Sasaki and Peeps (Light Novel), Vol. 4: The Psychics and the Magical Girl Drag the Death Game Crew into the Fight

Sasaki and Peeps Light Novel #4

by Buncololi, Kantoku (Illustrator), Alice Prowse (Translator)

OCTODRAGON, HORROR OF THE DEEP!

Thanks to Peeps getting a little lost in the sauce, the whole world has found out about the base where Sasaki and Futarishizuka were keeping Lady Elsa. When Sasaki’s various acquaintances show up there looking for him, bullets and magic fly as the carefully built boundaries in his life come crashing down. Meanwhile, Sasaki gets a new assignment—dealing with a giant sea monster in the north Pacific! Between this rampaging octodragon(?) and distressing new developments in the proxy war, can Peeps and his exhausted owner manage to save Japan and—more importantly—get some rest?

Genres: Light Novel, Fantasy

264 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 25, 2021

Reviews

[Hidekisohma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't believe it took me so long to read this. I was super excited back when i read volumes 1-3 of Sasaki and peeps, but for some reason, this one was DULL. I started this book back in September and kept putting it off to the side. i finished it in may. That's a CRAZY long time to finish a light novel.

But there are several reasons why this took me so long. The biggest issue being, this one both drags, and has too much going on. Between Sasaki's psychic group, the magical girls, the angel demon proxy war, and now a giant kraken that showed up out of nowhere, this book was very disjointed. Yet somehow, it was very dull in parts. The Kraken aspect was very drawn out and i lost interest. probably the reason i put this book down for 9 months.

Also, the angel/demon proxy war REALLY doesn't interest me. Like, it's quite dull. I wish it wasn't included.

The story in itself was..fine? This really hurts to write as i REALLY loved the first three volumes, but this one, i don't know. Maybe this was just a dud in the group.

I don't know what they're planning on doing with Sasaki's character? like all the girls surrounding him are either too young, or LOOK too young but aren't. and then they're doing some insinuations he might also like feminine boys? i don't know. this series is getting weird. I don't know where it plans on going, but i'm not sure it's in a direction that i like. I think i'm going to take a break from this series until i find out exactly what's going on and where it's leading. I've been burned before going blindly into a series, and this might add to that pile.

Either way, the story was...fine and i still enjoy the old lady in the young body (Shizuka). I don't like the demon boy, nor is Peeps really keeping my interest. Peeps gets boring after a while.

Still, wasn't terrible, just wasn't nearly as good as the last 3. 2.5 out of 5 rounded up to a 3.

[S.Q. Eries · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Summary
What happens when you put otherworld inhabitants, a Demon and his Disciple, psychics, and a Magical Girl in a hotel room? Pandemonium at its most destructive! Fortunately (or unfortunately?) for Sasaki, a gargantuan otherworldly octodragon swims onto the scene, forcing all parties to cooperate for the sake of the planet. Meanwhile, Sasaki’s carefully kept secrets get exposed one after the other. Hopes of a quiet life seem to be drifting further away as supernatural disasters keep him working overtime!

The Review
For a guy whose goal is a slow, relaxing life, Sasaki’s working pretty hard in both the modern and the otherworld. And things get particularly chaotic in Tokyo when individuals representing all four supernatural groups stumble into each other in Sasaki’s hotel suite.

So much for the secrets he’s been trying so hard to hide. Passing off their superhuman damage as an “unidentified gas explosion” is one thing; keeping all those parties–two of which are sworn enemies and one who’s really unhinged when it comes to Sasaki–is another thing.

Interestingly, a bigger problem explodes onto the scene to force the four factions to cooperate, if only temporarily. Yet another inhabitant of the otherworld appears in the Pacific Ocean: a kaiju-sized octodragon. And there’s no time to wonder about how it crossed over – the powerful beast is on a swift trajectory toward Japan! Most of this volume is a lengthy set up for the cooperative effort, and it includes a show of force by five Magical Girls, a Demon/Angel skirmish that destroys Sasaki’s apartment, and the most suspiciously extravagant employee welcome party ever. Buncololi keeps things interesting, all the while seamlessly weaving the details that compel the four-way collaboration.

My main complaint is–as Sasaki’s neighbor observes–that Sasaki’s constantly surrounded by underage and ostensibly underage females. Their personalities and characterizations make the book’s brand of fan service particularly distasteful. Sasaki’s 13-year-old neighbor is especially bothersome in this respect. As in previous volumes, the POV occasionally switches to her, and her obsessive thoughts are disturbing to be frank.

With the marine monster causing so much trouble, the events in Japan take up the lion’s share of this volume. And to be honest, things are relatively quiet in the otherworld – except for a sudden visit to Sasaki’s not-yet-complete estate by Prince Lewis. The encounter provides a better picture of Prince Adonis’ rival for the throne, and though Prince Lewis’ attempts to ensnare Sasaki are not nearly as formidable as a dragon that can destroy nations, they’re probably a hint of headaches to come for Baron Sasaki.

The first eight pages, which contain illustrations and a thread from Futarishizuka’s social media, are printed in full color. Extras also include a summary of events thus far, ten black-and-white insert illustrations, afterword, and original cover material.


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