Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World, Volume 3

Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World Light Novel #3

by Kei Sazane, Ao Nekonabe (Contributor), Jan Mitsuko Cash (Contributor)

Tasked with a special mission from the Saint Disciple Risya to infiltrate the Sovereignty, Iska finds himself breaking off from his platoon after an accident he didn't bargain for. With Alice assigned to spy on him nearby, the seemingly incompatible duo manage to get a glimpse of what lies deep in each other's hearts.

Genres: Light Novel, Fantasy

224 pages, Paperback

First published December 20, 2017

Reviews

[H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked more than V2 but less than V1 because I enjoyed Iska and Alice's interactions but didn't care as much of the scenes with Iska's team sneaking in or the prison escape stuff. The battle against the transcendental sorcerer was okay - he seems stronger than Iska since Iska needed Rin's help and also didn't realize the mage made a fake duplicate to escape.

Very curious of Sisbell and want to see her remeet Iska.

Overall was decent and may have liked this more if I didn't already read so many manga scenes of this. I hope next volume we get more slice of lifey moments of Iska and Alice in the city or something. I really enjoyed that part the most in V1 and am actually disappointed we don't see more of that. For example, Alice thought of eating pasta with Iska for dinner in this volume...but it's not mentioned at all scene wise. I think it's a lost opportunity for some cute interactions honestly. But anyway was overall an okay volume.

Doesn't seem like Our Last Crusade will surpass Rokka or Kaguya for me now though.

[Pablo García · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author keeps on repeating the actions and reactions of everybody that was not involved in the events. To be more specific, Rin, the guard of Alice, places a sedative in the juice that she gives to Iska, (Saint Desciple from the Empire) and advises Alice to take Iska to Alcatroz (thirteen state). The Empire notices because Iska's unit boss, Mismis, was there to witness the abduction.
Is this an alternative love story? Oh, God I hope not. They have no cute banter, no nice words for each other, they don't even treat each other nicely and they refuse to let go of their prejudices, their interests and loyalties. Love is about making the other person your other half, part of you for the rest of time. This sick competition (rivalry), this "forbidden love" is the farthest from a positive relationship between a man and a woman. So then, what is the point to this Light novel series? Is it the war? Is it the power struggle? The mass and continuous betrayals by the 2 main characters to their respective superiors, loved ones and territories?
This third volume is shorter than the first two. 15 pages are illustrations and table of contents, 15 pages are repetitive explanations of the abduction, the description of the characters and what they have done in the last 2 volumes (recap). There are 5 chapters 2 intermissions, a prologue and an epilogue. The first half of Volume 3, is flat with little or no action. The second half of Volume 3 improves but still, this series is slow, with little or no action.
The title of the light novel states a last crusade or the rise of a new world. A crusade is usually a series of battles or missions or quests. Another meaning for crusade is "a vigorous campaign for political, social, or religious change" This is an alternative reality world, where the Empire is a dictatorship of the 8 Elder Saints, and then the Nebulis Sovereignty is a Royal Kingdom with 4 main group lords looking to solidify their position within the Kingdom. The War has lasted for centuries between the Empire and the Nebulis Sovereignty.
If the author intends to create a long lasting peace in this other world, through abductions, war, lies, betrayals and escapes, then the real chance of success should be quite low, maybe this is the reason that the pace of this series is real slow. Maybe by the 15-25 volume, the characters in this light novel will treat each other nicely and honestly?

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Our Last Crusade series. While the 2nd book felt like a filler to me, this book had more information and action in it. However, I also felt that the author doesn't really delve into a lot of things that don't involve Alice and Iska directly. For example, we get to see more about astral crests in this one, but when faced with the Empire's astral crest technology, we just get to hear that people are studying it and that's it (and no mention where they get the astral energy from to study it...). Little things like that peppered throughout the book that I would love more information about.

Otherwise, this book did bring Alice and Iska back together, albeit rather clumsily. Their exchanges are still awkward but cute. There is more action in this book as well, and a splendid fight at the end with our "overpowered" Iska getting to show off again.

Overall it remains a cute series with a decent world and magic system. I feel like I am missing some development in the characters and in the world, but I will still continue on with the series - and hopefully more of that development will come in time.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The saving grace of this book is the second half. The first half is dull. Alice and Rin's relationship is a messed up mix of master and servant where the servant does whatever she pleases whenever she pleases and the master barely reprimands her. The relationship between Alice and Iska which could be fun, sweet and refreshing is reduced to the basest 'will-they-wont-they'.

At least in the second half we learn something about the world and something actually HAPPENS. A former enemy of the current regime in Sovereignty makes a prison break and the ensuing mess I found to be a lot of fun (saving this book from 3-stars).

Verdict: If you like the Our Last Crusade book series you'll probably find something to like in this one.

[daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book (and series in general) has been highly overlooked for what is a great star crossed lovers story. Seeing how Alice and Iska interact together and figure out how they fit in eachother lives as well as the lives of those around them is incredibly enjoyable

[Steven Ritch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! The action and everything in it just clicked really well! I couldn't put it down and is the first light novel in awhile I finished in just one sitting. I plan to keep up with the series and hope that it doesn't take a dark turn!