Bofuri: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense, Vol. 13

July 26, 2024 by Leave a Comment

By Yuumikan and KOIN. Released in Japan as “Itai no wa Iya nano de Bōgyoryoku ni Kyokufuri Shitai to Omoimasu” by Kadokawa Books. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Andrew Cunningham.

One of the biggest Achilles’ heels of the Bofuri series, which I’m sure the author is aware of, is that it works best when Maple is being completely weird and bonkers. It’s the reason we read this – well, for those not reading it to see if Maple and Sally get married, that is. But you can’t have that happening all the time, especially since the author really loves to essentially write out game logs and turn them into prose. So the series has a constant struggle: how do we keep the audience’s interest when Maple is not being Maple but is instead just being a gamer girl? The best example of that comes at the end of this book, when we get a big, climactic fight against a very tough boss which Maple has to solo… without any of her bag of tricks except her passive skills. The highlight of the book for me was seeing Maple take a deep cut with a sword, and her face twisting in pain. We’ve beaten the title of the series!

The bulk of this book is setup for the battle royale that’s going to happen in Book 14. Maple Tree arrives on the new floor, and are introduced to two areas – one water and human NPC-based, the other fire and monster-NPC based. They have a while to explore both camps, scope out the land, do quests, and finally, they have to choose a side and fight against those who choose the other side. So Sally maps things, Maple explores how to use the cool new powers she hasn’t really used in public yet, and the twins show off the fact that they can not only octo-wield, but also THROW the hammers they wield. Unfortunately, while exploring the library of the fire side, Maple ends up being tricked into opening a grimoire. Now she’s cursed, and has to do an impressive number of tasks… without anything but her defense, her shield, and her passive skills. Will she finally be killed off?

So, sadly, Sally may fight Maple one-on-one one day, but that day is not coming soon, as Maple still wants everyone to fight together, and Sally won’t do it if Maple’s not at least accepting of it. So Maple Tree are all on the same side. They’re joined by Pain’s gang, which should be interesting. We don’t hear where Mii’s group is, but I assume the other side, as otherwise things would be too imbalanced. The cover art also has Lily on it in her “offense” mode, and I think she (and Velvet, who explicitly wants to fight Maple) will also be on the opposite side. If it sounds like I’m talking too much about a fight that hasn’t happened yet, well, that’s this book’s big flaw – it doesn’t get to the fight it promises. That said, the battle between Maple and her cursed grimoire monster is fantastic, one of the best written fights in the series. Makes it worth the slog.

So yeah, Maple can triumph even without being weird. Don’t expect that to last, though.

Filed Under: bofuri, reviews

The Trials of Chiyodaku: Running the Supreme Court of Another World with My Sister, Vol. 1

July 25, 2024 by Leave a Comment

By Fukurou Kogyoku and jonsun. Released in Japan as “Chiyodaku Ōkoku Judgment: Ane to Ore to de Isekai Saikō Saibansho” by MF Bunko J. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Genevieve Maude Hill-Kaminishi.

Siiiiiiiiiggggggggghhhhhhh. Yes, I know. The moment I chose to review a novel with a cover like that, I should have changed my expectations. But I’m sorry, even if you’re here for the tits on the cover, this book really only gives you a few opportunities. It’s odd to see a book that is throwing so many cliches at the wall, most of it deliberate and “it’s OK because I’m winking at the audience”, fall down as much as it does. If it’s meant to be an ecchi title, it’s pretty half-assed about its faux-incest and fanservice. If it’s meant to be a parody of isekai, the entire second half turning serious kind of kicks that in the head. Honestly, the serious second half is the only reason I managed to finish the book, as once the book gets to the main case, it’s quite good. Unfortunately, it’s Phoenix Wright fanfiction. The other characters even admit it’s Phoenix Wright fanfiction.

Akuto Satou, a “typical high school boy” who loves fantasy light novels and games, is going to visit his stepsister Tsukasa Wagatsumu, who is 12 years older than him and a district court judge in Japan. Then, while listening to her complain at the local bar, the two of them are transported to another world! (OK, the exclamation point is likely unnecessary at this point.) Princess Ecstasia Itou of the nation of Chiyodaku has brought them to… a fantasy world that has used magic to make itself as much a clone of Japan as it can, despite also having elves, dwarves, and dragons. They’re even adapting the Japanese court system… but unfortunately, they need a real judge rather than the princess and her magical lie detector. They especially need this as the former hero is on trial for murder… and he insists he’s guilty.

I have so many questions. If you’re going to have Tsukasa regress (physically and mentally) to fifteen years old, why *explicitly* say “except for her breasts, they stay adult”? There is a stressed-out elf girl (ticks box), a stoic maid who also is super strong and falls for the hero almost instantly (ticks box), a wily fox girl who acts older than her five years old (ticks box), but these are used just as character types, nothing is done with them at all. As I noted above, the actual case they’re brought there to try, which ends up showing an immature king who’s forced to take over from his late father stubbornly ruining the lives of the hero’s party who saved the world, their decades-long struggle afterwards, and the hero’s traumatic survivor’s guilt making him suicidal, is a terrific plot… that jars horribly with everything else in this book. Lastly, the “copy paste” gimmick feels like utterly lazy writing, and utterly lazy worldbuilding. Both in universe and out of it.

This appears to have only been two volumes and cancelled in Japan, but had a manga announced last year, so I assume an anime is imminent. But honestly, unless you really love cliches, just play Phoenix Wright.

Filed Under: reviews, trials of chiyodaku

Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden, Vol. 3

July 24, 2024 by Leave a Comment

By Umikaze Minamino and Katana Canata. Released in Japan as “Kyōran Reijō Nia Liston: Byōjaku Reijō ni Tenseishita Kami-goroshi no Bujin no Kareinaru Musō Roku” by HJ Bunko. Released in North America by J-Novel Club. Translated by okaykei.

When I have a book where there are things I liked and things I didn’t like, I generally like to start with the bad stuff and work my way up to the good. And there’s definitely stuff I enjoyed here! But we have to address the elephant in the room, and it’s an elephant that every series starring an adorable six-year-old, past memories/abilities or no, seems to have to deal with. The author finds people creeping on Nia hilarious, and assumes the reader does as well. We’ve already had the first two volumes, where her maid is constantly trying to get into her bed. Here we get Reliared’s older sister (yes, another one) wants to paint Nia in the nude (she’s an artist, but it’s also framed deliberately as “this is a skeezy creep”. And the king essentially saying “you will be mine once you’re old enough.” It’s designed for a very specific light novel audience that isn’t me, and I hate it. Anyway, onward.

It’s summer vacation for Nia, but of course that means ENDLESS FILMING FOR MAGIVISION. Once that’s over with, fortunately, she can visit Reliared and her lovely family (and creepy sister), and then head off to the princess’ private royal island… which also has the king, who is also vacationing, and turns out to be not quite as royal as you’d like… or is that just a facade? As for those of you who follow Nia to see her punch things, well, here’s not as much as the previous two books, but she does discover a new dungeon. And what’s more, she assigns her protege (and maid) Lynokis to go out adventuring and hone her new techniques. And earn money. A lot, a WHOLE lot, of money. Which Nia will need in order to realize the next part of her grand plan.

The best part of this book, aside from the ending, showing Reliared for once winning against Nia, if only indirectly, is her discussion with the King. Aside from his creeper tendencies (again, see the rest of the book), he turns out to be one smart cookie. Indeed, he’s much smarter than Nia, who presents an idea of having an annual fighting tournament but can’t think of more than two reasons why it would benefit the kingdom. The king thinks of eight other reasons, tells her how mind-numbingly expensive it would be to do properly, and sets her a goal of two years to raise that ludicrous amount of money. In just two pages he shifts the entire goal of this book from “let’s watch Nia race puppies” to “let’s watch Nia finance a shonen manga”, and I think it’s a good pivot. More of smart king, less of lecherous king.

So yes, a big asterisk next to this title. Assuming you can get past it (and it’s always used for humor, not seriously), this is a good entry in the “overpowered elementary school girls beat up the world” genre.

Filed Under: nia liston, reviews
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