Accel World, Vol. 18 (light novel): The Black Dual Swordsman

アクセル・ワールド / Accel World Light Novels #18

by Reki Kawahara

In order to bolster their forces against the White Legion, Nega Nebulus seeks the aid of the Green Legion and travels to their territory to treat with their king, "Green Grande." But just as negotiations were about to begin, they received an unexpected visitor...

Genres: Light Novel, Science Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published June 10, 2015

About the author

Kawahara Reki (川原礫) is the writer of Sword Art Online and Accel World. He also uses the pen name Kunori Fumio. His hobby is cycling.

Reviews

[Tuna · Rating 5 out of 5]

To make up for the absence of significant or meaningful action in Volume 17, Kawahara went all out with a multi-chapter battle right at the beginning of this volume. While one may think it is a bit excessive to spend most of the volume on a single battle, Kawahara seemingly broke with tradition and took on a multiple point of view stance to show the battle through several characters. Here, we saw the battle through the eyes of World End Black Lotus and Ardor Maiden who both offered perspective on the characters around them and how those characters and/or circumstances shaped their development. I believed that this was a fantastic move on Kawahara’s part and helped to better bring his world to life.

This world was further expanded with introduction of Graphite Edge, who we’ve only received hints about through the previous 17 volumes. I pray or hope that perhaps he can rejoin Negabu instead of Great Wall. That said, his introduction was paired with the introduction of the major members of the Great Wall. This introduction led us into an amazing battle on an amazing stage featuring amazing new skills and techniques. Along those lines, post battle, we were treated to another battle to introduce us to members of Blue Leonids, who we’ve only had limited interactions with through Takumu, who was previously a Blue Leonids member. With these introductions out of the way, it will be interesting to see how these characters will interaction when the expose of the Oscillatory Universe happens.

The final chapter, with its focus on Sky Raker and Silver Crow, was the most hyped sequence of events since the Hermes Cord event. I loved it as well as the surprise in the final pages.

Overall, v18 will be a memorable volume. For a showcase of a guild vs guild battle, the Negabu noobs rising to the challenge, and veterans on each sides giving it their all on a stage wholly and totally new to each and every person there, it is wonderful.

Excellent volume.

This volume also has a short story that was published alongside the Accel World anime airing a few years ago.

[Michael Brough · Rating 4 out of 5]

To quote one of my favorite recurring reviews for this series, "it is what it is."

The plot progresses marginally and most of the book is set up for the next big arc, although Reki decides to derail and start another tangent near the end of the novel. The beginning half of the book is nice to introduce the last "element" of Nega Nebulas and then the last half feels more like "filler." He's starting to branch out into other character's perspectives more which is cool. The additional short story, Prominence Trajectory, is actually quite enjoyable (5 star).

[Ricardo Matos · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of team battles, side stories, and padding... just a couple of little events to add to the main plot. Struggled to get through this one, although next volume looks promising!

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graphite Edge 10/10