TNT: Only Sense Online Volume 05 by Aloha Zachou

This week for Translation Necessary Thursday I’m covering a series I haven’t covered in over a year! It’s Only Sense Online Volume 05 by Aloha Zachou!

Plot: The plot is much less action oriented in this volume sadly, and while that does fit this series well, it will turn away those who are looking for more action in a series that sometimes lacks it quite a bit. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but the short action sequences were very lackluster and don’t really involve our heroine Yun. That said it’s definitely a more “fluffy” series like Kuma Kuma Kuma, but some may not enjoy it.

Characters: We don’t get any newcomers in this entry in the series, and it mostly reintroduces us to some people we didn’t see much of in the past volume. It was an okay entry, but short on character development.

Overall: An okay entry, but light on the action.

Bookish Wednesday: Ritualist by Dakota Krout

This week for Bookish Wednesday I’m back with another LitRGP. It’s Ritualist, Book 01 of the Completionist Chronicles, by Dakota Krout!

Plot Synopsis: The decision to start a new life is never an easy one, but for Joe the transition was far from figurative. Becoming a permanent addition to a game world, it doesn’t take long to learn that people with his abilities are actively hunted. In fact, if the wrong people gained knowledge of what he was capable of, assassins would appear in droves….

Plot: The plot is pretty good, but it’s not absolutely amazing and I could see some of the plot twists coming from miles away. However there have been worse books I’ve read and for a LitRPG in a genre that is quickly becoming stuffed with plenty of poor attempts at writing, Ritualist is actually pretty decent.

Characters: Joe is a pretty decent main character, he’s neither stupid nor arrogant which is a nice reprieve from some of the stuff I’ve been reading recently. I might have done some things very differently though if I were in his place. Some of the things that occur would make any gamer worth their salt know how to react instantly. The fact that some of the cast are supposedly said gamers is just a bit annoying.

Overall: A decent read, and a fairly good LitRPG. It’s not the best, but it’s better than a lot of the crap that is online now.

For those who like: LitRPGs, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Magic, Decent Plot, Good Cast of Characters.

Not for those who don’t like: Any of the above.

Anime Sunday: GGO Episode 01 Impressions

This week for Anime Sunday I’m covering a spin off of a rather popular series. It’s my Sword Art Online Alternative: GGO Episode 01 Impressions!

Plot Synopsis: In the online virtual reality game, Gun Gale Online, a girl with the username Llenn participates in a team-based Battle Royale event called Squad Jam alongside her teammate M…

Plot: The plot of this first episode is pretty great, with plenty of action. It also doesn’t include Kirito at all, which is a blessing in my eyes since he’s either a dense as a rock, or really cruel, harem protagonist.

Characters: Llenn is a tiny girl who is pretty timid, but shows some real backbone when the going gets tough. Though her character design is rather ridiculous, being one of the shortest main characters I’ve ever seen. The rest of the cast, who is rather limited in this first episode is pretty interesting.

Art: The art of this first episode is pretty great, but given that this project probably got a huge budget that is hardly surprising. So while good, it’s not spectacular and definitely not close to reaching ufotable’s standard.

Music: The music is pretty great, and while reminiscent of the main series it’s got it’s own feel.

Overall: If you love the premise of the Sword Art Online series, but hate Kirito, you’ll probably love this spin off.

For those who like: VRMMOs, Gaming, FPS Games, Battle Royales, Fantastic Female Lead, Decent Plot, Good Artwork.

Not for those who don’t like: Any of the above.

TNT: Praise the Orc Chapters 1-40 by Lee Jungmin

This week for Translation Necessary Thursday I’m covering the first set of chapters in a recently fully translated series. It’s Praise the Orc Chapters 1-40 by Lee Jungmin!

Plot Synopsis: Praise the Orc! is about Jung Ian, a cafe owner with a dark past, jumping into the world of virtual reality in order to protect his sister from any predators. However, things may not be as simple as they seem, as the world and its inhabitants proved to be much deeper than he believed them to be. Witness as he explores the lands of Elder Lord as an orc, a species labeled as the “game creator’s mistake”.

Plot: The plot is pretty good, although it’s very light on the LitRPG aspect. There is almost no explanation of skills and stats, which I find to be a bummer as that’s part of the charm of the LitRPG genre. However it does have tons of character development, so that isn’t terrible at all. There is almost no romance in these first few chapters, although there is some hints at a possible romantic sub-plot.

Characters: Ian is a pretty awesome main character, although I find that the lack of interaction with his sister Yiyu more than a bit disappointing. Especially when you compare the series to something like Legendary Moonlight Sculptor where Weed is constantly grubbing for money in order to pay for his sister’s education. Even worse is the fact that he starts playing Elder Lord to protect his sister from lechers.

Overall: A decent LitRPG, but lacking in some critical areas. You could do worse, but there are better series out there like LMS or Ark.

For those who like: LitRPGs, Korean Novels, Action, Adventure, Decent Plot, Great Lead Character.

Not for those who don’t like: Any of the above.

Bookish Wednesday: The Sparrow by Edward Brody

This week for Bookish Wednesday I’m back with the second book in the Eden’s Gate series.  It’s The Sparrow by Edward Brody!

Plot Synopsis: After accepting the fact that he will never know his old reality again, Gunnar looks forward to building a new life inside Eden’s Gate. It’s time to form a guild, gather resources, and earn the acceptance of the Edgewood inhabitants. If only things were that easy… The dark elves aren’t thrilled about having humans in Edgewood, the mine isn’t vacant, and you can’t form a guild without at least a few guild mates.

Plot: The plot of this entry is much better than the first, mostly because it’s not full of Gunnar acting like a complete ass. That isn’t to say he doesn’t pull off some immature stuff occasionally, but it’s much better than the previous book. The book also really builds the world much better, letting us get to know Eden’s Gate in much more detail.

Characters: We get introduced to quite a few new characters in this entry, mostly Dark Elves. They are a pretty interesting bunch, and definitely not a stereotypical Dark Elf of modern fantasy.

Overall: A solid entry in the series, much better than the first entry.