86—EIGHTY-SIX, Vol. 2: Run Through the Battlefront

86—EIGHTY-SIX Light Novel #2

by Asato Asato, 安里 アサト, Shirabii (Illustrator)

A collective sigh of relief is exhaled as Lena, Shin, and the others enjoy a hard-won peace. But no true member of the Spearhead squadron can avoid battle forever, and these few survivors welcome it. They willingly walk back through the gates of hell, ready to resume the fight against the Legion, emboldened by full hearts, fresh perspectives, and...a new friend.

Genres: Light Novel, Science Fiction, War, Fantasy, Dystopia, Military Fiction, Young Adult

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 7, 2017

About the author

安里アサト, Asato Asato, born 1985) is a female Japanese novelist. The pen name Asato Asato is a combination of her real name (Toru Asakura) and eighty-eight.
Asato started writing novels just before she entered junior high school.

She initially submitted her work to the Kadokawa Beans Bunko Rookie Award, but when in 2014 her manuscript made it to the third round of the 2014 21st Dengeki Novel Prize, Asato started thinking about writing a novel that was "Dengeki Novel-esque." This novel would become the start of the 86 -Eighty Six- series.

In 2016, 86 -Eighty Six- won the 23rd Dengeki Novel Prize.

Reviews

[ʙᴇʟᴀ.: ☾**:.☆*.:｡. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the first volume. However, the sequel was a complete disaster. It was boring as hell. So much info dump. It didnt carry the emotional impact that the first volume had. And why, why did the author have to introduce a loli just for the sake of comedy and fanservice? Frederica is insufferable. From five stars to One. Thats how disapointed Iam. But Im going to keep reading because I still want to believe it will return to be good.

[Ronaldo · Rating 5 out of 5]

More of Asato's engaging writing style, more focus on the 86 and higher stakes. Introduces many new characters, most interesting being Frederica and how she ties the 86 to this new foreign place. Vol 2 is part 1 of a 2 part story arc so no meaningful conclusion yet.

However the exploration of new themes made it just as fun to read as vol 1. The only thing the 86 know is war, how will they adapt to a normal life? How should you treat someone who was a victim of inhumane action? Will the countries left even survive this grinding war? And so many more questions. I'm looking forward to vol 3

[AnaBells · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 ✨💚

[Richard · Rating 1 out of 5]

A very disappointing follow up. Volume one was a solid work of world- and character-building. By contrast, this unnecessary sequel wastes time in portraying events that were wisely passed over in the last two of chapters of volume one. It then introduces a new character who offers little of interest beyond the novelistic equivalent of fan service, and then moves on to new developments which take up barely 40 pages and lack anything like the impact of the events in the first book.

A strong third volume might redeem this to some extent, but so far this volume feels like a mistake: a sequel that only undermines the impact of a first volume that would have been far better had it remained a stand-alone work.

[Ami 乁⁠ ⁠˘⁠ ⁠o⁠ ⁠˘⁠ ⁠ㄏ (written by Jane Austen) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just realised that I spent almost five hours reading this book...Anyways! It's done!

The second volume is a downgrade from the first, mostly because our Bloody Reina is missing from action, but it was still as entertaining and engaging as ever. Honestly can't wait to start the third volume but that shall have to wait until my last exam ends on 18th 🥹

[aurei · Rating 3 out of 5]

not as good as the first, but I still enjoyed it >.<

[ميّ عبدالحميد · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well I guess volume one was much better , but I'm not giving up on it , not just yet :D

[Yeon · Rating 4 out of 5]

OTP còn không biết mặt nhau mà vẫn phát cơm chó đều đặn, ghê thật 😀

Cũng nhờ anh Shin nào đó hễ rảnh là nhớ đến người ta, ngay lúc hấp hối sắp tèo cũng nghĩ liệu mình hoá thành Legion thì có gọi tênn người ta không nữa 🥲 Bảo anh là Simpei Nouzen thì cũng không oan đâu anh ạ 🥲

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

i think volume one is a touch more engaging and interesting, but it's neat to see everyone in a new environment. i knew where this volume would go and i know where volume 3 is heading, so there's nothing too surprising happening here but still an easy and fun read

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is addicting! I thought I'm gonna move to other genre after I finished this book but I'm curious what gonna happened next and see their growth that I'm not sure I can move to the other book yet.

[Steven Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fluff, filler, and Character Development

That’s what this book is and based on the afterword, Volume 3 will be too. I’m not a fan of everything needs to be told. Volume 1’s Epilogue was perhaps the strongest single section of prose in that book and it ignored the holy words all writers are supposed to live by: Show. Don’t tell.

Lena’s passionate POV of a survivor saying everything she did to help the 86 and the Alba despite all the barriers in her way was all we needed. This book and volume 3 it seems exists in that time skip between the final chapter of the first book and the epilogue. It told a story (to me) that didn’t need to be told though the author is certainly talented and does research so I’m sure that it builds towards the larger narrative. Unfortunately, that larger narrative introduced an insufferable loli who is by far the worst character in the series.

I like Frederica’s backstory. She’s suitably tragic and fits the setting quite well. I don’t need to have her as a main character. Especially when it comes at the cost of the other 86s getting next to no page time. Those are the characters I want to read about and how they’re dealing with the Federacy. I was so happy whenever Raiden got his POVs because Shin is just not a compelling protagonist without a foil and Frederica doesn’t fit that role. I’m aware she’s probably important if there comes a post Legion plot but as is, I just find her and this story unnecessary. Especially given that my gut tells me the Federacy might be just as bad if not worse than the Republic but that might be my cynical attitude preferring scorn to pity and the climax really showed they have no idea what they’re dealing with, haha. At least the Republic didn’t call them Monsters.

That’s not to say I disliked it. My headline comes across with negative connotations yet all three elements are needed to ultimately tell a good story. And given the limited page time the surviving members of Spearhead had, it shows that it wasn’t required in this specific time period. You could have inserted it anywhere at any time and it gives the same vibes and character development they deserve.

But hey, I haven’t looked ahead too much. It’s probably very important that the Federacy comes to realize our protagonists are monsters. Maybe we did need this buffer of them being pitied and misunderstood for the greater narrative.

Anywho... All Hail Bloody Reina. Here’s hoping we’ll get some of her side of this time period because Shin is incredibly incomplete and boring without someone to reflect off of.

[Donte McNeal · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the Prologue from Vol 1 setting up the reunion of the Spearhead squad and their Handler, we get to see what happens in between that moment and the 86 leaving on their final mission for the Republic. I've gotta say, I wasn't expecting this as a follow up since we got the Prologue from the first volume, but it was interesting to learn more about Shin's heritage and life outside of the 86th Sector for the Eighty-Six.

It was weird seeing them go about life like normal teens after seeing them fight for their lives for most of Volume 1, but it was much deserved break for them and I was happy to see them get a reprieve. Even if it only lasted a little while, because we all knew they would return to the battlefield sooner or later. Much to the chagrin of those who took them in and learning how they were treated in their "homeland." I know some people didn't like Frederica, the new character that was added in this one, but I didn't mind her. I think she'll bring an interesting ripple in things once Lena is back with the squad.

More Legion, more bloodshed, more war. I'm looking forward to picking up the second part of this two-parter soon.

[Armanis Ar-Feinial · Rating 4 out of 5]

Racism
War
Slavery
Genocide
What's not to like?

This is one of those times where the Anime handled it better, telling the story chronologically rather than jumping back and forth. This move in the book prevented you from caring for a character depth as deeply. Furthermore, as with all sequels, it wasn't as good or emotionally compelling as the first. There was lots of fighting, and action, which I'm all for, but without so much of the emotional punch I like. Now, knowing who the 86 are and what they dealt with, the cold near bland demeanor with their interactions makes sense. Unlike a show like Violet Evergarden, where you can compare and contrast, you're thrust into a military like environment, which doesn't permit you that difference.
I still liked it, and I want to see how this ends.

[Marta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Molt xulo tb pero al principi es algo confos pk els fets no estan alineats cronologicament (sort k de moment ja se tot el k passa lol), despres guai

[Julian Menck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent but again maybe a better read when you dont know the Story yet.

[Alae Chatar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the idea of this arc being split into two volumes not bad, since it's even more dialogue heavy than its predecessor. The storytelling was masterfully executed though, particularly with the incorporation of the previous volume's epilogue. The decision to leap far into the future and then retrace events in reverse chronological order was both clever and daring, yet the author pulled it off skillfully, and I thoroughly appreciated it. However, I must admit that the abundance of military and foreign terms became overwhelming for me. At a certain point, I found myself struggling to keep track of their meanings and eventually gave up trying to piece them together coherently or make any sense of them.

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

The white pigs aren't dead, but it won't be long now.

Surely, after being bested by slaves who rebutted the fate forced upon them for years on end, the white pigs would take measure of their role in the rise or decline of their civilization. Lena, recently demoted, returns to work in the citadel, shunted from the front lines of a horrible war. But what of her warriors? The Eighty-Six?

EIGHTY-SIX #2 focuses exclusively on the efforts of Shin and his buddies as they push westward, across a bedeviling wasteland where Legion hunt and patrol. Hills and forests and ruins of empty cities — the five Eighty-Six of the Spearhead Squadron have survived the worst the Republic of San Magnolia could throw at them. The next chapter of their journey carries them into the Federal Republic of Giad, a territory, not unlike the others, wholly cut off from external nation-states due to electronic jamming from the Legion. In Giad, the team is welcomed with open arms as refugees . . . but the cry of conflict and the howling echoes of war never cease. The Eighty-Six have earned their peace but they'll be damned if now's the time to take it.

The clever turn of events that carries Shin and his fellow soldiers into battle for a foreign country makes for an intriguing extension of an already exhausting war effort. Indeed, EIGHTY-SIX #2 brings readers into the Federal Republic of Gaid, which although better than San Magnolia on socio-ethical terms, is perhaps just as poor when it comes to weaponizing sympathy and its arcane sense of individual worth. The juxtaposition is interesting.

Regrettably, the book almost exclusively tracks the day-to-day minutiae of deciding to go to war rather the actual circumstances of soldiers in combat. It's a fairly tedious affair, following useless tertiary characters and listening to the speechifying of politicians who think they know better than everyone else. It's a weak take on dramatic irony — the soldiers know they're going back to war and the readers know they're going back to war, why wait 130 pages before getting into the thick of things? Perhaps the author was unaware at this point of the story's construction, but readers learn far more about these characters as individuals when they apply themselves in life-or-death situations in the heat of conflict (as opposed to trailing a girl while clothes shopping, a boy while painting an image, a kid in the library, and so forth). Asato Asato could have shown readers far more of the identity of these characters by cracking them open not when they are alone and without obligation but when these characters are forced to negotiate their survival, split second after split second.

On the plus side, readers are entreated to the goings-on of Shin's emotional stability as the young man navigates the consequences of having accomplished his one and only task of putting his brother's ghost to rest. Whereas the first volume of this novel series focused on the ethics of conflict, the second volume trains its lens on the sentimentality that inevitably circumscribes these skirmishes moving forward. This shift in focus is neither dramatic nor particularly interesting but it does enable a traditionally closed-off character, such as Shin, the opportunity to speak for himself.

EIGHTY-SIX #2 is less about how war tends to follow soldiers home and more about how war serves as a magnet for those without much promise elsewhere. It's a captivating observation but is predicated in the mire of analyses posited long ago. EIGHTY-SIX #2, relative to its previous volume, is just okay.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've already watched all the available anime seasons for 86, but reading the novels that cover the same part of the story does have added value. It gives more insight into the characters and what they are thinking/feeling and esp when it comes to Shin and Raiden I enjoy that. The story is still very good, though I know next volume will pick up even more. The only downside is, at times, the writing. It feels clunky sometimes (probably translation issues) and other times it's a bit on the nose/repetitive. Def has a manga writing-style feeling to it.

[Katja · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've seen people say that we didn't need to know what happened between Eighty-Six marching into the enemy territory and the epilogue revealing they are still alive but that's exactly what *I* wanted to know after reading the first book! I was prepared a bit different kind of book compared to the first, as the setting is now changed and in a way it is and isn't. The first book was superb and I liked this one a lot too but true, it's not quite as brilliant as the vol. 1. But this is also just a first half of the "in-between", so it'll be better to look at this mini arc after reading vol. 3 (which I've ordered but still waiting for to restocked and sent to me!).

Anyway, since I'm a bit of a Shin fangirl these days (they've done him so well in the anime adaptation too! Note: as of writing this, four episodes have aired), I want to know more about him and what happens to him, so this book ticked those boxes and made me a happy reader (even though the book's world is bleak...). This volume gives a few hints about his relatives hailing from old Empire and a connection to the new character this book introduces, Frederica. It also scratched a bit of the surface of what Shin feels now when he's beyond the point he envisioned his life would end. And this is an aspect I look forward reading more in the following volumes!
But the book is mostly about Shin and his surviving teammates adjusting to a life in the Federacy of Giad. And eventually finding themselves back at the front.

Spearhead Squadron is getting a bit of a special treating in the Federacy, as everybody is pitying them and thinking them as suffering children but they don't see themselves in the same way. This is a big theme running through this volume.

Frederica felt most of the time a pretty annoying addition, even though it's clear there's more to her than her high-and-mighty attitude and in the last parts there are a few good scenes with her, she's often written as... a mascot, as is her in-book designation in the squad too. Maybe she'll feel more relevant as her background and such are explored more.

The book gave us a lot more lore about the world, as they are now in another country, all good because I'm a sucker for world-building bits (the countries, the people, the mechs/weapons, the tech...). The narrative does some time jumps back and forth which weren't always the clearest but it's not a major minus. Another thing that could've been trimmed was the repetition of certain things. As for highlights... that scene with Fido tugged a few heartstrings.

[ShingetsuMoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, heartfelt follow up to the first novel. Just as good as the first book and it makes me just as excited to read more.

This novel shows what happens to Shin’s group after they defeat his brother and continue moving deeper into Legion territory.

While they’ve made it to safety it’s clear that war hasn’t left them. Nor can they just put it behind them and ignore the fact that it’s still going on all around them.

They may have reached a place where they can rest but the book also shows that this doesn’t mean discrimination is behind them. It may not be as bad as the Republic but it isn’t nonexistent either. It’s a sad but realistic touch.

Seeing them try to cope with some type of peace was also bittersweet. It’s was nice to see them get a chance to rest but also sad knowing that it can’t last for them.

While I’m eager to see what happens with Lena I felt this was a great shift in perspective and it ended on a note that makes me eager to see what happens in the next volume.

[Othy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a mess of a novel. Unlike the first volume, this sequel has no real plot, and that plot telling is mixed up temporally. Very little new is done with the characters, and much of it is telling, not showing. The common light-novel narrative style of intermingling narrative explanation and world building into conversations is in full force, and it really ruins the flow. I had hoped for so much more after the first novel. I'm not sure I'll continue the series, but it seems that this one has a lower rating than the next two, so maybe they improve

[Kiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor girl, Frederica. Eugen death was even more tragic here. And the man who pulled down the self propelled mines to save kids? Yeah, it was in the anime too. The picture of his newborn kid and wife. I don't think i ever forget it.

[Naing Lin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Out of three volume I read so far, this one is worst. No particular story progression nor character development. The idea of mascot is horrible and put volume 1 to shame

[HD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where the War Continues, But the Story Falters (A Bit)

This second volume continues the story with familiar intensity, but the overall execution feels less cohesive compared to the first. The narrative structure suffers from even more abrupt jumps between scenes and perspectives, making it harder to stay immersed. While the first volume managed such shifts with momentum, here it sometimes feels disjointed and rushed.

The inclusion of a “loli mascot” character feels unnecessary. Although the character does have some thematic relevance to Kiri, the story could have explored that connection through a different narrative angle. The mascot trope comes across as forced and adds little emotional weight to the plot.

Another noticeable issue is the character overlap. Grethe’s and Ernst's personalities are pretty similar to Lena’s. Three characters filling the same emotional and leadership role ends up diluting the impact of all, rather than deepening the narrative.

Continuity also becomes a problem. The end of Volume 1 clearly suggested that Shourei Nouzen retained consciousness, or at least the capacity to think as if he were still alive. Yet in Volume 2 Chapter 3 we are told that the Black Sheep only carry a degraded copy of a human brain and lack any real personality or cognitive ability. Even the Shepherds are described as incapable of truly human cognition. This contradiction weakens the worldbuilding and confuses the emotional stakes surrounding Shourei’s existence.

There are also issues with scale and realism regarding the Legion units. For example, the “Dinosauria” is described as weighing 100 tons while being significantly larger than the Juggernauts, vehicles roughly comparable to modern tank sizes. For reference, an M1A2 Abrams weighs about 67 tons. A machine 5 times larger than that (at least) at only 100 tons seems physically inconsistent, if not impossible. These details may seem minor, but they undermine the believability of the setting, especially in a story that takes pride in its military and mechanical grounding.

Despite these problems, the book remains enjoyable. The emotional moments still land, and the continued exploration of the war and its psychological consequences retains the series’ core appeal. However, when compared to the tight storytelling and strong thematic cohesion of Volume 1, this volume feels weaker overall.

Overall: Still worth reading, but not as impressive as the first volume.

[piranha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am reading the series after watching the anime.

And this volume is horribly boring. First off, there's very little about Lena, and, as I thought about the anime as well, it's a wasted opportunity to not see her grow -- because she does, a lot, and it all happens off-screen. Secondly, I disliked Frederica in the anime -- loli fan service is never my thing -- and while she is easier to take here where I have to neither see nor hear her, she's still a large annoyance rather than an interesting new character. Also, I was hoping the LN would expand on Kiriya, but if anything, there's even less here, so that arc, too, is just horribly dull. I simply do not care about Kiriya; it feels like a cheap retread of the Shin/Rei story, but there I cared because Rei was connected to both Shin and Lena.

I appreciate the anime more now because it handled progression after our guys left the Republic much better; here there are confusing time skips instead. Except the anime either left out, or I missed a couple quite impactful scenes with Rei, Shin's brother; I'm adding a point for that alone, which this doesn't otherwise deserve.

More missed opportunity lies in not delving further into the individual 86s' experiences and feelings about living in a largely peaceful society in which they're not discriminated against. Again, it's all very dull, shopping and sketching and carrying groceries... nobody needs that slice-of-life stuff in isolation from more insights into the psychological makeup of these characters.

I'll continue reading, but I expect the 2nd part of this to not be much better, and only hope it picks up in V4. I'm a little surprised because I usually prefer source material to anime, but in this case the anime did a considerably better job overall, and it wasn't just the visuals.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know when I first came Across Asato Asato's work my initial thoughts were like, Who is this lady? What else has she Written? I've not seen any of it. She just seems to have come out of Nowhere and is just spitting gold. When I found Mercedes Lackey's work it was like, This stuff has Potential but it's not quite a 5 star yet. But Asato Asato, if I said she had Potential that would be an understatement. When I say of it Lackey I'm being Tactful I'm trying to say It's not everything it could be but, it was enough and there's room to grow. But Asato Asato's work is, Top Notch, Right out the gate. Eighty Six won the most prestigious Light Novel Award in all of Japan. She's incredibly Talented. It just felt like she came out of nowhere but it was like oh my god where have you been my entire life queen? You write like a Dream come true, Slay Queen. Let it never be said I don't like Woke Stories because this Series is pretty woke and I LOVE IT. What I DON'T like it is BAD writing but if you do Woke JUSTICE like this, I will EAT it up.

Also WAR CHILDREN, This Series does the whole topic of Children on the Battle Field justice.

it does it right. I Don't even know how to describe this. I watched the Anime In a WORD "UNFORGETTABLE."

I couldn't A void in my heart has been left open by the end of t he anime so I HAVE to read I can't wait for some studio to pick it up. BEST ANIME.

ANIME OF THE YEAR!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbmS3... The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter (Official Lyric Video)

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoiler-free review (Assuming you've read Book 1):

Overall, I really enjoy the worldbuilding continue from Book 1. However there were a few snags here for me:

Timeline-wise I was extremely confused where this story lined up until about a third-way through the book. I was waiting for Lena to show up since the end of Book 1 had her meet the Eighty-six in person finally, but once I realized this was a HUGE flashback to fill the storygap it was a bit easier to follow.

The large number of new characters (which makes sense since the group was in a brand new environment) was somewhat hard to follow. New characters that were introduced as senior officers, etc. were lost on me as just random side characters - which to be fair, they basically were just that.

It's a bit wild that the whole story between the end of Book 1 and the epilogue will span two books, but I'm not complaining! I already have Book 3 loaded up to continue reading through this great story.

[Blank · Rating 4 out of 5]

"All Processors listening to this. All those who fought to the bitter end. All those who survived. We're finally discharged. We all... did a great job."

Volume ini basically adalah sebuah jembatan antara ending di volume 1 dengan arc berikutnya (yang mungkin baru akan dilanjut di volume 4).

Menceritakan bagian awal epilog di buku 1 dengan lebih mendetail sekaligus menjelaskan misteri bagaimana mereka bisa sampai di Federation dengan selamat.

Karena hanya mengulang saja, in term of story, sebenarnya tidak ada sesuatu yang baru. Makanya, kecuali penasaran dengan apa yang terjadi di awal - awal hari para Processors ketika sampai di Federasi mungkin lebih baik kalau tidak usah membaca volume ini.

[lumi]

first and foremost id like to dedicate this review to the storygraph!! https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/b...
---
…. yeah, i liked the first volume more.
not much happened in this one, but i suppose that’s ok because this is the 上 volume. hopefully the 下 is better :’)

i’m also curious to see how the anime adaptation for this part is going to be, because imo there’s not a lot of exciting things going on here

nonetheless, it was still enjoyable, and although not the ‘hypest’ thing, it was definitely necessary to expand the world and thicken the plot.

lastly.

dude i missed Lena so much!!!!!! i hadn’t realized how attached i grew to her until reading this volume hshdjsjd<\spoiler>

[Kritch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah, the author does it again. Introducing a character just to kill them off. After reading it, I can see where the author is going. Most probably, since this book is all about Shin and his friends, the 3rd book will be all about Reina and then they will meet up in book 4. A little bit disappointed since I was looking forward to them meeting up.

If you enjoyed reading the first book, you will probably enjoy this book as well. This book is not as urgent and desperate as the first book, though. In the first book, you felt like the walls are closing in around the characters, this one is a little more relaxed and they are given more of a choice.

Man, I can believe I have to wait till the fourth book for Shin and Reina to meet. I want a cutesy moment between the two.