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Zaregoto #2
STRANGULATION: Kubishime Romanticist
When NISIOISIN, Japan’s bestselling novelist, writes a murder mystery, it won’t be like anything you’ve ever read before. Now in a new English translation!
Whether you’re already a fan of Japanese phenom NISIOISIN, or a mystery reader looking for something unusual and compelling, don’t wait to get your hands around Kubishime Romanticist. This follow-up to Decapitation, and the second part of NISIOISIN’s debut Zaregoto series, presents a puzzling murder mystery that tells the story in the voice of a narrator who’s trying his hardest to stay out of the action.
Now that he’s a cool college student, our anti-hero Iichan thinks his crime-solving days are behind him. Cynical, sarcastic and minimally engaged in his studies, Iichan is much more interested in his own feelings of disaffection and isolation. But despite his resolve to remain aloof, he’s pulled into the narrative when he encounters and bonds with a serial killer named Hitoshi Zerozaki – a homicidal maniac with the soul of an artist whose talent is on display at the grisly scenes of his crimes.
Written by Japan’s prolific and top-selling author NISIOISIN, Kubishime Romanticist blends a tale of suspense and detection with an edgy exploration of the nature of talent, violence, and ego. This Vertical edition features a revised translation and new art by acclaimed illustrator take.
Whether you’re already a fan of Japanese phenom NISIOISIN, or a mystery reader looking for something unusual and compelling, don’t wait to get your hands around Kubishime Romanticist. This follow-up to Decapitation, and the second part of NISIOISIN’s debut Zaregoto series, presents a puzzling murder mystery that tells the story in the voice of a narrator who’s trying his hardest to stay out of the action.
Now that he’s a cool college student, our anti-hero Iichan thinks his crime-solving days are behind him. Cynical, sarcastic and minimally engaged in his studies, Iichan is much more interested in his own feelings of disaffection and isolation. But despite his resolve to remain aloof, he’s pulled into the narrative when he encounters and bonds with a serial killer named Hitoshi Zerozaki – a homicidal maniac with the soul of an artist whose talent is on display at the grisly scenes of his crimes.
Written by Japan’s prolific and top-selling author NISIOISIN, Kubishime Romanticist blends a tale of suspense and detection with an edgy exploration of the nature of talent, violence, and ego. This Vertical edition features a revised translation and new art by acclaimed illustrator take.
395 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 8, 2002
30 people are currently reading
487 people want to read
About the author
NisiOisiN
284 books958 followersNisio 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
August 13, 2018
For a 300-page light novel, this book is damn heavy.
Kubikiri Cycle was NisiOisiN's debut novel, and it's about what you'd expect from him if you've watched Katanagatari or read any of the Monogatari Series. The entire narrative has a mystery weaved into it, and spends the vast majority of the novel trying to mislead you in various ways. Mislead you into believing certain things about certain characters, or into misunderstanding what has or is actually happening. It's also a work with strong character personalities and a heavy helping of philosophical offerings.
The difference is that the Zaregoto Series, in direct comparison to the Monogatari Series, seems to focus more on the mysteries than the characters. The characters are still a strong element in the first novel, but they seem almost secondary to the nonsensical mystery taking place in the foreground. Whenever the mystery isn't developing, it focuses on the characters - so it feels like something is always happening, even when the characters are really just waiting for the next part of the mystery to unfold.
The reason I bring up Kubikiri Cycle when what I'm supposed to be talking about is Kubishime Romanticist is because I want to emphasise that Zaregoto is not the kind of series where you can pick up any book in the series and read it without context. This series would not have nearly as much impact if Kubishime Romanticist was the first novel and Kubikiri Cycle was the next. While Kubikiri Cycle is mostly a traditional mystery, it gets pretty crazy toward the end.
Kubishime Romanticist is not a traditional mystery. Not in any sense of the word. There is nothing that is normal about this novel.
Putting aside our bizarre protagonist, Kubishime Romanticist features a serial killer as one of the more prominent characters. And he's the most normal character of the lot of them.
Kubishime Romanticist is unassuming at first, seemingly focusing on our protagonist's daily life back in university. What happens when he's not being dragged to a small island by a bizarre girl who wants to gather the best geniuses in the world in one place by the adorable Kunagisa. Maybe Ii-chan's a bit drab and incomplete as a person, but that doesn't stop Mikoko Aoii from taking an interest in him. Whoever she is. Apparently they've been acquaintances for a while?
Anyway, it's a nice and insightful look into Ii-chan unfiltered. Until the inevitable happens. Until someone is murdered. It's time for things to get serious once more. And when they do, Mikoko is dragged along for the ride. And it's a wild ride at that. Kubishime Romanticist is an absolute monstrosity in terms of themes and mysteries this time around. There's almost no chance you'll guess everything, even if all the clues you need are present the whole while, and that's part of the charm of any well-written mystery.
But Zaregoto takes things further and plays on all the information you'll have gleaned about the series from the first novel. About the characters. About the mysteries. And of course, about the themes. Outstandingly, it still follows the same structure as the previous novel while still managing to subvert and avert the trappings you might expect.
Kubishime Romanticist uses the mystery more as a backdrop for the characters this time. Interwoven with murder mysteries, motives and ostensibly trite wall etchings are mysteries about the characters themselves. In particular, this time around, Zaregoto shines the spotlight on our chronically un-involved Villager B-type protagonist, Ii-chan. About the only thing we know about him from Kubikiri Cycle is that his deductive skills are up to scratch (but, of course, are no match for Humanity's Strongest Contractor), he wants nothing to do with anything aside from Kunagisa, and he's no genius. He's so unimportant to the world, to the mystery, and to everyone in attendance that he doesn't even provide his name. He's totally irrelevant. And, I'll spoil you here, he still doesn't give us any name other than Ii-chan for readers to latch onto in this sequel, either.
What better way, then, to dissect Ii-chan than to have him meet with his mirror image; his doppelganger? This novel is filled to the brim with murder and mayhem, but it dedicates almost as much time to the relationship between Zerozaki Hitoshiki and Ii-chan. Encounters and conversations and debates and complaints and sentiments. It's all here. Ii-chan unmasked. And it's all a great read. Many of their conversations bring a lot of much-needed insight into Ii-chan as a person, and also flesh out Zerozaki as his own person. It makes for an interesting read.
The dramatic moments are incredibly thrilling and gripping to read. I read 150 pages in one day and 150 pages the next. The B-story with Zerozaki takes over when the mystery isn't developing and keeps you on the edge of your seat. When events related to the murder mystery roll back around, the suitably grim and vile atmosphere immerse you in a different way.
This is a solo operation this time. Kunagisa is a mere footnote, and Humanity's Strongest has bigger fish to fry. It's all on our resourceful protagonist to solve the mystery and unravel it all. To bring justice, as it were. It makes for a very different read than Kubikiri Cycle's more co-operative effort.
It's because there are no other characters to take the spotlight from Ii-chan that we get to see first-hand what lengths our apathetic protagonist will go to in order to bring everything to a conclusion.
If Kubikiri Cycle was nonsensical from start to finish, Kubishime Romanticist is a real riot.
The funny moments are surprisingly few in a NisiOisiN novel, but in a novel narrated by Ii-chan of all people, it's not hard to see why. It may be angst-ridden, but the light atmosphere that Zerozaki brings along with him when he shows up prevents Kubishime Romanticist from becoming too heavy, as strange as that might be to say about a serial killer. As soon as something vile happens, a short breather soon follows. But as much as this novel ends on a lighter note, I wouldn't say it's a particularly up-lifting read. In fact, it's outright unpleasant.
It might all be nonsense, but the senseless nature of it all rings rather foul. But in a good way.
This is a well-weaved mystery with much stronger characters than the previous effort. It's better than the first in every way. This is a fantastic sequel, and I can't wait for the third novel, if it'll ever come out in English. The more you read, the harder it is to put down. It starts off somewhat weak, but once it kicks into gear, the themes this time around are a lot stronger and they're handled much better than in Kubikiri Cycle. NisiOisiN's fascination with the talented versus the untalented never caught my interest.
Instead, this is a story about humans and their failures. There are no ideals here.
It's the story of how a fatal wound couldn't stop anything, and of how an even more fatal wound resolved everything without further incident.
Maybe it's even a story of love and loss, though I think it's very disrespectful to frame it like that. There's certainly nothing lovely or romantic about it. This story is twisted beyond measure.
I'm sure it's nothing but a story of hatred. For others. For oneself. Maybe even for the whole world.
The fatal wound in this story; in all of these stories, is suffocation.
This is a story about those who have to keep living despite being unable to breathe,
and those who couldn't.
Kubikiri Cycle was NisiOisiN's debut novel, and it's about what you'd expect from him if you've watched Katanagatari or read any of the Monogatari Series. The entire narrative has a mystery weaved into it, and spends the vast majority of the novel trying to mislead you in various ways. Mislead you into believing certain things about certain characters, or into misunderstanding what has or is actually happening. It's also a work with strong character personalities and a heavy helping of philosophical offerings.
The difference is that the Zaregoto Series, in direct comparison to the Monogatari Series, seems to focus more on the mysteries than the characters. The characters are still a strong element in the first novel, but they seem almost secondary to the nonsensical mystery taking place in the foreground. Whenever the mystery isn't developing, it focuses on the characters - so it feels like something is always happening, even when the characters are really just waiting for the next part of the mystery to unfold.
The reason I bring up Kubikiri Cycle when what I'm supposed to be talking about is Kubishime Romanticist is because I want to emphasise that Zaregoto is not the kind of series where you can pick up any book in the series and read it without context. This series would not have nearly as much impact if Kubishime Romanticist was the first novel and Kubikiri Cycle was the next. While Kubikiri Cycle is mostly a traditional mystery, it gets pretty crazy toward the end.
Kubishime Romanticist is not a traditional mystery. Not in any sense of the word. There is nothing that is normal about this novel.
Putting aside our bizarre protagonist, Kubishime Romanticist features a serial killer as one of the more prominent characters. And he's the most normal character of the lot of them.
Kubishime Romanticist is unassuming at first, seemingly focusing on our protagonist's daily life back in university. What happens when he's not being dragged to a small island by a bizarre girl who wants to gather the best geniuses in the world in one place by the adorable Kunagisa. Maybe Ii-chan's a bit drab and incomplete as a person, but that doesn't stop Mikoko Aoii from taking an interest in him. Whoever she is. Apparently they've been acquaintances for a while?
Anyway, it's a nice and insightful look into Ii-chan unfiltered. Until the inevitable happens. Until someone is murdered. It's time for things to get serious once more. And when they do, Mikoko is dragged along for the ride. And it's a wild ride at that. Kubishime Romanticist is an absolute monstrosity in terms of themes and mysteries this time around. There's almost no chance you'll guess everything, even if all the clues you need are present the whole while, and that's part of the charm of any well-written mystery.
But Zaregoto takes things further and plays on all the information you'll have gleaned about the series from the first novel. About the characters. About the mysteries. And of course, about the themes. Outstandingly, it still follows the same structure as the previous novel while still managing to subvert and avert the trappings you might expect.
Kubishime Romanticist uses the mystery more as a backdrop for the characters this time. Interwoven with murder mysteries, motives and ostensibly trite wall etchings are mysteries about the characters themselves. In particular, this time around, Zaregoto shines the spotlight on our chronically un-involved Villager B-type protagonist, Ii-chan. About the only thing we know about him from Kubikiri Cycle is that his deductive skills are up to scratch (but, of course, are no match for Humanity's Strongest Contractor), he wants nothing to do with anything aside from Kunagisa, and he's no genius. He's so unimportant to the world, to the mystery, and to everyone in attendance that he doesn't even provide his name. He's totally irrelevant. And, I'll spoil you here, he still doesn't give us any name other than Ii-chan for readers to latch onto in this sequel, either.
What better way, then, to dissect Ii-chan than to have him meet with his mirror image; his doppelganger? This novel is filled to the brim with murder and mayhem, but it dedicates almost as much time to the relationship between Zerozaki Hitoshiki and Ii-chan. Encounters and conversations and debates and complaints and sentiments. It's all here. Ii-chan unmasked. And it's all a great read. Many of their conversations bring a lot of much-needed insight into Ii-chan as a person, and also flesh out Zerozaki as his own person. It makes for an interesting read.
The dramatic moments are incredibly thrilling and gripping to read. I read 150 pages in one day and 150 pages the next. The B-story with Zerozaki takes over when the mystery isn't developing and keeps you on the edge of your seat. When events related to the murder mystery roll back around, the suitably grim and vile atmosphere immerse you in a different way.
This is a solo operation this time. Kunagisa is a mere footnote, and Humanity's Strongest has bigger fish to fry. It's all on our resourceful protagonist to solve the mystery and unravel it all. To bring justice, as it were. It makes for a very different read than Kubikiri Cycle's more co-operative effort.
It's because there are no other characters to take the spotlight from Ii-chan that we get to see first-hand what lengths our apathetic protagonist will go to in order to bring everything to a conclusion.
If Kubikiri Cycle was nonsensical from start to finish, Kubishime Romanticist is a real riot.
The funny moments are surprisingly few in a NisiOisiN novel, but in a novel narrated by Ii-chan of all people, it's not hard to see why. It may be angst-ridden, but the light atmosphere that Zerozaki brings along with him when he shows up prevents Kubishime Romanticist from becoming too heavy, as strange as that might be to say about a serial killer. As soon as something vile happens, a short breather soon follows. But as much as this novel ends on a lighter note, I wouldn't say it's a particularly up-lifting read. In fact, it's outright unpleasant.
It might all be nonsense, but the senseless nature of it all rings rather foul. But in a good way.
This is a well-weaved mystery with much stronger characters than the previous effort. It's better than the first in every way. This is a fantastic sequel, and I can't wait for the third novel, if it'll ever come out in English. The more you read, the harder it is to put down. It starts off somewhat weak, but once it kicks into gear, the themes this time around are a lot stronger and they're handled much better than in Kubikiri Cycle. NisiOisiN's fascination with the talented versus the untalented never caught my interest.
Instead, this is a story about humans and their failures. There are no ideals here.
It's the story of how a fatal wound couldn't stop anything, and of how an even more fatal wound resolved everything without further incident.
Maybe it's even a story of love and loss, though I think it's very disrespectful to frame it like that. There's certainly nothing lovely or romantic about it. This story is twisted beyond measure.
I'm sure it's nothing but a story of hatred. For others. For oneself. Maybe even for the whole world.
The fatal wound in this story; in all of these stories, is suffocation.
This is a story about those who have to keep living despite being unable to breathe,
and those who couldn't.
May 28, 2018
Nisioisin just has this way of writing dialogue, whether it is internal or external, that makes me not want to stop reading. Ii-chan even as emotionless as he is, a defective product in his own words, Nisiosin makes him legit interesting. Also this is another brilliant murder mystery. I didn't see the twists coming at all, and yes twists. It's one of those things where even if you were to guess one of the twists, good luck guessing both. While I really enjoyed Decapitation, Strangulation was even better! Between this series and the Monogatari series, people should not sleep on Nisioisin and his light novels. They are immensely enjoyable with fantastic writing.
March 27, 2014
I had this preordered for when it came out (last year?) and proceeded to read it within a day. I read it again during the spring of this year and I enjoyed it both times. The book helped to further convince me that Nishio Ishin is one of my favorite authors. I highly recomended it to those who enjoyed the beheading cycle as its just as addicting and piquant as the first. As I read it I wanted more and more, even though I was thorougly stuffed, so I just kept eating, I mean reading, until I finished it all in one go. Then I was left satisfied with the novel as a whole but badly desiring a translation third. Sadly, it seems that the third one is probably not going to be translated any time in the near future. There is no cliffhangers or anything, I simply love his writing and the characters in the series that I want more. The only downside, aside from the lack of a third translation, is that Kunagisa is more a side character who only appears, aside from phone calls and emails, in the final chapter. However, her absense is easily made up for with the heavy presense of Aikawa Jun. Overall, its a bit darker than the first and its ending once again managed to suprise me in new ways.
February 2, 2015
My opinion of the first book in this series was mostly just that it was a very intelligent murder mystery with excellent twists and turns right to the end, but this one manages to also go brilliantly deep into Ii-chan's character and the deconstruction of the facade he puts up to everyone around him, the reader and even himself. I had someone telling me before I read this that he really loved the main character. From the first book, I couldn't see it, but now I hold a much deeper love for Ii-chan and most definitely want to read on.
The plot itself, although it isn't particularly fast-paced and relies a lot on dialogue (as is the light novel format), is well worth it. The twist in the tale is almost as good as the first book, but the bigger twist is more how your opinion on Ii-chan changes even right at the last few pages, shifting your perspective on a lot of the earlier conversations depicted.
If you enjoyed the first book, or even if you were left feeling slight disappointed by it, I definitely recommend this one.
The plot itself, although it isn't particularly fast-paced and relies a lot on dialogue (as is the light novel format), is well worth it. The twist in the tale is almost as good as the first book, but the bigger twist is more how your opinion on Ii-chan changes even right at the last few pages, shifting your perspective on a lot of the earlier conversations depicted.
If you enjoyed the first book, or even if you were left feeling slight disappointed by it, I definitely recommend this one.
June 30, 2018
Strangulation is a mystery novel that approaches human nature, as well as murder, as a case that needs to be solved.
Like its predecessor, the novel takes the time to debate the morality of murder, but its major focus is on the line between conformity and individuality. This theme is reflected in our nameless narrator, Boku (“I”), called Ikkun by his classmates, and his budding friendship(?) with the serial killer Zerozaki Hitoshiki. Both refuse to conform to society, and both consider themselves defective products due to their lack of empathy; they see each other as two sides of the same coin, one that chose to manifest it through extreme violence, and one that chose extreme apathy. On the other hand, through the examples of college classmates such as Mikoko, Tomoe, and Muimi, the lack of will in conformity, and the absorption into society without considering one’s goals and individuality, results in defective products as well. At which point do the characters become “no longer human”?
Ikkun examines three murders in the backdrop of a serial killing spree in Kyoto, though evidence suggests ‘the Prowler’ Hitoshiki Zerozaki is not the culprit behind Ikkun’s current puzzle. As a narrator, Ikkun is a master of maintaining tension throughout his investigation; the ‘whodunnit’ was strong and well-played. Furthermore, Ikkun takes the unreliable narrator archetype and raises it to a whole new level. Only by distrusting him and the suspects can the mystery be truly puzzled out before the full discussion with Aikawa in the epilogue.
Ikkun’s journey to find the culprit takes him through a colorful cast of characters that are so eccentric it stretches incredulity, though their personalities are so well-tailored that even with their strangeness, they feel fully three-dimensional. Within the context of the Zaregoto universe, they fit in perfectly. Favorites Kunagisa and Aikawa make brief appearances to supplement the new cast with a little flavor of Ikkun’s past.
“Everyone I meet is a genius with a bad personality. I was hoping to meet someone stupid but nice,” Ikkun laments to Detective Sasa Sasaki. Whether he’s telling the truth or not is up for debate; it’s the personalities of the cast that drive the mystery, and it’s the personalities, good, bad, or mad, that make this novel so successful.
Like its predecessor, the novel takes the time to debate the morality of murder, but its major focus is on the line between conformity and individuality. This theme is reflected in our nameless narrator, Boku (“I”), called Ikkun by his classmates, and his budding friendship(?) with the serial killer Zerozaki Hitoshiki. Both refuse to conform to society, and both consider themselves defective products due to their lack of empathy; they see each other as two sides of the same coin, one that chose to manifest it through extreme violence, and one that chose extreme apathy. On the other hand, through the examples of college classmates such as Mikoko, Tomoe, and Muimi, the lack of will in conformity, and the absorption into society without considering one’s goals and individuality, results in defective products as well. At which point do the characters become “no longer human”?
Ikkun examines three murders in the backdrop of a serial killing spree in Kyoto, though evidence suggests ‘the Prowler’ Hitoshiki Zerozaki is not the culprit behind Ikkun’s current puzzle. As a narrator, Ikkun is a master of maintaining tension throughout his investigation; the ‘whodunnit’ was strong and well-played. Furthermore, Ikkun takes the unreliable narrator archetype and raises it to a whole new level. Only by distrusting him and the suspects can the mystery be truly puzzled out before the full discussion with Aikawa in the epilogue.
Ikkun’s journey to find the culprit takes him through a colorful cast of characters that are so eccentric it stretches incredulity, though their personalities are so well-tailored that even with their strangeness, they feel fully three-dimensional. Within the context of the Zaregoto universe, they fit in perfectly. Favorites Kunagisa and Aikawa make brief appearances to supplement the new cast with a little flavor of Ikkun’s past.
“Everyone I meet is a genius with a bad personality. I was hoping to meet someone stupid but nice,” Ikkun laments to Detective Sasa Sasaki. Whether he’s telling the truth or not is up for debate; it’s the personalities of the cast that drive the mystery, and it’s the personalities, good, bad, or mad, that make this novel so successful.
August 31, 2021
7/10
Good story but way too over the top, also I don't like the protagonist's mindset at all 😧 Think I'm gonna take a break from this series, it feels too much like I'm reading an anime in book format lol I'd rather continue Fata or actual books.
= to book 1
Good story but way too over the top, also I don't like the protagonist's mindset at all 😧 Think I'm gonna take a break from this series, it feels too much like I'm reading an anime in book format lol I'd rather continue Fata or actual books.
= to book 1
April 22, 2021
Phải gọi là siêuuuuu thíchhhhhhhhh. Giọng văn vẫn dị dị thôi rồi nhưng lại quá hợp gu toi. Thích nhất Zerozaki, dù ẻm là sát nhân liên hoàn nhưng tính ẻm hay thật sự luôn =))). Vẫn là "lời nói đùa" thật giả lẫn lộn, tưởng chỉ vậy thôi nhưng chân tướng vẫn khác biệt =)). Xoay vòng vòng thực sự luôn.
"Tôi" thông minh vkl mà nó cứ tự nhận nó ngu dốt, ngu dốt như vậy tôi cũng muốn ngu 🥲🥲🥲
Chốt lại là 5 saooooo
"Tôi" thông minh vkl mà nó cứ tự nhận nó ngu dốt, ngu dốt như vậy tôi cũng muốn ngu 🥲🥲🥲
Chốt lại là 5 saooooo
June 26, 2021
Rather than a profound exploration of themes of genius, failure, and life, it just comes across as a whole lot of edgy monologuing and boring college life. The mystery is disappointing to boot. The narrator has become even more unlikable. The meta and philosophical dialogues people love this author for are happening too much inside his own head. Sadly, I don't think I'll continue this series, but I'm excited to start his more famous Monogatari novels.
November 20, 2020
Overall, I liked it quite a lot. Nice character study of the protagonist and the other characters were realistic and likable.
However, there were a few things that didn't make much sense to me:
1. The fact that Aoii can kill Tomoe just because she had thought that the two of them would get closer. I mean, I get the fact that it's a murder (mystery) story so that's how it's supposed to go but her motivations kinda seem unrealistic to me. I mean, it would've been believable if Ii and Tomoe actually did get together. But that's not what happened. Also, why would she invite Ii to the birthday party if she was that scared of them getting close to each other?
This was the major problem I had with this volume.
Other than this, I didn't like the fact that - as Aikawa pointed out in the last chapter - Ii overlooking the countless murders that Zerozaki had committed but going over his way and condemning a bunch of young adults for committing one murder. Like, dude, if you're going to condemn them - which you should - why are you hanging out with Zerozaki just because you think he is like you, or that he represents you if you hadn't suppressed your desires or whatever? I wouldn't really count this as an objective flaw of the story, I guess, but rather, just a subjective viewpoint on Ii's character. It's flawed and that's how he is, of course, but then again, that's how he shouldn't be. He is actually a lot like me - as in, I'm always like, "yeah, well, whatever" and then go along living my life just like that without outside situations affect me all that much, but I would definitely condemn Zerozaki. But then again, this isn't my story but Ii's, so whatever.
However, there were a few things that didn't make much sense to me:
1. The fact that Aoii can kill Tomoe just because she had thought that the two of them would get closer. I mean, I get the fact that it's a murder (mystery) story so that's how it's supposed to go but her motivations kinda seem unrealistic to me. I mean, it would've been believable if Ii and Tomoe actually did get together. But that's not what happened. Also, why would she invite Ii to the birthday party if she was that scared of them getting close to each other?
This was the major problem I had with this volume.
Other than this, I didn't like the fact that - as Aikawa pointed out in the last chapter - Ii overlooking the countless murders that Zerozaki had committed but going over his way and condemning a bunch of young adults for committing one murder. Like, dude, if you're going to condemn them - which you should - why are you hanging out with Zerozaki just because you think he is like you, or that he represents you if you hadn't suppressed your desires or whatever? I wouldn't really count this as an objective flaw of the story, I guess, but rather, just a subjective viewpoint on Ii's character. It's flawed and that's how he is, of course, but then again, that's how he shouldn't be. He is actually a lot like me - as in, I'm always like, "yeah, well, whatever" and then go along living my life just like that without outside situations affect me all that much, but I would definitely condemn Zerozaki. But then again, this isn't my story but Ii's, so whatever.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2022
Started strong and finished stronger than book 1, but also a weaker middle game. Zerozaki was the highlight of the story, even compared to Ikkun’s added depth. They shared an excellent dynamic with fantastic characterization. Jun and Ikkun are a lot of fun when they “goof around” and also, dare I say it, share a great dynamic(also, that carotid artery scene 💀). I liked Muimi a lot and thought her and Ikkuns climax was pretty amazing. Mikoko wasn’t incredibly compelling imo. Wasn’t mind blowing like promised, not incredibly emotional or philosophically pontent, albeit interesting. The edge was fun. Not much more to say, decent 7 it is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2018
I'm a NisiOisiN fan because of this novel. It has all the elements I like: an impossible murder (this is a recurring theme for the Zaregoto novels, while Nisio eventually veered away from the usual locked room mystery tropes, impossible murders are still very much at its core), some gruesome details, a lot of background flavour, and an enjoyable cast. But also, lest we forget: an unreliable narrator. We already know Ikkun isn't the most trustworthy character in the series, but this is where we start realising just why so many people hated him in Kubikiri Cycle and just how far his apathy and ruthlessness can go.
In Kubishime Romanticist we see more of Ikkun's life at university and his lack of interest in making connections there. He meets Aoii Mikoko, a classmate whom he had forgotten entirely despite working with her on a project previously. She seems to know what makes him tick and is very invested in becoming his friend.
Of course, this being Ikkun, murders start happening when he's around. In this case and unlike in Kubikiri Cycle where he's really just caught in the crossfire, the events in the second novel happened because Ikkun is there. It's like adding a bad variable and having the program crash. He pretends that none of this is related to him, that he's just a bystander, but admits after some pressing by Aikawa that he has manipulated some of the events to suit his needs. We're quite free to judge him for his warped sense of balance and justice: the novels and Ikkun himself has told us from the start that he's an atrocious human being.
Another element that drives this nail home is the existence of Zerozaki Hitoshiki, the Kyoto Prowler who kills indiscriminately. Ikkun sees Zerozaki as his mirror image (and vice versa). In short: had Ikkun not failed in life, he would have become Zerozaki. And had Zerozaki not been successful, he would have become Ikkun. Needless to say, their relationship is built on self-hatred, hating each other, and also a sense of comfort. They spend a LOT of time talking to each other. At one point even when Ikkun is on the verge of collapse.
But the humour of their conversations aside, it's easier to get a grip on what Ikkun is really like via Zerozaki. No matter how charming he could be, Zerozaki has no morals and is quite honest about his deficiencies. With him mirroring Ikkun like this, we get a better picture of what Ikkun is like without the filter of unconditional love that comes from Tomo in the first novel.
Mostly I love this novel because of one question Ikkun asks at the beginning: what counts as a fatal wound? He continues to say that a fatal wound is when you die but continue to live. For Ikkun this is when he realises he's not a genius and would never be a genius. Living most of your life thinking you're hot stuff and looking down on other people, only to face real genius somewhere along the line and realising one is in fact mediocre? That counts as a fatal wound. I needed to hear that at the time. Just like I think Ikkun needed to meet Zerozaki.
Anyway, this edition is the Vertical reprint of the DelRey version translated by Greg Moore, but with some revisions. This time I did make some comparisons, so if you care about that sort of thing:
1, they took out the honorifics. To people who got confused about Ikkun calling people Tomo-chan and Aikawa-san, no need to fret. Vertical removed all that. I can't say I like it, seeing as how Ikkun uses honorifics to distance himself from people, but that's Vertical's call in the end.
2, some of the terminology has changed. The most obvious example is probably the list of characters that appear at the beginning of the novels: in the DelRey edition, Zerozaki was billed as 'the murderer' (I thought that was such a power move, to say from the beginning whodunnit, except of course, Zerozaki isn't connected to the case at all). The Vertical reprint bills him as 'Serial Killer'. Ikkun's nickname (the one Zerozaki calls him by) is changed from Damaged Goods to Defective Product while Zerozaki's nickname is changed from Human Failure to No Longer Human. (Which makes sense because it references Dazai's novel, but literariness aside Human Failure is actually a pretty accurate translation of 人間失格 so I guess they decided to make the reference more obvious but it sounds kind of clunky as a nickname.)
Minor terms like 'homicidal monster' (referring to Zerozaki) got changed to 'serial killer' while 'murderer' (referring to the culprit) to 'culprit of homicide' in Nisio's afterword. I have no idea why they did that.
3, some lines that have been cut out of the DelRey edition have been reinstalled. For example a conversation between Ikkun and Mikoko during their first meeting that was probably cut out because it referenced something too Japanese to make sense to an English speaking audience. It's back now. Line breaks and light novel punctuation marks ('---!') have either been taken out or reinstated.
All in all, I'd say buy this version too even if you already have the DelRey version, but the 'definitive edition' is probably somewhere between the two. For that I take one star less from my rating. I have no idea why some of those changes had been made.
Still hoping Vertical keeps translating the rest of the series though! (It probably won't happen, but I don't see why they'd release Katanagatari in favour of Zaregoto. But we'll see.)
In Kubishime Romanticist we see more of Ikkun's life at university and his lack of interest in making connections there. He meets Aoii Mikoko, a classmate whom he had forgotten entirely despite working with her on a project previously. She seems to know what makes him tick and is very invested in becoming his friend.
Of course, this being Ikkun, murders start happening when he's around. In this case and unlike in Kubikiri Cycle where he's really just caught in the crossfire, the events in the second novel happened because Ikkun is there. It's like adding a bad variable and having the program crash. He pretends that none of this is related to him, that he's just a bystander, but admits after some pressing by Aikawa that he has manipulated some of the events to suit his needs. We're quite free to judge him for his warped sense of balance and justice: the novels and Ikkun himself has told us from the start that he's an atrocious human being.
Another element that drives this nail home is the existence of Zerozaki Hitoshiki, the Kyoto Prowler who kills indiscriminately. Ikkun sees Zerozaki as his mirror image (and vice versa). In short: had Ikkun not failed in life, he would have become Zerozaki. And had Zerozaki not been successful, he would have become Ikkun. Needless to say, their relationship is built on self-hatred, hating each other, and also a sense of comfort. They spend a LOT of time talking to each other. At one point even when Ikkun is on the verge of collapse.
But the humour of their conversations aside, it's easier to get a grip on what Ikkun is really like via Zerozaki. No matter how charming he could be, Zerozaki has no morals and is quite honest about his deficiencies. With him mirroring Ikkun like this, we get a better picture of what Ikkun is like without the filter of unconditional love that comes from Tomo in the first novel.
Mostly I love this novel because of one question Ikkun asks at the beginning: what counts as a fatal wound? He continues to say that a fatal wound is when you die but continue to live. For Ikkun this is when he realises he's not a genius and would never be a genius. Living most of your life thinking you're hot stuff and looking down on other people, only to face real genius somewhere along the line and realising one is in fact mediocre? That counts as a fatal wound. I needed to hear that at the time. Just like I think Ikkun needed to meet Zerozaki.
Anyway, this edition is the Vertical reprint of the DelRey version translated by Greg Moore, but with some revisions. This time I did make some comparisons, so if you care about that sort of thing:
1, they took out the honorifics. To people who got confused about Ikkun calling people Tomo-chan and Aikawa-san, no need to fret. Vertical removed all that. I can't say I like it, seeing as how Ikkun uses honorifics to distance himself from people, but that's Vertical's call in the end.
2, some of the terminology has changed. The most obvious example is probably the list of characters that appear at the beginning of the novels: in the DelRey edition, Zerozaki was billed as 'the murderer' (I thought that was such a power move, to say from the beginning whodunnit, except of course, Zerozaki isn't connected to the case at all). The Vertical reprint bills him as 'Serial Killer'. Ikkun's nickname (the one Zerozaki calls him by) is changed from Damaged Goods to Defective Product while Zerozaki's nickname is changed from Human Failure to No Longer Human. (Which makes sense because it references Dazai's novel, but literariness aside Human Failure is actually a pretty accurate translation of 人間失格 so I guess they decided to make the reference more obvious but it sounds kind of clunky as a nickname.)
Minor terms like 'homicidal monster' (referring to Zerozaki) got changed to 'serial killer' while 'murderer' (referring to the culprit) to 'culprit of homicide' in Nisio's afterword. I have no idea why they did that.
3, some lines that have been cut out of the DelRey edition have been reinstalled. For example a conversation between Ikkun and Mikoko during their first meeting that was probably cut out because it referenced something too Japanese to make sense to an English speaking audience. It's back now. Line breaks and light novel punctuation marks ('---!') have either been taken out or reinstated.
All in all, I'd say buy this version too even if you already have the DelRey version, but the 'definitive edition' is probably somewhere between the two. For that I take one star less from my rating. I have no idea why some of those changes had been made.
Still hoping Vertical keeps translating the rest of the series though! (It probably won't happen, but I don't see why they'd release Katanagatari in favour of Zaregoto. But we'll see.)
Read
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January 3, 2022
"I wanted you to save me"
September 11, 2022
'Dad, why is my sister's name Rose?'
'Because your mother loved roses'
'Thanks, Dad'
'No problem, Strangulation: Kubishime Romanticist - No Longer Human - Hitoshiki Zerozaki'
'Because your mother loved roses'
'Thanks, Dad'
'No problem, Strangulation: Kubishime Romanticist - No Longer Human - Hitoshiki Zerozaki'
October 31, 2024
Zaregoto Book 2, a mystery light novel being his second published work after Zaregoto Book 1, is a phenomenal improvement over it's predecessor in so much ways and what absoluetly shocks me is that this light novel was written in only 2 days, which is really surprising to me because this is a 368-page novel which struck me really hard with the overall quality of the dialogue and it's views on using human psychology and approaching it as a form of murder case, which is something I really adore, and Zaregoto Book 2 finally achieves what I wanted to see out of it.
I don't know what NisioIsin ate to write a continuation this wonderful, but this novel was really poignant and one of my favourite things about NisioIsin is really talented at writing "mirror" characters like in his more recent work with the Monogatari series, and this one is no exception. Zerozaki and Ii-chan I find to be very engaging, and what I find really cool is that Boku ("I") is such a plain character, but as it goes, NisioIsin is able to make this very plain character and his façade seeing the ins & outs of his psychology a thrill.
While I still believe that this novel has this kink about how much the word "nonsense" is being used as a catchphrase of Ii-chan, it's sort of growing on me pretty badly, I still don't think the catchphrases being used in this light novel are as efficient as the ones NisioIsin uses in his later works, but I think that overall, it's one of my favourite novels out of his yet.
I don't know what NisioIsin ate to write a continuation this wonderful, but this novel was really poignant and one of my favourite things about NisioIsin is really talented at writing "mirror" characters like in his more recent work with the Monogatari series, and this one is no exception. Zerozaki and Ii-chan I find to be very engaging, and what I find really cool is that Boku ("I") is such a plain character, but as it goes, NisioIsin is able to make this very plain character and his façade seeing the ins & outs of his psychology a thrill.
While I still believe that this novel has this kink about how much the word "nonsense" is being used as a catchphrase of Ii-chan, it's sort of growing on me pretty badly, I still don't think the catchphrases being used in this light novel are as efficient as the ones NisioIsin uses in his later works, but I think that overall, it's one of my favourite novels out of his yet.
November 17, 2023
I have so many thoughts on this crazy little novel. Once again Nisioisin showcases his fun twisted little mind and he’s really good at writing twisted little unorthodox mysteries. Iichan comes upon a group of friends one of them being Mikoko Aoii who invited him to a party. Without spoiling too much, a murder occurs and the events begins to spiral out of control. We’re also introduced to a serial killer named Hitoshiki Zerozaki, who by all accounts, is the most normal person in this entire novel. I really did enjoy Strangulation Romanticist. It was unerving, thrilling, and thought provoking throughout and I can see why so many who have read the Zaregoto series, has enjoyed this one. While it did take me awhile to finish and there were some parts that tended to ramble on or be overly vague, I still had a good time. Nisioisin is really unique when it comes to his writing and characters and despite some flaws, I always come back to his books cause they’re just so much fun. I also love a good mysteries that breaks the rules from time to time.
December 23, 2023
First, you have to read Book 1: The Kubikiri Cycle, then you have to know this one is much better than that one.
In this book the aspect of the unreliable narrator Ii-chan is even stronger here, and the characters are ironically more interesting because they're not "geniuses." This book also is less of a straightforward investigation novel, and due to this and NisioisiN (and the translator, Greg Moore in my copy) hitting a stride in character voice, the story flows smoother and is more engrossing. It still has its quirks like the tongue-in-cheek nicknames and the silly analogies. It has numerous references to Japanese pop culture that I don't get, but I imagine a Japanese person who watches Psyche might have similar problems, and we can both still enjoy the ride.
I also found the twists more interesting especially because of our narrator here - but I shan't say more. If you click with the narrator in Book 1 and you like a mystery that keeps you guessing (even when you guess right), Zaregoto is worth the fun ride for at least these first two books.
In this book the aspect of the unreliable narrator Ii-chan is even stronger here, and the characters are ironically more interesting because they're not "geniuses." This book also is less of a straightforward investigation novel, and due to this and NisioisiN (and the translator, Greg Moore in my copy) hitting a stride in character voice, the story flows smoother and is more engrossing. It still has its quirks like the tongue-in-cheek nicknames and the silly analogies. It has numerous references to Japanese pop culture that I don't get, but I imagine a Japanese person who watches Psyche might have similar problems, and we can both still enjoy the ride.
I also found the twists more interesting especially because of our narrator here - but I shan't say more. If you click with the narrator in Book 1 and you like a mystery that keeps you guessing (even when you guess right), Zaregoto is worth the fun ride for at least these first two books.
June 4, 2019
Quick Thoughts:
Unreliable narrators are so frustrating.
I’m unsatisfied, does this even count as a good mystery?
The murder case was secondary to the MC’s self indulgence about telling everyone his character. I do that too but if the parts with him talking about himself were removed there’d barely be a bk left.
Pretty sad that a character I liked died, barely knew em but seemed like be interesting, actually I could say that about another murder victim we spent even less time with too.
The serial killer was a pretty interesting character. I liked his relationship with the MC.
I’m not sure if I don’t like the MC or if I’m indifferent to him lol, overall he’s okay but lies all the time it’s kinda annoying. Especially since this is from his POV!
I actually really liked the last line.
Wish this includes footnotes.
Maybe I’ll borrow the next book from the library?
Unreliable narrators are so frustrating.
I’m unsatisfied, does this even count as a good mystery?
The murder case was secondary to the MC’s self indulgence about telling everyone his character. I do that too but if the parts with him talking about himself were removed there’d barely be a bk left.
Pretty sad that a character I liked died, barely knew em but seemed like be interesting, actually I could say that about another murder victim we spent even less time with too.
The serial killer was a pretty interesting character. I liked his relationship with the MC.
I’m not sure if I don’t like the MC or if I’m indifferent to him lol, overall he’s okay but lies all the time it’s kinda annoying. Especially since this is from his POV!
I actually really liked the last line.
Wish this includes footnotes.
Maybe I’ll borrow the next book from the library?
April 25, 2018
...........
This is one of the most brilliant books I've ever read. Nisioisin, self-indulgent bastard that he is, is on an entirely different level of skill from other writers and he clearly knows it. The plotting, the characters, even the pseudo-philosophical asides...it was wonderful. I'd never thought I'd enjoy a serial-killer side character quite so much, and I found the first couple deaths to be very affecting. This was one of the most enjoyable books I'd ever read, up until the third murder.
Unfortunately, Nisioisin turns it all into a sick joke at the end. Again. He did this in the first book too, and I'd be an idiot for falling for it again if he wasn't so good. Maybe I am an idiot anyways. In the end, it's all nonsense. As he told you it would be in the beginning.
I look forward to reading further into this series only to be tricked again and again.
This is one of the most brilliant books I've ever read. Nisioisin, self-indulgent bastard that he is, is on an entirely different level of skill from other writers and he clearly knows it. The plotting, the characters, even the pseudo-philosophical asides...it was wonderful. I'd never thought I'd enjoy a serial-killer side character quite so much, and I found the first couple deaths to be very affecting. This was one of the most enjoyable books I'd ever read, up until the third murder.
Unfortunately, Nisioisin turns it all into a sick joke at the end. Again. He did this in the first book too, and I'd be an idiot for falling for it again if he wasn't so good. Maybe I am an idiot anyways. In the end, it's all nonsense. As he told you it would be in the beginning.
I look forward to reading further into this series only to be tricked again and again.
April 5, 2019
I held off on reading Strangulation for the longest time when there had been no announcement for the third book in the series, but since Vertical has resolved that now, I finally got around to reading it. If I were to rate this book on the plot alone, it'd be 3 stars. However, I gave it 4 stars instead for one reason: Ii-chan, the unnamed narrator. I found the mystery to be of less interest to wanting to know about Ii-chan himself.
Having read so many light novels where the main character is bland or is defaulted to honest and good, it was refreshing to read one who appears normal on the surface but is frighteningly neurotic and way more complicated and eccentric than he first appears. I found him interesting even if he's a horrible human being. I hope we get more of his past in future volumes. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series.
Having read so many light novels where the main character is bland or is defaulted to honest and good, it was refreshing to read one who appears normal on the surface but is frighteningly neurotic and way more complicated and eccentric than he first appears. I found him interesting even if he's a horrible human being. I hope we get more of his past in future volumes. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series.
September 9, 2023
”Don’t be so spoiled.”
A super rich second entry that has my thoughts scrambled as of writing this. I personally love NisiOisin’s use of an unrealizable narrator, and think it payed off perfectly with that finale. We learn so much about Ii in this through his conversation, and the whole friend group and their “love” was enticing. There’s value in the cause of death being strangulation, and that suffocating love. That final line sent chills, and I know it’s going be significant later on in the series with Kunagisa. Zerozaki was super intriguing as well, and his mirror with our narrator was the highlight of the book. Loved it.
A super rich second entry that has my thoughts scrambled as of writing this. I personally love NisiOisin’s use of an unrealizable narrator, and think it payed off perfectly with that finale. We learn so much about Ii in this through his conversation, and the whole friend group and their “love” was enticing. There’s value in the cause of death being strangulation, and that suffocating love. That final line sent chills, and I know it’s going be significant later on in the series with Kunagisa. Zerozaki was super intriguing as well, and his mirror with our narrator was the highlight of the book. Loved it.
March 4, 2019
Nisioisin is an accomplished writer, though this book is a bit of a difficult read - the narrator has a nonstandard outlook on society and befriends a serial killer, which gives rise to some odd internal and spoken dialogue. Some aspects of the mystery itself feel like "cheating" as well. People who enjoy nisioisin will feel at home and probably love this work, but I wouldn't recommend it to someone who, say, normally enjoys Agatha Christie style murder mysteries and wants a run-of-the-mill mystery read.
July 5, 2020
I thought this book was a very fast paced and good first book in the Zaregoto series. Iichan's inner dialogue is funny and relatable, while you love the relationship between him and Kunagisa (who is brilliant by the way). NisiOisiN makes sure you are able to keep track of all the characters and provides them with dynamic- and may I say sometimes confusing personalities that contradict everything you ever thought. Although this book was good I don't believe the resolution was all that concise (although that may be the point).
April 9, 2023
No podía ser mejor secuela de verdad, es totalmente increíble, vaya giro de guión justo al final y como simplemente creo que este libro solo está hecho como experimento del propio autor. Si en la adaptación al anime vemos un protagonista seco, en este conoces aún más su mentalidad, de hecho, el autor hace muy bien al protagonista para que consigas odiarle pero aún tengas esperanzas en que cambie, pero esto nunca va así con Nisi. Ojalá pudiese explicar todo lo que me hizo sentir, para mi es un regreso a cuando veía monogatari series pero sin repugnancia sobre el hecho. "Quería que me salvarás"
January 3, 2024
now this book was amazing since this is where the characterization of the main character happened. it's hard to gauge his reactions and understand what his true mindset is like since he's an unreliable narrator. always tricking the reader and the people around him. some truth does get revealed at the end about his character, but even then you're led with a mistrusting relationship with the mc. now the mystery was also fantastic like usual with bunch of plot twists. but because of the focus on the mc, and questioning his relationship with kunagisa, this novel goes ahead of vol 1
April 26, 2025
Honestly the murder mystery and the solution itself isn't that particularly interesting. However, the motives are. As I mentioned in the first book's review, the characters are the mystery in my opinion. It was really weird. To this day much of what the main character and that certain dangerous character's interaction isn't understood by me. Red herrings in the mystery. Its all nonsense anyway.
Anyway. Superb character design, and not visual design, but their personalities overall. Absurd stuff. Makes you want to eat a bowl of Kimchee.
Anyway. Superb character design, and not visual design, but their personalities overall. Absurd stuff. Makes you want to eat a bowl of Kimchee.
May 14, 2018
Wow, the twist. Not only the twist for the murder, but the twist of the characters are big as well. Thanks to this book I got to know how good a con man is I( the narrator, but you know).
Definitely one of the best book I've ever read so far. I hope Vertical would bring the whole series to America soon, because it is one of the best Light Novel series in Japan, and how could they forget about it.
Definitely one of the best book I've ever read so far. I hope Vertical would bring the whole series to America soon, because it is one of the best Light Novel series in Japan, and how could they forget about it.
May 13, 2020
so với tập 1 thì tập 2 này có sự tiếp nối xứng đáng. từ bối cảnh, tuyến truyện và nhân vật đã có sự cô đọng chất, đắt. tâm lý nhân vật có diễn tiến rõ ràng, mạch truyện lôi cuốn chỉ bằng những chi tiết đơn giản, bí ẩn. từng nhân vật được khắc hoạ rõ nét và nổi bật.
tác giả viết đầy dụng ý nhầm đưa đẩy cảm xúc người đọc tài tình. đưa thêm những nút thắt nhỏ trong cốt truyện đã rất bí hiểm và gây tò mò cao.
cá nhân mình đánh giá tập 2 này rất xuất sắc.
tác giả viết đầy dụng ý nhầm đưa đẩy cảm xúc người đọc tài tình. đưa thêm những nút thắt nhỏ trong cốt truyện đã rất bí hiểm và gây tò mò cao.
cá nhân mình đánh giá tập 2 này rất xuất sắc.
September 10, 2025
Excellent second volume of the Zaregoto Series. The first volume was definitely better but that doesn't mean this one wasn't also very interesting. Having an almost completely new cast of characters made it harder to get familiar with at first, but the setup paid off. Nishio Ishin never disappoints.
Rating: 9/10
Rating: 9/10
May 4, 2021
Şu ana kadar okuduğum en keyifli ikililerden bir tanesini barındırmakta kitap. Sırf bu ikili için bile kitaba en az 7-8 civarı bir puan verebilirdim muhtemelen. Ama onun haricinde yaşanmış olan olaylar zinciri de 10/10 vermeme yetecek seviyede başarılıydı.
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