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幼女戦記 [Youjo Senki] Manga #5
幼女戦記 5 [Youjo Senki 5]
簡単三分チェックメイト!
レルゲンの親切な忠告(ターニャ視点)の通り、帝国に攻め入るダキア軍。航空戦力を持たない彼らに、ターニャが下す鉄槌とは――。
レルゲンの親切な忠告(ターニャ視点)の通り、帝国に攻め入るダキア軍。航空戦力を持たない彼らに、ターニャが下す鉄槌とは――。
160 pages, Paperback
First published May 10, 2017
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88 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 11, 2019
In Summary
Unlike the previous volume, where Tanya’s subordinates are struggling to survive her training regimen, the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion gets a lucky break when the Principality of Dacia declares war. Normally, taking on three divisions is a daunting task, but Tanya turns an enemy invasion into an amusing lesson on the tremendous difference between modern and pre-modern military technology.
The Review
The Dacian invasion is an entertaining arc in the novel and the anime, and the manga brings its own delightful spin to this material. These chapters are all about disparity—the contrast between Tanya’s ecstatic response and Lergen’s horrified one, the difference between the size of the Dacian forces and the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion, and above all, the imbalance between the might of a modern military and an antiquated one. The Dacian army, despite its overwhelming numbers, is a joke, and Tanya beats it down accordingly while the narrative provides engaging explanations of the evolution of military strategies and equipment.
A unique element of the manga is that it provides the thoughts of the people around Tanya. The novel keeps to one perspective at a time while the anime generally only shows characters’ reactions to Tanya’s actions. The manga, on the other hand, shows the thoughts of multiple characters at once. In doing so, the manga delivers a clarity that isn’t available in the anime and novel. For instance, Tanya’s interpretation of Visha’s reluctance to deliver the warning to the Dacian capital and the actual reason behind Visha’s reluctance. Tojo-sensei often employs this contrast in thoughts to illustrate the disconnect between Lergen and Tanya and generate humor at the same time.
The thrashing of the Dacians is a fun romp, from the mages’ domination of the battlefield to Tanya’s reprimand of Weiss to the obliteration of the Daicans’ arms factory. Once they returns to base, however, the pace slows significantly as the narrative delivers the political and strategic repercussions of Dacia’s failed invasion. While this section isn’t nearly as engaging, it does convey the information necessary to set the stage for the war chronicle’s next clash, and it does so with a clarity and brevity far superior to the original novel. Once again, I’m grateful to Tojo-sensei for such a brilliant interpretation of Tanya’s story.
Extras include character introductions, detailed glossary of terms after each chapter, and an interview with voice actress Aoi Yuki from the Tanya anime. As with previous interviews, Yen Press used a teeny font for those pages, so reading is hard on the eyes.
For more manga and book reviews, drop by my blog Keeping It In Canon!
Unlike the previous volume, where Tanya’s subordinates are struggling to survive her training regimen, the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion gets a lucky break when the Principality of Dacia declares war. Normally, taking on three divisions is a daunting task, but Tanya turns an enemy invasion into an amusing lesson on the tremendous difference between modern and pre-modern military technology.
The Review
The Dacian invasion is an entertaining arc in the novel and the anime, and the manga brings its own delightful spin to this material. These chapters are all about disparity—the contrast between Tanya’s ecstatic response and Lergen’s horrified one, the difference between the size of the Dacian forces and the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion, and above all, the imbalance between the might of a modern military and an antiquated one. The Dacian army, despite its overwhelming numbers, is a joke, and Tanya beats it down accordingly while the narrative provides engaging explanations of the evolution of military strategies and equipment.
A unique element of the manga is that it provides the thoughts of the people around Tanya. The novel keeps to one perspective at a time while the anime generally only shows characters’ reactions to Tanya’s actions. The manga, on the other hand, shows the thoughts of multiple characters at once. In doing so, the manga delivers a clarity that isn’t available in the anime and novel. For instance, Tanya’s interpretation of Visha’s reluctance to deliver the warning to the Dacian capital and the actual reason behind Visha’s reluctance. Tojo-sensei often employs this contrast in thoughts to illustrate the disconnect between Lergen and Tanya and generate humor at the same time.
The thrashing of the Dacians is a fun romp, from the mages’ domination of the battlefield to Tanya’s reprimand of Weiss to the obliteration of the Daicans’ arms factory. Once they returns to base, however, the pace slows significantly as the narrative delivers the political and strategic repercussions of Dacia’s failed invasion. While this section isn’t nearly as engaging, it does convey the information necessary to set the stage for the war chronicle’s next clash, and it does so with a clarity and brevity far superior to the original novel. Once again, I’m grateful to Tojo-sensei for such a brilliant interpretation of Tanya’s story.
Extras include character introductions, detailed glossary of terms after each chapter, and an interview with voice actress Aoi Yuki from the Tanya anime. As with previous interviews, Yen Press used a teeny font for those pages, so reading is hard on the eyes.
For more manga and book reviews, drop by my blog Keeping It In Canon!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2024
I've gone over Tanya's gender before, so not repeating that here. Wouldn't have even said anything, but "she" mentions at one point that she used to (as a salaryman) grade people by deducting points, but as Tanya, she seems to have better luck with finding positivity and applying due praise.
This is something that I've found frustrating with savings-based policy, as there's a bottom limit that can be saved. (Below that, it's called earnings!) On the other hand, there's no limit to how much can be earned! Maximising earnings, therefore, is better than merely minimising saving; similarly, once a person has had the maximum number of points deducted, what's to stop them from continuing the same bad behaviour that caused the point loss in the first place? However, there's no upper limit to point earning! So nice that Tanya has learned this!
I also feel like this volume is focusing JUST a little on "These are types of military formations, and ALL OF THEM are weak to uncontested air strikes." Which is a good lesson, sure, but I sort of wonder what the purpose was in giving Tanya's battalion literally no challenge. I mean, OTHER than the series's special brand of "Tanya thinks one thing, everyone else thinks something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT" comedy.
For what it's worth: "Imperial Dacia" as per the map appears to be almost exactly Hungary, with "Principality of Dacia" as Romania, Moldova, and a tiny bit of Ukraine to make the map slightly less complicated. I haven't figured out the significance of these areas specifically (given the very strong subtext of the Empire).
It's also a bit funny... and cruel... when Tanya gives the evacuation notice/intent of attack in a super childish voice. Well... this IS a "comedy," isn't it?? Ha...
I don't know. Still hard to follow despite the tactics being oversimplified in this one, mostly as far as the commands from the higher-ups. I suppose I may never understand politics! :/ Recommended for fans of the series, anyway! (Complete newcomers will probably have an even harder time than I do...)
This is something that I've found frustrating with savings-based policy, as there's a bottom limit that can be saved. (Below that, it's called earnings!) On the other hand, there's no limit to how much can be earned! Maximising earnings, therefore, is better than merely minimising saving; similarly, once a person has had the maximum number of points deducted, what's to stop them from continuing the same bad behaviour that caused the point loss in the first place? However, there's no upper limit to point earning! So nice that Tanya has learned this!
I also feel like this volume is focusing JUST a little on "These are types of military formations, and ALL OF THEM are weak to uncontested air strikes." Which is a good lesson, sure, but I sort of wonder what the purpose was in giving Tanya's battalion literally no challenge. I mean, OTHER than the series's special brand of "Tanya thinks one thing, everyone else thinks something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT" comedy.
For what it's worth: "Imperial Dacia" as per the map appears to be almost exactly Hungary, with "Principality of Dacia" as Romania, Moldova, and a tiny bit of Ukraine to make the map slightly less complicated. I haven't figured out the significance of these areas specifically (given the very strong subtext of the Empire).
It's also a bit funny... and cruel... when Tanya gives the evacuation notice/intent of attack in a super childish voice. Well... this IS a "comedy," isn't it?? Ha...
I don't know. Still hard to follow despite the tactics being oversimplified in this one, mostly as far as the commands from the higher-ups. I suppose I may never understand politics! :/ Recommended for fans of the series, anyway! (Complete newcomers will probably have an even harder time than I do...)
November 6, 2024
The bulk of volume 5 details the Dacian front of the war, and it doesn't play out how I expected. In a lot of series, the Dacians would have had some kind of secret super weapon that would have caught Tanya & Co. by surprise, and stolen some of the wind out of their sails. What actually happens is...vastly different than that, instead painting a grim example of what can happen to people if they let greed or ambition get the better of them. And this more realistic take works better, I think.
Once again, Tanya's handling of the situation backfires on her as well. But by this stage, she's stuck in a vicious spiral: Decisive victories aren't doing her any favors, but she can't just suddenly stop being a military genius, because it will either A) get her killed in action, or B) lose her status in the eyes of the higher-ups, and cause even worse problems down the line. And with the end of this volume seeing her achievements earning her barely a moment's rest before getting thrown back into the fray, I'm sure she has even worse trials ahead of her.
All in all, a pretty good volume.
Once again, Tanya's handling of the situation backfires on her as well. But by this stage, she's stuck in a vicious spiral: Decisive victories aren't doing her any favors, but she can't just suddenly stop being a military genius, because it will either A) get her killed in action, or B) lose her status in the eyes of the higher-ups, and cause even worse problems down the line. And with the end of this volume seeing her achievements earning her barely a moment's rest before getting thrown back into the fray, I'm sure she has even worse trials ahead of her.
All in all, a pretty good volume.
November 27, 2023
Idk what's happening but im here for it
May 27, 2019
3.5. Some good story progress, and I kinda like Tanya and von Lergen interacting. I do agree with his perspective a bit more though.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews