#castle politics

[ahb-writes]

Book Review: 'Reincarnated Aristocrat' #3

As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I’ll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World #3 by MiraijinA, Jimmy, Tristan K Hill

castle politics

fantasy

isekai

political science

social commentary

war

My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thus begins the march through the County of Velshdt, including a quest to overtake every notable castle and settlement standing in Lord Couran's way. Ars's reliable crew of castoff allies has proved mighty helpful for Lord Couran Salemakhia. But the closer Couran's forces march toward the county seat, the fiercer the fighting grows. And with fiercer fighting come dangerous and strategic alliances (with shady mercenary groups), new political gambles (in negotiating betrayals from would-be enemies), and the changing seasons (laying siege to a castle in winter).

Ars Louvent has unwittingly matured in real time during this battle campaign. REINCARNATED ARISTOCRAT v3 picks up where the previous book ended, and pulls readers through a lengthy but patiently and effectively articulated trundling through dirt roads, forest paths, and castle towns. This novel series reads like a soldier's journal, and it's a delightful encounter from cover to cover.

The book also hitches a ride on the irony espoused in the previous volume that Ars humbly believes himself entirely useless relative to the skill and acumen of his retinue. The current novel carves space for all of Ars's allies to show their stuff: Rietz commands a difficult field battle in pursuit of a desperate but honorable victory; Rosell's confidence and critical thinking earn him the respect of his elders; Pham makes a consequential decision to throw their lot in in with Ars, because sometimes, the world is too unstable even for a freelance, black-market information broker.

But that's not the most fun part. The cleverest addition is such that Ars levels up. Now, instead if simply reading a numbers-based stat screen, the young man now has the capacity to dig out people's backstory (e.g., place of origin, family relations, favorite foods, loyalties, ambitions). Importantly, the young man isn't cocky about it.

Ars complains to Couran, early in the book, "My power doesn't make me all-knowing!" (page 23), only to hilariously discover, soon thereafter, that his capacity to govern others with keenness and intuition is the only thing keeping he and his allies alive and in the fight.

REINCARNATED ARISTOCRAT v3 focuses on old-school siege warfare. The battle for the out-of-the-way Castle Rolto is fierce, and sees Rietz stepping deeper into his role as an attentive adjutant. The planned seizure of Castle Staatz is exciting and multifaceted, and requires layers of strategy from Rosell and Mireille. For readers interested in the week-to-week grind of uncovering next-best-case scenarios from deteriorating situations will truly enjoy this novel series.

Of the book's less favorable quirks, readers are still bereft of a decent map, and one still finds it difficult to track and trace the enormous secondary and tertiary cast of characters, even with the aid of individual notes. Regardless, AS A REINCARNATED ARISTOCRAT, I'LL USE MY APPRAISAL SKILL TO RISE IN THE WORLD v3 delivers a solid story, and future volumes are sure to follow in the same wake.

❯ ❯ Light-Novel Reviews

[thedevilinthem]

frank castle having a civilized interview with a therapist is objectively the funniest thing i can imagine.

[myszkaa]

Listen I know it's extremely unlikely but I'm still wishing for future dunmeshi projects...especially spin offs.

The world building is so rich I really want to see more of it, since most of the story in the manga happens in the dungeon. Hell even other dungeons can be explored, I want to see elf style or dwarf style dungeons

I know that ryoko kui is all about that "I'll leave it up to your interpretation" life but I think she's allowed milking dm a little...just a little

[starry-bi-sky]

pouring one out for luo binghe in my disciple SQQ fic, poor guy has taken a backseat here. we're nearly 30k words deep and he hasn't even shown his face once. it'll be much longer before he even actually talks to Shen Qingqiu.

(i say im pouring one out but in reality im sitting in my director's chair chewing on a cigar and wearing a beret as he tearily and unsuccessfully pleads with me for more scenes with Shen Qingqiu)

[psychokillermp4]

“Anything for your gongeous” extremely relatable

LISTEN! FR!! The way Gideon Nav has me down bad is catastrophic. I'd do anything for her. However much of a loser simp she is about the beautiful women of Canaan house, I'd be THRICE as bad in the presence of her. I'm not arguing with that buff redheaded lesbian and her GOLDEN BEAUTIFUL EYES, WHATEVER YOU SAY GOREGUS!

[pastafossa]

Daredevil Characters as Epic the Musical characters

Been talking this out with @sunflowersandsapphires and I THINK WE GOT IT. Loved doing this, since this is a combo of three things I love: musical retellings of stories I love, ancient Greek mythology, and fucking DAREDEVIL.

Anyway, go listen to Epic the Musical if you haven't already, it's gd amazing, now one of my favorite musicals ever, and the way Matt and the others line up with it is beautiful.

Matt: Odysseus

What if I'm the one who killed you Every time I caved to guilt? What if I've been far too kind to foes But a monster to ourselves? What if I'm the monster?

Foggy: Polites (really hope this one doesn't come to bite us in the ass in Born Again)

This life is amazing When you greet it with open arms Whatever we face, We'll be fine if we're leading from the heart

Karen: Eurylochus

Tell me you did not know that would happen Say you didn't know how that would end Look me in the eyes and tell me That you did not just sacrifice six men

Fisk: Poseidon

The line between naivety And hopefulness is almost invisible So close your heart, the world is dark and Ruthlessness is mercy

Frank: Athena

I've no respect for bullies Those who impose their will I've seen plenty enough to truly understand this kind of filth Let's teach this dog a lesson In front of all his kind

Elektra: Circe

If you make one wrong move, then you're done for Anything I don't approve, then you're done for I could put a spell on you and you're done for Boy, you better run or soon you will be done for

Peter: he was in a scene with Matt in No Way Home, it counts, anyway he's Telemachus

Give me sirens and a cyclops Give me giants and a hydra I know life and fate are scary But I wanna be legendary

Claire: Tiresias

I am the prophet with the answers you seek Time, I've unlocked it I see past and future running free There is a world where I help you get home But that's not a world I know

Bonus for TRT Readers!

Jane: Penelope

I will fall in love with you over and over again I don't care how, where, or when No matter how long it's been, you're mine

Bonus Bonus:

Stick: a pig that Circe eats because he is a fuckface

(scared squealing)

[valgeristik]

let him fish in peace, he earned it....

Vetted Gaza Evacuation Fundraiser List

E-sims donation

[sleeping-at-sea]

Odysseus is a millennial parent who tries to be supportive and fit in with his son but he's just clueless

Penelope and Polites always tease him

[cranes-menagerie]

Frank Castle chewing out and offing the cops using his logo to excuse their brutality is such a relief as a mixed Latino American who grew up in a town full of Maga alt right assholes who also used the logo to excuse their bigotry

People who say that punisher would be a far right have a fundamental misunderstanding of his character and only use the skull as an edgy excuse to spread hate

[turtlesystem]

Frank Castle is you can hear me . we need u rn . Frank…🙏 (save the US)

[stars-and-branches]

watching the US promise to do the exact same shit Germany did in The Man in High Castle

[blackleatherjacketz]

Frank Castle, save us. Frank Castle, where are you? Frank Castle, come home the kids miss you!

[the-maddened-hatter]

I feel like that one scene in Howl's Moving Castle where Sophie's just been transformed and is like freaking out but is still doing that "I've got to stay calm" mantra as she panic zoomieshuffles cross the house

[tam--lin]

Sophie Hatter is a kind, quiet, and straight laced girl who just needed the slightest excuse to run away from home and get super weird and I respect that

[keirstarmerhateblog]

[nikki-handholder]

i cant be the only one who felt like they missed a whole bunch of set up with the philomenia quest... shouldn't have skipped all the books lying around about her before this patch, darn it.