Owarimonogatari, Part 2: End Tale

by NisiOisiN

322 pages, Paperback

Published March 31, 2020

About the author

Nisio Isin (西尾維新 Nishio Ishin), frequently written as NisiOisiN to emphasize that his pen name is a palindrome, is a Japanese novelist and manga writer. He attended and left Ritsumeikan University without graduating. In 2002, he debuted with the novel Kubikiri Cycle, which earned him the 23rd Mephisto Award at twenty years of age.

He currently works with Kodansha on Pandora, the Kodansha Box magazine, and Faust, a literary magazine containing the works of other young authors who similarly take influence from light novels and otaku culture. He was also publishing a twelve volume series over twelve months for the Kodansha Box line; Ryusui Seiryoin was matching this output, and the Kodansha Box website stated that this is the first time in the world two authors have done twelve volume monthly novel series simultaneously from the same publisher.

In February, 2008, his novel Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases was released in English by Viz Media. Del Rey Manga has already released the first volume in his Zaregoto series. His Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari and Katanagatari novels have been adapted into anime series. Nekomonogatari (Kuro) has been adapted into an anime TV movie, and Kizumonogatari will be release in theaters this year. Monogatari Series: Second Season, adapted from 6 books in Monogatari Series will air in July 2013. Another of his works, Medaka Box (manga), has been adapted into a two-season anime series.

Reviews

[Jordan DeMoura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending of this volume is great, the conversations between Kanbaru and Shinobu, and Araragi and Senjougahara are amazing and express so much of the thematic heart that lies at the center of the monogatari series. The complexity and difficulty of social relationships, specifically the difficulty of authenticity and vulnerability therein. The struggle of self-improvement; the endless endeavor to be better than you were today. The idea that you might not be a special person but you can be special to another person. You may not change the world but you can change someone's world. Really great material in this book.

However, the beginning is pretty slow and doesn't do anything the previous books haven't done a bunch of times already. And the exposition in this book drags so badly. But the primary plot beats all nail it here.