Sword Art Online Progressive 9

Sword Art Online: Progressive Light Novels #9

by Reki Kawahara, Stephen Paul (Translator)

In clearing the seventh floor, Kirito transforms into a Civis Nocte, kindred to vampires, receiving great power in exchange for a lethal weakness to sunlight. Together with Asuna and Kizmel, he pursues the Fallen Elves who have stolen the five scared keys at the center of the Elf War questline. To the group’s surprise, however, their search ends up taking them back to the fourth floor. While there, Kirito and company accept a request from Lavik, the former Commander of the Sandalwood Knights Brigade, becoming embroiled in an ancient dispute between the elven peoples and delving into the past of Viscount Yofilis. Amid all this drama, one thing is for No one can call the NPC characters simple AI anymore!

Genres: Light Novel

203 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 7, 2025

About the author

Kawahara Reki (川原礫) is the writer of Sword Art Online and Accel World. He also uses the pen name Kunori Fumio. His hobby is cycling.

Reviews

[Merry · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while since I picked up a Sword Art Online light novel, but the striking cover featuring Kirito as a vampire pulled me right back in.

While the story didn't lean heavily into traditional vampire themes, it offered plenty of other interesting elements, including a kelpie, a tragic love story, and an intriguing setup for an upcoming duel.

The ending left me eager to see what happens next. Now comes the hard part: waiting for Reki Kawahara to release the next volume—hopefully in less than three years this time.

[RHTQ1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 rounded up) [spoilers in comment under review so this stays visible]

Hmm. The book of backtracking, and not just in floor number. Has some interesting things, but nothing truly stellar. An hour after finishing it, I can't even recall a particularly noteworthy thing done by Asuna alone.

[Rolbuster · Rating 3 out of 5]

It felt like a big lead up book to the next big arc of the series, it was such a long wait for this volume though so I wish there was more in it but I know he has multiple series going on. 😭

[~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars even though this felt like fluff almost. After reading the afterword, it seems he needed to flesh out elven culture some, which makes sense. I am extremely biased because I love SAO, so I always rate these books high as I will take any bit of their journey before the 70th floor that I can. But I feel like until part two comes out, this arc feels a little hollow.