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ROLL OVER AND DIE: I Will Fight for an Ordinary Life with My Love and Cursed Sword! (Light Novel) #1
ROLL OVER AND DIE: I Will Fight for an Ordinary Life with My Love and Cursed Sword! (Light Novel) Vol. 1
A dark and bloody light novel series about two women fighting fate and finding love in each other–and don’t miss the manga adaptation, also from Seven Seas! Flum Apricot was never meant to be a hero. Despite zero stats across the board and a power she can’t even use, she somehow finds herself included in a party of heroes. But Flum’s life hits rock bottom when the party’s renowned sage, Jean Inteige, decides that the useless girl is dead weight, and arranges to have her sold into slavery. Tossed to monsters to be feasted upon for her master’s entertainment, Flum makes the desperate choice to reach for a cursed weapon...and something new awakens within her. A grimdark tale about one woman’s blood-soaked quest to reclaim her life!
428 pages, Paperback
First published July 30, 2018
96 people are currently reading
613 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
October 23, 2020
Are you tired of sweet, charming yuri novels? Are you ready to see a girl beaten down rise up stronger, save her own damn self and the girl she's starting to love? Well then do I have the book for you!
September 11, 2020
The unfortunately named Flum Apricot is part of a team of chosen heroes off to save the world. Sadly, her only special ability permanently reduces her stats to zero, making her useless to her team. A savage betrayal turns her whole world upside down and then... well... then it gets weird.
This book is like Sexiled meets Grand Guignol. I have never read another light novel that indulged in so much blood, bone, and gristle whilst telling the story of two lost souls finding each other, wrapped in a tale of revenge.
Trigger warnings for abuse, torture, dismemberment, violence, misogyny, threat of sexual assault, extreme gore, etc etc - it’s not relentless, mercifully, but this book has no compunction about going for the jugular and telling you graphically how it got removed.
No punches are pulled from the get-go. It’s really hard not to flinch at the way Flum gets betrayed - she is quite literally scarred for life - and while it does make for a real triumph to see her fortunes begin to reverse, it is a lot of savagery to get there.
Her relationship with a fellow slave, Milkit (where do they come up with these names?), is sweet inasmuch as it can be when the latter girl has been a slave all her life and doesn’t grasp concepts such as freedom or autonomy.
I really appreciate that the book acknowledges that this probably isn’t especially healthy and Flum recognizes it, too, but she’s been beat down so much that she simply doesn’t care.
The second half of this book is particularly strong, as what starts as a bog standard quest takes a crazy turn into something out of a Junji Ito fever dream. This whole extended conflict is nothing less than riveting and I just devoured it, grue and all.
It is absolutely one of the creepiest things I’ve read in a while and it poses question after question like a good book should. The term page-turner was made for this section.
This story has a far more interesting plot line than most light novels to hook its revenge story onto and there are tons of things left to base further adventures around.
Even better, Flum gets to be something that all heroes should - smart and resourceful. She really comes alive in the second half and this was easily my favourite part of the book (one of her escapes is incredibly clever). She knows there’s nobody coming to her rescue and she damn well acts like it.
I also appreciated all the interludes showing what happened to Flum’s party after she left. Seeing one bastard in particular (a boo-hiss villain if there ever was one) get his was good; if he gets repeatedly punched in the face next volume it’ll be quite satisfying.
Watching that party disintegrate is so intriguing and is just as much about not appreciating people as it is about the triumph of evil when good people do nothing. It nails the dread of a bad situation continuing to get worse and worse and is an excellent addition to the story.
Then, then this book puts all its cards on the table and veers way, way off from what I had expected the ending to be. No, instead the climax of this book is intimately personal and a moment of sweetness that has been promised for a while. It was here that I realized the author wasn’t just about the gore and is, in fact, a damn good writer period.
Do I have other complaints? A couple - I appreciate them peppering a feminist motto throughout the book, but it feels a little tacky and out of place. I also don’t love stories that indulge in RPG mechanics and stats as a short-cut to world-building either, though I admit it works as a quick shorthand.
For everything I am hesitant about in this book there are two other things I found completely fascinating. It was gripping, even when it was being off-putting, and that makes me quite happy to recommend it.
4.5 stars overall. After that second half and the ending, however, there’s no way I can’t round it up. It’s one of my favorite light novel reads in ages and a stellar example of its genre, just be aware that it gets quite, quite dark at points.
This book is like Sexiled meets Grand Guignol. I have never read another light novel that indulged in so much blood, bone, and gristle whilst telling the story of two lost souls finding each other, wrapped in a tale of revenge.
Trigger warnings for abuse, torture, dismemberment, violence, misogyny, threat of sexual assault, extreme gore, etc etc - it’s not relentless, mercifully, but this book has no compunction about going for the jugular and telling you graphically how it got removed.
No punches are pulled from the get-go. It’s really hard not to flinch at the way Flum gets betrayed - she is quite literally scarred for life - and while it does make for a real triumph to see her fortunes begin to reverse, it is a lot of savagery to get there.
Her relationship with a fellow slave, Milkit (where do they come up with these names?), is sweet inasmuch as it can be when the latter girl has been a slave all her life and doesn’t grasp concepts such as freedom or autonomy.
I really appreciate that the book acknowledges that this probably isn’t especially healthy and Flum recognizes it, too, but she’s been beat down so much that she simply doesn’t care.
The second half of this book is particularly strong, as what starts as a bog standard quest takes a crazy turn into something out of a Junji Ito fever dream. This whole extended conflict is nothing less than riveting and I just devoured it, grue and all.
It is absolutely one of the creepiest things I’ve read in a while and it poses question after question like a good book should. The term page-turner was made for this section.
This story has a far more interesting plot line than most light novels to hook its revenge story onto and there are tons of things left to base further adventures around.
Even better, Flum gets to be something that all heroes should - smart and resourceful. She really comes alive in the second half and this was easily my favourite part of the book (one of her escapes is incredibly clever). She knows there’s nobody coming to her rescue and she damn well acts like it.
I also appreciated all the interludes showing what happened to Flum’s party after she left. Seeing one bastard in particular (a boo-hiss villain if there ever was one) get his was good; if he gets repeatedly punched in the face next volume it’ll be quite satisfying.
Watching that party disintegrate is so intriguing and is just as much about not appreciating people as it is about the triumph of evil when good people do nothing. It nails the dread of a bad situation continuing to get worse and worse and is an excellent addition to the story.
Then, then this book puts all its cards on the table and veers way, way off from what I had expected the ending to be. No, instead the climax of this book is intimately personal and a moment of sweetness that has been promised for a while. It was here that I realized the author wasn’t just about the gore and is, in fact, a damn good writer period.
Do I have other complaints? A couple - I appreciate them peppering a feminist motto throughout the book, but it feels a little tacky and out of place. I also don’t love stories that indulge in RPG mechanics and stats as a short-cut to world-building either, though I admit it works as a quick shorthand.
For everything I am hesitant about in this book there are two other things I found completely fascinating. It was gripping, even when it was being off-putting, and that makes me quite happy to recommend it.
4.5 stars overall. After that second half and the ending, however, there’s no way I can’t round it up. It’s one of my favorite light novel reads in ages and a stellar example of its genre, just be aware that it gets quite, quite dark at points.
December 3, 2020
This was... fine, in the end? Most of the first half is just a trainwreck of people being hilariously awful people. Everyone the protagonist comes across is like a caricature of the dregs of civilization.
When that finally ends it just flips to the other extreme where everyone the protagonist meets is super friendly, including her old team mates who barely questioned or cared about her sudden disappearance to begin with but suddenly miss her oh so much.
There's some good stuff in here. The main girls' relationship is nice, the fights are cool, the protagonist's ability is neat, but there's a whole slew of other junk that kind of just drags it down for me.
When that finally ends it just flips to the other extreme where everyone the protagonist meets is super friendly, including her old team mates who barely questioned or cared about her sudden disappearance to begin with but suddenly miss her oh so much.
There's some good stuff in here. The main girls' relationship is nice, the fights are cool, the protagonist's ability is neat, but there's a whole slew of other junk that kind of just drags it down for me.
July 29, 2021
This was an awesome book. It feels like an isekai but it is not. It's also really awesome to see really crappy people get their comeuppance. There's one person in particular I want to see get his!
January 2, 2021
3.75 stars
Dark, lesbian, fantasy light novel? I'm here
I wasn't sure what to expect when I went into this one, though by the end of the first chapter, it felt almost too edgy (for my tastes at least). That said, it was also really addicting. There was a lot of fun moments, interesting and even thrilling action that keeps you hooked. While I took a long time to read it (due to prioritizing other books for challenge reasons) I found myself looking forward to reading more of it all the time.
The characters were likeable, Flum was typical of a protagonist but she's not boring and has some really interesting moments.
I don't have much an opinion of any of the characters yet, but I hope some development in the upcoming volumes can change that. I really liked Sara, the bubbly and powerful kid who ends up in a life-changing dangerous situation, I'm looking forward to seeing her again to see what's changed about her and her morals and even her outlook on her church.
Milkit was a sweet character, but there's not a lot to her yet besides being the shy love-interest. I hope we get to see more of her coming into her own in future volumes.
If there's one thing that bothered me, it was the power-dynamic. Not only is Flum seemingly about two years older (which is fine in itself but adds edge to the next part) but she's the girl's "master." I don't know, it kind of makes me uncomfortable. But Flum herself is determined to fix that dynamic, I only hope that happens before the girls get together. That all said, they ARE really cute.
The art is also really pretty and I really liked the character designs. I don't think I can really wait until March for the next one :(
Side-note: Be warned, there is a LOT of violence, a little grotesque and graphic. There is also an attempt sexual assault scene that doesn't go anywhere or is explicit but is somewhat uncomfortable. I don't think any of it was done it bad taste however, and I don't think any of it showed up just for the sake of it as you often see in other light novels.
Dark, lesbian, fantasy light novel? I'm here
I wasn't sure what to expect when I went into this one, though by the end of the first chapter, it felt almost too edgy (for my tastes at least). That said, it was also really addicting. There was a lot of fun moments, interesting and even thrilling action that keeps you hooked. While I took a long time to read it (due to prioritizing other books for challenge reasons) I found myself looking forward to reading more of it all the time.
The characters were likeable, Flum was typical of a protagonist but she's not boring and has some really interesting moments.
I don't have much an opinion of any of the characters yet, but I hope some development in the upcoming volumes can change that. I really liked Sara, the bubbly and powerful kid who ends up in a life-changing dangerous situation, I'm looking forward to seeing her again to see what's changed about her and her morals and even her outlook on her church.
Milkit was a sweet character, but there's not a lot to her yet besides being the shy love-interest. I hope we get to see more of her coming into her own in future volumes.
If there's one thing that bothered me, it was the power-dynamic. Not only is Flum seemingly about two years older (which is fine in itself but adds edge to the next part) but she's the girl's "master." I don't know, it kind of makes me uncomfortable. But Flum herself is determined to fix that dynamic, I only hope that happens before the girls get together. That all said, they ARE really cute.
The art is also really pretty and I really liked the character designs. I don't think I can really wait until March for the next one :(
Side-note: Be warned, there is a LOT of violence, a little grotesque and graphic. There is also an attempt sexual assault scene that doesn't go anywhere or is explicit but is somewhat uncomfortable. I don't think any of it was done it bad taste however, and I don't think any of it showed up just for the sake of it as you often see in other light novels.
June 4, 2022
I have been wanting to read this for years but I didn't think I would get into it.
Flum is selected to be a part of a group of heroes to defeat the Demon King. Unfortunately because of her power being Reversal she is unable to be any help to the group but she tries in other ways.
Tired of dealing with dead weight, Jean the mage of the party, sells her into slavery, unbeknownst to the other party members who believe that she returned home, based off what they were told from Jean.
A week into slavery, Flum finds out her power means when she uses a cursed sword. She also meets Milkit, another slave who has bandages on her head with only her eye being seen. Flum wants to protect her and make her happy. Meanwhile, Milkit, who has been a slave all her life, has trouble asking for what she wants or showing her emotions. Throughout the book, she does slowly open up and tells Flum things, who encourages and even tells her she will show her how to do basic spells and even teach her how to read.
Based off how Flum killed the men that almost attacked Milkit, I think it is safe to say that she really care for her.
I really enjoyed the ending with Flum and Milkit getting closer. I definitely wanted more of them instead of seeing how the hero party is doing. Though they are falling apart without her.
Their a chance that the Demon King that they are trying to defeat isn't as bad as they were told. The Church may have other reasons for wanting the demons slaughtered.
I am curious how the fight scenes with Flum and even Milkit's face will be depicted in the manga. I am still waiting for that arrive at the library.
Flum is selected to be a part of a group of heroes to defeat the Demon King. Unfortunately because of her power being Reversal she is unable to be any help to the group but she tries in other ways.
Tired of dealing with dead weight, Jean the mage of the party, sells her into slavery, unbeknownst to the other party members who believe that she returned home, based off what they were told from Jean.
A week into slavery, Flum finds out her power means when she uses a cursed sword. She also meets Milkit, another slave who has bandages on her head with only her eye being seen. Flum wants to protect her and make her happy. Meanwhile, Milkit, who has been a slave all her life, has trouble asking for what she wants or showing her emotions. Throughout the book, she does slowly open up and tells Flum things, who encourages and even tells her she will show her how to do basic spells and even teach her how to read.
Based off how Flum killed the men that almost attacked Milkit, I think it is safe to say that she really care for her.
I really enjoyed the ending with Flum and Milkit getting closer. I definitely wanted more of them instead of seeing how the hero party is doing. Though they are falling apart without her.
Their a chance that the Demon King that they are trying to defeat isn't as bad as they were told. The Church may have other reasons for wanting the demons slaughtered.
I am curious how the fight scenes with Flum and even Milkit's face will be depicted in the manga. I am still waiting for that arrive at the library.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2021
This concept is very isekai and yet, it's not, which is nice. Been reading a lot of light novels that really don't need that isekai element lately and I'm glad this didn't fall into that trap. This story is very bloody and grimdark so make sure you're into that. The little romance is very sweet, too, though I'd prefer the characters be a little older, perhaps.
February 10, 2025
Kinda nice
March 15, 2021
iconic legendary brilliant
as the author said in the afterward: the story is basically a mishmash of all of my interests: fantasy, lesbian romance, horror and fight scenes. And it's a very accurate way to describe the story. ROLL OVER AND DIE is a kickass female lead fantasy novel, starring Flum, who is 16 years old and is sold to slavery by her former team mate. However, she fights back, rescues herself and another girl, uncovers her magical power and starts her journey as an adventurer. The story is very in-your-face anti slavery, which is in current climate of light novels and adaptations of said light novels, is important.
Beware, the book is full of horror and gore, blood and guts and body horror, it's all there and it's so well-written!
The romance is slowburn-ish, because neither of the girls has really figured out her feelings but it's lesbian as heck, very lesbian.
The world-building is very fascinating, I want to know more. Whenever I see and monotheistic religious organization gaining all the power and being corrupt, I'm all ears. I'm very looking forward to learning more about that side of the story.
Also there was a hot blue demon lady and I need her to be in the story more.
It's an ongoing series but volume 1 wraps things up nicely so you can read just it and have a blast.
Highly recommend!!
CW: gore, body horror, attempted rape
as the author said in the afterward: the story is basically a mishmash of all of my interests: fantasy, lesbian romance, horror and fight scenes. And it's a very accurate way to describe the story. ROLL OVER AND DIE is a kickass female lead fantasy novel, starring Flum, who is 16 years old and is sold to slavery by her former team mate. However, she fights back, rescues herself and another girl, uncovers her magical power and starts her journey as an adventurer. The story is very in-your-face anti slavery, which is in current climate of light novels and adaptations of said light novels, is important.
Beware, the book is full of horror and gore, blood and guts and body horror, it's all there and it's so well-written!
The romance is slowburn-ish, because neither of the girls has really figured out her feelings but it's lesbian as heck, very lesbian.
The world-building is very fascinating, I want to know more. Whenever I see and monotheistic religious organization gaining all the power and being corrupt, I'm all ears. I'm very looking forward to learning more about that side of the story.
Also there was a hot blue demon lady and I need her to be in the story more.
It's an ongoing series but volume 1 wraps things up nicely so you can read just it and have a blast.
Highly recommend!!
CW: gore, body horror, attempted rape
July 9, 2021
Solid debut. Pretty heavy on dark themes such as slavery, gore, horror, corruption and the list goes on. The world is shit, the people that live in it are shit, but the series has a certain uplifting tone that distances it from the grimdark genre. Oh yeah, they sold me this series as grimdark, but it is not quite grimdark imo. As I said, it has some heavy elements, so people who are tired of these light-toned light novels will greatly enjoy this one, I'm sure, but just don't expect something too niihilistic, bleak and savage. At least for now...
wait, have I said that this has yuri? No? Then, IT HAS YURI. A fucking lesbian relationship that one girl would fight the world to protect the other. So, what are you waiting for? Go read it.
wait, have I said that this has yuri? No? Then, IT HAS YURI. A fucking lesbian relationship that one girl would fight the world to protect the other. So, what are you waiting for? Go read it.
March 26, 2021
Ok so you’re like wow this guy is a jerk, then it gets worse and worse. I just wanted to punch that stuck up, jellos, loud mouth, frik’n creepy, supid face jean right in the frink’n face and the squares. In the first 10 mins of reading - she make you hate a character so well and in such a short amount of time it’s crazy. And Flum you see her and you are just goes darker and darker. Then she bring the in the love interest an their relation ship is really compelling to me. I’m just really in love with the world Kiki is making and the characters, an their relationships. Thank You Kiki for this amazing world your bring to life!
August 2, 2021
A very graphic but good horror novel. I liked the way they worked the sapphic elements into the protagonist's motivations. I enjoyed how much the protagonist grows in various ways emotionally from the horrors they experience.
This would be a 5-star light novel to me but the fact the main characters are 16 and 10 years old felt necessary and I didn't care for that aspect.
This would be a 5-star light novel to me but the fact the main characters are 16 and 10 years old felt necessary and I didn't care for that aspect.
February 9, 2021
Amazing book
This book is unlike anything that I've ever read. I love the authors writing style and the non stop action. As usual its hard to talk about what I liked without spoiling anything. Just know that its awesome. I can't wait to read the next volume.
This book is unlike anything that I've ever read. I love the authors writing style and the non stop action. As usual its hard to talk about what I liked without spoiling anything. Just know that its awesome. I can't wait to read the next volume.
September 6, 2020
Short summary: Dark souls but yuri
March 22, 2021
Super cute and fun, enjoyed it a lot
April 25, 2021
It’s a chuunibyou grimdark fantasy, and the lead is called Flum Apricot, and her sidekick is called Milkit.
Ok, yes, I read it because of the names.
Ok, yes, I read it because of the names.
May 18, 2021
Cutie patoot saves another cutie patoot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2020
Flum Apricot is deadweight. The adventurer party to which she belongs yields two renowned bladesmiths, a famous sage, a brilliant spellcaster, a vengeful cleric, and a skilled archer; and yet, amid this all-star team, blessed by the gods, stands Flum, whose stats ring zeros from top to bottom. Everyone, including little Flum, is left scratching their heads as to why a scrawny 16-year-old was chosen to join the hero brigade against the powerful demon lord.
ROLL OVER AND DIE is a violent, emotional, and entertaining adventure that kicks grit into the eyes of swords-and-sorcery epics that plaster on kind miles and whisper whimsical, fairytale ethos in lieu of pondering what it might actually be like to survive such a fantasy realm. This novel shirks no superstition. Characters have their limbs lopped off in eager vengeance, have their faces stamped with red-hot branding irons, melt from the inside-out after touching a cursed broadsword, have their legs gobbled up by golem deities, get stabbed in the neck, and are nearly absorbed by absolutely terrifying inhuman specters that just won't freakin' die. ROLL OVER AND DIE is the type of fantasy fiction that everyone knows exists yet is also the type of fiction that feels impossible to locate because it's so far outside of the wheelhouse of most publishers.
There's gore and more in this novel, but the narrative pivots around the anger and anxiety of Flum as she loses out on adventuring success, is sold into slavery by a comrade, and must fight her way to safety time and again. The girl's a tough nut. If only her affinity wasn't this so-called "reversal" that undoes whatever concomitant gains in magic, strength, or endurance she earns. It's almost as if she's been cursed on a mythical level.
Flum bonds with another slave girl, Milkit, a mousy and submissive young woman whose fealty to the cursed and abandoned adventurer grows by leaps and bounds. And why not? Escaping death and destruction with the aid of gritted teeth and human resolve tends to do that.
At 400+ pages, ROLL OVER AND DIE is a long and full novel. The author is fond of extended battle scenes, twisting and turning chase scenes, and competitive dialogue. The novel's worldbuilding is patient and its focus on characterization, even for secondary personalities, is impressive. This is an author who values detail and is not content to gloss over scenes that typically engender character unseen (e.g., lunch in the back of a wagon, debating the efficacy of fighting a beast that just killed one's target). Readers unaccustomed to this expansive style might render a harsher verdict.
The dynamics between Flum and the remaining cast is organic and only occasionally flits and drifts into something less refined. The girl's friendship, for example, with the boisterous cleric-in-training, Sara Anvilen, tracks their relationship's ups and downs as the two battle ogres, conduct unofficial side jobs, and conclude, somewhat grimly, as witnesses to homicide. Flum's budding romance with Milkit, the sweet slave-girl, is played up in later chapters (after much of the danger has passed). It's cheesy, but feels like a salve after the intense drama the author yielded but two chapters prior.
ROLL OVER AND DIE is a dark-fantasy tome disguised as a squirrely and quirky, yuri-leaning adventure epic. There are demons and witches and holy people with an agenda. There are jealous thieves and kind innkeepers and men whose remains are crumpled into a hemp sack and unceremoniously flung into the woods so the wildlings can have their snacks. Good stuff.
ROLL OVER AND DIE is a violent, emotional, and entertaining adventure that kicks grit into the eyes of swords-and-sorcery epics that plaster on kind miles and whisper whimsical, fairytale ethos in lieu of pondering what it might actually be like to survive such a fantasy realm. This novel shirks no superstition. Characters have their limbs lopped off in eager vengeance, have their faces stamped with red-hot branding irons, melt from the inside-out after touching a cursed broadsword, have their legs gobbled up by golem deities, get stabbed in the neck, and are nearly absorbed by absolutely terrifying inhuman specters that just won't freakin' die. ROLL OVER AND DIE is the type of fantasy fiction that everyone knows exists yet is also the type of fiction that feels impossible to locate because it's so far outside of the wheelhouse of most publishers.
There's gore and more in this novel, but the narrative pivots around the anger and anxiety of Flum as she loses out on adventuring success, is sold into slavery by a comrade, and must fight her way to safety time and again. The girl's a tough nut. If only her affinity wasn't this so-called "reversal" that undoes whatever concomitant gains in magic, strength, or endurance she earns. It's almost as if she's been cursed on a mythical level.
Flum bonds with another slave girl, Milkit, a mousy and submissive young woman whose fealty to the cursed and abandoned adventurer grows by leaps and bounds. And why not? Escaping death and destruction with the aid of gritted teeth and human resolve tends to do that.
At 400+ pages, ROLL OVER AND DIE is a long and full novel. The author is fond of extended battle scenes, twisting and turning chase scenes, and competitive dialogue. The novel's worldbuilding is patient and its focus on characterization, even for secondary personalities, is impressive. This is an author who values detail and is not content to gloss over scenes that typically engender character unseen (e.g., lunch in the back of a wagon, debating the efficacy of fighting a beast that just killed one's target). Readers unaccustomed to this expansive style might render a harsher verdict.
The dynamics between Flum and the remaining cast is organic and only occasionally flits and drifts into something less refined. The girl's friendship, for example, with the boisterous cleric-in-training, Sara Anvilen, tracks their relationship's ups and downs as the two battle ogres, conduct unofficial side jobs, and conclude, somewhat grimly, as witnesses to homicide. Flum's budding romance with Milkit, the sweet slave-girl, is played up in later chapters (after much of the danger has passed). It's cheesy, but feels like a salve after the intense drama the author yielded but two chapters prior.
ROLL OVER AND DIE is a dark-fantasy tome disguised as a squirrely and quirky, yuri-leaning adventure epic. There are demons and witches and holy people with an agenda. There are jealous thieves and kind innkeepers and men whose remains are crumpled into a hemp sack and unceremoniously flung into the woods so the wildlings can have their snacks. Good stuff.
February 14, 2025
A surprisingly gruesome story, with light hints of yuri mixed in.
I found the MC and the most prominent side character to be the best of the cast. There's a lot of "over-the-top evil" in the human antagonists throughout. To the point I cannot fully believe in all the motivations of the characters. And I do like just full on loser evil people in stories, but the cruelty reaches a point where I'm not sure I find any antagonist actually worthwhile to the story.
It has a trope I like of being kicked out of the hero party, as well as an interesting power set for the main character. She also has a positivity that I love. I feel like the story balances dark, and more laid back themes very well. Without ever giving me feelings of whiplash by switching between the 2.
The hero party on the other hand is a bit meh. From the generic hero to the worthless antagonist. It's not really that I dislike either of those tropes, it's just I know of no other way to describe them. The hero character ignores the mc but feels bad when she's gone. Have fun dying with the question of why. The antagonist is so weirdly cruel that again, I just can't understand it. The side characters in the hero's party gives a breathe of fresh air, up until one of them meets the MC again.
I thought it was great seeing them interact everything that comes from it. Except nothing really comes from it. It sort of starts and stops there.
Regardless of my complaints I think the story is amazingly written, it has a lot of interesting concepts, and I'm very muchso into the more "horror" vibes. The last thing I'll say is again, don't read this if you can't handle descriptions of gore and some other less than savory topics.
This world isn't all sunshine and rainbows. Yet the MC has a way of making it seem so in certain parts
I found the MC and the most prominent side character to be the best of the cast. There's a lot of "over-the-top evil" in the human antagonists throughout. To the point I cannot fully believe in all the motivations of the characters. And I do like just full on loser evil people in stories, but the cruelty reaches a point where I'm not sure I find any antagonist actually worthwhile to the story.
It has a trope I like of being kicked out of the hero party, as well as an interesting power set for the main character. She also has a positivity that I love. I feel like the story balances dark, and more laid back themes very well. Without ever giving me feelings of whiplash by switching between the 2.
The hero party on the other hand is a bit meh. From the generic hero to the worthless antagonist. It's not really that I dislike either of those tropes, it's just I know of no other way to describe them. The hero character ignores the mc but feels bad when she's gone. Have fun dying with the question of why. The antagonist is so weirdly cruel that again, I just can't understand it. The side characters in the hero's party gives a breathe of fresh air, up until one of them meets the MC again.
I thought it was great seeing them interact everything that comes from it. Except nothing really comes from it. It sort of starts and stops there.
Regardless of my complaints I think the story is amazingly written, it has a lot of interesting concepts, and I'm very muchso into the more "horror" vibes. The last thing I'll say is again, don't read this if you can't handle descriptions of gore and some other less than savory topics.
This world isn't all sunshine and rainbows. Yet the MC has a way of making it seem so in certain parts
February 21, 2022
From start to finish this light novel is a joy to read, I was so hooked on the Webnovel that I squealed with like a school girl when I saw that it was finally getting picked up over here with PHYSICAL COPIES! (that’s a big deal to me because there were other stories that I liked that were only getting digital releases 😭).
Flum and Milkit are just the best and are absolutely adorable, I love Enterna and her design is so cute and a cool.
I noticed some complaints about how characters went from mean to nice, and I don’t think that’s true, it’s clear that at first Flum isn’t a reliable narrator, she has self-doubt and judges herself harshly and thus as definitely misread certain characters reactions and treatment towards her.
When she gets the slave mark and has to go into the bad side of town, it’s obvious that she would be treated terribly, she’s a runaway slave, and no one knows if she was a slave from birth or was a criminal, even if from birth some people don’t take kindly to people whose parents were criminals.
And might I mention once again she’s in the slums, the crime filled, rundown part of town where people aren’t going to be the nicest folks you’ll meet, so I get why she’s being treated awfully.
She only really gets treated nicely by the inn owner and the rich guy she helped, who once again was obviously going to be nicer to her because one she helped him and two he needed an adventurer to do an off the records type of job, and she might have just been lucky to find a nice noble.
Flum and Milkit are just the best and are absolutely adorable, I love Enterna and her design is so cute and a cool.
I noticed some complaints about how characters went from mean to nice, and I don’t think that’s true, it’s clear that at first Flum isn’t a reliable narrator, she has self-doubt and judges herself harshly and thus as definitely misread certain characters reactions and treatment towards her.
When she gets the slave mark and has to go into the bad side of town, it’s obvious that she would be treated terribly, she’s a runaway slave, and no one knows if she was a slave from birth or was a criminal, even if from birth some people don’t take kindly to people whose parents were criminals.
And might I mention once again she’s in the slums, the crime filled, rundown part of town where people aren’t going to be the nicest folks you’ll meet, so I get why she’s being treated awfully.
She only really gets treated nicely by the inn owner and the rich guy she helped, who once again was obviously going to be nicer to her because one she helped him and two he needed an adventurer to do an off the records type of job, and she might have just been lucky to find a nice noble.
July 17, 2024
I have so many words that I would like to say about this but that would require a draft in my computer and I do not have my computer bc I am on vacation. Short summary of my feelings though: this is literally so good and I hate that it doesn't have a broader fan base. It could be compared to Gideon the ninth series with both it's lesbian characters that are portrayed SO casually and SO well and also it's genre soup of sorts (fantasy, science fiction, cosmic and body horror, lesbian romance, AND allegory for English relations with Indigenous people of America re: the Catholic and Anglican church all apply here as genres, and I know from osmosis that gideon the ninth is equally genre soupy), so fans of gideon the ninth: go to either a barnes and noble or indie bookstore and BUY THIS. I need more people to talk about how amazing this book is with me.
January 13, 2021
Hmmm , well it was okay? I honestly wish I didn't buy the physical copy because even though it looks really nice the writing inside is too ..dull?? I was wishing for something more complex and less childish... I MEAN IM A LITERAL CHILD BUT YKNOW WHAT I MEAN?? it was hard to read bc the plot wasn't anything special just a typical anime fantasy plot. TBH I DID PICK UP THE BOOK BECAUSE IT WAS WLW okay- but EVEN THE ROMANCE WAS KINDA BORING??? the two girls seemed only like best friends and the actual romance was cheesy asf and it happened at the end. The art was REALLY GOOD THO. I wouldn't recommend buying this book and I wouldn't pick up vol 2. but you're a fan of the synopsis and light reading then this might be 4 y.
January 12, 2023
-I'll come back at a later date to give a full review, but in short: 3.5 rating from me
I liked this well enough. It was competent, though perhaps a little bogged down by focusing on the world mechanics/building in an almost clinical manner. However, those mechanics were interesting enough to me. I also don't feel like I got to know the characters well enough during this first volume over all, everyone but the main character Flum is very one dimensional but I get the feeling that will change in later volumes. Overall I liked the relationship and where the story seems to be headed but reading just one volume isn't enough for me to fully say one way or another just yet how enjoyable the series will be.
I liked this well enough. It was competent, though perhaps a little bogged down by focusing on the world mechanics/building in an almost clinical manner. However, those mechanics were interesting enough to me. I also don't feel like I got to know the characters well enough during this first volume over all, everyone but the main character Flum is very one dimensional but I get the feeling that will change in later volumes. Overall I liked the relationship and where the story seems to be headed but reading just one volume isn't enough for me to fully say one way or another just yet how enjoyable the series will be.
April 24, 2021
The whole master and slave power dynamic makes the romance problematic in this one. And, it is a flimsily contrived romance to begin with. There are elements of growth and empowerment that are positive, but largely superficial. The combat is flat and repetitive—Flum, our main character, will likely be dismembered to some extent in every encounter henceforth it seems. It’s not the worst light novel. There are some entertaining aspects and larger plot elements that could be interesting in future volumes. I’ll probably try the next few (the second volume is already sitting on my “to read” book pile) and see where things end up.
January 5, 2025
Written after finishing volume 2: The budding lesbian romance elements are fantastic in this series (probably my favorite scenes), the MC is great, and is loads of fun to follow-- and the underlying plot coming into focus has got me pretty solidly hooked by the end of v2.
If you can put up with some kinda dark plot points rearing their heads from time to time (this is *not* a 'misery porn' series, fortunately!), the romance is more than worth the time investment, imo.
The action is great, and while the series has plenty of "grimdark" moments, and sometimes gory battles, it doesn't "dwell on it" - as in, if someone loses a limb to a sword, it'll describe how it hurt, but it's not gonna be pages of graphic description of the injury (A concern that got me to hold off on picking this one sooner).
The biggest weakness in the series is probably how some of the "small details" feel like they get glossed over - stuff like "why do regular citizens going about their day have the energy or care to shoot dirty looks to slaves going about their buisness" or "how did figure out exactly?" -- but the resulting scenes end up kicking ass, so you just don't worry to hard about it.
If you can put up with some kinda dark plot points rearing their heads from time to time (this is *not* a 'misery porn' series, fortunately!), the romance is more than worth the time investment, imo.
The action is great, and while the series has plenty of "grimdark" moments, and sometimes gory battles, it doesn't "dwell on it" - as in, if someone loses a limb to a sword, it'll describe how it hurt, but it's not gonna be pages of graphic description of the injury (A concern that got me to hold off on picking this one sooner).
The biggest weakness in the series is probably how some of the "small details" feel like they get glossed over - stuff like "why do regular citizens going about their day have the energy or care to shoot dirty looks to slaves going about their buisness" or "how did figure out exactly?" -- but the resulting scenes end up kicking ass, so you just don't worry to hard about it.
September 29, 2025
The title explains exactly what you are getting, a hero sold out and put in a situation where they are expected to suffer and die. Fighting back against their fate for a chance at a normal life. While the premise is easy to understand it does nothing to explain the depths of what the MC will be put through. The afterwords section written by the author mention horror as a main focus and does it deliver in some morbid and grotesque scenes. Morals get tossed out the window in the face of harsh reality. It feels good to see the MC give up on trying to be a righteous and forgiving individual to those that do not deserve it.
December 17, 2024
This was a disastrous read. This has the most 0815 cliché anime writing style ever, which was painful to read. The main character (once again) has a super powerful hidden ability that nobody ever understood but now it makes them able to be more powerful than anybody else... Whenever I thought things were getting interesting I was let down. The lesbian romance in this novel does not have any excitement to it; it feels like it was written by a man to be honest. Also, people constantly pissing themselves does NOT add to the "dark theme".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2021
i didn't have much expectations when started reading it but i can't deny how much the story has captivated me along the way, definitely thanks to the action and horror – something that rpg fiction lacks, imo.
must admit i still haven't been able to get attached to flum x milkit romantic plot, which i hope to see more improvement in the future but it's already a great start considering this is an author's debut.
must admit i still haven't been able to get attached to flum x milkit romantic plot, which i hope to see more improvement in the future but it's already a great start considering this is an author's debut.
November 6, 2024
I liked it. I love a revenge story, then you add yuri and horror, I'm hooked. I can't wait to see her revenge against Jean. For now I will have to be satisfied with her revenge against the slave trader and Dean's goons. Loved Flum and Milkit's relationship. I also loved her reuniting with Eterna and finding out Jean lied and she wasn't completely abandoned. All in all it was a great read for the horror season.
June 9, 2025
Body horror - digging through corpse piles, chopping people's limbs off, getting mauled by monsters.
Cartoonishly evil and rapey villains that are evil for evil's sake.
Revenge, slavery, underage lesbian slow burn romance with maid costumes, pointless LitRPG stats so random numbers can be periodically mentioned, nonsense kid logic throughout.
This book is a dumpster fire with a green flame because the stuff being burned is so toxic.
Cartoonishly evil and rapey villains that are evil for evil's sake.
Revenge, slavery, underage lesbian slow burn romance with maid costumes, pointless LitRPG stats so random numbers can be periodically mentioned, nonsense kid logic throughout.
This book is a dumpster fire with a green flame because the stuff being burned is so toxic.
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