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Crônicas das Guerras de Lodoss #1
Record of Lodoss War: The Grey Witch
THE EPIC FANTASY MASTERPIECE, NOW IN ENGLISH FOR THE FIRST TIME! Thirty years after the Demon Wars, peace has returned to the land of Lodoss--but darkness looms. After defending his village against a horde of goblins, a headstrong young warrior named Parn sets out on a quest to restore his father’s honor and save the realm. Joining Parn are Deedlit the high elf, Slayn the wizard, Etoh, a fledgling priest, Ghim, a grizzled dwarven warrior, and Woodchuck, a wily thief. Along their journey, Parn and his companions discover an evil witch who, for eons, has been manipulating events from the shadows. Can this ragtag party of heroes defeat the all-powerful Grey Witch and prevent Lodoss and its kingdoms from descending into total chaos and destruction?
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 19, 2017
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June 9, 2017Preordered this the moment I found out about it. Oh dear me, what have I done to deserve this happening? I don't usually like gif'ing things up, but I'll make an exception here to express my excitement for this release.
I cannot wait to read the novel come November. Though this far out, I may need to rewatch the anime. Again.
This is a classic western-style fantasy story that you wouldn't expect to come from Japan if you look at anime/manga culture these days. It's got plenty of D&D-esque elements to it, from dragons watching over treasures, evil beings trying to bring the end of the world and a ragtag party of heroes across the class-spectrum. I mean, it literally started out as a Pen & Paper project back in the 80s! About bloody time somebody finally brought it over officially so I can throw money at it.
I cannot wait to read the novel come November. Though this far out, I may need to rewatch the anime. Again.
This is a classic western-style fantasy story that you wouldn't expect to come from Japan if you look at anime/manga culture these days. It's got plenty of D&D-esque elements to it, from dragons watching over treasures, evil beings trying to bring the end of the world and a ragtag party of heroes across the class-spectrum. I mean, it literally started out as a Pen & Paper project back in the 80s! About bloody time somebody finally brought it over officially so I can throw money at it.
July 29, 2018
I have a deep fondness of the Lodoss series and have wanted to read the source material for years. I'm very happy to finally have the opportunity to read the first light novel and I learned so much more about the setting and characters than I had previously understood. It was an easy read.
However it is quite simply written. I'm not sure if this is the translation author's style or her staying true to Mizuno's style. Without knowing the series beforehand, I likely wouldn't have appreciated it as much. The story very much reads for what it is--a replay of a D&D campaign. The subsequent iterations of the narrative vastly improves in the manga and anime. Tension is often diffused too easily. If you really love Lodoss, pick this up and learn a few things. This could also be a good read for kids and young adults.
However it is quite simply written. I'm not sure if this is the translation author's style or her staying true to Mizuno's style. Without knowing the series beforehand, I likely wouldn't have appreciated it as much. The story very much reads for what it is--a replay of a D&D campaign. The subsequent iterations of the narrative vastly improves in the manga and anime. Tension is often diffused too easily. If you really love Lodoss, pick this up and learn a few things. This could also be a good read for kids and young adults.
March 14, 2019
Lodoss, the accursed island. So true is this saying in this classic hero tale of good versus evil. Parn, the dedicated warrior of justice is seeking to become a hero and protector of Lodoss, an island with a rich history of war and strife. Joining a rag tag group of unlikely adventurers, they set out on a quest which soon erupts into something much more grand. Massive war breaks out across the land. A daughter of a priestess goes missing.
Record of Lodoss War is your typical D&D adventure taken from (my guess) 1st edition (it was published in 1988). Being an old school gamer myself, it was interesting to see the dynamic of six standard hero classes set out on a journey across an island full of evil monsters. Warrior, elf, dwarf, wizard, cleric, and thief. An excellent blend of character classes to overcome any adversary. Roy Mizuno encapsulated the very essence of role playing adventures and put it into novel form. This book was created also right around the era of Dragonlance (do you remember those book?) which had a large influence in my fantasy interests back in the day.
What was the most appealing aspect of the book was the compassion displayed by three of the main characters, Parn, Slayn, and Ghim. Parn for his absolute undying resolve to do whats right. Although not a paladin per say, he had the diligence of upholding justice in the name of his dead father, Tessius. Everything he fought for was for honor and the well being of Lodoss and its people. Slayn Starseeker, one of th few wizards left in the land, is all about supporting those with a cause, always learning the truth, and balancing the odds in the groups effort to restore peace. He is one badass of a wizard, mind you, always using the smaller, weaker spells, to overcome obstacles, rather than the large flashy ones. He was never about displaying power. And then there’s Ghim, the stout dwarf of the party. He holds a secret that none of the others know about, and consequently, his mission intertwines with the other's mission, which causes him to stick with the group despite the promise he made to a priestess. He eats a lot, typical of dwarves, and carries a battle axe to do his monster exterminations.
Really the only draw back to the story was that it is a tale thats out dated and written in a style that was very acceptable back in the 1980’s. With the narration focusing more on the telling of the story rather than the showing, there would be long drawn out periods of exposition and gaps in the time line spanning over months. But this is not something that should discourage a reader. Record of Lodoss is a true classic tale that will never lose its charm over the ages. I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed the ending to this book, although some parts were not happy, and that it had its certain romantic zing which you don’t really get anymore these days in the contemporary world of story telling.
4 out of 5 stars.
F. D. Gross
Record of Lodoss War is your typical D&D adventure taken from (my guess) 1st edition (it was published in 1988). Being an old school gamer myself, it was interesting to see the dynamic of six standard hero classes set out on a journey across an island full of evil monsters. Warrior, elf, dwarf, wizard, cleric, and thief. An excellent blend of character classes to overcome any adversary. Roy Mizuno encapsulated the very essence of role playing adventures and put it into novel form. This book was created also right around the era of Dragonlance (do you remember those book?) which had a large influence in my fantasy interests back in the day.
What was the most appealing aspect of the book was the compassion displayed by three of the main characters, Parn, Slayn, and Ghim. Parn for his absolute undying resolve to do whats right. Although not a paladin per say, he had the diligence of upholding justice in the name of his dead father, Tessius. Everything he fought for was for honor and the well being of Lodoss and its people. Slayn Starseeker, one of th few wizards left in the land, is all about supporting those with a cause, always learning the truth, and balancing the odds in the groups effort to restore peace. He is one badass of a wizard, mind you, always using the smaller, weaker spells, to overcome obstacles, rather than the large flashy ones. He was never about displaying power. And then there’s Ghim, the stout dwarf of the party. He holds a secret that none of the others know about, and consequently, his mission intertwines with the other's mission, which causes him to stick with the group despite the promise he made to a priestess. He eats a lot, typical of dwarves, and carries a battle axe to do his monster exterminations.
Really the only draw back to the story was that it is a tale thats out dated and written in a style that was very acceptable back in the 1980’s. With the narration focusing more on the telling of the story rather than the showing, there would be long drawn out periods of exposition and gaps in the time line spanning over months. But this is not something that should discourage a reader. Record of Lodoss is a true classic tale that will never lose its charm over the ages. I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed the ending to this book, although some parts were not happy, and that it had its certain romantic zing which you don’t really get anymore these days in the contemporary world of story telling.
4 out of 5 stars.
F. D. Gross
September 19, 2020
*Score: 5/10*
War on land of Lodoss, brave set of heroes come to save the land from the evil witch.... I know, very generic.
This was written in 1988, and reflects the classic japanese fantasy anime / role playing games settings of late 80s and early 90s. I love those settings and even though they tend to be predictable, they tend to be relaxing and tend to have nice character banter and relations. Unfortunately, this one is so dull and bland even from those aspects.
There is nothing memorable here at all. Characters barely knowing each other with minor exceptions decide randomly to adventure together and then discover an even plot to ruin the continent, and everything is written in very amaturish way. Worldbuilding is also generic and bland, and stereotypes abound.
The good thing here is there is no "fan service" and its done in a classical inoffensive way, and generally no grating and annoying characters. Also, the villian was kind of fun even though generic, so overall was readable, but wont recommend it to most readers.
War on land of Lodoss, brave set of heroes come to save the land from the evil witch.... I know, very generic.
This was written in 1988, and reflects the classic japanese fantasy anime / role playing games settings of late 80s and early 90s. I love those settings and even though they tend to be predictable, they tend to be relaxing and tend to have nice character banter and relations. Unfortunately, this one is so dull and bland even from those aspects.
There is nothing memorable here at all. Characters barely knowing each other with minor exceptions decide randomly to adventure together and then discover an even plot to ruin the continent, and everything is written in very amaturish way. Worldbuilding is also generic and bland, and stereotypes abound.
The good thing here is there is no "fan service" and its done in a classical inoffensive way, and generally no grating and annoying characters. Also, the villian was kind of fun even though generic, so overall was readable, but wont recommend it to most readers.
January 14, 2023
I love the style and absolutely immaculate vibes of the Record of Lodoss War anime/OVAs. The novel, however, is very simplistic and straightforward in its storytelling. I have to give it some grace due to this format being an acceptable (and highly popular) style for light fantasy books of the 80's when it was written. It does not, however, hold up at all. Very tell not show, and what little tension is allowed to build, quickly dissipates to move on to the next set piece. The best thing about it is knowing what ultimately was created from this novelization of the author's DnD campaign.
August 25, 2025
Record of Lodoss War: The Grey Witch by Ryo Mizuno
Strengths of the Novel
Classic Fantasy Roots: Readers familiar with Western fantasy will find the tropes familiar—knights, elves, dwarves, and sorcery—but Mizuno weaves them with a distinctly Japanese narrative flow.
The Hero’s Journey: Parn’s coming-of-age as a swordsman feels earnest and relatable. His inexperience makes him flawed, yet his bravery makes him admirable.
Atmospheric World-Building: Lodoss feels alive with political intrigue, ruined kingdoms, and an overarching sense of history.
The Grey Witch Karla: A truly fascinating antagonist. She is mysterious, manipulative, and morally ambiguous—representing the consequences of immortality and detached logic.
Weaknesses
Formulaic Structure: At times, the narrative feels like a campaign log translated into prose—because it essentially was. Some transitions and pacing might feel abrupt.
Character Depth: While the archetypes are enjoyable, a few secondary characters lack depth compared to the leads.
Character Breakdown
Major Characters
Parn – The young aspiring knight, son of a disgraced warrior. He is inexperienced, often reckless, but courageous. His journey reflects the heart of the novel: growth through trial and fire.
Deedlit – A high elf and one of the most iconic characters in Japanese fantasy. Proud, elegant, and skilled in both magic and swordplay, she serves as Parn’s partner and often his voice of reason. Her interactions with Parn form the emotional core of the novel.
Karla, the Grey Witch – The central antagonist. An immortal sorceress whose soul resides in a circlet, allowing her to possess hosts. Her motivations are not evil for the sake of evil, but rather a twisted sense of maintaining “balance” in Lodoss by preventing absolute victory for either good or evil.
Ghim – A gruff but loyal dwarf warrior, motivated by his personal quest to save Leylia, the daughter of the priestess Neese. His determination provides both comic relief and emotional gravity.
Slayn – A wise and humble wizard, deeply loyal to his companions. Unlike the arrogant sorcerer archetype, Slayn provides both knowledge and moral guidance. His eventual romance with Leylia adds heart to the story.
Woodchuck – A human thief who joins the party for both personal gain and unexpected camaraderie. His cynical outlook balances the group’s idealism.
Minor Characters
King Fahn of Valis – The noble monarch who seeks to unite the land against darkness, though his efforts are often undermined by politics and war.
Emperor Beld of Marmo – A powerful warrior king and one of Lodoss’ most feared rulers. He represents the martial might opposing Valis, though his relationship with Karla adds complexity to his role.
Ashram – The Black Knight of Marmo, loyal to Emperor Beld. Though a secondary figure here, he becomes a major player in later Lodoss War stories.
Leylia – The daughter of Neese, whose possession by Karla ties her fate directly to the main conflict. Her tragedy gives emotional weight to Ghim’s journey.
Neese – A high priestess and mother of Leylia. She represents the divine and moral struggle in Lodoss’ balance between good and evil.
Final Thoughts
Record of Lodoss War: The Grey Witch is a legendary entry in the realm of Japanese fantasy light novels. Written by Ryo Mizuno, it serves as a gateway into the magical and war-torn continent of Lodoss, where kingdoms clash, ancient sorceries awaken, and destinies intertwine. This story is not just a fantasy tale—it’s one of the earliest bridges between tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons and narrative-driven Japanese light novels.
Strengths of the Novel
Classic Fantasy Roots: Readers familiar with Western fantasy will find the tropes familiar—knights, elves, dwarves, and sorcery—but Mizuno weaves them with a distinctly Japanese narrative flow.
The Hero’s Journey: Parn’s coming-of-age as a swordsman feels earnest and relatable. His inexperience makes him flawed, yet his bravery makes him admirable.
Atmospheric World-Building: Lodoss feels alive with political intrigue, ruined kingdoms, and an overarching sense of history.
The Grey Witch Karla: A truly fascinating antagonist. She is mysterious, manipulative, and morally ambiguous—representing the consequences of immortality and detached logic.
Weaknesses
Formulaic Structure: At times, the narrative feels like a campaign log translated into prose—because it essentially was. Some transitions and pacing might feel abrupt.
Character Depth: While the archetypes are enjoyable, a few secondary characters lack depth compared to the leads.
“In Lodoss, heroes are forged not by destiny, but by the choices they make when confronted by gods, witches, and war.”
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.0 out of 5 glowing stars)
Character Breakdown
Major Characters
Parn – The young aspiring knight, son of a disgraced warrior. He is inexperienced, often reckless, but courageous. His journey reflects the heart of the novel: growth through trial and fire.
Deedlit – A high elf and one of the most iconic characters in Japanese fantasy. Proud, elegant, and skilled in both magic and swordplay, she serves as Parn’s partner and often his voice of reason. Her interactions with Parn form the emotional core of the novel.
Karla, the Grey Witch – The central antagonist. An immortal sorceress whose soul resides in a circlet, allowing her to possess hosts. Her motivations are not evil for the sake of evil, but rather a twisted sense of maintaining “balance” in Lodoss by preventing absolute victory for either good or evil.
Ghim – A gruff but loyal dwarf warrior, motivated by his personal quest to save Leylia, the daughter of the priestess Neese. His determination provides both comic relief and emotional gravity.
Slayn – A wise and humble wizard, deeply loyal to his companions. Unlike the arrogant sorcerer archetype, Slayn provides both knowledge and moral guidance. His eventual romance with Leylia adds heart to the story.
Woodchuck – A human thief who joins the party for both personal gain and unexpected camaraderie. His cynical outlook balances the group’s idealism.
Minor Characters
King Fahn of Valis – The noble monarch who seeks to unite the land against darkness, though his efforts are often undermined by politics and war.
Emperor Beld of Marmo – A powerful warrior king and one of Lodoss’ most feared rulers. He represents the martial might opposing Valis, though his relationship with Karla adds complexity to his role.
Ashram – The Black Knight of Marmo, loyal to Emperor Beld. Though a secondary figure here, he becomes a major player in later Lodoss War stories.
Leylia – The daughter of Neese, whose possession by Karla ties her fate directly to the main conflict. Her tragedy gives emotional weight to Ghim’s journey.
Neese – A high priestess and mother of Leylia. She represents the divine and moral struggle in Lodoss’ balance between good and evil.
Final Thoughts
Record of Lodoss War: The Grey Witch is both a love letter to classic fantasy and a foundational text in Japanese light novel history. Its characters, though archetypal, are memorable and resonate with timeless themes of courage, sacrifice, and the complexity of morality.
For those who enjoy Dungeons & Dragons, The Lord of the Rings, or early Japanese fantasy, this is a must-read. It may feel dated in places, but its legacy is undeniable.
March 7, 2018
Note: This review originally appeared on my site.
A few years ago I did a video review of the original OVA for Record of Lodoss War. At that time, the OVA was out of print, as was (and still is, sadly) the manga adaptation of the novels. Since then, Funimation (not the company I expected to do it) license rescued all of the anime, and now Seven Seas has done something I never expected to happen - they licensed the first novel, and gave it a fantastic edition in 2017.
The OVA and the novel share a common framework and characters, but have some very dramatic changes from the novel to the anime. Some of these are clearly due to the change in medium. Others appear to be due to budgetary restrictions and length.
The book follows the party of Parn - a young inexperienced warrior seeking to prove himself and try to make the world a better place, Deedlit - an elf looking for adventure who finds herself drawn to Parn and his companions, Etoh - a priest of Pharis and Parn's childhood friend, Slayn Starseeker - a wizard searching for knowledge and something else... he doesn't know what yet, Woodchuck - a thief out for wealth and with a chip on his shoulder, and Ghim - a Dwarf looking for the missing daughter of the priestess of Marfa and his friend, Neese. The party goes on their adventures along the backdrop of an invasion of the island of Lodoss by the forces of the dark empire of Marmo, lead by Emperor Beld. Beld is advised by a mysterious sorceress known only as Karla.
And that's where a lot of similarities end. Probably the biggest example of this is the characters of Ashram and Pirotess. In the anime they are set up very early on as the dark opposites of Parn and Deedlit - both are skilled warriors (though Ashram is very skilled from the beginning), and both care for each other, though Ashram and Pirotess aren't particularly able to show it because in Marmo it would be a sign of weakness. In the anime, Ashram and Parn first meet during the sacking of an Alanian fortress, with Parn witnessing Ashram's attack and swearing revenge. Further, throughout the anime, when the narrative moves to the Marmo camp, in addition to seeing Beld and Karla plotting, we also see Beld and Ashram together (setting up Ashram as Beld's #2), and Ashram and Pirotess (again, setting up Ashram and Pirotess as the dark version of Parn and Deed).
In the novel, on the other hand, while we cut back to Beld and Karla, Ashram barely shows up in this the book, only appearing briefly in the battle between the Empire of Marmo and the Valis Alliance, and Pirotess doesn't show up at all. Wagnard, Beld's court magician, is dramatically much more visible, and has a much more direct connection to our protagonists, though he and the Heroes of Lodoss don't interact in this story.
This leads to the other really dramatic change. Much more time is spent on characters backstory in this installment. In the OVA, we get backstory for Parn and his goal to redeem his father's memory, and Ghim and his goal to bring back Lydia to Neese. However, here we also get more backstory for Woodchuck and Slayn. We learn about Slayn's time at the Wizard's academy, why he left, and we get a connection through him and Wagnard - that Wagnard was a classmate of Slayn's who was not only expelled, but also had a lock placed on his magic so he cannot cast spells without great physical pain. Also, the book sets up that Woodchuck had been incarcerated for almost 20 years for a heist gone wrong, and was only just released, putting a chip on his shoulder that leads to him making a particular decision at the end of the story that he didn't make in the anime.
Additionally, the dungeon crawl that takes up the OVA's first episode takes up about two paragraphs in the novel.
The other changes are a little less dramatic. Parn and company meet Deedlit and Woodchuck in the middle of a festival in the novel, which would have been really expensive to animate in the OVA. Also, in the OVA, the battle between the Valis Alliance and Marmo is just a general pitched battle, without any real tactics or maneuvering (and which generally goes badly for the Alliance before the end), while in the book, it's a more strategically planned battle, with Parn and Kashue taking on a flanking force of Marmo, and only after they are repelled successfully do they join up with the main force, and then at that point do they lose the track of the battle and things start to look closer.
As an aside, there's another change from the book to the OVA, but the Chronicles of the Heroic Knight TV series incorporates and shows the book version, so it less merits mentioning.
Karla is still one of my favorite antagonists, because her worldview is internally consistent, and while it doesn't make sense from a human perspective - that's the point - she's lived so long and through so many bodies that she's effectively lost touch with her humanity, which makes her a more interesting and unique protagonist. The character of Mordenkainen in Greyhawk is the closest character in tabletop RPGs as far as motivations go, through as near as I can tell, the depiction of his motivation as being similar to Karla's doesn't seem to appear until after Lodoss gets a US release in the late 80s, so I don't know if that aspect of the character was inspired by Lodoss .
The Grey Witch isn't exactly a ground-breaking novel now, particularly when it comes to modern heroic fantasy. As with Legend of the Galactic Heroes, it's a genre that has become well trod, and numerous other works have paid reference to and been inspired by. Still, it's worth reading seeing where all those stories came from, and honestly, it's an exciting read.
A few years ago I did a video review of the original OVA for Record of Lodoss War. At that time, the OVA was out of print, as was (and still is, sadly) the manga adaptation of the novels. Since then, Funimation (not the company I expected to do it) license rescued all of the anime, and now Seven Seas has done something I never expected to happen - they licensed the first novel, and gave it a fantastic edition in 2017.
The OVA and the novel share a common framework and characters, but have some very dramatic changes from the novel to the anime. Some of these are clearly due to the change in medium. Others appear to be due to budgetary restrictions and length.
The book follows the party of Parn - a young inexperienced warrior seeking to prove himself and try to make the world a better place, Deedlit - an elf looking for adventure who finds herself drawn to Parn and his companions, Etoh - a priest of Pharis and Parn's childhood friend, Slayn Starseeker - a wizard searching for knowledge and something else... he doesn't know what yet, Woodchuck - a thief out for wealth and with a chip on his shoulder, and Ghim - a Dwarf looking for the missing daughter of the priestess of Marfa and his friend, Neese. The party goes on their adventures along the backdrop of an invasion of the island of Lodoss by the forces of the dark empire of Marmo, lead by Emperor Beld. Beld is advised by a mysterious sorceress known only as Karla.
And that's where a lot of similarities end. Probably the biggest example of this is the characters of Ashram and Pirotess. In the anime they are set up very early on as the dark opposites of Parn and Deedlit - both are skilled warriors (though Ashram is very skilled from the beginning), and both care for each other, though Ashram and Pirotess aren't particularly able to show it because in Marmo it would be a sign of weakness. In the anime, Ashram and Parn first meet during the sacking of an Alanian fortress, with Parn witnessing Ashram's attack and swearing revenge. Further, throughout the anime, when the narrative moves to the Marmo camp, in addition to seeing Beld and Karla plotting, we also see Beld and Ashram together (setting up Ashram as Beld's #2), and Ashram and Pirotess (again, setting up Ashram and Pirotess as the dark version of Parn and Deed).
In the novel, on the other hand, while we cut back to Beld and Karla, Ashram barely shows up in this the book, only appearing briefly in the battle between the Empire of Marmo and the Valis Alliance, and Pirotess doesn't show up at all. Wagnard, Beld's court magician, is dramatically much more visible, and has a much more direct connection to our protagonists, though he and the Heroes of Lodoss don't interact in this story.
This leads to the other really dramatic change. Much more time is spent on characters backstory in this installment. In the OVA, we get backstory for Parn and his goal to redeem his father's memory, and Ghim and his goal to bring back Lydia to Neese. However, here we also get more backstory for Woodchuck and Slayn. We learn about Slayn's time at the Wizard's academy, why he left, and we get a connection through him and Wagnard - that Wagnard was a classmate of Slayn's who was not only expelled, but also had a lock placed on his magic so he cannot cast spells without great physical pain. Also, the book sets up that Woodchuck had been incarcerated for almost 20 years for a heist gone wrong, and was only just released, putting a chip on his shoulder that leads to him making a particular decision at the end of the story that he didn't make in the anime.
Additionally, the dungeon crawl that takes up the OVA's first episode takes up about two paragraphs in the novel.
The other changes are a little less dramatic. Parn and company meet Deedlit and Woodchuck in the middle of a festival in the novel, which would have been really expensive to animate in the OVA. Also, in the OVA, the battle between the Valis Alliance and Marmo is just a general pitched battle, without any real tactics or maneuvering (and which generally goes badly for the Alliance before the end), while in the book, it's a more strategically planned battle, with Parn and Kashue taking on a flanking force of Marmo, and only after they are repelled successfully do they join up with the main force, and then at that point do they lose the track of the battle and things start to look closer.
As an aside, there's another change from the book to the OVA, but the Chronicles of the Heroic Knight TV series incorporates and shows the book version, so it less merits mentioning.
Karla is still one of my favorite antagonists, because her worldview is internally consistent, and while it doesn't make sense from a human perspective - that's the point - she's lived so long and through so many bodies that she's effectively lost touch with her humanity, which makes her a more interesting and unique protagonist. The character of Mordenkainen in Greyhawk is the closest character in tabletop RPGs as far as motivations go, through as near as I can tell, the depiction of his motivation as being similar to Karla's doesn't seem to appear until after Lodoss gets a US release in the late 80s, so I don't know if that aspect of the character was inspired by Lodoss .
The Grey Witch isn't exactly a ground-breaking novel now, particularly when it comes to modern heroic fantasy. As with Legend of the Galactic Heroes, it's a genre that has become well trod, and numerous other works have paid reference to and been inspired by. Still, it's worth reading seeing where all those stories came from, and honestly, it's an exciting read.
July 31, 2019
Best viewed as a curious novelty.
While being mindful, and reverent, of what was born from this series; looking back, we can see it was quite simply written (although the translation is smooth and enjoyable), the characters are basic and thinly developed, and certain scenes feel rushed or glossed over.
The hardback is beautiful and chock full of gorgeous pictures; it will undoubtedly look great on your bookshelf. However, for the best Lodoss experience, stick to the OVA's.
I'd still buy and read the subsequent volumes if they released them here, though....
While being mindful, and reverent, of what was born from this series; looking back, we can see it was quite simply written (although the translation is smooth and enjoyable), the characters are basic and thinly developed, and certain scenes feel rushed or glossed over.
The hardback is beautiful and chock full of gorgeous pictures; it will undoubtedly look great on your bookshelf. However, for the best Lodoss experience, stick to the OVA's.
I'd still buy and read the subsequent volumes if they released them here, though....
June 3, 2018
Not as good as the anime, though.
April 29, 2024
Eu nunca vi um livro com tantos erros de edição e revisão na minha vida.
July 10, 2025
3.75/5
This was a good adventure, but it paled in comparison to the anime. My rating might've been lower if I weren't a fan of the anime and manga.
This was a good adventure, but it paled in comparison to the anime. My rating might've been lower if I weren't a fan of the anime and manga.
November 14, 2025
I love the OVA, but I guess when you take away the music and animation, the story is just ho-hum.
June 10, 2018
Grande história para quem gosta e tem curiosidade sobre a série animada. Os personagens são simpáticos, mas leitores mais exigentes podem sentir falta de uma linha de desenvolvimento maior sobre eles.
The Grey Witch é uma história leve, com um grupo de aventureiros viajando pelo cenário (que também é bem interessante, vale ressaltar) e lidando com os perigos em volta, enquanto buscam seus próprios objetivos. Recomendo para aqueles que encontram diversão numa leitura menos densa, acompanhando os protagonistas em aventuras menos mirabolantes, mas não menos interessantes.
The Grey Witch é uma história leve, com um grupo de aventureiros viajando pelo cenário (que também é bem interessante, vale ressaltar) e lidando com os perigos em volta, enquanto buscam seus próprios objetivos. Recomendo para aqueles que encontram diversão numa leitura menos densa, acompanhando os protagonistas em aventuras menos mirabolantes, mas não menos interessantes.
February 15, 2021
By no means a perfect book, but it has a lot of heart and interesting characters. It brought back memories of old RPG video games and managed to surprise m in how it ramped up and how it ended.
January 6, 2018
Solid story, with a decent characterization in a short 240 pages. Had an interesting world and premise going for it, with a very nice art style sprinkled throughout the novel in key moments. This edition in particular (the Gold Edition), was very nice, and came with colorful illustrations from the series. Although it is the first in the series, it has a fairly conclusive story. But I enjoyed the experience so much that I really want to read the subsequent entries in the series now.
Here's hoping they bring the other books over too.
Here's hoping they bring the other books over too.
February 6, 2018
Seven Seas did such a beautiful job with the packaging, and the inclusion of color illustrations was really nice. My favorite was XIV, so pretty.
Objectively this is a 3 star book for me. It has it's flaws. Characters could've been developed better, there are scenes that pretty much summarize events that happened off screen. This is a pretty straight forward story, making it easy to read. The pacing was quick and the book wrapped up quickly.
Parn's party seems stumbles into situations and get lucky a lot. It's funny, other characters hold Parn's party (minus Wood) in such high regard, but why? They're clearly weak so I'm not sure it was earned. But in an era of OP characters it's a bit refreshing to read about a group that's weak and knows it's weak.
The villain has an interesting motive, but I kept wanting to slap her and yell "What gives you the right to decide that!" The other minor villain seemed pretty interesting too, he even had backstory with an ally, but his storyline is resolved surprisingly quickly, possibly realistically, but it was a bit of a let down.
The ending felt like a let down, but I guess it leaves the story open for the sequel. I did enjoy the unexpected love story.
Of all the characters the one I felt for the most was Wood. I couldn't help but pity him. I really felt his bitterness and loss of so many years of his life for a crime that didn't seem to warrant such an extreme sentence. And the difference in how he was treated compared to the other party members felt like a kick in the balls.
So while enjoyable this story is flawed, but the reason I bumped up a star is because of nostalgia. This was one of the first anime's I ever saw (Slayers being the first). The opening song is still one of my favorites and actually played in my head while I was reading. It's been so long I don't actually remember much of the plot, just snippets like the berserker whose fate differed depending on the anime adaptation, and Spark's season having those funny parody skits each ep, and the beautiful friendship between villains later. But what I remember clearest is that I loved this anime when I was a child, I watched it with my brothers. And for that this book will always be special to me.
I hope the rest of the series gets translated, and that one day the Slayers light novels get brought over again. I really like how Seven Seas keeps licensing older titles.
Objectively this is a 3 star book for me. It has it's flaws. Characters could've been developed better, there are scenes that pretty much summarize events that happened off screen. This is a pretty straight forward story, making it easy to read. The pacing was quick and the book wrapped up quickly.
Parn's party seems stumbles into situations and get lucky a lot. It's funny, other characters hold Parn's party (minus Wood) in such high regard, but why? They're clearly weak so I'm not sure it was earned. But in an era of OP characters it's a bit refreshing to read about a group that's weak and knows it's weak.
The villain has an interesting motive, but I kept wanting to slap her and yell "What gives you the right to decide that!" The other minor villain seemed pretty interesting too, he even had backstory with an ally, but his storyline is resolved surprisingly quickly, possibly realistically, but it was a bit of a let down.
The ending felt like a let down, but I guess it leaves the story open for the sequel. I did enjoy the unexpected love story.
Of all the characters the one I felt for the most was Wood. I couldn't help but pity him. I really felt his bitterness and loss of so many years of his life for a crime that didn't seem to warrant such an extreme sentence. And the difference in how he was treated compared to the other party members felt like a kick in the balls.
So while enjoyable this story is flawed, but the reason I bumped up a star is because of nostalgia. This was one of the first anime's I ever saw (Slayers being the first). The opening song is still one of my favorites and actually played in my head while I was reading. It's been so long I don't actually remember much of the plot, just snippets like the berserker whose fate differed depending on the anime adaptation, and Spark's season having those funny parody skits each ep, and the beautiful friendship between villains later. But what I remember clearest is that I loved this anime when I was a child, I watched it with my brothers. And for that this book will always be special to me.
I hope the rest of the series gets translated, and that one day the Slayers light novels get brought over again. I really like how Seven Seas keeps licensing older titles.
April 13, 2023
I have very mixed feelings about this book.
On the one hand, I am happy just that it exists. Its genre is so incredibly niche and nerdy that when I discovered it (I can’t remember how, probably on Reddit) I felt like it was written just for me.
Record of Lodoss War is the English translation of a novelisation of a ‘replay’ (embellished transcript) of the tabletop roleplaying dungeons and dragons campaign of some Japanese people from the 1980s. It’s been billed in some places as the Japanese Lord of the Rings.
That’s so niche it’s off the chart. It’s also credited as being the first ‘light novel’, a Japanese form of slightly-shorter-than-usual illustrated novel for young adults that I was keen to give a try.
All this and the illustrations themselves, which are dynamic and arresting, particularly the cover art (for the ebook version I read, not the cover shown here on Goodreads) and for the ‘dramatis personae’ rundown at the start, drew me to this book.
Unfortunately, it turns out that the writing is crap, pardon my French. It might be incredible in Japanese, but somehow I doubt it: Almost entirely vague informational telling, with very little if any visceral embodied showing. Which makes sense--I should have expected as much.
It also constantly head-hops into different close third-person points of view from paragraph to paragraph, which might work in a DnD campaign (even then I’m not sure) but is a confusing mess to read where you can’t fully emotionally attach to any of the characters because you are constantly darting between them.
This means that my initial burst of enthusiasm for this book only carried me so far, and as the illustrations began to get less frequent too, what I hoped would be a quick enthralling ‘light’ read actually took me longer to read than a normal book. It’s no surprise to me that the other volumes of this series haven’t been translated into English.
Therefore: 5 stars for how wonderfully niche it is, the triggering of my initial enthusiasm, and the illustrations, but 1 star for writing quality, which averages out at 3 stars.
A curio only for the hyper-initiated, otherwise best avoided.
Maybe I’ll check out the anime sometime.
On the one hand, I am happy just that it exists. Its genre is so incredibly niche and nerdy that when I discovered it (I can’t remember how, probably on Reddit) I felt like it was written just for me.
Record of Lodoss War is the English translation of a novelisation of a ‘replay’ (embellished transcript) of the tabletop roleplaying dungeons and dragons campaign of some Japanese people from the 1980s. It’s been billed in some places as the Japanese Lord of the Rings.
That’s so niche it’s off the chart. It’s also credited as being the first ‘light novel’, a Japanese form of slightly-shorter-than-usual illustrated novel for young adults that I was keen to give a try.
All this and the illustrations themselves, which are dynamic and arresting, particularly the cover art (for the ebook version I read, not the cover shown here on Goodreads) and for the ‘dramatis personae’ rundown at the start, drew me to this book.
Unfortunately, it turns out that the writing is crap, pardon my French. It might be incredible in Japanese, but somehow I doubt it: Almost entirely vague informational telling, with very little if any visceral embodied showing. Which makes sense--I should have expected as much.
It also constantly head-hops into different close third-person points of view from paragraph to paragraph, which might work in a DnD campaign (even then I’m not sure) but is a confusing mess to read where you can’t fully emotionally attach to any of the characters because you are constantly darting between them.
This means that my initial burst of enthusiasm for this book only carried me so far, and as the illustrations began to get less frequent too, what I hoped would be a quick enthralling ‘light’ read actually took me longer to read than a normal book. It’s no surprise to me that the other volumes of this series haven’t been translated into English.
Therefore: 5 stars for how wonderfully niche it is, the triggering of my initial enthusiasm, and the illustrations, but 1 star for writing quality, which averages out at 3 stars.
A curio only for the hyper-initiated, otherwise best avoided.
Maybe I’ll check out the anime sometime.
October 5, 2018
I'm an avid fantasy reader and I've been a fan of anime and manga since a really early age, so I figured it was about time for me to delve deeply into fantasy written by Japanese authors. Due to a matter of availability I was forced to start off with a more commercial rather literary fantasy, so it made sense for me to start with the book that sparked the fantasy light novel craze that's still going on to this very day. I was well aware of its RPG origins, so I was expecting the cliched characters and all, but I was shocked at how extremely uninspired and linear the storytelling was, the lifeless prose, the below-average character development and the meandering yet ultimately aimless plot.
The crazy thing is that I actually started reading with a positive bias towards it; I was familiar with the characters (Parn, Ghim, Deelit, etc) and I wanted to love it, yet I could barely enjoy it at all. Its shortcomings are way too many.
After reading the book and being extremely disappointed with it, I went on and watched the OVAs. The audiovisual experience was completely different from the read and very enthralling. The animation was superb, the soundtrack beautiful and compelling. The protagonists, even though they were still stock characters had a lot more depth to them, because of their design, their movements and expressions. Ryo Mizuno skimped words on all of those elements that bring characters to life.
The fact that I disliked the novel so much didn't deterred me from approaching the story on other media, like the 3 volume manga illustrated by Yoshihiko Ochi, which was beautiful, lively and quite compelling though not as much as the OVAs, yet more faithful to the novel.
If you read to this point and think "this guy is a hater; what a douche", let me point out that Ryo Mizuno himself has admitted to feel embarrassed when re-reading what it is, and I'm quoting, "the awful work of a beginner". I read this in the foreword of the manga adaptation.
TL;DR:
An endearing yet flawed attempt at fantasy literature whose only highlight are the beautiful illustrations by Yutaka Izubuchi.
The crazy thing is that I actually started reading with a positive bias towards it; I was familiar with the characters (Parn, Ghim, Deelit, etc) and I wanted to love it, yet I could barely enjoy it at all. Its shortcomings are way too many.
After reading the book and being extremely disappointed with it, I went on and watched the OVAs. The audiovisual experience was completely different from the read and very enthralling. The animation was superb, the soundtrack beautiful and compelling. The protagonists, even though they were still stock characters had a lot more depth to them, because of their design, their movements and expressions. Ryo Mizuno skimped words on all of those elements that bring characters to life.
The fact that I disliked the novel so much didn't deterred me from approaching the story on other media, like the 3 volume manga illustrated by Yoshihiko Ochi, which was beautiful, lively and quite compelling though not as much as the OVAs, yet more faithful to the novel.
If you read to this point and think "this guy is a hater; what a douche", let me point out that Ryo Mizuno himself has admitted to feel embarrassed when re-reading what it is, and I'm quoting, "the awful work of a beginner". I read this in the foreword of the manga adaptation.
TL;DR:
An endearing yet flawed attempt at fantasy literature whose only highlight are the beautiful illustrations by Yutaka Izubuchi.
January 23, 2018
This really isn't a good story. There's next to no characterization and the kind that is there falls into stereotypes. Deetlit is supposed to hate dwarves, but we are told this and not shown this, and even then only once. We really only get backstory on Parn, because he's the protagonist, even thought this is from a TRPG where there really shouldn't be one protagonist. Woodchuck gets the least amount of lines devoted to him and the fight between Kashue and Beld is frankly the most detailed thing in the book.
We get Ashram in there, from nowhere as he's never remarked on, but suddenly he's been fighting with Parn. Really I think the anime does a bit better job of giving them character.
Oh and Deetlit.. of course falls inta love with Parn for... no real reason at all. I'd say she's just a lamp that uses magic on occasion but really Parn has a whole Rent-A-Room following him.
The translation also needed some QC, the te-u-ra thing I pointed out in my notes as well as Slayn's Philosopher's ROPE getting frayed. Then there's the major problem that an error version was sent to the stores so if you ordered it form Amazon, you'd get one with red ink.
We get Ashram in there, from nowhere as he's never remarked on, but suddenly he's been fighting with Parn. Really I think the anime does a bit better job of giving them character.
Oh and Deetlit.. of course falls inta love with Parn for... no real reason at all. I'd say she's just a lamp that uses magic on occasion but really Parn has a whole Rent-A-Room following him.
The translation also needed some QC, the te-u-ra thing I pointed out in my notes as well as Slayn's Philosopher's ROPE getting frayed. Then there's the major problem that an error version was sent to the stores so if you ordered it form Amazon, you'd get one with red ink.
April 6, 2022
Not for me. This book is bland, generic, and every single element in this story is a cliché. The characters themselves are one-dimensional fantasy templates, and the plot it self tries to be interesting, but feels like the most generic RPG campaign you could create. I know, this is not new or anything, but we had better back then. Sorry fans, while I enjoyed the Deedlit game for what it was, I simply couldn't get invested in this book's plot or world.
July 17, 2021
If you're a fan of the anime series and OVA series, you will enjoy this book. If not, and you're a younger reader, you will probably enjoy this book as well. It's similar to that of a 'light novel'. I don't have a lot of experience in those type of books, but this novel is very easy to read, so much so anyone over the age of 12 could understand it.
I really liked the anime/OVA and enjoyed the book though I felt it wasn't as good as the animations. Apparently the book is based off tabletop RPG campaigns the author had back in the day and they happened to create their own lore later on, from my understanding.
Despite being a rather unique approach to creating a fantasy franchise, the book reads very much like a table top game rather than a novel's narrative. From going to point A to B, it feels like a shallow attempt to string along a plot at some points, so much so you have question why the characters are doing what they're doing, especially Parn. The book does attempt to use its narrative to cover this flaw but it's only mildly successful.
Another issue I had is that the book is written in a kind of third person omniscient pov at best. When I say 'at best' it's because the book is constantly head hopping between characters pov's that it can be quite confusing who is even talking or thinking. Every paragraph can be a different pov.
The book does also have very similar tropes found in fantasy, naturally, as it's based off a tabletop game. There is nothing wrong with tropes if they're used right, but the ending you will see coming.
However, for what originality the book does have, it makes up for the books faults. It's a fun adventure book that everyone of all ages can enjoy. If you're looking for a light fantasy read and don't mind some tropes then it's worth reading. I enjoyed it.
I really liked the anime/OVA and enjoyed the book though I felt it wasn't as good as the animations. Apparently the book is based off tabletop RPG campaigns the author had back in the day and they happened to create their own lore later on, from my understanding.
Despite being a rather unique approach to creating a fantasy franchise, the book reads very much like a table top game rather than a novel's narrative. From going to point A to B, it feels like a shallow attempt to string along a plot at some points, so much so you have question why the characters are doing what they're doing, especially Parn. The book does attempt to use its narrative to cover this flaw but it's only mildly successful.
Another issue I had is that the book is written in a kind of third person omniscient pov at best. When I say 'at best' it's because the book is constantly head hopping between characters pov's that it can be quite confusing who is even talking or thinking. Every paragraph can be a different pov.
The book does also have very similar tropes found in fantasy, naturally, as it's based off a tabletop game. There is nothing wrong with tropes if they're used right, but the ending you will see coming.
However, for what originality the book does have, it makes up for the books faults. It's a fun adventure book that everyone of all ages can enjoy. If you're looking for a light fantasy read and don't mind some tropes then it's worth reading. I enjoyed it.
November 24, 2020
This was a wonderful little book. The copy I have is a gorgeous hardback book with gold lettering. It's also got some enchanting artwork inside that will absolutely delight you if you're a fan of the anime. Plus, an afterword by Hitoshi Yasuda. Really cool stuff.
I have to say that I'm being outrageously subjective in my enjoyment of this book. I'll spare you the copious amount of details behind this book's creation, the Tabletop RPG, the anime series, (Which I also love,) and just say up front that this book is basically someone writing down a D&D session. If that sounds like fun to you, then have at it. If you've played D&D, some moments will stick out and make you laugh as you think, "Ah, I know what happened here. Someone rolled a 1," Obviously, some of it has been changed to make it fit into a more traditional structure, otherwise you'd have all kinds of dumb stuff happening.
Obviously, Record of Lodoss War: The Grey Witch was originally written in Japanese, and this is a translation; but it never gets overly clunky or unbearable. It stays steadily readable throughout the entire book. As far as fantasy goes, this is nothing special in the realm of world-building or unforgettable characters. But it is really fun.
It's one whole story, beginning, middle and end, that you can pick up and read about a priest, fighter, wizard, thief, elf and dwarf going on an adventure in a high fantasy setting. It's just what I wanted. It's not overly complicated, not a saga that's stretched out over 14 other novels, (Although, there are other books you could read if you wanted to,) and I really just appreciated that. It's not high art, but it's better than Dragonlance, in my opinion.
If you've seen the anime and you want to know where it all started, check it out.
I have to say that I'm being outrageously subjective in my enjoyment of this book. I'll spare you the copious amount of details behind this book's creation, the Tabletop RPG, the anime series, (Which I also love,) and just say up front that this book is basically someone writing down a D&D session. If that sounds like fun to you, then have at it. If you've played D&D, some moments will stick out and make you laugh as you think, "Ah, I know what happened here. Someone rolled a 1," Obviously, some of it has been changed to make it fit into a more traditional structure, otherwise you'd have all kinds of dumb stuff happening.
Obviously, Record of Lodoss War: The Grey Witch was originally written in Japanese, and this is a translation; but it never gets overly clunky or unbearable. It stays steadily readable throughout the entire book. As far as fantasy goes, this is nothing special in the realm of world-building or unforgettable characters. But it is really fun.
It's one whole story, beginning, middle and end, that you can pick up and read about a priest, fighter, wizard, thief, elf and dwarf going on an adventure in a high fantasy setting. It's just what I wanted. It's not overly complicated, not a saga that's stretched out over 14 other novels, (Although, there are other books you could read if you wanted to,) and I really just appreciated that. It's not high art, but it's better than Dragonlance, in my opinion.
If you've seen the anime and you want to know where it all started, check it out.
December 3, 2024
I don’t remember much about the original anime (or if I watched it all or not), so I came into this story pretty fresh and not sure to expect, but eager to learn more about the world of Lodoss. This is a pretty standard, classic light fantasy (perhaps sword and sorcery) in the vein of D&D. In fact, I wasn’t surprised to read in the afterward that this came out of a tabletop RPG plotline.
What makes this book interesting is that it’s a translation from the original Japanese novel, so it’s really fascinating to see how the Japanese culture took on a Western genre and built their own version of a story. As one might expect, there are some changes that feel a bit misunderstood, a feeling of style over substance perhaps. This can be seen in the lack of backstory for many elements, certain elements of the world being taken for granted, and a glossing over of whole sections of the quest that are simply exposition and summarized for brevity. The dialogue also feels artificial at times, where one can see the translation of Japanese phrases in a way that isn’t quite
natural to a native speaker, although for the most part the writer did a good job.
I would say this isn’t quite up to the level of most D&D novels, and certainly a far cry from an epic fantasy based on RPGs such as Malazan, but nevertheless it’s a fun read for an anime fan who might have grown up playing JRPGs and wished there had been more “classic” fantasy stories coming out of Japan.
What makes this book interesting is that it’s a translation from the original Japanese novel, so it’s really fascinating to see how the Japanese culture took on a Western genre and built their own version of a story. As one might expect, there are some changes that feel a bit misunderstood, a feeling of style over substance perhaps. This can be seen in the lack of backstory for many elements, certain elements of the world being taken for granted, and a glossing over of whole sections of the quest that are simply exposition and summarized for brevity. The dialogue also feels artificial at times, where one can see the translation of Japanese phrases in a way that isn’t quite
natural to a native speaker, although for the most part the writer did a good job.
I would say this isn’t quite up to the level of most D&D novels, and certainly a far cry from an epic fantasy based on RPGs such as Malazan, but nevertheless it’s a fun read for an anime fan who might have grown up playing JRPGs and wished there had been more “classic” fantasy stories coming out of Japan.
March 6, 2018
I checked this out mostly as a historical document. Although it's the first release of the novel in English, this 1988 book helped start the light novel industry in Japan and also was the source material for one of the first Japanese shows to break through to an American audience in its original construction. Although it doesn't have much depth to speak of, the world is fun to visit. This was written at the height of earnest, archetypal D&D novels, so many of the character traits are indistinguishable from their class. Toward the end, the plot tends to hammer its convenient resolutions too much and too many productive turns fall into the characters' laps, but it never ceases to be a pleasant ride.
It also deserves to be said that Seven Seas produced a really excellent product here. The hardcover and gold lettering are both beautiful, and the pages have a great weight. It feels like a labor of love for a once-lost document. The publisher's enthusiasm for the product is contagious. And the generous splash of original illustrations is an added bonus.
It also deserves to be said that Seven Seas produced a really excellent product here. The hardcover and gold lettering are both beautiful, and the pages have a great weight. It feels like a labor of love for a once-lost document. The publisher's enthusiasm for the product is contagious. And the generous splash of original illustrations is an added bonus.
February 10, 2020
There's not a whole lot I can say about this book. It's very simple: simply written, with a straightforward plot, and straightforward characters. It looks like any other fantasy novel, but it's actually a light novel. However, just because something is a light novel doesn't make it any less enjoyable.
Sometimes, you just need something simple, standard, and straightforward without too many twists and turns. Yet it still feels like a classic, that isn't bogged down by too many details or unreadable prose. It felt more accessible to me than, say, Tolkien's works, which--aside from the Hobbit--I had a lot of trouble processing.
I found the characters charming, and the world-building solid. Being an aspiring fantasy writer myself, I often turned to this book when I felt like I needed inspiration or examples of how a fantasy world is laid out. I also appreciated the illustrations. I'm not sure if the rest of the books in the series have been licensed, but if they are or will be, I'd like to read those as well.
Sometimes, you just need something simple, standard, and straightforward without too many twists and turns. Yet it still feels like a classic, that isn't bogged down by too many details or unreadable prose. It felt more accessible to me than, say, Tolkien's works, which--aside from the Hobbit--I had a lot of trouble processing.
I found the characters charming, and the world-building solid. Being an aspiring fantasy writer myself, I often turned to this book when I felt like I needed inspiration or examples of how a fantasy world is laid out. I also appreciated the illustrations. I'm not sure if the rest of the books in the series have been licensed, but if they are or will be, I'd like to read those as well.
June 28, 2022
It was enjoyable reading this after the fan-translated D&D replays featured in Comptiq magazine from '86-'87, seeing what was essentially a goofy advertisement for a then-new Japanese edition of Dungeons and Dragons refined down into a mostly-serious fantasy novel. And, as someone fascinated with the stories that tend to emerge from multiple tabletop RPG sessions, the ways this novel still resembles something a bunch of nerds around a table pulled out of the air during several sessions of dice-rolling and number-crunching is pretty great honestly.
That being said, it does not do much *at all* to step out of the stereotypes associated with high fantasy; as a story, it's a pretty flimsy one with one-dimensional characters who don't act much outside of their fantasy race and fantasy job (the protagonist is a hot-headed human knight! the elf is really pretty! the dwarf hates elves and is gruff and gluttonous!). But there are enough surprising twists, especially in the latter half, to make things just fun enough to continue.
That being said, it does not do much *at all* to step out of the stereotypes associated with high fantasy; as a story, it's a pretty flimsy one with one-dimensional characters who don't act much outside of their fantasy race and fantasy job (the protagonist is a hot-headed human knight! the elf is really pretty! the dwarf hates elves and is gruff and gluttonous!). But there are enough surprising twists, especially in the latter half, to make things just fun enough to continue.
May 19, 2025
for those of you who are complaining that the writing is simple: the genre is called "light novel" for a reason. It's supposed to be simple, with the aim of attracting a younger audience to read it., and I think it fulfills its role very well.
a bunch of old men literally complaining about the literary proposal that the book seeks to fulfill, and fulfills brilliantly. The purpose of writing the book is precisely this, I recommend that you do a little research before you start talking about what you don't know.
i hope that many young people (especially from my generation) had as great an experience reading this as I did and who knows, maybe in the future they will start to acquire a taste for more full-bodied which does not change the fact that reading is important and this book continues to be literature.
a bunch of old men literally complaining about the literary proposal that the book seeks to fulfill, and fulfills brilliantly. The purpose of writing the book is precisely this, I recommend that you do a little research before you start talking about what you don't know.
i hope that many young people (especially from my generation) had as great an experience reading this as I did and who knows, maybe in the future they will start to acquire a taste for more full-bodied which does not change the fact that reading is important and this book continues to be literature.
May 3, 2021
This is interesting - a fantasy novel from 1980s Japan, written by Ryo Mizuno and Hitoshi Yasuda (the Japanese translator of the Dragonlance books) and developed over the course of their tabletop RPG games. You definitely feel the heavy Dragonlance influence, but that's fun. I saw the anime something like 20 years ago, but I don't remember it. Reading this "light" novel did make me feel quite nostalgic for Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms and the types of fantasy novels I consumed back in high school. I would have loved this at fourteen. It also made for a fun buddy-read with my brother. The illustrations by Yutaka Izubuchi are also absolutely gorgeous, especially the gallery of colour pieces included at the end.
September 19, 2021
Like many people, I picked up this book more as a historical document. I'd never actually had much exposure to the world of Record of Lodoss War aside from reading a few spin-off manga volumes about Deedlit years ago, but had read and heard about how influential and far-reaching this saga was and decided to check out the source. As a straight-up fantasy story it's quite generic, yes, but it really makes me nostalgic for playing TTRPGs. The traditional party composition, the rules that are recognizable even today (especially when it came to Slayn's spells), the larger-than-life NPCs like King Kashue... that was a lot of fun.
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