Arifureta Zero: Volume 2

Arifureta Zero #2

by Ryo Shirakome, Takaya-ki (Illustrator), Ningen (Translator)

Now that both Oscar and Naiz have joined the Liberators, Miledi sets her sight westward, hoping to recruit the fabled Saint of the Western Seas. The party heads to the island city of Andika, where they run into the kind-looking sadistic pirate queen, Meiru. At the same time, the Holy Church tasks their knight commander, Laus Bahn, with the extermination of the Melusine Pirate Group that Meiru leads. As various powers gather on the small island city, tensions rise. A battle greater than any before looms as three separate powers clash.

Genres: Light Novel, Fantasy, Romance

303 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 25, 2018

Reviews

[kurogane shiroikaze · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a pretty big fan of the Arifureta series (one day I'll review all of the them here), Arifureta Zero is a great entry to the series that serves to explain the backstories of the Liberators that laid the way for the main series.

This volume takes a more focused approach and centers on the fourth Liberator, Meiru Melusine with a pirate-themed setting. This volume does tend to lack the craziness and over-the-top humour that often defines the Arifureta series for me, but overall the story manages to stand on its own.

The pirates setting did had me expecting some thinly-veiled references to popular pirate works (especially after the previous volume had the author admitting to have based some ideas from the movie Kingsman) but this volume feels pretty straightforward as a whole, with the usual requisite tropes in place.

On the upside, the action is a lot more compared to the previous volume and the frenetic pace of story did had me finding it hard to put down as well. Quite a few epic battles are waged within the pages here, although it lacks some originality compared to the initial volume.

While not the best book of the series, I'll still give this 2nd entry to the Arifureta Zero franchise a thumbs up.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than the first volume of the Zero series. Miledi is still annoying, but so much less so in this volume she's almost likable. She and Oscar and Naiz are on their way to find the Saint of the Western Seas. Their journey takes them to Andika, city of castout misfits and heretics, the perfect place for the Liberators and someone like them. What they find isn't quite what they expect. Arifureta hijinks ensue and there you have it.

As usual, the bonus stories were not nearly as interesting as the main story.

Verdict: Read the main story before Zero. But certainly check it out, it's pretty fun.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

More entertaining characters from the Arifureta universe - and natives this time so not an isekai novel at all. Miledi Reisen is the most annoying and charming heroine!

[Kayleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of fun

[Secre · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest Zero Vol 2" delivers a swashbuckling adventure set in the pirate-infested city of Andika. The story follows our liberators on a quest to ally with a mysterious saint who combats pirates at sea, speculated to be an ancient magic user. This installment introduces a diverse cast, including a character reminiscent of Tio from the main series, enriching the narrative with unique personalities and backgrounds.

The plot thickens as Miledi, Niaz, and Oscar engage in a battle against a corrupt church aiming to capture an ancient magic user and dominate Andika. The trio's mission expands to liberating the city's citizens, weaving a tale of camaraderie, betrayal, and the quest for freedom.

Despite minor pacing and complexity issues, the book excels in its engaging plot and character dynamics, making it a compelling read for fans and newcomers alike. It's a commendable addition to the series, offering a mix of fantasy, action, and intrigue, meriting a solid 4 out of 5 stars.