Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Vol. 5

Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Light Novel #5

by Kumanano

The kraken has been slain, but Yuna's seaside commerce career is just beginning! Faced with the problem of transporting goods, the Bloody Bear sets out to establish a secure trade route between Mileela and Crimonia—even if she has to cut her way across the land with magic to do it. Denizens of the world, watch out: this bear stops for nothing!

Genres: Light Novel, Fantasy, Comedy, Magic, Slice Of Life, Ebooks, Science Fiction

215 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 25, 2016

Reviews

[Jenny Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one had much better editing. There were still a few issues, but not as many and not as bad as before. This one did not have as much action either, but it was nice to see Yuna having things she was not the absolute best at.I also enjoyed seeing her bond more with her friends. Overall, this continues to be a fluff series that is very relaxing.

[Spaghett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one felt more like an epilogue to volume 4 than a story that stands on it's own, Crimonia takes Mirira into its territory and we get a lot of the nuts and bolts of who's going to be in charge of what, the repercussions of Yuna's tunnel, etc. It's a lot of narrative busywork that feels like it has to happen to make the plotline work, but isn't super compelling on its own. The middle picks up a bit with a little subplot about Yuna trying to secure some honey but after that it's straight back to the sea town, though we do get to catch up with Fina for the first time in a while. The bonus chapters at the end about Horun, who Yuna taught some magic to in the bonus story of the last volume was the most adventurous-feeling bit. This is probably the nature of longform serialized narratives, eventually you have to do some cleanup, but it wasn't the most exciting volume though I still enjoy the characters and it's good comfort reading in the sense you generally know what to get. Volume 6 seems like it'll be more of a classic Kuma Bear adventure.

Read in Japanese, still some tricky bits but each volume has gotten easier for me than the last. I learned a great Japanese meme: 働いたら負け (if you work, you lose).

[Niall Teasdale · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a little on the tedious side, if I'm honest. It's mostly Yuna running around doing mundane stuff. Kind of a filler episode. That being said, I banged through it in a day, so it wasn't that bad.

On an anime-comparison front, this book basically happens in the last episode of the anime, except that it doesn't. Most of this book happens off-screen while we follow Fina around missing Yuna. This is one marked difference between the animated adaptation and the book: the anime is about Yuna and Fina, but the book is about Yuna. The relationship between the two girls is a lot closer in the anime (to the point of being a little creepy given that Fina is 10). The book also has more 'isn't Yuna wonderful' stuff in it which starts to look overly repetitive fairly quickly, especially to a non-Japanese reader. Also to Yuna, which may be a saving grace, or possibly not.

Anyway, the next volume sounds more interesting. I guess I'll have to read it to find out.

[Roxanne Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who knew digging a tunnel through a mountain to link a seaside village to a town would lead to so much adulting? Not our teenage bear girl that's for sure. It was nice to see the world and a few side characters get fleshed out a bit thanks to that, and that Yuna can see the trouble she can cause to others thanks to her whims. Still a fun, light read, and the author is clearly getting the hang of this.

[Sammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although there's less action in this volume, it's still very entertaining. Yuna is being dragged around to help smooth the road to diplomatic relations with Meeliv. In her moments of escape, she finds time to set up her new residence and restaurant, hang out with her friends and as always, discover more delicious food to eat; all with a dose of bear humor, of course.

[Lou (Lou and Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun edition to this series. This book was slightly boring compared to the other editions however. Yuna went on a lot of random errands that wasn't particularly entertaining to read about. Plus there was a whole section where Yuna herself was bored. This book felt like the characters were taking a vacation vibes. I still like this series to continue onwards though.

[Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been listening to these audiobooks as I go to sleep, and they are perfect for that, very comfy. Since I inevitably drift in and out of sleep, I have had to listen to each book five or ten times before I feel like I have heard all of it.

[Jonathan Stackhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bear!

Absolutely love her bear ness, would love if her bear were real. This book was worth every penny I spent.

[Jaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, I must say I absolutely enjoyed a LOT this volume! Quite a lot scenes made me laugh so hard, Yuna is something else !

[Mindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Lissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good!!

It was also really funny - I was outright cackling at multiple points reading this, it was such a delight.

I really love this series, can’t wait to read more!!