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Overlord #12
オーバーロード 12 聖王国の聖騎士 上
悪逆無道の魔皇ヤルダバオトの襲撃。正義が惑う12巻。
巨大な城壁を擁し、長く平和を誇った聖王国を亜人連合軍が突如、襲撃。
連合軍の総大将は魔皇ヤルダバオト。
残忍冷酷な魔皇によって聖王国は国崩壊の危機に直面する。
苦難の民を救うため解放軍が救いを求めたのは聖王国にとって不倶戴天の敵であるアンデッドを王に戴く魔導国。
アインズ・ウール・ゴウン魔導王に導かれ聖王国は魔皇ヤルダバオトの討伐に乗りだす。
巨大な城壁を擁し、長く平和を誇った聖王国を亜人連合軍が突如、襲撃。
連合軍の総大将は魔皇ヤルダバオト。
残忍冷酷な魔皇によって聖王国は国崩壊の危機に直面する。
苦難の民を救うため解放軍が救いを求めたのは聖王国にとって不倶戴天の敵であるアンデッドを王に戴く魔導国。
アインズ・ウール・ゴウン魔導王に導かれ聖王国は魔皇ヤルダバオトの討伐に乗りだす。
410 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 2017
182 people are currently reading
692 people want to read
About the author
Kugane Maruyama
120 books359 followersMARUYAMA Kugane
Name (in native language): 丸山くがね
Name (in native language): 丸山くがね
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
October 31, 2017
While I'm a big fan of the Overlord series, I have to say that book 12 is the most disappointing of them. That's not to say it's bad, it just doesn't have the same sense of excellence the others have. The problem is compounded by the way that this time the author went all-in on the "two part story" idea. It really feels as if volume 12 is only the first half a stellar hypothetical novel. Pretty much nothing has been resolved by the book's end and what passes for a climax is fairly pointless, presumably because the author is intending volume 13 to be full of dramatic resolutions and climaxes, much as volume 6 was. Reading volumes 12 and 13 back to back, as was likely intended, would probably leave me much more satisfied, but alas it won't be out for months. Comparisons can be made to the last two parter of the series, volumes 5 and 6, which were also this way, but in that case there was enough of a plot arc in the first volume that it was able to stand alone as well as supporting the sequel. In 12 that isn't the case, and the whole thing feels incomplete because of it.
To conclude: This volume was still a good read, but I'd recommend waiting for volume 13 to read both at once.
To conclude: This volume was still a good read, but I'd recommend waiting for volume 13 to read both at once.
February 6, 2025
Finally getting to see what demiurge has been up to all this time. Enjoyed it more than I thought I would and i cannot wait to read part 2.
April 12, 2021
This volume is part one in a story arc spanning volumes 12 and 13, so even if I have wanted to read it for quite a long time I have waited for volume 13 to come out as well. Now with only a week left I allowed myself to dig in.
May 1, 2023
4 to 4.5
This was so much fun! Especially the first half and parts of the second half.
This was so much fun! Especially the first half and parts of the second half.
September 15, 2021
Okay I am so in love with Neia that when I saw the last paragraph of this volume, I really had to check asap her end on Google regardless of spoiler. 5 ✨ for Neia's character development.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2019
Reto #40 PopSugar 2019: Tu sugerencia favorita de un reto anterior de POPsugar
27. un libro ambientado en otro planeta
August 21, 2020
Wonderful! The translation is way smoother than previous volumes thus elevating the reading experience. In this Volume we visit the Holy Kingdom as a certain red suited demon wrecks havoc for them. 😉😈 This book is mostly in the pov of Neia, a squire of the Holy Kingdom who is seriously underappreciated and mistreated by her incompetent superiors. She has been thrown as a sacrifice to attend the undead Sorceror King as he journeys with them to the Holy Kingdom. During the trip she is completely taken in by his kindness and dignified aura. It's so cute to watch her devotion grow. Unfortunately this book ends on a cliffhanger!!!
August 9, 2020
Read this review (and others) at: https://literatureislife.com/2020/08/...
So, this story arc, like Volumes 5 and 6, is divided into two books. This being Part 1 of that story, it shares a fair number of similarities with Volume 5. The first is that narratively this is the build-up phase. That’s not to say nothing really happens in this book, but it’s all preamble. This all makes it a pretty far cry from the big, epic moments of the series like Volume 3 or Volume 9. But that doesn’t mean the book isn’t interesting, its action sequences are just tamer. Cause that’s not really the focus here and will likely happen in Part 2.
What this book does is bring the audience to the Sacred Kingdom and its paladins. And show what Demiurge has been up to during the events of the last few books. And he’s once again using his disguise as Jaldabaoth, which just really makes this storyline even more comparable to the previous two-parter. So, the first two chapters of this book mainly focus on bringing in new characters, mainly the aforementioned paladins. We get to know a little bit about the Sacred Kingdom, see them fight, and so forth. Then the tone shifts a bit and starts to focus more on Ainz, although one of the new characters (Neia) becomes his little sidekick.
The thing about Paladin of the Sacred Kingdom is that it starts off slow. Told from their point of view, the story makes sense. We see the paladins desperately doing everything they can to protect their homeland. But we, the readers, know what the Nazarick gang is capable of. We know these paladins are doomed to failure. That they are being played like fiddles. And it’s not actually until the very end of the book that we see what Ainz is really planning here. And like usual, his train of thought is pretty different from the Guardians, but he rolls with it.
One thing that was fun to see here was Ainz’s continuously degrading humanity. He’s become less human, less moral, over the course of the series. But up until this point, it’s been kind of hands-off. Him just giving the orders or the ok to do terrible things. Or causing bad things to happen on a big scale where it’s hard to feel and measure the individual suffering of the victims. But now, he gets his hands dirty. And doesn’t feel even a shred of real remorse over it. He’s even struggling to just understand normal people and where they’re coming from at this point. It seems like he less feels emotions and more remembers what it was like to feel them. He is very much becoming the mask throughout this story and it will be interesting to see where that takes him.
So, this story arc, like Volumes 5 and 6, is divided into two books. This being Part 1 of that story, it shares a fair number of similarities with Volume 5. The first is that narratively this is the build-up phase. That’s not to say nothing really happens in this book, but it’s all preamble. This all makes it a pretty far cry from the big, epic moments of the series like Volume 3 or Volume 9. But that doesn’t mean the book isn’t interesting, its action sequences are just tamer. Cause that’s not really the focus here and will likely happen in Part 2.
What this book does is bring the audience to the Sacred Kingdom and its paladins. And show what Demiurge has been up to during the events of the last few books. And he’s once again using his disguise as Jaldabaoth, which just really makes this storyline even more comparable to the previous two-parter. So, the first two chapters of this book mainly focus on bringing in new characters, mainly the aforementioned paladins. We get to know a little bit about the Sacred Kingdom, see them fight, and so forth. Then the tone shifts a bit and starts to focus more on Ainz, although one of the new characters (Neia) becomes his little sidekick.
The thing about Paladin of the Sacred Kingdom is that it starts off slow. Told from their point of view, the story makes sense. We see the paladins desperately doing everything they can to protect their homeland. But we, the readers, know what the Nazarick gang is capable of. We know these paladins are doomed to failure. That they are being played like fiddles. And it’s not actually until the very end of the book that we see what Ainz is really planning here. And like usual, his train of thought is pretty different from the Guardians, but he rolls with it.
One thing that was fun to see here was Ainz’s continuously degrading humanity. He’s become less human, less moral, over the course of the series. But up until this point, it’s been kind of hands-off. Him just giving the orders or the ok to do terrible things. Or causing bad things to happen on a big scale where it’s hard to feel and measure the individual suffering of the victims. But now, he gets his hands dirty. And doesn’t feel even a shred of real remorse over it. He’s even struggling to just understand normal people and where they’re coming from at this point. It seems like he less feels emotions and more remembers what it was like to feel them. He is very much becoming the mask throughout this story and it will be interesting to see where that takes him.
February 23, 2022
The main character Ainz (Momonga, Momon, Suzuki) and his retinue, create the crisis, create the wars, torture and kill the inhabitants and then convince the victims to receive their aid to help solve their problems. It is like most politicians and lawyers I know. Manipulative, calculative, sadists and psychopaths are the composers and directors of this huge scam, show, drama, fake war.
I don't understand why the author creates so many contradictions, and creates a dystopia so bad and so evil that living on Earth is like living in heaven.
Yggdrasil was a grotesque, monster, terror, gore and torture game. The main characters of this closed down game Ainz and his Floor guards and retinue, use their old grotesque profiles and desires to conquer this alternative reality world.
This volume 12 is slow moving, slow going, and redundant. The objective is to have the Roble Holy Kingdom to submit or die to the Nazarick King (since he is both the cause and the solution to this made up conflict). Half of the tortured people now want to hunt down and kill all the humanoid/subhuman/monsterkin/etc. like Caspond (elder brother to the former Queen). A few, like Neia Baraja learn to understand tolerance and good will towards all of the sentient beings in this alternate reality world.
Ainz really doesn't want peace because he is creating war and conflict with all of the people of this new world. Ainz wants to subjugate and rule over everybody, not as a personal goal, but as something that his Floor Guards and retinue see as the obvious thing to do.
I don't understand why the author creates so many contradictions, and creates a dystopia so bad and so evil that living on Earth is like living in heaven.
Yggdrasil was a grotesque, monster, terror, gore and torture game. The main characters of this closed down game Ainz and his Floor guards and retinue, use their old grotesque profiles and desires to conquer this alternative reality world.
This volume 12 is slow moving, slow going, and redundant. The objective is to have the Roble Holy Kingdom to submit or die to the Nazarick King (since he is both the cause and the solution to this made up conflict). Half of the tortured people now want to hunt down and kill all the humanoid/subhuman/monsterkin/etc. like Caspond (elder brother to the former Queen). A few, like Neia Baraja learn to understand tolerance and good will towards all of the sentient beings in this alternate reality world.
Ainz really doesn't want peace because he is creating war and conflict with all of the people of this new world. Ainz wants to subjugate and rule over everybody, not as a personal goal, but as something that his Floor Guards and retinue see as the obvious thing to do.
October 6, 2022
So I have to admit, this book deviates a bit from previous ones and I liked where it went. You have a clear plot to win over a kingdom to the Nation of Darkness, with Demiurge taking up the mantle of Jaldabaoth again. You get some points that hint at Ainz starting to realize what Demiurge has been doing since the early novels (remember the parchment farms and the 'animals' on it?) Whether or not that goes anywhere in the upcoming novels, we will see. But the chance that Ainz will realize he is technically part of an evil guild is there.
There is also a bit more of a peek into Ainz not realizing how those around him feel, even those that worship him. It was refreshing to see, as he came across as a lost character more so than he has in most of the previous books. It's almost as if the writer realized that was a character trait of Ainz and decided to start writing him that way again.
Other than that, it's more of the same. Ainz is over powered, nothing threatens him. His guild is over powered, nothing stand in their way. You've made it this far, you know what it's about. It's still boring, and yet I keep reading to see if he eventually finds his match, or at least another player. Interesting thing, the anime skips over the 12 and 13th book and goes straight to the 14th, which already looks far more promising and interesting than this arch.
So in the end, be prepared for more of the stuff you have already read, but with a small amount of Ainz as he used to be in the early books. And really, if you have made it this far, you're going to finish this series anyway...
There is also a bit more of a peek into Ainz not realizing how those around him feel, even those that worship him. It was refreshing to see, as he came across as a lost character more so than he has in most of the previous books. It's almost as if the writer realized that was a character trait of Ainz and decided to start writing him that way again.
Other than that, it's more of the same. Ainz is over powered, nothing threatens him. His guild is over powered, nothing stand in their way. You've made it this far, you know what it's about. It's still boring, and yet I keep reading to see if he eventually finds his match, or at least another player. Interesting thing, the anime skips over the 12 and 13th book and goes straight to the 14th, which already looks far more promising and interesting than this arch.
So in the end, be prepared for more of the stuff you have already read, but with a small amount of Ainz as he used to be in the early books. And really, if you have made it this far, you're going to finish this series anyway...
May 10, 2024
I don't really have all that much to say about this volume of "Overlord". It's not as bad as the worst the series has had to offer, but it also doesn't really do anything that made it feel all that worthwhile to read either.
Once again, Maruyama decided to do that thing where he divided one story into two different novels, a practice I didn't enjoy before and certainly don't like anymore here. This was basically a whole novel of buildup, and I'm willing to bet that the payoff won't even be all that worth it. This is *particularly* frustrating due to the fact that the previous novel ended on a pretty interesting cliffhanger; one that I guess I'm going to have to wait until the next book to actually see the explanation of. Yay...
But the thing that really confused me while reading this was the fact that the anime didn't adapt this. Instead, this is going to be the plot of the upcoming film. And while I didn't understand the anime team's decision to do this at first, man let me tell you, it *really* feels like this was intended to be a separate story from the beginning. The arc of the next story fits in so much better with everything that came before this one, while this volume feels like it was written with the intent of it to be a standalone film from the beginning. And honestly, I'm just not a huge fan of that.
Overall, I just didn't really click with this volume. Most of what happened just feels like buzzing in my head now, and I'm not all that excited for the next one. Hopefully that next volume will leave more of an impact.
Once again, Maruyama decided to do that thing where he divided one story into two different novels, a practice I didn't enjoy before and certainly don't like anymore here. This was basically a whole novel of buildup, and I'm willing to bet that the payoff won't even be all that worth it. This is *particularly* frustrating due to the fact that the previous novel ended on a pretty interesting cliffhanger; one that I guess I'm going to have to wait until the next book to actually see the explanation of. Yay...
But the thing that really confused me while reading this was the fact that the anime didn't adapt this. Instead, this is going to be the plot of the upcoming film. And while I didn't understand the anime team's decision to do this at first, man let me tell you, it *really* feels like this was intended to be a separate story from the beginning. The arc of the next story fits in so much better with everything that came before this one, while this volume feels like it was written with the intent of it to be a standalone film from the beginning. And honestly, I'm just not a huge fan of that.
Overall, I just didn't really click with this volume. Most of what happened just feels like buzzing in my head now, and I'm not all that excited for the next one. Hopefully that next volume will leave more of an impact.
April 7, 2021
Halfway through the arc, but I loved it.
I see some reviews hating on this volume for being unfinished or having a weak climax, but I wholeheartedly disagree.
A way to keep something that has been going on for so long from getting stale is to provide many different perspectives and refreshing shifts to the narrative while staying true to the heart of the story. Overlord 12 does so very well by focusing on a weak squire, Neia, and having her witness firsthand the "genius" of Lord Ainz without all the self-doubt and loathing. Without any confirmation of what is going on until the very end, the reader is left to guess from the subtle hints and missteps from the MC at what plan is happening and what stress is being caused to the person playing the charade.
It didn't have the same amount of cathartic power tripping moments as previous titles, but this volume still mixed in a few references to those who have been playing close attention to things happening so far. There were also little to no grammatical issues that I could find and the use of the same phrases and words have been eradicated through the growing experience of the writer. There's just not much to complain about in this novel.
I can't wait to read how the Arc finishes! The English release can't come soon enough.
I see some reviews hating on this volume for being unfinished or having a weak climax, but I wholeheartedly disagree.
A way to keep something that has been going on for so long from getting stale is to provide many different perspectives and refreshing shifts to the narrative while staying true to the heart of the story. Overlord 12 does so very well by focusing on a weak squire, Neia, and having her witness firsthand the "genius" of Lord Ainz without all the self-doubt and loathing. Without any confirmation of what is going on until the very end, the reader is left to guess from the subtle hints and missteps from the MC at what plan is happening and what stress is being caused to the person playing the charade.
It didn't have the same amount of cathartic power tripping moments as previous titles, but this volume still mixed in a few references to those who have been playing close attention to things happening so far. There were also little to no grammatical issues that I could find and the use of the same phrases and words have been eradicated through the growing experience of the writer. There's just not much to complain about in this novel.
I can't wait to read how the Arc finishes! The English release can't come soon enough.
September 20, 2020
As the first part of the Paladin Arch, this novel leaves many storylines unresolved, so it doesn't really stand on its own without novel #13. Unlike the other Overlord novels where the alignment of protagonists was merely hinted at, in this one Maruyama makes it obviously and painfully clear that you are observing characters that are undeniably and unapologetically evil. However, they are still far more likeable than the overzealous religious fanatics of the Holly Kingdom, around whom novels #12 & #13 revolve. The only one that evokes even a remote sense of sympathy is Neia, a squire/underdog of the Holy Kingdom's order of Paladins, who is assigned to be the Sorcerer King Ainz Ooal Gown's retainer after he decides to join the resistance efforts and help them defeat Jaldabaoth and the horde of demons and demi-humans he has unleashed upon the Holy Kingdom. It was especially interesting to see Ainz play the part of a monarch that conveys an impression of absolute justice and morality, knowing that all the horrible things that are happening to his neighboring nation are the result of him pulling the strings behind the stage.
June 30, 2020
Yen Press english edition.
USUALLY in the Overlord series, I'm not bothered by the Overlord cast curbstomping other characters because they're facing horrible villains. Not so this book, in which the Overlord characters go full on villain protagonists. As part of a plan to build up the Kingdom of Darkness, Demiurge leads a army of monsters against the Sacred Kingdom, forcing them to ask Ainz for help to 'save' them.
Ainz continues to be likable, and I liked Neia, who's both cute and WAAAY out of her depth. But yeah, if you weren't aware that the Overlord cast are EVIL, this novel will help make it clear for you. Very clear.
USUALLY in the Overlord series, I'm not bothered by the Overlord cast curbstomping other characters because they're facing horrible villains. Not so this book, in which the Overlord characters go full on villain protagonists. As part of a plan to build up the Kingdom of Darkness, Demiurge leads a army of monsters against the Sacred Kingdom, forcing them to ask Ainz for help to 'save' them.
Ainz continues to be likable, and I liked Neia, who's both cute and WAAAY out of her depth. But yeah, if you weren't aware that the Overlord cast are EVIL, this novel will help make it clear for you. Very clear.
March 21, 2022
Grim story but what really frustrates me is the main character is not growing and rather seems to regressing. After 12 books, with lots of adventures and growth opportunities AND a special ability that allows him to think in terms of pure logic (i.e., not influenced by emotionality), he's still bumbling along in the worst ways possible rather than actually growing.
In addition, the fun of the story, such as it is, is focusing on the main character's journey but this book focuses on side characters that don't really matter for the saga. Friggin waste of space and effort. Surprised the book has such a high rating.
Very meh.
In addition, the fun of the story, such as it is, is focusing on the main character's journey but this book focuses on side characters that don't really matter for the saga. Friggin waste of space and effort. Surprised the book has such a high rating.
Very meh.
March 24, 2022
Now we start to see the consequences of Ainz letting demigurge run free. Often the most effective way to establish a new country and gain popularity is to beat a evil enemy.
The kind of torture and suffering he caused goes against ainz goal of a utopia but that’s only in the short term. The trope of ainz having to appear infallible is getting old. At this point I am ready to see the guardians find out the leader of the supreme beings is also an ordinary mind. I wonder if their loyalty will waver.
The kind of torture and suffering he caused goes against ainz goal of a utopia but that’s only in the short term. The trope of ainz having to appear infallible is getting old. At this point I am ready to see the guardians find out the leader of the supreme beings is also an ordinary mind. I wonder if their loyalty will waver.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2022
El paladín del reino sagrado me ha enseñado esa parte de los NPC que ya sabía que tenían pero no entendía la magnitud de esa despreocupación por la vida, esa primer escena con Calca me pareció brutal, no dio tiempo ni de asimilar lo que ocurría, me pareció brillante de inicio a fin, vamos por el siguiente.
May 17, 2023
Still Good but not the Best in this Series
The book took a while to progress to the meat of it, but when you get there you are quickly reminded why you continue reading this series. It’s got interesting and unexpected twists, and continues developing the character of Mononga just as expected. I finished it in a few days and looking forward to picking up the next one.
The book took a while to progress to the meat of it, but when you get there you are quickly reminded why you continue reading this series. It’s got interesting and unexpected twists, and continues developing the character of Mononga just as expected. I finished it in a few days and looking forward to picking up the next one.
December 22, 2020
Aside from not liking the initial foreshadowing of the book. We get to see another kingdom in this world. So I am loving the world building. Fun plot and I really hope we get to see this in the anime soon.
March 5, 2021
It was a quick read and it was a little interesting to see the point of view of someone working with Ainz who's completely unfamiliar with him, but most of this volume is still "NPCs are ruthless, regular people are going to die, Ainz is over his head and extremely lucky."
October 2, 2021
Neia Baraja is a great main character in this volume, the story is interesting, Ainz takes centre stage. One of the most interesting Overlord volumes so far, eagerly jumping to the 2nd part of the story
November 7, 2021
The stage is properly set for the next book, I’m just a bit sad it took nearly 300 pages for book 11’s cliffhanger to actually show up on the horizon. It’s cruel, but I love this series too much to truly feel negatively..
May 31, 2024
Muy bueno, me gustó mucho el personaje de la chica de los ojos raros, pero siento que faltó más Ainz, tampoco cerraron el asunto q pusieron en el libro anterior, una persona q haya leído esto ni bien salió debería estar odiando a Kugane, not me, yo lo estoy leyendo 6 años después
November 15, 2017
Poor Ainz, that ending xD
June 25, 2019
5 stars. The introduction of Neia is one of the best new characters this series has had yet, she's one of the cutest fanatics I've ever had the pleasure of reading about.
August 17, 2020
Espero que compense a construção desse volume no próximo que é a segunda metade desse arco. O potencial existe, agora é ver se seja tão engraçado como esse.
August 20, 2020
Neia Baraja <3
April 3, 2021
I love overlord! 5.0
July 14, 2021
Demiurge is really cool. One of my favorite character!
December 10, 2021
Love this series!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews