Riri
It's been two months since Rishe came to Galkhein and it is now summer, so vol. 4 feels like a beach episode in a seaside town. Beach episode while still staying on brand, of course, because the story still has a lot of politics and diplomacy involved. This volume mainly features Harriet, a princess from Siguel who's been sent off to Fabrannia for a political marriage to their king. In the future of Rishe's 5th life, Harriet was executed for pulling a Marie Antoinette on her people. The thing is, Harriet poses as much threat as a terrified little bunny... so now Rishe has to figure out what's actually going on.
We already know that Rishe has various skills from her past life, but this book really highlights what a monster she really is when it comes to battle. Due to her experience as a knight and as a hunter, she's absolutely unstoppable when paired with Arnold who's just as much of a monster as she is. I love how it's their battle prowess that helps solve the conflict with Raul, as he usually doesn't show his true emotions but can't hide his shock when they literally crash through his plans. Personally I think the revelation of Raul's true objective is a bit rushed and can be paced better, but I also understand that it's necessary to build up tension for Harriet's mission in Galkhein.
As far as romance goes, vol. 4 has a lot more of it compared to the previous books. As it turns out, Rishe does have a weakness after all: she's terrified of ghosts. That, along with her feelings towards Arnold, shows a more human side of her through their entire stay in Vinrhys. She also comes to realize what's been bothering her about Arnold's treatment of her and decides to talk it out with him, even if it means they'll be having their first ever (and one-sided) fight. Both are still keeping their true objectives from each other, but it really feels like they're becoming a true power couple regardless. In contrary to how he behaved back in vol. 2, Arnold is starting to consider diplomacy over conquest too when it comes to other countries, so Rishe's influence on him is undeniable.
Oh, and Rishe also helps Harriet gain confidence with the power of make-up and healthcare. It was the same for Millia back in vol. 3, but Rishe is very supportive of the people she cares about. I love her as a protagonist. Definitely one of my favorites.
Last time for vol. 2, I said I couldn't get into it fully because it revolves around a key character's personal issue. This book is the same in the sense that it's heavily centered around a sub-character's background, but personally I like it a lot better. It's full of everything good about this series. Rishe continues to be clever, Arnold is slowly opening up yet remains a mystery, the sub-plot is closely linked to Rishe's personal goal, and her relationship with Arnold is developing too.
In vol. 3, Rishe goes to the Grand Basilica to annul her previous engagement. Yes, the one with her previous fiancé. She does have a reason for putting it off up until this point, but she can't proceed with her marriage to Arnold without dissolving it after all. The Grand Basilica is holding a festival and a young lady named Millia, who Rishe used to serve in one of her past lives, is filling in for the priestess, but some people might be after her life... and it has everything to do with her origins. While I thought it'd be similar to Michel's story in the previous book, delving into Millia's background not only reveals details about Arnold's past, but also offers a glimpse on the political landscape of Galkhein.
Since none of the royal guards are allowed to enter the Grand Basilica due to the festival, there's a much smaller cast featured in this book so it reads a lot like a closed circle mystery. There's never a dull moment, tension gradually builds up as Rishe gathers crucial information and reaches a gripping climax the moment she figures everything out. Due to how things play out, Rishe and Arnold become a lot closer too. While she still hasn't realized that she's falling in love, I absolutely love their dynamics. Both of them are frustrating each other out, for different reasons LOL. It's also hinted that Rishe is starting to pick up that she might've been wrong about Arnold, as there seems to be something about him that she missed in her past lives.
The way this series expands its world is just so amazing. There are two more books out as of now, so I can't wait to see where the story will take us to next.
This series continues to be fun, with Rishe overexerting herself and juggling many things at once in order to get a peaceful and carefree future LOL. In this second volume, her skills as a former knight and apothecary really shine through. Realizing that her body lacks the stamina and power to put her knowledge to use, she goes to join the knight cadets' special training disguised as a boy. At the same time, there are also delegations from Coyolles who she happened to know in previous lives: Prince Kyle, who she was closely linked to her as an apothecary, and Michel Hévin, an alchemist who used to be her mentor.
For the most part, this book revolves around Michel, his research, and his mindset about dangerous substances. He has a tragic childhood story to back it up, which... I'm honestly not really fond of, hence me knocking off a star for the rating. That being said, Rishe remains brilliantly shrewd and always makes sure to stay several steps ahead in every situation she's dealing with. Arnold remains mostly mysterious, but we're learning more about him through Rishe's eyes. So far it does seem like his first response towards foreign issues is to wage war, so it falls upon her to show him the benefits of diplomacy over conquest.
Despite Rishe's intelligence, however, she's rather slow when it comes to romance. It takes her a long time to digest the fact that Arnold might be interested in her, so all the fluffy moments only take place at the very end of the book. Up until that point, it's mostly Rishe scheming and navigating through possible political issues, she still hasn't found the answer to why Arnold would end up doing the things he did in her previous lives. Personally I don't find an issue with this contrast, but if you really don't like main characters who are dense, then you might want to keep in mind that Rishe is also one of those.
Overall, a really good read. Just minus one star because I'm not really invested in Michel's personal issue, so I hope the next volumes will explore more interesting characters and themes.
This book sees the conclusion of an arc, similar to vol. 2 and vol. 6 but much larger in scope because it wraps up the story from Bel's future. We've been with Bel since vol. 3. It feels like such a long journey with a lot of memories, but finally we get to see how the future Bel came from is shaped and influenced by Mia's actions.
Picking up where we left off, vol. 11 starts with the Matching of Steeds between Mia and Xiaolei. At this point, the book still has a lighthearted tone and pokes fun of Mia in the usual way, but Mia is telling the truth whenever she claims to be good at horseback riding. She really is good at it, even if most of the credits are given to Dongfeng who proves to be a lot sturdier than he appears. As you might have expected, Mia ends up winning the race even though she wasn't planning to. Once she's done uniting the 13 races of the Equestrian Kingdom, however... that's when the real confrontation starts.
While Mia is busy with the race, Citrina gets kidnapped by the Chaos Serpents. During her stay with them, we get to learn about what the Serpents actually are, what led Valentina to become their High Priestess, and why Aima's brother is assisting her. Again, it digs a bit deeper into Remno's history so that's nice to see. The conflict with Valentina is resolved in the most Mia-like way possible, but for now, we don't know much about what happened to her after. Or how this whole thing affects Remno. Maybe in future books?
Sadly, the encounter with the Serpents also results in the loss of a certain someone. The parting scene is really emotional with the sense of loss lingering for a long time, but it makes the wait even more worth it when she finally comes back to them in the distant future. I love the individual epilogues too, because we get to see the characters' thoughts and memories with her. Mia, as simple-minded as she may be, does a wonderful job securing that future. She's come a long way since the day she got guillotined, I feel weirdly proud seeing her growth. :')
It's not the end of the series yet though. At the very end of the book is a glimpse of what seems to be the beginning of a new arc, involving yet another girl who resembles Mia and Bel. I love Tearmoon Empire to bits, so I'll be waiting impatiently for vol. 12 next month.
First off, J-Novel Club has been doing an amazing job with the English version of Tearmoon Empire, but for some reason this volume has a lot of typos. It didn't really take away the enjoyment of reading this book, it's just quite distracting at times.
After her visit to Sunkland, Mia continues her travels to the Equestrian Kingdom. As usual, she only has one objective in mind: food. The Equestrian Kingdom's butter that she had in Sunkland tasted SO good, and since Abel is meeting up with Malong there, she simply needs to tag along in order to get more of their butter. As it turns out, however, the situation in the Equestrian Kingdom is quite grave. Mia and Rafina get chased down by bandits as soon as they arrive, and the leader turns out to be the younger sister of the Fire Clan's chief.
Since vol. 10 is opening a new story arc, it introduces a lot of the Equestrian Kingdom's history as well as the Fire Clan's link to the Chaos Serpents. Not only it ties back to the bandit attack in Sunkland, but it also establishes connection to Abel and Remno. We haven't been in Remno since vol. 2, so it's nice to see more information about the kingdom. There's also a new development with Miabel, as well as Rafina. Previously in Sunkland, Rafina mentioned that she's into men who would carry her bridal-style. Well, she gets her wish granted here and thus a new ship was born.
As usual, the arc doesn't get resolved by the end of the book. This volume mainly focuses on the thirteen clans of the Equestrian Kingdom, as well as Mia and her friends trying their best to make them get along again. They ultimately agree to have a race for decision-making, and of course Mia herself volunteers to participate. This time not on a lightning bolt like Kuolan, but on a horse who is very much like herself.
Overall, this is a great installment that feels like it's building up to an exciting climax. It leaves me curious about so many things, so I'm going to start on vol. 11 right away.
Picking up right where we left off in the previous book, vol. 9 sees the continuation of Mia's quest to stop Sion from dying in his youth. The attempt on Sion's life itself already failed by the end of vol. 8, except it leads to an even bigger problem that not only involves Sunkland's royal family, but also Sunkland's upright principle of justice itself.
This ties all the way back to Mia's memories of her first life, including her regrets, bitterness, and also fond memories of her journey with Ludwig. Despite her still being the same old, selfish Mia on the inside, she has nothing but good intentions when dealing with the situation. This book also sees the conclusion of the love triangle involving Mia, Abel, and Sion. As we all know, Mia marries Abel in the future so Sion's love for her is fated to be doomed, but her response to his confession is just so sincere. It made me realize that Mia really has grown so much, because vol. 1 Mia would 100% be petty about this.
Since the love triangle is no more, the story opens up the path towards the question I've been wondering about for a while now. What happened to Sion and Tiona? We did see what the future had for them after Mia's death, but in the current timeline they've been mostly just friends because Sion is in love with Mia. Now that it's been resolved, it's finally time for Tiona to step in and fill in the role she was meant to play all along. It links nicely to Sion and Tiona's future, as well as showing glimpses of Esmeralda's marriage to Echard, and also Sion's relationship with Echard. Everything is wrapped up neatly in the end.
Personally, I really liked that Sion and Mia aren't meant to be because Sunkland and its people are too important for him to let go. He can't just leave them behind to follow her. It provides a nice contrast to Abel and his sole devotion towards Mia.
Next, to Equestrian Kingdom!
It's been a while since I read vol. 7 of Tearmoon Empire, but the series remains as fun as always. Similarly to several of the previous books, vol. 8 starts by wrapping up the previous arc of Mia's visit to Perujin before moving on to a new adventure. However, the book also contains a bonus short story that delves deeper into the food research Mia has been trying to push. Of course her intention isn't as pure as wanting to feed everyone well even during the impending famine, but at this point no one can stop the Mia cult from worshiping her LOL.
After Perujin, it is now time for Mia to visit Sunkland... because the Princess Chronicles now says Sion is going to die very soon. First from a bandit attack, then from poisoning. At the same time, Esmeralda is facing an arranged marriage to Sion's 10 year old brother, Echard, who has massive inferiority complex towards Sion. Since Mia is on very good terms with Sion, Duke Greenmoon seems to be planning to secure his own political alliance and opposition to Mia's empress faction. So when Esmeralda leaves for Sunkland in the hope of turning down the arranged marriage, Mia decides to tag along to hopefully save Sion's life. Plus, there are some questionable rumors about the Equestrian Kingdom circulating in Sunkland.
Due to all these things happening at the same time, this particular volume is pretty heavy on the politics. Now that Citrina is free from the Chaos Serpents' grasp, she proves to be exceptional in information gathering and works really well together with Dion. A good portion of the book is spent on collecting data and setting up the plot, but due to the scale of the issue, we don't actually get to see the climax and resolution here. While this one does feel like it has the middle book syndrome, it's still a highly enjoyable read because Mia just keeps on being Mia. She can be so graceful and eloquent while wolfing down her food at the same time, as food remains her top priority as always.
Kinda glad I didn't have the time to read back when this was released, because now I have three more Tearmoon Empire volumes to binge and that's the best thing ever.
A super cute story of a princess' fourth attempt at life. Each time she died, she got thrown back in time to redo her life. This is her third loop, and she starts out as a three year old.
The main character of this story is Princess That. Yes, That is what everyone calls her cause she doesn't have a name. Or rather, she has one but it won't be used until much later in the story. As the empress died giving birth to her, the emperor despises her up to the point of refusing to name her. He doesn't want to see her and even says he'll kill her if he ever does, so she's been banished to live in a dilapidated garden with only the bare minimum of retainers and security. Of course, it leads to a life of bullying and humiliation before she inevitably dies a tragic death. So as you can probably imagine, this is a story of abuse caused by grief and disinterest... but it's also an uplifting tale of how to brainwash people with cuteness That's journey to have a better life.
Oh, and also That's love for fluffy animals. Which is a mood.
While there are some historical and political backgrounds to the story, it's mostly about That changing everyone's opinions of her. Which may or may not be intentional. The majority of the book is That winning everyone over, including her brother and father who pretty much ignored her in her previous lives. To make it worse, they also become very serious cases of シスコン and 親バカ who are extremely overprotective of her but also listen to her every word. Since That is only three, this may not suit everyone's tastes so do take that into consideration before you pick up this book. If you want a lighthearted story that doesn't require much thinking, however, this is a pretty good option.
The story feels like it's self-contained in this one volume, but apparently there are more books coming out. I wonder how they're going to do the title from here, because she does receive a name by the end of this one.
Agents of the Four Seasons, Vol. 1: Dance of Spring, Part I
3.5⭐
Have you ever seen an upcoming title with a premise so good, a story so beautiful, that you want to read it right away? But when it comes out, you find out that the summary is pretty much the story and that's it? Well, that's this book for me. I love the concept and the story, but sadly the execution just fell flat in every single way.
The story takes place in the land of Yamato, in a world where the four seasons bestowed their powers onto humans who then act as their agents. The agents' duty is to bring the seasons into the world, each protected by a retainer. This book serves as an introduction to all the four agents in Yamato, but the plot heavily revolves around the agent of spring, Kayo Hinagiku, and her retainer, Himedaka Sakura. Hinagiku got kidnapped during an attack meant for the agent of winter, Kantsubaki Rosei, and was kept captive for ten long years. She has since returned, but the incident left a deep scar for all the parties involved.
...and really, that's about 85% of the book. The remaining 15% is about history repeating itself and the exact same tragedy is happening to another agent, but by the end of the book, nothing has been done about it. The writing style is poetic and introspective, so naturally the portion of internal thoughts and emotions outweighs the amount of plot progression. As much as I sympathize with the characters, too much of something is never good. There's also a LOT of telling instead of showing, and it was especially bad in chapter 4 considering what happened. It's like reading a summary instead of a full story, and it's also extremely repetitive since we're reading about the same event over and over again from various perspectives.
Not sure if I'm gonna continue with the series, but since there might be more action in the next volume, I want to at least give that one a try before deciding.
Following the build-up from the previous book, this 4th volume delivers the result of Jusetsu's deliberate choice to not live in isolation. There had been so many warnings and foreshadowing that disaster may occur if the Raven Consort doesn't keep to herself, and while it's been hinted in vol. 3 that some people were starting to worship Jusetsu, it gains a lot more fervor in this one and develops into the very pandemonium they've been trying to avoid all this time.
This book contains a lot of character development, and what I like the most about it is that it doesn't always lead to good results. Since the beginning of the series, Jusetsu has grown a lot as a character. By opening up to others, she's revealed herself as a kind person who's always eager to help others. As she admits it herself, it makes her feel good to be needed and that's why she keeps trying to solve the problems of others. While it might normally be a good thing, this actually does nothing to stop others from worshiping her, and it certainly doesn't help that a certain party has been discreetly fueling this too. In the end, it leads to a disastrous riot and Jusetsu now has to reflect on her actions.
Aside from Jusetsu, Banka also receives plenty of interesting scenes. Her father, Saname Choyo, is now in the palace along with two of her brothers, not even bothering to mask his hostility towards Jusetsu. Torn between her growing affection for Jusetsu and the desire to earn Choyo's approval, Banka also has to decide on what to do since standing back and doing nothing obviously wouldn't work in her situation. Plus, Banka has a secret of her own. We also get to see just how far Kajo is willing to go to protect Jusetsu, a really nice way to show their bond which we didn't get too see much of before.
There's less focus on individual episodes this time, as each of them has a LOT to add to the main plot. In this volume, Jusetsu deals with silkworm theft in the cocoonery, her new eunuch Tankai getting accused of murder, a ghost of a copyist looking for his works, and a direct confrontation with Hakurai. All of these chapters contain crucial information regarding the ancient gods, eventually leading them to the conclusion that they must get Jusetsu out of the inner palace and retrieve something important. The build-up is so well-executed, and the intrigue keeps me excited for how the story will go from here on out.
4.5⭐
Another amazing volume in the series. After what happened with the Magpie Consort last time, things seem to have calmed down in the inner palace... at least on the surface. Jusetsu continues to ponder about what the Owl said, and despite feeling guilty for not sticking to her predecessor's teachings, she can't seem to stop connecting with others. This book has a clear theme of people having more than just one side, showing the many conflicting layers of human emotions, and Jusetsu herself is no exception.
Just like the previous volumes, each chapter features a case for Jusetsu to solve. This time, we have a lady-in-waiting haunted by a ghost outside her door, the ghost of a regretful manservant from a past era, and a scholar with a ghostly hand pulling on his sleeve. All of these cases are connected to a certain cult that worships an ancient god on the verge of reviving, which leads to a familiar side character exiting the scene and leaving us with the sense of foreboding. There is also a subtle hint as of why Jusetsu was warned not to bond with anyone. As she makes new friends and saves a consort's life towards the end, she finds herself taken aback by how people are starting to hold her in reverence... which is not all that different from the ancient god's cult.
Oh, and there's also an interesting revelation about Eisei and Jusetsu.
Overall, the book keeps the somber and ominous tone that's been here since the first volume. It's so well-written, mostly serious but with lighthearted scenes sprinkled all over to balance it out. This one is less lore-heavy than the previous volumes and has little to no action, but the generally creepy atmosphere makes up for it.
My only issue with this particular book is the amount of typos and errors. Not even grammatical errors anymore, but mixing up character names or even sentences that don't make any sense. It doesn't exactly ruin the book, but extremely distracting. What happened during the editing process? Do you need more editors? Or proofreaders? Hire me if you do. It's such a shame because the book is really good, so hopefully volume 4 won't suffer from this issue.
This book is an extension of the first volume, so everything inside is still of the same quality. Following the upheaval that led to King Grey's dethronement, Queen Tia has gone into hiding to concoct some nefarious plans in the dark. That's what we're dealing with this time, and since it heavily involves her younger half-brother (in her past life, at least), once again Mary gets dragged into a political game she never asked for. Prince Rizel has been crowned as the new king of Dirésias, but if you think we barely saw him in the previous book, we see him even less in this one.
All the issues I previously mentioned for the first book can still be found here. The writing is still introspective and puts a lot of focus on everyone's internal feelings, including side characters who only play supporting roles. The pacing is still wild, there's barely any build-up for the important scenes, and there's still no tension change even during the climax. Even when Reynaldo gets injured in an ambush or during the confrontation with Tia, I barely feel anything for the characters due to all these things.
Most of the problems faced by Mary are solved in a very convenient way. That includes her internal turmoil over the main love interest, Albert. It's barely addressed in the previous book, but Mary does feel upset at the idea that he loves her simply for being Rosemary's reincarnation. That's one of the issues that do get resolved here, mainly because you really can't just sweep it under the rug like... nearly everything else in this story. It's just the way they clear this issue is just so quick and easy, in a similar way with how all the other potential love interests just backed off on their own due to varying reasons. Mary and Albert do get their own happy ending, so I guess if you're not the type who would mind small details, it does get wrapped up nicely in the end.
This has been a quick and light read, but I wouldn't say it's particularly good. It's just okay at best. Futaba Hazuki's art is beautiful though. I wished the story was just as nice as the illustrations, but oh well.
Not awful, but not good either.
The premise is interesting. In a typical villainess story fashion, Rosemary got executed for crimes she didn't commit at the age of sixteen. Two years later she reincarnated as Mary, a baron's daughter living in the countryside, who has reached the fine age of eighteen by the time this story takes place. That means twenty years have passed since Rosemary's death, so the key people related to Rosemary are still alive. Her former fiancé, who has since become the king. The current queen, formerly a handmaid who stole her fiancé and framed her for murder attempt. Her younger half-brother. Her childhood friend and personal knight. They're all still alive, just much older than the current her.
So obviously, if age gap romance isn't your thing and you find it creepy, you should drop this book right now and go pick something else. Because due to how the story is set up, we have a pair of men in their thirties getting all sparkly-eyed over an eighteen year old girl. Another potential love interest is the current crown prince, so the son of the very couple who got Rosemary executed. I personally think he'd be the best match for Mary, because unlike the other two, he actually does see her as her current self instead of chasing Rosemary's shadow. Alas, it's super clear from the beginning that it's just not meant to be.
The writing, for the most part, is introspective. Lots and lots of highlight on the internal feelings of multiple characters, with plenty of perspective-switching between the past and the present. The problem is that the pacing is absolutely wack, and together with the ample focus on FEELS, they make up a very bizarre reading experience. One minute you're reading about the melancholic yearnings of Rosemary's half-brother, then you blink and suddenly he's on his way to commit high treason. There's no build-up, no change in tension, nothing. As a reader, I find it very difficult to mentally catch up with what was happening in the book.
Oh, and I liked Albert, the knight childhood friend who I think is Mary's main love interest. Since Mary doesn't have an abundance of responsibilities weighing upon her like Rosemary did, I think the process of her realizing her feelings for him was done really nicely. Sadly, it ends super fast because he becomes absolutely whipped and enters puppy mode the moment he learns about her past life. Now I'm not sure how to feel about him. Or the romance, for that matter.
Still will be picking up the next book to see how it ends.
3.5⭐
A comfortable and cozy read, with very light mystery elements to it. The Kamogawa Detective Agency specializes in finding and re-creating a customized dish people have had once in their lives, drawing out all the nostalgic memories linked to the food. Each chapter features a different customer and their requested dish, with plenty of focus on not just the food but also the Japanese tableware they're served on. The overall pace is rather relaxed and formulaic, with each chapter following the exact same progression pattern.
The most glaring issue with this book is that it offers little to no description of the food served. It just throws a lot of names of regional ingredients and cooking styles, and then never explain any of those so you have to look them up yourself if you don't know. It also casually drops location names in Kyoto all the time and not describe what the place is like, so if you've never been to Kyoto and tasted the food there, good luck trying to picture these things in your mind. Might be more enjoyable to read this while Googling the images though, for better visualization. If you are knowledgeable in this topic, however, the dishes served in this book really do whet the appetite.
All in all, this has the exact same problem as Before the Coffee Gets Cold for me. The chapters are too short for me to care about any of the characters aside from Nagare and Koishi, who we don't really learn much about since the chapters are mostly about the customers. It can be quite emotional though, just a little bit lacking for me personally.
4.5⭐
Even better than the first volume. It's still in episodic format, but with a much stronger connectivity leading to a gripping climax. There's more action involved this time, the characters are actually thrusted into life-threatening situations, and we even get court politics on top of that. More info is also revealed about Jusetsu and her link to the Raven, as well as some background story for the previous Raven Consort. She'd only been described as an old lady who was Jusetsu's mentor before, but she too had her own time as the Raven Consort and people who cared about her.
The cases for this second volume are all haunting, still with a strong hint of sorrow. Each of them is so well-written, even if all of them end tragically. The book also shows that everyone mourns differently, so that's also a plus point because... man, some of the characters' reaction to the death of others LOL. Aside from ghosts and demons, Jusetsu also has to deal with a disastrous resurrection attempt which is very much the product of grief. There's a lot of foreshadowing since the earlier chapters so the climax involving the Owl isn't exactly shocking, but both the build-up and the execution are so good. It made me realize that a plot twist isn't always necessary in a mystery book.
As a character, Jusetsu has a lot of growth. Just as Koshun says, her heart is thawing so her compassionate side is showing a lot more than before. She opens up more to others, makes new friends, and even gets attached to them. The problem is the story always paints this as something that should never be done. It's hinted over and over again that Jusetsu's growing attachment to others will only cause problems in the future, and it's gradually starting to sound like an ominous warning the further you go into the book.
Can't wait to start vol. 3, but might need to read something more lighthearted before continuing.
Last year I kept saying I wanted to watch the anime adaptation of this series. I never finished it in the end, and instead here I am picking up the light novel series. Oops.
Raven of the Inner Palace is a refreshing take on the inner court concept, in the sense that it has ghosts. Like, actual ghosts. Supernatural phenomenons. The main character, Jusetsu, is special in the sense that she's a consort who specializes in this sort of things. Obviously that's not the only thing that makes her special, but the other reasons would be major spoilers. Sometimes special doesn't always mean good though, and that's definitely the case here because her situation complicates things. A lot of things.
Anyway, this book has an episodic format. Each chapter deals with a separate case, except it always brings in more details about Jusetsu, Koshun the Emperor, and their backgrounds. Information about these two are revealed slowly and gradually, while also forming a bond between the stoic Koshun and the socially awkward Jusetsu. The cases are mostly sad instead of scary, so the book has an overall somber tone with light comedic moments sprinkled all over to balance it out. Mainly through Jusetsu's interactions with people.
Being the first volume, this book serves as an introduction to the characters and the world, and it does a pretty nice job at doing so. It's very easy to get into, even if the chapters are on the longer side. The translation has some issues, but not bad enough to bother my reading experience.