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Didn't I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?! Light Novel #3
Didn't I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?! (Light Novel) Vol. 3
Bound at the Soul
The Crimson Vow have fought fearsome bandits and monsters, but when the past catches up with Mavis and Pauline, they must confront something that swords and spells can't easily defeat. With the most dangerous job they have ever taken looming on the horizon, the very future of the party is at stake!
The Crimson Vow have fought fearsome bandits and monsters, but when the past catches up with Mavis and Pauline, they must confront something that swords and spells can't easily defeat. With the most dangerous job they have ever taken looming on the horizon, the very future of the party is at stake!
260 pages, ebook
First published November 15, 2016
142 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 16, 2021
The writing style is starting to feel very repetitive.
June 27, 2023
Red Oath returns to their base with a little extra money from carting merchandise in Mile’s storage space. They make renovations and arrangement adjustments at their inn to reflect their growing status. However, family lineages threaten to tear the team apart. Ewan von Austien, Mavis’s brother, arrives in town demanding she return home and complaining about how she has been ignoring their letters. This noble lady doesn’t want to give up her sword or her lifestyle. Meanwhile some C-classers try to kidnap Pauline and disable her teammates while they are out hunting. Interrogation reveals the Beckett Company hired them to do so. Apparently, years ago the president of Beckett killed Pauline’s father and forced her mother into bondage through marriage to usurp their family legacy. Red Oath journeys to the nearby town to seek justice for the crimes after picking up a witness from the Hunter’s guild administrators. Then Mile sets up a challenge to the Austien family which will grant Mavis her freedom if they can win against her family’s knights. Surprised to still be a four-person party, the girls take on a Wyvern Subjugation job.
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Well… I agree with reviewers in that this is getting a little repetitive. The characters are not progressing in their thought patterns, ranking class, or objectives. They are still often hot tempered, overly reactive, and have unclear motivations and unnecessary miscommunications. Admittedly the narrative is still mostly enjoyable slice of life in a magical otherworld with some self-awareness of genre tropes. The side stories are a bit more humorous or exciting than the main tale following Red Oath which is disappointing. Worse exact phrasings are repeated to describe characters or circumstances. It’s not enough to dissuade fans, but it won’t help much growing those numbers. Also the wyvern tale goes off on a tangent of world building which seems a little too forced. There is also an anime version as well if readers are struggling.
* * * * * ----------* * * * * ----------* * * * *
Well… I agree with reviewers in that this is getting a little repetitive. The characters are not progressing in their thought patterns, ranking class, or objectives. They are still often hot tempered, overly reactive, and have unclear motivations and unnecessary miscommunications. Admittedly the narrative is still mostly enjoyable slice of life in a magical otherworld with some self-awareness of genre tropes. The side stories are a bit more humorous or exciting than the main tale following Red Oath which is disappointing. Worse exact phrasings are repeated to describe characters or circumstances. It’s not enough to dissuade fans, but it won’t help much growing those numbers. Also the wyvern tale goes off on a tangent of world building which seems a little too forced. There is also an anime version as well if readers are struggling.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2021
Family matters. Pauline and Mavis get their backstories filled out and resolved. There is a fight with a wyvern.
I'm tempted to give this four stars, but some of the coincidences were a little dense. I'm also tempted to say that all of the cringeworthy elements of the anime are due to the anime's scriptwriter (or director/producers). It seems that the beach episode is anime original. It's also a general thing that the 'cuter' light novels get a lot of the more serious or bloodthirsty aspects removed for TV. That seems to be very much the case with this series. Generally, all the plot points in these arcs are in both book and anime, but the anime version is cuter.
Summary: the series continues to deliver, and there are hints of coming drama which look interesting.
I'm tempted to give this four stars, but some of the coincidences were a little dense. I'm also tempted to say that all of the cringeworthy elements of the anime are due to the anime's scriptwriter (or director/producers). It seems that the beach episode is anime original. It's also a general thing that the 'cuter' light novels get a lot of the more serious or bloodthirsty aspects removed for TV. That seems to be very much the case with this series. Generally, all the plot points in these arcs are in both book and anime, but the anime version is cuter.
Summary: the series continues to deliver, and there are hints of coming drama which look interesting.
September 5, 2018
Good but probably won't reread this book. I enjoyed continuing the story but it is getting somewhat repetitive. Adele is so overpowered it seems that she just can't not do what she sets out to do. Coupled with her insistence on being an average girl it is starting to get annoying.
I'll probably get the next book but if this doesn't change, I don't believe I'll get #5. The Idea is good but I think it would have been better if this was a limited run (2 -4 books) or if she started to grown into her power and realized that Average was overrated.
I'll probably get the next book but if this doesn't change, I don't believe I'll get #5. The Idea is good but I think it would have been better if this was a limited run (2 -4 books) or if she started to grown into her power and realized that Average was overrated.
July 2, 2021
When this serialized Web novel was consolidated, the author should have done a little revision. There are plenty of times when an explanation came after an event rather than evolving from prior exposition.
Thus we got lots of, "Just before the knife slashed his skin, he pulled out his pistol and shot the enemy. Luckily, he had remembered to buy a gun before they started their journey." It's so obvious that the author had forgotten the setup... a simple thing to fix in revision.
Thus we got lots of, "Just before the knife slashed his skin, he pulled out his pistol and shot the enemy. Luckily, he had remembered to buy a gun before they started their journey." It's so obvious that the author had forgotten the setup... a simple thing to fix in revision.
October 11, 2019
If you liked volume 1 this is more of the exact same thing. If you didn't like volume 1 why are you even here?
A good-quality Japanese "isekai" (life in another world) novel - more self-aware than many, also with an attempt to make it plausible, as far as that can ever happen...
But a light, fun read.
A good-quality Japanese "isekai" (life in another world) novel - more self-aware than many, also with an attempt to make it plausible, as far as that can ever happen...
But a light, fun read.
September 25, 2022
Miles mentally challenged
This book was completely disappointing.
Miles is is completely hopeless in this episode.
And it repeats it's self a lot
This book was completely disappointing.
Miles is is completely hopeless in this episode.
And it repeats it's self a lot
December 28, 2021
Crimson Vow is underestimated by an opponent and proves them wrong. Crimson Vow are thrown into a situation that seems impossible but manage to pull if off in the end. The series is running a tad repetitive and I'm hoping for a shake up soon. I'm also getting a bit tired of some characters hair trigger temper and the reveal regarding Lenny's "development" made me want to gag. That said, I did enjoy the resolution of Mavis and Pauline's back stories.
September 24, 2020
This time, as expected from the cover, we clear Pauline and Mavis' stories. And then there's a wyvern. It feels like the story was rushed when I write it like this, but honestly the pacing was good, and it was overall fun to read. I wish the author didn't feel the need to repeat each new information, as it makes many explanations redundant, but otherwise the style gets better with each volume.
April 1, 2021
The author has a bad habit of repeating themselves a lot. Unlike some of the other web novel to light novel fiction I've read this one feels like the author didn't take the opportunity of a second pass at the story to tighten up the writing at all.
I found myself skimming a lot towards the end and I'm pretty sure that I'm not going to bother reading the rest of the series.
I found myself skimming a lot towards the end and I'm pretty sure that I'm not going to bother reading the rest of the series.
February 4, 2019
A rather weak volume that feels aimless outside of the attempts to develop more of the side characters in the heroine's party. Could be much better.
The side stories are a lot more enjoyable than the main story, btw.
The side stories are a lot more enjoyable than the main story, btw.
January 14, 2020
Meh, this book is starting to become a bit too much "boys are gross" for me. The stories are still fun, it's just that it's starting to get old. MC is NOT progressing that much. It is interesting to see the other characters grow.
October 13, 2018
You get to see some of the other characters' backstories resolved in this volume of Didn't I Say.
It was nice to see the focus on the other girls of Crimson Cow.
It was nice to see the focus on the other girls of Crimson Cow.
February 10, 2019
Verry good
She is stil trying to lead a average life with no success. So far all the books are a great read
She is stil trying to lead a average life with no success. So far all the books are a great read
March 1, 2019
Fun Read
Definitely another fun read and another great addition to the series. I am looking forward to reading volume number for in the future.
Definitely another fun read and another great addition to the series. I am looking forward to reading volume number for in the future.
May 13, 2019
Charming despite reading a bit clunky.
A translation of the Japanese light novel.
A translation of the Japanese light novel.
September 1, 2021
Felt a bit perfunctory; let’s wrap up everyone’s backstory and move on, kind of thing.
October 12, 2025
On one hand I like that the author is thoughtful and detailed about everything but on the other hand it can get exhausting. I liked Pauline’s backstory. In vol 3 (and the other books) it’s kind of ridiculous they talk so much in the middle of battle and furthermore have the time to do that. It’s charming sometimes though. The girls are very honest and point blank almost to a fault. It’s interesting they never fail to complete a challenge every hero has their bad days but apparently not Miles and the Crimson Vow. I have a feeling some of the stuff will come back around for the other light novels. I like the end story about the first date and the separate story about the yummy fish. It made me want to try sashimi! I know I have a lot of complaints about this book but ultimately the characters, battles, and occasional pictures make this an entertaining read so I have to rate it highish for me personally. (Be warned it has the precociousness of some manga but not too much..) Sending all the good reading vibes your way ~
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews