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天才王子の赤字国家再生術~そうだ、売国しよう~ (Light Novel) #1
天才王子の赤字国家再生術 ~そうだ、売国しよう~
【「このライトノベルがすごい! 2019 文庫新作ランキング4位!】
「こんな国、さっさと売って隠居生活だ! 」
完全に詰んでる国家の運営、無茶ブリされました!
「さすが殿下! これが狙いとは! 」
「どこまでもついて参ります! 」
「殿下! 」「殿下! 」「殿下! 」「殿下! 」
『(一体どうしてこうなった!?)』
資源も人材も兵力もない弱小国家を背負うことになった若き王子ウェイン。
文武に秀で、臣下からの信頼も厚い彼にはひそかな願いがあった。
「国売ってトンズラしてえええ! 」
そう、王子の本性は悠々自適の隠居生活を目論む売国奴だったのだ!
だが、大国に媚びを売ろうと外交すれば予期せず一方的に利益を手にし
隣国との戦争で程よく勝とうとすれば大勝利。名声は上がるが売国は遠のき、
臣民はイケイケ状態で退くに退けない!?
天才王子による予想外だらけの弱小国家運営譚、開幕!
「こんな国、さっさと売って隠居生活だ! 」
完全に詰んでる国家の運営、無茶ブリされました!
「さすが殿下! これが狙いとは! 」
「どこまでもついて参ります! 」
「殿下! 」「殿下! 」「殿下! 」「殿下! 」
『(一体どうしてこうなった!?)』
資源も人材も兵力もない弱小国家を背負うことになった若き王子ウェイン。
文武に秀で、臣下からの信頼も厚い彼にはひそかな願いがあった。
「国売ってトンズラしてえええ! 」
そう、王子の本性は悠々自適の隠居生活を目論む売国奴だったのだ!
だが、大国に媚びを売ろうと外交すれば予期せず一方的に利益を手にし
隣国との戦争で程よく勝とうとすれば大勝利。名声は上がるが売国は遠のき、
臣民はイケイケ状態で退くに退けない!?
天才王子による予想外だらけの弱小国家運営譚、開幕!
248 pages, Paperback
First published May 15, 2018
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459 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 31, 2021
One person's accidental success is another person's morass of teenage self-pity. For Wein Salema Arbalest, the crown prince of a foundering and debt-ridden nation, it's both. Wein is a complainer and a sad sack, but he's cursed with a powerful knack for negotiation and an intense focus on details. All of which is why GENIUS PRINCE . . . #1 is far more entertaining as an ankle-deep political science comedy than it is a tortured low-fantasy escapade. Whether readers are whimsical enough to let this slide remains to be seen.
Wein attempts to give away his land to nearby forces. He attempts to bribe the emissary of continental largesse. He attempts to pawn off bad goods in an effort to remove himself from a muddy situation of his own making. And yet . . . his army finds victory on the battlefield, his sharp wit makes him impossible to read among his peers, his subordinates refuse to bend knee and every corollary following his military campaigns reaps unexpected (financial) rewards.
Prince Wein, in short, is terrible at treason.
GENIUS PRINCE . . . #1 trots and gallops intermittently at the behest of a whiny royal who wants nothing more than to retire to the countryside and live the quiet life. Most of the novel focuses on Wein's oddly contrived war turned success story and how a crazy suggestion turns crazier when his plan to occupy foreign territory, specifically a gold mine, actually works. But aside from this wild scenario, the book sets its sights on framing Wein as a brilliant strategist with a short temper. It's true that his affection for getting things done is often outweighed by his eagerness to get things out of the way. But shortsightedness is among his most damning faults. Wein keeps forgetting that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
The novel is a fun but terribly shallow read. There are few recurring characters of note and the dialogue is unembellished and often downright cheesy. The character archetypes are easy to spot: the doting older brother, the cold assistant, the enraptured soldier, the curious foreign ally. Very little in this book stands to originality. But the book is clever. It's difficult to know how far this cleverness will take readers, but for one volume of literature, it's enough.
This is a comedy through and through but the few dramatic elements that exist are rather intriguing. Ninym, for example, is the silver-haired assistant ever at the prince's side. She's born to a race considered less-than but is treated equitably among Wein and his folk. When others rebuke her status in the prince's presence, the young man grows visibly furious, which offers readers a rarely seen portrait of action-fantasy affection: Wein is willing to kill for this girl . . . and he does. Multiple times. It's awesome.
The premise of GENIUS PRINCE . . . #1 is to see how much one royal can do, on his own, to screw over his country in the name of getting away from it all — selfishness writ large — only for his plans to routinely backfire (in the form of legitimate success). Not everything works out (e.g., Wein's ego spells disaster), but for the most part, this guy's a handful and it's only a matter of time before people figure out just how mad he truly is.
Wein attempts to give away his land to nearby forces. He attempts to bribe the emissary of continental largesse. He attempts to pawn off bad goods in an effort to remove himself from a muddy situation of his own making. And yet . . . his army finds victory on the battlefield, his sharp wit makes him impossible to read among his peers, his subordinates refuse to bend knee and every corollary following his military campaigns reaps unexpected (financial) rewards.
Prince Wein, in short, is terrible at treason.
GENIUS PRINCE . . . #1 trots and gallops intermittently at the behest of a whiny royal who wants nothing more than to retire to the countryside and live the quiet life. Most of the novel focuses on Wein's oddly contrived war turned success story and how a crazy suggestion turns crazier when his plan to occupy foreign territory, specifically a gold mine, actually works. But aside from this wild scenario, the book sets its sights on framing Wein as a brilliant strategist with a short temper. It's true that his affection for getting things done is often outweighed by his eagerness to get things out of the way. But shortsightedness is among his most damning faults. Wein keeps forgetting that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
The novel is a fun but terribly shallow read. There are few recurring characters of note and the dialogue is unembellished and often downright cheesy. The character archetypes are easy to spot: the doting older brother, the cold assistant, the enraptured soldier, the curious foreign ally. Very little in this book stands to originality. But the book is clever. It's difficult to know how far this cleverness will take readers, but for one volume of literature, it's enough.
This is a comedy through and through but the few dramatic elements that exist are rather intriguing. Ninym, for example, is the silver-haired assistant ever at the prince's side. She's born to a race considered less-than but is treated equitably among Wein and his folk. When others rebuke her status in the prince's presence, the young man grows visibly furious, which offers readers a rarely seen portrait of action-fantasy affection: Wein is willing to kill for this girl . . . and he does. Multiple times. It's awesome.
The premise of GENIUS PRINCE . . . #1 is to see how much one royal can do, on his own, to screw over his country in the name of getting away from it all — selfishness writ large — only for his plans to routinely backfire (in the form of legitimate success). Not everything works out (e.g., Wein's ego spells disaster), but for the most part, this guy's a handful and it's only a matter of time before people figure out just how mad he truly is.
September 4, 2019
Original
Small anemic country with brilliant but reluctant Prince fight invaders. They surprisingly triumph but nothing goes as planned. If you like it's humor, I also recommend boxed set Mouse that Roared.
Small anemic country with brilliant but reluctant Prince fight invaders. They surprisingly triumph but nothing goes as planned. If you like it's humor, I also recommend boxed set Mouse that Roared.
March 5, 2022
The author is trying to portray a main character as "genius", but feels more like someone incredibly lucky and foolish. I don't know if the author is trying to create a parody, comedy and at the same time talk about war, death, debt and human defects.
I don't think comedy and serious themes (death, war, poverty, greed, ineptitude, etc.) mix well. If the main character wishes to resign, he should do so before he kills the citizens of his tiny kingdom. I feel he is playing with everybody and not taking anything seriously.
Main character ironically chooses a "gold mine" as an excellent military objective, only to find out that the mine no longer has any gold, and just has the miners in the brink of death and starvation. Instead of leaving the empty mine as is, (and saving the miners at least) the military defends the "empty and spent" mine to the last man and to the death. A genius would not waste the lives of his soldiers to gain nothing. Killing the enemy generals in exchange for a lot of your own soldiers is Pyrrhic and nonsensical. By pure luck at the end they miracly find more gold, not enough to become rich but maybe to cover the costs of the war. How is this genius? Where is the genius of making a series of mistakes that turn into a train-wreck.
Governance is 99% hard work with little or no recognition. War has no real benefit, especially at the cost of the people that die, and resources that never return. In the beginning the main character was defending his Kingdom from an attack, and all of a sudden he invades the mine and makes it an offensive war with nothing to gain but death and losses.
Main character is the biggest ally of his enemies. Now a bigger fish (predator) is going to try to swallow his small kingdom. What is genius about something like this?
I don't think comedy and serious themes (death, war, poverty, greed, ineptitude, etc.) mix well. If the main character wishes to resign, he should do so before he kills the citizens of his tiny kingdom. I feel he is playing with everybody and not taking anything seriously.
Main character ironically chooses a "gold mine" as an excellent military objective, only to find out that the mine no longer has any gold, and just has the miners in the brink of death and starvation. Instead of leaving the empty mine as is, (and saving the miners at least) the military defends the "empty and spent" mine to the last man and to the death. A genius would not waste the lives of his soldiers to gain nothing. Killing the enemy generals in exchange for a lot of your own soldiers is Pyrrhic and nonsensical. By pure luck at the end they miracly find more gold, not enough to become rich but maybe to cover the costs of the war. How is this genius? Where is the genius of making a series of mistakes that turn into a train-wreck.
Governance is 99% hard work with little or no recognition. War has no real benefit, especially at the cost of the people that die, and resources that never return. In the beginning the main character was defending his Kingdom from an attack, and all of a sudden he invades the mine and makes it an offensive war with nothing to gain but death and losses.
Main character is the biggest ally of his enemies. Now a bigger fish (predator) is going to try to swallow his small kingdom. What is genius about something like this?
April 20, 2022
What did you do during the Pandemic Nye? Did you study ancient philosophers? Learn a language? Better yourself? No, but I did read all eight books of Genius Prince.
Genius Prince is basically a power fantasy, like a lot of Japanese Light Novels, only instead of being a power fantasy about how much of a gigachad the protagonist is, or how many megajoules of magical power the protagonist can use, its a power fantasy about being good at running a somewhat autocratic, fantasy, medieval kingdom. Really, really good at running it. Also plotting. There's a lot of plotting in this series. It's surprisingly engrossing for what it is.
If I had to compare the vibe of Genius Prince to anything, it'd actually be the BBC Sherlock series that was so popular a decade ago. Only instead of being focussed on being a genius detective, it's about a genius Prince Regent. [i]It's in the name, ya' know[/i]. And the logical leaps that Wein, the protagonist, makes are mostly fairly grounded unlike the stuff that Sherlock had a habit of pulling out of thin air at times.
Anyway, book one is mostly focussed on Wein being too clever for his own good, accidentally succeeding when he meant to fail, and proceeding to continuously fail upwards. It's good fun, and a bit of a breath of fresh air.
Easy 4/5 - would read an entire book about governing a fantasy kingdom again
Also, the series knows what pairing it wants to pursue and wears it on its sleeve. And there's none of that siscon shit that's so ubiquitous in Japanese imports (urgh), so major points for that.
Genius Prince is basically a power fantasy, like a lot of Japanese Light Novels, only instead of being a power fantasy about how much of a gigachad the protagonist is, or how many megajoules of magical power the protagonist can use, its a power fantasy about being good at running a somewhat autocratic, fantasy, medieval kingdom. Really, really good at running it. Also plotting. There's a lot of plotting in this series. It's surprisingly engrossing for what it is.
If I had to compare the vibe of Genius Prince to anything, it'd actually be the BBC Sherlock series that was so popular a decade ago. Only instead of being focussed on being a genius detective, it's about a genius Prince Regent. [i]It's in the name, ya' know[/i]. And the logical leaps that Wein, the protagonist, makes are mostly fairly grounded unlike the stuff that Sherlock had a habit of pulling out of thin air at times.
Anyway, book one is mostly focussed on Wein being too clever for his own good, accidentally succeeding when he meant to fail, and proceeding to continuously fail upwards. It's good fun, and a bit of a breath of fresh air.
Easy 4/5 - would read an entire book about governing a fantasy kingdom again
Also, the series knows what pairing it wants to pursue and wears it on its sleeve. And there's none of that siscon shit that's so ubiquitous in Japanese imports (urgh), so major points for that.
December 3, 2024
The Genius Prince's Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt (Volume 1) introduces us to Prince Wein, the young ruler of the small, financially struggling kingdom of Natra. On the surface, Wein appears to be lazy, disinterested in ruling, and eager to sell off the kingdom to alleviate its burdens. However, beneath his indifferent exterior lies a brilliant and strategic mind, capable of manipulating situations to his advantage. Faced with both internal corruption and external threats, Wein uses his intelligence to navigate political intrigue and military conflict, all while maintaining a facade of incompetence to avoid being burdened with more responsibility than necessary.
One of the standout features of Volume 1 is Wein’s genius. His plans are meticulously crafted, demonstrating a deep understanding of politics, economics, and human nature. Unlike many protagonists in fantasy settings, Wein isn’t reliant on brute force or "plot armor"—his success hinges on his ability to think several steps ahead of his opponents. The story does a great job of explaining his tactics clearly and logically, allowing readers to follow his clever strategies without feeling lost or overwhelmed. It’s refreshing to see a protagonist whose victories feel earned through intellect and leadership, rather than luck or chance.
The book also excels in character development, particularly in how it balances Wein's complexity. While he is ruthless when necessary, he isn’t portrayed as a stereotypical "dark" character. Instead, he makes tough, pragmatic decisions that reflect his desire to protect his people, even if it means making morally gray choices. He’s not depraved or cruel for the sake of it—he’s a leader who understands that sometimes, to secure the future, sacrifices must be made.
The relationship between Wein and his loyal retainer, Ninym, adds an additional layer of depth to the narrative. Their interactions are both heartwarming and witty, and the romance that begins to develop between them feels genuine and not forced. Unlike typical fantasy stories where romance can often take a backseat to harem tropes, The Genius Prince's Guide avoids this pitfall by keeping the romance faithful and meaningful. This adds an element of emotional engagement without distracting from the primary focus on politics and strategy.
The volume is also a visual treat, with cute, appealing artwork that complements the lighthearted moments in the story, while still maintaining the tension during more serious political or military scenes. The art enhances the charm of the story and contributes to its overall appeal, making it a delight for fans of both light novels and tactical fantasy.
What makes this first volume particularly engaging is the cleverness of its plot. The twists and turns are well-executed and surprising, keeping readers on their toes. The stakes feel high, and while the plot may seem straightforward at times, the way Wein manipulates situations always leaves room for excitement and surprise. The book avoids relying on typical fantasy tropes and “plot armor,” choosing instead to let the protagonist’s intellect lead the way.
In conclusion, Volume 1 of The Genius Prince's Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt is a refreshing and enjoyable read. With its sharp, genius protagonist, clever strategies, meaningful romance, and engaging plot, it stands out in the crowded world of fantasy light novels. If you enjoy stories where intelligence and leadership are the keys to success, this one is a must-read. The first volume sets a solid foundation for what promises to be an exciting and thought-provoking series, full of political intrigue, smart tactics, and plenty of surprises.
One of the standout features of Volume 1 is Wein’s genius. His plans are meticulously crafted, demonstrating a deep understanding of politics, economics, and human nature. Unlike many protagonists in fantasy settings, Wein isn’t reliant on brute force or "plot armor"—his success hinges on his ability to think several steps ahead of his opponents. The story does a great job of explaining his tactics clearly and logically, allowing readers to follow his clever strategies without feeling lost or overwhelmed. It’s refreshing to see a protagonist whose victories feel earned through intellect and leadership, rather than luck or chance.
The book also excels in character development, particularly in how it balances Wein's complexity. While he is ruthless when necessary, he isn’t portrayed as a stereotypical "dark" character. Instead, he makes tough, pragmatic decisions that reflect his desire to protect his people, even if it means making morally gray choices. He’s not depraved or cruel for the sake of it—he’s a leader who understands that sometimes, to secure the future, sacrifices must be made.
The relationship between Wein and his loyal retainer, Ninym, adds an additional layer of depth to the narrative. Their interactions are both heartwarming and witty, and the romance that begins to develop between them feels genuine and not forced. Unlike typical fantasy stories where romance can often take a backseat to harem tropes, The Genius Prince's Guide avoids this pitfall by keeping the romance faithful and meaningful. This adds an element of emotional engagement without distracting from the primary focus on politics and strategy.
The volume is also a visual treat, with cute, appealing artwork that complements the lighthearted moments in the story, while still maintaining the tension during more serious political or military scenes. The art enhances the charm of the story and contributes to its overall appeal, making it a delight for fans of both light novels and tactical fantasy.
What makes this first volume particularly engaging is the cleverness of its plot. The twists and turns are well-executed and surprising, keeping readers on their toes. The stakes feel high, and while the plot may seem straightforward at times, the way Wein manipulates situations always leaves room for excitement and surprise. The book avoids relying on typical fantasy tropes and “plot armor,” choosing instead to let the protagonist’s intellect lead the way.
In conclusion, Volume 1 of The Genius Prince's Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt is a refreshing and enjoyable read. With its sharp, genius protagonist, clever strategies, meaningful romance, and engaging plot, it stands out in the crowded world of fantasy light novels. If you enjoy stories where intelligence and leadership are the keys to success, this one is a must-read. The first volume sets a solid foundation for what promises to be an exciting and thought-provoking series, full of political intrigue, smart tactics, and plenty of surprises.
June 2, 2020
In Summary
A military narrative takes a comic tone as a prince regent’s best efforts to rid himself of his kingdom backfire into one brilliant victory after another. The plot involves quite a bit of strategy and geopolitics, but it keeps the parameters simple, so it’s easy to comprehend. That combined with Prince Wein’s behind the scenes outbursts makes for an entertaining story.
The Review
This series’ long-winded title is somewhat misleading. The main character, Wein Salema Arbalest, is a prince and a genius, but his country, the Kingdom of Natra technically isn’t in debt. The kingdom doesn’t owes money to others; rather, Natra is lean on industry and resources. Ergo, the demands on the country’s leadership are high but the material benefits are few. Wein, however, is naturally lazy, bears no idealistic notions, and has had a taste of the good life during his studies abroad in the Earthworld Empire. As such, his dearest dream is to sell out his country to the Empire that he might live out his life in ease and luxury.
The title might also lead one to think the story is of trade and negotiation, similar to Spice and Wolf. Although Wein’s first act after being named Prince Regent to stand in for the ailing king is a peacetime discussion with the Earthworld Empire’s ambassador, the majority of the plot concerns military strategy and tactics and the resulting geopolitical consequences. (Even that initial discussion with the ambassador concerns the terms of an agreement allowing Imperial troops to be stationed within Natra.)
Sounds like serious stuff, but even though everyone around Wein is serious and takes him seriously, Wein is a comic character behind the scenes. He’s constantly trying to ditch his responsibilities, and only the fear of a coup and his longtime friend and aide Ninym (the one person who knows his true nature) keep him in line. He’s also got a sister complex and is a bit of a perv (a tone which gets incorporated into the artwork). If the series was turned into an anime or manga, it would undoubtedly include fanservice elements.
As annoying as I found the breast references, this plot was engaging. Interestingly, it reminded me of another Yen Press title, Tanya the Evil. While one is a fantasy and the other is an industrial-era isekai, both have heavy strategic, tactical, and political elements. Tanya and Wein have vastly different personalities, but they are similarly deemed model patriots when in truth they’d dump their responsibilities given the chance. And the running joke with both is that their brilliant schemes to attain the easy lifestyle continually backfire.
The main weakness of Genius Prince is that, unlike Tanya, its cast tends to be very one-dimensional. Aside from Ninyim and Wein, characters have little nuance. They’re all evil, all loyal, all idiot, or all victim. Also, even though Wein’s father remains king, he never appears throughout the several months worth of events.
Despite that, the story is an entertaining, easy read. Whereas Tanya delved into details to the point that it was a real slog, Genius Prince does a good job presenting information in a clear fashion that doesn’t bog the pace.
Extras include the first eight pages printed in color, ten black-and-white illustrations, and afterword.
For more manga and book reviews, drop by my blog Keeping It In Canon!
A military narrative takes a comic tone as a prince regent’s best efforts to rid himself of his kingdom backfire into one brilliant victory after another. The plot involves quite a bit of strategy and geopolitics, but it keeps the parameters simple, so it’s easy to comprehend. That combined with Prince Wein’s behind the scenes outbursts makes for an entertaining story.
The Review
This series’ long-winded title is somewhat misleading. The main character, Wein Salema Arbalest, is a prince and a genius, but his country, the Kingdom of Natra technically isn’t in debt. The kingdom doesn’t owes money to others; rather, Natra is lean on industry and resources. Ergo, the demands on the country’s leadership are high but the material benefits are few. Wein, however, is naturally lazy, bears no idealistic notions, and has had a taste of the good life during his studies abroad in the Earthworld Empire. As such, his dearest dream is to sell out his country to the Empire that he might live out his life in ease and luxury.
The title might also lead one to think the story is of trade and negotiation, similar to Spice and Wolf. Although Wein’s first act after being named Prince Regent to stand in for the ailing king is a peacetime discussion with the Earthworld Empire’s ambassador, the majority of the plot concerns military strategy and tactics and the resulting geopolitical consequences. (Even that initial discussion with the ambassador concerns the terms of an agreement allowing Imperial troops to be stationed within Natra.)
Sounds like serious stuff, but even though everyone around Wein is serious and takes him seriously, Wein is a comic character behind the scenes. He’s constantly trying to ditch his responsibilities, and only the fear of a coup and his longtime friend and aide Ninym (the one person who knows his true nature) keep him in line. He’s also got a sister complex and is a bit of a perv (a tone which gets incorporated into the artwork). If the series was turned into an anime or manga, it would undoubtedly include fanservice elements.
As annoying as I found the breast references, this plot was engaging. Interestingly, it reminded me of another Yen Press title, Tanya the Evil. While one is a fantasy and the other is an industrial-era isekai, both have heavy strategic, tactical, and political elements. Tanya and Wein have vastly different personalities, but they are similarly deemed model patriots when in truth they’d dump their responsibilities given the chance. And the running joke with both is that their brilliant schemes to attain the easy lifestyle continually backfire.
The main weakness of Genius Prince is that, unlike Tanya, its cast tends to be very one-dimensional. Aside from Ninyim and Wein, characters have little nuance. They’re all evil, all loyal, all idiot, or all victim. Also, even though Wein’s father remains king, he never appears throughout the several months worth of events.
Despite that, the story is an entertaining, easy read. Whereas Tanya delved into details to the point that it was a real slog, Genius Prince does a good job presenting information in a clear fashion that doesn’t bog the pace.
Extras include the first eight pages printed in color, ten black-and-white illustrations, and afterword.
For more manga and book reviews, drop by my blog Keeping It In Canon!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2021
Wein Salema Arbalest is the young crown prince of the tiny kingdom of Natra who has to take over ruling the kingdom when his father falls ill. While a very able ruler, he would prefer to retire wealthy since running a kingdom is a lot of work and has a large risk of costing his life. Working towards his kingdom becoming a vassal state of the large Earthworld Empire, his plans go awry with the death of the emperor and Natran being invaded by the somewhat larger neighbour Marden and both sides underestimate Natra's soldiers and each other's resolve.
Personally I always enjoy a good kingdom building series, especially when combined with a smart protagonist, solid worldbuilding and enjoyable characters. The fact that Wein's plans at times go awry because of unexpected events (more often because of his own paranoia and inability to fully grasp human nature) is a boon. I always disliked extremely convoluted plans that somehow work despite the ridiculous amount of steps that require to succeed before final success. The fact that the novel is a contained story and still very much part 1 of a series is a boon in the light novel genre which is dominated by slice-of-life or slow paced stories. The world is presented as a believable one with both dark and light aspects, humans are humans, people die, and it is not the typical fluffy light novel world. There is no isekai as far as I can see, which is a nice change of pace for fantasy light novels. There is also no apparent magic (yet) or monsters (except the human kind). I don't mind, but it is uncommon for fantasy light novels.
As is common in light novels, there is the occasional boob joke, although it does not fall into the harem tropes (or many other light novel ones). Wein's laziness is presented a bit extreme, but considering a smart guy should be able to get what he wants without always choosing what is best for the kingdom's people, it might just be an act towards his aide. Besides, extreme's expression of emotions should not come as a surprise for light novel readers. The art is good looking, but a bit too cutesy for the story. The cover art and the show are in the front for example suggests a light hearted harem novel with some ecchi moments to me, even though the depicted situations never happens in the book. In fact, the scene's feel out of character for both Wein and Ninym (the white haired girl and very capable aide). A thing I am not too sure about. The storyteller, mostly Wein, is not always honest to the reader mostly to keep things a bit tense for the reader. It serves its purpose, but it feels a bit odd compared to the storytelling style.
All in all, a very promising series for those who love kingdom building, battles, a bit of political plotting. I am very much looking forward to reading the next parts to see where things are going.
Personally I always enjoy a good kingdom building series, especially when combined with a smart protagonist, solid worldbuilding and enjoyable characters. The fact that Wein's plans at times go awry because of unexpected events (more often because of his own paranoia and inability to fully grasp human nature) is a boon. I always disliked extremely convoluted plans that somehow work despite the ridiculous amount of steps that require to succeed before final success. The fact that the novel is a contained story and still very much part 1 of a series is a boon in the light novel genre which is dominated by slice-of-life or slow paced stories. The world is presented as a believable one with both dark and light aspects, humans are humans, people die, and it is not the typical fluffy light novel world. There is no isekai as far as I can see, which is a nice change of pace for fantasy light novels. There is also no apparent magic (yet) or monsters (except the human kind). I don't mind, but it is uncommon for fantasy light novels.
As is common in light novels, there is the occasional boob joke, although it does not fall into the harem tropes (or many other light novel ones). Wein's laziness is presented a bit extreme, but considering a smart guy should be able to get what he wants without always choosing what is best for the kingdom's people, it might just be an act towards his aide. Besides, extreme's expression of emotions should not come as a surprise for light novel readers. The art is good looking, but a bit too cutesy for the story. The cover art and the show are in the front for example suggests a light hearted harem novel with some ecchi moments to me, even though the depicted situations never happens in the book. In fact, the scene's feel out of character for both Wein and Ninym (the white haired girl and very capable aide). A thing I am not too sure about. The storyteller, mostly Wein, is not always honest to the reader mostly to keep things a bit tense for the reader. It serves its purpose, but it feels a bit odd compared to the storytelling style.
All in all, a very promising series for those who love kingdom building, battles, a bit of political plotting. I am very much looking forward to reading the next parts to see where things are going.
May 30, 2021
"Governance is about human behavior—a complex, tangled thing involving the thoughts and feelings of all kinds of people."
I love stories about governance, mainly because I love seeing how different people handle difficult situations that don't only affect them, but a large populace as a whole. The thing about ruling countries, is your decisions don't only affect you, your people, or your country. Your decisions can have implications for other countries as well, and we get to see that in this book.
It's one of the things this book does well, and it does a lot well. The relationships between the characters shine, the genius of Wein is undeniable, and there are moments you aren't sure how things are going to turn out. I loved that. I'm really interested to see how our titular genius handles things going forward.
I love stories about governance, mainly because I love seeing how different people handle difficult situations that don't only affect them, but a large populace as a whole. The thing about ruling countries, is your decisions don't only affect you, your people, or your country. Your decisions can have implications for other countries as well, and we get to see that in this book.
It's one of the things this book does well, and it does a lot well. The relationships between the characters shine, the genius of Wein is undeniable, and there are moments you aren't sure how things are going to turn out. I loved that. I'm really interested to see how our titular genius handles things going forward.
October 25, 2024
เป็นการเมือง-รัฐศาสตร์-สงครามที่สนุกและตลกมาก เรื่องราวของเจ้าชายวัย 16 ปีที่ต้องมาปกครองบ้านเมืองแทนพ่อที่ป่วยติดเตียง ข้าราชการและประชาชนรักและตั้งความหวังกับเขาไว้สูงมาก ความสามารถของเขาเป็นของแท้ แต่เขาดันมีความฝันจะยกประเทศให้มหาอำนาจแล้วผันตัวเป็นคนร่ำรวยที่ว่างงาน 😅
แม้นี่จะเพิ่งเล่ม 1 แต่นักเขียนก็เปิดให้เราเห็นแล้วว่าเวย์นน่าจะมีความสามารถซุกซ่อนอยู่ภายใต้นิสัยขี้เกียจ แม้จะดูเก่ง แต่ที่ผ่านเหตุการณ์ในเล่มนี้มาได้ส่วนหนึ่งเป็นเพราะศัตรูประมาทเวย์นมากเกินไป และดวงด้วย (ดวงสำคัญมากๆ) แต่เรื่องที่เรากังวลใจที่สุดคือเวย์นจะคู่กับใคร ขอให้คู่กับนินิมเถอะ สาธุๆๆๆๆ
ส่วนทิศทางของเนื้อเรื่อง ก็ไม่รู้จะไปทางไหนเลย เพราะชื่อไทยและอังกฤษต่างกันแบบสุดขั้ว ไทยชื่อ "บูรณะมันวุ่นวาย ขายชาติเลยแล้วกัน!" แต่อังกฤษชื่อ "The Genius Prince's Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt (Hey, How About Treason?)" แต่ดูท่าแล้ว....เวย์นคงได้ปกครองประเทศไปอีกพักใหญ่เลย ฮ่า...
แม้นี่จะเพิ่งเล่ม 1 แต่นักเขียนก็เปิดให้เราเห็นแล้วว่าเวย์นน่าจะมีความสามารถซุกซ่อนอยู่ภายใต้นิสัยขี้เกียจ แม้จะดูเก่ง แต่ที่ผ่านเหตุการณ์ในเล่มนี้มาได้ส่วนหนึ่งเป็นเพราะศัตรูประมาทเวย์นมากเกินไป และดวงด้วย (ดวงสำคัญมากๆ) แต่เรื่องที่เรากังวลใจที่สุดคือเวย์นจะคู่กับใคร ขอให้คู่กับนินิมเถอะ สาธุๆๆๆๆ
ส่วนทิศทางของเนื้อเรื่อง ก็ไม่รู้จะไปทางไหนเลย เพราะชื่อไทยและอังกฤษต่างกันแบบสุดขั้ว ไทยชื่อ "บูรณะมันวุ่นวาย ขายชาติเลยแล้วกัน!" แต่อังกฤษชื่อ "The Genius Prince's Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt (Hey, How About Treason?)" แต่ดูท่าแล้ว....เวย์นคงได้ปกครองประเทศไปอีกพักใหญ่เลย ฮ่า...
August 21, 2021
this was like "how a realist hero rebuilt the kingdom" but way better
I didn't really like the illustrations, the world-building was good but nothing great, and the characters were basic but endearing, however where this book shines is in the plot and in the focus on its political shenanigans, the story had a good balance between diplomatic battles and tactical ones, which offered a much-welcomed variety, another thing I like was that although the situations where all very diverse from each other they all lead to the next event in a very simple way making every event fell that it mattered, the fact that every hurdle was bigger than the last also gave a nice feeling of scalation which helped me stay entertained and engaged.
this isn't perfect but overall I recommend this :)
I didn't really like the illustrations, the world-building was good but nothing great, and the characters were basic but endearing, however where this book shines is in the plot and in the focus on its political shenanigans, the story had a good balance between diplomatic battles and tactical ones, which offered a much-welcomed variety, another thing I like was that although the situations where all very diverse from each other they all lead to the next event in a very simple way making every event fell that it mattered, the fact that every hurdle was bigger than the last also gave a nice feeling of scalation which helped me stay entertained and engaged.
this isn't perfect but overall I recommend this :)
February 2, 2020
The plot was interesting. The main characters were solid. The writing was a bit weak.
We meet the characters, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of passion. The main character wants to dump responsibility and basically retire. Okay, at least he has goals. He then spends the rest of the book making perfect decisions and thinking circles around all of his enemies. He is the go-to guy with all of the answers...
It is a fun book but the characters are, in the final analysis, flat.
Worth reading? Yes. Could it have been better? YES.
We meet the characters, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of passion. The main character wants to dump responsibility and basically retire. Okay, at least he has goals. He then spends the rest of the book making perfect decisions and thinking circles around all of his enemies. He is the go-to guy with all of the answers...
It is a fun book but the characters are, in the final analysis, flat.
Worth reading? Yes. Could it have been better? YES.
May 30, 2022
A fun enough diversion, though it's a light novel that definitely errs on the light side. Was over in a flash. It struck me as a story akin to Tanya the Evil. A protagonist who is too competent for their own good when all they want to do is live a peaceful easy life but keep getting propelled further into conflict through accidental over success. Though tonally, this is much more easy going than the much darker war narrative of Tanya.
All in all, a fun little blind buy. I'll prolly check out the next volume.
All in all, a fun little blind buy. I'll prolly check out the next volume.
October 6, 2019
The translation of this was pretty good, which was very nice because that meant it flowed well. I really liked the main character and the plot. It was engaging, and I wanted more when I finished. I liked the politics, which I appreciate in books, and how the main character kept hilariously despairing when his plans to get rid of his country failed. It was highly entertaining. I'm excited for volume 2 to release in December. 4 stars!
October 25, 2021
Whew! I thought it would be a male version of Tearmoon Empire: Volume 1 for a second there. The only similarity is that the people sees the MC’s actions in the best light. Regent Prince Wein, the MC, reminds me a lot of Lelouch vi Britannia from Code Geass. The story is fast-paced without dull moments.
July 6, 2025
Auf jeden Fall wert zu lesen.
lustig geschrieben mit genug Action, dass es spannend bleibt. von der tiefe her in Ordnung.
Auch für Leute die den Anime kennen schön, gab viel neues, was man durch Anime und Mange nicht mitbekommen hat und leitet die Charaktere schön ein.
und wie ich gerade gelernt habe... Die Verteidigungsstrategie ist gar nicht schlecht, eigentlich so wie Minas Tirith (Film) hätte verteidigt werden können/sollen... Wesentlich bessere Strategie als in den Filmen!
jetzt werde ich immer bei den Filmen die Strategie sehen müssen :')
lustig geschrieben mit genug Action, dass es spannend bleibt. von der tiefe her in Ordnung.
Auch für Leute die den Anime kennen schön, gab viel neues, was man durch Anime und Mange nicht mitbekommen hat und leitet die Charaktere schön ein.
und wie ich gerade gelernt habe... Die Verteidigungsstrategie ist gar nicht schlecht, eigentlich so wie Minas Tirith (Film) hätte verteidigt werden können/sollen... Wesentlich bessere Strategie als in den Filmen!
jetzt werde ich immer bei den Filmen die Strategie sehen müssen :')
December 3, 2019
Not nearly as good as I had hoped for. We jump right into the action without really getting to know the characters, and apart from a few personality traits this remains true. Ninym (girl on the cover) is the only character that is somewhat interesting.
I did enjoy some of the twists but overall found the book lacking.
I did enjoy some of the twists but overall found the book lacking.
June 23, 2021
The story premise is not bad, however, there is a distinct emphasis throughout the work on the female's oversized chests. While I am not opposed to sexualization in books, it needs to further the work, not be the focus. This might be a good read for a young male. It does not work for adults or anyone with an interest in the isekai genre at large.
October 10, 2022
Easy to read politicking and humor
I enjoyed reading this light novel. It was easy to read, well translated and made me chuckle. The setting doesn’t seem like it matches but the author does a great job of politicking and scheming while not being dense about it. Excited to read more!
I enjoyed reading this light novel. It was easy to read, well translated and made me chuckle. The setting doesn’t seem like it matches but the author does a great job of politicking and scheming while not being dense about it. Excited to read more!
August 17, 2023
I loved this anime and really wanted to get more lore as I feel it would enhance my engagement with the show. Absolutely love Wein and Nimym. There banter is great. Very easy to read, entertaining, and a good introduction to an excellent story. The author perfectly balances the fun/lightheartedness with the political discourse and governmental strife. Excited to read the next!
March 19, 2024
I am reading light novels (some isekai, some not) where the main character uses their knowledge as their primary driving force (civil service-How a Realist Hero.. , Engineering- Release that Witch!, tax code and accounting - Accomplishments of a Duke's Daughter) instead of raw power. While also both very lucky and unlucky, I am appreciating this so far, so will continue reading it.
December 30, 2022
Good story. Enjoyed the first half which demonstrated breaking down false dichotomies to come up with the best solution. Second half was not as interesting.
Likely a light novel series that drops off rapidly, but after reading the first volume, I'm eager to read the second.
Likely a light novel series that drops off rapidly, but after reading the first volume, I'm eager to read the second.
October 15, 2019
I enjoyed this more than I expected to.
December 12, 2020
Nice
It is a good start and I am interested on how the story will progress. I just hope it does progress unlike some light novels.
It is a good start and I am interested on how the story will progress. I just hope it does progress unlike some light novels.
July 17, 2021
This is good!
November 5, 2021
One of the funniest volume 1s I’ve read up to now. The prince is definitely a genius, his assistant has a great personality and the kingdom is definitely broke 😃
Great fun
Great fun
March 23, 2022
Wein is the reason I started this LN and now I'm looking forward to the rest!
March 24, 2024
Decent world build, fun characters.
October 6, 2019
Solid 3.5 stars. It’s a quick, fun read without too much substance about a regent prince ruling his dirt poor country (against his will) and dealing with the invasion of a neighboring kingdom. The main character is surprisingly competent and the main girl is likewise skilled and valued by everyone in the book. There’s very little romance which is refreshing, but clearly there is something between the main character and his aide. The fanservice doesn’t amount to more than two racy color illustrations and mentions of another character being well-developed. So this may come as a relief to those readers who are a burnt out on those types of shenanigans.
There is definitely potential for the series to develop in more interesting directions as there was quite a bit of set up in this first volume with regard to the nation’s relationship with the empire. Hopefully our main character will eventually become the emperor (entirely against his will!).
There is definitely potential for the series to develop in more interesting directions as there was quite a bit of set up in this first volume with regard to the nation’s relationship with the empire. Hopefully our main character will eventually become the emperor (entirely against his will!).
November 1, 2019
A brisk novel covering the trials and tribulations of a genius prince as he tries desperately to avoid a military coup. All of that is deep-seated paranoia, of course. His subjects adore him, especially as he proves himself to be a capable leader sometimes stumbling into good fortune. This book covers the start of his rule, something he is keen to avoid extending as he'd prefer to while away his days in leisure.
One aspect I like is that the genius prince isn't taken too far. He is clearly competent and clever. Crucially, though, not completely infallible. It's often that point that I find genius characters to be quite tiresome. They never seem to put a foot wrong and are multiple steps ahead of everyone. Here it ties into an important point that is brought up throughout the book. The importance of quality informtion about your adversaries. He has plenty of spies gathering intel on the nation he is in direct conflict with, accumulating plenty of knowledge of key personnel in that nation's government and military. Where he has plenty of information, he makes sound decisions (generally) but can't account for things outside of his control or sphere of knowledge. Those mistakes and the way he reacts to them make him a more intersting character, while also adding some comedy to the book.
The anime/manga fanservice tropes are few and far between. The book is all the better for it, but there is still that doubt it may devolve into another harem love comedy. Hopefully the author sticks to focusing on the prince and his politicking. It's the most interesting part of this book.
Recommended for light novel readers looking for something with a focus on politicking and warmongering, and not a harem in sight (yet).
One aspect I like is that the genius prince isn't taken too far. He is clearly competent and clever. Crucially, though, not completely infallible. It's often that point that I find genius characters to be quite tiresome. They never seem to put a foot wrong and are multiple steps ahead of everyone. Here it ties into an important point that is brought up throughout the book. The importance of quality informtion about your adversaries. He has plenty of spies gathering intel on the nation he is in direct conflict with, accumulating plenty of knowledge of key personnel in that nation's government and military. Where he has plenty of information, he makes sound decisions (generally) but can't account for things outside of his control or sphere of knowledge. Those mistakes and the way he reacts to them make him a more intersting character, while also adding some comedy to the book.
The anime/manga fanservice tropes are few and far between. The book is all the better for it, but there is still that doubt it may devolve into another harem love comedy. Hopefully the author sticks to focusing on the prince and his politicking. It's the most interesting part of this book.
Recommended for light novel readers looking for something with a focus on politicking and warmongering, and not a harem in sight (yet).
April 9, 2020
It's funny and quite light to read
I mean I don't really like politics actually, but I like the world building things and also in this story it don't have a magical fantasy setting like a Genjitsu, And for me it quite interesting to read because it possibly can happen in Real world, I also like RTS game and history too, so I found this book interesting to read, I Hope author will continue this series.
I mean I don't really like politics actually, but I like the world building things and also in this story it don't have a magical fantasy setting like a Genjitsu, And for me it quite interesting to read because it possibly can happen in Real world, I also like RTS game and history too, so I found this book interesting to read, I Hope author will continue this series.
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