モンスターのご主人様 ： 3

Monster Tamer #3

by Minto Higure, 日暮眠都, Napo (Illustrator)

エルフの女騎士・シランに連れられて、保護された学生たちとともに異世界人の砦へたどり着いた真島孝弘とリリィ。そこには、第一次遠征隊の面々や孝弘の親友・幹彦もいて、異世界について多くの情報を得ることができた。一方、樹海に残されたローズ、ガーベラ、加藤真菜の３人は、孝弘たちのいる砦の様子を観察し続けていたが、突然、異変が起こり――「小説家になろう」発、モンスター娘たちと異世界を生きぬく大人気シリーズ第三弾！　書き下ろし番外編では、今まで明かされなかった加藤真菜の胸の内が語られる。

Genres: Light Novel, Fantasy, Harem

300 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 13, 2015

Reviews

[Terrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little bit of a slower chapter. We're entering human and humanoid (elven) territory in this volume, and learning a bit more about the world. There is some info dump in this volume, and I got to be honest, I didn't commit it all to memory. A lot of new characters too to try and keep track of (again, I wish I wrote them all down).

The major new characters are Kudou (a boy being picked on, but who has accepted that this world is the same as his previous one, no use fighting it), the bully that picks on him, the three gifted humans from their high school (the girl, Yuna I think, had super speed as her god gift), a boy Mijima was friendly with in school (and who has a thing for the silver haired knight commander), and two new elf women (Shiran and her attendant Kei). All of these characters are working together in one of three army sets (the advance team of the other worlders is one; I'm pretty sure Shiran and Kei are from a knight's faction of this world; and there's one more faction involved I believe).

Half the story you spend with Mijima and Lily learning about the world and the circumstances in the human controlled fort and territory. The world is pretty chaotic, and as such, it has been sectioned off into 3 territories. The inner most territory is called the depths and the outermost is the fringes. Humans try to corral any threats that might try to escape those last two territories by setting up listening posts (those areas with monster warding stones) and such. We learn about other magical stones that can bestow gifts with just a small input of Mana, such as a cup that fills itself and a stone that can translate any language.

In the second half, we follow the living doll Rose who is staying with human Katou Mana and the spider Gerbera in the forest. We get to see some cute sides to both of them, but also the darkness lying in Mana's heart. Mana's head space has been a bit tough to understand over the course of the first two volumes, but this one gives us a much clearer picture of what she believes her relationship to Mijima to be and what her goal is. I believe volume 2 ended with Mana and Rose consulting about constructing Rose a human body to appeal to Mijima, and we get to see that in this one.

There was a lot in here in the first half that was info dumpy and you also had to deal with another annoying male student who "vows revenge" on the hero (the one that is mean to Kudou and the elf attendant, Kei). This is a setup volume for part 4 which is sure to turn the tables on what seemed to be a pretty calm part of the plot with us in "safe" human territory.

[Pieter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Majima is finally amongst human, knights who treat him and his fellow students with an unexpected reverence not unlike worship. Curious he searches for answers, learning a thing or two about the nature of humanity as well. Meanwhile Rose works on her own emotions and appearance together with Mana, not only learning from Mana, but also teaching her a thing or two.

Much like the previous two volumes, the book focusses on emotions, on what it means to be human and how ordinary people would react under such circumstances. This time we also get to see a bit more about the world and its sapient inhabitants. I found it an interesting approach, if a bit negative towards human behaviour. It does contain a lot of tell, mostly exposition through conversations with the people at the fortress, and little show. It ends at a bit of cliff hanger, but luckily volume 4 is available to read.

All in all, a good, although with a lot of talking, sequel.

[Pablo García · Rating 2 out of 5]

This author writes and discusses more about feelings and emotions than most women. This is very atypical. Writes about how Rose, guided by Mana, is trying to have a Pinocchio moment. Feels like the author is trying to create a cult-ambiance for this light novel, in the sense that all of the tamed monsters and Mana are recycling the "drinking of the Kool-Aid".
Some believe the over explanations of the feelings and emotions convey and deepen the characters. But you have to realize that tamed monsters are in the end monsters. To humanize animals, monsters, etc. is to try to find ourselves in thins and people who are essentially different. I hope this light novel series concentrates more in action and less in words in the following volumes, please...

[Alec Rebert · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4