#merry (grimgar)

[rennebright]

リクエスト by COCOball [Twitter/X] ※Illustration shared with permission from the artist. If you like this artwork please support the artist by visiting the source.

[shazzeaslightnovels]

Hai to Gensou no Grimgar 1

Author: Ao Jyumonji

Illustrator: Eiri Shirai

Label: Overlap Bunko

Release Date: 22 June 2013

My Score: 3/5

English Release: This series is being published in English by J-Novel Club as Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash.

This isn't my first time with this volume. I read it in English way back when Baka Tsuki and Nanodesu Translations were the main places to find English translations of light novels. I've also seen the anime. And I remember this volume pretty well, unlike the rest of the series. I definitely finished the anime and I definitely read more of the light novels. I actually own volumes 8 & 9 which I would have gotten when I was first learning Japanese, assuming that I would just be able to jump right in and continue from where I had left off (it did not work that way). But I don't remember anything that happens after this volume and I remember this volume pretty damn well. And, you know, with all of my experiences with this volume, there's one thing that has stayed the same throughout them all: Ranta sucks. I kept on hoping they would kick him out of the party and they never did. Thankfully, I did find some redeeming qualities in this volume that kept me going despite him.

We start the series with the main characters waking up in an unfamiliar setting with no memories of anything other than their names. Based on some of the names, like Haruhiro and Shihoru, the audience can assume that these people are from Japan in our world, or a similar setting, and have been isekai'd to this game-like world. There, they are forced to become trainee soldiers and kill monsters in order to survive.

There is a lot of good set-up in this volume. The mystery behind the characters' pasts and how they got to this place is really intriguing. While the characters are rough around the edges, this gives them plenty of room to grow throughout the series. As much as I hate Ranta, it's clear he's being set up to be redeemed down the track and I can imagine that being a really good arc to experience. I like how crap the characters are at fighting to begin with. It makes the story stand out from other isekai series with overpowered protagonists. I also love Merry. I loved her the first time I read this volume and I love her now. Best character.

Unfortunately, I did found quite a bit of this volume to be dull. It definitely picked up more in the second half but there were plenty of scenes that bored me. There were also scenes where I would start to get into the story more, and then Ranta would open his mouth, and I'd be back to skim reading. The writing style was a mixed bag for me. There were certainly some scenes that packed quite a punch due to the writing but there were also plenty of scenes that were dragged down by it.

Would I read volume 2? Maybe, but only if it's as heavily discounted as this volume was when I bought it. I am curious about the plot, and I want more Merry but I've heard the series has some issues later on, and I'm honestly not sure that I want to see Ranta get redeemed. He's so annoying that I want nothing more to do with him.

[zasshu96]

Merry (Patreon Request #3)

[anime-end-cards]

Grimgar: Ashes to Illusions

Episode 12 end card

[bartdas]

[my-sugar-bones]

[frayedheartmusings]

“I’m different from who I was yesterday. I wonder what I will be like tomorrow. Day by day, we live in the today and keep living to meet our future ourselves.”

—Haruhiro, Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions

[janime6]

[kiritonarukami]

Inktober 2017 day 23: Merry from Hai to Gensou no Grimgar

[mvikle]

[lyoarts-blog]

Hope you like it :P

Anime:  Hai to Gensou no Grimgar

Character: Mary

[ayaartseu]

𝕄𝕪 𝕋𝕠𝕡 𝟙𝟘 𝔽𝕖𝕞𝕒𝕝𝕖 𝕊 𝔼 𝕀 𝕐 𝕌 𝕌

𝓣𝓸𝓹 10 - 𝓐𝓷𝔃𝓪𝓲 𝓒𝓱𝓲𝓴𝓪

𝐵𝒾𝓇𝓉𝒽𝒹𝒶𝓎: 𝒟𝑒𝒸𝑒𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇 𝟤𝟤, 𝟣𝟫𝟫𝟢

𝐵𝒾𝓇𝓉𝒽𝓅𝓁𝒶𝒸𝑒: 𝐹𝓊𝓀𝓊𝒾, 𝒥𝒶𝓅𝒶𝓃

𝒜𝒻𝒻𝓁𝒾𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃: 𝒜𝓋𝑒𝓍 𝐸𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓉𝒶𝒾𝓃𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉

[raggedypansexual]

thank uuu @i-put-the-me-in-disapoinment for tagging me 💕🥺

favourite colour(s): forest green

last song: merry-go-round for life - nuvo orchestra (live),, it's been on repeat for the last two days what can i say

last movie: se7en,, kinda fucked but it's a really good movie

last show completed: kakegurui

currently reading: grimgar of fantasy and ash

currently watching: hunter x hunter, devilman crybaby, ghost stories(dub), legally blonde the musical: the search for the new elle woods *don't ask im obsessed with legally blonde*, haikyuu!! to the top s2pt.2, death note, etc.

sweet, savory or spicy: spicy for sure

craving: russian salad and milinki

coffee or tea: depends but coffee

i tag: @katikostadinova @sleepyljihoon @idol-kindergarden

[tsukinonindo]

Animes vus(De décembre 2008 à aujourd'hui)...y a des animés que j'ai vu qui sont marqué après les futurs animés que je verrais qui sont dans cette liste!

1: 11 eyes 2: 30-sai no hoken taiiku 3: a channel. 4: absolute duo 5: acchi kocchi 6: akahori gedou hour rabuge 7: akikan! 8: amagi brilliant park 9: angel beats! 10:ano hana 11: another 12: arcana famiglia 13: asobi ni iku yo 14: astarotte bo omocha! 15: b gata h kei 16: baka to test 17: barakamon 18: ben-to 19: binbou shimai monogatari 20: black rock shooter 21: blood lad 22: blue drop 23: boku wa tomodachi 24: brothers conflict 25:candy boy 26:c3 27: ai mai mii 28: chuunibyou demo koi ga shitai! 29: clannad 30: comet lucifer 31: cuticle tantei inaba 32: da capo 33: danganronpa 34: danshi koukousei no nichijou 35: date a live 36: denpa onna to seishun otoko 37: dog days 38: damachi 39:el cazador de la bruja 40: elfen lied 41:fate/stay night 42: free! 43: fruits basket 44: GA 45: gochuumon wa usagi desu ka ? 46: haiyore!nyaruko-san 47: kirino mosaic 48: hentai ouji to warawanai neko 49: high school dxd 50: highschool of the dead 51: himouto!umaru-chan 52: hyouka 53: ikoku meiro no croisée 54: inu x boku ss 55: inu to neko 56: k-on! 57:kananazuki no miko 58: kantai collection 59: karneval 60: kashimashi girl meet girl 61: kampfer 62: kill me baby 63: kodomo no jikan 64: kokoro no connect 65: komori-san 66: kuttsukiboshi 67: love lab 68: love live! 69: lucky star 70: lyrical nanoha 71: mangirl! 72: maoyuu maou yuusha 73: maria holic 74: mawaru penguindrum 75: mayoi neko overrun! 76: medaka box 77: minami-ke tadaima 78: mirai nikki 79: miss monochrome 80: mm! 81: to love ru 82: mouretsu pirates 83: musaigen no phantomn world 84: negima!? 85: nichijou 86: no game no life 87: noir 88: non non biyori 89: ojisan to marshmallow 90: oneechan ga kita 91: onsen yousei hakone-chan 92: spice and wolf 93: orelmo 94: ore no kanojo 95: pandora hearts 96: panty and stocking 97: papaneki 98: boku no pico 99: pastic neesan 100: pupa 101: ro-kyu-bu! 102: rosiario to vampire 103: rozen maiden 104: sakura trick 105: skurako-san 106: sankarea 107: sasameki koto 108: seitokai no ichizon 109: senki zesshou symphogear 110: shinryaku!ika musume 111: shoujo sect 112: simoun 113: super sonico 114: sora no otoshimono 115: strawberry panic 116: strike witches 117: gargantia 118: super seisyun brothers 119: haruhi suzumiya 120: tamako market 121: there she is!! 122: toaru kagaku no railgun 123: toradora! 124: umineko 125: usagi drop 126: utawarerumono 127: valkyrie drive mermaid 128: watamote 129: working!! 130: snafu 131: yama no susume 132: yokuwakaru gendaimahou 133: yumekui merry 134: yuri kuma arashi 135: yuru yuri 136: yuushubu 137: zan kyou no terror 138: zero no tsukaima 139:annehappy 140:uchuu patroll lulucolo 141:hundred 142:bakuon! 143:kuma miko 144:pan de peace! 145:re zero 146:onigiri 147:haru to chika 148:musaigen no phantopm world 149:dagashi kashi 150:ojisan to mashmallow 151:shoujo tachi 152:galko chan 153:luck and logic 154:grimgar 155:ooyasan wa shishunki! 156:ao no kanata no four rythm 157:saijaku muhai no bahamut 158:kono suba 159:erased 160:netoge no yome 161:shounen maid 162:flying witch 163:high school fleet 164:tanaka kun 165:sansha sanyou 166:wagamama high spec 167:minna atsumare! 168:idol master 169:koukei no kanata 170:hyperdimension neptunia 171:relife 172:juuou mujin no fafnir 173:koufuki graffiti 174:saenoi heroine 175:rolling girls 176:seiken tsukai no world break 177:akane iro ni somaru saka 178:plastic memories 179:re-kan 180:mikagura gakuen kumikyoku 181:isuca 182:military 183:danchigai 184:makura no danshi 185:nyanpire 186:etotama 187:aiura 188:danna ga nani o itteiru ka wakaranai ken 189:wakaba girl 190:senyuu 191:mangaka-sans to assistant-san 192:himegoto 193:recorder to randoseru 194:binchotan 195:double j 196:ao haru hide 197:rec 198:amazing girl nanako 199:itadakimasu! 200:boku no pico 201:new game 202:taboo tatoo 203:ange vierge 204:amanchu! 205:regalia 206:kono bitjutsubu 207:servamp 208:masou gakuen hxh 209:fudanshi koukou seikatsu 210:amaama to inazuma 211:rewrite 212:fukigeen no momokean 213:stella no mahou 214:mahou shoujo ikusei keikaku 215:idol memories 216:shakenetsu no takkyuu musume 217:kitarou shounen no youkai enikki 218:nazotokine 219:bernard jou iwaku 220:flip flappers 221:girlish number 222:keijo! 223:watashi ga motete dousunda 224:longriders! 225:udon no kuni 226: hagane orchestra 227:shuumatsu no izetta 228:natsume yuujinchou 229:yuri on ice 230:orenchi no furo jijou 231: nobunaga no shinobi 232:d frag 233:akuma no riddle 234:pokemon 235:ookami shoujo to kuro ouji 236:cupid's chocolate 237:one puch man 238:nyan koi 239:shimoneta 240:little busters 241:servant x service 242: dragon crisis 243:heavy object 244:magikano 245:kiss x sis 246:sao 247:amaenaide yo!katsu!! 248:arata kangatari 249:senran kagura 250:canvas 251:chaos head 252:bokura wa minna kawaisou 253:bikini warriors 254:bungaku shoujo mémoire 255:dakara boku wa h ga dekinai 256:girls und panzer 257:yosuga no sora 258:aki sora 259: fault! 260:sono hanabira 261:Gabriel dropout 262:chiruran nibun no ichi 263:hand sakers 264:kemono friends 265:piace watashi no italian 266:akiba's trip 267:kobayashi-san 268:urara meirochou 269:seiren 270:kuzu no honkai 271:minami kamakura 272:fuuka 273:masasume-kun 274:demi-chan 275:schoolgirls strikers 276:Nyanko days 277:little witch academia 278:idol jihen 279:bang dream! 280:hand sakers 281:eldlive 282:one room 283:seikai seifuku 284:aoi hana 285:pupipo! 286:ebichu 287:chitoge get you 288:freezer 289:hantsuki 290:teekyuu 291:honobono log 292:hacka doll 293:anitore!ex 294:ketsuekigata-kun! 295:urawa no usagi chan 296:touhou project 297:maiden infringement play 298:starry sky 299:yuyusiki 300:recorder to rodanseru 301:mangaka san to assistant san 302:aria the animation 303:hidan no aria aa 304:guyver 305:singenki no kyojin 306:wakako zake 307:ID-0 308:soryo to majimaru 309:tsugumomo 310:granblue fantasy the animation 311::eromanga-sensei 312:re-creators 313:Alice to zorokou 314:frame arms girl 315:Roku de nashi 316:grimoire of zero 317:fukumenkei noise 318:shuumatsu nani shitemasu ka 319: busou shojo machiavellism 320:Sakura quest 321:sakurada reset 322:renai bokun 323:Tsuki ga kirei 324:ani ni tsukeru 325:clockwork planet 326:hinako note 327:twin angel break 328:sin nanatsu no taizai 329::weib survive 330:penguin musume heart 331::kyou no asuka show 332:eve no jikan 333:murder princess 334::itsuka tenma no kuro usagi 335:yuuki yuuna wa yuusha de aru 336:mondaiji tachi ga isekai kara kuru sou desu yo 337:sou desu you 338:princess jellyfish 339:ryuugajou nanana no maizoukin 340:Kotoura-san 341:strange + 342:amnesia 343:ichiban ushiro no daimaou 344:go!go!575 345:Monster Sonic! 346:punchline 347:imocho 348:the romantica clock 349:magical wafare 350mitsuwano 351:no rin 352:eden the east 353:asatte no houkou 354:Inou battle 355:konkon koi iroha 356:maji de otaku na english 357:my imouto koakuma na a cup 358:boku to misaki sensei 359:fortune arterial 360:hack legend of the twilight 361:Kono naka ni hitori imouto ga iru 362:kyoso giga 363:inu to Hasami wa tsukaiyou 364:seirei Tsukai no blade dance 365:choukou sennin haruka 366:rail wars 367:oda nobuna no yabou 368:gate 369:escha and logy no atelier 370:monster musume no iru nichijou 371:charlotte 372:sora no method 373:gakusen toshi asterisk 374:no 6 375:ore no nounai sentakushi ga 376:ore ga ojousama gakkou ni 377:stainless night 378:nageki no kenkou yuuryouji 379:show by rock 380:honoo no haramase tenkousei 381:chuu bra!! 382:Aoi sekai chuushin de 383:variable geo 384:de vadasy 385:kimihagu 386:oshiete re maid 387:jungle de iku 388:ayane-chan high kick 389:omamori Himari 390:buta 391:orelmo 392:jinrui wa suitai shimashita 393:vivid operation 394:battle arena toshinden 395:ane log 396:tight-rope 397:canvas 398: psychic force 399:usagi-chan de cue 400:Cosplay complex 401:voogie's angels 402:18if 403:Action Heroine Cheer Fruits 404:aho girl 405:enmusubi no youko-chan 406:Battle Girl High School 407:Centaur no Nayami 408:Clione no Akari 409:gamers! 410:Hajimete no Gal 411:Hitorijime My Hero 412:Isekai Shokudou 413:Isekai wa Smartphone to Tomo ni 414:kakegurui 415:Knight's & Magic 416:koi to uso 417:Konbini Kareshi 418:made in abyss 419:Musekinin Galaxy☆Tylor 420:Nana Maru San Batsu 421:Netsuzou Trap 422:Nora to Oujo to Noraneko Heart 423:Princess Principal 424:Skirt no Naka wa Kedamono Deshita 425:Tenshi no 3P! 426:Tsurezure Children 427:Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e 428:escha chron 429:Anime-Gataris 430:blend s 431:Boku no Kanojo ga Majimesugiru Shojo Bitch na Ken 432:dia horizon 433:dies irae 434:Frankenstein Family 435:houseki no kuni 436:imouto sae ireba li 437:just because! 438:kujira no kora wa sajou ni utau 439:rainy cocoa 440:bishoujo yuugi unit crane game girl 441:buddy go! 442:henkai shoujo 443:crash 444:king's game 445:pop team epic 446:two car 447:urahara 448:Mahou Tsukai no Yome 449:Robomasters The Animated Series 450:yuru camp 451:net-juu no susume 452:Konohana Kitan 453:bakemonogatari 454:wake up girl 455:shojo shumatsu ryoko 456:baja no studio 457:osake wa fuufu ni natte kara

[animesihavewatched]

Watched

Outbreak Company >Winter 2017< ACCA: 13-ku Kansatsu-ka Hand Shakers Little Witch Academia Gabriel DropOut ChäoS;Child Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon Kuzu no Honkai Ao no Exorcist Masamune-kun no Revenge Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei Kono Suba >Fall 2016 < Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru Bloodivores WWW.Working!! < all of working Okusama ga Seitokaichou! Trickster: Edogawa Ranpo "Shounen Tanteidan" yori Nanbaka Occultic;Nine Watashi ga Motete Dousunda Bungou Stray Dogs Keijo!!!!!!!! Drifters Yuri!!! on ICE >Summer 2016< Active Raid: Kidou Kyoushuushitsu Dai Hachi Gakari 2nd Hatsukoi Monster  Arslan Senki Qualidea Code Rewrite Masou Gakuen HxH D.Gray-man Hallow Kono Bijutsubu ni wa Mondai ga Aru! Servamp Nejimaki Seirei Senki: Tenkyou no Alderamin Mob Psycho 100 Orange  91 Days  >Spring 2016< Sakamoto desu ga? Sousei no Onmyouji Netoge no Yome wa Onnanoko ja Nai to Omotta? Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge Gakusen Toshi Asterisk 2nd Season Hundred Kiznaiver Koutetsujou no Kabaneri Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu Boku no Hero Academia Big Order Seisen Cerberus: Ryuukoku no Fatalités Endride Sansha Sanyou Concrete Revolutio: Choujin Gensou - Ansatsu Kyoushitsu >Winter 2016< Boku dake ga Inai Machi Hai to Gensou no Grimgar Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! Musaigen no Phantom World Ansatsu Kyoushitsu 2nd Season Dagashi Kashi Gate: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri 2nd Season Dimension W Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut Durarara!!x2 Ketsu Divine Gate Akagami no Shirayuki-hime 2nd Season Prince of Stride: Alternative Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya wo Mezasu Luck & Logic HaruChika: Haruta to Chika wa Seishun suru Active Raid: Kidou Kyoushuushitsu Dai Hachi Gakari Reikenzan: Hoshikuzu-tachi no Utage >Fall 2015< One Punch Man Noragami Aragoto Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry Gakusen Toshi Asterisk K: Return of Kings Taimadou Gakuen 35 Shiken Shoutai Shinmai Maou no Testament Burst Sakurako-san no Ashimoto ni wa Shitai ga Umatteiru Ore ga Ojousama Gakkou ni "Shomin Sample" Toshite Gets♥Sareta Ken Comet Lucifer Utawarerumono: Itsuwari no Kamen Concrete Revolutio: Choujin Gensou Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka?? Lance N' Masques >Summer 2015< Charlotte Overlord Gate: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri Prison School Rokka no Yuusha Shimoneta to Iu Gainen ga Sonzai Shinai Taikutsu na Sekai Monster Musume no Iru Nichijou Akagami no Shirayuki-hime Himouto! Umaru-chan Gakkougurashi! Durarara!!x2 Ten Aoharu x Kikanjuu Okusama ga Seitokaichou! Jitsu wa Watashi wa  Kuusen Madoushi Kouhosei no Kyoukan Working!!! Chaos Dragon: Sekiryuu Seneki Gatchaman Crowds Insight >Spring 2015< Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka Owari no Seraph Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. Zoku Kekkai Sensen Plastic Memories Yamada-kun to 7-nin no Majo Nisekoi: High School DxD BorN Arslan Senki  Grisaia no Rakuen Danna ga Nani wo Itteiru ka Wakaranai Ken 2 Sure-me Triage X Nagato Yuki-chan no Shoushitsu Etotama Re-Kan! >Winter 2015< Tokyo Ghoul √A Death Parade Ansatsu Kyoushitsu Durarara!!x2 Shou Shinmai Maou no Testament Absolute Duo Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata Aldnoah.Zero 2nd Season Kamisama Hajimemashita◎ Isuca Dog Days'' >Fall 2014< Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso Nanatsu no Taizai Akatsuki no Yona Trinity Seven Amagi Brilliant Park Log Horizon 2nd Season Grisaia no Kajitsu Inou-Battle wa Nichijou-kei no Naka de Ookami Shoujo to Kuro Ouji Danna ga Nani wo Itteiru ka Wakaranai Ken World Trigger Hitsugi no Chaika: Avenging Battle Donten ni Warau >Summer 2014< Tokyo Ghoul Sword Art Online II Akame ga Kill! Aldnoah.Zero Ao Haru Ride Seireitsukai no Blade Dance Rail Wars! Tokyo ESP DRAMAtical Murder Hanayamata >Spring 2014< No Game No Life Black Bullet Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei Mekakucity Actors Date A Live II Hitsugi no Chaika Gokukoku no Brynhildr Akuma no Riddle Blade & Soul >Winter 2014< Noragami Nisekoi Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! Ren D-Frag! Witch Craft Works Mahou Sensou Seitokai Yakuindomo* Tonari no Seki-kun Nourin Saikin, Imouto no Yousu ga Chotto Okashiinda ga. Maken-Ki! Two SoniAni: Super Sonico The Animation >Fall 2013< Log Horizon Kyoukai no Kanata Golden Time Strike the Blood Ore no Nounai Sentakushi ga, Gakuen Love Comedy wo Zenryoku de Jama Shiteiru  Tokyo Ravens IS: Infinite Stratos 2 Outbreak Company Yuusha ni Narenakatta Ore wa Shibushibu Shuushoku wo Ketsui Shimashita. White Album 2 Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova Walkure Romanze >Summer 2013< High School DxD New Blood Lad Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dou Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui! Kamisama no Inai Nichiyoubi Gatchaman Crowds Choujigen Game Neptune The Animation Makai Ouji: Devils and Realist Senki Zesshou Symphogear G: In the Distance, That Day, When the Star Became Music... >Spring 2013< Shingeki no Kyojin Hataraku Maou-sama! Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. Date A Live Hentai Ouji to Warawanai Neko. Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai. Haiyore! Nyaruko-san W >Winter 2013< Mondaiji-tachi ga Isekai kara Kuru Sou Desu yo? Maoyuu Maou Yuusha Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai Next Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru Chihayafuru 2 GJ-bu Zettai Karen Children: The Unlimited - Hyoubu Kyousuke Senran Kagura >Fall 2012< Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun Btooom! K Zetsuen no Tempest Sukitte Ii na yo. Kamisama Hajimemashita To LOVE-Ru Darkness Code:Breaker Onii-chan Dakedo Ai Sae Areba Kankeinai yo ne! >Summer 2012< Sword Art Online Kokoro Connect Dakara Boku wa, H ga Dekinai. Hagure Yuusha no Aesthetica Arcana Famiglia Kono Naka ni Hitori, Imouto ga Iru! Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate Dog Days' Hakuouki Reimeiroku >Spring 2012< Hyouka Accel World Sankarea Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? of the Dead Haiyore! Nyaruko-san Acchi Kocchi Medaka Box >Winter 2012< Another Inu x Boku SS High School DxD Black★Rock Shooter Ano Natsu de Matteru Zero no Tsukaima F >Fall 2011< Mirai Nikki Guilty Crown Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai Chihayafuru Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai! Shakugan no Shana III  Kyoukaisenjou no Horizon Maken-Ki! >Summer 2011< Mayo Chiki! Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu Ni! Blood-C Kamisama no Memochou Dantalian no Shoka >Spring 2011< Steins;Gate Ao no Exorcist Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai. Deadman Wonderland Nichijou Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai II Dog Days Tiger & Bunny Hoshizora e Kakaru Hashi Seikon no Qwaser II Sengoku Otome: Momoiro Paradox 30-sai no Hoken Taiiku >Winter 2011< Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? IS: Infinite Stratos Beelzebub Kimi ni Todoke 2nd Season Haiyoru! Nyaruani: Remember My Love(craft-sensei) Yumekui Merry >Fall 2010< Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai Yosuga no Sora: In Solitude, Where We Are Least Alone. Toaru Majutsu no Index II Motto To LOVE-Ru Sora no Otoshimono: Forte Hyakka Ryouran: Samurai Girls Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge Hakuouki Hekketsuroku >Summer 2010< Highschool of the Dead Shiki Seitokai Yakuindomo Sekirei: Pure Engagement Strike Witches 2 >Spring 2010< Angel Beats! Kaichou wa Maid-sama! Kiss x Sis Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou Arakawa Under the Bridge Working!! Hakuouki Mayoi Neko Overrun! >Winter 2010< Durarara!! Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu Katanagatari Omamori Himari Seikon no Qwaser Ladies versus Butlers! >Fall 2009< Kimi ni Todoke Sora no Otoshimono Kämpfer 11eyes >Summer 2009< Ookami to Koushinryou II Princess Lover! >Spring 2009< Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Pandora Hearts Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu Tayutama: Kiss on My Deity  Shangri-La Natsu no Arashi! Shinkyoku Soukai Polyphonica Crimson S >Winter 2009< Asu no Yoichi! >Fall 2008< Toradora! Clannad: After Story Toaru Majutsu no Index Rosario to Vampire Capu2 Vampire Knight Guilty ChäoS;HEAd Tales of the Abyss Jigoku Shoujo Mitsuganae Kurozuka >Summer 2008< Zero no Tsukaima: Princesses no Rondo Sekirei Strike Witches >Spring 2008< To LOVE-Ru Kanokon Blassreiter >Winter 2008< Ookami to Koushinryou Rosario to Vampire >Fall 2007< Clannad Shakugan no Shana II Rental Magica >Summer 2007< School Days Zero no Tsukaima: Futatsuki no Kishi Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei Zombie-Loan >Spring 2007< Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Darker than Black: Kuro no Keiyakusha Claymore Kaze no Stigma Lucky☆Star Lovely★Complex Shinkyoku Soukai Polyphonica >Winter 2007< None >Fall 2006< D.Gray-man Jigoku Shoujo Futakomori >Summer 2006< Zero no Tsukaima >Spring 2006< Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu Black Lagoon Witchblade >Winter 2006< None >Fall 2005< Shakugan no Shana Blood+ Jigoku Shoujo Karin  >Summer 2005< None >Spring 2005< The Law of Ueki >Winter 2005< Air >Fall 2004< None >Summer 2004< Elfen Lied >Spring 2004< None >Winter 2004< None >Fall 2003< None >Summer 2003< None >Fall 2001< Hellsing >Summer 2001< Shaman King >Spring 2001< Run=Dim

>Unorganized and Old< ♚ Zettai Karen Children: The Unlimited - Hyoubu Kyousuke❧ ♚ Absolute Duo❧ To Love Ru Darkness ♚ ♚ Dogs Days ❧Akame ga Kill ♚ ♚ Hitman Reborn❧ Date a Live ♚ Black Rock Shooter / BRS❧ Black Butler ♚ Kamisama Hajimemashita / Kamisama Hajimemashita Season 2 ♚ Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu❧ Sankarea ♚ Unlimited Fafnir❧  Disgaea❧Hagure Yuusha no Estetica ♚ Heart no Kuni no Alice: Wonderful Wonder World ♚ Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou❧ Kamisama no Inai Nichiyoubi ♚ Kaze no Stigma❧ Koihime†Musou❧  Kuusen Madoushi Kouhosei no ♚Kyoukan ♚❧ The Bridge to the Starry Skies ♚Senki Zesshou Symphogear G

[recentanimenews]

Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash, Vol. 2

By Ao Jyumonji and Eiri Shirai. Released in Japan by Overlap, Inc. Released in North America digitally by J-Novel Club. Translated by Sean McCann.

As I have observed many times in the past in my reviews, I am not all that much of a gamer. Sometimes this makes it hard to follow various aspects of Japanese light novels, many of which depend on knowledge of how RPG systems work. But it also means that I may not have the patience for the sort of level-raising behavior that these games, and subsequently these light novels, involve. This second volume does a lot of character building work, and by “a lot” I mean that Haruhiro, Ranta, and to a lesser extent Merry get more development. It’s good development too, as this series has a lot of reflection on the best way to act like a leader or a team player. This does not obscure the fact, however, that the plot of this second volume involves “kill things” for the entire length of the book.

For all that I complain about Ranta, sometimes Haruhiro can also be annoying fro different reasons. He’s never really had to lead before, and has no idea how the mindset of a leader works, and so is constantly doubting himself and criticizing his decisions when things go wrong. He seems to think that this is just him rather than the norm, but I think the problem may simply be that “leader” types never get the inner monologue that we get from him here, and in fact also think about these things all the time. Stepping back and looking at things from an outside perspective, we see he is getting better at making decisions, takes responsibility, and his battle skills are also improving. I think Merry can see this best (I don’t see this series as having much romance, but if it did, they’re the obvious pair).

Speaking of Merry, she’s able to put a few of her own demons to rest in this book, though she notably does not get an inner monologue. Ranta does, though, which confirms a lot of what we already know about him. He’s hotheaded and stubborn, but also tends to act this way as a pose half the time, and is frustrated that the rest of the group doesn’t understand him better – especially as Haruhiro seems to understand the other party members fine. But Haruhiro and Ranta have a complex relationship, more than just boke and tsukkomi, and only time is going to fix that. Luckily, the near loss of Ranta at the climax of the book seems to have united them a bit more closely (if he gets paired with anyone, it’ll be Yume, who’s already sparring with him in best Ranma and Akane tradition).

So good characterization, and the fights are pretty good. That said, if we don’t get something actually happening in the third book besides “kill things, level up”, I may let this series go. It’s a good examination of how “trapped in an RPG world” would go if it were realistic, but it’s sometimes simply too realistic, i.e. it’s a slog.

By: Sean Gaffney