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Goblin Slayer Light Novel #2
Goblin Slayer, Vol. 2
Goblins are the weakest of the monsters, with only numbers in their favor. No warrior would dedicate himself to their eradication--except for Goblin Slayer.
As his reputation spreads, a quest comes from none other than the Supreme God's own archbishop--Sword Maiden, the Gold-ranked adventurer renowned for defeating a Demon Lord. The former hero brings a report of goblins beneath the flourishing, peaceful water town, followed by a plea for Goblin Slayer and his companions to investigate, since no one else will. Searching the catacombs beneath the town, though, the party discovers that the trouble runs far deeper than any of them realized. How are all these goblins entering the city? And why is Sword Maiden so desperate...?
As his reputation spreads, a quest comes from none other than the Supreme God's own archbishop--Sword Maiden, the Gold-ranked adventurer renowned for defeating a Demon Lord. The former hero brings a report of goblins beneath the flourishing, peaceful water town, followed by a plea for Goblin Slayer and his companions to investigate, since no one else will. Searching the catacombs beneath the town, though, the party discovers that the trouble runs far deeper than any of them realized. How are all these goblins entering the city? And why is Sword Maiden so desperate...?
233 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2016
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666 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
March 18, 2024
This wasn't a great book and it's not a remarkable series but each volume has been reliably entertaining and sometimes that is exactly what I'm looking for.
October 30, 2018
An autistic guy kills goblins.
March 24, 2019
I was concerned when this novel started that it was steering away from what made the first novel stand out. That being the sheer threat and horror that goblins presented in the world that had been built for the series. This is the one element that made things stand out among the other fantasy light novels out there and drew people's eyes to both the light novel series as well as the manga and anime.
But nope, the horror is there, and in the case of this novel, it's handled really well, even more so than the first book.
I really enjoyed this novel, though there were some small elements that kept it from reaching a full 5 star rating. It was nice to see Goblin Slayer in more general settings, and how despite being in an area of safety, he doesn't truly relax. It was also nice to see his interaction with Priestess and how their friendship/relationship evolved throughout this story. It was also nice to see the interactions between his party members being fleshed out as well, and added a certain level of growth to all of them.
One thing that struck me as odd is the fact that no one uses names in this world. I didn't really notice it that much in the first book, but boy does it stand out in this one, at some points becoming kind of annoying as people got longer names like Sword Maiden and such. It doesn't detract from the story too much, but you are certainly more aware of it in this novel.
That said, the Sword Maiden herself was a very interesting character, and one who's motives I could definitely understand and relate too. And the concept of a larger dungeon as being the main premise of the story (as stated by the author at the end of the book) was a nice change from the collection of shorter adventures of the first one. I also liked how the final conflict in this novel was resolved, far less dues ex machina than the solution to the ogre in the first novel.
All in all, Goblin Slayer continues to be an entertaining series of books to read. If you are looking for an interesting fantasy series this would be one for you!
But nope, the horror is there, and in the case of this novel, it's handled really well, even more so than the first book.
I really enjoyed this novel, though there were some small elements that kept it from reaching a full 5 star rating. It was nice to see Goblin Slayer in more general settings, and how despite being in an area of safety, he doesn't truly relax. It was also nice to see his interaction with Priestess and how their friendship/relationship evolved throughout this story. It was also nice to see the interactions between his party members being fleshed out as well, and added a certain level of growth to all of them.
One thing that struck me as odd is the fact that no one uses names in this world. I didn't really notice it that much in the first book, but boy does it stand out in this one, at some points becoming kind of annoying as people got longer names like Sword Maiden and such. It doesn't detract from the story too much, but you are certainly more aware of it in this novel.
That said, the Sword Maiden herself was a very interesting character, and one who's motives I could definitely understand and relate too. And the concept of a larger dungeon as being the main premise of the story (as stated by the author at the end of the book) was a nice change from the collection of shorter adventures of the first one. I also liked how the final conflict in this novel was resolved, far less dues ex machina than the solution to the ogre in the first novel.
All in all, Goblin Slayer continues to be an entertaining series of books to read. If you are looking for an interesting fantasy series this would be one for you!
September 25, 2023
I mean, it is fun. But could we have more of the slaying and dial back a bit on telling me how hot the 15 year old is? That would be cool.
If I wanted to read about that, I would read a Colleen Hoover novel.
If I wanted to read about that, I would read a Colleen Hoover novel.
June 23, 2020
I like the order of event much better here than in the anime... things make more sense from a character development standpoint. Also, I love the alligator, and the gods using 'gygax' as a swear... great stuff.
I wonder if the author can continue to come up with fun and interesting ways for the characters to attack, but attacked by, and defeat goblins, but so far so good.
There's also enough hints of a wider plot that make it worth proceeding. As long as the character to veer too much into the 'harem' set up (it could definitely go there with a wrong turn), I'll definitely continue the series :)
I wonder if the author can continue to come up with fun and interesting ways for the characters to attack, but attacked by, and defeat goblins, but so far so good.
There's also enough hints of a wider plot that make it worth proceeding. As long as the character to veer too much into the 'harem' set up (it could definitely go there with a wrong turn), I'll definitely continue the series :)
August 11, 2018
The sewer chapter of Goblin Slayer. Never been a big fan of sewers, and Goblin Slayer's method of approach to these sewers lends itself to being gross, mucky, and methodically paced. Still, there's some good stuff in here; you learn about Sword Maiden, I believe there's some paintings in the underground that hint at the fates and livelihood of the former civilization there, and then there's the mystery of how this many Goblins figured their way into the sewer and set up base there.
High Elf Archer features on the cover. She gets a decent amount of play in this one, though, there's no obvious romance or anything like that developing for her. She's just all about adventure and good times with friends. She gets drunk, she quips with the Dwarf Shaman, she even defends her buddy against the lookieloos in town. She's just a generally positive character. Her wiggling ears that react to positive and negative stimuli, like dog ears, are infectiously cute. xD
Next volume, we're getting into Cow Girl's story it seems like. I think they mention festival coming up that she may want to bring HIM to dance with her. I'm hoping that ship sails, but now it seems like Priestess, Guild Girl, and one other character all hold an interest in Goblin Slayer too (him and Guild Girl would be fun too). I don't know if he'll marry them all (since it's a fantasy setting) or they'll "get rid of" characters.
If I had to guess right now, Priestess seems like the forced lead. Even in this chapter, she gets a lot of the recovery + encouragement scenes with Goblin Slayer after a failure.
So fun volume, though it took me way too long to get through, lol. I just am not a huge fan of sewers, and I'm kind of dreading how the romance will play out and if we'll have dire consequences for any characters we know or if they'll always win.
High Elf Archer features on the cover. She gets a decent amount of play in this one, though, there's no obvious romance or anything like that developing for her. She's just all about adventure and good times with friends. She gets drunk, she quips with the Dwarf Shaman, she even defends her buddy against the lookieloos in town. She's just a generally positive character. Her wiggling ears that react to positive and negative stimuli, like dog ears, are infectiously cute. xD
Next volume, we're getting into Cow Girl's story it seems like. I think they mention festival coming up that she may want to bring HIM to dance with her. I'm hoping that ship sails, but now it seems like Priestess, Guild Girl, and one other character all hold an interest in Goblin Slayer too (him and Guild Girl would be fun too). I don't know if he'll marry them all (since it's a fantasy setting) or they'll "get rid of" characters.
If I had to guess right now, Priestess seems like the forced lead. Even in this chapter, she gets a lot of the recovery + encouragement scenes with Goblin Slayer after a failure.
So fun volume, though it took me way too long to get through, lol. I just am not a huge fan of sewers, and I'm kind of dreading how the romance will play out and if we'll have dire consequences for any characters we know or if they'll always win.
July 19, 2017
I review Light Novels on YouTube
Click on the link to view my Review of Goblin Slayer Volume 2
Click on the link to view my Review of Goblin Slayer Volume 2
April 26, 2020
Another good adventure with Goblin Slayer, this time we were on a larger dungeon and was a single adventure instead, so it felt longer but better prepared and with more dangers. Since this is still in the anime I knew what was going to happen and it doesn't differ much, but they've started hinting at other things like Dark entities and the Gods, so things should get interesting later on.
March 12, 2020
Not as good as book one but way more action packed.
March 9, 2020
A rollicking good read! Our unassuming hero once again makes short work of some redoubtable foes via his unexpected and clever tactics.
September 18, 2017
The thing that strikes me about this series, is that it's fantasy and there's swords and goblins but there's nothing to do with gaming in this book. It makes a nice change, don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against them, I love them, but it's nice to get a good old fantasy without the gaming thing. I liked how we see how the goblins and their attacks effect the villages and the people. We see how it effects the Sword Maiden in this book as a person, as well as the village, which was very well done and very interesting.
I love the lore to this world, and I love how the magic works, as well as the incantations! I like the different types of Goblins and I really like all of the battle tactics and we get to see more of the battle tactics in this book! I really enjoy the writing, it's vivid and paints the settings very clearly as well as an atmosphere. I can't read Japanese, but I feel like this is a really good translation. In this volume, it's a much larger, dungeon story throughout the volume, and there's a great mystery element as to whose summoning the goblins and what the Sword Maiden knows. Because she knows something, so I was wary of her for most of the volume!
Goblin Slayer has these great little interludes, and in this volume they're all relevant to the plot, and have little tidbits that add to the plot and provide another little aspect to it, which is a nice touch. This volume has more cute art, and I love the chapter headings, it's a nice little touch to make them stand out.
As for our characters they continue to be an interesting bunch. I love the banter and the dynamic between the group, and I love watching them all interact together. Goblin Slayer is hilariously stoic and blunt, like he had to actually say he had made a joke after he said the joke, and watching him deal with Priestess and the others makes me chuckle sometimes. I don't know if he's emotionally awkward or what, but he's definitely something. I'm enjoying getting background on Goblin Slayer and why he's so obsessed with hunting goblins...the lowest of the low. He's literally the only adventurer that goes solely after goblins, most don't bother.
The Lord of the Rings is strong with this one. Maybe it's just me because I'm completely obsessed with LOTR, but I really got such strong LOTR vibes from this book, there where so many...elements that really struck me as LOTRish. The bickering between High Elf Archer and Dwarf Shaman really reminds me of Legolas and Gimli. There's a scene involving riddles that was reminiscent of the Bilbo and Gollum scene, especially when the last riddle was "What have I got in my pocket". Then Goblin Slayer mentioned something his master did that was very Bilbo-y, I'm not going to lie. Some of the swords have distinctly LOTR sounding names too, and then there's an actual chapter called There and Back Again and I did squeal a little bit at that!
I'm so intrigued by this series, and to see where it's going to go and end up. I love the characters, they're an interesting and colourful bunch. I enjoy the writing, and the intrigue and magic and fighting. There are some gorily vivid battle scenes, and some excellent battle tactics that are intriguing to read about. Plus I really enjoy the cute art and illustrations! You all know I love fantasy, so it's not really a surprise I'm enjoying this series, is it?!
I love the lore to this world, and I love how the magic works, as well as the incantations! I like the different types of Goblins and I really like all of the battle tactics and we get to see more of the battle tactics in this book! I really enjoy the writing, it's vivid and paints the settings very clearly as well as an atmosphere. I can't read Japanese, but I feel like this is a really good translation. In this volume, it's a much larger, dungeon story throughout the volume, and there's a great mystery element as to whose summoning the goblins and what the Sword Maiden knows. Because she knows something, so I was wary of her for most of the volume!
Goblin Slayer has these great little interludes, and in this volume they're all relevant to the plot, and have little tidbits that add to the plot and provide another little aspect to it, which is a nice touch. This volume has more cute art, and I love the chapter headings, it's a nice little touch to make them stand out.
As for our characters they continue to be an interesting bunch. I love the banter and the dynamic between the group, and I love watching them all interact together. Goblin Slayer is hilariously stoic and blunt, like he had to actually say he had made a joke after he said the joke, and watching him deal with Priestess and the others makes me chuckle sometimes. I don't know if he's emotionally awkward or what, but he's definitely something. I'm enjoying getting background on Goblin Slayer and why he's so obsessed with hunting goblins...the lowest of the low. He's literally the only adventurer that goes solely after goblins, most don't bother.
The Lord of the Rings is strong with this one. Maybe it's just me because I'm completely obsessed with LOTR, but I really got such strong LOTR vibes from this book, there where so many...elements that really struck me as LOTRish. The bickering between High Elf Archer and Dwarf Shaman really reminds me of Legolas and Gimli. There's a scene involving riddles that was reminiscent of the Bilbo and Gollum scene, especially when the last riddle was "What have I got in my pocket". Then Goblin Slayer mentioned something his master did that was very Bilbo-y, I'm not going to lie. Some of the swords have distinctly LOTR sounding names too, and then there's an actual chapter called There and Back Again and I did squeal a little bit at that!
I'm so intrigued by this series, and to see where it's going to go and end up. I love the characters, they're an interesting and colourful bunch. I enjoy the writing, and the intrigue and magic and fighting. There are some gorily vivid battle scenes, and some excellent battle tactics that are intriguing to read about. Plus I really enjoy the cute art and illustrations! You all know I love fantasy, so it's not really a surprise I'm enjoying this series, is it?!
July 29, 2019
Man, I really enjoy Goblin Slayer, but it's kind of weird as fuck. I feel the violence and goblin-rape are meme'd up far beyond what actually happens in the books, because this volume feels pretty light-hearted at times, in sharp contrast to what is said of the series. There's violence, sure, but it happens quickly, with the narration not dwelling too much on bloody details (basically just mentioning geysers of blood and goblin skulls being caved in, but nothing these comments come out very matter-of-fact). There's rape, sure, but only off-screen, ten years in the past (Sword Maiden gives a quest to GS's party because she is afraid of goblins after having been raped, but the r-word isn't used very much at all, and SM's past is handled with delicacy and maturity for the most part [except for the fact that she's kind of turned on by GS, but that's more an issue for the overall "RPG-based fantasy light novel" genre]).
The first volume felt like a string of short stories linked by Priestess's initial meetings with Goblin Slayer, going through the formation of the party with High Elf Archer, Dwarf Shaman, and Lizard Priest, their exploration of the ruins and battle against the Ogre, and the finale about GS, his party, and the town's other adventurers defending Cow Girl's farm from a goblin horde. This volume is more like a single, larger quest, broken up "realistically" (that is, in perfect simulation of RPG dungeon-crawling) by having the party take a breather every so often, after making so much progress in their quest one day. The party are sent on their way by Sword Maiden, and they run into the white alligator. They recuperate for a moment only to go back later, where they all get their asses kicked trying to fight the goblin champion. Then they go back to fight the copyright-friendly "Watcher" (not a Dungeons and Dragons "beholder," despite the fact that the monster keeps saying that name, like a Pokemon would) who guards the magic Gate mirror that's bringing the goblins to the sewers. Then they go back yet again to kill the goblin champion (or otherwise the champion showed up soon after they killed the Beholder, and I just put reading the book on hold because I had to poop or something). GS meets with SM at the end to confirm completion of the quest, and we have the lingering mysteries wrapped up (the alligator is SM's familiar, whose task it is to patrol the sewers; the murders about town were from Demon Lord servants seeking revenge against SM, but she used them as an excuse to have GS kill the goblins; it isn't outright stated, but it's very vaguely inferred that the Hero slew whatever Demon Lord owned the Gate mirror).
I guess one's enjoyment of this novel is tied to what one seeks from the series. Those looking for braindead sensationalism likely won't find what they're looking for. There's nothing really vulgar, this time around. I mean, there are a hell of a lot of times when Dwarf Shaman describes High Elf Archer's chest as being as flat as an anvil, but it's always the word "chest" being used, nothing like "boobs" or even "breasts." It retains the humor of making fun of the "pettanko" without exactly eroticizing her (not that I'd mind myself, but whatever). We can see from illustrations that Sword Maiden is THICC as fuck, but again this isn't made a big deal. Priestess is somewhat jealous of her body, and she's sometimes described as being a temptress or something, which is maybe supposed to be ironic for her being a white mage of sorts, and also that she survived being raped by goblins when I'm pretty sure it's been said in the first novel that women die from goblin childbirth (so I guess she wasn't impregnated, or was otherwise barren?). There's a minor issue with the text describing SM as having white scars all over her body, whereas no such things exist in Noboru Kannatuki's art. I feel like we also see her eyes in an illustration and they don't look as fucked up as Kagyu's prose suggests. But I guess it can't be helped; LN artists don't always follow the authors' gritty details, and they often focus on making things look prettier to sell more books. SM looks hot, but she's supposed to have visible flaws, which Kagyu puts more weight on than he does her beauty. But then Kannatuki's just like "fuck that, I'm going to show her nipples poking out of her dress." And I'm not complaining.
Anyway, not exactly sure how I feel about how the way the main "quest" of the story is broken up. Nothing wrong with the structure, just that it kinda encouraged me to read the whole thing in several sittings of taking a shit, rather than just reading it all the way through like I otherwise do with light novels. I'd take the book in the bathroom with me, finish pooping halfway through a dungeon excursion, and just sit on the toilet for twenty more minutes with my legs falling asleep because now I'm dedicated to finishing the chapter, but after I flush and wipe and wash my hands I don't feel like continuing the book for a while....
The combat scenes are good, though. They remind me paradoxically of the stilted way I play Final Fantasy 1. Or like any Dragon Quest. Just have everyone buff the primary tank (Knight in FF1) until he's strong enough, then focus on buffing the secondary attacker (Ninja, who uses Haste and Temper alongside Black Wizard), then after both fighters are buffed have them keep using melee attacks while Black Wizard spams spells (which end up being weaker than Knight and Ninja attacks), while White Wizard is stuck playing healslut unless Protect and Shell somehow wear off. So what I'm saying is Kumo Kagyu does well to have Priestess gathering arrows for High Elf Archer and shit because it gives her something to do when everyone else is fighting and spells/prayers in-universe don't allow for Cure spam like in video games. Such semi-tactical battles in prose format (that is, using narration rather than video-gameplay) kinda makes me interested in the sort of tabletop gaming on which the novel is based. But at the same time it seems too nerdy even for me, so I don't know....
****
I feel like, if I was an adventurer, I'd probably let myself get severely injured in battle so I can passively get a qt Priestess to use Resurrect on me ;^)
The first volume felt like a string of short stories linked by Priestess's initial meetings with Goblin Slayer, going through the formation of the party with High Elf Archer, Dwarf Shaman, and Lizard Priest, their exploration of the ruins and battle against the Ogre, and the finale about GS, his party, and the town's other adventurers defending Cow Girl's farm from a goblin horde. This volume is more like a single, larger quest, broken up "realistically" (that is, in perfect simulation of RPG dungeon-crawling) by having the party take a breather every so often, after making so much progress in their quest one day. The party are sent on their way by Sword Maiden, and they run into the white alligator. They recuperate for a moment only to go back later, where they all get their asses kicked trying to fight the goblin champion. Then they go back to fight the copyright-friendly "Watcher" (not a Dungeons and Dragons "beholder," despite the fact that the monster keeps saying that name, like a Pokemon would) who guards the magic Gate mirror that's bringing the goblins to the sewers. Then they go back yet again to kill the goblin champion (or otherwise the champion showed up soon after they killed the Beholder, and I just put reading the book on hold because I had to poop or something). GS meets with SM at the end to confirm completion of the quest, and we have the lingering mysteries wrapped up (the alligator is SM's familiar, whose task it is to patrol the sewers; the murders about town were from Demon Lord servants seeking revenge against SM, but she used them as an excuse to have GS kill the goblins; it isn't outright stated, but it's very vaguely inferred that the Hero slew whatever Demon Lord owned the Gate mirror).
I guess one's enjoyment of this novel is tied to what one seeks from the series. Those looking for braindead sensationalism likely won't find what they're looking for. There's nothing really vulgar, this time around. I mean, there are a hell of a lot of times when Dwarf Shaman describes High Elf Archer's chest as being as flat as an anvil, but it's always the word "chest" being used, nothing like "boobs" or even "breasts." It retains the humor of making fun of the "pettanko" without exactly eroticizing her (not that I'd mind myself, but whatever). We can see from illustrations that Sword Maiden is THICC as fuck, but again this isn't made a big deal. Priestess is somewhat jealous of her body, and she's sometimes described as being a temptress or something, which is maybe supposed to be ironic for her being a white mage of sorts, and also that she survived being raped by goblins when I'm pretty sure it's been said in the first novel that women die from goblin childbirth (so I guess she wasn't impregnated, or was otherwise barren?). There's a minor issue with the text describing SM as having white scars all over her body, whereas no such things exist in Noboru Kannatuki's art. I feel like we also see her eyes in an illustration and they don't look as fucked up as Kagyu's prose suggests. But I guess it can't be helped; LN artists don't always follow the authors' gritty details, and they often focus on making things look prettier to sell more books. SM looks hot, but she's supposed to have visible flaws, which Kagyu puts more weight on than he does her beauty. But then Kannatuki's just like "fuck that, I'm going to show her nipples poking out of her dress." And I'm not complaining.
Anyway, not exactly sure how I feel about how the way the main "quest" of the story is broken up. Nothing wrong with the structure, just that it kinda encouraged me to read the whole thing in several sittings of taking a shit, rather than just reading it all the way through like I otherwise do with light novels. I'd take the book in the bathroom with me, finish pooping halfway through a dungeon excursion, and just sit on the toilet for twenty more minutes with my legs falling asleep because now I'm dedicated to finishing the chapter, but after I flush and wipe and wash my hands I don't feel like continuing the book for a while....
The combat scenes are good, though. They remind me paradoxically of the stilted way I play Final Fantasy 1. Or like any Dragon Quest. Just have everyone buff the primary tank (Knight in FF1) until he's strong enough, then focus on buffing the secondary attacker (Ninja, who uses Haste and Temper alongside Black Wizard), then after both fighters are buffed have them keep using melee attacks while Black Wizard spams spells (which end up being weaker than Knight and Ninja attacks), while White Wizard is stuck playing healslut unless Protect and Shell somehow wear off. So what I'm saying is Kumo Kagyu does well to have Priestess gathering arrows for High Elf Archer and shit because it gives her something to do when everyone else is fighting and spells/prayers in-universe don't allow for Cure spam like in video games. Such semi-tactical battles in prose format (that is, using narration rather than video-gameplay) kinda makes me interested in the sort of tabletop gaming on which the novel is based. But at the same time it seems too nerdy even for me, so I don't know....
****
I feel like, if I was an adventurer, I'd probably let myself get severely injured in battle so I can passively get a qt Priestess to use Resurrect on me ;^)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2018
One day, a certain person arrives at the Guild to ask for Goblin Slayer by name. The request comes from the Water District, a neighborhood in the prosperous capital of the Supreme God, and the Arch Bishop that hails form there. The Arch Bishop was once a Gold-ranked adventurer known as the Sword Maiden who defeated the Demon King, a true hero. Now, she comes forward with the details of goblins somehow appearing within the Water district...
Goblin Slayer, alongside his companions High Elf Archer, Priestess, Lizard Priest, and Dwarf Shaman, enter the catacombs beneath the Water District to get down to the bottom of the goblin disturbance!
August 2, 2019
Goblin Slayer volume 2 is not quite as good as the first, but still very enjoyable if you liked the previous story. This story is spent almost entirely in the sewers of a city, which is actually a neat idea for a fantasy story, and it helps develop the world more, and in many ways is a great addition to the canon, but story itself, particularly the big reveal element, fell somewhere between lacking and nonsense. Also, there were a number of pop culture references that super took me out of the story.
July 27, 2018
Another Japanese Light Novel to clear the pallet. Yes, the story can be trope-ish and filled with all sorts of anime cliches, but in the end this is just a fun story from a writer who clearly loves Lord of the Rings and Dungeons and Dragons. I noticed that the writing has gotten a little bit sharper in this sequel as well with a nice twist at the end involving a certain character's motivation. Overall, highly enjoyable and one of the few light novel series I would recommend to friends.
October 31, 2018
If you enjoyed the first book, you'll love this one - which focuses on longer style quests, rather than the short excursions seen in the first novel. Another refreshing, entertaining TTRPG-style narrative packed with interesting, unique companions, thoughtful world building, and perhaps the seeds of a deeper narrative arc for future novels to grow on.
If the first book was an introduction to the world and characters, this was the first major quest in their campaign.
If the first book was an introduction to the world and characters, this was the first major quest in their campaign.
November 18, 2018
Learn more about the world as Goblin Slayer continues his adventures
The adventure continues with Goblin Slayer and his party. This time, GS is summoned by former legendary hero Sword Maiden to investigate strange and goblinous goings-on in Water Town, a big settlement located far from the frontier. There's more of what you loved in Volume 1: a huge dungeon, a boss monster, and more goblins than you shake a ten-foot pole at.
The adventure continues with Goblin Slayer and his party. This time, GS is summoned by former legendary hero Sword Maiden to investigate strange and goblinous goings-on in Water Town, a big settlement located far from the frontier. There's more of what you loved in Volume 1: a huge dungeon, a boss monster, and more goblins than you shake a ten-foot pole at.
June 25, 2017
I don't know if i'm fully on board with this series yet; If the characters continue to grow and if Goblin Slayer becomes more of a well rounded character than I would definitely enjoy this series a lot more. I also hope the world itself becomes more of a focal point in future volumes. Overall not bad and it was interesting at times but it just didn't blow my socks off 3.5 stars
September 23, 2017
I encourage you to start reading this after the 1st book. Temple of law was amazing the whole watertown that this story takes place was really well thought of when putting the story together. If you want role play a crazy character like this one. Read this book, you will never look at archbishop of the church the same again.
July 4, 2024
Goblin Slayer, Vol. 2 by Kumo Kagyu
Goblin Slayer, Vol. 2 by Kumo Kagyu continues the grim and gritty adventures of the titular Goblin Slayer and his party as they take on more perilous missions in their relentless quest to eradicate goblins. While this volume builds on the dark, intense atmosphere established in the first book, it also introduces new characters and plot elements that enrich the story. However, when compared to its contemporaries in the dark fantasy genre, it reveals both its strengths and its limitations.
Kagyu's writing remains straightforward and action-driven, focusing on the brutal and often harrowing battles against goblins. The prose is functional, emphasizing clarity and pace over stylistic flourishes, which suits the novel's unflinching portrayal of violence and survival. This volume delves deeper into the world’s lore, exploring the backgrounds of the supporting characters and the various guild dynamics, which adds layers to the overarching narrative.
One of the key strengths of Goblin Slayer, Vol. 2 is its ability to maintain a consistent tone of tension and danger. The protagonist's single-minded determination to hunt goblins continues to drive the plot, but the inclusion of new party members and their backstories provides fresh perspectives and emotional depth. The interactions between characters, particularly the growing camaraderie within the group, offer moments of respite and development amid the relentless action.
When comparing Goblin Slayer to its contemporaries, such as Kentaro Miura's Berserk or Ryo Shirakome's Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest, it becomes clear that while Goblin Slayer excels in its visceral depiction of combat and its unwavering focus on a specific goal, it lacks the narrative complexity and character development that elevate these other series. Berserk, for instance, offers a more intricate and emotionally charged storyline, with profound explorations of themes such as destiny, sacrifice, and the human condition.
In Goblin Slayer, Vol. 2, the focus remains primarily on the immediate threats and challenges posed by the goblins. While this creates a fast-paced and gripping narrative, it also limits the scope for broader world-building and thematic exploration. The characters, though interesting, are often defined by their roles and abilities rather than fully fleshed-out personalities. This can make their motivations and relationships feel somewhat underdeveloped compared to those in more character-driven series.
Furthermore, the graphic nature of the violence and the dark themes explored in Goblin Slayer might not appeal to all readers. The series' commitment to portraying the brutal reality of its world is both a strength and a limitation, as it can sometimes overshadow opportunities for more nuanced storytelling and emotional engagement.
In conclusion, Goblin Slayer, Vol. 2 by Kumo Kagyu is a compelling continuation of a dark fantasy series that excels in delivering intense action and maintaining a consistent tone of danger and urgency. However, when compared to its contemporaries, it falls short in terms of narrative depth and character development. While it offers an engrossing read for fans of grim and relentless fantasy, those seeking more intricate plots and complex characters might find it lacking.
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Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
June 13, 2017
Still one of the best light novels around. Pretty dark and heavy. Writing gets confusing sometimes because the writer is trying not to be explicit about violent stuff that is happening or happened in the past.
Storywise, it's still . Was expecting a better ending though, and thus the 4 stars.
Storywise, it's still . Was expecting a better ending though, and thus the 4 stars.
July 10, 2017
Good sequel.
A good sequel on this series. I liked the story and the way it was written. The only thing I found was that it repeats a lot of info through the book. Good story and good characters, recommended.
A good sequel on this series. I liked the story and the way it was written. The only thing I found was that it repeats a lot of info through the book. Good story and good characters, recommended.
December 1, 2018
Good progression, refreshing
Love the refreshing perspective. A simple MC doing the dirty work no one give much credit for doing. Some character development was good, if a bit dark. The brief chapters with hard to track perspectives is somewhat annoying but not as bad a most LN.
Love the refreshing perspective. A simple MC doing the dirty work no one give much credit for doing. Some character development was good, if a bit dark. The brief chapters with hard to track perspectives is somewhat annoying but not as bad a most LN.
September 2, 2017
Great as ever. Starting to show signs of more semi-important companion characters perhaps? Might be a warning.
April 7, 2018
awesome story...
May 31, 2018
Goblins! Goblins! Everywhere!
The story was written well. Not great but well. The characters were better and more rounded. I liked the book.
The story was written well. Not great but well. The characters were better and more rounded. I liked the book.
October 13, 2018
On to volume three
December 7, 2018
Great
Another great tale in the epic of the Goblin Slayer! Very well done! It was fun seeing GS and his party assist the Sword Maiden. Highly recommend.
Another great tale in the epic of the Goblin Slayer! Very well done! It was fun seeing GS and his party assist the Sword Maiden. Highly recommend.
February 28, 2019
A another grand adventure with Goblin Slayer and the crew. It goes to show you that you are only limited by your imagination and the more questions you ask, the more you learn.
June 4, 2019
it was a good book
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