What do you think?
Rate this book
The Combat Baker and Automaton Waitress #1
The Combat Baker and Automaton Waitress, Vol. 1
The war hero known as Silver Wolf - Lud Langart - pilots a humanoid assault weapon while he dreams of life as a baker. With the war over, Lud now peacefully runs his bakery, but thanks to his frightening scowl, he can't sell a single loaf of bread. After posting an ad for a waitress in a last ditch effort to save his business, who should reply but a beautiful silver-haired, red-eyed young girl. What Lud doesn't know is that this new waitress was born from Avei, his AI partner installed in the humanoid assault weapon he piloted during the war.
ebook
First published April 1, 2015
59 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 10, 2020
This was very enjoyable for me. I love how it was part cooking novel and part military intrigue Novel. The mix of those 2 things aren’t something that I thought I would like but it’s done so well in this one that it really hit a chord with me. I can’t wait to continue on with this series. I do want to note that I did have a few issues with the translation that didn’t really make sense to me which is why I couldn’t give this a full 5 stars
October 11, 2019
Este libro es horrible; quizá lo peor que eh leído en mucho tiempo. Dios, razones hay muchas y no me alcanzan 14mil palabras para desahogarme. No soy de los que hacen reseñas con spoilers, por lo que vamos a ser tan precisos con la información que será deliberada acá.
El libro sufre, de forma narrativa hablando al menos. El autor es pobre describiendo el ambiente y espacio narrativo; la mayoría del tiempo los personajes estarán vagando por lienzos en blanco donde ellos se moverán de un lado a otro sin tu comprender exactamente cómo. La situación es tan mala que, teniendo en cuenta que la obra trata sobre un panadero, la tienda, la panadería es tan pobremente descrita que es un descubrimiento casi cualquier información que se pueda obtener al respecto. Está tan mal descrita, que solo la conoces de la entrada (y ni tanto), a un par de metros dentro. Demás exteriores son el mismo caso.
Su narrativa es aburrida en el peor de los casos; y aunque puede llegar a ser una lectura "entretenida", tener que apagar las neuronas para poder disfrutarla me parece un muy, muy alto precio para ello.
El libro sufre, de forma narrativa hablando al menos. El autor es pobre describiendo el ambiente y espacio narrativo; la mayoría del tiempo los personajes estarán vagando por lienzos en blanco donde ellos se moverán de un lado a otro sin tu comprender exactamente cómo. La situación es tan mala que, teniendo en cuenta que la obra trata sobre un panadero, la tienda, la panadería es tan pobremente descrita que es un descubrimiento casi cualquier información que se pueda obtener al respecto. Está tan mal descrita, que solo la conoces de la entrada (y ni tanto), a un par de metros dentro. Demás exteriores son el mismo caso.
Su narrativa es aburrida en el peor de los casos; y aunque puede llegar a ser una lectura "entretenida", tener que apagar las neuronas para poder disfrutarla me parece un muy, muy alto precio para ello.
September 8, 2022
Three stars more for potential than execution. In truth, I suspect this series will not live up to my internal hype, however.
It's hard not to draw parallels with 'Violet Evergarden.' The two series appear to be contemporary, so I wouldn't like to say one influenced the other. If you split Violet into two people, you'd get Lud and Sven. Lud is the child soldier dealing with all the death he's caused by diving into a new profession (in this case, baking). Sven has the mechanical arms (and other parts) and is trying to deal with emotions she doesn't understand. However, the two series couldn't be more different in tone and execution.
The premise behind 'Combat Baker...' is pretty good and there's hints of interesting worldbuilding in the background. The action isn't bad. Lud suffers from Batman Syndrome, unfortunately. 'I won't kill, even if not killing will result in multiple deaths.' It's selfish.
Meanwhile, the romantic aspect of the series has every chance of devolving into Sven spitting like a wildcat at every woman who goes near Lud while she refuses to actually tell the man her feelings in a way he understands. Because he's dense. How can you watch a strip of a girl arm wrestle a miner and not work out you aren't dealing with a typical human? Clearly, Lud was hit in the head a few too many times during the war.
Also, some bits of the text made no sense to me and there were a couple of glaring text errors. Better proofreading needed.
Otherwise, a reasonably good read with the potential to be a good story. I may read the second one.
It's hard not to draw parallels with 'Violet Evergarden.' The two series appear to be contemporary, so I wouldn't like to say one influenced the other. If you split Violet into two people, you'd get Lud and Sven. Lud is the child soldier dealing with all the death he's caused by diving into a new profession (in this case, baking). Sven has the mechanical arms (and other parts) and is trying to deal with emotions she doesn't understand. However, the two series couldn't be more different in tone and execution.
The premise behind 'Combat Baker...' is pretty good and there's hints of interesting worldbuilding in the background. The action isn't bad. Lud suffers from Batman Syndrome, unfortunately. 'I won't kill, even if not killing will result in multiple deaths.' It's selfish.
Meanwhile, the romantic aspect of the series has every chance of devolving into Sven spitting like a wildcat at every woman who goes near Lud while she refuses to actually tell the man her feelings in a way he understands. Because he's dense. How can you watch a strip of a girl arm wrestle a miner and not work out you aren't dealing with a typical human? Clearly, Lud was hit in the head a few too many times during the war.
Also, some bits of the text made no sense to me and there were a couple of glaring text errors. Better proofreading needed.
Otherwise, a reasonably good read with the potential to be a good story. I may read the second one.
July 18, 2017
Despite the title (and the author's unfortunate-in-English pen name), this is a strangely touching, dark book about what soldiers do after the wars are done with a little Atom the Beginning style robo-responsibility thrown in. Definitely worth reading.
Full review eventually appearing on ANN.
Full review eventually appearing on ANN.
July 10, 2017
Actual Rating: 3.4/5
Combat Baker and Automaton Waitress had a bare-bones plot- nothing overly impressive neither completely boring. but as one who read and watched Light Novels and Light Novel Adaptions, it just felt that I've read this story before. A person who is an ex-soldier who wants a peaceful life is intertwined with hijinks.
That being said- I really enjoyed the straightforwardness of the plot. There was no lingering on a scene too long and the dialogue was to the point.
the characters, for the most part, were enjoyable. I loved Jud, the ex-soldier turned baker and the nun and two child characters. the only character I didn't enjoy was the waitress. not because she was the part android- it was because she felt flat; relying on an overly used jealously stereotype.
I enjoyed this first Volume and will read the next one- I would recommend this to people so want a simple story to consume and enjoy.
Combat Baker and Automaton Waitress had a bare-bones plot- nothing overly impressive neither completely boring. but as one who read and watched Light Novels and Light Novel Adaptions, it just felt that I've read this story before. A person who is an ex-soldier who wants a peaceful life is intertwined with hijinks.
That being said- I really enjoyed the straightforwardness of the plot. There was no lingering on a scene too long and the dialogue was to the point.
the characters, for the most part, were enjoyable. I loved Jud, the ex-soldier turned baker and the nun and two child characters. the only character I didn't enjoy was the waitress. not because she was the part android- it was because she felt flat; relying on an overly used jealously stereotype.
I enjoyed this first Volume and will read the next one- I would recommend this to people so want a simple story to consume and enjoy.
April 4, 2020
My thoughts on The Combat Baker and Automaton Waitress: Volume 1
Written by Sow
Art by Zaza
The story:
A war hero after the war decides to make his dream true. Opening a bakery, after months with no customers he realizes he is the reason why no one buys his bread.
Suddenly one day a white-haired red-eyed beauty arrives at his bakery asking to work there
Enjoyment:
The story is nothing out of this word, it's not the best writing and the plot is very predictable, but I can forgive all of that because of how relaxing and fun this book was.
I could never have thought a book about bread and fighting could be so much fun to read
The verdict:
You know, right now it's free to read (at the time of me writing this review), it's a short book. If you can, go give it a read, its relaxing and fun as heck.
Without a doubt, I will be buying the next volumes. I'm very interested in how the story will develop 7/10
Written by Sow
Art by Zaza
The story:
A war hero after the war decides to make his dream true. Opening a bakery, after months with no customers he realizes he is the reason why no one buys his bread.
Suddenly one day a white-haired red-eyed beauty arrives at his bakery asking to work there
Enjoyment:
The story is nothing out of this word, it's not the best writing and the plot is very predictable, but I can forgive all of that because of how relaxing and fun this book was.
I could never have thought a book about bread and fighting could be so much fun to read
The verdict:
You know, right now it's free to read (at the time of me writing this review), it's a short book. If you can, go give it a read, its relaxing and fun as heck.
Without a doubt, I will be buying the next volumes. I'm very interested in how the story will develop 7/10
September 6, 2024
The Combat Baker and Automaton Waitress volume is a bit of an odd mix of elements from different kind of stories most notably harem romcom and post-war retired soldier. It was decently entertaining, if a bit short, and more was done with the fact a continent wide war had just finished than I expected. Having said that, the characters fitted the tropes, and while a WW2 era technology with some extras (most notable mechs) is rare in LNs, it came with some aspects I am not a fan of. Still, it was a decent read especially if you are looking for a more modern kind of fantasy setting and don't mind the harem romcom elements.
October 2, 2018
TLDR:This book follows the story of war vertern turn baker who is having a hard time running his bakery until one day a mysterious girl shows up to work at the bakery who at one point was a robot. If your not convinced by the premeise alone the book has focus on the characters of the story while giving glimpse to the world which are explored in later books
January 3, 2020
Don't be fooled by the title. Sure, the title is wacky but the story is not. The story is more on the serious side. And it can be somewhat disturbing too, considering that the story is focusing more on the after-effect of war.
Despite that, I do find the story enjoyable to read. So, I'm looking forward to reading the next book from the series.
Despite that, I do find the story enjoyable to read. So, I'm looking forward to reading the next book from the series.
December 22, 2022
Interesting world and characters, and irony how th solider is becoming more human thanks to his robotic AI while the opposite is also true. Hope the character development doesnt stop but continue in the later volumes
March 30, 2020
Good book with a complicated story.
October 20, 2021
Great story.
February 26, 2023
Pretty good, a blended between slice of life and military fiction. Just hope the next volumes not so much in the slice of life genre.
July 19, 2017
I review Light Novels on my YouTube channel.
Click the link to view my Review of The Combat Baker and Automaton Waitress Volume 1
Click the link to view my Review of The Combat Baker and Automaton Waitress Volume 1
April 12, 2020
If you read the title and the synopsis, you gotta got it that it's ex-militant and his partner story during postwar.
my expectation before read it was gotta a normal/common fantasy story that mainly explained the bakery, but I think I got disappointed because of my own expectation, but no worries that's not the main reason I give that stars!
Let's talk about prologue , it's telling about the ex-militant doing during the war from the achievements til leaving his partner. well the epilogue gives you some information or kind makes you guessing his personality.
and then coming to the first chapter, there is a scene made my head tilt like okay, I am going to tolerate that if it's gonna make the story more fun. you know on epilogue it's telling about his partner, and before first chapter it was telling that stuff happened to his partner. I don't think these stuff is common since on these entire story of 1st volume, nobody is doing it*!
all right, and then the bakery, during experimenting products, the ex-militant here telling his friend that he got the idea of the stuff from eastern country. and the idea of that stuff, is named in Japanese, oh my god! If it's something like the MC living in our life and then thrown away to another parallel universe, that will be something I could forgive for. but it's totally fantasy stuff.
later on, some people referenced other stuff using western name. I think it's not being consistent enough for that. I don't know is it something I should disappoint to or nah. it would be great if the stuff is using unique language and the author explaining about that stuff that similar to Japanese food, that will be something that forgivable.
all right move aside the language, lets talking about the plot.
all right, the plot here, is that kinda makes me tilt my head lot of time. first half of the story is so slow paced. I'm okay with slow paced one, I started to adapted with that too. but I kinda don't like how the author is saying stuff on present and suddenly moving back to the past, sometimes too many past too. I mean cutting the conversation that already got hyped me up, and then given other kind of information is killing the hype. and it happened lot of time. for me, it will be great if you provide the character a time to think by himself and then talking back to the past, that is more enjoyable instead of saying that in the middle of conversation/stuff.
one more thing, a chapter is as long as 50 pages and up, and the other chapter is as short as 10 pages and less. I only read some novels, but I know for sure that being inconsistent like this is kind of ruin the mood too. for example in a chapter, there lot of stuff happened, but decided packed into a chapter. it would be great idea to split them apart, so the audience/reader know when to pause a bit to rewind/recall the puzzle/stuff told before. putting them in a pack, it makes me being curious all the long road but ended up disappointed. things goes the same to the short one, it's too short till nothing reminded in my memory.
the last half were pretty fun, because it's sudden change of pace. but got another disappointment with the conclusion / how the character solve the problems, because it's too magically that ain't told before like it's so sudden and so different from any other things being told in the story. something that recently would you called with 'Imbalance'.
overall it's not something enlighten me , but if I could read the plot only, I wish I could. I only want to know the relationship between the main characters. and I hope there will be some recipes too cz imagining bakery is not my skill.
my expectation before read it was gotta a normal/common fantasy story that mainly explained the bakery, but I think I got disappointed because of my own expectation, but no worries that's not the main reason I give that stars!
Let's talk about prologue , it's telling about the ex-militant doing during the war from the achievements til leaving his partner. well the epilogue gives you some information or kind makes you guessing his personality.
and then coming to the first chapter, there is a scene made my head tilt like okay, I am going to tolerate that if it's gonna make the story more fun. you know on epilogue it's telling about his partner, and before first chapter it was telling that stuff happened to his partner. I don't think these stuff is common since on these entire story of 1st volume, nobody is doing it*!
all right, and then the bakery, during experimenting products, the ex-militant here telling his friend that he got the idea of the stuff from eastern country. and the idea of that stuff, is named in Japanese, oh my god! If it's something like the MC living in our life and then thrown away to another parallel universe, that will be something I could forgive for. but it's totally fantasy stuff.
later on, some people referenced other stuff using western name. I think it's not being consistent enough for that. I don't know is it something I should disappoint to or nah. it would be great if the stuff is using unique language and the author explaining about that stuff that similar to Japanese food, that will be something that forgivable.
all right move aside the language, lets talking about the plot.
all right, the plot here, is that kinda makes me tilt my head lot of time. first half of the story is so slow paced. I'm okay with slow paced one, I started to adapted with that too. but I kinda don't like how the author is saying stuff on present and suddenly moving back to the past, sometimes too many past too. I mean cutting the conversation that already got hyped me up, and then given other kind of information is killing the hype. and it happened lot of time. for me, it will be great if you provide the character a time to think by himself and then talking back to the past, that is more enjoyable instead of saying that in the middle of conversation/stuff.
one more thing, a chapter is as long as 50 pages and up, and the other chapter is as short as 10 pages and less. I only read some novels, but I know for sure that being inconsistent like this is kind of ruin the mood too. for example in a chapter, there lot of stuff happened, but decided packed into a chapter. it would be great idea to split them apart, so the audience/reader know when to pause a bit to rewind/recall the puzzle/stuff told before. putting them in a pack, it makes me being curious all the long road but ended up disappointed. things goes the same to the short one, it's too short till nothing reminded in my memory.
the last half were pretty fun, because it's sudden change of pace. but got another disappointment with the conclusion / how the character solve the problems, because it's too magically that ain't told before like it's so sudden and so different from any other things being told in the story. something that recently would you called with 'Imbalance'.
overall it's not something enlighten me , but if I could read the plot only, I wish I could. I only want to know the relationship between the main characters. and I hope there will be some recipes too cz imagining bakery is not my skill.
April 7, 2020
前面大致上還算是日常的故事
怎麼到後來反差好大
可能是因為最近在讀AI的相關書籍，前期在放下書時
會開始思考戰鬥輔助AI到底怎麼進化成通用人工智慧(artificial general intelligence)
reward function到底是寫了什麼奇怪的東西，才能機器學習出如此熟練地賣萌
不過沒多久就放棄思考了
英文版要出完結第10集了
台版的進度還在第3集，而且第3集是先中斷了2年半後出的
這算是復活還是迴光返照呢……
--
J-Novel Club 限時免費閱讀第2本
怎麼到後來反差好大
可能是因為最近在讀AI的相關書籍，前期在放下書時
會開始思考戰鬥輔助AI到底怎麼進化成通用人工智慧(artificial general intelligence)
reward function到底是寫了什麼奇怪的東西，才能機器學習出如此熟練地賣萌
不過沒多久就放棄思考了
英文版要出完結第10集了
台版的進度還在第3集，而且第3集是先中斷了2年半後出的
這算是復活還是迴光返照呢……
--
J-Novel Club 限時免費閱讀第2本
October 6, 2019
Good stuff but...
A fun read with interesting characters and world building although that same world building makes things a little awkward with blond hair blue eyes, a bit of German here and there, and some it being post-mecha WWI. I recommend it, but there’s always a bit of awkwardness in the air
A fun read with interesting characters and world building although that same world building makes things a little awkward with blond hair blue eyes, a bit of German here and there, and some it being post-mecha WWI. I recommend it, but there’s always a bit of awkwardness in the air
September 21, 2019
Loved the story
I found the story lovely, fun and complex. It left me a desire to know more about the characters and the world they live in.
I found the story lovely, fun and complex. It left me a desire to know more about the characters and the world they live in.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews