Category Archives: reviews

Sword Art Online Alternative: Clover’s Regret, Vol. 1

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By Soitiro Watase and Ginta, based on the series created by Reki Kawahara. Released in Japan by Dengeki Bunko. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Stephen Paul.

So, just like the Re: Zero SS collection, we’re getting this one a bit late. The first volume of Clover’s Regret, the second in the “Alternative” spinoff series, came out in 2016, after the 5th volume of the Gun Gale Online books. But we had to wait till we’re caught up with both the main series, its Progressive rewrite, *and* the GGO series before we get this spinoff. Part of that is because, unlike GGO, this never got an anime, and it features none of the main SAO cast. It doesn’t have an obvious hook to pull in Kirito casuals. The other reason, I think, is that unlike other Yen On light novel series from hell with extensive spinoffs, SAO has always been Stephen Paul’s baby, and I think we may have waited for this one just so that he can translate it properly rather than try to get someone new in. In any case, you’re not “missing” anything like we were with Re: Zero SS. This is pretty standalone.

Asuka Empire may not have the #1 ranking of ALfheim Online, but it tries harder. A far more Japanese-based MMORPH, it’s been struggling to keep its high ranking now that everyone has access to the Seed. As such, it has a new event that’s horror-based, and it’s also allowing users to submit their own game ideas to the event. Meanwhile, our heroines, matter of fact, somewhat emotionless Nayuta and genki, lovable scamp Koyomi are trying to clear one of the quests, which involves a mysterious ghost orchestra. While doing this, they meet a rarity in games like this – an old man, who has never gamed before but is really desperate to solve the ghost orchestra game for some reason. He was told about an in-game detective named Klever who might be able to help him. Why is he so interested in this quest? And what’s with that fox-faced detective?

This is another slow burner. About halfway through, I wondered, as I sometimes do with other spinoffs of popular franchises, why this could not have been a book on its own with no ties to Sword Art Online at all. But that’s just because the book saves all its twists for the second half, piling them on one after another. Not only do half the cast have a personal connection to the original Aincrad SAO game, but the ghost orchestra quest itself is written by a member of the Sleeping Knights… a member who, like so many other members of that party, has now died. (We’re told in this volume that Yuuki died “a few days ago”, which nails down the timeline.) The cast are excellent, particularly Nayuta and Klever… I’d argue that Koyomi is mere comic relief, but the author agrees with me, and states that her part was supposed to be smaller but she kept butting in. I hope she gains more depth next time.

Sorry not to go into my usual spoilers, but this book has good spoilers, so I recommend experiencing them yourself. Also, unlike GGO, this is a limited series of 3 books, so should not take up too much of your time. Go check it out.

Re: ZERO ~Starting Life in Another World~ Short Story Collection, Vol. 1

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By Tappei Nagatsuki and Shinichirou Otsuka. Released in Japan as “Re: Zero Kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu: Tanpenshuu” by MF Bunko J. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Sarah Moon.

First of all, I appreciate that we have a new translator for the short stories. The plan seems to be to release these volumes one month after the main volumes till we catch up, so putting all that on the same person would be a strain. Secondly, of course, we’re getting this a bit late. This volume first came out in 2014, in between Volume 5 and 6 of the regular series. It also introduces us to Liliana, someone who appears as a major supporting character in the 5th arc and who we are expected to have known about from this story. So, kinda like the Index SS books. Also like the Index SS books, it’s great to see these licensed anyway. They provide a lot of really good fluffy fun, introduce a character who’s important later, and give important backstory to two more supporting characters. And, perhaps most importantly, it gives Subaru a chance to really get in a ton of tsukkomi. Especially in the first story. Comebacks for all.

There are four short stories in this book. Two of them were written to appear in my nemesis, Monthly Comic Alive, and two of them are original for this book. The first, which ran in Comic Alive over 3 issues right after the 3rd volume came out, has a traveling bard named Liliana arrive at the mansion, looking to compose a song about a hero that hasn’t been composed yet. She also, unfortunately, has some people trying to kidnap her, who also come to the mansion. The second story has Subaru trying to give Rem a day off, after seeing how she basically does everything in the mansion, and Rem’s struggles to actually not work. This appeared after the 4th novel. Then we get the two original stories. The first shows Priscilla, having just chosen Al as her knight, returning to her newest husband, and Al learning what said husband has planned for her. The other one shows Emilia falling asleep and ending up in a parody of Alice in Wonderland.

The biggest thing I noticed while reading this book, which I would not remotely have noticed had I read it in publication order, is just how long it’s been since we’ve had Rem in this story. The second story is all about Rem, of course, and the first one has a heaping helping of her. She gets to show off her strength, speed, and pure adoration of Subaru here, and her fans should eat this up. Liliana’s introduction is also good, and she and Subaru have an instant boke/tsukkomi relationship that feels different from the one he already has with Emilia. Emilia’s Wonderland story is mostly silly, but the Priscilla story may be the best in the book. We get another good look at Al’s own “talent” in beating the odds, and we get to see exactly why Priscilla is one of the chosen candidates and why people absolutely revere her. She’s an arrogant, abusive ass, but she earns every bit of the adoration she expects to receive.

So yeah, this was fun. Nothing really serious, apart from bits of the Priscilla story. Fans should love it.

The Hero and the Sage, Reincarnated and Engaged, Vol. 1

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By Washiro Fujiki and Heiro. Released in Japan as “Eiyū to Kenja no Tensei Kon: Katsute no Kōtekishu to Konyaku Shite Saikyō Fūfu ni Narimashita” by HJ Bunko. Released in North America by J-Novel Club. Translated by Joey Antonio.

So, I have good news and bad news about this title. Let’s start with the bad news, as I suspect that a lot of you were suspect some really good AO3-style Enemies to Lovers with this book, based on the title and premise. And, I mean, before reincarnation, they were on opposing sides in a war and really loved to fight each other. But “enemies” is the wrong word, as both of them turn out to be kind people who always end up making the battle all about them in order to minimize casualties for everyone around them. They’re secretly sweetie pies. And once they’ve been reincarnated, there’s no awkward reunions or tsundere denial in sight. They’re both on the same side now, they can (well, with a few conditions – see below) fight each other, and they can be utterly goddamn adorable and ludicrously badass. That’s the audience that this book is for. OP Sweethearts to OP sweethearts.

Years and years ago, the hero Raid Freeden and the sage Eluria Caldwin fought each other for ages, both equally matched – he with his ludicrous strength, her with her incredible elven magic. Then one day he hears that Eluria has died. In sheer disbelief that anything could kill her (she was young for an elf), he runs straight into their country, taking multiple mortal wounds, just to arrive at her coffin, confirm her death, and then pass away himself. Now it’s centuries later and everyone can use magic… everyone, that is, except Raid Fredeen, commoner in a small village, who ends up breaking magical devices when he touches them. Then, when he’s about 16 years old, Eluria (now a human) shows up at his village. Like him, she was reborn with all her old memories, and she’s spent over a decade searching the country to try to find him. Sure, his lack of magic means he’s a second-class citizen. But she’ll do anything to make sure they can fight each other again… even get engaged!

This is cute and fun, and that’s all it’s trying to be. Don’t expect amazing plot twists here. The plot is basically that it’s unclear how Eluria, who was perfectly healthy, suddenly died in the past, why they were reincarnated with all their memories, and if someone is behind that. But we’re reading it for Eluria being so “floaty” when she’s half-asleep that she hangs all over her new fiance, and Raideen being cool and suave. We get the standard one (1) male friend, with glasses and a fondness for magical support equipment; one (1) female friend who’s also from the country and is mostly there to be comic relief, and one (1) obnoxious noble who thinks he’s better than everyone and needs to have reality beaten into him. Fortunately, this is a noble who learns his lesson pretty fast and actually *is* competent, which already ;puts this over other cliched magical academy books.

Most modern light novels let you know if you’ll like it or not by the cover art and premise. If you like cute, fluffy romance between two people who could kill you a million times over, this is right up your street.