Reincarnated As the Last of My Kind, Vol. 5

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By Kiri Komori and Yamigo. Released in Japan as “Tensei Shitara Zetsumetsu Sunzen no Kishou Shuzokudeshita” on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website. Released in North America by Cross Infinite World. Translated by Roman Lempert.

The danger of being a good-hearted, pure, perfect heroine is that apparently you are contractually obligated to walk into obvious traps. Tina, halfway through this book, is safely ensconced at the fort whose entire job is to stop her being kidnapped. Then, mysteriously, all of her important family and allies happen to be away from the fort at that moment. Then, mysteriously, a group of soldiers she’s never met before show up and beg her to help to save their grievously wounded colleagues, who they have not brought with them. The lead soldier is also holding a big sign that says ‘I AM NOT A TRAP HONEST”. (OK, not really.) What’s a Saint to do? Naturally, she selflessly goes off by herself with no guards to help the soldiers… you’ll never guess what happens next. If that paragraph fills you with rage, you may want to skip this one. If it merely makes you sigh, read on.

The start of the book is original to the light novel, not part of the webnovel, and is a nice return to the antics of the earlier volumes, as Tina is goaded into making a truth potion so that Shida and his father will open up to each other. She’s also really into creating fish sauce. Sadly, we then have to move on to the actual plot, which involves the aforementioned kidnapping. Tina then ends up meeting the ruler of Edesa Kura, who has grand twisted plans for the world that they’re both in. And, what’s more, the massive planetary disaster that has slowly been coming their way the last couple of books is finally here, and Tina and Renge still need to solve that problem with a minimum of lost lives. But the humans haven’t listened to any of their warnings at all!

The parts of this volume I enjoyed the most were the smaller, more character-driven bits. Tina and the court alchemist, Reiden, geeking out and bonding over the concept of magical vending machines is absolutely hilarious and wonderful, especially as it briefly stops the kidnapping plot dead for a few pages. I was also amused by Nakona, who all of a sudden has finally realized that she has at least four people in love with her, and is somewhat poleaxed by the idea. (Since she’s engaged, and later married, to Shida, she solves the problem in the best Nakona way – by beating the shit out of her other suitors.) Unfortunately, when the book broadens out to take on larger, more devastating problems, I was less interested. The revelation of the enemy ruler and what their deal is was interesting, but Renge remains a flat, boring boyfriend, and the resolution of this book pretty much hinges on him being even more powerful than everyone thought.

The author says there will be a 6th volume, but it sounds more like n epilogue than anything else, as the main plot is resolved here. In the end, this series was OK, but I liked it a lot more when Tina was back at the inn than when she was the Saint of the World.

Grand Sumo Villainess: This Reincarnated Rikishi’s No Pushover!

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By Kawausoutan and Murakami Yuichi. Released in Japan as “Ouzumou Reijou ~Seijo ni Hirateuchi wo Kuratta Shunkan Sumō Budatta Zense wo Omoidashita Akuyaku Reijō no Watashi wa sute Neko Ōji ni Chanko wo Furumaitai Haadosukoidosukoi~” by Earth Star Luna. Released in North America by J-Novel Club. Translated by Adam.

One of the more famous Monty Python sketches, written by Eric Idle, is called “Nudge Nudge”. In this sketch, Eric’s character accosts a businessman played by Terry Jones, implying through innuendo and double meaning that the businessman and his wife are sexually active. Throughout the sketch, Terry’s character endures, looking thoroughly frustrated and fed up at Eric’s constant snide jabs and double entendres. I mention this because that’s sort of how I started feeling midway through Grand Sumo Villainess, a book that is trying to be funny but mostly ends up being thoroughly exhausting. The author has a central idea and desperately wants us to realize what a fun idea it is, but it’s ONLY that one idea, with nothing else to it, and so unfortunately the book ends up being a one-trick pony. None of the characters have depth, nor are they meant to.

This is a villainess book, so you know where we start. The prince and his newfound girlfriend accuse Floortje, his fiancee, of horrible crimes and he breaks off their engagement and prepares to have her executed. This comes as a surprise to Floortje, who genuinely hasn’t done anything, but everyone around her seems to be brainwashed somehow into following the lead of the “heroine”, Jaromíra. Then suddenly Floortje gets memories of her past life in Japan… where she was dedicated to being a sumo wrestler! Suddenly, despite having the standard villainess body, she gains the power to defeat those around her! What’s more, “sumo” seems to be an ability rather than just a sport here, as it also has magic powers, can convert into wind and lightning, and honestly can do most anything at all. Now it’s time for Floortje to strike back!

Let me briefly mention the things I liked. The start of the book, when the concept is fresh, is pretty fun. The names of the heroines, being Dutch (Floortje) and Czech (Jaromíra) I quite liked as well. That’s about it. Floortje ends up being pretty one note in regards to sumo, which is basically the standard “OP power that can do anything” that we see in a lot of isekai. She also has a bit of a shotacon streak to her, something else I didn’t enjoy. Her ditzy maid is basically there for Floortje to abuse and threaten, though fortunately she never actually does anything. I will grant you that the maid’s eventual role in the story was pretty clever, but again: exhausting. All the antagonists follow the same shonen path: enemy, get defeated in sumo, friend. The only attempt at depth is near the end with the final Big Bad, and even then it’s somewhat undercut by the epilogue.

There’s a sequel to this, Grand Sumo Villainess Z, which I assume we’ll eventually be getting. But honestly, this is for villainess completists only. Even sumo fans might be annoyed at how it’s used here as “magic”.

Dahlia in Bloom: Crafting a Fresh Start with Magical Tools, Vol. 6

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By Hisaya Amagishi and Kei. Released in Japan as “Madougushi Dahlia wa Utsumukanai” by MF Books. Released in North America by J-Novel Heart. Translated by Osman Wong.

There’s a lot going on in this volume of Dahlia in Bloom, but the most important part involves a conversation that really should have happened ages ago. This series began with Dahlia’s fiance, Tobias, being SUCH trash that he gained an almost memetic reputation as a trash man, and several volumes in we’re still piling on the humiliation for him, his family, and his company. But there’s also a backstory here. One of Tobias and Dahlia growing up together and knowing exactly how the other works. One of their marriage being one of convenience rather than romance, something that even Dahlia’s father is aware of. And it also helps show exactly why Tobias did what he did, and so rapidly: he’s never remotely felt romantic love before, and certainly not with Dahlia. It was a bolt from the blue. As such, when a crisis unfolds that requires Dahlia and Tobias to work together again, they’re finally able to sit down and have a conversation about what happened, and begin to move past it.

The crisis takes up the first half of the book. What was thought to be an illness turns out to be that her friend Irma is pregnant. Unfortunately, this is one of those worlds where magic is biased against the lower classes, and Irma’s husband turns out to be a noble’s illegitimate child, so he has far more magic than she does. As such, the pregnancy might kill her. To solve this, there’s a complex enchantment of a bracelet that needs to be done, and when Oswald and Dahlia find their magic is not compatible enough, they’re forced to turn to Tobias. Who, to be fair, helps immediately, and is quite chastened the entire time. We also see Dahlia’s influence and creativity inspiring others, either to expand on her inventions or expanding into their own companies. And, rest assured, food is eaten and alcohol is consumed.

I will admit, one thing in this book really surprised me, and that was the presence of Emilia in it. Emilia was not really a character so much as a macguffin, there to jump start the plot, and I have to admit that I was expecting, after Tobias was disgraced and everyone in town started to shun him, that she’d have simply vanished. But it actually works better for the book that she and Tobias really ARE in love, and that she’s still with him even after all that’s happened. And even though the two are very bad at talking with each other – she’s mostly convinced herself that if Dahlia tried to win Tobias back from her, it wouldn’t take much. I still don’t like either character, but I respect their poor choices. I also want to note that I hate the “nobles have stronger magic” system. We also see it in Bookworm, and I hate it there too. It’s an excuse to keep the common folk where they are. Dahlia’s inventions help a bit, but she has a ways to go before she’s Princess Anisphia.

Dahlia in Bloom continues to be one of the best J-Novel Heart titles, even if those waiting for the romance to happen must be groaning at another volume where neither party get any closer to admitting their feelings.