KATANAGATARI 3: Sword Tale

Katanagatari #3

by NisiOisiN, Ｔａｋｅ (Illustrator), Sam Bett (Translator)

Swordless “swordsman” Shichika and self-described “schemer” Togame are on a quest to obtain twelve peculiar masterpiece blades. Pitting the former against his sister, who has acquired one of the legendary weapons, and the latter against a rival at court, Princess Negative, this hardcover edition, featuring a gatefold color insert, beautiful interior art, and copious bilingual footnotes, is the third of a quartet collecting a best-selling series from the former homeland of samurais and ninjas.

Genres: Light Novel, Fantasy, Fiction, Manga, Young Adult

320 pages, Hardcover

First published November 26, 2019

About the author

Nisio Isin (西尾維新 Nishio Ishin), frequently written as NisiOisiN to emphasize that his pen name is a palindrome, is a Japanese novelist and manga writer. He attended and left Ritsumeikan University without graduating. In 2002, he debuted with the novel Kubikiri Cycle, which earned him the 23rd Mephisto Award at twenty years of age.

He currently works with Kodansha on Pandora, the Kodansha Box magazine, and Faust, a literary magazine containing the works of other young authors who similarly take influence from light novels and otaku culture. He was also publishing a twelve volume series over twelve months for the Kodansha Box line; Ryusui Seiryoin was matching this output, and the Kodansha Box website stated that this is the first time in the world two authors have done twelve volume monthly novel series simultaneously from the same publisher.

In February, 2008, his novel Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases was released in English by Viz Media. Del Rey Manga has already released the first volume in his Zaregoto series. His Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari and Katanagatari novels have been adapted into anime series. Nekomonogatari (Kuro) has been adapted into an anime TV movie, and Kizumonogatari will be release in theaters this year. Monogatari Series: Second Season, adapted from 6 books in Monogatari Series will air in July 2013. Another of his works, Medaka Box (manga), has been adapted into a two-season anime series.

Reviews

[Hannah Belyea · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last thing Togame wants is to rely on the knowledge of her rival amongst the Bakufu, Princess Negative, but with Shichika being forced to fight his own sister and the Maniwa closing in one one of the twelve great blades, her schemes will need a hefty dose of intel to overcome their next opponents. NisiOisiN and Take continue to astound with these brilliantly spun entries, a clever whirlwind of compelling highs in its poetic prose and memorable acuity. Could anything beyond facing his own unstoppable sister pose a threat to Shichika's bladeless bladework?

[Ricardo Matos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Katanagatari. Nisioisin seems to be running out of pages to put all the dialogue he wants, so he’s simplifying the plot and giving the characters more room to breath. Which is fine by me, the dialogues are witty and funny.

This omnibus includes volumes 7,8 and 9. I would give them 5,4,5 stars, so overall a 5. One more omnibus to go and the story will be concluded.

[Roxanne Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The three stories did feel quite different from each other, but we can feel the general progression towards the climax. They were also all very good in their own way. I can't wait for book 4 now!

[Benjamin Kass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still a banger. My anxiousness over the eventual end only increases as we approach the last book, though

[Aaron McAdam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good continuation of the story, it was cool to hear more about the other characters.

[Mega · Rating 3 out of 5]

7.5/10