The Irregular at Magic High School, Vol. 13 (light novel): Steeplechase Arc

魔法科高校の劣等生 [Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei] (Novel) #13

by Tsutomu Sato, Kana Ishida (Illustrator)

July 2096. A new year means a new summer, and a new summer means another Nine-School Competition. Just to spice things up, the participants were informed only weeks before the event that there are some massive rule changes! While everyone's running around trying to figure out what they should do, Tatsuya hears rumors that another plot might be brewing around this year's competition. As the shadows rise for the second year in a row...let the games begin!

Genres: Light Novel, Fantasy, Magic, Manga, Fiction, Science Fiction, Action

258 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 10, 2014

About the author

佐島勤 / Tsutomu Sato / Tsutomu Satou

Author of 魔法科高校の劣等生 / Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei

Reviews

[Lila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven't had wi-fi when I was reading it, and now it's been too long and can't remember particulars so my star rating will have to do.

[Niall Teasdale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half-ish really.

While better than Vol 12, I think this volume suffers a little from a choice made to focus on the main plot to the exclusion of all else. The finale is certainly action packed and fairly exciting (obviously, you know who's going to win, but it is still a bit nail biting). However, especially in the latter stages, when we finally get to the Nine Schools Competition, it all seems a bit rushed as we power through the majority of the games to get to the meat at the end. I think the author thinks the same since the afterword mentions additional (short) stories planned to go into more detail about those events and the non-game related stuff that went on at the games.

All in all, however, this story has more content than the last one and I enjoyed it.

As an aside, is it just me, or are the chapters getting longer as we go through the series?

[Pieter · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is the time of the year for the Nine School Competition, and the organizers cause quite a stir when part of the events and rules are unexpectedly changed. The new matches are strangely geared towards the military, rising the suspicion of many. So many factions are plotting that it becomes a bit of a jumbled mess, but this time it is mostly behind the screens. Some good action with a bit of humour and a dash of darkness in the world in which our protagonists are forced to fight their way through, this time it is mostly Tatsuya who sees the real action. The gang is mostly busy with school. The competition was done well, different enough to keep the reader interested, but at the same time mostly a background event and not a detailed description as with the previous competition. I found the plotting a bit over the top, and not entirely in character of some of the villains, but the author acknowledges this himself through events even if it makes it a bit confusing for the reader (let alone Tatsuya). The story does show well though how personal, family and professional loyalties have a tendency to clash. In the end, a solid addition to the series... although I haven't the faintest idea on what Maya Yotsuba wants or whom those mysterious benefactors are...

[Shannon O'Leary · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story is fantastic. The translation...I really want to shake my head and cry. Last names then first names, senpai and kouhai, young master Tatsuya...the list goes on. I think the biggest crime is not keeping Miyuki's Onii-sama. You really can't just translate that the brother. That is the base translation but it's more like Honored brother...I swear the fan translations are better than the official one. YEN PRESS PLEASE GET A CULTURAL CONSULTANT I BEG YOU

[Cameron · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly this book felt like filler instead of actual story. Problems come up and are resolved just a few pages later. There is very little tension, drama or character advancement through this book. It was almost as if the author forgot that there was going to be the nine schools competition and had to rush a story down on paper

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good to see the 9sc once again.

[Techin Pha-In · Rating 5 out of 5]

เนื้อเรื่องสนุกมาก ศึกเก้าโรงเรียน แม้ปีนี้ทัตสึยะไม่ได้ลงแข่วแต่ก็มีเรื่องปวดหัวมาให้ตลอด 11 วันของการแข่ง

[Max Wehler · Rating 5 out of 5]

glad they kept the school competition aspects to a minimum. The conspiracies and going ons in the background made this very enjoyable

[Gabriel Chen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wanted to read it because the show is pretty cool, but it’s pretty trashy (not that I expected it not to be since it’s not supposed to be great literature)… not a fan though.

[Robert Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

[Aaron Nagy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good overall book, like the new characters a good bit and as always infodumps in this series are what I live for. Still a bit of a just coasting along however probably a 3.5/5.

[Tere · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I was a little bored with the idea of another 9 schools competition. But the ending was really interesting... and Kudou's background and schemes too.