Accel World, Vol. 07: Armor of Catastrophe

アクセル・ワールド / Accel World Light Novels #7

by Reki Kawahara

In order to cleanse Silver Crow (aka Haruyuki), Kuroyukihime and the rest of Nega Nebulus launch an operation to rescue Ardor Maiden. In the midst of this dangerous mission, Silver Crow manages to make contact with Ardor Maiden, but in doing so, he invades the forbidden territory of the Imperial Palace. There he has a vision of Chrome Falcon and Saffron Blossom--but what do they have to do with Haruyuki?!

Genres: Light Novel, Science Fiction, Action, Fantasy, Manga, Japanese Literature

232 pages, Paperback

First published February 10, 2011

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

[Tuna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the previous v7 is a direct continuation of the previous volume, meaning, you must have read the previous volume to even start this. Though a reader could characterize it as the beginning of a new arc, the way it opens would cause confusion among new readers. Take for instance Chrome Falcon starts by awakening in the castle after already bypassing the gate guardian Suzaku, and further journeying to the center of the castle for who knows what. Exactly, one would have no clue what this means. Though, in another way someone could start with this book. Kawahara continued to do that thing where he summarizes the previous book(s) in several paragraphs. This can be a blessing and a curse, first it is helpful to get refamiliarized with some parts of the story if you’ve been reading them as they’ve released, but on the other hand, reading the books one after another, it feels like a drag and an unnecessary waste of space. Considering the previous volume involved a meeting with the kings and two major battles, and before that was the Space Elevator event, and before that the incident with Dusk Taker, it is kind of unnecessary to summarize it all in extensive detail. This leads into one of the other issues I find with the story, everything happens over such a quick timeframe. For example, the previous three books lasted one week, and we are still in that same week going into the next book, yet we’ve had major arc and major battle(s) after another. I do wonder if events could have been spaced out more? However, on the other hand, the accelerated world uses a different time frame where more time passes there than in the real, so maybe its excusable?

But to get to the point, this book provides thrilling backstory on the both the nature of the Armor of Catastrophe, as well as details on the Seven Arcs, the legendary Enchanted Armaments otherwise known as the Arms of the Seven Stars. I found this immensely compelling as the two in focus, the Destiny, and the Infinity and how the Destiny became the Disaster was one of the best backstories I’ve read in light novels. At first, I was turned off on how the story of Chrome Falcon and Saffron Blossom didn’t relate to Silver Crow’s story, but as it went on I was hooked. Really easily is one of the best parts of Accel World thus far.

For the main story, I thought it provided excellent development for Taku fans as well. Even he was feeling left out of the action and felt kind of left behind in terms of character development, shame what happened to him, but I can only hope for the best.

Overall an excellent volume that gives me even more hope to see what happens next with Silver Crow, as well as details regarding the rest of the Seven Arcs. But most importantly, the fate of Taku. Will Ardor Maiden’s purification still be relevant? Only Kawahara knows.

[Noel Thingvall · Rating 4 out of 5]

The extended epilogue detailing the origins of the Armor of Catastrophe is some of Kawahara's writing at its best, and is finally starting to show of the growth for this series that I was hoping for. An intimate character piece that's both moving and tragic, while also fantastic in its worldbuilding as a glimpse at the early days of the first Brain Burst generation. As we return to the series present, things are a little too loosely strung along, with our characters passively led through the turns and revelations instead of driving enough on their own, but there's still interesting stuff in there which also sets up items that I'm betting will drive future stories. The conflict that eventually emerges between Takumu and Haruyuki is also well done and I continue to like how the ISS Kits are spreading and corrupting this world in a way that's now very personal. It does end on a cliffhanger, but it's a damn good one, and has me excited for the next volume. I'm also glad that, aside from a few of the still pretty lousy illustrations, the loli content has dropped to a bare minimum in the actual text. There were so many better things to focus on, and its good that they chose to do so. I really hope (but really don't expect) for future volumes to follow suit.

[Ricardo Matos · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far, this has clearly been the best Accel World Novel. There's a lot of INTERESTING world building and is lot more plot driven. Instead of just focusing on one character and all his blunders, this one actually has some meaty story parts that you really want to see come to fruition.

Accel world always felt like an interesting but incomplete experience. It was missing a bigger story and felt episodic. Finally, with this arc, we're getting into the really interesting stuff! Really surprised me :D

[Jun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh no

Taku has been feeling something. Haru ha been working on stuff and the other are all focus on Haru including the red legion.

[Eldon Siemens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to find out what happened after the last cliffhanger, but had to wait for the history component to get out of the way, but I am glad the author filled in that history for us. I am not glad, however, for another cliffhanger, I hate waiting! still, a great read.

[Antonio Herrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the story of the armor, but really! Another couple of months for the next volume. But it is getting more interesting about the truth of a cel world.

[Khoa Đăng]

I LOVE ACCEL WORLD!!! :3

[Justin Paramanandan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why a cliffhanger again?! Just when things were getting intense....... Onto the next one!