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The Hero Laughs While Walking the Path of Vengeance a Second Time (light novel) #1
The Hero Laughs While Walking the Path of Vengeance a Second Time, Vol. 1 (light novel): The Traitorous Princess
LIFE AFTER DEATH
Kaito Ukei was destined for greatness in his new world, landing himself the role of a hero and defeating the evil sorceress alongside a band of noble adventurers. When he's double crossed, though, and brutally murdered by his former allies, something inside him snaps. Death brings Kaito neither peace nor salvation. Rather, it instills in him a singular desire—to squeeze the life out of his blasted betrayers in the cruellest manner possible...! The strange twist of fate that gives him a second chance in the world with all his memories intact provides opportunity to do just that, and so begins his quest to stalk and torture the members of his former party in the bloodiest, unholiest, most sadistic ways imaginable!
Kaito Ukei was destined for greatness in his new world, landing himself the role of a hero and defeating the evil sorceress alongside a band of noble adventurers. When he's double crossed, though, and brutally murdered by his former allies, something inside him snaps. Death brings Kaito neither peace nor salvation. Rather, it instills in him a singular desire—to squeeze the life out of his blasted betrayers in the cruellest manner possible...! The strange twist of fate that gives him a second chance in the world with all his memories intact provides opportunity to do just that, and so begins his quest to stalk and torture the members of his former party in the bloodiest, unholiest, most sadistic ways imaginable!
244 pages, Paperback
Published December 28, 2021
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130 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
February 13, 2022
"I had crossed the line, and I was straying into madness" (p. 212).
But not, one should note, not before punching a princess in the face, gouging out the eyes of her ceremonial knights, unleashing feral creatures of the forest onto the city, and thereby commencing a long-overdue plot to wreak havoc upon the lives of those who dared betray his trust and goodwill.
Is Kaito Ukei a psychopath? For the most part, yes. Absolutely. He's not entirely without empathy for human suffering. However, having endured torture, betrayal, bigotry, and the subsequent butchery of his emotions at the hands of those he once considered allies, Kaito is over being the hero. In THE HERO LAUGHS WHILE WALKING THE PATH OF VENGEANCE A SECOND TIME #1, Kaito is resurrected following his death at the hands of the people who summoned him to defeat a regional demon lord. It took him four years of arduous work to accomplish such a task, but it only took the Orollea Kingdom a few weeks to turn its back on him.
Kaito's vengeance burns deep. His resurrection may be due to happenstance, as is often the case in isekai adventures, but the young man's new quest to rectify old wrongs will be anything but. THE HERO LAUGHS…#1 is the first whetting of a blade thirsty for its prey. In the protagonist's past life, his adventure party turned its back on him. The whole kingdom turned its back on him. But now that Kaito's back in form? After their betrayal? After their scheming? Vengeance shall be his.
Antiheroes have been painted all swaths of colors, but such efforts often obscure the cruelty and baseness of the characters' actions. One might argue this articulation is primarily a western affectation. Nevertheless, in the current novel, readers discover a justifiable path of vengeance as tread by a young man whose skill, knowledge, and endurance know no limit. And in a fantasy realm complete with monsters, magic, and mayhem, Kaito's trade as a blademaster and his experience crushing foes of incalculable strength make him a man to be feared.
THE HERO LAUGHS…#1 endeavors to strike a peculiar balance between a fanciful role-playing game turned upside-down, and separately, a bloody quagmire that was never truly anything else. The author pulls readers into this realm of magical combat by emphasizing character status pages, voluminous descriptions of special items, historical worldbuilding notes, and layered background info. The author also punches-up the drama by exhibiting numerous torture scenes, garish lurches for power, greed made normal, and bigotry made law. In the Orollea Kingdom, violence, prejudice, and political chicanery are the norm.
In narrative terms, the book's extraordinarily high level of careless gore and vacant, psychopathic optimism is held in focus as the true pathos of note. But the author hasn't quite discerned how to best interweave Kaito's earnest need for payback with his reckless thirst for blood. The two are interrelated, but the book's plotting progresses in fits and starts, meaning the drama of one is occasionally detrimental to the drama of the other.
In worldbuilding terms, some of the fault rests squarely in how this novel serves as an introduction to everything all at once. The author lays out all of the relevant characters, their motives, and their pathologies, and pushes forward. There is no time for rest. Readers will be grateful for the energy taken to frame Kaito's experiences (e.g., slaying the demon lord) and the detail afforded the suffering he endured (e.g., betrayal by the royal princess), all of which now feeds his revenge quest. Readers will not, however, feel particularly grateful for the seesawing info dumps and flashbacks that yank them from scene to scene. A dozen-plus mystical soul blades? Each with its own arcane story? First-person point-of-view flashbacks? For every character? It's all rather exhausting.
One moment, Kaito uses a mythical blade to carve his name into the flesh of his victim (e.g., drafting a letter of intent), the next moment, he's whistling indecisively about the quality of his lagging MP (e.g., gazing languidly at a status screen). One moment, Kaito is out to purchase a slave to help him carry out his work, then, in the next moment, readers are neck-deep in the backstory of a beastfolk girl named Minnalis, whose personal lust for revenge makes her an apt slave-candidate. The narrative disassociation between showing readers Kaito as a murderous avenger and Kaito as a kid in a fantasy adventure is poorly balanced and weakens the simple but effective thrill of brandishing a psychopath as a protagonist.
Nevertheless, as a tome of fantasy violence, THE HERO LAUGHS…#1 certainly has promise. The author isn't afraid to dismember an errant street tough. The author isn't afraid of wayward chatter on how to make use of flesh-eating insects. The author isn't afraid of wielding poison or of entreating disembowelment to make a point. Right now, the rhythm simply isn't there, but with time, one suspects it will be.
And the novel's all-or-nothing approach to exposing its characters to their fates could pay big dividends, too. Kaito has already lived his life once, so he knows well the traits and idiosyncrasies of every character of consequence. However, now that Kaito has shifted his story from one of a hero's conquest to one of a rebellious antihero, he's tweaked the calculus in a way he cannot fully predict. The princess is a power-hungry bigot, yes, but what will happen now that she no longer has to fake her decency? Kaito may be prepping for revenge, but he, too, might not like what's coming his way.
THE HERO LAUGHS…#1 does risk desensitizing readers to violence before the actual revenge killing gets underway. In much of this book, what is shocking in one scene may quickly translate as tacky and boorish in another. The author attempts to offset these irksome fragments of overeager ego with humor (e.g., Minnalis is clever, but plays up the ditzy-girl act; Kaito throws a gargoyle at a security guard, accidentally ripping off the head) and shifting points of view (e.g., POV-pivoting chapters), but the results are ultimately inconclusive. In the end, this novel is heavily invested in sinking its boots into the muddiest waters available to a young man unafraid of the consequences of his actions.
But not, one should note, not before punching a princess in the face, gouging out the eyes of her ceremonial knights, unleashing feral creatures of the forest onto the city, and thereby commencing a long-overdue plot to wreak havoc upon the lives of those who dared betray his trust and goodwill.
Is Kaito Ukei a psychopath? For the most part, yes. Absolutely. He's not entirely without empathy for human suffering. However, having endured torture, betrayal, bigotry, and the subsequent butchery of his emotions at the hands of those he once considered allies, Kaito is over being the hero. In THE HERO LAUGHS WHILE WALKING THE PATH OF VENGEANCE A SECOND TIME #1, Kaito is resurrected following his death at the hands of the people who summoned him to defeat a regional demon lord. It took him four years of arduous work to accomplish such a task, but it only took the Orollea Kingdom a few weeks to turn its back on him.
Kaito's vengeance burns deep. His resurrection may be due to happenstance, as is often the case in isekai adventures, but the young man's new quest to rectify old wrongs will be anything but. THE HERO LAUGHS…#1 is the first whetting of a blade thirsty for its prey. In the protagonist's past life, his adventure party turned its back on him. The whole kingdom turned its back on him. But now that Kaito's back in form? After their betrayal? After their scheming? Vengeance shall be his.
Antiheroes have been painted all swaths of colors, but such efforts often obscure the cruelty and baseness of the characters' actions. One might argue this articulation is primarily a western affectation. Nevertheless, in the current novel, readers discover a justifiable path of vengeance as tread by a young man whose skill, knowledge, and endurance know no limit. And in a fantasy realm complete with monsters, magic, and mayhem, Kaito's trade as a blademaster and his experience crushing foes of incalculable strength make him a man to be feared.
THE HERO LAUGHS…#1 endeavors to strike a peculiar balance between a fanciful role-playing game turned upside-down, and separately, a bloody quagmire that was never truly anything else. The author pulls readers into this realm of magical combat by emphasizing character status pages, voluminous descriptions of special items, historical worldbuilding notes, and layered background info. The author also punches-up the drama by exhibiting numerous torture scenes, garish lurches for power, greed made normal, and bigotry made law. In the Orollea Kingdom, violence, prejudice, and political chicanery are the norm.
In narrative terms, the book's extraordinarily high level of careless gore and vacant, psychopathic optimism is held in focus as the true pathos of note. But the author hasn't quite discerned how to best interweave Kaito's earnest need for payback with his reckless thirst for blood. The two are interrelated, but the book's plotting progresses in fits and starts, meaning the drama of one is occasionally detrimental to the drama of the other.
In worldbuilding terms, some of the fault rests squarely in how this novel serves as an introduction to everything all at once. The author lays out all of the relevant characters, their motives, and their pathologies, and pushes forward. There is no time for rest. Readers will be grateful for the energy taken to frame Kaito's experiences (e.g., slaying the demon lord) and the detail afforded the suffering he endured (e.g., betrayal by the royal princess), all of which now feeds his revenge quest. Readers will not, however, feel particularly grateful for the seesawing info dumps and flashbacks that yank them from scene to scene. A dozen-plus mystical soul blades? Each with its own arcane story? First-person point-of-view flashbacks? For every character? It's all rather exhausting.
One moment, Kaito uses a mythical blade to carve his name into the flesh of his victim (e.g., drafting a letter of intent), the next moment, he's whistling indecisively about the quality of his lagging MP (e.g., gazing languidly at a status screen). One moment, Kaito is out to purchase a slave to help him carry out his work, then, in the next moment, readers are neck-deep in the backstory of a beastfolk girl named Minnalis, whose personal lust for revenge makes her an apt slave-candidate. The narrative disassociation between showing readers Kaito as a murderous avenger and Kaito as a kid in a fantasy adventure is poorly balanced and weakens the simple but effective thrill of brandishing a psychopath as a protagonist.
Nevertheless, as a tome of fantasy violence, THE HERO LAUGHS…#1 certainly has promise. The author isn't afraid to dismember an errant street tough. The author isn't afraid of wayward chatter on how to make use of flesh-eating insects. The author isn't afraid of wielding poison or of entreating disembowelment to make a point. Right now, the rhythm simply isn't there, but with time, one suspects it will be.
And the novel's all-or-nothing approach to exposing its characters to their fates could pay big dividends, too. Kaito has already lived his life once, so he knows well the traits and idiosyncrasies of every character of consequence. However, now that Kaito has shifted his story from one of a hero's conquest to one of a rebellious antihero, he's tweaked the calculus in a way he cannot fully predict. The princess is a power-hungry bigot, yes, but what will happen now that she no longer has to fake her decency? Kaito may be prepping for revenge, but he, too, might not like what's coming his way.
THE HERO LAUGHS…#1 does risk desensitizing readers to violence before the actual revenge killing gets underway. In much of this book, what is shocking in one scene may quickly translate as tacky and boorish in another. The author attempts to offset these irksome fragments of overeager ego with humor (e.g., Minnalis is clever, but plays up the ditzy-girl act; Kaito throws a gargoyle at a security guard, accidentally ripping off the head) and shifting points of view (e.g., POV-pivoting chapters), but the results are ultimately inconclusive. In the end, this novel is heavily invested in sinking its boots into the muddiest waters available to a young man unafraid of the consequences of his actions.
January 1, 2022
I'm a bit unsure of how to rate this one. It started off great. Kaito is summoned to another world as a hero, only to get betrayed and killed off once he's no longer useful. After he vowed to get revenge on everyone who betrayed him, he got thrown back in time to the day of his summoning. It's a time reset story, but focusing on revenge. Maybe a bit excessively so, because Kaito turns so sadistic it goes beyond satisfying and lands in the realm of weird. For me, at least. It reminds me of those super shallow do-S in Rejet games.
Still, I love a good revenge story so that's not really an issue. The main problem for me is that after the initial revenge scene on the princess, the story turned into something… familiar. It feels a lot more like a standard isekai, with journey preparations, friend recruiting, dungeon crawling, and also fanservice. For a book that sells revenge, it kind of lost its focus in the middle and only came back to that towards the end. It would've been fine if only everything that makes the story unique didn't get shoved aside to make room for stereotypical isekai adventure template, which sadly makes it feel rather unoriginal. But when it gets back to the revenge plot, it's really good.
There's also a translation / writing issue, in which terms are used inconsistently. You can search the entire book to find the term "the mage" used exactly once, and I had to go back to find who the mage is because that wasn't what the book called him the first time. The original web novel also made it clear that the sorceress and the demon lord are the same person, but the nuance is lost in translation. If the translation is at least more consistent, it could've been a more pleasant read.
Still, I love a good revenge story so that's not really an issue. The main problem for me is that after the initial revenge scene on the princess, the story turned into something… familiar. It feels a lot more like a standard isekai, with journey preparations, friend recruiting, dungeon crawling, and also fanservice. For a book that sells revenge, it kind of lost its focus in the middle and only came back to that towards the end. It would've been fine if only everything that makes the story unique didn't get shoved aside to make room for stereotypical isekai adventure template, which sadly makes it feel rather unoriginal. But when it gets back to the revenge plot, it's really good.
There's also a translation / writing issue, in which terms are used inconsistently. You can search the entire book to find the term "the mage" used exactly once, and I had to go back to find who the mage is because that wasn't what the book called him the first time. The original web novel also made it clear that the sorceress and the demon lord are the same person, but the nuance is lost in translation. If the translation is at least more consistent, it could've been a more pleasant read.
February 13, 2022
Mostly Engaging Read
It's a good book and the first half especially is very engaging. After that though, it gets very entangled in exposition. I read on the mobile version so I can't predict full page size, but they spent 8 pages describing a door to a boss room, then did a whole chapter of flashback, then came back to present and skipped the boss fight. Not to mention how he just happens to have not a single experienced knight there at the start to stop him and he ends up feeling like an evil Mary Sue (one that won't stop talking about himself, judging by the amount of information dumping in the book).
The story itself is an interesting premise, but I don't think I could pick up volume two.
It's a good book and the first half especially is very engaging. After that though, it gets very entangled in exposition. I read on the mobile version so I can't predict full page size, but they spent 8 pages describing a door to a boss room, then did a whole chapter of flashback, then came back to present and skipped the boss fight. Not to mention how he just happens to have not a single experienced knight there at the start to stop him and he ends up feeling like an evil Mary Sue (one that won't stop talking about himself, judging by the amount of information dumping in the book).
The story itself is an interesting premise, but I don't think I could pick up volume two.
February 10, 2022
Alternate title: Edge Lord's First Grimdark
This book is just horrific brutality that would only appeal to an edgy teenager who has never heard of subtlety. The main character is a grade A psychopath who pretends to have a moral compass by saying he won't kill people not connected to his revenge, but instead subjects complete randoms to honestly dates worse then death.
This book is just horrific brutality that would only appeal to an edgy teenager who has never heard of subtlety. The main character is a grade A psychopath who pretends to have a moral compass by saying he won't kill people not connected to his revenge, but instead subjects complete randoms to honestly dates worse then death.
January 22, 2022
Definitely a revenge story worthy of being read and it doesn't get as overly graphic as other light novels of the same genre. The manga is pretty good too if you want to give that a read. Also the side character on the cover is surprisingly funny and reminiscent of Kaori from Arifureta.
February 2, 2022
Fantastic book ! Had me entertained the entire time & I just can’t wait to see how the story pans out, it gave me a lot of torture princess vibes but a bit different as you can probably tell but nonetheless a great read.
December 29, 2021
The premise is definitely interesting and I got quickly into the execution of it all. Sometimes you want a strong revenge story and I’m looking forward to seeing how this one goes.
April 28, 2022
Yeah, I hate these kinds of books. Sometimes they’re not as bad as the synopsis makes them sound, but this one is.
January 31, 2022
It's good.
I like it. Its great knowing at least in this book people will be punished for what essentially amounts to kidnapping and a form of impressment.
I like it. Its great knowing at least in this book people will be punished for what essentially amounts to kidnapping and a form of impressment.
February 12, 2023
Who is responsible for the extreme pathology (psychopathy, sadism, human sacrifices, torture, blood-gore-extreme violence) written in a Light novel like this one?? The Author and/or the Japanese Publisher? What responsibilities does the Western Publisher hold for a torture, blood and gore, enslavement, slavery, psychopathic fantasy story like this one?? Where are the warnings on the cover, and the inside to advise parents and guardians of extreme violence, adult themes? So that Young Adults and Underage Readers wait until they become adults to read a story extremely violent and not suitable for minor readers??
That covers the extreme violence and promotion of blood, gore, violence, obscenity to minors.
Then there is the blatant plagiarism that this Light Novel does of Web/Light Novel REDO OF HEALER (both published by the same Japanese publisher by a year or two)?? Why does a publisher infringe on the rights of their authors?? Does copycat-ting a thing in Japanese Light Novel series???
Revenge has been done before (a lot). Titus Andronicus and Hamlet, by Shakespeare, Then classic stories like Count of MonteCristo by Alexandre Dumas, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë are stories so masterly made, that they have become icons of their eras. Clichés like that make of "revenge a dish best served cold". Used in several movies (Kind Hearts and Coronets, GodFather, Star Trek) supposedly originated and is a translation of the line "La vengeance est un plat qui se mange froide" from Pierre Choderlos de Laclos's epistolary novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses, 1782. Even though some people have scrutinized Dangerous Liaisons for this quote, and argue that it is missing from the original story...
So, I placed those classic novels and stories because, Revenge is a theme as old as human nature...
Other Revenge themed Japanese Light Novel series that have been well-read and well-known are Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest, The Rising of the Shield Hero, Failure Frame, Monster Tamer, etc. etc... This story copies almost all of the story from REDO OF HEALER. Although REDO OF HEALER is more sexual, with sexual assaults, enslavement and slaves of the people the main character of that story was getting "revenge" upon. (both princesses for instance)...
While this "version of Revenge" is a lot less sexual (no rape, no sexual assaults) it has torture, physical assaults, cruelty, violence, blood and gore and definite conditions of psychopathy from the main character, Kaito Ukei, and members of his retinue, Minnalis. Is plagiarism or derivative plagiarism not pursued in Japan?? What about in U.S. and Canada?? Is extreme violence a genre?? Do readers buy stories, series and books for the "graphic violence"??? What about copycat books?
Although REDO OF HEALER has rape, sexual assaults, enslavement, torture, violence, etc. that main character, Keyaru, actually gives all of the people that abused him in his "previous life" a chance for absolution (pardon/regret)... This author and this story treats people bad from the very beginning, even people that the main character did not know from his first life...(money changer, slaver, etc.)
Can "revenge" be justice??? or be Justified?? I ask this because, only the money changer and slaver, actually did something wrong in this second time/second life of the main character, the Princess, did not betray the main character in this second life/second chance, the Knights that were trying to protect her??... Can people really be chastised/tortured/killed for things that they did in alternate reality lives/other lives??? Why does this author not "justify" the rationality, logic and common sense of seeking revenge from everybody (for things they did in another life/in another alternate reality)???
Chastising someone for something that they will do in the future is also not new in literature or film. "The plot of the 2002 Sci-Fi/Neo-Noir movie titled Minority Report, the script is based on the 1956 short story "Minority Report" by Philip K. Dick. The film's theme centers around a trio of psychics called "Pre-cogs", who see future images called "Pre-visions" of crimes yet to be committed. These images are then processed and interpreted by a specialized police department, named "Pre-crime", which apprehends the criminals before they commit the crimes, based on the "Pre-cogs" foreknowledge. The film's central theme is the question of free will vs. determinism. It examines whether free will can exist if the future is set and known in advance. It also concerns itself with the role of preventative government in protecting its citizenry, which was apt at the time of the picture's release given America's debates over the U.S. government's expanding/totalitarian/arbitrary powers after 9/11.
Where I'm going with this is, the only person that knows exactly what happened in the other life/the other alternative reality was the main character Kaito Ukei. The other people that betrayed him in his past life, might be corrupt and depraved still in this "second chance life" but what have they done to the main character?? It even becomes more complicated and convoluted: In this second chance/other life, now the Knights, the Princess, the money changer and slaver, will seek Revenge upon Kaito Ukei and his retinue for everything that they did to them... Vendettas are cycles that never end...But the author, never really explains or discusses this...
The author to become even more sadistic and psychopathic argues in his writing that for a hero to be summoned to the other world, 200 human sacrifices have to be given in the place of origin (Kaito Ukei's classmates and teachers at his school), for a bridge, 5 family members had to be sacrificed (parents/grandparents/siblings) and in this other world (200 beast-folk slaves were sacrificed)... Is there no limits to what an author can write in his stories??? Who is responsible for all of the people sacrificed?? Does this author not know/not recognize consent/free will, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1789)???
Can there be no shame?? No limits to the depravity?? Can anything go in Fantasy-Fiction stories???
That covers the extreme violence and promotion of blood, gore, violence, obscenity to minors.
Then there is the blatant plagiarism that this Light Novel does of Web/Light Novel REDO OF HEALER (both published by the same Japanese publisher by a year or two)?? Why does a publisher infringe on the rights of their authors?? Does copycat-ting a thing in Japanese Light Novel series???
Revenge has been done before (a lot). Titus Andronicus and Hamlet, by Shakespeare, Then classic stories like Count of MonteCristo by Alexandre Dumas, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë are stories so masterly made, that they have become icons of their eras. Clichés like that make of "revenge a dish best served cold". Used in several movies (Kind Hearts and Coronets, GodFather, Star Trek) supposedly originated and is a translation of the line "La vengeance est un plat qui se mange froide" from Pierre Choderlos de Laclos's epistolary novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses, 1782. Even though some people have scrutinized Dangerous Liaisons for this quote, and argue that it is missing from the original story...
So, I placed those classic novels and stories because, Revenge is a theme as old as human nature...
Other Revenge themed Japanese Light Novel series that have been well-read and well-known are Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest, The Rising of the Shield Hero, Failure Frame, Monster Tamer, etc. etc... This story copies almost all of the story from REDO OF HEALER. Although REDO OF HEALER is more sexual, with sexual assaults, enslavement and slaves of the people the main character of that story was getting "revenge" upon. (both princesses for instance)...
While this "version of Revenge" is a lot less sexual (no rape, no sexual assaults) it has torture, physical assaults, cruelty, violence, blood and gore and definite conditions of psychopathy from the main character, Kaito Ukei, and members of his retinue, Minnalis. Is plagiarism or derivative plagiarism not pursued in Japan?? What about in U.S. and Canada?? Is extreme violence a genre?? Do readers buy stories, series and books for the "graphic violence"??? What about copycat books?
Although REDO OF HEALER has rape, sexual assaults, enslavement, torture, violence, etc. that main character, Keyaru, actually gives all of the people that abused him in his "previous life" a chance for absolution (pardon/regret)... This author and this story treats people bad from the very beginning, even people that the main character did not know from his first life...(money changer, slaver, etc.)
Can "revenge" be justice??? or be Justified?? I ask this because, only the money changer and slaver, actually did something wrong in this second time/second life of the main character, the Princess, did not betray the main character in this second life/second chance, the Knights that were trying to protect her??... Can people really be chastised/tortured/killed for things that they did in alternate reality lives/other lives??? Why does this author not "justify" the rationality, logic and common sense of seeking revenge from everybody (for things they did in another life/in another alternate reality)???
Chastising someone for something that they will do in the future is also not new in literature or film. "The plot of the 2002 Sci-Fi/Neo-Noir movie titled Minority Report, the script is based on the 1956 short story "Minority Report" by Philip K. Dick. The film's theme centers around a trio of psychics called "Pre-cogs", who see future images called "Pre-visions" of crimes yet to be committed. These images are then processed and interpreted by a specialized police department, named "Pre-crime", which apprehends the criminals before they commit the crimes, based on the "Pre-cogs" foreknowledge. The film's central theme is the question of free will vs. determinism. It examines whether free will can exist if the future is set and known in advance. It also concerns itself with the role of preventative government in protecting its citizenry, which was apt at the time of the picture's release given America's debates over the U.S. government's expanding/totalitarian/arbitrary powers after 9/11.
Where I'm going with this is, the only person that knows exactly what happened in the other life/the other alternative reality was the main character Kaito Ukei. The other people that betrayed him in his past life, might be corrupt and depraved still in this "second chance life" but what have they done to the main character?? It even becomes more complicated and convoluted: In this second chance/other life, now the Knights, the Princess, the money changer and slaver, will seek Revenge upon Kaito Ukei and his retinue for everything that they did to them... Vendettas are cycles that never end...But the author, never really explains or discusses this...
The author to become even more sadistic and psychopathic argues in his writing that for a hero to be summoned to the other world, 200 human sacrifices have to be given in the place of origin (Kaito Ukei's classmates and teachers at his school), for a bridge, 5 family members had to be sacrificed (parents/grandparents/siblings) and in this other world (200 beast-folk slaves were sacrificed)... Is there no limits to what an author can write in his stories??? Who is responsible for all of the people sacrificed?? Does this author not know/not recognize consent/free will, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1789)???
Can there be no shame?? No limits to the depravity?? Can anything go in Fantasy-Fiction stories???
February 25, 2024
It inevitably happens: you browse recommendations for similar titles and see the same books you've already read or the same ones you've avoided because of yellow/red flags. Eventually, you have to put your body on the line and read it for yourself because even the best books have 1-star reviews.
Concern: This will follow a similar path to Rise of Shield Hero/Redo of a Healer.
Result: yes.
Concern: The MC is going to use trust issues as justification for buying slaves to form a party.
Result: yes.
Concern: The slaves will be female and end up falling for the MC because he's playing the role of the evil white knight.
Result: yes.
This book is exactly what you expect. Whether that's a good thing or not is up to you. There were a few interesting moments, but not enough to override the red flags. Maybe if I hadn't already experienced these tropes before, I would go a few more books deeper into this series, but I think I've seen enough.
Concern: This will follow a similar path to Rise of Shield Hero/Redo of a Healer.
Result: yes.
Concern: The MC is going to use trust issues as justification for buying slaves to form a party.
Result: yes.
Concern: The slaves will be female and end up falling for the MC because he's playing the role of the evil white knight.
Result: yes.
This book is exactly what you expect. Whether that's a good thing or not is up to you. There were a few interesting moments, but not enough to override the red flags. Maybe if I hadn't already experienced these tropes before, I would go a few more books deeper into this series, but I think I've seen enough.
May 23, 2022
Probably one of the darker light novels I have read. Similar to shield hero but darker. It was good.
December 29, 2021
Better than Expected
Came into this thinking not sure about the concept seems good. But was hooked within 12 pages. Was excellent and your main character has a good back ground flushed out and reason and then some unexpected events occur. Worth the read.
Came into this thinking not sure about the concept seems good. But was hooked within 12 pages. Was excellent and your main character has a good back ground flushed out and reason and then some unexpected events occur. Worth the read.
July 25, 2023
Flat characters and sexualized minors
I really tried to like this book and I did enjoy some of the revenge scenes, I thought they were clever. However every other aspect of this book suffered. Clunky world building that turned into pages and pages of explanations that halted the book’s flow, flat characters made up of an edgy teenager’s fantasy, and since the story revolves around said characters: it becomes uninteresting.
I was looking forward to Kaito (17- although actually 21 since that was his age in his past life and he still has all his memories so it’s kinda weird to see him paired with someone much more undeveloped mentally) and Minnalis (16) meeting and becoming equals in getting revenge with each other. Unfortunately Minnalis is reduced to every edge lord’s fantasy: psycho sadist that wants to do nothing but call the protagonist master, collect his hair, lick his spoons, and bone him. Not even giving her a backstory helped because she doesn’t seem to need to grieve her mom at all after getting revenge on the slaver and slaves. Her entire personality and thoughts revolve around Kaito, kinda gross and boring to read.
Kaito mentions a demon lord girl he defeated before that was his only friend (and later it’s basically confirmed he had/ has feelings for her) and it’s also mentioned she has a ‘childlike body’ and acts like a child. Yikes.
There’s a part where they release monsters on the townsfolk and a woman is surrounded by goblins and Kaito goes “I believe were about to see the goblins planting their seed.” It baffles me that the book tries to write him like some sort of vigilante because he only wants to get revenge on those who wronged him and is actually a good guy when: 1) he’s completely fine with cause and watching a gang r***, and 2) he’s fine with buying and branding a person and ‘disposing of them’ if they fight back too much against someone who bought them.
You could write better self insert murder fan fiction yourself for free.
I really tried to like this book and I did enjoy some of the revenge scenes, I thought they were clever. However every other aspect of this book suffered. Clunky world building that turned into pages and pages of explanations that halted the book’s flow, flat characters made up of an edgy teenager’s fantasy, and since the story revolves around said characters: it becomes uninteresting.
I was looking forward to Kaito (17- although actually 21 since that was his age in his past life and he still has all his memories so it’s kinda weird to see him paired with someone much more undeveloped mentally) and Minnalis (16) meeting and becoming equals in getting revenge with each other. Unfortunately Minnalis is reduced to every edge lord’s fantasy: psycho sadist that wants to do nothing but call the protagonist master, collect his hair, lick his spoons, and bone him. Not even giving her a backstory helped because she doesn’t seem to need to grieve her mom at all after getting revenge on the slaver and slaves. Her entire personality and thoughts revolve around Kaito, kinda gross and boring to read.
Kaito mentions a demon lord girl he defeated before that was his only friend (and later it’s basically confirmed he had/ has feelings for her) and it’s also mentioned she has a ‘childlike body’ and acts like a child. Yikes.
There’s a part where they release monsters on the townsfolk and a woman is surrounded by goblins and Kaito goes “I believe were about to see the goblins planting their seed.” It baffles me that the book tries to write him like some sort of vigilante because he only wants to get revenge on those who wronged him and is actually a good guy when: 1) he’s completely fine with cause and watching a gang r***, and 2) he’s fine with buying and branding a person and ‘disposing of them’ if they fight back too much against someone who bought them.
You could write better self insert murder fan fiction yourself for free.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2022
This is a revenge story, but Kaito is less Count of Monti Cristo and more serial killer. This edgelord has just received an extra life after meeting a bad end during the tutorial playthrough of his isekai experience. He has basically cracked and has now devoted himself to the pursuit of the torture and murder of those that betrayed him. With his restart, he was regressed back to level 1 and had most of his abilities either reset or level-locked. Surprisingly due to remaining buffs, he is still stronger than the early knights and thugs, and he displays zero hesitation at the maiming or murdering of those who stand in his way. At the first opportunity, he goes slave shopping and ends up partnered with a bunny girl of a similar disposition and volume 1 is the start of their path of vengeance.
The story is straight-forward about its purpose and the violence is brutal and casual. The main characters and antagonist are all so extreme at times that they border on caricatures. Overall I enjoyed the light novel's darker tone and will read more.
The story is straight-forward about its purpose and the violence is brutal and casual. The main characters and antagonist are all so extreme at times that they border on caricatures. Overall I enjoyed the light novel's darker tone and will read more.
August 8, 2024
The only thing more satisfying than the princess being punched in the face would've been having it happen again.. she's over-the-top awful, just for the sake of being awful
Seems like a standard revenge story: hero is betrayed, he gets a second chance somehow, everyone is weirdly evil for some reason, MC finds a slave partner who may or may not make him a better person through the power of love and sadism
I'm entertained enough to keep going, but not sure how it'll stay interesting as they torture/murder their way through the people who wronged them
Seems like a standard revenge story: hero is betrayed, he gets a second chance somehow, everyone is weirdly evil for some reason, MC finds a slave partner who may or may not make him a better person through the power of love and sadism
I'm entertained enough to keep going, but not sure how it'll stay interesting as they torture/murder their way through the people who wronged them
June 6, 2022
It's a mirror. Be prepared
This one reminds me a bit of Shield Hero, except it's much darker. It definitely speaks to dark parts of me I might otherwise prefer to keep hidden behind a thin veil of civility. Well written and well paced aside from the very annoying and over done attempts to script wordless grunts, cries and screams. Just...why? Also a bit confusing on some of the plot elements, but I expect that will be cleared up as the series progresses.
This one reminds me a bit of Shield Hero, except it's much darker. It definitely speaks to dark parts of me I might otherwise prefer to keep hidden behind a thin veil of civility. Well written and well paced aside from the very annoying and over done attempts to script wordless grunts, cries and screams. Just...why? Also a bit confusing on some of the plot elements, but I expect that will be cleared up as the series progresses.
November 12, 2025
It's pretty much exactly what you'd expect from the title. Lots of misery and suffering. Honestly, it was a bit too much for me. Having said that, I still enjoyed it. The story is good and the characters work. Not a huge fan of the sexualisation of the FMC, but at least the MMC doesn't take advantage of her which is a solid win.
April 4, 2023
Great plot conc3pt
Story was a little choppy but still interesting enough to keep you reading. It desperately needed smoother transitions between the main storyline, side stories, and past memories.
Story was a little choppy but still interesting enough to keep you reading. It desperately needed smoother transitions between the main storyline, side stories, and past memories.
April 5, 2025
Si eres afin a las novelas ligeras, obvio verás cliches en esta. Este héroe abraza la venganza completamente sin plantearnos un arco de redención a corto plazo, y solo por eso y las escenas de combate y venganza vale la pena leerlo.
December 16, 2022
For a revenge light novel, almost no one died. Too much gamelit that I don't care about. Tame representation of brutality.
September 14, 2023
Venganza, es lo que describe la historia.
13 de Septiembre 2023.
13 de Septiembre 2023.
October 6, 2023
It's ok
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2023
A pretty good read
The book is better than some of the other light novels I have read when it comes down to the translation. The story is exceptional though.
The book is better than some of the other light novels I have read when it comes down to the translation. The story is exceptional though.
July 18, 2024
The opening scene in which he inflicts suffering upon his summoner was a joy to read. Broke away from the stereotypical openings of this genre. Looking forward to reading more
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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