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Witch and Mercenary #1
Witch and Mercenary (Light Novel) Vol. 1
A Dangerous Duo. A Deadly Path Home.Nothing in this world is more dangerous than a witch. The epitome of fear and terror, they can summon floods on a whim, conjure balls of fire out of the air, or even destroy entire countries overnight. Incur their wrath, and no one is safe. At least, that's what everyone thinks, and it's the very reason they all want Siasha dead. After yet another violent battle for her life, she teams up with Zig, a mercenary, and they depart for unknown lands to find somewhere she can live in peace. But is the pair any match for the lost magic and vicious monstrosities that lie ahead?
8 pages, Audible Audio
Published October 14, 2024
20 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 10, 2025
Hm... I'm unsure where to begin. The beginning had an amazing hook and I loved that there was a strong connection between Zig and Siasha right away, but afterwards I felt as if the plot began to move in favor of the two rather than build a genuine storyline.
A lot of events in the book feels like it randomly happens just so a relationship can be created between Zig and Siasha. Zig is basically void of empathy and Siasha has been isolated for so long that it seems like she doesn't have the ability to converse with other people nor read body language. Instead of making this the driving point of them getting to know each other, the power-play between Zig and other men is used instead to create the relationship between the two. So far, the only time they have truly conversed is for world-building dump which is Siasha explaining to Zig about magic and the continent they're on. The magic system in this book is important and there is a lot of emphasis there. I like how it was explained that mana is a very important aspect and that it can affect a person's physique. This is good enough and could be explained further, so why add in the romantic aspect?
I don't think this book needed a romantic subplot (not at this point) just because they're both a man and woman traveling together. It's not even romantic either. It's implied heavily that Siashia is seen sexually, and apparently every man in the guild wants to pipe her. This was mentioned once or twice and I brushed it off; after 5-6 times, I wanted to chuck the book. We get it, Siasha is a very beautiful woman, but it gets to the extent where it starts to lean into the stereotype of the big and strong lone wolf who fights for the pretty lady. The book makes sure we know. I can't count how many times I've rolled my eyes when Zig mentions that Siasha is a pretty woman. He knows that she has strong powers and that she loves reading, but all of these traits are under-emphasized because the "actual" thing that really matters is she's hot.
I also want to mention that the flow of this book is extremely awkward. The POV is mainly Zig and it does switch over to Siasha here and there, and then to side characters....? And the only point to the side characters POV is to emphasize again, how hot Siasha is or how strong Zig is... and these POVs are as long as a paragraph to a page. Skipping those POV wouldn't have changed how the storyline progressed, although the only other POV that really mattered was Isana's.
In addition to the storyline, somehow Zig and Siasha knew how to coordinate their fights perfectly, which makes them rise to attention really fast. That's impressive, but it doesn't make sense as Zig barely knows anything about magic than what Siasha tells him. I feel like being told what magic is is completely different to knowing how it is to deal with and work around it. There is no struggle we can see between them when it comes to fights, and even more so when they begin to pick up "difficult" quests. The guild is extremely forgiving as well. Guild groups are brought up later in the book to make sure that Zig can be a pocket keychain to Siasha. No struggle whatsoever. That makes things very convenient for the two but too boring to read about, at least to me. It would've been interesting to see Zig try to find a way to fight beside Siasha as the guild rules separate the two. Unfortunately this isn't the case.
Something I want to emphasize as well is that the relationship between Zig and Siasha isn't strong enough for there to be a romantic tension. We know so far that Siasha is a bookworm and is always wanting to learn new perspectives. This could've been focused on rather than her physique. While she's off educating herself and doing side quests, Zig is typically AFK on a bench waiting for her... A quick note as well, Siasha seems to have read every single book in the library; every book is 150,000 dren to rent which is about 6 quests based on how much the pouch wolf quest gave them [25k]. So if Siasha read 10 books, then they did 60 quests! Why wasn't this time in questing used to emphasize their relationship but rather time skipped so much? Zig could've been given more character depth during their outings. His origins (as well as Siasha's) could've been explained through conversations the two may have. This would've made great grounds for romance as Zig and Siasha genuinely get to know each other. I am pretty fraustrated that that wasn't the case, and rather his origins are brought up towards the last seven pages of the book in a petty fight... Oh, and we still know nothing about Siasha.
The beginning did a great job hooking me but the rest of the book... not so much. It would've been great to see Zig and Siasha's struggles of understanding each other due to different personality types and fighting styles. Instead I was met with a forced romantic/sexual relationship between a Mary Sue and Gary Stu. What's the point of reading this book if everything is already perfect? I absolutely loved the artstyle but I will not be picking up the series.
A lot of events in the book feels like it randomly happens just so a relationship can be created between Zig and Siasha. Zig is basically void of empathy and Siasha has been isolated for so long that it seems like she doesn't have the ability to converse with other people nor read body language. Instead of making this the driving point of them getting to know each other, the power-play between Zig and other men is used instead to create the relationship between the two. So far, the only time they have truly conversed is for world-building dump which is Siasha explaining to Zig about magic and the continent they're on. The magic system in this book is important and there is a lot of emphasis there. I like how it was explained that mana is a very important aspect and that it can affect a person's physique. This is good enough and could be explained further, so why add in the romantic aspect?
I don't think this book needed a romantic subplot (not at this point) just because they're both a man and woman traveling together. It's not even romantic either. It's implied heavily that Siashia is seen sexually, and apparently every man in the guild wants to pipe her. This was mentioned once or twice and I brushed it off; after 5-6 times, I wanted to chuck the book. We get it, Siasha is a very beautiful woman, but it gets to the extent where it starts to lean into the stereotype of the big and strong lone wolf who fights for the pretty lady. The book makes sure we know. I can't count how many times I've rolled my eyes when Zig mentions that Siasha is a pretty woman. He knows that she has strong powers and that she loves reading, but all of these traits are under-emphasized because the "actual" thing that really matters is she's hot.
I also want to mention that the flow of this book is extremely awkward. The POV is mainly Zig and it does switch over to Siasha here and there, and then to side characters....? And the only point to the side characters POV is to emphasize again, how hot Siasha is or how strong Zig is... and these POVs are as long as a paragraph to a page. Skipping those POV wouldn't have changed how the storyline progressed, although the only other POV that really mattered was Isana's.
In addition to the storyline, somehow Zig and Siasha knew how to coordinate their fights perfectly, which makes them rise to attention really fast. That's impressive, but it doesn't make sense as Zig barely knows anything about magic than what Siasha tells him. I feel like being told what magic is is completely different to knowing how it is to deal with and work around it. There is no struggle we can see between them when it comes to fights, and even more so when they begin to pick up "difficult" quests. The guild is extremely forgiving as well. Guild groups are brought up later in the book to make sure that Zig can be a pocket keychain to Siasha. No struggle whatsoever. That makes things very convenient for the two but too boring to read about, at least to me. It would've been interesting to see Zig try to find a way to fight beside Siasha as the guild rules separate the two. Unfortunately this isn't the case.
Something I want to emphasize as well is that the relationship between Zig and Siasha isn't strong enough for there to be a romantic tension. We know so far that Siasha is a bookworm and is always wanting to learn new perspectives. This could've been focused on rather than her physique. While she's off educating herself and doing side quests, Zig is typically AFK on a bench waiting for her... A quick note as well, Siasha seems to have read every single book in the library; every book is 150,000 dren to rent which is about 6 quests based on how much the pouch wolf quest gave them [25k]. So if Siasha read 10 books, then they did 60 quests! Why wasn't this time in questing used to emphasize their relationship but rather time skipped so much? Zig could've been given more character depth during their outings. His origins (as well as Siasha's) could've been explained through conversations the two may have. This would've made great grounds for romance as Zig and Siasha genuinely get to know each other. I am pretty fraustrated that that wasn't the case, and rather his origins are brought up towards the last seven pages of the book in a petty fight... Oh, and we still know nothing about Siasha.
The beginning did a great job hooking me but the rest of the book... not so much. It would've been great to see Zig and Siasha's struggles of understanding each other due to different personality types and fighting styles. Instead I was met with a forced romantic/sexual relationship between a Mary Sue and Gary Stu. What's the point of reading this book if everything is already perfect? I absolutely loved the artstyle but I will not be picking up the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2024
Overall surprising better than I thought would be the. Interactions between the protagonists was the best part.
For ~320 it was pretty well paced.
For ~320 it was pretty well paced.
January 28, 2026
Let's start with what the author writes in the afterword: "This isn’t a tale of invincible characters, nor is it a satisfying revenge drama. The hero isn’t surrounded by girls who worship him. It’s a somewhat unrefined and matter-of-fact story, but maybe that’s just what entices those who pick up the book into purchasing it...This story ignores all the latest trends, templates, and writing styles."
Zig Crane is a highly competent mercenary in his mid-20s. He's one of 200 men sent to kill one of the last remaining witches. He defeats her, but he's the sole survivor. With his employer dead he has no reason to kill her. Siasha, the 200+ year old witch, offers him employment as her bodyguard. She also wants to taken somewhere where she'll no longer be persecuted. Zig will do just about any job for the right price and this is no exception. On this continent everything supernatural, mystical, or otherwise non-human has been utterly purged. The human nations all war against each other over the slightest difference between them. Their only hope is to make their way to the Unknown Continent. Seafaring has only recently advanced enough to where there's a chance they could make it, though no fleet has yet returned. So, off they go. Their time on their home continent is barely a prologue.
In metanarrative terms this allows the author to have what is functionally a new world where everything is completely different to what they're familiar with. This provides a reason for reader to learn about everything at the same time the characters do. They're strangers in a strange land. It's not isekai, but it fills a lot of the same role.
On this inhabited unknown continent magic is widespread, monsters roam everywhere, adventurers abound, demihumans exist, and war doesn't. The Adventurer's Guild seems to be the heart of their society. Siasha is excited to become an adventurer in a land where she doesn't have to seclude herself from the world. Zig's only ambition seems to be carry out the jobs he's being paid for. He doesn't aspire to be any more than that. That means Siasha is almost entirely pushing the story forward, though it's nearly exclusively told from Zig's perspective.
In terms of content, it's mostly monster extermination quests. There's a lot of fighting with only the two of them, though there's also a raid on a monster nest that has 50+ adventurers. It's something like a combination of Tales of, Monster Hunter, Final Fantasy XIV, and an action-oriented game. There aren't any mechanics though. It's simply a high fantasy story with those as influences. Other than that, it's their daily lives and interactions with people in town, who also give them jobs at times.
Sometimes a simple and straightforward story that does what I enjoy is what I want and for me, this does that well. I'm current on the manga that's what it continues to be.
Light Novel Volume 1 is Chapters 1-5. The manga covers this with chapters 1-22.
Zig Crane is a highly competent mercenary in his mid-20s. He's one of 200 men sent to kill one of the last remaining witches. He defeats her, but he's the sole survivor. With his employer dead he has no reason to kill her. Siasha, the 200+ year old witch, offers him employment as her bodyguard. She also wants to taken somewhere where she'll no longer be persecuted. Zig will do just about any job for the right price and this is no exception. On this continent everything supernatural, mystical, or otherwise non-human has been utterly purged. The human nations all war against each other over the slightest difference between them. Their only hope is to make their way to the Unknown Continent. Seafaring has only recently advanced enough to where there's a chance they could make it, though no fleet has yet returned. So, off they go. Their time on their home continent is barely a prologue.
In metanarrative terms this allows the author to have what is functionally a new world where everything is completely different to what they're familiar with. This provides a reason for reader to learn about everything at the same time the characters do. They're strangers in a strange land. It's not isekai, but it fills a lot of the same role.
On this inhabited unknown continent magic is widespread, monsters roam everywhere, adventurers abound, demihumans exist, and war doesn't. The Adventurer's Guild seems to be the heart of their society. Siasha is excited to become an adventurer in a land where she doesn't have to seclude herself from the world. Zig's only ambition seems to be carry out the jobs he's being paid for. He doesn't aspire to be any more than that. That means Siasha is almost entirely pushing the story forward, though it's nearly exclusively told from Zig's perspective.
In terms of content, it's mostly monster extermination quests. There's a lot of fighting with only the two of them, though there's also a raid on a monster nest that has 50+ adventurers. It's something like a combination of Tales of, Monster Hunter, Final Fantasy XIV, and an action-oriented game. There aren't any mechanics though. It's simply a high fantasy story with those as influences. Other than that, it's their daily lives and interactions with people in town, who also give them jobs at times.
Sometimes a simple and straightforward story that does what I enjoy is what I want and for me, this does that well. I'm current on the manga that's what it continues to be.
Light Novel Volume 1 is Chapters 1-5. The manga covers this with chapters 1-22.
September 22, 2024
Surprisingly enjoyable, light but albo manages to catch you unexpectedly with some solid drama.
December 27, 2024
Zig's cool-headed and no nonsense attitude is what piqued my interest as compared to a common hot-blooded adventurer trope.
October 7, 2024
Written by Chohokiteki Kaeru and illustrated by Kanase Bench, one of Seven Seas Entertainment’s latest licenses, Witch and Mercenary, is a tale of persecution and belonging.
The series’ premise follows the adventures of Siasha, a witch, and Zig, a mercenary she hired. No longer wanting to be hunted and persecuted on home soil, Siasha asks for Zig’s help to create a new life for herself on a land known as the Unknown Continent. In a world very different from their own, the two will face difficult challenges and adjustments to capture the peaceful life they seek.
After meeting on the battlefield, the story of Siasha and Zig’s adventures begins as they land on the Unknown Continent in search of a new life. Unlike the land of war that they’ve come from, the Unknown Continent is relatively peaceful and is characterised by aspects that light novel enthusiasts will be intimately familiar with. In this new land, monster battles and adventurers rule the roost.
In order to streamline their quest for a peaceful existence, the two decide to blend in and become adventurers. From this point, the first volume takes a tried and true route where the deuteragonists take on different adventuring quests, hoping to climb up the ranks.
For the eagle-eyed amongst my readers, you might have noticed by now that there are clear differences between the official synopsis and my description of the story, and you are right to notice. The synopsis of this story would suggest a series filled with danger, as Siasha’s status as a witch and the persecution that comes along with it would constantly bring obstacles to her aspirations of peace. While this might have made for a better story, there’s still plenty of interesting depth to be found as this story focuses on how societal outcasts can adjust to more amenable environments.
The strength of this story, then, falls on the shoulders of the interactions between the two protagonists. Essentially strangers at the start of the story, their journey together opens a dialogue between them, allowing them to share their vulnerabilities and reflect on the lives they’ve lived up until now. Moreover, these interactions offer the author some great opportunities to impart some world-building wisdom. Conversations about world hierarchy and the inner workings of mana come naturally, given their previous roles.
This does not mean that these segments are free from fault. One of the major issues with this volume comes about due to a lack of POV from Siasha’s perspective. Of the two characters, Siasha is the driving force behind the journey to the Unknown Continent, and she’s the one who wants to start life afresh. A missed opportunity, her storied past and isolated upbringing would’ve brought a level of manoeuvrability and depth that can’t be captured through Zig’s perspective alone.
Overall, Witch and Mercenary’s first instalment makes for a fine foundation for the series. Despite the misleading synopsis, the author’s knack for character interactions and world-building manages to bring the series back onto solid ground. Hopefully, as the series continues, there’ll be more of a push to provide Siasha with her own unique POV.
The series’ premise follows the adventures of Siasha, a witch, and Zig, a mercenary she hired. No longer wanting to be hunted and persecuted on home soil, Siasha asks for Zig’s help to create a new life for herself on a land known as the Unknown Continent. In a world very different from their own, the two will face difficult challenges and adjustments to capture the peaceful life they seek.
After meeting on the battlefield, the story of Siasha and Zig’s adventures begins as they land on the Unknown Continent in search of a new life. Unlike the land of war that they’ve come from, the Unknown Continent is relatively peaceful and is characterised by aspects that light novel enthusiasts will be intimately familiar with. In this new land, monster battles and adventurers rule the roost.
In order to streamline their quest for a peaceful existence, the two decide to blend in and become adventurers. From this point, the first volume takes a tried and true route where the deuteragonists take on different adventuring quests, hoping to climb up the ranks.
For the eagle-eyed amongst my readers, you might have noticed by now that there are clear differences between the official synopsis and my description of the story, and you are right to notice. The synopsis of this story would suggest a series filled with danger, as Siasha’s status as a witch and the persecution that comes along with it would constantly bring obstacles to her aspirations of peace. While this might have made for a better story, there’s still plenty of interesting depth to be found as this story focuses on how societal outcasts can adjust to more amenable environments.
The strength of this story, then, falls on the shoulders of the interactions between the two protagonists. Essentially strangers at the start of the story, their journey together opens a dialogue between them, allowing them to share their vulnerabilities and reflect on the lives they’ve lived up until now. Moreover, these interactions offer the author some great opportunities to impart some world-building wisdom. Conversations about world hierarchy and the inner workings of mana come naturally, given their previous roles.
This does not mean that these segments are free from fault. One of the major issues with this volume comes about due to a lack of POV from Siasha’s perspective. Of the two characters, Siasha is the driving force behind the journey to the Unknown Continent, and she’s the one who wants to start life afresh. A missed opportunity, her storied past and isolated upbringing would’ve brought a level of manoeuvrability and depth that can’t be captured through Zig’s perspective alone.
Overall, Witch and Mercenary’s first instalment makes for a fine foundation for the series. Despite the misleading synopsis, the author’s knack for character interactions and world-building manages to bring the series back onto solid ground. Hopefully, as the series continues, there’ll be more of a push to provide Siasha with her own unique POV.
January 4, 2026
I'd recommend anyone considering reading this series to do so. Having finished all the currently available volumes, I can tell you there are great moments ahead in the later volumes if you get hooked by the story in the first one.
First, the characters and the world itself are very interesting and well written, better than most fantasy or isekai light novels. We meet Zig, a mercenary taking a job to deal with a grave threat to a local lord's territory a calamity known as witches. This is where our story begins and what kicks off a journey that takes us with Zig to discover new and fantastical things. On the hunt for the witch, everything goes wrong, as one would expect, when fighting a being that uses magic, which, on this continent, only a witch can do. Through a display of skill and luck, Zig wins the duel against the witch but holds his blade because the one who would pay the bounty for the witch's head is dead. Reluctantly, Zig lowers his sword and starts talking to the witch he was supposed to dispatch, leading to the rest of the incredible story.
The moments between Zig and Siasha, who is the witch from the beginning, are pure gold as they explore the new continent they've found themselves on. This journey to the new land is driven by Siasha's desire to escape being hunted by humans for her magic, which eventually brings them to this unknown world. The feeling of being there in the moment with Zig and Siasha, as they stumble upon new monsters, customs, and peoples that challenge everything they've known, is amazing. Throughout this novel, you really do feel like you're right there with the main characters, exploring this whole new world with them!
Another praise I have for the author is the fight scenes! The vivid images of Zig and Siasha battling larger than life monsters are brought to life through the author's descriptions of Zig's fighting styleusing mobility and technique with twin blades and dirty fighting techniques, which really convey the desperation and panic Zig sometimes feels. The fights aren’t limited to monsters either; Zig has many encounters with human opponents. These battles showcase Zig's true skill, disposing of human enemies with precision, even when he’s at a disadvantage because of his complete lack of mana, which confines him to a purely physical combat style that most other opponents don’t follow in this new world, as mana is something that everyone over here has!
Overall, I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys an interesting and action packed fantasy setting where there is a strong focus on combat and character interactions. In my opinion, depending on how the series continues, it definitely ranks high on my list of favorite novels, alongside titles like Mushoku Tensei, The Bride of Demise, and others.
First, the characters and the world itself are very interesting and well written, better than most fantasy or isekai light novels. We meet Zig, a mercenary taking a job to deal with a grave threat to a local lord's territory a calamity known as witches. This is where our story begins and what kicks off a journey that takes us with Zig to discover new and fantastical things. On the hunt for the witch, everything goes wrong, as one would expect, when fighting a being that uses magic, which, on this continent, only a witch can do. Through a display of skill and luck, Zig wins the duel against the witch but holds his blade because the one who would pay the bounty for the witch's head is dead. Reluctantly, Zig lowers his sword and starts talking to the witch he was supposed to dispatch, leading to the rest of the incredible story.
The moments between Zig and Siasha, who is the witch from the beginning, are pure gold as they explore the new continent they've found themselves on. This journey to the new land is driven by Siasha's desire to escape being hunted by humans for her magic, which eventually brings them to this unknown world. The feeling of being there in the moment with Zig and Siasha, as they stumble upon new monsters, customs, and peoples that challenge everything they've known, is amazing. Throughout this novel, you really do feel like you're right there with the main characters, exploring this whole new world with them!
Another praise I have for the author is the fight scenes! The vivid images of Zig and Siasha battling larger than life monsters are brought to life through the author's descriptions of Zig's fighting styleusing mobility and technique with twin blades and dirty fighting techniques, which really convey the desperation and panic Zig sometimes feels. The fights aren’t limited to monsters either; Zig has many encounters with human opponents. These battles showcase Zig's true skill, disposing of human enemies with precision, even when he’s at a disadvantage because of his complete lack of mana, which confines him to a purely physical combat style that most other opponents don’t follow in this new world, as mana is something that everyone over here has!
Overall, I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys an interesting and action packed fantasy setting where there is a strong focus on combat and character interactions. In my opinion, depending on how the series continues, it definitely ranks high on my list of favorite novels, alongside titles like Mushoku Tensei, The Bride of Demise, and others.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2024
This is one of the best light novels i have ever read, might not say much because i haven't read that many light novels. but even among fantasy books this one is truly one that is unique. the characters are set up pretty quickly, but that doesn't mean that they are set up sloppy, quite the opposite, the author really used the method refered to "show, don't tell" meaning actions speak volumes, while words can't quite do the same.
there is enough action so it doesn't feel boring, but also a nice change between that and character/world building. it's truly magnificent, i am keeping an eye on this series for sure!
it does truly brake tropes, it's not a typical advanture with goblins. i has it own unique monsters.
still noithing is truly perfect, the setting is that like of middle ages or just before that. they use some synonyms which don't fit the trope. can't say it has to do with the writter or the translater, it does convey the message but it kinds of breaks the fantasy setting from time to time.
there is enough action so it doesn't feel boring, but also a nice change between that and character/world building. it's truly magnificent, i am keeping an eye on this series for sure!
it does truly brake tropes, it's not a typical advanture with goblins. i has it own unique monsters.
still noithing is truly perfect, the setting is that like of middle ages or just before that. they use some synonyms which don't fit the trope. can't say it has to do with the writter or the translater, it does convey the message but it kinds of breaks the fantasy setting from time to time.
April 11, 2025
C'est sympa, les personnages sont très cool à suivre, surtout Zig qui a son propre code sur la manière de faire les choses. J'ai également beaucoup aimé Isana, que j'ai hâte de voir plus dans la suite ainsi que l'intrigue autour du traitement de son peuple.
Ce tome m'a un peu laissé sur ma faim niveau intrigue mais c'était bourré d'action et c'était très vivant !
Ce tome m'a un peu laissé sur ma faim niveau intrigue mais c'était bourré d'action et c'était très vivant !
November 4, 2025
Started out well enough but then it dropped my interest and turned into something I personally am not so interested in continuing. It's not horrible, but it's just middle of the road and it's not the middle of the road I want to continue tier.
November 28, 2025
I really loved, how this story developed and how out of the feared witch and the merciless mercenary became a team that can beat the odds. Loved the independence and inter-dependence of the two main protagonists. I thought the story perspective was very well done.
January 7, 2026
breaks the mould a bit and enjoy the characters.
November 25, 2024
This has a good opening. A local Prince hires a bunch of mercenaries to kill a witch. The witch destroys the group. Only the titular mercenary is alive, but the knights, the other mercenary bands (and of course prince) are killed. Together the two decide that killing people is tiring work, the witch hires the mercenary to be her bodyguard. Together they sneak on board a ship to new lands. Surprise it is full of monsters! They now need to live in a strange land with strange rules.
Really great first book I am curious how the rest of the story goes.
Really great first book I am curious how the rest of the story goes.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews