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Sentenced to Be a Hero (Light Novel) #1
Sentenced to Be a Hero (Liight Novel), Vol. 1: The Prison Records of Penal Hero Unit 9004
NO ONE WANTS TO BE A HERO!
Heroism―a punishment for only the worst criminals. Those sentenced to the fate of a hero are forced to fight on the front lines against deadly centers of contagion that rot the land and turn its creatures into roving armies of violent beasts. And if a hero dies, their only reward is being brought back to life so they can continue the never-ending battle. But when Xylo Forbartz, a member of Penal Hero Unit 9004 and a convicted goddess killer, comes face-to-face with a new goddess, the pact they forge might just be enough to change the world…
Heroism―a punishment for only the worst criminals. Those sentenced to the fate of a hero are forced to fight on the front lines against deadly centers of contagion that rot the land and turn its creatures into roving armies of violent beasts. And if a hero dies, their only reward is being brought back to life so they can continue the never-ending battle. But when Xylo Forbartz, a member of Penal Hero Unit 9004 and a convicted goddess killer, comes face-to-face with a new goddess, the pact they forge might just be enough to change the world…
244 pages, Paperback
Published August 22, 2023
67 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 9, 2026
i picked this up bc i saw an early showing of episode one of the anime and it Intrigued me. when people said this is kinda like suicide squad they’re right and it’s a fun, easy read. the cast is delightful and while the general world is fairly basic it was still interesting. it’s not my favorite light novel that i’ve read, but i had a good time and i’m curious to see where this goes.
June 6, 2024
i really enjoyed this cast of characters and MC. the focus on fight scenes bored me at times. will be reading the next volume.
January 8, 2024
A hilariously, and at times grotesquely miserable clutch of prisoners forced into military service who just might save the land from demonic corruption? Lead by a man rumored to be "the most despicable hero of them all"? SENTENCED TO BE A HERO v1 is a simple fantasy story that grows and expands the deeper one goes.
At first glance, readers may believe the protagonist, Xylo Forbartz, is just another disgraced knights' captain forced into hazardous servitude as punishment. Readers might also suppose the whispered depravity and cheeky degeneracy of the religious elites are just another play at dispossessed social mores. And readers could also, perhaps, convince themselves the fighters of Penal Hero Unit 9004 are indestructible, given how far they've come.
Curiously enough, readers would be wrong on all counts. SENTENCED TO BE A HERO v1 may be written with the light-handed, flippant style native to most light novel projects, but the book's structure bears evidence of much more effective and engaging storytelling. For example, readers never gain important information right away (e.g., Forbartz's backstory, the inclinations of the religious authorities), and readers don't necessarily catch it the first time around (e.g., learning which characters to trust to tell the truth).
Forbartz and his colleagues are criminals condemned to eternal military service. The task of eliminating the Demon Blight is not an easy one. Indeed, most would say humanity is already done for. But a mission is a mission. And of these criminals, not all of them are guilty, and of those innocent, they are either violently insecure or are outright antisocial. Readers will find these folks irritating and repulsive until, in a battle against rampaging demon-kin, the group wields lightning staffs, magical swords, and massive battle-axes to clear the way. These are the worst people to rely on in a moment of critical need.
And if the Federated Kingdom can eke out soldiers-for-hire by manipulating the common man, then what else might be going on in the shadows?
Penal Hero Unit 9004 is a menagerie of miscreants: a disgraced knight captain (Xylo Forbartz); a thief with bad manners (Dotta Luzulas); a literal dead-man walking (Tatsuya); an overly chatty sniper (Tsav); a cowardly political criminal (Venetim Leopool); and a brilliant magecraft technician, who also happens to be wildly mentally unstable (Norgalle Senridge). The team dynamic is certifiably odd and slowly unfolds over the course of the novel. The author rightfully takes their time layering each characters' skills, quirks, and specialties into each (increasingly dangerous) military assignment.
Surviving various demon rampages in dark forests and underground caverns, as well as outlasting an assault on abandoned castle grounds, the unit's tough tasks made easier with the help of others. Forbartz earns the favor of Teoritta, the goddess of swords, as well as Patausche Kivia, Captain of the 13th Order of the Holy Knights. SENTENCED TO BE A HERO v1 spins these added authorities in Forbartz's favor, whereas other novels might typically leave them to other, smarter, more deserving characters. The goddess character, for example, is an ebullient little girl with enormous power, whereas Captain Kivia, however tsundere, is a by-the-book military official with close family in the Temple's upper ranks.
SENTENCED TO BE A HERO v1 tells a compact story and risks leaving readers with more questions than answers, although likely by accident. For example, Forbartz slowly clues into the possibility of an interlocking conspiracy to eliminate him and his crew, despite the good they do for humanity. And yet, readers have so little vision into these institutions, beyond Forbartz's traumatic flashbacks, that it's impossible to piece together the actual puzzle itself.
The same can be said for the novel's approach to the history and application of magic. Much of the book's conceptualization and utility of magical effects is shallow and a bit ridiculous, except for when it counts (e.g., in battle). Since the origins of the goddesses, their powers, and their functions are largely hearsay (or lost), everything is made up on the spot. The tack is mighty convenient, and so glosses over a valley of active worldbuilding that might have given this novel some genuine heft.
Fortunately, where the novel's use of detail falls short, other narrative elements pick up the slack. The book's structure, again, is a high point. Readers learn more of this decaying continent as Forbartz learns more about it, and readers feel more invested in Teoritta's well-being the more Forbartz himself invests in the girl's safety and survival. Further, readers grow increasingly curious about the institutional dynamics ruling the continent. Is there conflict between the Temple and the military? To what extent? Who controls what? Is either wholly in the right? Neither organization is a monolith. Readers don't care about these things until the protagonist does, which is a timely and effective storytelling strategy.
SENTENCED TO BE A HERO v1 is an easy read. The fight scenes are entertaining, if written a bit amateurishly, and the character personalities are diverse, if leaning rather heavily into tropes. But the plight of a character who detests being a hero, and the conspiracies that bind him to his fate, beget a story readers will find more amusing than not.
At first glance, readers may believe the protagonist, Xylo Forbartz, is just another disgraced knights' captain forced into hazardous servitude as punishment. Readers might also suppose the whispered depravity and cheeky degeneracy of the religious elites are just another play at dispossessed social mores. And readers could also, perhaps, convince themselves the fighters of Penal Hero Unit 9004 are indestructible, given how far they've come.
Curiously enough, readers would be wrong on all counts. SENTENCED TO BE A HERO v1 may be written with the light-handed, flippant style native to most light novel projects, but the book's structure bears evidence of much more effective and engaging storytelling. For example, readers never gain important information right away (e.g., Forbartz's backstory, the inclinations of the religious authorities), and readers don't necessarily catch it the first time around (e.g., learning which characters to trust to tell the truth).
Forbartz and his colleagues are criminals condemned to eternal military service. The task of eliminating the Demon Blight is not an easy one. Indeed, most would say humanity is already done for. But a mission is a mission. And of these criminals, not all of them are guilty, and of those innocent, they are either violently insecure or are outright antisocial. Readers will find these folks irritating and repulsive until, in a battle against rampaging demon-kin, the group wields lightning staffs, magical swords, and massive battle-axes to clear the way. These are the worst people to rely on in a moment of critical need.
And if the Federated Kingdom can eke out soldiers-for-hire by manipulating the common man, then what else might be going on in the shadows?
Penal Hero Unit 9004 is a menagerie of miscreants: a disgraced knight captain (Xylo Forbartz); a thief with bad manners (Dotta Luzulas); a literal dead-man walking (Tatsuya); an overly chatty sniper (Tsav); a cowardly political criminal (Venetim Leopool); and a brilliant magecraft technician, who also happens to be wildly mentally unstable (Norgalle Senridge). The team dynamic is certifiably odd and slowly unfolds over the course of the novel. The author rightfully takes their time layering each characters' skills, quirks, and specialties into each (increasingly dangerous) military assignment.
Surviving various demon rampages in dark forests and underground caverns, as well as outlasting an assault on abandoned castle grounds, the unit's tough tasks made easier with the help of others. Forbartz earns the favor of Teoritta, the goddess of swords, as well as Patausche Kivia, Captain of the 13th Order of the Holy Knights. SENTENCED TO BE A HERO v1 spins these added authorities in Forbartz's favor, whereas other novels might typically leave them to other, smarter, more deserving characters. The goddess character, for example, is an ebullient little girl with enormous power, whereas Captain Kivia, however tsundere, is a by-the-book military official with close family in the Temple's upper ranks.
SENTENCED TO BE A HERO v1 tells a compact story and risks leaving readers with more questions than answers, although likely by accident. For example, Forbartz slowly clues into the possibility of an interlocking conspiracy to eliminate him and his crew, despite the good they do for humanity. And yet, readers have so little vision into these institutions, beyond Forbartz's traumatic flashbacks, that it's impossible to piece together the actual puzzle itself.
The same can be said for the novel's approach to the history and application of magic. Much of the book's conceptualization and utility of magical effects is shallow and a bit ridiculous, except for when it counts (e.g., in battle). Since the origins of the goddesses, their powers, and their functions are largely hearsay (or lost), everything is made up on the spot. The tack is mighty convenient, and so glosses over a valley of active worldbuilding that might have given this novel some genuine heft.
Fortunately, where the novel's use of detail falls short, other narrative elements pick up the slack. The book's structure, again, is a high point. Readers learn more of this decaying continent as Forbartz learns more about it, and readers feel more invested in Teoritta's well-being the more Forbartz himself invests in the girl's safety and survival. Further, readers grow increasingly curious about the institutional dynamics ruling the continent. Is there conflict between the Temple and the military? To what extent? Who controls what? Is either wholly in the right? Neither organization is a monolith. Readers don't care about these things until the protagonist does, which is a timely and effective storytelling strategy.
SENTENCED TO BE A HERO v1 is an easy read. The fight scenes are entertaining, if written a bit amateurishly, and the character personalities are diverse, if leaning rather heavily into tropes. But the plight of a character who detests being a hero, and the conspiracies that bind him to his fate, beget a story readers will find more amusing than not.
June 23, 2025
Interesting premise and a strong opening. All the penal heroes introduced so far are delightfully idiosyncratic (read: unhinged) and the main characters are likeable.
Specifically, the PoV character, Xylo, is relatably pragmatic yet holds a sliver of heroism in him. He reccognises that following orders and protecting himself is most important, but is also torn about abandoning people he could save. Xylo is also very competent, and it's explicitly stated that he used to be even more powerful. It's always nice to follow a competent protagonist pitted against grim odds.
On the topic of character, however, the only other woman in this story (not the one on the cover), Kivia, is largely uninteresting as she has no moments to shine. In fact, she only has moments to do the opposite of shine. Despite being set up as a supporting character equal to the others, she has only been There's nothing wrong with that sort of appeal, but she feels like an obligatory female lead when she is just fulfilling a story function and being cute(?). Which is shame because she looks cool in the illustration.
Plot-wise, there is some mystery about sinister machinations machinating all over in the background, but this volume is focused on the characters and variety of demons devastating humanity. The 'plot' per se doesn't move much.
There is also an interesting wrinkle in the penal heroes' immortality.
Seems interesting enough so far, what with the promise of fighting insane odds and the interactions between larger-than-life characters. But I'll leave the subsequent volumes further back in my shamefully large backlog of books.
Specifically, the PoV character, Xylo, is relatably pragmatic yet holds a sliver of heroism in him. He reccognises that following orders and protecting himself is most important, but is also torn about abandoning people he could save. Xylo is also very competent, and it's explicitly stated that he used to be even more powerful. It's always nice to follow a competent protagonist pitted against grim odds.
On the topic of character, however, the only other woman in this story (not the one on the cover), Kivia, is largely uninteresting as she has no moments to shine. In fact, she only has moments to do the opposite of shine. Despite being set up as a supporting character equal to the others, she has only been There's nothing wrong with that sort of appeal, but she feels like an obligatory female lead when she is just fulfilling a story function and being cute(?). Which is shame because she looks cool in the illustration.
Plot-wise, there is some mystery about sinister machinations machinating all over in the background, but this volume is focused on the characters and variety of demons devastating humanity. The 'plot' per se doesn't move much.
There is also an interesting wrinkle in the penal heroes' immortality.
Seems interesting enough so far, what with the promise of fighting insane odds and the interactions between larger-than-life characters. But I'll leave the subsequent volumes further back in my shamefully large backlog of books.
April 24, 2024
A mostly lighthearted action story, with a ragtag cast and a hint of conspiracy. The cast of criminals is unique, interesting, and goofy, and presents a fun challenge for the protagonist to manage.
This story is also very trope-y, as you might expect from a fantasy light novel. Most egregious is probably the goddess characters, who are essentially manic pixie dream girls who happen to live off of verbal praise and headpats.
This story is also very trope-y, as you might expect from a fantasy light novel. Most egregious is probably the goddess characters, who are essentially manic pixie dream girls who happen to live off of verbal praise and headpats.
January 15, 2024
I was surprised by how much I ended up enjoying this one. The characters are all very interesting and unique and I love how they interact with each other. Xylo is an amazing main character to follow and learning about how he thinks is very fun. The world building is pretty easy to follow and works well. Love how it's written and I'm excited to read the second volume!
January 22, 2026
4/5 because of the amazing world-building, concept and characters, BUT they storytelling needed more work. Everything is exposition, like everything!
Storytelling is one major aspect that the anime improved upon the manga. From episode 1 the pacing is much better and they changed a few things here and there for more dramatic impact.
Storytelling is one major aspect that the anime improved upon the manga. From episode 1 the pacing is much better and they changed a few things here and there for more dramatic impact.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews