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スレイヤーズ [Slayers] #3
Slayers: Volume 3
All me and Gourry wanted was a peaceful little road trip, but we can’t take one step without wannabe heroes showing up to “vanquish” us! You’d think there was a bounty on our heads or— Wait, there IS?! Ah, crap. Better head to Sairaag to get this whole mess sorted out! Sure hope it’s just a big misunderstanding and not some complex plot by an old enemy to lure us into a— Wait, WHO issued the bounty? Oh, boy...
131 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 18, 1991
About the author
Hajime Kanzaka
179 books68 followersHajime Kanzaka (神坂一) is a Japanese novelist and manga writer.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 11, 2022
These novels are such a fun nostalgia trip, and I'm still impressed that this one makes me feel bad for Copy Rezo.
It also keeps reminding me of that one friend who was madly in love with Zelgadis. I think we either all had that friend or WERE that friend.
It also keeps reminding me of that one friend who was madly in love with Zelgadis. I think we either all had that friend or WERE that friend.
March 20, 2025
For me the scene is very solid. Good job
December 24, 2023
Me están gustando estas novelas ligeras de Slayers. Gracias a Slayers Eterno Poder por la traducción.
September 2, 2010
so crappy! yet so good!!!!!
August 24, 2025
15h na książkę, która ma 4,5h. Można powiedzieć że idzie już całkiem sprawnie. Tylko 3,5 razy wolniej od audiobooka...
March 17, 2023
Today's fiction post is on Slayers: The Ghosts of Sairaag by Hajime Kanzaka, and Rui Araizumi (Illustrator). It is 226 pages long and is published by J-Novel Club. As it is the third novel in the Slayers series, you need to have the first two novels to understand the story. The cover has Lina on it looking pleased with herself. There is very mild foul language, no sex, and action violence in this novel. The story is told from first person perspective of Lina. There Be Spoiler Ahead.
From the back of the book- All me and Gourry wanted was a peaceful little road trip, but we can’t take one step without wannabe heroes showing up to “vanquish” us! You’d think there was a bounty on our heads or— Wait, there IS?! Ah, crap. Better head to Sairaag to get this whole mess sorted out! Sure hope it’s just a big misunderstanding and not some complex plot by an old enemy to lure us into a— Wait, WHO issued the bounty? Oh, boy...
Review- This is novel is very good, it is back to Lina and Gourry on the run from bad guys and trying to figure out what is really going on. They run into my favorite character again, Zelgadis, and he is a good addition to this novel. He is a very unique perspective and he is good with magic so Lina has someone to talk about magic with. The action is very fast in this novel, with every scene adding more to the plot and expanding the world for the readers. The villain is very good in this novel, nice and evil and very powerful, so our heroes have to think outside of Dragon Slave to stop him. Kanzaka is really warming up to his world and the characters in it. I am looking forward to the next novel and seeing what is going to happen next.
I give this novel a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this novel with my own money.
From the back of the book- All me and Gourry wanted was a peaceful little road trip, but we can’t take one step without wannabe heroes showing up to “vanquish” us! You’d think there was a bounty on our heads or— Wait, there IS?! Ah, crap. Better head to Sairaag to get this whole mess sorted out! Sure hope it’s just a big misunderstanding and not some complex plot by an old enemy to lure us into a— Wait, WHO issued the bounty? Oh, boy...
Review- This is novel is very good, it is back to Lina and Gourry on the run from bad guys and trying to figure out what is really going on. They run into my favorite character again, Zelgadis, and he is a good addition to this novel. He is a very unique perspective and he is good with magic so Lina has someone to talk about magic with. The action is very fast in this novel, with every scene adding more to the plot and expanding the world for the readers. The villain is very good in this novel, nice and evil and very powerful, so our heroes have to think outside of Dragon Slave to stop him. Kanzaka is really warming up to his world and the characters in it. I am looking forward to the next novel and seeing what is going to happen next.
I give this novel a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this novel with my own money.
July 3, 2020
This book's story was adapted into the second part of the first season of Slayers, with the story revolving around Copy Rezo. Some things are more like the anime here, especially the humor, which became more physical, with Lina sometimes hitting Gourry.
This is a better book than the last two, with more action and more twists. Eris plays a different part in this book compared to the anime, and is a much better character at it. Lantz comes back here, but again he's not that much of a character, still no surprise that his part was cut. Zelgadiss also comes back, and in this one he wields for some time the sword of light, I don't remember that from the anime. Sylpheel also appears, but seems underutilized to me, with less being made of her love for Gourry.
Also, since we get to read Lina's thought patterns, we can see that she has stopped going around with who's obviously Nahga the serpent just a few months before she met Gourry, and that she has lots of reservations to going for Saillune at the end due to that. Continuity porn for the Slayers fans!
So this book is not only much better than the previous two, but also than the anime.
Now to the other books, let's see if we meet Amelia in the next one.
This is a better book than the last two, with more action and more twists. Eris plays a different part in this book compared to the anime, and is a much better character at it. Lantz comes back here, but again he's not that much of a character, still no surprise that his part was cut. Zelgadiss also comes back, and in this one he wields for some time the sword of light, I don't remember that from the anime. Sylpheel also appears, but seems underutilized to me, with less being made of her love for Gourry.
Also, since we get to read Lina's thought patterns, we can see that she has stopped going around with who's obviously Nahga the serpent just a few months before she met Gourry, and that she has lots of reservations to going for Saillune at the end due to that. Continuity porn for the Slayers fans!
So this book is not only much better than the previous two, but also than the anime.
Now to the other books, let's see if we meet Amelia in the next one.
April 18, 2025
I don't know why, but my mind mostly checked out while listening to this volumes of the book. I suppose a lot of it was just that the story wasn't all that interesting this time around and tended to get locked into periods of stagnation far too often. I almost want to liken it to a bad night of D&D where there's a quest, but most of the night is spent goofing off and getting there than on the actual quest itself. It just never really grabbed me through most of the book, and then when we finally do get to the big ending I was already too far gone to care.
It's a shame too because the one thing I can definitely say about this series that I've enjoyed is the fact that we have Lisa Ortiz narrating them. Getting the main character's original voice actor from the anime to narrate the audiobook that just so happens to be written in first person perspective from that character is easily the perfect solution here, and it's the only reason I'm not giving this a single star rating. She works her butt off for these books and I dearly appreciate it. The story itself is just not great this time around. Maybe book 4 will be better? I can only hope.
It's a shame too because the one thing I can definitely say about this series that I've enjoyed is the fact that we have Lisa Ortiz narrating them. Getting the main character's original voice actor from the anime to narrate the audiobook that just so happens to be written in first person perspective from that character is easily the perfect solution here, and it's the only reason I'm not giving this a single star rating. She works her butt off for these books and I dearly appreciate it. The story itself is just not great this time around. Maybe book 4 will be better? I can only hope.
September 30, 2021
This just goes to show, I may have been a fan of Slayers, but I didn’t really pay attention or watch much of the anime.
I kind of have some inkling of recollections of certain things, like copy Rezo (but not the disfigured face), the whole Flagoon being destroyed, and that. That also pulls a lot of parallel with the SNES Slayers RPG game (which, spoiler spoiler, it featured Copy!Lina).
This was a pretty straightforward read. Again, characters seemed rather underdeveloped (is that the only thing being written about Sylphiel?). I kind of also seem to have some faint memory of Lina actually dying but Sylphiel did CPR & resurrection to revive her (but maybe that’s the anime, and probably further longer into the series?)
But, it was a fun read while it lasted. With the explanations of Copy!Rezo and why he did what, I’m sure if I read the Chinese or Japanese version of the book, it would go all over my head. So, I’m glad I read the English.
I kind of have some inkling of recollections of certain things, like copy Rezo (but not the disfigured face), the whole Flagoon being destroyed, and that. That also pulls a lot of parallel with the SNES Slayers RPG game (which, spoiler spoiler, it featured Copy!Lina).
This was a pretty straightforward read. Again, characters seemed rather underdeveloped (is that the only thing being written about Sylphiel?). I kind of also seem to have some faint memory of Lina actually dying but Sylphiel did CPR & resurrection to revive her (but maybe that’s the anime, and probably further longer into the series?)
But, it was a fun read while it lasted. With the explanations of Copy!Rezo and why he did what, I’m sure if I read the Chinese or Japanese version of the book, it would go all over my head. So, I’m glad I read the English.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2020
4/5 I'm still enjoying my romp with The Slayers. This time around we're bringing back Zelgadis and introducing Sylphia the priest. I love the sword and sorcery classic fantasy setting of the series. It's all very old school and almost DnD feeling in it's tropes.
Lina and Gourry find themselves accosted by heroes left and right because Rezo the Red Priest put a bounty on their head. Wait a minute didn't they kill him back in volume 1? Time to investigate. More action and comedy abound and you're bound to enjoy yourself .
From what I understand Volumes 1 and 3 comprise most of the material used for the first 26 episode season of The Slayers first anime season. I'll have to get back into those soon as well.
Lina and Gourry find themselves accosted by heroes left and right because Rezo the Red Priest put a bounty on their head. Wait a minute didn't they kill him back in volume 1? Time to investigate. More action and comedy abound and you're bound to enjoy yourself .
From what I understand Volumes 1 and 3 comprise most of the material used for the first 26 episode season of The Slayers first anime season. I'll have to get back into those soon as well.
January 1, 2025
This storyline was covered in the anime, though this book shows more reflection. I found a lot of the characters were more likable in the book. These all have a similar tone, though I think the translations get better after the first book.
March 2, 2019
The slayers series continue being as great as I can remember, This time the group fights Rezo, the red priest a second time.
Great pacing and story will keep you hooked.
Great pacing and story will keep you hooked.
March 9, 2019
Would have gotten a 3* (average, but not great), if it wasn't for Lantz being gross. Bless the anime for not carrying him over.
January 30, 2022
Pretty solid. The author has found a good balance in action and antics and the pacing is pretty good.
February 28, 2018
I really wish these books were still being translated. The series is a lot of fun, and the books don’t disappoint. This is actually the second time I’ve read The Ghost of Sairaag by Hajime Kanzaka in only a few months. I’d originally started it less than a week before moving, so of course the book got packed away in a box I couldn’t find upon move in, the last chapter still unread. At this point I figured I may as well read the whole thing over again, something I’m never against when it’s one of my favorite series.
In the third installment in the Slayers series, Lina Inverse and her partner in crime Gourry Gabriev are being hunted, not by Mazoku but by heroes and bands of knights. Someone has put a price on their heads, but for what reason, they aren’t sure. With Rezzo the Red Priest, or at least someone claiming to be him, appears, things go from bad to worse.
The Ghost of Sairaag, like the two novels before it, is written in first person point of view from Lina’s perspective. And, also like the previous two light novels, this one also consistently shatters the fourth wall. Lina is telling the story to us, the reader. The more I read the novels, the more attached I grow to Lina, and I believe this is the reason why. It is very easy to want to root for her despite obvious personality flaws or any annoying habits she may have.
Speaking of personality flaws, Gourry still serves as the means for explanations and short infodumps. These sections aren’t quite as numerous as in other books. Once or twice this is even turned on its head, with Lina, for once, being the one who doesn’t recognize Lantz upon first sight and bungling up attempts at dodging the hordes of people after them. This was quite a welcomed change from how these scenes normally play out.
The pacing of this volume felt faster than the last. Time spent traveling, while abundant enough, is largely glossed over, something I wish more authors took to heart a little more often. The characters face a truly absurd amount of foes – nearly every bounty hunter, knight, and do-gooder is out to capture them due to the wanted posters plastered across every town. However, the vast majority of these battle are mentioned in passing only. The author doesn’t waste the readers time focusing on the smaller details. Lina (and the reader) are more focused on the other tidbit of information that lets slip – Rezo the Red Priest has taken up residence in Sairaag.
This, of course, should be impossible due to the events of book one. So, of course, Sairaag is the very first place Lina heads.
There is something about this novel I truly appreciate. Unlike other series, the characters are very conscious of their actions, particularly their magic and how and when they use it. The vast majority of novels, light novels, manga, and comics I’ve read completely disregard this. Widespread destruction follows the characters wherever they go. The collateral damage is enormous, but never really discussed. Or, more confusingly, magic spells and other events which would logically have a great and lasting impact on the area around the characters has no seeming impact at all.
This is not the case in the Slayers universe. Lina in particular is very aware of how her sorcery will impact those around her. She stays away from spells that may injure her comrades. Despite her personality, she tries to stay away from obviously dangerous situations magically speaking – casting fire spells in forests is always a no-no for example. This novel brings this aspect to the front a little bit more, showing the reader what can happen when careless magic users use spells in situations and places they shouldn’t be. It’s very refreshing to see this in a series.
I have always loved the Slayers series. This volume is no exception. It was fast, fun, and you can bet I will read the next one. If you are a fan of the show or are looking for some fast paced high fantasy you should check out this series. If you don’t like stories told in first person or dislike when characters speak directly to the reader this may be a series to forego.
In the third installment in the Slayers series, Lina Inverse and her partner in crime Gourry Gabriev are being hunted, not by Mazoku but by heroes and bands of knights. Someone has put a price on their heads, but for what reason, they aren’t sure. With Rezzo the Red Priest, or at least someone claiming to be him, appears, things go from bad to worse.
The Ghost of Sairaag, like the two novels before it, is written in first person point of view from Lina’s perspective. And, also like the previous two light novels, this one also consistently shatters the fourth wall. Lina is telling the story to us, the reader. The more I read the novels, the more attached I grow to Lina, and I believe this is the reason why. It is very easy to want to root for her despite obvious personality flaws or any annoying habits she may have.
Speaking of personality flaws, Gourry still serves as the means for explanations and short infodumps. These sections aren’t quite as numerous as in other books. Once or twice this is even turned on its head, with Lina, for once, being the one who doesn’t recognize Lantz upon first sight and bungling up attempts at dodging the hordes of people after them. This was quite a welcomed change from how these scenes normally play out.
The pacing of this volume felt faster than the last. Time spent traveling, while abundant enough, is largely glossed over, something I wish more authors took to heart a little more often. The characters face a truly absurd amount of foes – nearly every bounty hunter, knight, and do-gooder is out to capture them due to the wanted posters plastered across every town. However, the vast majority of these battle are mentioned in passing only. The author doesn’t waste the readers time focusing on the smaller details. Lina (and the reader) are more focused on the other tidbit of information that lets slip – Rezo the Red Priest has taken up residence in Sairaag.
This, of course, should be impossible due to the events of book one. So, of course, Sairaag is the very first place Lina heads.
There is something about this novel I truly appreciate. Unlike other series, the characters are very conscious of their actions, particularly their magic and how and when they use it. The vast majority of novels, light novels, manga, and comics I’ve read completely disregard this. Widespread destruction follows the characters wherever they go. The collateral damage is enormous, but never really discussed. Or, more confusingly, magic spells and other events which would logically have a great and lasting impact on the area around the characters has no seeming impact at all.
This is not the case in the Slayers universe. Lina in particular is very aware of how her sorcery will impact those around her. She stays away from spells that may injure her comrades. Despite her personality, she tries to stay away from obviously dangerous situations magically speaking – casting fire spells in forests is always a no-no for example. This novel brings this aspect to the front a little bit more, showing the reader what can happen when careless magic users use spells in situations and places they shouldn’t be. It’s very refreshing to see this in a series.
I have always loved the Slayers series. This volume is no exception. It was fast, fun, and you can bet I will read the next one. If you are a fan of the show or are looking for some fast paced high fantasy you should check out this series. If you don’t like stories told in first person or dislike when characters speak directly to the reader this may be a series to forego.
January 11, 2026
Terza avventura per Lina e Gourry...
Sono passati due mesi dagli avvenimenti del primo libro e qualche settimana da quelli del secondo. Lina e Gourry si risvegliano legati come salami perché qualcuno ha messo una taglia sulle loro teste... E su quella di Zelgadis... E a mettere questa taglia è stato nientemeno che... Eh no non posso scriverlo: chi vuole saperlo legga il libro!!
Rispetto alla versione animata ci sono alcune differenze ma nella sostanza la storia non cambia...
Sono passati due mesi dagli avvenimenti del primo libro e qualche settimana da quelli del secondo. Lina e Gourry si risvegliano legati come salami perché qualcuno ha messo una taglia sulle loro teste... E su quella di Zelgadis... E a mettere questa taglia è stato nientemeno che... Eh no non posso scriverlo: chi vuole saperlo legga il libro!!
Rispetto alla versione animata ci sono alcune differenze ma nella sostanza la storia non cambia...
March 8, 2015
About as good as the two previous books in the series. I have one more before I need to raid my father's shelves again. I like Lina's voice, although I wish we spent more time developing the other characters. But that's not really *her* character, so I can live with it. :-)
November 22, 2016
Okay Lina and Gourry are in trouble again. Some one put a bounty on their heads. Rezo the red priest and ariz. A great addition to this manga series a must read.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews