What do you think?
Rate this book
The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash (Light Novel) #1
The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash Light Novel
Young Ivy can't catch a break. Though she has a few memories of her past life, she was reborn into an RPG-like world in the weakest class, and worse, as the weakest rank. As a no-star Tamer, even her parents want nothing to do with her, and she soon realizes she must survive on her own. She learns to live off the land and salvage what she can from other people's leavings. But when Ivy manages to tame Sora, a lowly slime, everything changes for both of them. There's something special about this frail little monster, and Ivy's care will bring out the best in both of them!
Associated Names
Saijaku Tamer wa Gomihiroi no Tabi wo Hajimemashita.
The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick up Trash.
最弱テイマーはゴミ拾いの旅を始めました。
Associated Names
Saijaku Tamer wa Gomihiroi no Tabi wo Hajimemashita.
The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick up Trash.
最弱テイマーはゴミ拾いの旅を始めました。
Unknown Binding
87 people are currently reading
349 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
December 31, 2022
This is a cute story with a very dark beginning. The protagonist goes through things in the first few chapters that no child should have to face (neglect, isolation, verbal abuse) and is cast aside from her family for being "starless", meaning she has very little mana with which to power her class as a beast tamer.
Eventually she overhears that her father, at the insistence of their extremely cruel village chief, is going to kill her, so she finally escapes that hell on whatever fantasy world this is based in and finds herself face to face with a very weak collapsed slime, so weak that a tamer with stars would accidentally kill it just trying to tame it. Together they begin their travels.
This is, above all else, overcoming an abusive and becoming self-reliant, and very slowly learning to trust others after a life of abuse and neglect.
The main character is strong and, while distrustful of others (sometimes with good reason), overall very optimistic considering her circumstances. She's intelligent, especially for a 9 year old (with random memories of a past life flitting around in her head), and is a quick learner. The world building happens at an acceptable pace as the MC begins to experience more and more of it, and the side characters are well written, and even background characters are important to the story, as they often show the MC a completely different side of humanity than the one she is used to.
If you're looking for an adventure story with deeper concepts than standard light novel fare, I can't recommend this book strongly enough.
Eventually she overhears that her father, at the insistence of their extremely cruel village chief, is going to kill her, so she finally escapes that hell on whatever fantasy world this is based in and finds herself face to face with a very weak collapsed slime, so weak that a tamer with stars would accidentally kill it just trying to tame it. Together they begin their travels.
This is, above all else, overcoming an abusive and becoming self-reliant, and very slowly learning to trust others after a life of abuse and neglect.
The main character is strong and, while distrustful of others (sometimes with good reason), overall very optimistic considering her circumstances. She's intelligent, especially for a 9 year old (with random memories of a past life flitting around in her head), and is a quick learner. The world building happens at an acceptable pace as the MC begins to experience more and more of it, and the side characters are well written, and even background characters are important to the story, as they often show the MC a completely different side of humanity than the one she is used to.
If you're looking for an adventure story with deeper concepts than standard light novel fare, I can't recommend this book strongly enough.
November 20, 2022
3.5, though not worth rounding up in this half-starless world. It comes close, largely by being just generally better than I was anticipating. Ivy's got a lot going for her as a plucky orphan(ish) heroine, and if she's ignorant of some things (like how her own power works), that's not because she's foolish, but because no one bothered to teach her.
There are some good seeds sown for future plot developments, many of them doubtless relating to Ivy's start in life in what is looking increasingly like an outlier of a village, and if every adult she meets is apparently desperate to take care of her, I suspect that says more about the jerks she lived with at first than anything else. Oddly, the isekai factor stands to be the most contentious element, because Ivy doesn't remember much about her past life in what was clearly our world; just enough to give her an edge she badly needs. Was it shoehorned in because isekai sells? Or was it necessary to make sure that Ivy could survive being tossed out at age five? I'm not sure yet, but I'll definitely be picking up volume two to find out.
There are some good seeds sown for future plot developments, many of them doubtless relating to Ivy's start in life in what is looking increasingly like an outlier of a village, and if every adult she meets is apparently desperate to take care of her, I suspect that says more about the jerks she lived with at first than anything else. Oddly, the isekai factor stands to be the most contentious element, because Ivy doesn't remember much about her past life in what was clearly our world; just enough to give her an edge she badly needs. Was it shoehorned in because isekai sells? Or was it necessary to make sure that Ivy could survive being tossed out at age five? I'm not sure yet, but I'll definitely be picking up volume two to find out.
October 25, 2025
পরিবারের ভালোবাসা হবে নিঃস্বার্থ।
শুরুটা তো জোশ দেখা যাক পরবর্তীতে কি হয়...
শুরুটা তো জোশ দেখা যাক পরবর্তীতে কি হয়...
March 10, 2024
The story is a rather sweet one even though it has some dark undertones. After all, the MC is abandoned by her parents at a young age and eventually even persecuted, and a 8-year old traveling through a monster invested wilderness would not have an easy time. The book certainly captures both her fear, determination and loneliness quite well with the sweetness coming from her interactions with the friends she makes along the journey including adults who in general are a lot more helpful and friendly than those in her birthplace.
While technically an isekai, the memories from her past life are little more than flashes, comments made on events by a voice only the MC hears and answers, an explanation on why a young kid has the mental fortitude to deal with the situation and on occasion show the difference between the world of the story and modern day Japan. It is for the most part a slice-of-life story about the MCs journey which with the right kind of characters I really like reading, which is the case here.
I did had to get used to the short chapters and the to the point writing style though. Little is explained beyond what an 8-year old from the sticks might know, which is good, but also makes it a bit difficult to judge what is going to happen. The world does feel rather generic (adventure guilds, adventurers, monster invested wildernesses, a "skill system", and so on), and so does the premise of the story with a character being ostracized/persecuted for her weak skill but potentially being unique and strong. How true this is though is up for grabs. The title of the series is a good example of this. It is definitively literal, the MC picks op trash from dumpsites to survive on many occasions, but whether it is also figuratively is unknown even though that was what I expected when buying the book. Most friends she makes are hardly considered trash by the world at large. Her talent is also not (yet) OP, and there is no sign it being secretly very powerful.
Regardless, I found it an entertaining and intriguing read that at a first glance is different enough for me to stick around. I do hope things don't turn too much into the standard (OP) tropes of these kind of stories...
While technically an isekai, the memories from her past life are little more than flashes, comments made on events by a voice only the MC hears and answers, an explanation on why a young kid has the mental fortitude to deal with the situation and on occasion show the difference between the world of the story and modern day Japan. It is for the most part a slice-of-life story about the MCs journey which with the right kind of characters I really like reading, which is the case here.
I did had to get used to the short chapters and the to the point writing style though. Little is explained beyond what an 8-year old from the sticks might know, which is good, but also makes it a bit difficult to judge what is going to happen. The world does feel rather generic (adventure guilds, adventurers, monster invested wildernesses, a "skill system", and so on), and so does the premise of the story with a character being ostracized/persecuted for her weak skill but potentially being unique and strong. How true this is though is up for grabs. The title of the series is a good example of this. It is definitively literal, the MC picks op trash from dumpsites to survive on many occasions, but whether it is also figuratively is unknown even though that was what I expected when buying the book. Most friends she makes are hardly considered trash by the world at large. Her talent is also not (yet) OP, and there is no sign it being secretly very powerful.
Regardless, I found it an entertaining and intriguing read that at a first glance is different enough for me to stick around. I do hope things don't turn too much into the standard (OP) tropes of these kind of stories...
October 8, 2022
I really enjoyed myself with this one, though it wasn't perfect. The writing felt a little disjointed at first, though I am attributing that to the chapters being so short in length. It improved greatly as the story went along though and as the chapters got a bit longer.
I loved the characters, and getting to know Ivy and Sora along the way was nice. The side characters were great too! I'm excited to read more. It's a lovely little slice of life story, so if you are looking for action or plot, you most likely won't enjoy this.
I loved the characters, and getting to know Ivy and Sora along the way was nice. The side characters were great too! I'm excited to read more. It's a lovely little slice of life story, so if you are looking for action or plot, you most likely won't enjoy this.
June 18, 2025
Super sad but also super cute. I first read the anime, then the manga and now the original. I'm especially enthusiastic about the cosy writing style and the relaxed pacing fits very well. The level of detail in Ivy's everyday life also comes across very well. Overall, a very high recommendation, but I would say that you can watch the anime first, because it's a bit faster, but that's up to you.
December 25, 2022
If extreme child abuse is a thing, then this author creates it in a Fantasy other world, where a little girl, Ivy, of 5 years old is continually beaten by her father, then repudiated by her family and then ordered to be assassinated by the town chief. If that were not enough, the author creates an extremely negative and pessimistic outlook for the future and lack of a fostering attitude for a kindergarten-aged little girl. There are no universal human rights to foster this little girl and the crimes done to girl (physical and emotional beatings, assassination, abduction, etc.) are too many to be able to overcome.
With an infinite possibility of worlds to be created by a fictional author who would willingly create this apocalyptic/dystopian world? Worse than that, who would willingly want a read a story of an abused, battered down little girl? Promoting crimes done to minors is a crime in the U.S., Canada and most of the rest of the World. There is a long series of crimes that have been done to Ivy, and not very many positive things. How can an author promote a light novel series like this one? Worse, than this, how can a "Western World" publisher, translate and sell this light novel series to minors and young adults? What are they trying to "groom" new child abuse victims?
With an infinite possibility of worlds to be created by a fictional author who would willingly create this apocalyptic/dystopian world? Worse than that, who would willingly want a read a story of an abused, battered down little girl? Promoting crimes done to minors is a crime in the U.S., Canada and most of the rest of the World. There is a long series of crimes that have been done to Ivy, and not very many positive things. How can an author promote a light novel series like this one? Worse, than this, how can a "Western World" publisher, translate and sell this light novel series to minors and young adults? What are they trying to "groom" new child abuse victims?
June 24, 2025
The Weakest Tamer offers a charming and lighthearted slice-of-life narrative with touches of adventure, making it an enjoyable casual read. I’ve read up to Book 5 through my subscription, and while the premise is appealing, the execution leaves something to be desired.
The storytelling tends to be highly repetitive, often reiterating character emotions and plot points to an excessive degree. This constant restating disrupts the pacing and can feel condescending, as if the reader needs to be reminded of key details every few pages. While the series has its endearing moments, the lack of narrative variation and over-explained inner thoughts make it difficult to justify purchasing future volumes.
The storytelling tends to be highly repetitive, often reiterating character emotions and plot points to an excessive degree. This constant restating disrupts the pacing and can feel condescending, as if the reader needs to be reminded of key details every few pages. While the series has its endearing moments, the lack of narrative variation and over-explained inner thoughts make it difficult to justify purchasing future volumes.
February 3, 2024
Decided to read this after watching 4 episodes of the anime. There’s differences in the different formats but nonetheless the light novel is an enjoyable read. It’s nice to read a fantasy light novel where the main character isn’t that OP. The pacing is also slow however, that just makes the story even more realistic.
Although Ivy has a sad backstory she still tries to do her best in life even at such a young age. I loved reading the heartfelt moments of the nice people Ivy end up meeting while she’s traveling (especially you Captain Oght!). The story really makes me want to cheer on Ivy. Can’t wait to see what happens next to Ivy and Sora :)
Although Ivy has a sad backstory she still tries to do her best in life even at such a young age. I loved reading the heartfelt moments of the nice people Ivy end up meeting while she’s traveling (especially you Captain Oght!). The story really makes me want to cheer on Ivy. Can’t wait to see what happens next to Ivy and Sora :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2025
It’s a cute read to pass the time. Also, while it’s sad, the message in the story is important. Tragically, there are parents who can’t take care of, don’t like, and/or are hostile towards their children. It’s not fair or right, but in cases like these sometimes the best thing the child can do is learn how to take care of themselves as fast as possible, and to get away as quickly as they can. If you’re lucky, you will have adults around you who will do everything they can to help. Unfortunately, they may only be able to do so much, especially if they want to keep the child safe… Life freaking blows.
March 12, 2024
This is probably as good as slice of life will get, mainly because the author creates a world where everything isn't easy and perfect.
There's real adversity to overcome/avoid and the protagonist is as weak as a child should be despite eventually getting access to a 'cheat' power via her slimes.
I'd give it 5 if the darker world and adversity actually gave the protagonist any real troubles across the books but generally overcome their problems with relative ease. It just feels better to read because they were at least real problems.
There's real adversity to overcome/avoid and the protagonist is as weak as a child should be despite eventually getting access to a 'cheat' power via her slimes.
I'd give it 5 if the darker world and adversity actually gave the protagonist any real troubles across the books but generally overcome their problems with relative ease. It just feels better to read because they were at least real problems.
April 5, 2023
The author summed up some of my thoughts in the author’s note when they asked themselves why they wrote such a sad backstory for the main character. Most of the light novels I’ve been reading have been mostly light hearted and cozy ones. This one also fits in with that as well, but you have to get through the abandonment and abuse first. But once you do it’s super cute, if still a little sad. Also try not to think about how the kid is 8 bc that makes me want to curl into a ball and sob.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2023
I started reading the manga first, and I'm surprised that 3 volumes of the manga cover one "arc" less than volume 1 of the light novel.
Anyway, I'm glad that I started with light novels now. I hope Ivy keeps gaining more powerful allies and that the stupid village and her family get what's coming for them.
I do wonder if, eventually, we'd see people discovering Sora's existence and get a better idea of what is so unique about this slime.
Anyway, I'm glad that I started with light novels now. I hope Ivy keeps gaining more powerful allies and that the stupid village and her family get what's coming for them.
I do wonder if, eventually, we'd see people discovering Sora's existence and get a better idea of what is so unique about this slime.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2024
Heartbreaking
Ivy wasn’t born special, and that seems to be an issue in a poor village that she was born in. Ivy’s family, especially her father were more garbage than the trash that Ivy had to go through. Despite all that, Ivy is finding happiness in the people (and monsters) she’s befriending. But it’s clear that the emotional scars that she went through are still there and it will take a long time for them to heal.
Ivy wasn’t born special, and that seems to be an issue in a poor village that she was born in. Ivy’s family, especially her father were more garbage than the trash that Ivy had to go through. Despite all that, Ivy is finding happiness in the people (and monsters) she’s befriending. But it’s clear that the emotional scars that she went through are still there and it will take a long time for them to heal.
May 3, 2024
4.25 stars
A very wholesome story - which is a surprise considering how rage-inducing Ivy's situation is. But I'm glad there are instances of her learning to trust others again, as well as proof that not all adults in this fantasy world are pieces of trash. I really hope Captain Oght shows up again at some point! He seems like too important of a character to just be a one-off thing... though maybe that's my bias talking.
A very wholesome story - which is a surprise considering how rage-inducing Ivy's situation is. But I'm glad there are instances of her learning to trust others again, as well as proof that not all adults in this fantasy world are pieces of trash. I really hope Captain Oght shows up again at some point! He seems like too important of a character to just be a one-off thing... though maybe that's my bias talking.
September 20, 2024
Slow and Fun
Ivy travels at their own pace and I love that. The author doesn't focus too much on world building in this first novel, but focuses on character building. And I love that because you really want to learn and love the main character to enjoy the rest of the series. That is just what this book is. The only thing is there is not a lot of descriptions on how characters look or dress so a lot of it is up to imagination or follow along the illustrations!
Ivy travels at their own pace and I love that. The author doesn't focus too much on world building in this first novel, but focuses on character building. And I love that because you really want to learn and love the main character to enjoy the rest of the series. That is just what this book is. The only thing is there is not a lot of descriptions on how characters look or dress so a lot of it is up to imagination or follow along the illustrations!
November 15, 2024
A dark beginning followed by the resolve of an orphan girl loosely guided by memories of her past life.
The main character has been delt a horrible hand in life, but despite her young age and her lack of skills, she's determined to set out and live on her terms.
No overpowered MC, no insane cheat skills (yet- I get a feeling this will be a slow burn), and the story treats the child protagonist like a child.
I hope the other books in this series are as good as this.
The main character has been delt a horrible hand in life, but despite her young age and her lack of skills, she's determined to set out and live on her terms.
No overpowered MC, no insane cheat skills (yet- I get a feeling this will be a slow burn), and the story treats the child protagonist like a child.
I hope the other books in this series are as good as this.
October 9, 2023
Sweet and heartfelt
This story reminds me a bit of By the Grace of the Gods in the sense that it focuses on a young child going on a personal journey without much of an actual noticeable plot.
A sweet story. A little slow, but interesting all the same. Innocence is the theme of this story.
This story reminds me a bit of By the Grace of the Gods in the sense that it focuses on a young child going on a personal journey without much of an actual noticeable plot.
A sweet story. A little slow, but interesting all the same. Innocence is the theme of this story.
February 22, 2024
This is a surprisingly interesting and delightful story with some dark undertones to it. I'm really curious to see how Ivy progresses as the story moves along. Hopefully she'll find her true purpose. A part of me does wish we did get some more glimpses back to the village to see what's happened. We get it in this volume, but I'm curious to see if this happens again in later volumes.
May 4, 2025
Cares more about building a world than telling a story.
Sure, the world is appealing, but this is 100 pages of exposition.
Too caught up in the conventions of its own genre than trying to *do* anything. Disappointing.
Sure, the world is appealing, but this is 100 pages of exposition.
Too caught up in the conventions of its own genre than trying to *do* anything. Disappointing.
March 27, 2023
Really enjoyable read.
August 14, 2023
What happened to Ivy's village was so satisfying.
October 27, 2023
I was reading it along with the manga. I'm glad i did because ot made me appreciate both forms. They are deferred enough to keep my attention. I can wait to see what they'll do with the anime.
December 30, 2023
This is my comfort light novel. Awaiting vol 5!
March 24, 2024
DON'T LET THE CUTE COVERS FOOL YOU.
This series has dark themes, such as child neglect, classism, loss, violence, indentured slavery, human trafficking. But, I quite enjoyed it & read 1-4 in a month.
This series has dark themes, such as child neglect, classism, loss, violence, indentured slavery, human trafficking. But, I quite enjoyed it & read 1-4 in a month.
April 24, 2024
Heart warming Story about friendship between lonely girl And weak Slime.
April 30, 2024
Omg she’s so cute and scrappy! She’s truly weak and not secretly OP so she has to be cautious. I love her!
June 17, 2024
I'm using this as a placement book for the manga.
June 27, 2024
When I started reading this book I was unimpressed by the first couple chapters but it won me over by the end of the book. I enjoy reading the heroine's adventures now especially with cute monsters.
July 26, 2024
Super cute read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews