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.hack// Another Birth #1
.hack//: Another Birth, Vol. 1
In order for Akira to save her younger brother, who suddenly loses consciousness in the middle of playing The World, she enters the online fantasy game as the Heavy Blade-wielding BlackRose. While heading toward the area where her brother's consciousness was stolen, BlackRose meets the Twin Blade fighter Kite. Written from BlackRose's perspective, this adaptation of the popular .hack series of games is the first installment of yet another hit .hack novel series!
224 pages, Paperback
First published June 13, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
June 13, 2017
The first in a quartet of light novels retelling the story in the first set of .hack PS2 games, about an epidemic of comas among players of the popular VR MMORPG The World. Akira decides to start playing the game to investigate how and why it caused her brother to go into a coma, creating a warrior character she names BlackRose. It's nice to see her side of the story, and well balanced with her struggles with guilt and carrying on outside the game alongside the deepening mysteries inside.
May 11, 2025
This is a fun book that brings back some very fond memories of playing the video game and reading this book series when I was younger. There is nothing special but an enjoyment in that. I am probably marking it a higher rating due to my memories but I will be doing so unapologetically.
November 13, 2023
Re-review 2023
Sometimes it's worth revisiting books you didn't like on your first try.
Honestly, I was pretty surprised by my harsh rating on this first volume of ".hack//Another Birth", because I actually really love the .hack franchise. Maybe I had set my expectations wrong when I got into the novel, maybe I was looking for something to fill the void left behind by the first .hack book I read.
When taken on it's own and taken for what it is - a retelling of a video game from the secondary MC's perspective - it is really good at what it does. The MMO aspects are very well-translated into the form of a novel and I thoroughly enjoyed reading a book about people playing an MMO instead of being sucked into it and living in a fantasy world.
My only gripe is that I honestly didn't care at all about the tennis subplot the author added to the book - I am here to experience an early 2000s PS2 game I cannot play today. If that is what you are looking for and set your expectations accordingly, I think you can get very happy with this novel.
-------- Original Review, 2018 (3 stars) -----------
I'm honestly a bit disappointed by this book. I know, i know, it is a video game adaptation, but you are allowed to have some hope in a franchise, right?
I read .hack//AI Buster a few years ago and I absolutely loved it. Going back to it, I can totally see where AI Buster did succeed and Another Birth failed. The mystery. AI Buster was written with the author having close to no idea what the world and mystery that he had to set up was exactly, and this reads just so good. There is a genuine sense of mystery, of secrets hidden in that world that you explore while reading; secrets that you cannot even start to unravel because the author doesn't have a clue what those secrets really are. And as frustrating as it does sound, I loved it. Another Birth is different. We are told that certain things are happening, but we don't really see them. THIS is frustrating. I guess this is what you get when moving the POV to a secondary character in a novel when the POV is on the main character in the video game. Exposition is given lackluster and most of times not focused enough to really be satisfying, and this reads more than a chain of game levels spliced together by a poorly written mystery and a very standard real life story.
Sometimes it's worth revisiting books you didn't like on your first try.
Honestly, I was pretty surprised by my harsh rating on this first volume of ".hack//Another Birth", because I actually really love the .hack franchise. Maybe I had set my expectations wrong when I got into the novel, maybe I was looking for something to fill the void left behind by the first .hack book I read.
When taken on it's own and taken for what it is - a retelling of a video game from the secondary MC's perspective - it is really good at what it does. The MMO aspects are very well-translated into the form of a novel and I thoroughly enjoyed reading a book about people playing an MMO instead of being sucked into it and living in a fantasy world.
My only gripe is that I honestly didn't care at all about the tennis subplot the author added to the book - I am here to experience an early 2000s PS2 game I cannot play today. If that is what you are looking for and set your expectations accordingly, I think you can get very happy with this novel.
-------- Original Review, 2018 (3 stars) -----------
I'm honestly a bit disappointed by this book. I know, i know, it is a video game adaptation, but you are allowed to have some hope in a franchise, right?
I read .hack//AI Buster a few years ago and I absolutely loved it. Going back to it, I can totally see where AI Buster did succeed and Another Birth failed. The mystery. AI Buster was written with the author having close to no idea what the world and mystery that he had to set up was exactly, and this reads just so good. There is a genuine sense of mystery, of secrets hidden in that world that you explore while reading; secrets that you cannot even start to unravel because the author doesn't have a clue what those secrets really are. And as frustrating as it does sound, I loved it. Another Birth is different. We are told that certain things are happening, but we don't really see them. THIS is frustrating. I guess this is what you get when moving the POV to a secondary character in a novel when the POV is on the main character in the video game. Exposition is given lackluster and most of times not focused enough to really be satisfying, and this reads more than a chain of game levels spliced together by a poorly written mystery and a very standard real life story.
May 12, 2023
Once a Pre-Social Media Speculative Tech Thriller turned Nowpunk, .hack's genre is now gradually shifting into the realm of alternate history. Yet it's story remains miraculously relevant to the endlessly shifting data sphere of today's world.
Where online trends tend to become dated as soon as they rear their heads, .hack holds the benefit of commenting on the current ubiquity of the internet from a time when everything from online VR gaming, labyrinthian threads and the concept of "taking an L" were still in their infancy.
The resulting foresight of these, observed in Kawasaki's minimalist style, evoke the ever growing popularity of today's short form online media.
As a product of its time, attempts to leap on a hashtag bandwagon or endlessly lecture the reader in a series of half-baked twitter-esque talking points are thankfully absent. What emerges here is a cautionary tale that entertains first and foremost with relatable characters, believable worldbuilding and an un-patronising understanding of its target audience.
The MMORPG of The World (outside of the real world .hack games) is something akin to World of Warcraft of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. BBS is Reddit, The Fragment is Steam's early access service. The Epitaph of Twilight would be right at home on Wattpad and the in-game art sharing site Apkallu bears a striking hybrid-resemblance to DeviantArt and fanfiction.net. To top it all off, the in-universe CyberConnect Corp. could easily mirror any silicone valley conglomerate.
Easy to read, fast paced and unpretentious, .hack is a stellar, accessible work of SF. The story entertains and immerses effortlessly, existing in a realm that is completely believable and like our own.
It is something that could very much happen in reality, elevating the final result into something that gives the audience something truly special: something they didn't know they wanted.
Needless to say I'm eager to pick up part 2.
Where online trends tend to become dated as soon as they rear their heads, .hack holds the benefit of commenting on the current ubiquity of the internet from a time when everything from online VR gaming, labyrinthian threads and the concept of "taking an L" were still in their infancy.
The resulting foresight of these, observed in Kawasaki's minimalist style, evoke the ever growing popularity of today's short form online media.
As a product of its time, attempts to leap on a hashtag bandwagon or endlessly lecture the reader in a series of half-baked twitter-esque talking points are thankfully absent. What emerges here is a cautionary tale that entertains first and foremost with relatable characters, believable worldbuilding and an un-patronising understanding of its target audience.
The MMORPG of The World (outside of the real world .hack games) is something akin to World of Warcraft of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. BBS is Reddit, The Fragment is Steam's early access service. The Epitaph of Twilight would be right at home on Wattpad and the in-game art sharing site Apkallu bears a striking hybrid-resemblance to DeviantArt and fanfiction.net. To top it all off, the in-universe CyberConnect Corp. could easily mirror any silicone valley conglomerate.
Easy to read, fast paced and unpretentious, .hack is a stellar, accessible work of SF. The story entertains and immerses effortlessly, existing in a realm that is completely believable and like our own.
It is something that could very much happen in reality, elevating the final result into something that gives the audience something truly special: something they didn't know they wanted.
Needless to say I'm eager to pick up part 2.
June 10, 2010
I really enjoyed this series. It was fun to see the game through Black Rose's point of view. The offline bits were rather nice, and the fact that it revealed more than just her view of Kite's actions was refreshing. Seeing her with other friends and knowing she doesn't just stalk Kite was definitely a good idea on the author's part.
December 19, 2009
It reads like the cover. Poorly made and uninteresting. Not recommended.
June 15, 2024
It's been a while since i played the original .hack games (mainly because i only recently got another working ps2) and i decided to give the book series a try as i've never read the book itself only played the games. I saw this was from Blackrose's point of view, and honestly, Blackrose was always my least favorite of all the side characters in the original Quadrilogy so i decided to give her another try. and thankfully, she's far less annoying in the book than she is in the game.
It delves into her life outside the game with stuff such as her issues at school with being on the tennis team, dealing with her brother in a coma, etc. so you DO get to see some extra stuff you don't see in the game. so that's neat.
Now, because it's from a side characters' point of view, obviously she can't be involved in every single scene the MC was in, because she wasn't involved in all of them. But she's in it for a decent chunk, so she's there for the important stuff.
Short version, there's a VR MMO out there and MC and Blackrose's friend/brother (respectively) go into a coma because of the game and they want to find out why.
As this is a YA light novel (moreso than other ones) it reads very easily and gets the basic details without bogging down in too much description.
i'm quite interested in reading the 2nd one when i can get ahold of it, and it makes me want to go back and replay the games. so yeah, i guess it did its job pretty well. all in all, not bad. had a good time, rekindled a series i forgot i liked. so yeah. overall 3.5 out of 5, and since i can't do halves, i'll round it up to a 4.
It delves into her life outside the game with stuff such as her issues at school with being on the tennis team, dealing with her brother in a coma, etc. so you DO get to see some extra stuff you don't see in the game. so that's neat.
Now, because it's from a side characters' point of view, obviously she can't be involved in every single scene the MC was in, because she wasn't involved in all of them. But she's in it for a decent chunk, so she's there for the important stuff.
Short version, there's a VR MMO out there and MC and Blackrose's friend/brother (respectively) go into a coma because of the game and they want to find out why.
As this is a YA light novel (moreso than other ones) it reads very easily and gets the basic details without bogging down in too much description.
i'm quite interested in reading the 2nd one when i can get ahold of it, and it makes me want to go back and replay the games. so yeah, i guess it did its job pretty well. all in all, not bad. had a good time, rekindled a series i forgot i liked. so yeah. overall 3.5 out of 5, and since i can't do halves, i'll round it up to a 4.
February 10, 2019
I looooove this part of the .hack universe! Originally I read these around the time they came out but that's been like, 10+ years now haha. They came out after the games so it's a different experience to play the first game, then read the first novel. The character you play as in the game is Kite, while BlackRose is just a main companion of his. So it's fun getting to see her perspective, especially with her high school tennis team problems and bullying from upperclassmen, to her problems at home when her brother falls into a coma from playing the game.
Anywho. Light novels are such fast reads. I guess that's why they call them light novels.
People often suggest reading this novel series OR playing the game if you don't want to do both, which I guess you can get away with. It's a more fun experience if you dig into all of it though. It was fun trying to solve the mystery of The World way back when and it's fun going through it all again now knowing many of the mysteries already. Actually getting to read / play / watch all the material in chronological order has been a different trip than the confusing mess of information they threw at you sporadically originally hah.
Anywho. Light novels are such fast reads. I guess that's why they call them light novels.
People often suggest reading this novel series OR playing the game if you don't want to do both, which I guess you can get away with. It's a more fun experience if you dig into all of it though. It was fun trying to solve the mystery of The World way back when and it's fun going through it all again now knowing many of the mysteries already. Actually getting to read / play / watch all the material in chronological order has been a different trip than the confusing mess of information they threw at you sporadically originally hah.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2017
I am a long-time dotHACK fan, having originally played the first game on the PS2 when it was released in America back in 2003. When Tokyopop would later publish the English translations of these light novels that told the story from the games through BlackRose's perspective, I didn't anticipate falling in love with them at all. I'm so happy that I finally have these, and I do recommend them for any fans of the franchise, especially the original games.
I'll be posting my full review for this entire quartet on the final book, but I will say that this first installment has its flaws. Dedicated game fans will notice that a lot of Kite and BlackRose's in-game dialogue is switched around, and besides that the writing in this book feels a bit...juvenile. It almost reads like a 12 y.o.'s fanfiction than a proper light novelization. I think part of that is just due to the style in which it was written when translated. The later books get better about that, so don't fret!
I'll be posting my full review for this entire quartet on the final book, but I will say that this first installment has its flaws. Dedicated game fans will notice that a lot of Kite and BlackRose's in-game dialogue is switched around, and besides that the writing in this book feels a bit...juvenile. It almost reads like a 12 y.o.'s fanfiction than a proper light novelization. I think part of that is just due to the style in which it was written when translated. The later books get better about that, so don't fret!
April 17, 2023
One of my all time favorite books. I have already purchased the complete series 3 times ( unfortunately). This story is part of the .hack series, which started first as a Japanese video game and now spans across multiple forms of media. This book series is a great way for those interested in riding the manga wave but don't want to start with a graphic novel. It was one of my first intro books as well.
January 30, 2021
None of the Another Birth books are particularly great in a general sense, since the plot is every bit as fragmented (no pun intended) as those of the games on which they're based and the prose is lackluster at best. But, like the AI buster series, they're a valuable asset to those who truly love .hack and want to know more about its characters and especially the world they live in.
February 27, 2024
As someone who was introduced to the .hack series with .hack GU The Last Recode, finding a book to help understand all the references made to the first game series is really great. Short of tracking down a PS2 then the games this is the best way I could find to learn what happened. So glad I read this it’s really good.
April 11, 2022
Very nostalgic reading this the second time around after many years, but I wish the plot was a little more in-depth, and Blackrose more involved in the in game plot. Was rly nice to see her out of game life though.
December 11, 2024
Um olhar diferente numa história já contada. Trás algumas reflexões novas para os motivos dos personagens, além de dar uma personalidade "melhorzinha" para o Kite. Combate não é a melhor retratação mas funciona.
July 6, 2025
I enjoyed it! It’s been a very long time since I played the first game (and I never finished it) but it was neat to have another perspective on the story. I might go back and give the games another play now before I read further in this book series.
November 11, 2019
A well written story that wonderfully simulates the experience of playing an MMORPG as a teenager with hardships in life, with some fantasy sci-fi elements.
January 31, 2020
Interesting adaptation of a game I never played
May 17, 2021
I don't think anyone that does not already enjoy the .hack universe would enjoy this. It's plot and structure feels like its really made as a complement to the base game.
July 18, 2021
Do you like the .Hack series? You will like this book.
Is it perfect? Maybe not to you, but I had a hell of a ride seeing the story from another perspective.
Is it perfect? Maybe not to you, but I had a hell of a ride seeing the story from another perspective.
September 20, 2011
This book is a little bit on the lighter side, however, that does not take away from the impact that the story and especially the setting of this book (along with all of the other aspects of the .Hack:// series, though more so the anime. In terms of what makes this book different than most, I would have to say it comes from the unique combination of real-life combined with the virtual game, known as "The World" and the obvious differences between the two. The true source of the interplay between these two settings is that the characters are recognized and shown to be in both places yet exist separately in each. Naturally, there are some characters that do not leave the setting of the game world due to their totally digital nature, these character usually defy the usual rules of what is allowed in the game. One such character is the mysterious and ever illusive spirit of The World known as Aura. This character along with the questions of possible hidden artificial intelligence that may lurk out there, uncontrolled by the forces that created it. This sort of vision of a free-willed AI, has been the main spark of why I became so interested in computers. This game also allows for a highly in-depth back drop in three layers.
On the first layer, you have the world of the game as it is supposed to work and the rules that are laid out and enforced by the C.C. Corporation (CyberConnect Corporation). On the second layer, there is The World as it actually works including all of the hidden elements and purely computer-related phenomena. Invariably, there is always some sort of a force, a program or an artificial intelligence that neither the ordinary pieces of the game, nor the administrators of the company can handle. This is what bridges the reader into the third layer, that of the players and the real world (in the franchise at least.) With such a complex and well-developed world for the story's events to take place in, the possibilities for how things can take place, is increased exponentially. As a cost, the details of the rules and limitations of each layer (as well as the each one remaining distinct and interesting) all must be kept in order. This along with many other stories involving more than one plane or world has shown me how to better integrate such metaphysical aspects to my own stories and a little in when they are not appropriate. This is an especially difficult are of skill to master, and one that I admit I could still use much improvement in. This is also, one of the areas that is the most useful for a writer of supernatural high fantasy such as myself.
I would recommend this book to anyone with any interest in computers, artificial intelligence,otherworldly fantasies, multilayer gaming, game worlds, and gaming in general, I would also recommend this book for anyone who is a fan of anime or the .Hack:// series. Also, I do not convey any approval with releasing a potentially uncontrollable super-human intelligent AI out into the Internet without the proper permits.
On the first layer, you have the world of the game as it is supposed to work and the rules that are laid out and enforced by the C.C. Corporation (CyberConnect Corporation). On the second layer, there is The World as it actually works including all of the hidden elements and purely computer-related phenomena. Invariably, there is always some sort of a force, a program or an artificial intelligence that neither the ordinary pieces of the game, nor the administrators of the company can handle. This is what bridges the reader into the third layer, that of the players and the real world (in the franchise at least.) With such a complex and well-developed world for the story's events to take place in, the possibilities for how things can take place, is increased exponentially. As a cost, the details of the rules and limitations of each layer (as well as the each one remaining distinct and interesting) all must be kept in order. This along with many other stories involving more than one plane or world has shown me how to better integrate such metaphysical aspects to my own stories and a little in when they are not appropriate. This is an especially difficult are of skill to master, and one that I admit I could still use much improvement in. This is also, one of the areas that is the most useful for a writer of supernatural high fantasy such as myself.
I would recommend this book to anyone with any interest in computers, artificial intelligence,otherworldly fantasies, multilayer gaming, game worlds, and gaming in general, I would also recommend this book for anyone who is a fan of anime or the .Hack:// series. Also, I do not convey any approval with releasing a potentially uncontrollable super-human intelligent AI out into the Internet without the proper permits.
May 27, 2011
.Hack based of an anime series is a very compelling book. Its full of mystery and a bit of drama to up you into it. The genre would be sci-fi and mystery. The reason i chose this book it because i played the game version of this book, but it wasnt as detailed as the book, so i wanted to read and find out what i missed.
When playing a video game put her little brother into a coma, Akira is determined to find out why it happened and go into the game "The World" in search for answers. As well as balancing her real life at school and the drama her comatose brother brings to her family. Akira goes into the game as an avatar character known as BlackRose. There she meets "Kite" someone who told her that her brother is not the only one to become comatose, and together they search "The World" for answers to their problems and find some unexpected characters and mysteries.
The conflicts are man vs man, man vs the supernatural, and man vs self. Akira must deal with her drama at school with her upperclassmen, as well as the strange phenomenon in "The World", as well as herself as she blames herself for all the things that happened. Two themes in this book are the importance of family because when her brother becomes comatose, her family becomes to fall apart, And that you must learn how to trust people because so many people see Akira suffering and shouldering a burden that is crushing her.
I would totally recommend this book to anyone. It has a little bit of everything for everyone. Some romance, comedy , and action as well. The author is very good at bring "The World" to life because its a fantasy game and it feels like you are playing it through the eyes of BlackRose(Akira)
When playing a video game put her little brother into a coma, Akira is determined to find out why it happened and go into the game "The World" in search for answers. As well as balancing her real life at school and the drama her comatose brother brings to her family. Akira goes into the game as an avatar character known as BlackRose. There she meets "Kite" someone who told her that her brother is not the only one to become comatose, and together they search "The World" for answers to their problems and find some unexpected characters and mysteries.
The conflicts are man vs man, man vs the supernatural, and man vs self. Akira must deal with her drama at school with her upperclassmen, as well as the strange phenomenon in "The World", as well as herself as she blames herself for all the things that happened. Two themes in this book are the importance of family because when her brother becomes comatose, her family becomes to fall apart, And that you must learn how to trust people because so many people see Akira suffering and shouldering a burden that is crushing her.
I would totally recommend this book to anyone. It has a little bit of everything for everyone. Some romance, comedy , and action as well. The author is very good at bring "The World" to life because its a fantasy game and it feels like you are playing it through the eyes of BlackRose(Akira)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
November 30, 2011Sean Mayeda
P.3
11/21/11
Los Angels:Tokyo Pop Press.2006 pp.232
“.Hack//Another Birth Vol. 1//Infection” by Miu Kawasaki is the perfect
book for lovers of Science fiction. The story takes place in Japan and
in the online fantasy game called, “The World”, in 2010. A high school
athlete, Akira Hayami, finds her brother, Fumikazu, who is sent into a
deep coma, by a unknown cause while he was in “The World.” Akira makes
a character named, Black Rose and looks for answers in-game about her
brother’s coma. She meets Kite, a Twin Blade, or people who use two
identical swords. Akira deals with bullies, who tease her for
playing “The World” in real life.Struggles in the game and in real life
intensify when Akira gets closer to what she was looking for. I will
say that the common computer savvy public and those who are fans of
books based on cyberspace will like this book, because the story shows
real representation of computer errors and technical difficulties,in a
entertaining story. Such examples of these problems have been commonly
encountered, such as gamecrashes and images of degraded data. On a
scale of 1-10, I rate this book an 11!!
P.3
11/21/11
Los Angels:Tokyo Pop Press.2006 pp.232
“.Hack//Another Birth Vol. 1//Infection” by Miu Kawasaki is the perfect
book for lovers of Science fiction. The story takes place in Japan and
in the online fantasy game called, “The World”, in 2010. A high school
athlete, Akira Hayami, finds her brother, Fumikazu, who is sent into a
deep coma, by a unknown cause while he was in “The World.” Akira makes
a character named, Black Rose and looks for answers in-game about her
brother’s coma. She meets Kite, a Twin Blade, or people who use two
identical swords. Akira deals with bullies, who tease her for
playing “The World” in real life.Struggles in the game and in real life
intensify when Akira gets closer to what she was looking for. I will
say that the common computer savvy public and those who are fans of
books based on cyberspace will like this book, because the story shows
real representation of computer errors and technical difficulties,in a
entertaining story. Such examples of these problems have been commonly
encountered, such as gamecrashes and images of degraded data. On a
scale of 1-10, I rate this book an 11!!
February 13, 2010
Good companion piece to the first game, although the material does seem to overlap slightly with the beginning of the second game. Interesting story outside the world of the The World video game, which is good because you don't get very much of that playing the PS2 game.
The writing level is obviously very low because this is a light novel aimed at younger teenagers and meant to be short and easy. As such, it takes like an hour or two to read the entire thing. I'd say if you are, in 2010, looking to play through the .hack games for the first time, that you'd do well to get these novels for cheap and read them after you finish each of the games in the series.
The art in the book is not particularly good, but I think that mostly has to do with it being basically pencils (to use a comicbook term) without any ink finishing or colors. They're fine for giving you an idea of what the characters look like, but you're not going to want to collect the series for the art.
The writing level is obviously very low because this is a light novel aimed at younger teenagers and meant to be short and easy. As such, it takes like an hour or two to read the entire thing. I'd say if you are, in 2010, looking to play through the .hack games for the first time, that you'd do well to get these novels for cheap and read them after you finish each of the games in the series.
The art in the book is not particularly good, but I think that mostly has to do with it being basically pencils (to use a comicbook term) without any ink finishing or colors. They're fine for giving you an idea of what the characters look like, but you're not going to want to collect the series for the art.
December 27, 2010
This "light novel," as they call novelizations of manga and anime, is a good story, but not a complete one. It doesn't stand alone as a book, and there is no resolution. At best, there might have been a slightly climactic battle scene, but even that is a little vague.
I had trouble with the main character, who constantly flips between guilt about possibly helping cause her brother's injury and worrying about simple real-world high school matters, all while trying to solve the mystery of the game that triggered her brother's coma. As a result, her personality is superficial and unconvincing, and none of the other family members are more than cardboard.
If the story resolves in the later volumes, that's great, but the author is asking a lot of the reader to make this leap of faith.
The game parts of the story are the redeeming aspect, since they are the most convincingly like the manga and anime versions.
I had trouble with the main character, who constantly flips between guilt about possibly helping cause her brother's injury and worrying about simple real-world high school matters, all while trying to solve the mystery of the game that triggered her brother's coma. As a result, her personality is superficial and unconvincing, and none of the other family members are more than cardboard.
If the story resolves in the later volumes, that's great, but the author is asking a lot of the reader to make this leap of faith.
The game parts of the story are the redeeming aspect, since they are the most convincingly like the manga and anime versions.
May 17, 2013
Warning: This book is mostly for girls. This story is about Akira, an average girl who isn’t really into video games and such. But her brother Fumikazu is a big time gamer playing this game called “The World” and he tries to convince his sister to play. When Akira went down stairs the loud boom, like something hit the ground she runs upstairs to find Fumikazu on the floor in a coma. Her things that it has something to do with this game so she dices to create a character, which she names “Blackrose” and she meets many other players. But when she meets one with the username “Kite” she finds out his friend was in a coma like her brother and the both agree to find out what caused this. Read .hack// Another Birth to find out what happens next.
September 22, 2009
This book is an amazing form of detective fiction but it is some graphic novel. Blackrose has to go into the world to see what has happened to him. blackrose entered the world and met another character that had a freind named orca. his friend's name was kite. he told her what had happened to his friend. they try to find the thing that makes people go comatose. kite winds up getting a bracelet that gives him the power to do a datadrain. datadrain is what takes out what is taking the players out. if you read the book you can find out what happened how many monsters and how they solve the problem
December 29, 2010
I've never played any of the games on the PS2, so I find it quite odd that I've read this. Still, I'm not in the least disappointed that I did. At first, the concept of a story centered on an online gaming world where an avatar can resemble the user in some sort, struck me to find it dull. As I progressed through the story I became oblivious to the fact that their in a video game, since Blackrose and Kite's relationship somewhat builds, like the feeling of compassion for each other since they both have the same desire to help their friends who fell victim to a virus caused b hackers. Overall I liked it, can't wait to read the rest of the novels in this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2009
I think this book could have been much better. I wonder if there is a manga version of the story that I must have over-looked? The story-line kept me going and I'll of course go on to read the rest of the series (can't go on without knowing the end, now! xD) but at the current point in time, I really didn't much like it from a general perspective. It lacked much-needed detail and if it weren't for the few illustrations in the book I would have been lost as to what the people and places looked like. The author kept it simple, and it sort of dissapointed me.
April 21, 2010
The origin of all .Hack series, told from the secondary character's view point.
Akira is a young girl in japan doing every day things, she goes to school, and she plays tennis. Until one day her little brother, nearly addicted to a video game called "The World" goes into a coma after playing. Determined to save her brother, and find out the mysteries of this game, she creates a character, BlackRose, and meets up with another young player who goes by the player name Kite.
First book in the series. :)
Akira is a young girl in japan doing every day things, she goes to school, and she plays tennis. Until one day her little brother, nearly addicted to a video game called "The World" goes into a coma after playing. Determined to save her brother, and find out the mysteries of this game, she creates a character, BlackRose, and meets up with another young player who goes by the player name Kite.
First book in the series. :)
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September 28, 2012The book .Hack:// is awesome and i believe it is the only book by Tokyo Pop that is not a manga. the game that game out before the book itself left many cliff hangers and so on the main character of the book was a high school girl named Akira who suddenly becomes interested in a game after her brother falls into a coma while playing it. while playing she meets a another person who has had the same experience but with a good friend. The two of them become friends and fight for their common goal together.
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