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Magical Girl Raising Project Light Novel #1
Magical Girl Raising Project, Vol. 1
The hit social network game "The Magical Girl Raising Project" selects one out of every tens of thousands of players to become a real life magical girl. The lucky chosen girls gain magic powers as well as incredibly good fortune, and spend their days blissfully.
But one day, an absolute announcement declares that the number of magical girls has risen too high and must be cut down to half. Sixteen young maidens are thrust into a merciless, deadly contest to survive...but how many will come out the other side?
212 pages, Paperback
First published June 8, 2012
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747 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
June 13, 2022
Rating: 4.5
I watched the anime adaption of this series a few years back and really enjoyed it, it was a bit too edgy, sure, but it was a lot of fun! I've seem people critisise this series for copying Madoka and while I can understand why, I disagree. While it may have capitalised off the popularity of the dark magical girl genre in the wake of Madoka, I'd say that magical girl elements aside, it's more similar to a cross between Danganronpa and Battle Royale, both of which I love :D
I am a big fan of fast pacing and this story definitely had it, in fact, I was surprised at how short it was. Turns out that the anime actually added a bunch of scenes and even adapted a few of the short side stories from a later volume. I feel like this was a good choice on the part of the anime because I definitely feel that a few characters (Nemurin in particular) get too little characterisation for me to care for them in the novel.
The action sequences in the novel are quite short and focus on the strategising behind it rather than pages and pages of fighting, which is what I personally prefer, I'm not a fan of reading long, drawn-out fight scenes. As cool as the action sequences were in the adaption, they were the least interesting part of the story for me, so I wasn't too bothered that they didn't appear here.
The best part of a book vs a tv/movie adaption for me will always be how books are often far better at showing us what's going on inside the heads of the characters, this is more difficult to achieve in film without an overload of narration. In particular, it was very interesting to see what was going on with Swim Swim since she speaks so rarely and doesn't emote, I find her far more interesting now, having read the novel.
I was surprised that the big Hardgore Alice vs Calamity Mary fight scene wasn't even in the novel (it's adapted from one of the side stories) considering it's one of the more iconic scenes of the anime, but if I had to choose, I still prefer the novel's handling of Alice's character.
I also liked that we got to learn more about Sister Nana, in the anime she was kinda a meh character for me, maybe a bit on the annoying side. After reading the novel though, I dislike her much more as a person, but I find her far more interesting as a character, so I count that as a win.
If I had to choose, then as usual, I'd say that I prefer the novel over the adaption, but the anime of this series was still very well done overall. It shows what can be achieved when an adequate number of episodes is given to adapt a novel. AHEM. (Looking at you Danganronpa and Umineko)
Still holding out to see a season 2! Pretty please?~
I'm looking forward to continuing this series, I hear that one of the later arcs is even more reminiscent of Danganronpa and goes into full murder mystery territory, I can't wait!
I watched the anime adaption of this series a few years back and really enjoyed it, it was a bit too edgy, sure, but it was a lot of fun! I've seem people critisise this series for copying Madoka and while I can understand why, I disagree. While it may have capitalised off the popularity of the dark magical girl genre in the wake of Madoka, I'd say that magical girl elements aside, it's more similar to a cross between Danganronpa and Battle Royale, both of which I love :D
I am a big fan of fast pacing and this story definitely had it, in fact, I was surprised at how short it was. Turns out that the anime actually added a bunch of scenes and even adapted a few of the short side stories from a later volume. I feel like this was a good choice on the part of the anime because I definitely feel that a few characters (Nemurin in particular) get too little characterisation for me to care for them in the novel.
The action sequences in the novel are quite short and focus on the strategising behind it rather than pages and pages of fighting, which is what I personally prefer, I'm not a fan of reading long, drawn-out fight scenes. As cool as the action sequences were in the adaption, they were the least interesting part of the story for me, so I wasn't too bothered that they didn't appear here.
The best part of a book vs a tv/movie adaption for me will always be how books are often far better at showing us what's going on inside the heads of the characters, this is more difficult to achieve in film without an overload of narration. In particular, it was very interesting to see what was going on with Swim Swim since she speaks so rarely and doesn't emote, I find her far more interesting now, having read the novel.
I was surprised that the big Hardgore Alice vs Calamity Mary fight scene wasn't even in the novel (it's adapted from one of the side stories) considering it's one of the more iconic scenes of the anime, but if I had to choose, I still prefer the novel's handling of Alice's character.
I also liked that we got to learn more about Sister Nana, in the anime she was kinda a meh character for me, maybe a bit on the annoying side. After reading the novel though, I dislike her much more as a person, but I find her far more interesting as a character, so I count that as a win.
If I had to choose, then as usual, I'd say that I prefer the novel over the adaption, but the anime of this series was still very well done overall. It shows what can be achieved when an adequate number of episodes is given to adapt a novel. AHEM. (Looking at you Danganronpa and Umineko)
Still holding out to see a season 2! Pretty please?~
I'm looking forward to continuing this series, I hear that one of the later arcs is even more reminiscent of Danganronpa and goes into full murder mystery territory, I can't wait!
April 6, 2018
Three stars
(Three stars aren't a bad thing either, I really did enjoy this book. I just didn't love it or hate it.)
Magical Girl Raising Project was a light, fun, and fluffy read. It was super fast paced towards the end.
Spoilerly review incoming, but not tagging it cause it's not TOO spoilerly. Just putting this here just incase someone out there considers it spoilers.
I wasn't expecting them to kill off all the characters in the first novel. I was expecting this challenge/royale to last throughout the novels. I have no clue what the second novel could be about. I do have great interest in it though.
The characters were all unique in design and personality, and I really appreciate the artwork at the start. Because even though the descripitons of the character's outfits were pretty good, looking at the art really helped me picture the characters.
I would recommend this book if you are just looking for something light and quick. It was fairly easy to get into.
(Three stars aren't a bad thing either, I really did enjoy this book. I just didn't love it or hate it.)
Magical Girl Raising Project was a light, fun, and fluffy read. It was super fast paced towards the end.
Spoilerly review incoming, but not tagging it cause it's not TOO spoilerly. Just putting this here just incase someone out there considers it spoilers.
I wasn't expecting them to kill off all the characters in the first novel. I was expecting this challenge/royale to last throughout the novels. I have no clue what the second novel could be about. I do have great interest in it though.
The characters were all unique in design and personality, and I really appreciate the artwork at the start. Because even though the descripitons of the character's outfits were pretty good, looking at the art really helped me picture the characters.
I would recommend this book if you are just looking for something light and quick. It was fairly easy to get into.
June 22, 2017
To think I almost talked myself out of buying this!
I really enjoyed this, much more than I expected to which made it better.
Just a warning , this is anything new and a bit predictable, but still worth checking out if you like this kind of story.
Moving on, this was a really quick read. Some girls are granted the ability to be magical girls but when a 16th magical girl is selected they have to cull the number down to eight, for reasons. I had lots of flashes while reading this, but in a good way.
But onto the flaws. The world building could've been better. Something magical kingdom something needs magical girls something for reasons. It wasn't really fleshed out so I'm still slightly confused (maybe I missed the in depth explanation?). And what was that about summoning a demon? Like what? Explain please.
Not that it matters. This wasn't a story about magical girls, this is a story about girls being forced to survive by pushing others down.
When it's revealed why this is happening, well the reason was just depressing. It really showed how deadly gross incompetence, lack of real oversight, and boredom/complacency can lead to a deadly combination.
But enough about that.
The characters were interesting if slightly underdeveloped. Most got at least one scene that focused on them and their thoughts, some characters I wanted to know more about sadly didn't
There were two that actually made me tear up. One girl just screamed , but I really liked her and the scene from her friend's pov after it happened was really well done. The other character seemed like such a waste of potential. Maybe I'm being salty, but it almost seemed inserted in the story because the author needed to figure out how to get to give another character development. Sure it was a nice scene at the end, plus how it happened was pretty clever, but what a waste. I know I'm supposed to root for but she ended up being more of a bystander than a protagonist in the story, even though she should've really stepped up.
No clue where this series is going. Looking at the next vol seems like it will follow a group of different magical girls who also have to cull each other???? But I'll read it. I like stories like this.
Final Thoughts: This was a flawed story about a bunch of troubled girls ranging from all ages and types finding themselves in a situation they never asked to be in, that while sad was also really fun and easy to read. I'm looking forward to seeing how the author grows as a writer (there are after all over 10 vols of this series so it can't be the same story over and over, right?). I'm also really glad
I really enjoyed this, much more than I expected to which made it better.
Just a warning , this is anything new and a bit predictable, but still worth checking out if you like this kind of story.
Moving on, this was a really quick read. Some girls are granted the ability to be magical girls but when a 16th magical girl is selected they have to cull the number down to eight, for reasons. I had lots of flashes while reading this, but in a good way.
But onto the flaws. The world building could've been better. Something magical kingdom something needs magical girls something for reasons. It wasn't really fleshed out so I'm still slightly confused (maybe I missed the in depth explanation?). And what was that about summoning a demon? Like what? Explain please.
Not that it matters. This wasn't a story about magical girls, this is a story about girls being forced to survive by pushing others down.
When it's revealed why this is happening, well the reason was just depressing. It really showed how deadly gross incompetence, lack of real oversight, and boredom/complacency can lead to a deadly combination.
But enough about that.
The characters were interesting if slightly underdeveloped. Most got at least one scene that focused on them and their thoughts, some characters I wanted to know more about sadly didn't
There were two that actually made me tear up. One girl just screamed , but I really liked her and the scene from her friend's pov after it happened was really well done. The other character seemed like such a waste of potential. Maybe I'm being salty, but it almost seemed inserted in the story because the author needed to figure out how to get to give another character development. Sure it was a nice scene at the end, plus how it happened was pretty clever, but what a waste. I know I'm supposed to root for but she ended up being more of a bystander than a protagonist in the story, even though she should've really stepped up.
No clue where this series is going. Looking at the next vol seems like it will follow a group of different magical girls who also have to cull each other???? But I'll read it. I like stories like this.
Final Thoughts: This was a flawed story about a bunch of troubled girls ranging from all ages and types finding themselves in a situation they never asked to be in, that while sad was also really fun and easy to read. I'm looking forward to seeing how the author grows as a writer (there are after all over 10 vols of this series so it can't be the same story over and over, right?). I'm also really glad
December 16, 2020
Like Madoka, but at breakneck pace. xD
I think the process of reading it definitely made it seem faster than it would have been, but at the same time, the story was INCREDIBLY fast paced. Even though I blazed through this with a sort of addicted focus, I think it still might have been a little too fast overall for anything crazy to really set in, particularly when it came to introducing characters. Especially when you get sucked in... the irony of reading faster making things less intriguing ;-;
It's hard to believe that there's like 10+ more installments in this series too... I'm committed though, we'll see if they adapt the style as they go, I've heard good things about where it goes... And I've got characters I want to see more of from here on out too~
I think the process of reading it definitely made it seem faster than it would have been, but at the same time, the story was INCREDIBLY fast paced. Even though I blazed through this with a sort of addicted focus, I think it still might have been a little too fast overall for anything crazy to really set in, particularly when it came to introducing characters. Especially when you get sucked in... the irony of reading faster making things less intriguing ;-;
It's hard to believe that there's like 10+ more installments in this series too... I'm committed though, we'll see if they adapt the style as they go, I've heard good things about where it goes... And I've got characters I want to see more of from here on out too~
December 20, 2020
Vi el anime antes de leer la novela y en si se complementan para llegar a entender a los personajes. A pesar de ya saber lo que pasaría, la disfrute como si fuera la primera vez que me adentraba en el mundo de las chicas mágicas.
February 11, 2023
3'5 en verdad.
Está chulo y es una historia cortita por sí sola (luego continúa con otros pjs), aunque a mí no me ha sorprendido tanto porque el anime es clavado (y mejora el original en varias cosas)
Está chulo y es una historia cortita por sí sola (luego continúa con otros pjs), aunque a mí no me ha sorprendido tanto porque el anime es clavado (y mejora el original en varias cosas)
August 8, 2020
If you're a fan of magical girls and deconstruction of the genre – I highly recommend this very light read! If I had to give an elevator pitch for the series, it would be a "magical girl battle royale" as throughout the story, the characters have to fight each other and compete to stay alive.
My main criticism is that although the story has many perspectives, I felt like some of the main characters never got to be fleshed out, and I do think if the book was at least 100 pages longer it could have given some room to learn about everyone so all death were saddening.
My main criticism is that although the story has many perspectives, I felt like some of the main characters never got to be fleshed out, and I do think if the book was at least 100 pages longer it could have given some room to learn about everyone so all death were saddening.
September 7, 2017
I watched and liked the Magical Girl Raising Project anime, but it only covered the first novel, which from what I hear is essentially a necessary prologue to the "real" story. This left the anime without much of an ending, and there are currently no plans to adapt the rest of the series, so I'm quite glad the novels have become officially available in English.
Now that I've read the novel, I have to say that I liked it a bit better than the anime. Sure, not every character has a fully fleshed out backstory (the anime filled in several of the blanks, but it did leave characters like the Peaky Angels undeveloped), but the worldbuilding is much clearer, as well as the reasons behind the situation the girls are in. Plus, the ending felt rather hollow in the anime, whereas in the novel, there's a real sense that things have been resolved and will move forward.
But I'm getting a bit ahead of myself, aren't I? I haven't even mentioned what the novel is actually about: magical girl Hunger Games (or at least, that's how I always describe it to people unfamiliar with the series). I didn't like The Hunger Games, mind you, but I love magical girls. I watched Sailor Moon as a kid like everyone else, but my love for the genre was cemented when I discovered Tokyo Mew Mew, and I still haven't looked back a decade later. My icon has been my favorite Mew Mew since I joined Goodreads; if anything magical girl-related gets a new release, odds are very high that I'll be checking it out.
Magical Girl Raising Project is definitely not a traditional anime. Since the release of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, deconstructions of the genre have become more popular, geared towards adults who aren't as willing to believe that kindness and friendship can solve all of life's problems. A lot of fans of traditional magical girl shows dislike these deconstructions, but I personally enjoy both types of magical girls. Contrary to popular belief, series like Madoka and Raising Project aren't just cynical torture-porn that kill off innocent girls for no reason. In all of these series, at least the ones I'm familiar with, there remains a ray of hope, and characters that believe in and embody the essence of a "true" magical girl. Magical Girl Raising Project is no exception.
Later in the novel, we learn that magical girl selection tests are usually nowhere near as bloody as the one our protagonists Snow White and Ripple find themselves a part of. The hows and whys of the situation are eventually revealed, and as it turns out, it only takes a few bad people to mess up a good thing. are horrible, horrible people, but they're exceptions, not rules. They corrupt the inherit good of the magical girl system for their own gain, because they are selfish and power-hungry and don't care who they hurt. Other magical girls, like Snow White, Sister Nana, and the delightfully gruesome yet kind Hardgore Alice (my personal favorite character), still believe in good, and they never stop believing. (On the other hand, is a great villain whose presence just makes everything creepier - in a good way, I mean, even as she is thoroughly hateable.)
So yes, this novel is gory. Yes, good people get killed off, and because their magical appearances don't reflect their true selves, the reveals of who exactly are murdering and getting murdered can be shocking and upsetting. You probably shouldn't expect your favorite character to make it through (mine ). But in spite of all this, it really doesn't feel hopeless. Well, at times it does, and it's not exactly an uplifting read. But in the end, Snow White develops into a strong character that you just know is going to change everything.
Well, this review ended up something of a ramble. My point is, I think this series gets a lot of flak that it doesn't deserve. And, okay, maybe some that it does. It's not for everyone. The translation is a little clunky, and the art doesn't always match the text descriptions. But I completely devoured this book, and I definitely plan to continue reading the series. Though this novel is a self-contained arc, it really does open up a world that the anime adaptation simply wasn't prepared to explore. I can't wait to learn more about this world, and to see where the story goes next.
Now that I've read the novel, I have to say that I liked it a bit better than the anime. Sure, not every character has a fully fleshed out backstory (the anime filled in several of the blanks, but it did leave characters like the Peaky Angels undeveloped), but the worldbuilding is much clearer, as well as the reasons behind the situation the girls are in. Plus, the ending felt rather hollow in the anime, whereas in the novel, there's a real sense that things have been resolved and will move forward.
But I'm getting a bit ahead of myself, aren't I? I haven't even mentioned what the novel is actually about: magical girl Hunger Games (or at least, that's how I always describe it to people unfamiliar with the series). I didn't like The Hunger Games, mind you, but I love magical girls. I watched Sailor Moon as a kid like everyone else, but my love for the genre was cemented when I discovered Tokyo Mew Mew, and I still haven't looked back a decade later. My icon has been my favorite Mew Mew since I joined Goodreads; if anything magical girl-related gets a new release, odds are very high that I'll be checking it out.
Magical Girl Raising Project is definitely not a traditional anime. Since the release of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, deconstructions of the genre have become more popular, geared towards adults who aren't as willing to believe that kindness and friendship can solve all of life's problems. A lot of fans of traditional magical girl shows dislike these deconstructions, but I personally enjoy both types of magical girls. Contrary to popular belief, series like Madoka and Raising Project aren't just cynical torture-porn that kill off innocent girls for no reason. In all of these series, at least the ones I'm familiar with, there remains a ray of hope, and characters that believe in and embody the essence of a "true" magical girl. Magical Girl Raising Project is no exception.
Later in the novel, we learn that magical girl selection tests are usually nowhere near as bloody as the one our protagonists Snow White and Ripple find themselves a part of. The hows and whys of the situation are eventually revealed, and as it turns out, it only takes a few bad people to mess up a good thing. are horrible, horrible people, but they're exceptions, not rules. They corrupt the inherit good of the magical girl system for their own gain, because they are selfish and power-hungry and don't care who they hurt. Other magical girls, like Snow White, Sister Nana, and the delightfully gruesome yet kind Hardgore Alice (my personal favorite character), still believe in good, and they never stop believing. (On the other hand, is a great villain whose presence just makes everything creepier - in a good way, I mean, even as she is thoroughly hateable.)
So yes, this novel is gory. Yes, good people get killed off, and because their magical appearances don't reflect their true selves, the reveals of who exactly are murdering and getting murdered can be shocking and upsetting. You probably shouldn't expect your favorite character to make it through (mine ). But in spite of all this, it really doesn't feel hopeless. Well, at times it does, and it's not exactly an uplifting read. But in the end, Snow White develops into a strong character that you just know is going to change everything.
Well, this review ended up something of a ramble. My point is, I think this series gets a lot of flak that it doesn't deserve. And, okay, maybe some that it does. It's not for everyone. The translation is a little clunky, and the art doesn't always match the text descriptions. But I completely devoured this book, and I definitely plan to continue reading the series. Though this novel is a self-contained arc, it really does open up a world that the anime adaptation simply wasn't prepared to explore. I can't wait to learn more about this world, and to see where the story goes next.
January 1, 2020
2.5/5
I hate to say this: but I prefer the anime over the book.
The biggest problem I have with this book is that it's too brief and lacked detail. Really, when I picked up the book, I was hoping I would get more insight on characters that remained rather minor in the anime, but I found even the main characters in this book were rather underdeveloped and rushed. Many backstories that were featured in the anime were not even brought up in the book, and key scenes were left out. This may not sound like a big deal but it really adds up eventually and it detracts from the emotional impact the book could've had.
For example, (spoilers ahead): there is a character named La Pucelle who eventually finds herself in a fight with a character named Cranberry. In the anime, we get to see the fight and all of its brutality. We get to see the result of the fight - which is La Pucelle's unfortunate death. The brutality of the fight and the end result left an impact on me as an audience member and it's one of the best scenes of the anime imo. However, in this book what do we get? Cranberry and La Pucelle saying they are going to fight (we don't even get a full reason for either of their motivations for wanting to do so) and then it just cuts to the next chapter where Fav announces that La Pucelle is dead. (spoiler end)
Where is the impact? Where is the emotion? This problem plagues almost everyone in this story. We have characters who die in the very chapter they are introduced in and characters we hardly know anything about. Descriptions were sparse, and there was really nothing keeping me hooked other than my love for the anime.
The only area the book did better than the anime in was describing the Magical Kingdom, how Cranberry came to power, and all of that jazz but even then it still left a lot to be desired.
Will I read the next books in the series? Maybe. I've heard from people they are better than this one. But this one certainly has left a bad taste in my mouth, especially because it could've been much stronger.
If you have any interest in this concept, I say give the anime a chance. It is very entertaining. Don't let this book characterize your feelings on it.
I hate to say this: but I prefer the anime over the book.
The biggest problem I have with this book is that it's too brief and lacked detail. Really, when I picked up the book, I was hoping I would get more insight on characters that remained rather minor in the anime, but I found even the main characters in this book were rather underdeveloped and rushed. Many backstories that were featured in the anime were not even brought up in the book, and key scenes were left out. This may not sound like a big deal but it really adds up eventually and it detracts from the emotional impact the book could've had.
For example, (spoilers ahead): there is a character named La Pucelle who eventually finds herself in a fight with a character named Cranberry. In the anime, we get to see the fight and all of its brutality. We get to see the result of the fight - which is La Pucelle's unfortunate death. The brutality of the fight and the end result left an impact on me as an audience member and it's one of the best scenes of the anime imo. However, in this book what do we get? Cranberry and La Pucelle saying they are going to fight (we don't even get a full reason for either of their motivations for wanting to do so) and then it just cuts to the next chapter where Fav announces that La Pucelle is dead. (spoiler end)
Where is the impact? Where is the emotion? This problem plagues almost everyone in this story. We have characters who die in the very chapter they are introduced in and characters we hardly know anything about. Descriptions were sparse, and there was really nothing keeping me hooked other than my love for the anime.
The only area the book did better than the anime in was describing the Magical Kingdom, how Cranberry came to power, and all of that jazz but even then it still left a lot to be desired.
Will I read the next books in the series? Maybe. I've heard from people they are better than this one. But this one certainly has left a bad taste in my mouth, especially because it could've been much stronger.
If you have any interest in this concept, I say give the anime a chance. It is very entertaining. Don't let this book characterize your feelings on it.
July 25, 2017
For fans of the anime, at first you may be disappointed. The anime does do a better job at telling (or telling at all) the backstory of each girl. But once you get into the book you start to enjoy it all the same. I felt the epilogue does a better job of wrapping up the story than the anime. So all together they compliment each other very well. If you've never seen the anime. This is a very dark tale of magical girls. Full of surprises and heartbreaks. Very much a good read.
July 5, 2017
Pointless story.
A book full of characters that got systematically and ruthless rid off without any second tough or reason. The characters and story doesn't really evolved through the book, is just cutting heads left and right, quite predictable after a while. Everything in the story looks pointless at the end of the book.
A book full of characters that got systematically and ruthless rid off without any second tough or reason. The characters and story doesn't really evolved through the book, is just cutting heads left and right, quite predictable after a while. Everything in the story looks pointless at the end of the book.
April 17, 2020
I'll just admit it outright: I unabashedly love Magical Girl animes. About 20 years ago, my main VCD/DVD-R supplier started offering some of the classic Pierrot Magical Girl shows - a bunch of episodes of Creamy Mami, Magical Emi, Pastel Yumi, and Magical Fairy Persia. I just couldn't get enough of them. I've seen a bunch of the shows over the years, and I'd say my top favorites are still Creamy Mami (luckily now streaming on Amazon), Minky Momo, Majokko Megu-chan, and Fancy Lala.
Over the past five decades, magical girl shows have been present. Naturally, every now and then, some titles appear which attempt to subvert the standard tropes. That's fine; the formula is good, and experimentation is good. Especially when it yields admirable results. A few years back, we were treated to the magnificent Madoka Magica (a spin-off is currently airing; haven't had a chance to check it out). Madoka Magica was an amazing show - it retained the purity and hope of classic magical girl shows, yet upped the ante on real danger, drama, and heart-breaking trauma.
However, cruising under the radar was another hard-edged spin on the classical magical girl formula. This one was more of a magical girl plus Battle Royale hybrid. A darker than expected - especially given the character designs - title, this one is known as Magical Girl Raising Project. I loved the 13 episode series - and so I decided to check out the light novels. Turns out, the first one is pretty damn good.
MGRP revolves around a titular mobile phone game - billed as absolutely free- which allows gamers to play as magical girls. Soon, a select few players find themselves receiving an irresistible offer - to become actual magical girls. As magical girls, they'll be expected to do good deeds, and earn the in-game version of currency, candies.
Of course, there's a bump in the road...at a certain point, it turns out the Magic Kingdom has spent too much mana recruiting these magical girls, and so a bit of pruning must be done. An elimination game is set in motion to weed out the least productive magical girls - of course, an in-game elimination results in a real-life one. And so, the game becomes a very real game of survival.
Like every game of survival worth its salt; tenuous alliances are formed, backs are stabbed, etc. And this is where MGRP excels. The character backstories are well done enough; but seem more curated to elicit an optimal emotional response when a magical girl is eliminated. The fight scenes and eliminations, in both the novel and the anime, are excellently done - bloody and brutal.
The characters are brought to vivid life via the ambitious designs of Marui-no. The artist has gone the extra step of creating kawaii 'avatar' style designs, as well as normal ones, used for the interior illustrations.The designs are evocative of the magical girls; effectively capturing the looks and special skills which are granted based upon the player's personality.
Speaking of characters, MGRP also features a devious in-game
mascot akin to that scumbag Kyubei from Madoka Magica (sorry, no better term for that piece of...work). This one's name is Fav; and while he's not as odious as Kyubei, he's still a devious, duplicitous villain.
Comparing the first volume to the anime; I'd have to give the edge to the anime. Unlike other shows, where each novel might correlate to 2-3 episodes, the entirety of the show's run covers the events of the first novel. This allows for a considerably larger margin of character growth; especially for our protagonist, Snow White. It also allows for more dedicated backstory for the other girls, granting a more poignant, visceral gut-punch when they are 'eliminated'.
But don't get me wrong, the writing here is very good. It's a bit simple at times, but the background world is painted effectively enough, and the fight scenes are where the author excels.
And, best of all, even though there was only one season of the anime, there are at least seven more light novels (so far). Keep an eye out for future write-ups on them.
You can read my full review of this book here:
https://hachisnaxreads.blogspot.com/2...
Over the past five decades, magical girl shows have been present. Naturally, every now and then, some titles appear which attempt to subvert the standard tropes. That's fine; the formula is good, and experimentation is good. Especially when it yields admirable results. A few years back, we were treated to the magnificent Madoka Magica (a spin-off is currently airing; haven't had a chance to check it out). Madoka Magica was an amazing show - it retained the purity and hope of classic magical girl shows, yet upped the ante on real danger, drama, and heart-breaking trauma.
However, cruising under the radar was another hard-edged spin on the classical magical girl formula. This one was more of a magical girl plus Battle Royale hybrid. A darker than expected - especially given the character designs - title, this one is known as Magical Girl Raising Project. I loved the 13 episode series - and so I decided to check out the light novels. Turns out, the first one is pretty damn good.
MGRP revolves around a titular mobile phone game - billed as absolutely free- which allows gamers to play as magical girls. Soon, a select few players find themselves receiving an irresistible offer - to become actual magical girls. As magical girls, they'll be expected to do good deeds, and earn the in-game version of currency, candies.
Of course, there's a bump in the road...at a certain point, it turns out the Magic Kingdom has spent too much mana recruiting these magical girls, and so a bit of pruning must be done. An elimination game is set in motion to weed out the least productive magical girls - of course, an in-game elimination results in a real-life one. And so, the game becomes a very real game of survival.
Like every game of survival worth its salt; tenuous alliances are formed, backs are stabbed, etc. And this is where MGRP excels. The character backstories are well done enough; but seem more curated to elicit an optimal emotional response when a magical girl is eliminated. The fight scenes and eliminations, in both the novel and the anime, are excellently done - bloody and brutal.
The characters are brought to vivid life via the ambitious designs of Marui-no. The artist has gone the extra step of creating kawaii 'avatar' style designs, as well as normal ones, used for the interior illustrations.The designs are evocative of the magical girls; effectively capturing the looks and special skills which are granted based upon the player's personality.
Speaking of characters, MGRP also features a devious in-game
mascot akin to that scumbag Kyubei from Madoka Magica (sorry, no better term for that piece of...work). This one's name is Fav; and while he's not as odious as Kyubei, he's still a devious, duplicitous villain.
Comparing the first volume to the anime; I'd have to give the edge to the anime. Unlike other shows, where each novel might correlate to 2-3 episodes, the entirety of the show's run covers the events of the first novel. This allows for a considerably larger margin of character growth; especially for our protagonist, Snow White. It also allows for more dedicated backstory for the other girls, granting a more poignant, visceral gut-punch when they are 'eliminated'.
But don't get me wrong, the writing here is very good. It's a bit simple at times, but the background world is painted effectively enough, and the fight scenes are where the author excels.
And, best of all, even though there was only one season of the anime, there are at least seven more light novels (so far). Keep an eye out for future write-ups on them.
You can read my full review of this book here:
https://hachisnaxreads.blogspot.com/2...
August 28, 2020
As someone does frequently play gacha games and as someone who is a massive fan of magical girls, this story intrigued me at first. To someone casually reading, this can absolutely read as yet another “dark” magical girl series where cute girls do violent things to each other.
And it really does feel that way at times. A lot of the violence does fade to black but that doesn’t stop the author from describing what could’ve happened just because of the girls’ magic they have. The fights that did occur “on-screen” are extremely fast-paced and you can tell that the author had fun in this aspect than the “boring stuff”.
If there are two main characters that we follow, they are Snow White and Ripple. The author makes that very clear but at the same time, there really needed to have ample time to get to know the girls before their demise. Unfortunately, we don’t really get that and the ones we do get are either almost a few paragraphs to a few sentences - or worse yet, assumptions made after their death. It’s a tough balance to focus on either the two or the rest so maybe I’m being a bit sympathetic here.
But there’s certainly a pacing issue. Maybe if the novel itself was longer, there could’ve been more time to focus on the girls and their pasts and to have the reader really build a connection to them. It becomes more evident that at least this volume is rushed especially near the end when Tama gets killed by Swim Swim. I wish that I could really feel emotional battering that the author really wanted to include in the ending and tried to include as much as they could. It’s disappointing but I ended up getting attached to some of the girls regardless.
I really did like, though, that there was significant character development for at least Ripple and Snow White. I wish it was a bit more focused on them but I think there was just a lack of time on the author’s end. Ripple was a bit better than Snow White’s but it’s still a bit disappointing that I didn’t really know the main “evil” character’s intentions until near the end. If I were someone else, that probably would’ve made me drop it or hesitate to continue, at least.
However, and this is a big issue I have in general with this volume - Sister Nana’s graphic suicide was absolutely not needed. Unfortunately, the “bury your gays” is still very popular and that’s frustrating in itself but that suicide scene was not needed. Honestly, that scene alone made me very angry because the author had proved that they could fade to black - so why couldn’t we have a fade to back with this scene? I suppose it could be necessary because Sister Nana’s sadness over Winterprison’s death but again, there could’ve been another way to do it and if a magical girl had to commit suicide, why did it have to be the lesbian?
This issue alone wasn’t enough to get me to drop it as it is because right after that chapter, we’re back in the fray with only Fav to tell the other survivors she had died. I think that’s ultimately what made me bring this down because of that scene alone.
But I love magical girls too much to put it down - I want to see what happens to Snow White and Ripple in the future.
Though, out of everything I said, there are quite a few things I did like more than what’s presented here. I’ve always wanted to explore the darker themes of being a magical girl. Of course, the Madoka comparisons are coming but I really enjoyed this more than Madoka, putting the suicide scene aside.
For this volume, it explored how useful how these collectibles (magical candy) really are. They’re not. The question in this volume is: how far would a magical girl be pushed if she could just kill to get what she wants? While it doesn’t explore as deeply as I’d like (especially for a light novel), it does leave me somewhat satisfied and that’s more than I can ask for in this type of genre.
Regardless, I’m going to look forward to the next volume.
And it really does feel that way at times. A lot of the violence does fade to black but that doesn’t stop the author from describing what could’ve happened just because of the girls’ magic they have. The fights that did occur “on-screen” are extremely fast-paced and you can tell that the author had fun in this aspect than the “boring stuff”.
If there are two main characters that we follow, they are Snow White and Ripple. The author makes that very clear but at the same time, there really needed to have ample time to get to know the girls before their demise. Unfortunately, we don’t really get that and the ones we do get are either almost a few paragraphs to a few sentences - or worse yet, assumptions made after their death. It’s a tough balance to focus on either the two or the rest so maybe I’m being a bit sympathetic here.
But there’s certainly a pacing issue. Maybe if the novel itself was longer, there could’ve been more time to focus on the girls and their pasts and to have the reader really build a connection to them. It becomes more evident that at least this volume is rushed especially near the end when Tama gets killed by Swim Swim. I wish that I could really feel emotional battering that the author really wanted to include in the ending and tried to include as much as they could. It’s disappointing but I ended up getting attached to some of the girls regardless.
I really did like, though, that there was significant character development for at least Ripple and Snow White. I wish it was a bit more focused on them but I think there was just a lack of time on the author’s end. Ripple was a bit better than Snow White’s but it’s still a bit disappointing that I didn’t really know the main “evil” character’s intentions until near the end. If I were someone else, that probably would’ve made me drop it or hesitate to continue, at least.
However, and this is a big issue I have in general with this volume - Sister Nana’s graphic suicide was absolutely not needed. Unfortunately, the “bury your gays” is still very popular and that’s frustrating in itself but that suicide scene was not needed. Honestly, that scene alone made me very angry because the author had proved that they could fade to black - so why couldn’t we have a fade to back with this scene? I suppose it could be necessary because Sister Nana’s sadness over Winterprison’s death but again, there could’ve been another way to do it and if a magical girl had to commit suicide, why did it have to be the lesbian?
This issue alone wasn’t enough to get me to drop it as it is because right after that chapter, we’re back in the fray with only Fav to tell the other survivors she had died. I think that’s ultimately what made me bring this down because of that scene alone.
But I love magical girls too much to put it down - I want to see what happens to Snow White and Ripple in the future.
Though, out of everything I said, there are quite a few things I did like more than what’s presented here. I’ve always wanted to explore the darker themes of being a magical girl. Of course, the Madoka comparisons are coming but I really enjoyed this more than Madoka, putting the suicide scene aside.
For this volume, it explored how useful how these collectibles (magical candy) really are. They’re not. The question in this volume is: how far would a magical girl be pushed if she could just kill to get what she wants? While it doesn’t explore as deeply as I’d like (especially for a light novel), it does leave me somewhat satisfied and that’s more than I can ask for in this type of genre.
Regardless, I’m going to look forward to the next volume.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2020
Acabo de terminar la que es oficialmente la primera novela ligera que he leído, y siento que empecé con una muy buena. Hace tiempo empecé a ver el anime, pero lo deje de lado rápido, pero la historia de las chicas mágicas que se deben matar las unas a las otras siempre me pareció algo muy bueno. Un giro oscuro para el típico estereotipo del anime.
La novela nos cuenta la vida de casi todas las chicas mágicas, pero se centra principalmente en dos: Snow White, la en apariencia "chica mágica perfecta" y Ripple, quien vendría a actuar como su complemento. Ambas se ven envueltas en un juego mortal entre las demás, que crece cada vez más, volviéndose cada vez más retorcido, hasta que estalla en una lucha a muerte. La gran villana de la novela vendría a ser Swim Swim, pero la novela juega con la idea de quienes malo o bueno, o cuan moral es matar a alguien para no morir. Esto convierte la novela es un buen trabajo, la idea de que, en circunstancia especificas, cualquiera puede matar, incluso alguien tan puro como "una chica mágica", y como nos muestra que detrás de estas chicas hay gente real, con defectos y miedos.
Otro de los grandes puntos de la novela es la ambientación. El autor creo una ciudad llamada "ciudad N". Se trata de varios pueblos y ciudades pequeñas que se unieron y crearon una ciudad grande, convirtiéndose en distritos. El autor usa estos distritos para darle alma a la novela, teniendo una ciudad cambiante, fría y eclética, como las múltiples personalidades de los personajes.
El único problema de la novela para mi fue Snow White. Si bien, al ser la protagonista y presentar a la chica mágica perfecta, a veces su personaje era demasiado inútil, ingenuo o simplemente aburrido, haciendo que personajes como Ripple, Top Speed, Swim Swim, Cranberry, Weiss o La Pucelle, lucirse mil veces más, teniendo personajes menores, con menor duración durante la trama. Quizás hubiera preferido que se centraran en Ripple y dejaran a Snow White como un personaje mucho menor. Lo único bueno de estos es ver un poco la caída de la idea de Snow White de las chicas mágicas. Como fue perdiendo la inocencia acerca de lo peligrosas que pueden ser y que no todas son como ella espera.
A pesar de tratarse de una novela ligera, que por su forma de escritura suele estar escrita en frases, la mayoría cortas, en vez de párrafos, la novela consiguió imponerse narrativamente. Incluso cuando veía escenas del anime, me dan el mismo nivel de emoción que leerlas, porque el autor maneja muy bien la forma de narrar, incluso los momentos sangrientos.
Es una novela corta, muy buen para leer si quieres emocionarte, quizás llorar un poco y sobre todo, tener un libro corto y satisfactorio para leer en un día o dos.
La novela nos cuenta la vida de casi todas las chicas mágicas, pero se centra principalmente en dos: Snow White, la en apariencia "chica mágica perfecta" y Ripple, quien vendría a actuar como su complemento. Ambas se ven envueltas en un juego mortal entre las demás, que crece cada vez más, volviéndose cada vez más retorcido, hasta que estalla en una lucha a muerte. La gran villana de la novela vendría a ser Swim Swim, pero la novela juega con la idea de quienes malo o bueno, o cuan moral es matar a alguien para no morir. Esto convierte la novela es un buen trabajo, la idea de que, en circunstancia especificas, cualquiera puede matar, incluso alguien tan puro como "una chica mágica", y como nos muestra que detrás de estas chicas hay gente real, con defectos y miedos.
Otro de los grandes puntos de la novela es la ambientación. El autor creo una ciudad llamada "ciudad N". Se trata de varios pueblos y ciudades pequeñas que se unieron y crearon una ciudad grande, convirtiéndose en distritos. El autor usa estos distritos para darle alma a la novela, teniendo una ciudad cambiante, fría y eclética, como las múltiples personalidades de los personajes.
El único problema de la novela para mi fue Snow White. Si bien, al ser la protagonista y presentar a la chica mágica perfecta, a veces su personaje era demasiado inútil, ingenuo o simplemente aburrido, haciendo que personajes como Ripple, Top Speed, Swim Swim, Cranberry, Weiss o La Pucelle, lucirse mil veces más, teniendo personajes menores, con menor duración durante la trama. Quizás hubiera preferido que se centraran en Ripple y dejaran a Snow White como un personaje mucho menor. Lo único bueno de estos es ver un poco la caída de la idea de Snow White de las chicas mágicas. Como fue perdiendo la inocencia acerca de lo peligrosas que pueden ser y que no todas son como ella espera.
A pesar de tratarse de una novela ligera, que por su forma de escritura suele estar escrita en frases, la mayoría cortas, en vez de párrafos, la novela consiguió imponerse narrativamente. Incluso cuando veía escenas del anime, me dan el mismo nivel de emoción que leerlas, porque el autor maneja muy bien la forma de narrar, incluso los momentos sangrientos.
Es una novela corta, muy buen para leer si quieres emocionarte, quizás llorar un poco y sobre todo, tener un libro corto y satisfactorio para leer en un día o dos.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2024
I think I only picked this series up, because RightStuf had a bundle of the first five or six volumes for cheap, right before they got absorbed into Crunchyroll. My experience with light novels had been decidedly mixed up to that point, but I like game of death scenarios, so I bit the bullet. So far, I have to say I'm glad I did.
Magical Girl Raising Project focuses on a free mobile game of the same name, that has a caveat that a tiny percentage of players might actually become real-life magical girls. And since mobile gamers are all about that RNG (random number generators/generation), the city where this all takes place has no fewer than 16 players who've gotten lucky. This, according to the game's mascot character, Fav, is a problem, because they're draining too much of the city's mana, so their numbers have to be reduced. But quitting the game, or breaking any of the rules is just as much of a death sentence as having the lowest score at the end of each week when someone gets eliminated, so it quickly becomes a desperate--and ugly--situation.
Decent setup, and while I wish we could've gotten to know some of the characters a bit more, with a cast this large and stakes this high, that's not always easy. Alternatively, the series could have stretched out its pacing a bit, but that doesn't happen either, as magical girls start dropping like flies.
It's quite an entertaining competition at least. Each girl has her own powers, and some of the fights make quite creative use of them. And the characters we do get a chance to know are distinctive enough to carry the story through the sequences between the bloodshed.
I'd been thinking this book was a solid 4/5 for most of it...but then the ending happened. And I really don't know where the story is going to go from here, exactly, but it has to be something different from what we got in volume 1. By all rights, Magical Girl Raising Project is not a short series, and after this satisfying beginning, the prospect of whatever's coming next being largely unknown and new is pretty exciting.
Magical Girl Raising Project focuses on a free mobile game of the same name, that has a caveat that a tiny percentage of players might actually become real-life magical girls. And since mobile gamers are all about that RNG (random number generators/generation), the city where this all takes place has no fewer than 16 players who've gotten lucky. This, according to the game's mascot character, Fav, is a problem, because they're draining too much of the city's mana, so their numbers have to be reduced. But quitting the game, or breaking any of the rules is just as much of a death sentence as having the lowest score at the end of each week when someone gets eliminated, so it quickly becomes a desperate--and ugly--situation.
Decent setup, and while I wish we could've gotten to know some of the characters a bit more, with a cast this large and stakes this high, that's not always easy. Alternatively, the series could have stretched out its pacing a bit, but that doesn't happen either, as magical girls start dropping like flies.
It's quite an entertaining competition at least. Each girl has her own powers, and some of the fights make quite creative use of them. And the characters we do get a chance to know are distinctive enough to carry the story through the sequences between the bloodshed.
I'd been thinking this book was a solid 4/5 for most of it...but then the ending happened. And I really don't know where the story is going to go from here, exactly, but it has to be something different from what we got in volume 1. By all rights, Magical Girl Raising Project is not a short series, and after this satisfying beginning, the prospect of whatever's coming next being largely unknown and new is pretty exciting.
July 7, 2017
Why did I start reading it?
I think I landed in Magical Girl Raising Project the same way most people did. Through Madoka Magica. After being thoroughly traumatised by that I heard this was of a similar vein and watched the anime. I'll probably go into reasons why I liked that through the review but after watching it and finding out the original novel was coming out in English I had the release date in the calendar every since!
What is it?
In the world of MGRP, there is a completely free app game called Magical Girl Raising Project and rumour has it some players of the game can become actual magical girls. The rumours are true and there ends up being a total of sixteen magical girls running around the large N city.
The game announces that there are too many magical girls and the number needs to be cut. Obviously, no one is willing to give up their awesome magical powers so they battle for their power and soon their very survival.
What are the character's like?
Many of the characters don't get the screen time they did in the anime. Yes, the anime had 12 episodes and this book only had well...a book but due to missing scenes(That I've heard are in another book but aren't in this one so I can't judge.) many of the characters come and go with only really one scene or less for us to get an idea of who they are. For those that are familiar with the characters, this is especially true for Magicaloid 44 and Nemurin doesn't even get any lines.
The characters that do get time I love. Out of the ones the novel chooses to focus on, there aren't really any girls I dislike. Some I'm terrified of, but don't dislike.
Full Review at: www.BrionyRoseSmith.co.uk
I think I landed in Magical Girl Raising Project the same way most people did. Through Madoka Magica. After being thoroughly traumatised by that I heard this was of a similar vein and watched the anime. I'll probably go into reasons why I liked that through the review but after watching it and finding out the original novel was coming out in English I had the release date in the calendar every since!
What is it?
In the world of MGRP, there is a completely free app game called Magical Girl Raising Project and rumour has it some players of the game can become actual magical girls. The rumours are true and there ends up being a total of sixteen magical girls running around the large N city.
The game announces that there are too many magical girls and the number needs to be cut. Obviously, no one is willing to give up their awesome magical powers so they battle for their power and soon their very survival.
What are the character's like?
Many of the characters don't get the screen time they did in the anime. Yes, the anime had 12 episodes and this book only had well...a book but due to missing scenes(That I've heard are in another book but aren't in this one so I can't judge.) many of the characters come and go with only really one scene or less for us to get an idea of who they are. For those that are familiar with the characters, this is especially true for Magicaloid 44 and Nemurin doesn't even get any lines.
The characters that do get time I love. Out of the ones the novel chooses to focus on, there aren't really any girls I dislike. Some I'm terrified of, but don't dislike.
Full Review at: www.BrionyRoseSmith.co.uk
April 17, 2018
(3.5/5)
Bueno... he leído esta novela porque al ver el anime de MSIK quedé transtornado y necesitaba más, no suelo ver anime con mucha frecuencia y al encontrar este y descubrir que tiene una serie de novelas ligeras publicadas, las he buscado en formato electrónico para leerlas y está la primera, en la que se basa el anime, si me ha decepcionado un poco.
MSIK, trata sobre un videojuego que se ha vuelto viral al verse que al ingresar en el puedes convertirte en una Chica Mágica de verdad, (lo que equivale a una hechicera con habilidades y superiores a los de un humano promedio y un hechizo "poder" que es diferente en cada una) y bueno nuestra protagonista acaba de ser seleccionada, así que el mundo de magia le ha otorgado el honor de ser una Chica Mágica, por lo que según ella lo correcto es ayudar todo mundo. Y es que esto cambia cuando el administrador decide que deben de eliminar a la mitad de las 16 Chicas Mágicas de la región así que pronto tomarán decisiones turbias y poco sensatas donde sobrevivir se vuelve lo más importante...
La verdad es que en la novela la traducción hizo sentir el libro muy simplón y sin sentido alguno... mis personajes favoritos no estaban tan bien estructurados, lo cual es un punto fuerte al anime. Igual creí que en este libro encontraría alguna explicación más lógica de lo que Swim Swim hizo, porque ¿porqué estaba tan desquiciada?
Bueno... he leído esta novela porque al ver el anime de MSIK quedé transtornado y necesitaba más, no suelo ver anime con mucha frecuencia y al encontrar este y descubrir que tiene una serie de novelas ligeras publicadas, las he buscado en formato electrónico para leerlas y está la primera, en la que se basa el anime, si me ha decepcionado un poco.
MSIK, trata sobre un videojuego que se ha vuelto viral al verse que al ingresar en el puedes convertirte en una Chica Mágica de verdad, (lo que equivale a una hechicera con habilidades y superiores a los de un humano promedio y un hechizo "poder" que es diferente en cada una) y bueno nuestra protagonista acaba de ser seleccionada, así que el mundo de magia le ha otorgado el honor de ser una Chica Mágica, por lo que según ella lo correcto es ayudar todo mundo. Y es que esto cambia cuando el administrador decide que deben de eliminar a la mitad de las 16 Chicas Mágicas de la región así que pronto tomarán decisiones turbias y poco sensatas donde sobrevivir se vuelve lo más importante...
La verdad es que en la novela la traducción hizo sentir el libro muy simplón y sin sentido alguno... mis personajes favoritos no estaban tan bien estructurados, lo cual es un punto fuerte al anime. Igual creí que en este libro encontraría alguna explicación más lógica de lo que Swim Swim hizo, porque ¿porqué estaba tan desquiciada?
June 27, 2022
I LOVE this book. While at first it may seem like a kids book, with things like “Magical Candy” and “UWU I’m Snow White the righteous magical girl who wants everyone to get along!” The book quickly takes a dark turn. This book is definitely for a young adult audience. Trying to explain this without spoilers but, even though book 1 is very fast paced and you might wonder what the other 12 books are about, the first one basically sets off a domino chain of effects for the next books of the series. Books 2 and 3 are my personal favourites and if you can make it past being introduced to and entire new cast of characters you will enjoy it even more. With hidden references to book 1 until the whole plot is revealed and you understand how the 2 are connected. The book does a much better job at building up their characters then the anime or the manga. Some characters are super likeable that you wish they didn’t die, some characters are so unlikeable you wish they would die already and you find yourself always betting on who will die next. The fast paced action sequences are always amazing and I wish that other fantasy books would use their magic powers more creatively like this one. Powers you thought were useless come in to play for some really shocking battle sequences and the action only improves in later books! I hope you will give Magical Girl Raising Project a chance!
June 28, 2021
El libro está tremendo. Sabe a lo que va y no pierde tiempo en dártelo.
El autor entiende los límites de su historia. Una novela de no más de 300 páginas, con 16 personajes que llevan una doble vida y que encima se van muriendo no da para desarrollar en profundidad a todos sus personajes y sus conflictos internos. Es por eso que tomar ese enfoque sería un error, y el autor lo sabe. El enfoque acá yace en la acción, la estrategia. Se nos muestra un poco de los personajes, sí, pero no para dar un mensaje profundo ni para que nos encariñemos con ellos, sino para entender sus motivaciones, qué los lleva a tomar las decisiones que toman, por qué juegan al juego como lo hacen. En mi opinión es un giro refrescante, y me mantuvo enganchada de principio a fin.
También cabe destacar que una de las razones por las que me encariñé tanto con esta saga como tal es porque se nota el afecto que el escritor y el artista guardan por el género de chicas mágicas. Está oculto entre pequeñas referencias a la irreal lógica del maho shoujo, en la dedicación con la que diseñan a cada personaje. Así que, si compartís ese cariño, seguramente ames este libro y aquellos que le siguen.
El autor entiende los límites de su historia. Una novela de no más de 300 páginas, con 16 personajes que llevan una doble vida y que encima se van muriendo no da para desarrollar en profundidad a todos sus personajes y sus conflictos internos. Es por eso que tomar ese enfoque sería un error, y el autor lo sabe. El enfoque acá yace en la acción, la estrategia. Se nos muestra un poco de los personajes, sí, pero no para dar un mensaje profundo ni para que nos encariñemos con ellos, sino para entender sus motivaciones, qué los lleva a tomar las decisiones que toman, por qué juegan al juego como lo hacen. En mi opinión es un giro refrescante, y me mantuvo enganchada de principio a fin.
También cabe destacar que una de las razones por las que me encariñé tanto con esta saga como tal es porque se nota el afecto que el escritor y el artista guardan por el género de chicas mágicas. Está oculto entre pequeñas referencias a la irreal lógica del maho shoujo, en la dedicación con la que diseñan a cada personaje. Así que, si compartís ese cariño, seguramente ames este libro y aquellos que le siguen.
January 31, 2024
A magical girl battle royale. What more could you ask for? This novel takes place in a world where a mobile game called Magical Girl Raising Project exists, a game that gives it’s players a chance to win real life powers, and lets the players use those powers to help the citizens of N City. Sixteen individuals are chosen, yet one day an announcement is made. The amount of magical girls has to be reduced to eight. And thus the killing begins.
This novel was very fast paced, the action starts at the beginning and never lets up, almost like Koushun Takami’s Battle Royale. Though I do have some complaints. I felt that in some places the fast pace of the story was detrimental specifically with the characters. I felt that we did not get to know many of the magical girls that well, due to how short the novel is. I felt that this volume would’ve been fantastic if it was longer, and had a companion volume, so we could know the characters more.
I still enjoyed this volume very much though, and am eager to see where the series goes, since there are fifteen more volumes that make up the story.
This novel was very fast paced, the action starts at the beginning and never lets up, almost like Koushun Takami’s Battle Royale. Though I do have some complaints. I felt that in some places the fast pace of the story was detrimental specifically with the characters. I felt that we did not get to know many of the magical girls that well, due to how short the novel is. I felt that this volume would’ve been fantastic if it was longer, and had a companion volume, so we could know the characters more.
I still enjoyed this volume very much though, and am eager to see where the series goes, since there are fifteen more volumes that make up the story.
October 4, 2020
I liked the anime so I decided to read the novel. I expected to have to read 3 or 4 volumes to cover the anime series. But no, the first volume has so much content that it is enough for the entire 12-episode anime series. That's special.
Normally, I'd say the book is better that the anime, but in this case it's a tie. In some cases the anime shows more details and in other cases it's the book that has the better description. One big difference is that in the book Snow White and Ripple are both main characters and the story switches between them. In the anime the focus is far more on Snow White and Ripple gets less attention.
I liked the book. It's fast paced and very exciting. It's also bloody. After all, it's about cute magical girls who fight each other to the death. The storytelling is very good and lively. As for the illustrations, well, it's not my favorite drawing style. I've seen better illustrations in light novels.
I heard that the next volumes are even better than this one. I look forward to reading them.
Normally, I'd say the book is better that the anime, but in this case it's a tie. In some cases the anime shows more details and in other cases it's the book that has the better description. One big difference is that in the book Snow White and Ripple are both main characters and the story switches between them. In the anime the focus is far more on Snow White and Ripple gets less attention.
I liked the book. It's fast paced and very exciting. It's also bloody. After all, it's about cute magical girls who fight each other to the death. The storytelling is very good and lively. As for the illustrations, well, it's not my favorite drawing style. I've seen better illustrations in light novels.
I heard that the next volumes are even better than this one. I look forward to reading them.
July 13, 2017
Okay, so this is a survival horror story about girls who are granted magical powers so they can become superheroes, but when their numbers grow too large and they start draining the local manna supply, they're forced to fight Battle Royale style. There are sixteen to start, and they have to get down to eight. And one must die each week.
Knowing this is the first book in a series, you might think the killings would be stretched out across eight volumes, but no, the whole death game takes place in this one volume. Which means we have sixteen characters to get to know (and lose) in a single 200 page book. Character development is nonexistent, and the story ends up being one brutal death after another, Involving people you don't care about.
Knowing this is the first book in a series, you might think the killings would be stretched out across eight volumes, but no, the whole death game takes place in this one volume. Which means we have sixteen characters to get to know (and lose) in a single 200 page book. Character development is nonexistent, and the story ends up being one brutal death after another, Involving people you don't care about.
July 24, 2019
I stayed up late finishing this; it was just engaging enough I wanted to know what happened next. I've never read a light novel before so I'm not sure how accurately I can review it. It certainly wasn't the worst book I've ever read and like I mentioned in my thoughts before it was interesting reading prose featuring magical girls as opposed to manga or anime.
That said, I wish this were a proper novel; a lot of world-building details fell to the wayside and the characters weren't as fleshed out as they might've been. I know this is the first in a series but I'm not sure if I'll hunt down the other additions. I primarily read this to see if one could pull off magical girls in prose form and in that regard the author definitely succeeded.
That said, I wish this were a proper novel; a lot of world-building details fell to the wayside and the characters weren't as fleshed out as they might've been. I know this is the first in a series but I'm not sure if I'll hunt down the other additions. I primarily read this to see if one could pull off magical girls in prose form and in that regard the author definitely succeeded.
January 3, 2021
I loved the book’s premise, but I feel it is a victim of its brevity. The prose is tense and a bit simplistic, too direct for my tastes. The story is intense and comes with many emotional blows, but many of them come like sucker punches, with little warning and little text given to let it sink on before it jumps to the next.
I wanted much more character development.
I call it the middle of the road. It could have been a fantastic thriller that lands in the “pretty ok” pile.
This is the kind of book that should come with content warnings because it strikes deeply below the belt of “feel bad” and horrific things a lot of people don't want to think about, but most all those warnings walk into spoilers.
I wanted much more character development.
I call it the middle of the road. It could have been a fantastic thriller that lands in the “pretty ok” pile.
This is the kind of book that should come with content warnings because it strikes deeply below the belt of “feel bad” and horrific things a lot of people don't want to think about, but most all those warnings walk into spoilers.
January 12, 2024
The beginning was quite slow, but then it picked up. Genuinely, it was a bit hard to remember what some characters looked like (they all had their distinct aesthetic), so my mind was confused about how to imagine them.
The author in his end note informed readers that this book was gruesome and he felt regretful for such a messed up story, but for me - gruesome? not at all, it was like a battle royale but with magical girls. We didn't explore the horror of their sacrifices, or at least I didn't feel the horror of it. More like the absurdity of their situation.
The action scenes were fun and the ending was unexpected.
Will I read the second part? Well- I'm not sure.
The author in his end note informed readers that this book was gruesome and he felt regretful for such a messed up story, but for me - gruesome? not at all, it was like a battle royale but with magical girls. We didn't explore the horror of their sacrifices, or at least I didn't feel the horror of it. More like the absurdity of their situation.
The action scenes were fun and the ending was unexpected.
Will I read the second part? Well- I'm not sure.
September 17, 2017
Eh. It could be the translation but......eh. The characters are boring, the plot is kind of confusing because stuff just happens in like a paragraph and sometimes there's a reaction and sometimes not so you end up reading the same paragraph again because maybe someone died but you can't really tell. I just wanted to rewatch Puella Magi Madoka Magicka instead of read another page. I mean, yeah, I finished it.....but I feel hollow and sad and a little bored inside.
January 3, 2018
Ok......I LOVE THIS BOOK. A couple years back I found it but was hesitant to read it. So I put it on my cue to read after discussing it with someone. However, I listened to a review of the book and the best line to describe this book is, "Madoka Magica meets Battle Royale" - Justus R. Stone
IMMEDIATELY, I had to read this book AND I DO NOT REGRET IT. If you are a fan of Battle Royale or Madoka Magica, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND READING THIS. It is a roller coaster ride that I found very enjoyable.
IMMEDIATELY, I had to read this book AND I DO NOT REGRET IT. If you are a fan of Battle Royale or Madoka Magica, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND READING THIS. It is a roller coaster ride that I found very enjoyable.
April 6, 2024
Actual rating: 3.5 stars. Like Koyuki, I too love magical girls. But unlike Koyuki, I think a game where they battle themselves to the death is fantastic. I watched the anime first and it follows this first volume pretty closely. I would have given it 4 stars, but I felt there were moments where the author could have lingered. Everything moves pretty quickly. Looking forward to the second volume.
March 12, 2023
As a fan of Madoka, I wanted something in a similar vein to it. This LN is more like episode 5-6 of Madoka replayed in a LN. The pacing is just horrible, a lot of exposition in a time exposition wouldn't be necessary. I also didn't care about any characters besides Top Speed and Alice.
And suicide for a shock factor. Cmon.
Read if you want Madoka, but only for the fights
2/5
And suicide for a shock factor. Cmon.
Read if you want Madoka, but only for the fights
2/5
September 29, 2018
A very interesting book. The first one in my favourite novel series, it's well-written but the latter chapters are too short. I'd like we had more backstory for some of the characters (most notably Cranberry and Swim Swim), but it's still a good read.
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