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My name is...
One year before a certain useless goddess and NEET extraordinaire hit the scene, Megumin, the "Greatest Genius of the Crimson Magic Clan," is hard at work. Ever since a life-changing encounter in her youth, the young wizard has dedicated her every waking moment to the pursuit of the ultimate offensive magic, Explosion! (Well...every moment not spent hustling food from her self-proclaimed rival.) And while the big sister's away, the little one will play. On a routine trip into the woods, Megumin's little sister, Komekko, finds a strange black kitten. Little does she know that this cat plays a key role in unsealing a Dark God's tomb...
One year before a certain useless goddess and NEET extraordinaire hit the scene, Megumin, the "Greatest Genius of the Crimson Magic Clan," is hard at work. Ever since a life-changing encounter in her youth, the young wizard has dedicated her every waking moment to the pursuit of the ultimate offensive magic, Explosion! (Well...every moment not spent hustling food from her self-proclaimed rival.) And while the big sister's away, the little one will play. On a routine trip into the woods, Megumin's little sister, Komekko, finds a strange black kitten. Little does she know that this cat plays a key role in unsealing a Dark God's tomb...
224 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2014
31 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Natsume Akatsuki
156 books112 followersAKATSUKI Natsume
Name (in native language): 暁なつめ
Associated Names:
自宅警備兵
Jitaku-keibihei
Zodiac: Libra
Name (in native language): 暁なつめ
Associated Names:
自宅警備兵
Jitaku-keibihei
Zodiac: Libra
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 27, 2023
A pretty good spinoff.
April 11, 2020
Cute and funny, I really liked it.
January 14, 2021
If there is a theme to my reviews the past few years, it is my lamentation of the light novel as an art form while reading more light novels then someone who hates them should. Perhaps it is a form of self flagellation, or perhaps I just like anime and the associated media that come with it too much to not at least try a light novel for an anime I particularly enjoyed.
Thus, this book, a Megumin centered prequel spinoff of my beloved Konosuba. The first light novel I have read pertaining to the series.
Here we see the perspective of everyones favorite explosion obsessed mage as she goes to magic school and works her way up to actually having the ability to use the magic she lusts for. Along the way she spends most of the page count bullying the awkward and adorable Yunyun and other vague and unsatisfying shenanigans also ensue.
As a novel, this feels listless and serves really no purpose. Where in a non light novel the impetus for gaining explosion magic might have been built up and concluded with satisfying story crafting, here things just kind of happen in the way I have come to expect of this medium. It feels like it was cobbled together in the span of a week with no notes or layering of plot. That makes the book, despite being slim, a slower read because there is nothing to invest in.
That is doubly so because the book does Megumin no favors. The remorseless bullying can be somewhat humorous but ultimately comes across as making the beloved Crimson Mage kind of unlikeable. She’s petty, takes advantage of others, and I don’t find reading that perspective appealing when I am supposed to like said character.
I get Megumin is this way in the mainline series but she is balanced by other characters and the first 100 pages plus of this book is literally just her day to day bullying Yunyun.
Konosuba as an anime is one of the funniest in recent years because of the cast of morons who play off each other. With only the one dynamic, Megumin/Yunyun the author doesn’t even try to do more, instead retreading familiar tropes from the main series with a wink wink nudge nudge that doesn’t feel smart or funny so much as lazy.
It means the book isn’t very funny nor is it engaging. It’s just kind of there, existing without needing to. For a light novel, it’s decently written (a low bar to hurdle) and the art is certainly adorable. But it didn’t make me like Megumin and instead made me like Yunyun about a thousand times more.
So yeah, this is an okay book but I wouldnt suggest it to anyone but hardcore fans of the series.
2.5/5
Thus, this book, a Megumin centered prequel spinoff of my beloved Konosuba. The first light novel I have read pertaining to the series.
Here we see the perspective of everyones favorite explosion obsessed mage as she goes to magic school and works her way up to actually having the ability to use the magic she lusts for. Along the way she spends most of the page count bullying the awkward and adorable Yunyun and other vague and unsatisfying shenanigans also ensue.
As a novel, this feels listless and serves really no purpose. Where in a non light novel the impetus for gaining explosion magic might have been built up and concluded with satisfying story crafting, here things just kind of happen in the way I have come to expect of this medium. It feels like it was cobbled together in the span of a week with no notes or layering of plot. That makes the book, despite being slim, a slower read because there is nothing to invest in.
That is doubly so because the book does Megumin no favors. The remorseless bullying can be somewhat humorous but ultimately comes across as making the beloved Crimson Mage kind of unlikeable. She’s petty, takes advantage of others, and I don’t find reading that perspective appealing when I am supposed to like said character.
I get Megumin is this way in the mainline series but she is balanced by other characters and the first 100 pages plus of this book is literally just her day to day bullying Yunyun.
Konosuba as an anime is one of the funniest in recent years because of the cast of morons who play off each other. With only the one dynamic, Megumin/Yunyun the author doesn’t even try to do more, instead retreading familiar tropes from the main series with a wink wink nudge nudge that doesn’t feel smart or funny so much as lazy.
It means the book isn’t very funny nor is it engaging. It’s just kind of there, existing without needing to. For a light novel, it’s decently written (a low bar to hurdle) and the art is certainly adorable. But it didn’t make me like Megumin and instead made me like Yunyun about a thousand times more.
So yeah, this is an okay book but I wouldnt suggest it to anyone but hardcore fans of the series.
2.5/5
February 9, 2024
So, I'd watched Konosuba's adaptation last year. Took waaaaay longer than it should've, I'll admit. I do know there's an adaptation for this. I've seen a couple episodes so far, and it gave me less laughs than the main series did in that short amount of time, but I am planning to watch the rest of it soon. That being said, I already owned this complete series (still don't have the complete main series but am working on getting them as we speak. I currently have half of those, but I figured since this one is about my favorite character from the anime, Megumin, and it's apparently a prequel, I was going to read this first).
The light novel did give me more laughs than the episodes did, even covering the parts of the anime that I had watched. It also looks like the anime adaptation of this does take some creative liberties (I am fine with the differences I'd seen in the first two episodes though).
What I like about this first light novel especially is it gives us Megumin's reasons to want a type of magic that was made clear in the main series to be pretty much useless. And honestly, her reason is understandable. I also like her friendship ("rivalship?") with Yunyun in this story, and the moments when they butt heads against each other. It felt very real. We've all had friends we can be that way with, I'm sure. I also like how Bukkororii, who I hated due to how creepy he was after a bit, ended up with no one shown on that crystal ball, which implies he'll end up alone (though it is kind of hinted it might be for a different reason? Maybe he gets better later on? Not sure). Gave me a laugh since I didn't like the guy though.
The artwork was also fairly well drawn, though I typically expect that with Japanese light novels. I liked how some pages were drawn like manga pages. I'm not a big "comics" guy myself, but I can appreciate that at least.
My favorite character in this first light novel might've been Komekko though. She was somehow the most capable character of really doing anything in the light novel, and being her age, that makes it a lot funnier in my opinion. Plus, it's really hard to make the younger sister of your favorite character overall to not be likable. Overall, this first one was great. Planning to start reading the second one today!
The light novel did give me more laughs than the episodes did, even covering the parts of the anime that I had watched. It also looks like the anime adaptation of this does take some creative liberties (I am fine with the differences I'd seen in the first two episodes though).
What I like about this first light novel especially is it gives us Megumin's reasons to want a type of magic that was made clear in the main series to be pretty much useless. And honestly, her reason is understandable. I also like her friendship ("rivalship?") with Yunyun in this story, and the moments when they butt heads against each other. It felt very real. We've all had friends we can be that way with, I'm sure. I also like how Bukkororii, who I hated due to how creepy he was after a bit, ended up with no one shown on that crystal ball, which implies he'll end up alone (though it is kind of hinted it might be for a different reason? Maybe he gets better later on? Not sure). Gave me a laugh since I didn't like the guy though.
The artwork was also fairly well drawn, though I typically expect that with Japanese light novels. I liked how some pages were drawn like manga pages. I'm not a big "comics" guy myself, but I can appreciate that at least.
My favorite character in this first light novel might've been Komekko though. She was somehow the most capable character of really doing anything in the light novel, and being her age, that makes it a lot funnier in my opinion. Plus, it's really hard to make the younger sister of your favorite character overall to not be likable. Overall, this first one was great. Planning to start reading the second one today!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2023
I bought this book by accident thinking it was one of the LN from the main series but it is a mistake I'm so glad I made!
Not only did it make me realise there was a whole spin off I wasn't aware of, it also introduced me to my favourite book in the franchise (so far at least)
I LOVE the relationship between Megumin and Yunyun and it is so heartwarming to see how close a friendship they really have and how much they do care for eachother. It made them feel a lot more human and relatable. I really enjoyed getting an insight into normal life in the Crimson Demon Valley as well and being able to see Megumin as a stand alone character before she became an adventurer, as well as her backstory and why she is obsessed with Explosion magic.
Not only did it make me realise there was a whole spin off I wasn't aware of, it also introduced me to my favourite book in the franchise (so far at least)
I LOVE the relationship between Megumin and Yunyun and it is so heartwarming to see how close a friendship they really have and how much they do care for eachother. It made them feel a lot more human and relatable. I really enjoyed getting an insight into normal life in the Crimson Demon Valley as well and being able to see Megumin as a stand alone character before she became an adventurer, as well as her backstory and why she is obsessed with Explosion magic.
May 8, 2021
I enjoyed it more than the mainline series of LNs. Megumin’s origin story as well as a deeper look into her relationship with her self proclaimed rival, Yunyun. Along with that, the odd Crimson Demon society is detailed and just plain fun to read about.
August 31, 2022
A nice side story starring our favourite Explosion-mage and the other members of the strange and theatrical Crimson Magic Clan. If you enjoyed the light novels, you'll probably like this series as well.
June 24, 2022
It was a great book! I didn’t read every day because I cut out a bit but or else it’s great! I give it a 4/5 because I kinda got lost.
August 27, 2022
cute and funny fr fr
December 16, 2022
The plot was more goofy character gags than actual plot, but for a light read it was absolutely delightful. Got quite a few good laughs out of me.
April 7, 2023
4 1/2 stars my favorite character in Konosuba gets her own book. Off to a great start.
June 6, 2021
Ehh, I wasn't feeling this one.
April 17, 2020
In my opinion, the best medium for the immensely popular Konosuba's brand of comedy is the animated form. This is not a knock on the light novels or the manga; it's just that the show (at least the first season, that is) juggled that perfect, endearing balance of frenetic lunacy.
However, for a property as significant as Konosuba, side stories are a foregone conclusion. And what better place to start than with the most popular character and top waifu, the Arch Wizard Megumin? This brings us to Megumin's Turn!, Volume 1 of the Explosion on this Wonderful World side story light novel series. Wow, don't they love those long titles?
Let's take a look at the summary, and then talk about how they handled the story itself:
"My name is...
One year before a certain useless goddess and NEET extraordinaire hit the scene, Megumin, the "Greatest Genius of the Crimson Magic Clan," is hard at work. Ever since a life-changing encounter in her youth, the young wizard has dedicated her every waking moment to the pursuit of the ultimate offensive magic, Explosion! (Well...every moment not spent hustling food from her self-proclaimed rival.) And while the big sister's away, the little one will play. On a routine trip into the woods, Megumin's little sister, Komekko, finds a strange black kitten. Little does she know that this cat plays a key role in unsealing a Dark God's tomb..."
Well, that's pretty much the book in a nutshell. I mean, we knew about that much on Megumin's pre-party life, so this novel just runs with that. It is all harmless fun; chronicling day to day life in the Crimson Magic Village. Day in and day out we're treated to Megumin's one-sided 'rivalry' with Yunyun; as well as mishaps in the magic school. Highlights include witnessing the actual event which sparked Megumin's mission to acquire Explosion magic, as well as seeing her adorable, precocious younger sister (Komekko) follow, in a way, in her footsteps.
All in all, this is no work of art or literature, but it's definitely a lot of fun, bolstered by the fan-favorite lead. Some of the scenarios are generic or mundane; and would be hard pressed to elicit a laugh if it weren't for the beloved players involved.
Characters:
Assuming you're reading this, you know well who Megumin is. If, by some reason you don't, Megumin is a egomaniacal teenaged arch wizard who has dedicated her studies to learning a sole spell - Explosion magic. Explosion is extremely damaging; destroying everything in its path - including the intended target and anything around it. It consumes massive amounts of magic points; usually in excess of the caster's amount, leaving them incapacitated after casting. Megumin is cocky, overdramatic, a consummate chunibyo. Her daily life consists of trying to con her friend/rival Yunyun out of food because her and her little sister live a life of unsupervised, abject poverty courtesy of her ne'er do well parents. Yes, a core aspect of our protagonist is her comedic attempts to stave off childhood starvation.
Yunyun, Megumin's long-standing 'rival', who is actually more of a forced entity in the anime series, actually rises to the occasion in going from background character to lead. She brings her big-busted,
ditzy, heart of gold personality to the fore; making a nice contrast to her scheming, conniving friend.
As you can see in the pic above, we get to meet some of the other students in the magic school. Sadly, for the most part (save for one small arc later on), they are relegated to being little more than window dressing.
As mentioned, the scenes with Megumin's sister, Komekko, are well done. It is easy for kids in these stories to teeter into the realm of absolutely annoying; but, being somewhat of a miniature Megumin, Komekko steals the scenes that she is in.
Within the Komekko interludes, there is also a demon named Host, who adds a good deal of levity to the proceedings.
Other characters are simple on deck for plot advancement. But it's ok, since it's Megumin's story anyway.
Writing:
The writing is actually pretty good here. It's not easy to write for situations where the onus is on quick physical responses; shocked faces, exaggerated gestures, etc. However, Akatsuki does a good enough job conveying those scenes as pen on ink.
Again, this is just the long version of historical events we already know about Megumin, combined with some basic situational comedy. It works because it involves Megumin, and becasue of Akatsuki's skilled writing.
Recommended if you're a fan of everyone's favorite Archwizard, and who isn't?
You can read my full review of Megumin's first solo outing here:
https://hachisnaxreads.blogspot.com/2...
However, for a property as significant as Konosuba, side stories are a foregone conclusion. And what better place to start than with the most popular character and top waifu, the Arch Wizard Megumin? This brings us to Megumin's Turn!, Volume 1 of the Explosion on this Wonderful World side story light novel series. Wow, don't they love those long titles?
Let's take a look at the summary, and then talk about how they handled the story itself:
"My name is...
One year before a certain useless goddess and NEET extraordinaire hit the scene, Megumin, the "Greatest Genius of the Crimson Magic Clan," is hard at work. Ever since a life-changing encounter in her youth, the young wizard has dedicated her every waking moment to the pursuit of the ultimate offensive magic, Explosion! (Well...every moment not spent hustling food from her self-proclaimed rival.) And while the big sister's away, the little one will play. On a routine trip into the woods, Megumin's little sister, Komekko, finds a strange black kitten. Little does she know that this cat plays a key role in unsealing a Dark God's tomb..."
Well, that's pretty much the book in a nutshell. I mean, we knew about that much on Megumin's pre-party life, so this novel just runs with that. It is all harmless fun; chronicling day to day life in the Crimson Magic Village. Day in and day out we're treated to Megumin's one-sided 'rivalry' with Yunyun; as well as mishaps in the magic school. Highlights include witnessing the actual event which sparked Megumin's mission to acquire Explosion magic, as well as seeing her adorable, precocious younger sister (Komekko) follow, in a way, in her footsteps.
All in all, this is no work of art or literature, but it's definitely a lot of fun, bolstered by the fan-favorite lead. Some of the scenarios are generic or mundane; and would be hard pressed to elicit a laugh if it weren't for the beloved players involved.
Characters:
Assuming you're reading this, you know well who Megumin is. If, by some reason you don't, Megumin is a egomaniacal teenaged arch wizard who has dedicated her studies to learning a sole spell - Explosion magic. Explosion is extremely damaging; destroying everything in its path - including the intended target and anything around it. It consumes massive amounts of magic points; usually in excess of the caster's amount, leaving them incapacitated after casting. Megumin is cocky, overdramatic, a consummate chunibyo. Her daily life consists of trying to con her friend/rival Yunyun out of food because her and her little sister live a life of unsupervised, abject poverty courtesy of her ne'er do well parents. Yes, a core aspect of our protagonist is her comedic attempts to stave off childhood starvation.
Yunyun, Megumin's long-standing 'rival', who is actually more of a forced entity in the anime series, actually rises to the occasion in going from background character to lead. She brings her big-busted,
ditzy, heart of gold personality to the fore; making a nice contrast to her scheming, conniving friend.
As you can see in the pic above, we get to meet some of the other students in the magic school. Sadly, for the most part (save for one small arc later on), they are relegated to being little more than window dressing.
As mentioned, the scenes with Megumin's sister, Komekko, are well done. It is easy for kids in these stories to teeter into the realm of absolutely annoying; but, being somewhat of a miniature Megumin, Komekko steals the scenes that she is in.
Within the Komekko interludes, there is also a demon named Host, who adds a good deal of levity to the proceedings.
Other characters are simple on deck for plot advancement. But it's ok, since it's Megumin's story anyway.
Writing:
The writing is actually pretty good here. It's not easy to write for situations where the onus is on quick physical responses; shocked faces, exaggerated gestures, etc. However, Akatsuki does a good enough job conveying those scenes as pen on ink.
Again, this is just the long version of historical events we already know about Megumin, combined with some basic situational comedy. It works because it involves Megumin, and becasue of Akatsuki's skilled writing.
Recommended if you're a fan of everyone's favorite Archwizard, and who isn't?
You can read my full review of Megumin's first solo outing here:
https://hachisnaxreads.blogspot.com/2...
July 31, 2020
A lovely, wholesome, and all the while hilarious companion piece to the popular anime of equal description. You would never expect a character piece from such a short book but it's obvious that the writer has as much love for his creations as the fans do. If Megumin wasn't a favorite before this book she will be now. And now I have a second opinion on demons no matter what genre they're in.
May 31, 2020
If you love KonoSuba and Megumin and Yunyun, this is totally your book then. You can see that Megumin is not that big, stupid asshole we think she is. And you get a lot more information about the characters.
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