ROLL OVER AND DIE: I Will Fight for an Ordinary Life with My Love and Cursed Sword! Manga, Vol. 1

「お前ごときが魔王に勝てると思うな」と勇者パーティを追放されたので、王都で気ままに暮らしたい (Comic) #1

by Sunao Minakata (Illustrations), ｋｉｋｉ . (Original Author), Kinta (Character Design)

A dark and bloody manga series about two women fighting fate and finding love in each other–and don’t miss the original light novels, 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!

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Yuri, Comics, LGBT, Comics Manga, Horror

180 pages, Paperback

First published January 30, 2020

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flum Apricot is the worst of all the heroes chosen to save the world from demons. She’s so bad that the party leader doesn’t blink twice at betraying her and selling her into slavery. Flummoxed (sorry) by a special ability she doesn’t understand and left to die with a fellow slave, Milkit, she’s in for a true fight for survival...

This book makes for a really interesting counterpoint to the Cheat Pharmacist manga adaptation I just read. Both adapt light novels, but with varying degrees of success. I felt like Cheat Pharmacist has to be best read as a manga just because of how much fun the artist is having and how much it adds to the story.

Then there’s this.

Whatever my thoughts on the second novel, the first Roll Over and Die got a full five stars for being a gritty, unique bit of grim and bloody business. Flum went through some things and regrettably it translates poorly to the manga format due to some baffling choices.

When I saw this, I was wondering how they would translate all the violence and body horror. It turns out that the answer is ‘not very well’. The light novel pulled no punches; the manga pulls almost all of them.

I realize you can’t get that gruesome with the manga or it would rival the Battle Royale adaptation for gore, but this is so lightweight that it robs the story of all its impact. When Flum goes for her sword during a zombie attack, the book describes how they are destroying Flum’s legs as she pulls herself across the floor in desperation. Here it looks like she’s being attacked by a bunch of those koi that nibble dead skin off you.

Milkit has (allegedly) a debilitating skin condition that the manga robs of any oomph by not showing, instead describing it while her face is concealed, but the book makes no bones about how bad it is, so why aren’t we shown this? It’s not like her face isn’t featured on the cover.

It’s just so perplexing. The designs are fine and seeing these characters drawn and moving is a treat, but the action is far too sketchily presented and the flow is not great. The creepy look of the monsters that make up the main plot line is utterly disappointing. The artist for the LN killed how disturbing it is, particularly in the second novel, and here it’s robbed of pretty much all of its impact.

Parts of it are okay. Jean is still a total scumbag and his design is really fitting. His wildly inappropriate plans for the actual chosen hero are even creepier in the manga where you can see how young she is. Despite being a yuri story, the only sweet moment is one where Flum hugs Milkit, but Flum’s protective nature shines through.

I will call out the “bonus” short story as being incredibly dumb, even if it is by the original author. It’s the most obvious ‘this is being written by a guy’ moment, where the females of the original party are gathered in a flashback and basically it’s an excuse for boob groping. Warning for strain from eye rolling.

3 stars. The original story is still good, but its presentation here is a bit of a let-down. It’s an adaptation that cannot hold a candle to the source material, so in no way would I recommend this version over that one.

[Jen Appell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't realize there were light novels until after I read the manga, and I think I probably should have read them first.

Also, the bonus story was weird???? Why are all the girls holding Maria's boobs??

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

More if a dark fantasy than I expected. The story isn't bad but it's certainly a combat heavy manga. If you're into that and you're looking for elements of yuri this will likely fit the bill.

[Hannah Gardiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You want to atone for your sins?! Then just roll over and die!”


Happy manga release day! Flum and Milikit’s adventures have finally been turned into a manga! This dark fantasy story follows Flum, a promising young adventurer turned slave at the hands of a friend who betrayed her. Weak and afraid, she struggles to understand what her magical affinity “Reversal” means. Will she learn the truth about her magic?

In this volume, we follow Flum as she battles for her life and meets Milikit. The highlight of this manga is definitely the Chimaera Werewolf fight. Watching the battle unfold on the page was great! If you’re a fan of fantasy - type action, then you’ll love this volume. The art really brought the light novel to life. This volume covers the first 1/3 of the the first Roll Over and Die light novel. Those who have read the light novel will have an easier time understanding the fast moving exposition, but I think most people should be able to figure out what’s happening at the start of the story.

The one thing that stood out to me in a negative way was the bonus short story at the end of the manga. I was so excited to read the story since I’m a fan of the novels, but the content was a bit strange. We start out with Flum talking to Cyrill while baking a cake. Cyrill has always been an interesting but elusive character, so I was hoping to learn more about her. Instead, I got a story about girls taking turns holding their friend’s (Maria) boobs—yikes. It was a bit odd, especially since this was written by a man.

3.5-4/5 stars

[Alexis Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Roll Over And Die is a dark fantasy series and is very ohhh edgy in it's first volume. It presents a miserable world where almost everyone sucks and it presents a very somber tone. The action is fine but it's yet to make exciting use out of her power of reversal it's just an excuse for terrible violence to be done on her she can regenerate from. It would have been cool if like being bitten by a werewolf was counted as getting cursed so her reversal power made her faster and stronger and even more in control of her actions rather than less in control. I think there was a lot of wasted potential inside the parameter's set up. We also have yet to be given a like path forward or a goal to end the slavery and stuff in the world.

I'm not really comfortable with Flum being Milkit's master even if like narratively she doesn't want a slave and is only doing it because Milkit has internalized a slave mind set and it is explicitly bad in the text. It still like sucks but she doesn't treat her like a slave at all so it softens the blow but I want to see some more of the chemistry between those two.

I am curious enough to want to read volume 2 but not so engaged that I think it will be a priority for me. I really want to know what happens in the story so maybe i'll seek out some spoilers and see if they make me want to read more of the series.

[Silverflow_Art · Rating 5 out of 5]

My gay, fantasy loving butt cannot get over this Manga. The art, impeccable, the story dark with the light of hope, the characters maybe a bit 1D but I'm suspecting that they're going to grow and change.

Why is this so underated??? Why is there no Film and Milkit fanart? I want more I need more please give me more!
The HUG???????!!!!!!! I swooned.
Really hoping that Milkit gains some abilities (or has some hidden ones) of her own. Because that poor girl is way to traumatised. She really needed that hug.

I hope she can learn that she's more than a slave and sees Flum as a friend (and more) because it's so heartbreaking that the only relationship she can imagine is master and slave.

Someone get her some soup please.

[Ashe Catlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This really took me by surprise, I thought it'd be another standard Isekai but it wasn't.

It's about this girls, who's supposed to be really powerful but she hasn't, figured out how to use her skills yet. So she is sold off as a slave, shortly after they decided she isn't a good slave and try to kill her. Pretty intense and that's just the first chapters, from there the girl decides to become an adventurer but is discriminated against, due to being a slave.

I really like where this is going, it's a breathe of fresh air and seems to be doing something completely different from other fantasy manga's.

[Moriah Venable · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the novels a long time ago so I don't remember all that happens.

The beginning where Jean Inteige sells her into slavery still angers me. Her grabbing the sword and finding out what her Affinity means is still epic to me. I had hoped that we would see what Milkit's face looked like with the bandages off but we still don't see it.

I am looking forward to reading this adaption. I hope one day this becomes an anime.

[Bat Apocalypse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it. It was very emotionally exhausting for me. I got very angry at a lot of it. If you want a sweet fluffy read this is not for you. But, if you like revenge stories and like being mad this is for you.

[lanmreading manga · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tập 1 chưa có gì mí. Quen đọc mấy bộ chuyển sinh dị giới rồi tới bộ ở dị giới thật không phải chiển sinh thấy thiếu thiếu không quen. Nhưng quan trọng là vẽ gái siêu đẹp siêu đúng gu. Gái nào cũng xinh gu quá chòi oii.

[Fried Potato · Rating 1 out of 5]

wow that's bad.
Its writing stile is exactly like the one from a Netflix show, where they have to constantly explain everything cause they assume everyone is dumb and scrolling on the phone while watching

[alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Manga wasn’t so bad, I wanted a little more after reading the LN but the nice side story at the end made up for it but I would recommend the light novel forsure as opposed to reading the manga

[Sandrine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Heavy themes for something that is supposed to be a bit funny (characters with stats and quirky names) but is absolutely not. Just not my vibe.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume 1: (Chapters 1-4)

[Sunread26 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chronique complète :
https://sunread26.wordpress.com/2024/...

Extrait :
J’avais envie d’essayer d’autres séries de l’éditeur Mahô, car j’avoue ne pas avoir grand-chose de cette maison d’édition. Mon dévolu c’est donc finalement posé sur le premier tome de Roll over and die. Un titre avec une ambiance très sombre à ne pas mettre entre toutes les mains. L’intrigue commence par quelque chose de commun, un groupe de héros est formé afin de combattre le Roi Démon. Malheureusement pour Flamme, sa capacité spéciale fait qu’elle est inutile aux autres membres. L’un d’entre eux, en particulier, ne peut pas accepter d’avoir un poids mort dans l’équipe (vive l’égo, et ce n’est même pas le héros), il va donc la vendre à un marchand d’esclave.

Au bord de la mort, elle finit par céder et prendre en main l’arme maudite, seule solution que propose le marchand, qui se délecte lui aussi du malheur des autres. Pas de bol, il semblerait que l’idiot l’ayant vendu n’avait pas compris la capacité de son ancienne camarade, un comble pour un sage, non (oui je me moque de lui, quelques pages on suffit pour que je lui souhaite le pire) ? D’ailleurs, je me demande bien comment ont été sélectionnés les membres soutenant le héros, parce que choisir un type pareil, c’est quand même une grosse erreur. En tout cas, l’histoire commence très mal pour Flamme, qui faisait pourtant de son mieux pour se rendre utile, quitte à faire toutes les tâches ingrates. Manipulée et abandonnée à son sort, elle ne sait plus vraiment quoi faire, et pense ne plus avoir le droit de vivre. Une rencontre, ainsi qu’un événement, lui feront recouvrir espoir et se libérer d’un lourd fardeau. Sa capacité n’est pas inutile, elle était juste incomprise, et pourtant, elle porte bien son nom pour le coup ! Comme quoi, certains ne réfléchissent pas bien loin… Sa capacité se nomme « Inversion »… pas besoin d’être un sage pour avoir déjà quelques idées et tester des théories jusqu’à trouver la bonne réponse.

J’imagine que ses compagnons avaient essayés de lui donner des armures ou autres équipements, mais comme sa capacité inverse les choses, tout cela était inutile. Au final, il lui faut donc des équipements qui baissent ses stats afin qu’elle inverse cela. D’une certaine manière, son pouvoir est même cheaté, puisqu’une arme maudite, censée faire perdre des PV lui en fera alors gagner. Sans oublier que ses armes ne doivent pas vraiment se vendre, donc elle n’aura pas vraiment de mal à en récupérer pour peu d’argent. Généreuse, elle n’hésitera pas à prendre une autre fille esclave sous son aile, afin de l’aider à s’en sortir, alors même que sa propre situation n’est pas des plus favorables. Milkitte a toujours été une esclave, elle ignore donc tout du traitement normal auquel elle aurait droit. Dans un sens, ce n’est peut-être pas plus mal, mais son manque d’estime d’elle-même énerve Flamme (qui était sans doute déjà contre l’esclavage).

[...]

[Joe Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is... strange... if you like dark fantasy and/or horror, then this is for you.

Very violent, filled with cruel, evil malcontents, horror upon horror thrust upon the MC and her "slave". Looks like they're just getting warmed up. TBH, this was a bit too gruesome for my tastes. It seems to be a great story, but I'm mainly into Yuri, slice-of-life, school-life, some isakai, and rom-coms. I'm most likely not going to continue reading this series. However, like I said, the story is good, and the art decent. So I think many would enjoy this.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unusual start - the lead is special due to being underpowered, almost cursed.