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The Saga of Tanya the Evil Light Novel #2
The Saga of Tanya the Evil, Vol. 2: Plus Ultra
The Saga of Tanya the Evil Novel Volume 2 is written by Carlo Zen with illustrations by Shinobu Shinotsuki."Girl--this, this is war." After being reborn and becoming a magic wielding soldier in the Imperial Army, Tanya Degurechaff bemoans her fate of being placed at the very edge of the front lines instead of a comfy place in the rear. Swearing revenge on Being X, she plunges head-first into battle, dragging her subordinate along with her!
475 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
September 5, 2018
In Summary
Carlo Zen’s longwinded prose continues to test the endurance of those who would read about his alternate world. (He even admits in the afterword that this volume is a bit thick.) However, if you’re willing to take on this 406-page behemoth, you’ll be rewarded with a Norden battle and a Republican Front “training exercise” that weren’t included in the anime. In addition, you’ll know all the details that lead up to each of 203rd Battalion’s orders— whether you’re interested or not.
The Review
The second volume of The Saga of Tanya the Evil is as much about Tanya’s newly formed battalion, the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion, as it is about Tanya. The battalion’s very existence came about because of Tanya, and its fate is intricately connected to hers. While Tanya often curses Being X, there is no real dialogue between mortals and immortals in this installment. It’s all about human actions, individual and corporal, and as the beleaguered Empire faces enemies on three sides, it sends the 203rd jumping from front to front.
As in the anime, the 203rd first obliterates a Dacian invasion and then gets sent to Norden before finally going to the Republican Front. As a result, the book starts with a positive tone, which gets progressively darker as battle conditions worsen and enemies get tougher. Meanwhile, Tanya continues to be misunderstood by friend and foe alike; no one would think that she wants peace more than anyone.
Although the situations Zen sets up in Volume 2 are quite intriguing, his particular writing style requires effort to slog through. Just as in Volume 1, the text is plagued with abrupt POV shifts and lack of dialogue tags. On top of that, Zen has a tendency to overexplain the decisions of military and state heads. In addition, the narrative is full of redundant statements. So even though the reader winds up learning exactly what everyone’s doing and how they came to that plan of action, reading all that minutiae gets tedious.
However, there are fun bits. While the anime delves into the training of the original 203rd members, it glosses over the raw recruits that the battalion receives AFTER arriving on the Republican Front. Tanya’s praises to the shovel rather remind me of the way the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy hails the towel. The new recruits’ baptism by fire in the trenches did not get animated, but reading about it from Second Lieutenant Warren Grantz’s perspective was thrilling.
Another Volume 2 arc that wasn’t included in the anime is the botched Norden-Commonwealth smuggling attempt on the high seas. Although the text flowed like cold tar and Zen takes a ridiculous amount of time before revealing the ultimate fate of the Commonwealth submarine, this skirmish is a gripping collision of coincidences and mistakes from everyone involved. If Zen could somehow streamline his writing, it would definitely make for on-the-edge-of your-seat reading.
Extras include a map and fold-out illustration in color; appendixes explaining military strategy and history timeline; author afterword; and six black-and-white illustrations.
For more manga and book reviews, drop by my blog Keeping It In Canon!
Carlo Zen’s longwinded prose continues to test the endurance of those who would read about his alternate world. (He even admits in the afterword that this volume is a bit thick.) However, if you’re willing to take on this 406-page behemoth, you’ll be rewarded with a Norden battle and a Republican Front “training exercise” that weren’t included in the anime. In addition, you’ll know all the details that lead up to each of 203rd Battalion’s orders— whether you’re interested or not.
The Review
The second volume of The Saga of Tanya the Evil is as much about Tanya’s newly formed battalion, the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion, as it is about Tanya. The battalion’s very existence came about because of Tanya, and its fate is intricately connected to hers. While Tanya often curses Being X, there is no real dialogue between mortals and immortals in this installment. It’s all about human actions, individual and corporal, and as the beleaguered Empire faces enemies on three sides, it sends the 203rd jumping from front to front.
As in the anime, the 203rd first obliterates a Dacian invasion and then gets sent to Norden before finally going to the Republican Front. As a result, the book starts with a positive tone, which gets progressively darker as battle conditions worsen and enemies get tougher. Meanwhile, Tanya continues to be misunderstood by friend and foe alike; no one would think that she wants peace more than anyone.
Although the situations Zen sets up in Volume 2 are quite intriguing, his particular writing style requires effort to slog through. Just as in Volume 1, the text is plagued with abrupt POV shifts and lack of dialogue tags. On top of that, Zen has a tendency to overexplain the decisions of military and state heads. In addition, the narrative is full of redundant statements. So even though the reader winds up learning exactly what everyone’s doing and how they came to that plan of action, reading all that minutiae gets tedious.
However, there are fun bits. While the anime delves into the training of the original 203rd members, it glosses over the raw recruits that the battalion receives AFTER arriving on the Republican Front. Tanya’s praises to the shovel rather remind me of the way the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy hails the towel. The new recruits’ baptism by fire in the trenches did not get animated, but reading about it from Second Lieutenant Warren Grantz’s perspective was thrilling.
Another Volume 2 arc that wasn’t included in the anime is the botched Norden-Commonwealth smuggling attempt on the high seas. Although the text flowed like cold tar and Zen takes a ridiculous amount of time before revealing the ultimate fate of the Commonwealth submarine, this skirmish is a gripping collision of coincidences and mistakes from everyone involved. If Zen could somehow streamline his writing, it would definitely make for on-the-edge-of your-seat reading.
Extras include a map and fold-out illustration in color; appendixes explaining military strategy and history timeline; author afterword; and six black-and-white illustrations.
For more manga and book reviews, drop by my blog Keeping It In Canon!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2021
I wish I could rate this higher, as I did ultimately really enjoy it, but I just never felt compelled to read the book any day I picked it up. It would take ages for me to finish a single chapter, as if I was slogging through it. I was simultaneously interested and bored by the book, which is upsetting to say. I own the third volume, and I do plan on reading it, but something about this series makes it harder to read than other light novels. I guess because there's less dialogue, and because Carlo Zen is trying harder to write a unique story than rip off trope after trope like so many other writers. There's a degree to which Youjo Senki feels like it's just way superior to other LNs that it prompts an awkward question: why read this when I can just read "real" literature? Or, another set of questions, why do I read LNs, and why do I read this series? Don't I read light novels because they are... well, "light"? Would I not prefer the silly hijinks of e.g. KonoSuba? Tanya's story provides interesting military action and weird application of economic principles to Tanya's view on her fellow people, but couldn't I get an approximation from reading military history and economic philosophy, and just continuing to be vaguely sociopathic myself, in real life [I jest, probably]?
I guess what mostly gets me is how "episodic" these books feel. This volume has the Dacian battle, the Norden battle, the naval training exercise, the submarine sinking problem, the Rhine front, the Arene insurgency, and a return to the Rhine to cover the Imperial army retreat. The volume is about 400 pages long, roughly twice the length of the average volume of the average LN series. To my mind, there isn't a real justification for this length, as the volume is functionally a collection of short stories linked together through chronological progress. Tanya does some mission in some chapter, and the chapter will end with new orders for the next mission, but they are rarely cohesive. At best, Tanya's battalion's performance at Norden inspired the idea to train the navy to combat enemy mages. Otherwise, the events are largely disconnected. Part of why the book felt like a "slog" was because of its length, and I don't feel like there was any reason not to cut it on half at the middle point. I used KonoSuba as a counterpoint above, and those novels tend to be somewhat episodic as well, but they usually add up to a proper climax to tie each volume off. Not so with Youjo Senki. It's not a great problem, and I won't get upset at Carlo Zen, but the fact is that I simply prefer to finish LN volumes within a couple days, and it took me several months to bother finishing this one just because the length kept annoying me and I simply did not feel like powering through when the alternative, to just set the book aside for some weeks, always looked so pleasant.
Anyway, I really liked the naval stuff here. Tanya and her battalion fighting the enemy ships, but also the mock battle on the Imperial ship. Maybe because I started playing Azur Lane sometime during one of my many hiatuses during the reading of this volume....
I guess what mostly gets me is how "episodic" these books feel. This volume has the Dacian battle, the Norden battle, the naval training exercise, the submarine sinking problem, the Rhine front, the Arene insurgency, and a return to the Rhine to cover the Imperial army retreat. The volume is about 400 pages long, roughly twice the length of the average volume of the average LN series. To my mind, there isn't a real justification for this length, as the volume is functionally a collection of short stories linked together through chronological progress. Tanya does some mission in some chapter, and the chapter will end with new orders for the next mission, but they are rarely cohesive. At best, Tanya's battalion's performance at Norden inspired the idea to train the navy to combat enemy mages. Otherwise, the events are largely disconnected. Part of why the book felt like a "slog" was because of its length, and I don't feel like there was any reason not to cut it on half at the middle point. I used KonoSuba as a counterpoint above, and those novels tend to be somewhat episodic as well, but they usually add up to a proper climax to tie each volume off. Not so with Youjo Senki. It's not a great problem, and I won't get upset at Carlo Zen, but the fact is that I simply prefer to finish LN volumes within a couple days, and it took me several months to bother finishing this one just because the length kept annoying me and I simply did not feel like powering through when the alternative, to just set the book aside for some weeks, always looked so pleasant.
Anyway, I really liked the naval stuff here. Tanya and her battalion fighting the enemy ships, but also the mock battle on the Imperial ship. Maybe because I started playing Azur Lane sometime during one of my many hiatuses during the reading of this volume....
October 23, 2024
Justifying war crimes, using legal jargons, and liberal interpretation of internation laws; Is a good summary of what Vol.2 of Youjo Senki encompasses.
More so than the actual fighting, it is more engaging to read how our protagonist uses their knowledge of the alternate, real life earth and its history, to cultivate an advantage for her side, in the infancy of their world's version of 'The great war'.
And as before, the blissfully oblivious misunderstanding between Tanya, her soldiers, superiors, and opponents, and a marathon of happy coincidences and speculations, make the whole affair being mistaken as some Machiavellian grand plan for world domination.
Such a pleasure to read; and somehow concerned as to how you're essentially cheering for what equates to WWI imperial Germany. At least, it's better than WWII Germany.
More so than the actual fighting, it is more engaging to read how our protagonist uses their knowledge of the alternate, real life earth and its history, to cultivate an advantage for her side, in the infancy of their world's version of 'The great war'.
And as before, the blissfully oblivious misunderstanding between Tanya, her soldiers, superiors, and opponents, and a marathon of happy coincidences and speculations, make the whole affair being mistaken as some Machiavellian grand plan for world domination.
Such a pleasure to read; and somehow concerned as to how you're essentially cheering for what equates to WWI imperial Germany. At least, it's better than WWII Germany.
August 7, 2017
剛看完動畫，於是便到圖書館去借原著小說來看。然而第一集已在書架上「消失」了，因此只能從第二集開始看起。本書的故事，是從女主角（某大叔）已經成了魔導大隊的指揮官，並從達契亞的「郊遊」開始寫起，經過北方戰場（諾登）的敵後登陸戰的勝利之後，一直到了西方萊茵戰線的撒退戰作為本書故事的結束。
這部小說給人的第一印象是︰完全不像時下的「輕小說（Light-novel／ラノベ）」，一冊書居然有五百多頁！作者在後記當中，也自我嘲諷了一番；當然包括他所取的這個「政治不政確」的書名——因此在對岸的支那大陸上，本書必須改名為《譚雅戰記》以免遭到官方的河蟹。
與改編的動畫內容相比，原著小說有幾點不同︰
1. 原著小說當中，作者個人對現實世界的「吐嘈」篇幅非常多，一堆歷史事件與人物，常常作為女主角（某大叔）的心中獨白而佔了相當大的篇幅。作者常把美國的麥克阿瑟拿來開涮，並對於共產主義社會中的經濟浪費十分不爽。
2. 正因為小說有較多的女主角（某大叔）的評論，因此動畫裡頭便減少這種不適合作為「影像化」的橋段，並大量增加女主角（某大叔）魔導團隊與敵人戰鬥的場面。因此，瑪麗蘇的老爸，在這一集的小說並沒有太多著墨，連被女主角（某大叔）戳死都不太醒目；但在動畫裡卻，瑪麗蘇的老爸卻成了女主角（某大叔）在這段期間內的重大對手，有好幾幕轟轟烈烈的對抗場景。
3. 小說裡頭，女主角（某大叔）在戰場上常常在心中盤算，如何才能將部下作為「肉盾」而讓自己保全。動畫裡，這種心計被刪掉，只見到女主角（某大叔）身先士卒、親身上前——小說描寫到，因為魔導師這種快速飛行的目標，衝第一個並不容易被敵入炮火打中，反而是其後的跟隨者才容易被炮手瞄準修正而喪命……
4. 關於「亞雷努屠城事件」。小說中，女主角（某大叔）是在長官面前倡議「鑽法律漏洞」，以規避「屠殺非戰鬥人員」的問題。但這樣的劇情可能對悠木碧太殘忍了，於是動畫裡頭，女主角（某大叔）則是「被動地」接受長官的指令，千百個不願意地去執行屠殺平民的命令，完全洗白了。
5. 北方的協約同盟政府崩潰後，政府評議員搭乘聯合王國（影射英國）的潛艇流亡過程當中，被女主角（某大叔）碰巧遇上並擊沉。由於這段故事牽涉到國際之間對於「中立國」的法律討論，因此動畫全刪了。
---
這部作品的故事，完全地符合了軍武宅的興趣，主角沒有太多戰鬥方面的敵人，因此重點可以擺在更大層次上的國家總體局勢討論上。
不過就「小說」的文字來講，我覺得這並不是一部「好」的小說。主要的問題有兩方面︰
視角轉移混亂與突兀——主角第一人稱、第三人稱、某配角的觀點，常在同一節的篇幅中任意切換。
想要強調重點的「文字癌」太多——「如字面上的意義」這個詞用得太泛濫。以前學長在設計海報時告訴過我的︰「如果所有都是重點，那就沒有重點了」。
這部小說給人的第一印象是︰完全不像時下的「輕小說（Light-novel／ラノベ）」，一冊書居然有五百多頁！作者在後記當中，也自我嘲諷了一番；當然包括他所取的這個「政治不政確」的書名——因此在對岸的支那大陸上，本書必須改名為《譚雅戰記》以免遭到官方的河蟹。
與改編的動畫內容相比，原著小說有幾點不同︰
1. 原著小說當中，作者個人對現實世界的「吐嘈」篇幅非常多，一堆歷史事件與人物，常常作為女主角（某大叔）的心中獨白而佔了相當大的篇幅。作者常把美國的麥克阿瑟拿來開涮，並對於共產主義社會中的經濟浪費十分不爽。
2. 正因為小說有較多的女主角（某大叔）的評論，因此動畫裡頭便減少這種不適合作為「影像化」的橋段，並大量增加女主角（某大叔）魔導團隊與敵人戰鬥的場面。因此，瑪麗蘇的老爸，在這一集的小說並沒有太多著墨，連被女主角（某大叔）戳死都不太醒目；但在動畫裡卻，瑪麗蘇的老爸卻成了女主角（某大叔）在這段期間內的重大對手，有好幾幕轟轟烈烈的對抗場景。
3. 小說裡頭，女主角（某大叔）在戰場上常常在心中盤算，如何才能將部下作為「肉盾」而讓自己保全。動畫裡，這種心計被刪掉，只見到女主角（某大叔）身先士卒、親身上前——小說描寫到，因為魔導師這種快速飛行的目標，衝第一個並不容易被敵入炮火打中，反而是其後的跟隨者才容易被炮手瞄準修正而喪命……
4. 關於「亞雷努屠城事件」。小說中，女主角（某大叔）是在長官面前倡議「鑽法律漏洞」，以規避「屠殺非戰鬥人員」的問題。但這樣的劇情可能對悠木碧太殘忍了，於是動畫裡頭，女主角（某大叔）則是「被動地」接受長官的指令，千百個不願意地去執行屠殺平民的命令，完全洗白了。
5. 北方的協約同盟政府崩潰後，政府評議員搭乘聯合王國（影射英國）的潛艇流亡過程當中，被女主角（某大叔）碰巧遇上並擊沉。由於這段故事牽涉到國際之間對於「中立國」的法律討論，因此動畫全刪了。
---
這部作品的故事，完全地符合了軍武宅的興趣，主角沒有太多戰鬥方面的敵人，因此重點可以擺在更大層次上的國家總體局勢討論上。
不過就「小說」的文字來講，我覺得這並不是一部「好」的小說。主要的問題有兩方面︰
視角轉移混亂與突兀——主角第一人稱、第三人稱、某配角的觀點，常在同一節的篇幅中任意切換。
想要強調重點的「文字癌」太多——「如字面上的意義」這個詞用得太泛濫。以前學長在設計海報時告訴過我的︰「如果所有都是重點，那就沒有重點了」。
October 22, 2020
Lots of explanation and repetition
I only enjoyed this because I watched the anime first. The book is filled with over-explaining, although it feels better than the first book. Possibly because I learned how to skim. There’s even an entire first section of a chapter that just goes over what’s going to happen in the next 3/4ths of the chapter. It’s maddening! And then the author talks about how many pages this book is in the afterward.
If you’re a fan of the anime and want to see the events from Tanya’s point of view, then it’s worth, but it’s still a slog. Covers middle episodes of the series (Vol 3 should cover the last few episodes, and Vol 4 the movie, but don’t quote me on that.)
I only enjoyed this because I watched the anime first. The book is filled with over-explaining, although it feels better than the first book. Possibly because I learned how to skim. There’s even an entire first section of a chapter that just goes over what’s going to happen in the next 3/4ths of the chapter. It’s maddening! And then the author talks about how many pages this book is in the afterward.
If you’re a fan of the anime and want to see the events from Tanya’s point of view, then it’s worth, but it’s still a slog. Covers middle episodes of the series (Vol 3 should cover the last few episodes, and Vol 4 the movie, but don’t quote me on that.)
March 7, 2023
While not entirely bad, the book wasn't all that great either. My biggest problems with it are that it is very confusing to follow at times. I usually like to give the author the benefit of the doubt when his work is being translated to another language, and just assume that something was either lost in translation, or the translator just wasn't up to the task of translating all of the little quirks of his writing style over into English. Either way, the English version is pretty difficult to follow at times. And the other thing that kind of annoyed me here was that Tanya, the main protagonist, speaks of Tanya, the main protagonist, as a completely separate person from herself, being the Japanese businessman who was reincarnated as Tanya. It's a really weird way to tell a story, and can also be rather confusing at times when Tanya is referring to herself like a completely different person from herself. I didn't hate it. But I never want to read it again either. I may read the next book sometime, but it'll have to be a while in the future, after I forget how frustrating this one was to read.
March 26, 2025
March 27:
Hilarious darkish and entertaining volume that continues Tanya’s journey through the carnage of war, combined with a feature of war crimes (technically not) and bureaucratic boredom with a rant of military strategy and tactics.
The first I read this 4 years ago, I was bored out of my mind and probably skipped like half the content. Apology for that, however, I have finished this book once again after this much of dense content, I must say, it’s one of the most entertaining military fiction I have ever read despite the…unique state of the main character. I’ll be continuing with Volume 3 and snatch up some more volumes in the near future.
Hilarious darkish and entertaining volume that continues Tanya’s journey through the carnage of war, combined with a feature of war crimes (technically not) and bureaucratic boredom with a rant of military strategy and tactics.
The first I read this 4 years ago, I was bored out of my mind and probably skipped like half the content. Apology for that, however, I have finished this book once again after this much of dense content, I must say, it’s one of the most entertaining military fiction I have ever read despite the…unique state of the main character. I’ll be continuing with Volume 3 and snatch up some more volumes in the near future.
February 3, 2021
Why did I read the second book when I knew that the first wasn't all that good? I thought it might go somewhere...
That was a mistake. This book is the same character being boring in a setting that is not particularly inspiring.
I just don't see anything of interest here. Read a real book on world war one, you will get far more out of it.
That was a mistake. This book is the same character being boring in a setting that is not particularly inspiring.
I just don't see anything of interest here. Read a real book on world war one, you will get far more out of it.
March 31, 2021
As I have seen in other reviews, this book reads a bit funky. Something will happen or someone will say something and then the same thing will be written two paragraphs later but with different words. Also the book drags on for some time. More breaks within chapters would be great, especially considering how much of the book is internal dialogue.
November 24, 2023
Whether Carlo Zen made it intentional or not, the constant rephrasing of the main character's thoughts is infuriating.
September 26, 2025
啊…真是一本漫长的轻小说啊，竟然有将近500页… 因为我可能看完就忘了所以姑且梳理一下时间线。
1924 年 9 月 24 日，Dacia贸然入侵帝国领土，其军队缺乏基本的空中掩护与现代化作战体系，仅以数十万缺乏训练的步兵组成攻势，而帝国第 203 魔导营此前长期驻守后方训练场，正急需实战经验。Tanya 接到命令后，发现达西亚军队完全无空中防御，随即抓住这一 “天赐良机” 建立绝对制空权。她带领部队从空中发起突袭，以魔法轰炸与精准打击击溃达西亚先锋部队。在击溃边境敌军后，Tanya 率部直扑达西亚首都的军工厂，以 “符合国际法的警告” 为掩护（实则利用儿童声线降低敌方警惕，让敌方以为是小女孩在捣乱）（可以说是动漫名场面了），炸毁其核心军工设施，彻底摧毁达西亚的战争潜力。
1924 年 11 月，第 203 魔导营被调往Norden（北欧） 战线，帝国总参谋部（以Major General von Rudersdorf和Major General von Zettour为首）与北方集团军在作战计划上产生分歧：北方集团军主张冬季正面进攻，Tanya 则坚决反对，指出 “后勤补给无法支撑冬季推进，强行进攻只会导致兵力损耗”，暴露了前线与总参谋部的战略认知差异。Tanya 随后察觉总参谋部的真实意图—效仿 “仁川登陆”，以两栖作战在诺登峡湾（Osfjord）实施敌后登陆，切断协约国的补给线。第 203 魔导营被任命为先锋，负责夺取沿岸炮台、清除防空火力，为舰队开辟通道。
1925 年 2 月，Tanya 因此前 “误击中立国英联邦潜艇” 面临军事法庭审判。但由于莱茵河战线急需精锐魔导部队，军方以 “作战需要” 为由驳回指控，Tanya 率部调往莱茵河—这里已是 “泥泞与炮火交织的堑壕地狱”（颇有凡尔登之势），帝国与共和国陷入拉锯战。总参谋部命令 203 营兼任 “教官部队”，负责训练新兵。
1925年5月，也是动漫本身争议性最大的部分，Chapter VI—Ordeal of fire，Arene Massacre。帝国为报复共和军对补给点的袭击，命令第 203 魔导营对Arene执行 “焦土政策”。Tanya表面遵循国际法 “劝离平民”（仅为战后审判的形式性免责），实则将未撤离者全部视为 “敌方战斗员”，启动 “Devil's Protocol”—以魔导火力无差别摧毁城市，导致尸横遍野，战场化为地狱。通过Grantz的良心挣扎（目睹平民伤亡后的道德煎熬），凸显了屠城的残酷性与帝国战争机器的疯狂。不过B站在这个情节下的弹幕竟然都是“像Grantz这样的战争期间不服从命令的士兵本来就该毙了”的评论，实在是让人汗颜…嘛，不过考虑到本身这部作品的受众群体90%都是宅男萝莉控和精德分子（大概率只看过动漫，完全没看到帝国的衰退和后面的9册轻小说）粉丝会发出这样的感慨也…不让人意外。
“Even an ordinary human, if given a reason, can commit any level of wickedness. The evil done in Arene was that commonplace.”
和动漫里以谭雅视角来看的屠城完全不同，小说反复穿插视角：先是未来帝国战败后的铭记广播。再是谭雅轰炸前的视角。再到一年前计划的时候。再到Grantz被要求轰炸平民的无助感和解离感。尤其是这段以冰冷的广播形式呈现的内容：But with no other way to do battle, the sad reality is that the citizens were forced to barricade themselves in. The great majority of them took refuge in and around Karelian Cathedral. The actions the Empire took in response to this are still debated today, and they have many critics. At the same time, you can’t help but notice a strange discrepancy between the complicated laws and common sense. After all, legal scholars agree that the massacre wasn’t in violation of any laws of war. To you viewers at home, that fact must come as a shock. It’s not as though citizens participating in the armed uprising were wearing military uniforms. They were irregular combatants. In other words, international law didn’t even guarantee them the rights of prisoner. 对国际法在绝对权力面前的脆弱何尝不是一种暗示和影射？帝国通过形式合规（如 “警告撤离”）掩盖实质暴行，和现实中战争罪行的合法化操作（如 “误炸”“ collateral damage”）何尝不相像啊—最可惜的就是漫画和动画都以谭雅以及203军为视角导致这段沦为完完全全的轰炸！
“So in the worst case, we continue delaying and try to cause as much damage as possible?”
“That’s our only choice. Either way, a soldier is a rotten thing to be.”
无意义的战争是什么？引用作者的原文：This is where a human’s life is worth the least. No, the lowest price is updated each day after hitting limit-down at this nearest station to hell. This is where the god of the dead and evil spirits make bank. A world where human lives plunge into dreadful deflation relative to lead bullets. This is a purgatory where the boundary between life and death is the haziest it ever gets. 通过屠城（作为帝国黄金期最恶劣的行为），作品完成了对 “战争神圣化” 的彻底解构—没有 “干净的胜利”。Arene 市的毁灭影射历史上的格尔尼卡轰炸、德累斯顿大轰炸等事件，依旧呼应 “战争是政治的延续，而政治永远肮脏” 的核心批判。
最后关于本作可能存在的军国主义思想：是的，关于是否反对总体战争而言，作者终究没有给出明确的道德答案。（感觉完全就是喜欢鉴证的立场模糊的宅男老哥呢.jpg）有些人认为谭雅战记根本不是一部反战作品，只是反对军事主义，宣扬的是深思熟虑的战争—在知乎上类似的论点甚至能获得500多的点赞—尽管我始终读到的更多是反战的那一部分。“深思熟虑的战争”论者能从战术叙事中找到理性的价值，反战者能从生命的毁灭中读出荒诞的本质。
作者本人既不否认军事理性的现实价值——作品对战术细节的精准刻画，甚至让部分读者从中读出“战争运筹学”的意味；又不断通过情节消解“理性战争”的正当性：谭雅的每一次“胜利”，都伴随着平民的流离、士兵的创伤与权力的博弈；帝国的每一次“战略成功”，都在为更大规模的溃败埋下伏笔。这使得作品成为一面镜子——那些相信“理性能驯服战争”的读者，会看到军事决策的精妙；那些坚信“战争本质荒诞”的读者，会看到个体在权力机器中的挣扎。
虽然我一般情况下是不喜欢这种道德留白性的，但在战争这种极其extremist的道德和政治立场非黑即白性的情况下，开放性反而会成为优点。能把战争这种社会行为平淡地讲出来—不管你是否认为它是正当的—而不是单纯喊“反战”的口号，就已经超越了很多当代战争文学了。
P.S. 作者的推特号是@sonzaix，把自己称为存在X而不是谭雅的化身，（不断折磨谭雅）；可以说是很黑色幽默了...
P.P.S. 这卷的另一个场面—Tanya被迫套上可爱小裙子拍propaganda—原则上来说如果发生在其他作品我肯定要批判的。但是谭雅的反差实在是很萌。对不起。
1924 年 9 月 24 日，Dacia贸然入侵帝国领土，其军队缺乏基本的空中掩护与现代化作战体系，仅以数十万缺乏训练的步兵组成攻势，而帝国第 203 魔导营此前长期驻守后方训练场，正急需实战经验。Tanya 接到命令后，发现达西亚军队完全无空中防御，随即抓住这一 “天赐良机” 建立绝对制空权。她带领部队从空中发起突袭，以魔法轰炸与精准打击击溃达西亚先锋部队。在击溃边境敌军后，Tanya 率部直扑达西亚首都的军工厂，以 “符合国际法的警告” 为掩护（实则利用儿童声线降低敌方警惕，让敌方以为是小女孩在捣乱）（可以说是动漫名场面了），炸毁其核心军工设施，彻底摧毁达西亚的战争潜力。
1924 年 11 月，第 203 魔导营被调往Norden（北欧） 战线，帝国总参谋部（以Major General von Rudersdorf和Major General von Zettour为首）与北方集团军在作战计划上产生分歧：北方集团军主张冬季正面进攻，Tanya 则坚决反对，指出 “后勤补给无法支撑冬季推进，强行进攻只会导致兵力损耗”，暴露了前线与总参谋部的战略认知差异。Tanya 随后察觉总参谋部的真实意图—效仿 “仁川登陆”，以两栖作战在诺登峡湾（Osfjord）实施敌后登陆，切断协约国的补给线。第 203 魔导营被任命为先锋，负责夺取沿岸炮台、清除防空火力，为舰队开辟通道。
1925 年 2 月，Tanya 因此前 “误击中立国英联邦潜艇” 面临军事法庭审判。但由于莱茵河战线急需精锐魔导部队，军方以 “作战需要” 为由驳回指控，Tanya 率部调往莱茵河—这里已是 “泥泞与炮火交织的堑壕地狱”（颇有凡尔登之势），帝国与共和国陷入拉锯战。总参谋部命令 203 营兼任 “教官部队”，负责训练新兵。
1925年5月，也是动漫本身争议性最大的部分，Chapter VI—Ordeal of fire，Arene Massacre。帝国为报复共和军对补给点的袭击，命令第 203 魔导营对Arene执行 “焦土政策”。Tanya表面遵循国际法 “劝离平民”（仅为战后审判的形式性免责），实则将未撤离者全部视为 “敌方战斗员”，启动 “Devil's Protocol”—以魔导火力无差别摧毁城市，导致尸横遍野，战场化为地狱。通过Grantz的良心挣扎（目睹平民伤亡后的道德煎熬），凸显了屠城的残酷性与帝国战争机器的疯狂。不过B站在这个情节下的弹幕竟然都是“像Grantz这样的战争期间不服从命令的士兵本来就该毙了”的评论，实在是让人汗颜…嘛，不过考虑到本身这部作品的受众群体90%都是宅男萝莉控和精德分子（大概率只看过动漫，完全没看到帝国的衰退和后面的9册轻小说）粉丝会发出这样的感慨也…不让人意外。
“Even an ordinary human, if given a reason, can commit any level of wickedness. The evil done in Arene was that commonplace.”
和动漫里以谭雅视角来看的屠城完全不同，小说反复穿插视角：先是未来帝国战败后的铭记广播。再是谭雅轰炸前的视角。再到一年前计划的时候。再到Grantz被要求轰炸平民的无助感和解离感。尤其是这段以冰冷的广播形式呈现的内容：But with no other way to do battle, the sad reality is that the citizens were forced to barricade themselves in. The great majority of them took refuge in and around Karelian Cathedral. The actions the Empire took in response to this are still debated today, and they have many critics. At the same time, you can’t help but notice a strange discrepancy between the complicated laws and common sense. After all, legal scholars agree that the massacre wasn’t in violation of any laws of war. To you viewers at home, that fact must come as a shock. It’s not as though citizens participating in the armed uprising were wearing military uniforms. They were irregular combatants. In other words, international law didn’t even guarantee them the rights of prisoner. 对国际法在绝对权力面前的脆弱何尝不是一种暗示和影射？帝国通过形式合规（如 “警告撤离”）掩盖实质暴行，和现实中战争罪行的合法化操作（如 “误炸”“ collateral damage”）何尝不相像啊—最可惜的就是漫画和动画都以谭雅以及203军为视角导致这段沦为完完全全的轰炸！
“So in the worst case, we continue delaying and try to cause as much damage as possible?”
“That’s our only choice. Either way, a soldier is a rotten thing to be.”
无意义的战争是什么？引用作者的原文：This is where a human’s life is worth the least. No, the lowest price is updated each day after hitting limit-down at this nearest station to hell. This is where the god of the dead and evil spirits make bank. A world where human lives plunge into dreadful deflation relative to lead bullets. This is a purgatory where the boundary between life and death is the haziest it ever gets. 通过屠城（作为帝国黄金期最恶劣的行为），作品完成了对 “战争神圣化” 的彻底解构—没有 “干净的胜利”。Arene 市的毁灭影射历史上的格尔尼卡轰炸、德累斯顿大轰炸等事件，依旧呼应 “战争是政治的延续，而政治永远肮脏” 的核心批判。
最后关于本作可能存在的军国主义思想：是的，关于是否反对总体战争而言，作者终究没有给出明确的道德答案。（感觉完全就是喜欢鉴证的立场模糊的宅男老哥呢.jpg）有些人认为谭雅战记根本不是一部反战作品，只是反对军事主义，宣扬的是深思熟虑的战争—在知乎上类似的论点甚至能获得500多的点赞—尽管我始终读到的更多是反战的那一部分。“深思熟虑的战争”论者能从战术叙事中找到理性的价值，反战者能从生命的毁灭中读出荒诞的本质。
作者本人既不否认军事理性的现实价值——作品对战术细节的精准刻画，甚至让部分读者从中读出“战争运筹学”的意味；又不断通过情节消解“理性战争”的正当性：谭雅的每一次“胜利”，都伴随着平民的流离、士兵的创伤与权力的博弈；帝国的每一次“战略成功”，都在为更大规模的溃败埋下伏笔。这使得作品成为一面镜子——那些相信“理性能驯服战争”的读者，会看到军事决策的精妙；那些坚信“战争本质荒诞”的读者，会看到个体在权力机器中的挣扎。
虽然我一般情况下是不喜欢这种道德留白性的，但在战争这种极其extremist的道德和政治立场非黑即白性的情况下，开放性反而会成为优点。能把战争这种社会行为平淡地讲出来—不管你是否认为它是正当的—而不是单纯喊“反战”的口号，就已经超越了很多当代战争文学了。
P.S. 作者的推特号是@sonzaix，把自己称为存在X而不是谭雅的化身，（不断折磨谭雅）；可以说是很黑色幽默了...
P.P.S. 这卷的另一个场面—Tanya被迫套上可爱小裙子拍propaganda—原则上来说如果发生在其他作品我肯定要批判的。但是谭雅的反差实在是很萌。对不起。
August 31, 2023
A Ruthless Struggle in a World of Magic and Warfare
In The Saga of Tanya the Evil, Vol. 2: Plus Ultra by Carlo Zen, readers are thrust back into the chaotic and war-torn world of a ruthless soldier reincarnated as a young girl. With its relentless action, military strategy, and exploration of moral ambiguity, this volume takes the intensity of the series to new heights.
Zen's storytelling immerses readers in a high-stakes battlefield where magic and warfare collide. The grim atmosphere and constant tension highlight the harsh realities of war, while the fantasy elements add a layer of intrigue to the narrative. The world-building continues to expand with its intricacies and political dynamics.
The character of Tanya remains a fascinating study in contradictions, as her merciless tactics contrast with her seemingly innocent appearance. Her calculated ruthlessness and strategic brilliance anchor the story's military focus, while her internal struggle adds a layer of complexity.
The plot is a dynamic whirlwind of war and political maneuvering, keeping readers engrossed in Tanya's relentless pursuit of power and survival. The pacing is swift, ensuring that action sequences and strategic debates receive equal attention. The narrative's twists and turns keep readers intrigued and invested.
Zen's writing style is precise and impactful, effectively conveying the swift progression of battles and the intricacies of military strategy. The dialogue is sharp and reflects the urgency of the characters' situations, adding to the realism of their interactions.
Compared to other military fantasy novels, The Saga of Tanya the Evil, Vol. 2: Plus Ultra stands out for its focus on strategic warfare and the exploration of ethical dilemmas within a wartime context. While other works may emphasize fantastical elements, this series excels in its unflinching portrayal of the psychological impact of war.
In conclusion, The Saga of Tanya the Evil, Vol. 2: Plus Ultra is a gripping continuation of Tanya's journey through a world of magic and conflict. Carlo Zen's military expertise and character depth make this volume a must-read for fans of military fantasy with a darker edge. Readers seeking an intense and morally complex exploration of war will find this work a captivating and unforgettable experience.
In The Saga of Tanya the Evil, Vol. 2: Plus Ultra by Carlo Zen, readers are thrust back into the chaotic and war-torn world of a ruthless soldier reincarnated as a young girl. With its relentless action, military strategy, and exploration of moral ambiguity, this volume takes the intensity of the series to new heights.
Zen's storytelling immerses readers in a high-stakes battlefield where magic and warfare collide. The grim atmosphere and constant tension highlight the harsh realities of war, while the fantasy elements add a layer of intrigue to the narrative. The world-building continues to expand with its intricacies and political dynamics.
The character of Tanya remains a fascinating study in contradictions, as her merciless tactics contrast with her seemingly innocent appearance. Her calculated ruthlessness and strategic brilliance anchor the story's military focus, while her internal struggle adds a layer of complexity.
The plot is a dynamic whirlwind of war and political maneuvering, keeping readers engrossed in Tanya's relentless pursuit of power and survival. The pacing is swift, ensuring that action sequences and strategic debates receive equal attention. The narrative's twists and turns keep readers intrigued and invested.
Zen's writing style is precise and impactful, effectively conveying the swift progression of battles and the intricacies of military strategy. The dialogue is sharp and reflects the urgency of the characters' situations, adding to the realism of their interactions.
Compared to other military fantasy novels, The Saga of Tanya the Evil, Vol. 2: Plus Ultra stands out for its focus on strategic warfare and the exploration of ethical dilemmas within a wartime context. While other works may emphasize fantastical elements, this series excels in its unflinching portrayal of the psychological impact of war.
In conclusion, The Saga of Tanya the Evil, Vol. 2: Plus Ultra is a gripping continuation of Tanya's journey through a world of magic and conflict. Carlo Zen's military expertise and character depth make this volume a must-read for fans of military fantasy with a darker edge. Readers seeking an intense and morally complex exploration of war will find this work a captivating and unforgettable experience.
October 13, 2019
Read this review (and others) at: https://literatureislife.com/2019/10/...
Like the first volume, Plus Ultra is long for a light novel. None of the books in The Saga of Tanya the Evil are quick reads. They take about as long as a standard western novel. For readers who watched the anime first, Plus Ultra goes from partway through Episode 5 to partway through episode 11. There is also a side story at the end which the anime shows at the end of Episode 2. This is where The Saga of Tanya the Evil differs from many other anime adaptions of light novels.
Typically, an anime adapted from a light novel tries to match pace with the books. This series does not do that. The end of an episode does not necessarily coincide with the end of a chapter. The pacing is readjusted for the anime adaption and while that is not necessarily a bad thing, it is unusual. That being said, it could even be viewed in a positive light depending on your outlook. The alternate narrative techniques used by the anime tell the same story, but in a different way. While the book has more focus on geopolitical analysis, the anime more focuses directly on fighting and warfare.
With all that in mind, Plus Ultra continues to be an already impressive series. This is the point in the story where WWI and WWII analogies start to mix. The first book showed more of the WWI side of things with notions such as the geographic location of the Not-Europe nations and trench warfare. Plus Ultra starts driving WWII-era points home, such as the application of new technology and tactics on the battlefield. All of this is obvious to Tanya, who is from Earth and has knowledge of WWII history. But to everyone else in the world, this is all new.
The Empire is newly established as a potential world superpower. However, they are surrounded by other countries on all sides. While their country is not landlocked, areas the size of the English Channel are the only waters between them and other nations. Some of these other nations are superpowers and want to prevent the Empire from becoming one as well. This is where The Saga of Tanya the Evil differs from real history. The Empire (Not-Germany) is always the defender (thus far). They have yet to attack first. And their military leaders 100% expected any potential wars to happen that way. How their plans of national defense will ultimately turn out in the face of a reacting enemy remains to be seen.
Like the first volume, Plus Ultra is long for a light novel. None of the books in The Saga of Tanya the Evil are quick reads. They take about as long as a standard western novel. For readers who watched the anime first, Plus Ultra goes from partway through Episode 5 to partway through episode 11. There is also a side story at the end which the anime shows at the end of Episode 2. This is where The Saga of Tanya the Evil differs from many other anime adaptions of light novels.
Typically, an anime adapted from a light novel tries to match pace with the books. This series does not do that. The end of an episode does not necessarily coincide with the end of a chapter. The pacing is readjusted for the anime adaption and while that is not necessarily a bad thing, it is unusual. That being said, it could even be viewed in a positive light depending on your outlook. The alternate narrative techniques used by the anime tell the same story, but in a different way. While the book has more focus on geopolitical analysis, the anime more focuses directly on fighting and warfare.
With all that in mind, Plus Ultra continues to be an already impressive series. This is the point in the story where WWI and WWII analogies start to mix. The first book showed more of the WWI side of things with notions such as the geographic location of the Not-Europe nations and trench warfare. Plus Ultra starts driving WWII-era points home, such as the application of new technology and tactics on the battlefield. All of this is obvious to Tanya, who is from Earth and has knowledge of WWII history. But to everyone else in the world, this is all new.
The Empire is newly established as a potential world superpower. However, they are surrounded by other countries on all sides. While their country is not landlocked, areas the size of the English Channel are the only waters between them and other nations. Some of these other nations are superpowers and want to prevent the Empire from becoming one as well. This is where The Saga of Tanya the Evil differs from real history. The Empire (Not-Germany) is always the defender (thus far). They have yet to attack first. And their military leaders 100% expected any potential wars to happen that way. How their plans of national defense will ultimately turn out in the face of a reacting enemy remains to be seen.
September 5, 2022
Tanya the Evil
while the intricate Military jargon isn't so dense for the less experienced in military novels or even the technical verbiage the summary and the innate importance or substance of the strategies and the other military-technical details are pretty discernable
Tanya is just as libertarian centered but besides that it was quite interesting to see such a sharp contrast between being immersed in her unempathetic and calculating thinking with the fervent yet degrading soldier Anson Sioux
a more polarizing contrast of motivations and human values can't be found off the top of my head and it performs wonderfully
of course a lot of the interest I find in Tanya the Evil tends to do with how in ironic fashion Tanya's cold and unempathetic perspective of humans as nothing more than competent or incompotent resources tends to unintentionally cause unrest within those around her as they form a dark impression of her that unsettles them which disrupts Tanya's supposed plan to appear as the uniform perfect soldier equipped with making declarative patriotic yet suicidal statements whenever theirs an ear to listen to her in order to spread a targeted reputation of herself
the side story also serves as an amusing addition to Tanya's humiliation and I highly recommend before moving onto the next installement
while the intricate Military jargon isn't so dense for the less experienced in military novels or even the technical verbiage the summary and the innate importance or substance of the strategies and the other military-technical details are pretty discernable
Tanya is just as libertarian centered but besides that it was quite interesting to see such a sharp contrast between being immersed in her unempathetic and calculating thinking with the fervent yet degrading soldier Anson Sioux
a more polarizing contrast of motivations and human values can't be found off the top of my head and it performs wonderfully
of course a lot of the interest I find in Tanya the Evil tends to do with how in ironic fashion Tanya's cold and unempathetic perspective of humans as nothing more than competent or incompotent resources tends to unintentionally cause unrest within those around her as they form a dark impression of her that unsettles them which disrupts Tanya's supposed plan to appear as the uniform perfect soldier equipped with making declarative patriotic yet suicidal statements whenever theirs an ear to listen to her in order to spread a targeted reputation of herself
the side story also serves as an amusing addition to Tanya's humiliation and I highly recommend before moving onto the next installement
June 1, 2022
The second book imo is just a tad of jumping to one battle to another, so it kinda makes me feel like there is little connection (as in an overall development of the plot, the character(s)), even until the end of the book nothing much really put an emphasis on the story line and left an impression on me. I agree with one previous comments here that this book is unecessarily long and it has quite an amount of repeatition of events, expressions, etc. To say I have enjoyed the first book of this series very much, I rated it 4 stars, but for this one, somehow it kinda loses touch with me, and I feel really sluggish in picking it up again whenever I put it down after a while of reading. It tooks me literally months to finish it, and I don't know if this is bad or not but I somehow I enjoyed reading the glossaries of real history events throughout the book, the author's note, the translator's note, and the editor's note at the very end of the book rather than THE BOOK itself:)) still, it is not "that" bad, and as I am willing to see this book as a part of a much bigger picture, which is the entire series I intend to follow until the end to see how it would turn out eventually. Imma just be generous enough to give it a decent 3 stars. On my way to the third book now teehee.
September 11, 2022
I love this. Even though it took me three attempts to finally get through it, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn't not feel like one novel; it felt like several short stories compiled into one book, in a way, which I didn't mind at all. So much happens in this book; so many different military operations which were all very interesting. As I make my way through the manga, I can't wait to get to the parts that cover this novel.
I really like Tanya, Weiss and Grantz. Chapter five, The Devil of the Rhine, was a particularly outstanding chapter.
I'll definitely get started on the third volume, but not for a little while because I'm exhausted!
Although it did take me quite a while to plough through this volume, I think it's best read slowly, because there is quite a lot to take in. I sort of rushed through the last two chapters {I enjoyed chapter 6 but chapter 7 just felt uneventful and short to me}. The extra little story at the end is also entertaining.
5/5 stars because this series is amazing
I really like Tanya, Weiss and Grantz. Chapter five, The Devil of the Rhine, was a particularly outstanding chapter.
I'll definitely get started on the third volume, but not for a little while because I'm exhausted!
Although it did take me quite a while to plough through this volume, I think it's best read slowly, because there is quite a lot to take in. I sort of rushed through the last two chapters {I enjoyed chapter 6 but chapter 7 just felt uneventful and short to me}. The extra little story at the end is also entertaining.
5/5 stars because this series is amazing
November 7, 2021
First off, this is the second series to the book that I reviewed. And I would love to say that my determination for this series is not going down, but, not going up either. This book kind of separate itself from a normal LN book, therefore, I am starting to seeing this series as just a normal history class about the World war I (just a very distorted one). This book contains a few arcs? The battle in both Dacian and Norden which was epic and another series of trainings as well as a problem being thrown at the end. But most importantly, it is the battle in Rhine due to that is just how that is the place what makes Tanya Tanya. I don't think this part of the book is animated yet? Though it is probably due to anime and books are most different at times. I still would like people that enjoyed the show to read the book though. Eventhough the reader feel less like reading a lightnovel and instead reading a literature book. I still enjoy it very much.
July 26, 2023
A salaryman in Japan dies. He is astonished to find himself brought back and even more astonished to find he is now an eleven year old girl named Tanya. Tanya has been recruited into the army and quickly shows an aptitude and willingness to do whatever it takes to win that surpasses her adult peers. She is promoted and soon is in charge of a battalion of mages. But as she rises, her superiors are bothered by her cold analysis of events, her willingness to regard her soldiers as nothing more than another resource. Is she truly suited for leadership?
This novel is the book version of a highly successful manga series that extends to nineteen issues. Tanya is a survivor and will do whatever it takes to be sure that she does. The action is fast and furious and the reader will have to decide if they are on Tanya's side. This book is recommended for young adults and manga readers.
This novel is the book version of a highly successful manga series that extends to nineteen issues. Tanya is a survivor and will do whatever it takes to be sure that she does. The action is fast and furious and the reader will have to decide if they are on Tanya's side. This book is recommended for young adults and manga readers.
October 19, 2025
I read the afterward in which the author said that the editors and readers both want more highlight on the more 'normal' characters like Tanya's superiors and such. Why? They're normal.
I agreed with the idea initially but the more I thought about it, I reached the same conclusion as the author; This is the saga of Tanya. I enjoy her eccentricities, randomly whipping out opportunity cost in her thinking mid-battle, or game theory, the slyness, or that she thinks about the Chicago school of economics in her free mind. Much like Regulus Corneas from Re:zero, I can sincerely appreciate Tanya's character even whilst lacking agreements in many areas (in economic theory, morals, or otherwise) compared to the General-Staff superiors or her lieutenants even though they may be a far more accurate representation of war.
I agreed with the idea initially but the more I thought about it, I reached the same conclusion as the author; This is the saga of Tanya. I enjoy her eccentricities, randomly whipping out opportunity cost in her thinking mid-battle, or game theory, the slyness, or that she thinks about the Chicago school of economics in her free mind. Much like Regulus Corneas from Re:zero, I can sincerely appreciate Tanya's character even whilst lacking agreements in many areas (in economic theory, morals, or otherwise) compared to the General-Staff superiors or her lieutenants even though they may be a far more accurate representation of war.
August 28, 2018
The story of Tanya, the Evil, continues strongly. While the previous book focused a lot on how Tanya came to be what she is, this one focuses on how she manages her Batallion and her missions during the early stages of the World War that is inevitably coming.
The book is rather large for a LN, 400 pages of small font text. It is split into several battles and focuses on how new tactics and new tech keep changing the way wars are fought. The author is really great at going over the same event from different points of view and not making it boring. That event in a battle is interpreted/seen/felt completely differently by the generals, the soldiers, the 3rd players or the civilians.
Lots of politics, strategy, logistics... not for everyone, but a solid "what if" book!
The book is rather large for a LN, 400 pages of small font text. It is split into several battles and focuses on how new tactics and new tech keep changing the way wars are fought. The author is really great at going over the same event from different points of view and not making it boring. That event in a battle is interpreted/seen/felt completely differently by the generals, the soldiers, the 3rd players or the civilians.
Lots of politics, strategy, logistics... not for everyone, but a solid "what if" book!
August 22, 2018
This one was larger than its immediate books and the author even mentions that on the afterword, I learnt a lot of management and economic principles here, those are just mentioned but with a little research made a valuable contribution to my knowledge, having said that this book was great, lots of action and it’s still a little bit still confusing at some parts to discern who’s talking but that’s just the author’s style; this world is somewhere between our two World Wars and the Tech is showing that, it establishes the bases for a splendid move on the next book and the Norden campaign was impressive.
May 12, 2025
Its hard to say for me if this book is better than the first. I would probably argue it is. On some points I can't really make a comparison, like the writing style for example. Whether it got better or I got more used to it again.
The second book introduces the perspectives of more characters and also goes a bit deeper into Tanya's contradicting thought process.
For me it was somewhat unsatisfying how many fights are cut short and barely even mentioned. On the other hand inner thoughts and military reasonings are getting pages on pages even if they repeat themselves.
Going through what happend in the story, I am impressed how much it really was.
The second book introduces the perspectives of more characters and also goes a bit deeper into Tanya's contradicting thought process.
For me it was somewhat unsatisfying how many fights are cut short and barely even mentioned. On the other hand inner thoughts and military reasonings are getting pages on pages even if they repeat themselves.
Going through what happend in the story, I am impressed how much it really was.
May 14, 2020
This one is about as mediocre as the first one. It takes incredible skill to make war crimes and civilian massacres as bland as this book did. The way the author tries to make Tanya justify committing a war crime 'legally' was pretty cool, but the rest of the book was flat throughout.
I'll probably pick up the other installments because the next season of the anime is going to take ages to release, and I am curious what happens eventually. It's just a slog to go through. The anime is the superior version of this franchise.
I'll probably pick up the other installments because the next season of the anime is going to take ages to release, and I am curious what happens eventually. It's just a slog to go through. The anime is the superior version of this franchise.
April 21, 2022
A definite improvement on volume one. The main issue I had with that one - that the story is sometimes shoved aside for the sake of explaining military stuff to the point that it felt like reading a textbook at times - is still an occasional problem, but there's a far better balance between that and the story/characters this time around. Speaking of whom, I really liked how we got the POVs of some of Tanya's unit. They're good, likeable characters, and seeing her subordinates' thoughts on her actions was nice and interesting.
Oh, and that side-story at the end was highly amusing.
Oh, and that side-story at the end was highly amusing.
June 11, 2022
Another chapter in the continuing Saga of Tanya Degurechaff, the Devil of the Rhine. As a fan of both the manga and the anime, it's been fascinating diving into the differences between the three versions of the story. As I felt with the first volume, sometimes I feel like the story can get a get a little dry with the a little too in-depth descriptions of events, or some of the esoteric references pulled from out of nowhere, but when the action picks up, it makes the slogging worth it! Can't wait to continue the story with Vol. 3!
April 18, 2023
This book was far better translated than the first one, but it is still a pretty tough read sentence structure wise.
Back to Tanya at the front lines of a war they never wanted. Ever the pragmatist, ever the budding sociopath.
I enjoyed the beginning and end part of this, but most of the middle felt like a war novel filler that had to be done to review the flow of the war but didn't really have any impact on the story or any of the characters involved.
Back to Tanya at the front lines of a war they never wanted. Ever the pragmatist, ever the budding sociopath.
I enjoyed the beginning and end part of this, but most of the middle felt like a war novel filler that had to be done to review the flow of the war but didn't really have any impact on the story or any of the characters involved.
February 17, 2024
The first volume had a perfect mix of battle scenes, war strategies, politics, philosophy, and religion. It had many scenes of Tanya talking to being X, being X talking to other deities, Tanya trying to be accepted and respected, etc.
This one, at least in the first 3 chapters, consists of battle scenes, war strategies, and nothing else. It is Unbelievably dry and repetitive that I couldn't get to the fifth chapter even after switching to the audio version.
This one, at least in the first 3 chapters, consists of battle scenes, war strategies, and nothing else. It is Unbelievably dry and repetitive that I couldn't get to the fifth chapter even after switching to the audio version.
April 1, 2018
Good continuation
I felt that this one was a little short in comparison to the first one but still enjoyed nonetheless, my only gripes are that a couple images are missing from this release and that wait is so long for the final part.
I felt that this one was a little short in comparison to the first one but still enjoyed nonetheless, my only gripes are that a couple images are missing from this release and that wait is so long for the final part.
April 7, 2022
- This, like the prior one, consist mostly of inner monologue and exposition.
-It has very little dialogue or scenes.
-Explaining explaining, thinking, thinking ect.
-Transactions between scenes or perspectives is rather bad.
- mostly "tell" instead of "show"
-It has very little dialogue or scenes.
-Explaining explaining, thinking, thinking ect.
-Transactions between scenes or perspectives is rather bad.
- mostly "tell" instead of "show"
May 14, 2022
Just as good as the first
Like the headline says this book is as good as the first, but suffers from some of the pacing issues as the first one. Overall though this is a great continuation and can't wait to get to the next one.
Like the headline says this book is as good as the first, but suffers from some of the pacing issues as the first one. Overall though this is a great continuation and can't wait to get to the next one.
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