenseful. ~ NegativePrimes
Dark Souls: Redemption is published by Yen Press.
Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World: Short Story Collection, Light Novel Vol. 1
This volume is exactly what the label says it is: four short stories that take place at various points within the main timeline of Re:Zero. But that’s also a bit misleading, because there is little if any of the epic feel of the original here. “A Heroic Epic: Starting from Zero” is a pretty bland mystery story, one which could be placed in virtually any fantasy world without much editing; one of Re:Zero’s strengths is its worldbuilding, so it’s disappointing to not see this developed further here or in the following stories. “The Head Maid’s Restless Day of Rest” is a pretty stereotypical account of Rem being forced to take a day off, which she doesn’t want to do (nor does she even really understand what it’s all about). “The Day I Stopped Being an Aldebaran Star” follows a couple of minor characters and is more interesting; and the final installment, “Emilia in Wonderland,” is an amusing riff on Alice in Wonderland. But they’re not enough for me to recommend buying the volume as a whole, alas. ~ NegativePrimes
Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World: Short Story Collection is published by Yen Press.
“Reader’s Corner” is our way of embracing the wonderful world of manga, light novels, and visual novels, creative works intimately related to anime but with a magic all their own. Each week, our writers provide their thoughts on the works they’re reading—both those recently released as we keep you informed of newly published works, and those older titles that you might find as magical (or in some cases, reprehensible) as we do.
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