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Sword Art Online #3
Sword Art Online 3: Fairy Dance
Kirito has escaped Sword Art Online, the forbidden VRMMORPG of death, and returned to reality. He heads off to find his game partner and lover, Asuna Yuuki. But Asuna never made it back from the nightmare.
Lost and desperate, Kirito's only clue to her virtual whereabouts is a mysterious screenshot of Asuna as a fairy trapped in a giant birdcage. His conclusion: She must be trapped within the new, high-powered VRMMORPG, ALfheim Online. Now Kirito must plunge into the world of ALO, where players are fairies who fly gracefully through the air!
Lost and desperate, Kirito's only clue to her virtual whereabouts is a mysterious screenshot of Asuna as a fairy trapped in a giant birdcage. His conclusion: She must be trapped within the new, high-powered VRMMORPG, ALfheim Online. Now Kirito must plunge into the world of ALO, where players are fairies who fly gracefully through the air!
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First published December 10, 2009
160 people are currently reading
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About the author
Reki Kawahara
284 books914 followersKawahara Reki (川原礫) is the writer of Sword Art Online and Accel World. He also uses the pen name Kunori Fumio. His hobby is cycling.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
October 13, 2018
I am so in love with Sword Art Online that I can't wait to read the 4th book but before to reading it I have to read DRRR!! #2 and DanMachi #4.
Absolutely 5✰ for SAO.
Absolutely 5✰ for SAO.
March 24, 2015
Internet, you told me the Fairy Dance arc (books 3 & 4) of SAO was terrible. I was clearly lied to. Kawahara wrote this volume after writing three books in his 'Accel World' series, which is the more grounded, human series. That growth has bled into SAO, and it's for the better.
This was the best novel so far, for many reasons. The Aincrad novels (books 1 & 2) didn't develop Kirito as a protagonist, and while there were a few places where Kawahara stretches his author chops, he was mostly just writing straightforward story. Here, Kirito is given a real challenge that tests him outside of his comfort zone and forces him to grow, both in and out of the virtual reality. Kawahara spends most of the novel writing from Suguha/Leafa's perspective, and when he jams back to Kirito, it's in the first-person tense from the first novel. The result is a well-written universe as seen through Suguha's perspective, and an intimate first-person voice that is not split between characters.
In the actual prose-side of things, the narrative is tighter than in the previous volumes. Fights are more kinetic, and there's less techno-babble for how the game engine works. We meet Suguha/Leafa before she meets Kirito, and so unlike with Asuna from book 1, we don't have to be caught up in any pre-existing romantic tension. The climax is weak, but unlike the Aincrad arc, this volume isn't the entire story. I reserve judgment for this segment of the SAO story for once I've finished the next volume.
But for the moment, I am quite pleased with it. =)
This was the best novel so far, for many reasons. The Aincrad novels (books 1 & 2) didn't develop Kirito as a protagonist, and while there were a few places where Kawahara stretches his author chops, he was mostly just writing straightforward story. Here, Kirito is given a real challenge that tests him outside of his comfort zone and forces him to grow, both in and out of the virtual reality. Kawahara spends most of the novel writing from Suguha/Leafa's perspective, and when he jams back to Kirito, it's in the first-person tense from the first novel. The result is a well-written universe as seen through Suguha's perspective, and an intimate first-person voice that is not split between characters.
In the actual prose-side of things, the narrative is tighter than in the previous volumes. Fights are more kinetic, and there's less techno-babble for how the game engine works. We meet Suguha/Leafa before she meets Kirito, and so unlike with Asuna from book 1, we don't have to be caught up in any pre-existing romantic tension. The climax is weak, but unlike the Aincrad arc, this volume isn't the entire story. I reserve judgment for this segment of the SAO story for once I've finished the next volume.
But for the moment, I am quite pleased with it. =)
August 20, 2017
Was ok although it dragged a lot.
The Anime version was better in my opinion
The Anime version was better in my opinion
November 8, 2013
I really enjoyed this sequel to the first sword art online. It expanded upon the romance that I enjoyed in the first volume and introduced more action and adventure in the universe I so enjoyed. The world is not as good as Aincrad in my opinion but still good all the same. I recommend this book to anyone who read the first sword art online and I know you will enjoy it. I feel the anime did not portray just how good this novel was so even if you are discouraged from the anime still watch it, it gets even better after this.
March 25, 2015
This book wasn't as good as the first, but better than the second, so I gave it four stars. Considering there are only three chapters, it was hard to find a decent stopping place. Also, each of the three chapters were broken up into "micro chapters" that switched the two sides of the story, Kirito and Leafa's side and then Asuna and Oberon's. It was somewhat confusing at times. It was a pretty good book, but the anime was a little better. Just saying, I liked this part of the anime, unlike everyone else.
February 17, 2016
I've watched the anime and I've found that the books are the essence that made the anime so fantastic. Sugu's struggle does turn me off a bit, but the rest of the story is amazing. What happens to Mr. jerkface makes me happy. And since the anime was soooo vivid, it was even better I my head. It couldn't have happened to a nicer a-hole.
November 25, 2020
„Sword Art Online: Fairy Dance” is 3rd volume of Japanese, fantasy light novel series written by Reki Kawahara, Illustrated by Abec (Abeshi, BUNBUN) and published in 2009 by Kadokawa Corporation.
It’s set in 2025 and it tells a story about Kazuto Kirigaya, or more commonly – Kirito, who is a 16-year-old boy trapped in a VR game of life and death: Sword Art Online. After two years of gaining experience points and passing the next floors of Aincrad – Castle, which holds all the players, he has to deal with a new game: ALfheim Online, which holds his partner and girlfriend – Asuna.
Although Kirito is pretty overpowered and dull character, I think that his story is really good for a few reasons: World created by Reki Kawahara, which has some sort of energy in it, illustrations by abec that are just amazing and show us magic from the world of ALfheim Online, and all the other things that he does in the name of love and happiness.
I would recommend it to anyone, who likes games, fantasy or is an anime fan. It’s also really good for starting your adventure with Japanese pop culture and is pretty classic part of any anime fan’s bookcase.
It’s set in 2025 and it tells a story about Kazuto Kirigaya, or more commonly – Kirito, who is a 16-year-old boy trapped in a VR game of life and death: Sword Art Online. After two years of gaining experience points and passing the next floors of Aincrad – Castle, which holds all the players, he has to deal with a new game: ALfheim Online, which holds his partner and girlfriend – Asuna.
Although Kirito is pretty overpowered and dull character, I think that his story is really good for a few reasons: World created by Reki Kawahara, which has some sort of energy in it, illustrations by abec that are just amazing and show us magic from the world of ALfheim Online, and all the other things that he does in the name of love and happiness.
I would recommend it to anyone, who likes games, fantasy or is an anime fan. It’s also really good for starting your adventure with Japanese pop culture and is pretty classic part of any anime fan’s bookcase.
May 6, 2020
Ganz ehrlich? Ich hatte mich auf den Band gefreut, weil Band 2 ja nur aus Kurzgeschichten bestand (die ich nicht schlecht fand, sie haben Hintergrundinformationen gegeben). Aber in Band 3 taucht Kiritos Schwester auf und.... Sie geht mir auf die Nerven. Und obwohl Kirito unser Protagonist ist, werden gefühlt 70% des Buches aus ihrer Sicht erzählt und nicht aus seiner. Und das macht sie bei mir nicht unbedingt beliebter.
Aber die Handlung bleibt natürlich top!
Aber die Handlung bleibt natürlich top!
April 14, 2024
Este me costo, la verdad
November 6, 2017
Loved this installment as well! Kawahara's writing saw a definite improvement here. Of course, I already knew what was going to happen thanks to the show, but I loved diving deeper into the characters here.
November 11, 2018
The beginning of what I regard (so far) as the worst arc of the series, the first volume of Fairy Dance is exactly what one might expect of a sequel: unless it's Shrek 2 or Empire, it usually sucks.
Kirito's grand adventure continues in the first volume of Fairy Dance. He's escaped SAO and awoken in a world he hasn't been part of for two years. He's plagued by the looming fate of his still-comatose virtual wife; essentially she's being married off to a creep who works for her father, who also just so happens to be running a division of virtual world gaming. He then discovers that someone who looks like his wife (Asuna) has been photographed in another VRMMORPG called Alfheim Online (you can probably see where this is going.)
Quite frankly? I hate this arc. This is one of my most hated narrative arcs in anything I've ever read. I don't particularly know where to begin on what I hate the most. The prevalent raging thirst for this sixteen year old boy? Just how ridiculously overpowered and Mary Sue-esque he is? The incestuous love that his sister harbours for him? (For those of you who've read ahead, yes. I'm more than aware of the "plot twist".)
You may be wondering why I rated this two stars instead of one. I rate it as such because the idea of a VR world is just so damn appealing. In an age where MMORPGs are all rather samey and there's a lack of real innovation across the board, the idea of a VRMMORPG is just plain delightful. I echo what I said in my review of the second volume of Aincrad: I love the idea of Sword Art Online, and I love what the story could be. In this book, however? I just hate what it is.
Kirito's grand adventure continues in the first volume of Fairy Dance. He's escaped SAO and awoken in a world he hasn't been part of for two years. He's plagued by the looming fate of his still-comatose virtual wife; essentially she's being married off to a creep who works for her father, who also just so happens to be running a division of virtual world gaming. He then discovers that someone who looks like his wife (Asuna) has been photographed in another VRMMORPG called Alfheim Online (you can probably see where this is going.)
Quite frankly? I hate this arc. This is one of my most hated narrative arcs in anything I've ever read. I don't particularly know where to begin on what I hate the most. The prevalent raging thirst for this sixteen year old boy? Just how ridiculously overpowered and Mary Sue-esque he is? The incestuous love that his sister harbours for him? (For those of you who've read ahead, yes. I'm more than aware of the "plot twist".)
You may be wondering why I rated this two stars instead of one. I rate it as such because the idea of a VR world is just so damn appealing. In an age where MMORPGs are all rather samey and there's a lack of real innovation across the board, the idea of a VRMMORPG is just plain delightful. I echo what I said in my review of the second volume of Aincrad: I love the idea of Sword Art Online, and I love what the story could be. In this book, however? I just hate what it is.
January 6, 2013
For a light novel, it was amazing! I could imagine the battle between Kirito and Captain Eugeune. The battle was more amazing than Heatcliff's in the first book. And the story is not too simple so the writer couldn't finished it just in one volume. It was different with the first and second book when the the first book told us the main event of the store while the second book just told us the side event.
The writer used three perspective in this book. Firs, we read at Lyfa's (which is also Suugu). Second, we read at Kirito's (Kazuto). Least and the last, the writer used third person's perspective while he write "he" and "her" instead of Kirito and Lyfa. writer's writing style made this book more interisting and more worthed to read than the second book, and for me, it was better than the first book.
Even though I have watched the anime version of this book, I still found this book interesting to read.
The writer used three perspective in this book. Firs, we read at Lyfa's (which is also Suugu). Second, we read at Kirito's (Kazuto). Least and the last, the writer used third person's perspective while he write "he" and "her" instead of Kirito and Lyfa. writer's writing style made this book more interisting and more worthed to read than the second book, and for me, it was better than the first book.
Even though I have watched the anime version of this book, I still found this book interesting to read.
May 10, 2016
I keep liking these books so much. Although, this kinda looks like SAO, I still liked the story, I like crazy people and both Suguha and Sugou have serious issues. XD
Kirito is still the hero, and of course the best of everything, but I did expect that. And the evil plot Sugou has in mind... oh dear, that's really evil. I want more!
Kirito is still the hero, and of course the best of everything, but I did expect that. And the evil plot Sugou has in mind... oh dear, that's really evil. I want more!
May 23, 2015
Very good! I get a bit annoyed with how every girl falls for Kirito, but other than that I really like it. I love the concept, which you don't see too often.
November 20, 2015
And the plot thickens... Why does Kirito attract so many girls... including me?
May 2, 2020
So if we look to the first season on the anime--which, at this point, I reckon most readers will have seen before backtracking to the light novels--it had this odd split. The first half of the series takes place in Sword Art Online. The second half in Alfheim. So this volume covers the first half of the Alfheim arc. In anime form, it's not my favorite part of SAO. It's fine enough, but doesn't have the same energy or charge as the opening arc. This problem doesn't feel quite as marked in light novel form.
And if you've seen the anime, you know what you're getting here: Starting a few months after Kirito awakened from his time in SAO, he's fallen into a routine. It's a routine of waiting. In the aftermath of beating SAO, almost all the surviving SAO players have woken up and, like Kirito, recovering. But a handful hasn't yet woken, including Asuna. So Kirito is in limbo: Back in the real world, yet unable to connect with the woman he loves. So he goes to the hospital, sleeps, casually makes jokes with his sister, and generally drifts through life. All that changes when one of his old SAO friends comes upon a screenshot taken in a new MMORPG where an imprisoned character looks a whole lot like Asuna. Needless to say, Kirito needs to get back into the full dive life.
This section flips between two main characters (with a very occasional third): Kirito (which are written in first person) and his sister (written in third person). Well, we say "sister," but she's actually a cousin, which matters because she has a bit of a crush on Kirito (something apparently less taboo in Japan). Even she knows this is a doomed crush--he has Asuna, after all, and even if they're technically not siblings, they were raised as siblings--so maybe that's why she's taken to playing Alfheim, where she's risen to be a top player in her faction. And unfortunately, it's in Alfheim where she meets Kirito at the start of his quest for Asuna, neither knowing the other is who they are, literally in the same real world house.
So there's a bittersweet sense to this whole volume. Kirito physically advancing his quest is good--we need Asuna saved, damnit!--but his sister becomes a charming character in her own right. We empathize with her situation, and the cruel twist that the in-game guy she's kind of falling for is also her brother. And the advantage of a light novel over the anime adaptation here is we get a lot more of her perspective, allowing it to feel like a major thrust of this arc, rather than some side drama. As satisfying as some of Kirito's battles are, it's this tension between two siblings (er, cousinlings?) playing together without knowing who they are that makes reading this volume so damned addictive.
Anyway, if you weren't so fond of this arc in the anime and were iffy on whether to read on after the SAO arc, I can say--as someone who also wasn't so fond of this arc in the anime--that this is a good read. I can't guarantee anyone else will agree with me, but the strengths of the arc are much more apparent in written form.
And if you've seen the anime, you know what you're getting here: Starting a few months after Kirito awakened from his time in SAO, he's fallen into a routine. It's a routine of waiting. In the aftermath of beating SAO, almost all the surviving SAO players have woken up and, like Kirito, recovering. But a handful hasn't yet woken, including Asuna. So Kirito is in limbo: Back in the real world, yet unable to connect with the woman he loves. So he goes to the hospital, sleeps, casually makes jokes with his sister, and generally drifts through life. All that changes when one of his old SAO friends comes upon a screenshot taken in a new MMORPG where an imprisoned character looks a whole lot like Asuna. Needless to say, Kirito needs to get back into the full dive life.
This section flips between two main characters (with a very occasional third): Kirito (which are written in first person) and his sister (written in third person). Well, we say "sister," but she's actually a cousin, which matters because she has a bit of a crush on Kirito (something apparently less taboo in Japan). Even she knows this is a doomed crush--he has Asuna, after all, and even if they're technically not siblings, they were raised as siblings--so maybe that's why she's taken to playing Alfheim, where she's risen to be a top player in her faction. And unfortunately, it's in Alfheim where she meets Kirito at the start of his quest for Asuna, neither knowing the other is who they are, literally in the same real world house.
So there's a bittersweet sense to this whole volume. Kirito physically advancing his quest is good--we need Asuna saved, damnit!--but his sister becomes a charming character in her own right. We empathize with her situation, and the cruel twist that the in-game guy she's kind of falling for is also her brother. And the advantage of a light novel over the anime adaptation here is we get a lot more of her perspective, allowing it to feel like a major thrust of this arc, rather than some side drama. As satisfying as some of Kirito's battles are, it's this tension between two siblings (er, cousinlings?) playing together without knowing who they are that makes reading this volume so damned addictive.
Anyway, if you weren't so fond of this arc in the anime and were iffy on whether to read on after the SAO arc, I can say--as someone who also wasn't so fond of this arc in the anime--that this is a good read. I can't guarantee anyone else will agree with me, but the strengths of the arc are much more apparent in written form.
September 2, 2018
Inhalt:
Nach zwei Jahren Gefangenschaft in dem tödlichen Deathgame Sword Art Online ist Kirito endlich in die reale Welt zurückgekehrt. Doch im Gegensatz zu ihm ist Asuna nicht aufgewacht und liegt weiterhin im Krankenhaus. Der einzige Anhaltspunkt ist ein unscharfer Screenshot, den ein Spieler im VRMMORPG Alfheim Online gemacht hat, auf dem ein Mädchen zu sehen ist, das Asuna zum Verwechseln ähnlich ist. Kirito fackelt nicht lange und begibt sich ins Land der Elfen.
Fazit:
Mit dem dritten Band „Sword Art Online – Fairy Dance“ schicken uns der Autor Reki Kawahara und der Illustrator abec erneutin die Welt der VRMMORPGS.
Kirito konnte nach seinem Sieg endlich die Welt von Sword Art Online verlassen und ist in sein wahres Leben zurückgekehrt. Endlich lernt man auch seine Familie kennen, allen voran seine Schwester Suguha, die in diesem Band eine sehr große Rolle spielen wird. Waren die beiden vor Kiritos Zeit in SAO eher distanziert, versuchen sie nun, sich einander anzunähern. Während Suguha sich mit ihren Gefühlen auseinandersetzen muss, ist Kirito gedanklich ausschließlich bei seiner Freundin und InGame-Ehefrau Asuna, die seit dem Ende von SAO nicht erwacht ist. Doch dies ist nicht alles – eine Bedrohung in der realen Welt macht Kirito schwer zu schaffen und er schwört sich, Asuna unter allen Umständen zu retten.
„Sword Art Online – Fairy Dance“ entführt uns in die phantastische Welt von Alfheim Online, einem VRMMORPG, das sich in wesentlichen Zügen von Sword Art Online unterscheidet. Während sich SAO ausschließlich dem Schwertkampf widmet, basiet Alfheim Online auf dem Einsatz von Magie. So muss Kirito sich in für ihn unbekanntes Terrain begeben, was für so manch amüsante Szene mit dem sonst so talentierten Spieler führt.
Der dritte Band der SAO-Reihe hat mir wieder richtig gut gefallen. Reki Kawahara ist es gelungen, mit Alfheim Online ein völlig neues VRMMORPG vorzustellen, dass sich derartig von SAO unterscheidet, dass man nicht das Gefühl hat, noch einmal dasselbe zu lesen wie in den ersten beiden Bänden. Auch die zahlreichen Nebencharaktere sind dennoch ausreichend dargestellt, dass man sich ein gutes Bild von ihnen machen und sie getrost ins Herz schließen kann. Außerdem erhält man einen tollen Einblick in Kiritos Beziehung zu seiner Schwester und deren Gefühlsleben erfahren. Was ich besonders hervorheben möchte, ist die Darstellung von Kirito und Yui, die man bereits aus den ersten beiden SAO-Bänden kennt.
Der Anime konnte mich bekanntlich von Anfang an überzeugen und gehört neben Attack on Titan zu meinen absoluten Favoriten. Die Light Novels haben mich nun auch endgültig in ihren Bann geschlagen und ich liebe sie abgöttisch! Reki Kawahara ist ein großartiger Autor, abec ein wundervoller Künstler und ich kann die Reihe wirklich empfehlen! Sie ist einfach toll! ♥
Nach zwei Jahren Gefangenschaft in dem tödlichen Deathgame Sword Art Online ist Kirito endlich in die reale Welt zurückgekehrt. Doch im Gegensatz zu ihm ist Asuna nicht aufgewacht und liegt weiterhin im Krankenhaus. Der einzige Anhaltspunkt ist ein unscharfer Screenshot, den ein Spieler im VRMMORPG Alfheim Online gemacht hat, auf dem ein Mädchen zu sehen ist, das Asuna zum Verwechseln ähnlich ist. Kirito fackelt nicht lange und begibt sich ins Land der Elfen.
Fazit:
Mit dem dritten Band „Sword Art Online – Fairy Dance“ schicken uns der Autor Reki Kawahara und der Illustrator abec erneutin die Welt der VRMMORPGS.
Kirito konnte nach seinem Sieg endlich die Welt von Sword Art Online verlassen und ist in sein wahres Leben zurückgekehrt. Endlich lernt man auch seine Familie kennen, allen voran seine Schwester Suguha, die in diesem Band eine sehr große Rolle spielen wird. Waren die beiden vor Kiritos Zeit in SAO eher distanziert, versuchen sie nun, sich einander anzunähern. Während Suguha sich mit ihren Gefühlen auseinandersetzen muss, ist Kirito gedanklich ausschließlich bei seiner Freundin und InGame-Ehefrau Asuna, die seit dem Ende von SAO nicht erwacht ist. Doch dies ist nicht alles – eine Bedrohung in der realen Welt macht Kirito schwer zu schaffen und er schwört sich, Asuna unter allen Umständen zu retten.
„Sword Art Online – Fairy Dance“ entführt uns in die phantastische Welt von Alfheim Online, einem VRMMORPG, das sich in wesentlichen Zügen von Sword Art Online unterscheidet. Während sich SAO ausschließlich dem Schwertkampf widmet, basiet Alfheim Online auf dem Einsatz von Magie. So muss Kirito sich in für ihn unbekanntes Terrain begeben, was für so manch amüsante Szene mit dem sonst so talentierten Spieler führt.
Der dritte Band der SAO-Reihe hat mir wieder richtig gut gefallen. Reki Kawahara ist es gelungen, mit Alfheim Online ein völlig neues VRMMORPG vorzustellen, dass sich derartig von SAO unterscheidet, dass man nicht das Gefühl hat, noch einmal dasselbe zu lesen wie in den ersten beiden Bänden. Auch die zahlreichen Nebencharaktere sind dennoch ausreichend dargestellt, dass man sich ein gutes Bild von ihnen machen und sie getrost ins Herz schließen kann. Außerdem erhält man einen tollen Einblick in Kiritos Beziehung zu seiner Schwester und deren Gefühlsleben erfahren. Was ich besonders hervorheben möchte, ist die Darstellung von Kirito und Yui, die man bereits aus den ersten beiden SAO-Bänden kennt.
Der Anime konnte mich bekanntlich von Anfang an überzeugen und gehört neben Attack on Titan zu meinen absoluten Favoriten. Die Light Novels haben mich nun auch endgültig in ihren Bann geschlagen und ich liebe sie abgöttisch! Reki Kawahara ist ein großartiger Autor, abec ein wundervoller Künstler und ich kann die Reihe wirklich empfehlen! Sie ist einfach toll! ♥
June 10, 2020
About the Mary-Sueness.
Yep. Kirito is such a character trope. At least in this particular book it has an explanation. He's so fast because for some reason his character data has transferred to ALO from SAO, so two years of life-and-death experience and pure level grinding would transfer over pretty heavily. He's still a Mary Sue. And I still love him. :D
I like how he's changing. In the first book he was so painfully shy and had no confidence in himself and constantly blamed himself. Now he fixes his eyes on a goal and just keeps heading towards it. He did something that he regretted in the first book when he left his friend Klein behind, and now he refuses to leave anyone else behind. I like to see that kind of growth.
Also, the voice actor in the anime has an amazing voice and I swear when I'm reading I hear his voice sometimes, which is odd, because I don't normally 'hear' when I read, but maybe it's more like a background feeling? I don't know. It's very hard to describe what happens in my brain when I read. When I think, I think in words, and I think in conversations. I usually have two avatars having a discussion, one of myself and one of whoever I'm having the discussion with. But when I'm reading, I don't hear it in words...it's like a movie...but not like a movie because it's fast. So, a movie on fast forward? With lots of murmuring in the background? I suppose that's the closest.
Anyway. I am thoroughly enjoying the books. Even though Kirito is larger than life and is constantly and consistently being fallen in love with. They are just fun to read, not great works of literature, there are lots of problems, and I don't particularly care, because they are fun and interesting.
The one thing I thought was good in this book was how Sugou saw an opportunity to further his research and captured 300 people to use as human experiments. I can see that happening. We all hope for the best, and congratulate ourselves on how advanced we are, now we have IRB boards to keep us from experimenting unethically on humans and all that, but I can totally see megalomaniacal researchers obsessed with power and no regard for human life and human freedom ignoring everything and keeping people imprisoned to experiment on them. It's happened before. It's happening now in China. So probably the part that most people found the most difficult to believe wasn't a problem for me.
Yep. Kirito is such a character trope. At least in this particular book it has an explanation. He's so fast because for some reason his character data has transferred to ALO from SAO, so two years of life-and-death experience and pure level grinding would transfer over pretty heavily. He's still a Mary Sue. And I still love him. :D
I like how he's changing. In the first book he was so painfully shy and had no confidence in himself and constantly blamed himself. Now he fixes his eyes on a goal and just keeps heading towards it. He did something that he regretted in the first book when he left his friend Klein behind, and now he refuses to leave anyone else behind. I like to see that kind of growth.
Also, the voice actor in the anime has an amazing voice and I swear when I'm reading I hear his voice sometimes, which is odd, because I don't normally 'hear' when I read, but maybe it's more like a background feeling? I don't know. It's very hard to describe what happens in my brain when I read. When I think, I think in words, and I think in conversations. I usually have two avatars having a discussion, one of myself and one of whoever I'm having the discussion with. But when I'm reading, I don't hear it in words...it's like a movie...but not like a movie because it's fast. So, a movie on fast forward? With lots of murmuring in the background? I suppose that's the closest.
Anyway. I am thoroughly enjoying the books. Even though Kirito is larger than life and is constantly and consistently being fallen in love with. They are just fun to read, not great works of literature, there are lots of problems, and I don't particularly care, because they are fun and interesting.
The one thing I thought was good in this book was how Sugou saw an opportunity to further his research and captured 300 people to use as human experiments. I can see that happening. We all hope for the best, and congratulate ourselves on how advanced we are, now we have IRB boards to keep us from experimenting unethically on humans and all that, but I can totally see megalomaniacal researchers obsessed with power and no regard for human life and human freedom ignoring everything and keeping people imprisoned to experiment on them. It's happened before. It's happening now in China. So probably the part that most people found the most difficult to believe wasn't a problem for me.
November 18, 2023
Alfheim Online má na rozdíl od SAO jiné herní prvky, takže se Kirito zpočátku setkává s tím, že věci, na které byl zvyklý, nefungují, nebo přinejmenším nefungují zcela. I přes své značné zkušenosti s virtuálními MMORPG hrami se mu proto ne vždy daří tak, jak by si přál. A obzvlášť magie je pro něj ze začátku výzva. Reki Kawahara ale nenechal svého hrdinu tápat dlouho, aby neopakoval dlouhé začátky plné levelování. Kirito se tak celkem rychle stane oním rytířem v černém plášti, na něhož jsou čtenáři zvyklí, a který s ledabylým úsměvem zachrání den.
Odlišné herní principy pomáhají také tomu, že Vílí tanec nepůsobí, jako by autor vykrádal sám sebe, přestože základní premisa je (vzhledem k subžánru LitRPG celkem logicky) víceméně totožná. Díky tomu Vílí tanec vypadá vedle Aincradu dostatečně originálně a čtenáři se nebudou nudit, zároveň však budou mít pocit, že vplouvají v jistém slova smyslu do známých vod – což je z autorského hlediska většinou ideální kombinace.
Nesmí chybět ani nové postavy, ať už v reálném životě, kde se čtenáři seznámí s Kiritovou sestrou, tak v tom herním, kde se kromě postavy Leafy mihnou i další, jejichž osudy se s tím Kiritovým více či méně protnou. Nepřekvapivě je tu především hromada ženských postav, přičemž se všechny na Kirita lepí – autor tento svůj tah vysvětluje v doslovu a je už na každém, zda mu tuto příběhovou berličku odpustí. Já osobně bych si ale klidně odpustila.
Kawahara se sice odkazuje na předchozí dění, ale většinou podá rovnou i vysvětlení, aby vše patřičně připomněl. Novinkou oproti Aincradu je také to, že se postavy nepohybují pouze ve virtuálním světě, ale také v tom skutečném, takže řeší problémy na obou frontách. Do příběhu to vnáší trochu jinou dynamiku a nové emoce, stejně jako nový pohled na věc – jak moc virtuální realita ovlivňuje životy běžných lidí. A jak moc ovlivnil pobyt v SAO přeživší hráče… Autor tu nezabíhá do složitých úvah, hlubších psychologických vhledů, ani nerozebírá různá traumata, přesto přiměje čtenáře sem tam k zamyšlení. A tentokrát takové okrajově nakousl téma, nakolik je hraní MMORPG her ještě takzvaný role play a nakolik se i během hraní ukazuje skutečná lidská povaha.
Vílí tanec zůstává ale v jádru především akčním herním vyprávěním, místy trochu zkratkovitým a lehce naivním, ale to už zkrátka k light novelám většinou tak nějak patří.
Odlišné herní principy pomáhají také tomu, že Vílí tanec nepůsobí, jako by autor vykrádal sám sebe, přestože základní premisa je (vzhledem k subžánru LitRPG celkem logicky) víceméně totožná. Díky tomu Vílí tanec vypadá vedle Aincradu dostatečně originálně a čtenáři se nebudou nudit, zároveň však budou mít pocit, že vplouvají v jistém slova smyslu do známých vod – což je z autorského hlediska většinou ideální kombinace.
Nesmí chybět ani nové postavy, ať už v reálném životě, kde se čtenáři seznámí s Kiritovou sestrou, tak v tom herním, kde se kromě postavy Leafy mihnou i další, jejichž osudy se s tím Kiritovým více či méně protnou. Nepřekvapivě je tu především hromada ženských postav, přičemž se všechny na Kirita lepí – autor tento svůj tah vysvětluje v doslovu a je už na každém, zda mu tuto příběhovou berličku odpustí. Já osobně bych si ale klidně odpustila.
Kawahara se sice odkazuje na předchozí dění, ale většinou podá rovnou i vysvětlení, aby vše patřičně připomněl. Novinkou oproti Aincradu je také to, že se postavy nepohybují pouze ve virtuálním světě, ale také v tom skutečném, takže řeší problémy na obou frontách. Do příběhu to vnáší trochu jinou dynamiku a nové emoce, stejně jako nový pohled na věc – jak moc virtuální realita ovlivňuje životy běžných lidí. A jak moc ovlivnil pobyt v SAO přeživší hráče… Autor tu nezabíhá do složitých úvah, hlubších psychologických vhledů, ani nerozebírá různá traumata, přesto přiměje čtenáře sem tam k zamyšlení. A tentokrát takové okrajově nakousl téma, nakolik je hraní MMORPG her ještě takzvaný role play a nakolik se i během hraní ukazuje skutečná lidská povaha.
Vílí tanec zůstává ale v jádru především akčním herním vyprávěním, místy trochu zkratkovitým a lehce naivním, ale to už zkrátka k light novelám většinou tak nějak patří.
August 30, 2022
I've been crazy about the anime for years and have rewatched over and over at this point, so now I'm reading through. I've found the writing and the translation to be better than I expected, and I love the added details that I've gotten from the light novels. So far in this series, I ended up liking characters better than before and really having more details to consider than the anime could show due to time restraints (and also because of how hard it can be to show thought processes for multiple characters).
As for this particular volume...it was a decent book, but it lacks the depth found in the first two volumes, in my opinion. I do like the explanations of the lore of this new world, but it didn't have any information beyond what the anime already revealed. Rather than thinking that's because this arc was so good in the anime (which I don't think), I actually just think the writing here is a bit weak. Over all, this was basically a good review of parts of the anime, but added nothing. I would recommend it for someone trying to read through the light novels as a whole, but as a standalone book, it's not necessarily all that great.
Part of this, I'll be honest, is because the weirdness of Suguha having a crush on her brother/cousin. I was hoping the light novels would provide at least some way of viewing that situation that the anime wasn't able to shed light on, just so it didn't seem so awkward and inappropriate. We get it; every girl falls at Kirito's feet. It's a little too convenient, but he's a great guy and he's the main character of an anime, so it's to be expected and we can overlook it. But it's just dumb that somehow his growing harem includes his sister/cousin. Surely it's okay if he has ONE entirely platonic relationship with a girl! Anyway, I didn't expect this to not even be present in the light novels since it is in the anime already, but I did hope it would at least provide some depth to Suguha's feelings that made it make more sense. Instead, the explanation is that she wasn't close with him, he got stuck in SAO and she wished she'd bothered to BE close with him, she found out he's not her biological brother, and...somehow that now means that she's in love with him. It just doesn't make any sense. This poor girl needs to get out more.
As for this particular volume...it was a decent book, but it lacks the depth found in the first two volumes, in my opinion. I do like the explanations of the lore of this new world, but it didn't have any information beyond what the anime already revealed. Rather than thinking that's because this arc was so good in the anime (which I don't think), I actually just think the writing here is a bit weak. Over all, this was basically a good review of parts of the anime, but added nothing. I would recommend it for someone trying to read through the light novels as a whole, but as a standalone book, it's not necessarily all that great.
Part of this, I'll be honest, is because the weirdness of Suguha having a crush on her brother/cousin. I was hoping the light novels would provide at least some way of viewing that situation that the anime wasn't able to shed light on, just so it didn't seem so awkward and inappropriate. We get it; every girl falls at Kirito's feet. It's a little too convenient, but he's a great guy and he's the main character of an anime, so it's to be expected and we can overlook it. But it's just dumb that somehow his growing harem includes his sister/cousin. Surely it's okay if he has ONE entirely platonic relationship with a girl! Anyway, I didn't expect this to not even be present in the light novels since it is in the anime already, but I did hope it would at least provide some depth to Suguha's feelings that made it make more sense. Instead, the explanation is that she wasn't close with him, he got stuck in SAO and she wished she'd bothered to BE close with him, she found out he's not her biological brother, and...somehow that now means that she's in love with him. It just doesn't make any sense. This poor girl needs to get out more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2019
6,5/10
Realmente, SAO siempre ha sido criticado por no centrarse en el videojuego como tal, sobretodo en los dos primeros libros (primera saga del anime). Sin embargo, una vez tomado como una historia de varios adolescentes y, sobretodo, una historia de amor entre Kirito y Asuna, la novela toma sentido y gracia.
Por supuesto, baja en calidad con la anterior entrega. Alfheim Online no llega a la profundidad que tenía Aincrad, el mundo de Sword Art Online. Y la relación de Kirito con Lyfa/Suguha... Sinceramente, nunca comprendí porque tenía el autor que hacer que Lyfa se enamore de Kirito... Y peor aún, que Suguha se enamore de su primo/hermanastro por simple capricho, porque antes de SAO no estaba enamorada y después han hablado lo justo y necesario. Esta relación le resta 2 puntos totalmente, es lo peor de todo el libro, y probablemente se lo reste también en la segunda entrega de esta saga.
Otro punto que falla en ALO es que quitando el paso de las montañas, el resto de localizaciones son totalmente olvidables. Para ser Sylvain una de las capitales más bonitas, no me puedo apenas imaginar la ciudad excepto por la torre (y porque he visto el anime antes). El mundo es terriblemente olvidable (1 punto menos).
El otro medio punto que le quito va por la narración, y esto ya no es culpa del libro, sino de la traducción que he obtenido. Siento decir que este libro lo tengo de forma pirata, y pues la traducción deja mucho que desear. Sin embargo, aunque no tenga culpa la novela de esto, a mi me ha estropeado un poco la lectura, por lo que obligatoriamente le quito ese medio punto. Ojalá lo pueda leer con una traducción adecuada y llegue algún día a subirle ese medio punto.
Realmente, SAO siempre ha sido criticado por no centrarse en el videojuego como tal, sobretodo en los dos primeros libros (primera saga del anime). Sin embargo, una vez tomado como una historia de varios adolescentes y, sobretodo, una historia de amor entre Kirito y Asuna, la novela toma sentido y gracia.
Por supuesto, baja en calidad con la anterior entrega. Alfheim Online no llega a la profundidad que tenía Aincrad, el mundo de Sword Art Online. Y la relación de Kirito con Lyfa/Suguha... Sinceramente, nunca comprendí porque tenía el autor que hacer que Lyfa se enamore de Kirito... Y peor aún, que Suguha se enamore de su primo/hermanastro por simple capricho, porque antes de SAO no estaba enamorada y después han hablado lo justo y necesario. Esta relación le resta 2 puntos totalmente, es lo peor de todo el libro, y probablemente se lo reste también en la segunda entrega de esta saga.
Otro punto que falla en ALO es que quitando el paso de las montañas, el resto de localizaciones son totalmente olvidables. Para ser Sylvain una de las capitales más bonitas, no me puedo apenas imaginar la ciudad excepto por la torre (y porque he visto el anime antes). El mundo es terriblemente olvidable (1 punto menos).
El otro medio punto que le quito va por la narración, y esto ya no es culpa del libro, sino de la traducción que he obtenido. Siento decir que este libro lo tengo de forma pirata, y pues la traducción deja mucho que desear. Sin embargo, aunque no tenga culpa la novela de esto, a mi me ha estropeado un poco la lectura, por lo que obligatoriamente le quito ese medio punto. Ojalá lo pueda leer con una traducción adecuada y llegue algún día a subirle ese medio punto.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2021
I was a little nervous about this book before starting it. The TV series was a bit soft hentai, and it featured an incestuous sub plot where Suguha pined for her cousin while developing a crush on “Kirito” (both the same man) inside the video game. That’s a bit of a spoiler, but after so many years, probably not.
This is not as strong a book as the first two. Having read the author’s comments, I can see where he struggled to find a new direction for the series. There was more emphasis on the gaming world mechanics in this story arc than in the Aincrad story arc. Parts could be very dull. Reki Kawahara’s real life gamer influence roared strongly. This was something I didn’t feel happened in the first two books despite copious world building. Asuna had been turned into a damsel in distress. Extremely disappointing because I loved her character. She was so strong and feminine—an influential force in Kirito’s life—now just a girl stuck in a cage. I’ve played 8-bit video games with more depth of motivation.
The brother/sister fixation in Japanese media is something that puzzles me. I didn’t have any sisters, but I don’t see how incest gets sexy. It’s a trope that continues to live on. Fortunately, there was just a lot of pining and angst, and no uncomfortable scenes. Although the game mechanics aspect of the story could be overpowering, the world building was solid, the characters were interesting, and even though Kirito was vastly OP, it was still a fun read.
I read the Baka-Tsuki fan translation. This one had tons of mistakes, so I definitely plan on buying the big collection and rereading the professional Yen version at the beginning of 2021.
This is not as strong a book as the first two. Having read the author’s comments, I can see where he struggled to find a new direction for the series. There was more emphasis on the gaming world mechanics in this story arc than in the Aincrad story arc. Parts could be very dull. Reki Kawahara’s real life gamer influence roared strongly. This was something I didn’t feel happened in the first two books despite copious world building. Asuna had been turned into a damsel in distress. Extremely disappointing because I loved her character. She was so strong and feminine—an influential force in Kirito’s life—now just a girl stuck in a cage. I’ve played 8-bit video games with more depth of motivation.
The brother/sister fixation in Japanese media is something that puzzles me. I didn’t have any sisters, but I don’t see how incest gets sexy. It’s a trope that continues to live on. Fortunately, there was just a lot of pining and angst, and no uncomfortable scenes. Although the game mechanics aspect of the story could be overpowering, the world building was solid, the characters were interesting, and even though Kirito was vastly OP, it was still a fun read.
I read the Baka-Tsuki fan translation. This one had tons of mistakes, so I definitely plan on buying the big collection and rereading the professional Yen version at the beginning of 2021.
April 9, 2019
Okay, so, I'm aware this is not everyone's favorite SAO arc; mostly for two reasons: Suguha's love for Kirito and making Asuna the damsel in distress. The second makes sense when you really analyze the situation Asuna has found herself in—she quite literally is unable to fight back—so there should be a little forgiveness there. As for the first... well, condoning nothing, but there are cultural differences here that should be taken into account. In Japan, though not as common as before, cousins are free to marry. So you really can't condemn something because it's not a part of your personal culture. Make sense?
Now let's get to why I don't like this arc. I am a huge Kirito fan and for the Aincrad books, I liked following his perspective and forgave the few short stories told from the other character's POV. This book is only about 20% from Kirito's POV—the other 80% is told through Suguha and Lyfa's perspective. Which I very much did not enjoy. I do understand the reasoning behind it—Kirito does not know ALO so in order to get some world building/background established, it makes sense to use a character familiar with it. Doesn't mean I have to like it.
Anyway, it's a short read and it's a two-parter so don't pick this up unless you're planning on reading both because there is no resolution at all. I'll go more into depth on my review after reading the next volume since, again, this is an incomplete story. Hopefully the narrative will be more balanced.
Now let's get to why I don't like this arc. I am a huge Kirito fan and for the Aincrad books, I liked following his perspective and forgave the few short stories told from the other character's POV. This book is only about 20% from Kirito's POV—the other 80% is told through Suguha and Lyfa's perspective. Which I very much did not enjoy. I do understand the reasoning behind it—Kirito does not know ALO so in order to get some world building/background established, it makes sense to use a character familiar with it. Doesn't mean I have to like it.
Anyway, it's a short read and it's a two-parter so don't pick this up unless you're planning on reading both because there is no resolution at all. I'll go more into depth on my review after reading the next volume since, again, this is an incomplete story. Hopefully the narrative will be more balanced.
February 24, 2021
After testing the waters with writing from the perspective of other characters, Kawahara appears to have decided to make that his focus from here on out. Seeing the story from the perspective of Asuna trapped in a cage, or the sister who’s watched firsthand her brother lying in a comatose state for two years, was compelling. I think Kirito perspective is the strongest, the sister, Leafa/Suguha, is second strongest and Asuna is the weakest, though I also just think Asuna isn’t that interesting of a character and everyone else provides something deeper and rounder, like they feel real while she just feels like the helpless love interest.
In any case, Asuna is indeed trapped in this volume and just a plaything for the antagonist, while Leafa takes the stage as the strong female character, even at times better than Kirito. Kirito, meanwhile, is doing all that he can to find her, and Leafa is the one guiding Kirito in this new game. Yui has a role her providing some moments of comedy to the Kirito Leafa dynamic and some explanation of the new games mechanics.
Overall, I love this new arc, this new game, and the mini-story in the games world. Adding magic to the sword art online universe was a great addition and seeing Kirito as an agile illusionist whose epic at swords is cool.
Great volume.
In any case, Asuna is indeed trapped in this volume and just a plaything for the antagonist, while Leafa takes the stage as the strong female character, even at times better than Kirito. Kirito, meanwhile, is doing all that he can to find her, and Leafa is the one guiding Kirito in this new game. Yui has a role her providing some moments of comedy to the Kirito Leafa dynamic and some explanation of the new games mechanics.
Overall, I love this new arc, this new game, and the mini-story in the games world. Adding magic to the sword art online universe was a great addition and seeing Kirito as an agile illusionist whose epic at swords is cool.
Great volume.
March 14, 2022
This book started out slow, had an interesting middle, then ended on a "To Be Continued...." I had fun with it, but I'm interested to see where things go from here. I really do find the game world interesting and the way it intertwines with SAO is clever. I had a few issues with the book. For one, I feel like the reveal of the antagonist in the final fight came out of nowhere. It would have been more satisfying for Kirito to fight Sigurd directly in the final fight, who has been foreshadowed as a villain this whole time, than to have him basically dealt with remotely off screen by another character. I was also disappointed with the handling of the female characters in this book. Suguha not knowing who Kirito is and having a weird attraction to him is just awkward. I think having her secretly be a major player in a VRMMO and keeping it secret from her brother is compelling enough without having to throw in unrequited feelings. And Asuna being literally caged and helpless is a total letdown for how much she was built up to be a badass character. But those complaints have been voiced to death and there's nothing to say there that hasn't been said before. I still found this entry into the series enjoyable and will continue on with the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2021
The book happens after SAO was defeated and Kirito/Kazuto wakes up...but Asuna does not. His search to wake her up has him going back into the virtual world in a game called Alfheim Online. He starts a new journey to find Asuna, teaming up with a character named Leafa. But Leafa is actually someone he knows.
SAO continues to be one of my favorite Japanese light novel stories. If you've seen the anime, the two are almost identical. Yet in this light novel you feel a little more depth to the story being told mostly through Leafa/Suguha's eyes. Kirito is still overpowered in the virtual world and knows it, which is fun when it comes to the battles in the book. There is some lovey-agnst from one of the characters which I didn't care for much, but it does make for some interesting relationship dynamics.
SAO is definitely a series where the light novel trumps the manga. Looking forward to reading more!
SAO continues to be one of my favorite Japanese light novel stories. If you've seen the anime, the two are almost identical. Yet in this light novel you feel a little more depth to the story being told mostly through Leafa/Suguha's eyes. Kirito is still overpowered in the virtual world and knows it, which is fun when it comes to the battles in the book. There is some lovey-agnst from one of the characters which I didn't care for much, but it does make for some interesting relationship dynamics.
SAO is definitely a series where the light novel trumps the manga. Looking forward to reading more!
October 30, 2018
Characters You Care About
A wonderful story continues, with characters that you care about: they’re like family (“Ohana”, as the Hawaiians say), and you want to know that not only are they going to be okay, but that they’ll achieve their goals and become happy. So, you keep reading.
Along the way, you learn what it’s like to become involved with a virtual person, to care about him or her, even though you may not have actually met them IRL (In Real Life). Learning that, you also learn that it’s your feelings acquired from shared experiences that bind people together. Whether those experiences are in the real world or they occurred in a virtual world, shared experiences can be the foundation of a lifelong relationship.
You should start reading the series, if you haven’t. I’m off to the next book.
A wonderful story continues, with characters that you care about: they’re like family (“Ohana”, as the Hawaiians say), and you want to know that not only are they going to be okay, but that they’ll achieve their goals and become happy. So, you keep reading.
Along the way, you learn what it’s like to become involved with a virtual person, to care about him or her, even though you may not have actually met them IRL (In Real Life). Learning that, you also learn that it’s your feelings acquired from shared experiences that bind people together. Whether those experiences are in the real world or they occurred in a virtual world, shared experiences can be the foundation of a lifelong relationship.
You should start reading the series, if you haven’t. I’m off to the next book.
April 19, 2020
As with the previous two books, I watched the anime first but still wholeheartedly recommend the book even for those who already know the story. If you liked the first two books, I expect you'll like this latest installment. If you like the idea of virtual worlds, true humanity coming through an RPG, and your fantasy and sci-fi mixed together, you'll like this series. Kirito continues to evolve on the page as we learn more about him and the new characters are just as well done as the ones we've met before. If you finished the first two books wanting to know what happened next, this is the answer (or at least the next installment) in a story that shares some of the same themes. I'm very much looking forward to reading book four (which I will be starting moments after finishing this one if that tells you anything).
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