86—EIGHTY-SIX, Vol. 8: Gun Smoke on the Water

86—EIGHTY-SIX Light Novel #8

by Asato Asato, Shirabii (Illustrator)

A Path to Purpose Laid with Iron Rails.

An end to the endless war—the possibility of stopping the Legion once and for all. Such is humanity’s most fervent desire. But in the war-free world of tomorrow, what will become of the Eighty-Six? Many have gained renewed faith in the future. Some have found love; others, new aspirations. But what of those who have yet to dream? The warm rays of hope have bent their iron wills and distorted their realities. For those tragic few, the worst is yet to come…

Genres: Light Novel, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopia, Young Adult, War, Manga

278 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 9, 2020

About the author

安里アサト, Asato Asato, born 1985) is a female Japanese novelist. The pen name Asato Asato is a combination of her real name (Toru Asakura) and eighty-eight.
Asato started writing novels just before she entered junior high school.

She initially submitted her work to the Kadokawa Beans Bunko Rookie Award, but when in 2014 her manuscript made it to the third round of the 2014 21st Dengeki Novel Prize, Asato started thinking about writing a novel that was "Dengeki Novel-esque." This novel would become the start of the 86 -Eighty Six- series.

In 2016, 86 -Eighty Six- won the 23rd Dengeki Novel Prize.

Reviews

[lilllll · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too many parts where a scene is overly described and redundant. By the time the author gets to the point, I’ve already forgotten what’s happened. Maybe it’s an attempt to create build up, but it comes across as trying to hit that word count instead.

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

HOW DARE YOU END IT LIKE THAT, there's a slim chance I won't try pick up the next book right away after that ending. Oh God, this volume is the most intense emotionally and action-wise, prepare yourself.

[Gabriel d'Matos · Rating 3 out of 5]

96 has a amazing first volume and a fantastic plot. The problem here is that after the first volume the progression of the story has become a little repetitive and the better part of this story has disappeared, the notion that everybody is in danger and could die anytime. This volume has a good ending but the path to there is boring and didn't get me. I hope that in the future this series come back to his origins.

[二六 侯 · Rating 3 out of 5]

本集海戰，設定在系列中算是交出了合格的成績單。因為男女主角的感情問題終於over，所以開始推戰隊成員各自的成長。暴露出一個問題：作者和讀者對剩下的主要人物有感情，加之這種戲愈打大家也該愈進化，以至於很難下殺手（這也是為什麼Psycho-pass 3不如1好看，因為主要角色都不會死，威能化的另一端就是顯得家家酒了些），於是作者想到一招：如果不能殺你，那就搞殘你好了。

[~Avi Ward~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS. Another awesome AWESOME volume! But before I get into that, I’m going to say a little about the anime that I just caught up with.

Ahem. Is there a word better than EPIC? We’re almost to the third volume arc and they DELAYED the last two episodes till MARCH? Are you stinking serous?? (Sobs in corner)

But other than that. It’s cool. Cool. Cool. It adapts it so we’ll I’m honestly shocked, so many little details and just… ahhh! BUT I will say, are they going to have a scene about Dustin’s speech? If not I’ll be heartbroken *sobs* That is one of my favorite parts and I know it’s in the epilogue and they are following a limits story pattern but I NEEDS THAT SCENE! The Republic has fallen and it hasn’t happened. Pleaaase.

ANYWAY.

This is a review on the light novel. Seriously, focus girl.

I really loved the character arcs and all of the action. The whole theme of pride was really interesting. Because it wasn’t just the 86ers this time but others like the members of the orphan fleet. It was just nice to see how pride isn’t everything but also how it gives people purpose.

I LOVED the part where Shin found out about the special cicada untform. HIS FACE when he saw Lena and vowed to kill Vika with a sharpened shovel. I can’t. And they kiiiissssss. I can’t. Finally the ship is sailing! Or in this volume they’re sailing on a ship. Whatever.

They’re so cuuute. I can’t wait to see more. They need to talk dangit! I also love how they all see the ocean and are disappointed lol. And how Lena refused to look at it because of Shin’s promise. So adorable.

Theo was really good in this. He’s so awesome. I’ve always like him since the first volume. And that ending. WHAaaAT?

Anju and Dustin are as cute as ever. Also, the environment was so cool!!! And this cover KILLS it. Aren’t they super cool? JUST. SO. SICK.

CONTENT NOTE: Some uses of strong language

[Cameron Alli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing volume

Amazing volume, with spectacular naval warfare which we are seeing as readers for the first time, some funny scenes, as well as more about Lena and Shin’s relationship. In this volume, there are many deaths and injuries among the valiant soldiers fighting, and there are those whose injuries will permanently affect them…

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHAT THE FRECK WAS THAT ENDING?!

[Nyx · Rating 5 out of 5]

!! SPOILERS AHEAD !!

we're back in the fight babyyyy !!! yippee-ka-yay!!
oh how i missed the battlefield... it's good to be back.


vol. 8 - Gun Smoke In Water (i absolutely love the reference to Deep Purple's song) - brings us back to the front lines. my jaw dropped as soon as i read that the whole battle is gonna take place... on water. like- what?! (literally this whole tome was war of warships against legion haha)
featuring new friends and foes, as well as a new country (or more like an island but, who cares).
once again i am absolutely stunned by the author's ability to describe battles so gracefully. (y'all don't come at me i'm just a big weapons and tactics nerd so it hypes me up when it's well written :p)
the fleet captain Ishmael and the whole crew's relationships were really interesting. their devotion to the cause as well as to Stella Maris was admirable. also, c'mon don't tell me the interactions between them and the Eighty-Six weren't hilarious af.

"Understood. I'll go kill Vika and toss his body overboard."
Shin and Lena being the slowest slowburn YET AGAIN. but i loved, loved, L-O-V-E-D the kiss they shared this volume. (casually fangirling over them again 🫠💞💞)
and i love how it all happened just before shin went and decided to casually die.
what? i said the're 'll be spoilers :]


even as i was reading it was obv something would go wrong with an operation like this. i mean c'mon, legion casually hiding in the middle of the sea in a tower? shady if you ask me.
but this vol really brought out the best in Kurena. she's a one badass chick gotta say (went from hating her to loving her these past books).
wouldn't be a 86 volume without some depresso - featuring Theo having an existential crisis, Kurena crying cuz she was relying on Shin too much, Shiden having to manage Lena again and Frederica, well, being Frederica.

i know, i know, i am saying this with every volume i keep reading, but they get better and better the longer you read!
i literally have half of the book marked and highlighted haha
the water battle turned out even better than i could've expect and the new legion types (as well as the leviathan, jesus this monstrosity was scary) are making me wonder if the stop-legion-secret-plan really has any chance of working.
Lena would defo scold me and said that it could 100% work (if only she knew abt it that is lol)


alright this is getting pretty long but none of my friends even knows about this series' existence so the girl's gotta vent somewhere duh
ending this with Kurena's best line from this vol:
"Drop dead, you big motherfucker."
(i sure as hell hope no one's gonna come at me for swearing here-)

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

No estoy llorando ¿ok? Quién les diga eso miente.

I'm fine

[Andrew Meza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume is really amazing. It has great world building as always. It is really impressive how the author is able to make this story more emotional throughout every volume. The characters throughout this volume really went through a lot, especially our main character who was going through some tough times in these chapters. The side characters as well have had a lot of development compared to the previous to the previous novels. Our 2nd main character also had some amazing development in this volume with how she handled her situations and overcame them. It really shows that she has put a lot of trust into the crew she commands. My final thoughts on the volume is that it really had a great structure around it overall and had amazing detail and very descriptive on the battles the crew went through and how they handled the situations. Overall very amazing volume and cant wait to see what happens in the next one.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started off a little slow to try and get us back into that war plot after that volume 7 break. Not only that, but there's additional world building expanding beyond the borders of the Republic, the Federation, and Roa Gracia. Finally got to read the part where Shin is going to sharpen his shovel. And ShinLena needs to be official. Closer to getting there but geesh Lena keeps taking her time.

Hard hitting emotional bits from Theo and Kurena. Really more Theo, it really feels like this volume was all about him. Asato fleshes out his character more where his thoughts and motivations aren't so much a mystery anymore. He really has a ton of survivor's guilt that he has to unpack along with that feeling that he's being left behind by his fellow squad members. Especially now that Shin has started to find something/someone to live for and Theo was building his identity off of Shin's. That point was really made when Shin was thought to be dead and both Theo and Kurena couldn't carry on; Theo going balls to the wall with abandon and Kurena pretty much in shock. Sadly more could have been done to push that parallel between Theo and Kurena and the Orphan Fleet's crew towards the end when they were abandoning everything to defeat Morpho/Noctiluca.

I could see how this volume could be seen as weaker than others to some folks due to things like pacing, the lack of ShinLena, or even just the battle they were having (like Morpho again?). Or maybe the strange lore with the world having God-like Leviathans.

[Liyana · Rating 3 out of 5]

At this point, I'm wondering: how much of a story can you tell when every book is a near repetition of the one before it?

As I've said a couple times before in the other reviews of this series, it is very much a typical linear anime/manga-esque plot where the heroes are strong, but the villains are stronger. And then the heroes get even stronger. Then the villains even more so after...

So in that regard, it was dry and I wondered why I'm staying for the ride. Answer: to see Shin and Lena's development. I yapped a good half hour to a friend about my qualms with the relationship because they're kids and I got incredibly frustrated by the roundabout ways they're showing affection. Despite that, I'm still here 8 books in wondering when I can get a resolution for this.

That aside, I think this book was one of the more harrowing ones thus far. A battle on sea with too much at stake and the watery abyss as their grave. Wonderful. Again, with the monsters getting more advanced and stronger, you wonder how on earth these humans, specifically children, go about it at all. Yes, I get that it's the plot and target audience's age range, but holy heck are there no adults in this series? As always, I have to remind myself that this is shonen and this is typical for the genre, but man I definitely feel that I've outgrown it.

On to book 9 lmao

[𝑙𝑎𝑑𝑦 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑙𝑢𝑒 🦋 · Rating 3 out of 5]

ขอบ่นอย่างแรกเลยคือ เลน่า ! ! ! เธอทำอะไร เธอเป็นอะไรคะ ? ? จะฟินก็ฟินไม่สุดเพราะเธอเอาแต่หนี เธอไม่กล้าสู้หน้าอะไร ? เตรียมใจอะไรของเธอ กรี๊ดดดดด ไม่เข้าใจว่าการทำให้เด็กผู้ชายกระวนกระวนกระวายใจเป็นอภิสิทธิ์ของเด็กผู้หญิงคือตรรกะอะไรกันคะ ㅠ ㅁ ㅠ อันนี้รับไม่ได้อย่างแรง ขอหักคะแนนค่ะ555555555

ในด้านของเนื้อเรื่องตึงเครียดมาก เหมือนเป็นช่วงเปลี่ยนผ่านทางความคิดว่าสิ่งที่ตัวเองเชื่อมั่นมาตลอดจะสามารถเชื่อมั่นไปจนสุดทางได้ไหม เล่มนี้มีพัฒนาการหลายๆตัวละครเลย เซโอะโตขึ้นมากเลย ประทับใจอะ ชอบที่บอกว่าจะรอดกลับไปให้ได้ แล้วเหล่า 86 หลายๆคนก็ไม่ได้มุ่งหาความตายกันอีกแล้ว วาดหวังอนาคตกันต่อไปนะเหล่า 86 ! ! 💪🏻

แต่ๆๆๆๆๆ คือรู้ว่าไม่ควรเบลม 86 เพราะพวกเขาเป็นเหยื่อ ตลอดเวลาที่อ่านมาก็ไม่เคยว่าอะไรคนพวกนี้เลย แต่ขอเถอะ เล่มนี้คุเรนะแย่มากๆ ไม่รู้มาก่อนเลยว่าคุเรนะจะยึดติดกับชินจนทำให้เสียยุทธการไปมากขนาดนี้ แล้วตำแหน่งมือซุ่มยิงของคุเรนะดันสำคัญมากอีก พอไม่เป็นอันทำอะไรก็เสียรูปการณ์ไปหมดเลย.. 😭😭😭

ใดๆเลยคือนอกจากลีเจี้ยนจะน่ากลัวแล้ว วาฬน่ากลัวยิ่งกว่า อห ยิงบีมได้ด้วย ช็อค

[Andrew Meza]

To begin, this book has been really well so far, we get to see Shin become more free and not scared by the future as much and has finally found what his purpose is to the world. We also see the rest of the 86 sector drifting apart at one point but eventually grow a bond stronger than family not by blood ties but something stronger than that. One of the things I liked about this volume is that we see how the characters are becoming more of their own and becoming able to get past their trauma and take pride in it. Another thing I liked about this volume is that we see Shin and Lena's relationship grow closer and become more comfortable with each other. The last thing I liked about the book is that its set in the ocean and thats what I like about this series is the world building and how we get to meet more characters and see how their personality's are.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finally got to see Shin's reaction to Lena wearing the Cicada!! I was waiting for it since 3 volumes ago and it finally happened!!

That said, there are too little interactions between Shin and Lena in this volume, which is disappointing. It's a very action focused volume and it feels the same as the previous volumes. I do wonder about the countries from different continents. It was explained that the Legions didn't traveled on water and humans can't explored the sea because of leviathans. So does that mean countries on different continents are safe???

But well... other than that, not a lot of new things happened so this is a pretty boring volume. The last part is shocking though.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Asato is bringing us on a a world tour from an underground labyrinth to the mountains and now to the sea and I am here for it. I love how exciting the battles are and how every single one brings something new. This time, it was our resident MVP Shin getting kicked out of the stage early on. Listen I love Shin my man, but I'm so glad the rest of spearhead got to shine, especially Theo. I was a dumbass who got a bit spoiled but I managed to gaslight myself into unsee-ing so the whole thing still got me shaking screaming throwing up.

[Dove · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this volume blindly after enjoying the short vacation 86 crews had in volume 7 but HOW DARE YOU RUIN MY FEELINGS IN THIS VOLUME OH GOD but its very interesting to see others' point of view while battling to death. In previous volumes we have always been served with Shin's inner monologue or how he perceived his life during the war but seeing Raiden, Anju, and especially Theo's character development got me very emotional towards the end and FUCK I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SHIDEN AND HER BRÍNSINGAMEN SQUADRON 😭

[Piraya Muangcote · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theo is the main character of this EP. He meets his 'relations' (???) in this land. 86 people keep thinking of their pathway. It seems Theo stuck in somewhere. Will he overcome his past ??? The answer is here !!!
Moreover, the relationship of Reina and Shinei are going in the good way. Although it's very less in this EP but it's so CUTE!!!

*** Thai version has some 'weird' translation. If you can read 'original' language, it will be better choice.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great volume, one of my favorites. Worldbuilding is top notch as usual.

Seeing the 86 continue to change and grow at different speeds (and in different ways!) is so interesting. With more 86ers finding purpose outside of fighting, the additional emotional ties adds more intensity to the fighting against the Legion now.

Theo is the best.

Lena and Shin's relationship finally making some progress is WELCOME. Give me more. Also give me more of Anju and Dustin!!!

Onto the next one.

[Javiera · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume was gut wrenching anxiety driven, with a lot of close calls to death on many characters and some heartbreaking moments. Still, probably one of the best volumes so far. Apart from the amount of action that it had, it had one of the cutest moments between shin and Lena and had a lot of the inner monologue of Theo.

I think the best part of this book was the author note at the end, where she goes and says that this was the beach episode.

[Joey Kuan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This volume didn’t hit like the other volumes before. Not sure why, maybe I stopped for too long in between the volumes. But.. hmm.. there were also so many description of cannons, bullets and shells. I don’t remember the other novels have that much of details. But I was basically skimming through those texts. This volume is a miss for me.
Plus the “death” of some characters was so nonchalant, it didn’t even trigger any strong emotions from me which I would expect. That was kinda poor writing.

[Bibliophile Queen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like I get where the author is going with the rest of story but I am not sure I care enough about characters that aren’t Shin. That being said that ending still got me to immediately start the next book so it was obviously still very good. I like the new monsters in the this one and I felt like the battle was very exciting.

Authorsan also named a couple railguns that were on top of one of the monsters? which I was confused about for the longest time.

[lex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nihilism, existentialism and intense battle calling in the ocean!!! (honorable mention THAT kiss! oh la la~)
Immensely good omniscient POV of Theo’s thoughts and inner turmoil. I love reading it! All thanks to the great translation<3



THEOTO RIKKA🐐


Anyways, idk if it’s just me but the names and terms in this volume is all over the place and ngl it gets me confusedddd. The flashbacks and some explanation gets too repetitive at times too but not that much of a problem tho. Awesome volume nevertheless! :DDD

[Claudia Gunawan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m giving this 4 stars because the plot of 86 is starting to get a tad repetitive. In almost every single volume, they go to another country where they fight the Legion.

It took me two attempts before I actually finished this volume because I got bored in the middle. Things got exciting towards the end though, so I’m happy (sad?) that something different happened.

[slugbiscuit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty solid volume. This time we move to the sea for a naval attack against another railgun. As characters move away from solely focusing on the battlefield, they are becoming more philosophical during battle, which at least breaks up the action. Relationship decisions continue to be drug out, which seems weird as they are in the middle of a war but I have a couple volumes to go.

[Nycolas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why that ending, like why... WHY
The way that each scene is described, allows me to fully feel myself into the novel.
Vika always kinda weird, cant wait to see how Shin kills him (hehe), with a sharp shovel like the priest told him ( just jokes).
The best part about this volume is learning more about Theo, he always the more mysterious. I felt that it was good to have it centered around someone else besides ShinLena after volume 7.

[Freeread · Rating 4 out of 5]

ทุกคนเดินไปข้างหน้า มีเพียงเราที่ยังอยู่ที่เดิม
เราจะสามารถเป็นเพื่อนกับพวกเขาได้มั้ย
แน่นอนจะเปลี่ยนแปลงยังไงความเป็นเพื่อนไม่เปลี่ยนไป
บางคนล้มลงจะมีคนค่อยประคองกันไปเสมอ
ถือต้องเสียทุกอย่างที่ตนภูมิใจก็ต้องรักษาชีวิตคนที่รักไว้ให้ได้
ทำขนาดนี้ก็หนีไปไหนไม่ได้แล้ว มีแต่ทุ่มสุดชีวิต
แม้คนที่เรายึดติดหายไป เราก็ต้องก้าวต่อไป

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like a 3,5?

This volume was really intense and the last 2 pages caught me offguard.
Everything was well written, as always, except for...

the neverending description of the morpho battle...i don't think it needed to be this long. A lot of pages could have been skipped.
All in all, it still penetrated my heart and filled it with utter anxiety.

I am still excited for what's to come.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good action set pieces and they changed up the environment this time with the 86 going out to see. I thoroughly enjoyed the charge of the naval vessels and they sheer “every ounce of sweat and blood” that the naval forces gave. Only complaint is that I had a hard time visualizing some scenes but that is more of a me thing.

[Rin]

A great continuation from volume 7 (which primarily focused on the SOL aspects and relationship development between Lena and Shin). This throws us back into the action and it’s a great addition to the series.