Gary Peterson’s Reviews > Sword Art Online, Vol. 11: Alicization Turning > Status Update

Almost DNF'd... Ugh, what a bad Harry Potter homage this book has been. I loathe Tiese and Ronie. But I skipped ahead to Reki's afterword and he assures readers the schooldays of Kirito are over, so I'm hoping--against hope?--that things will get better in vol 12. I'm fearing SAO is going the way of DanMachi in straying so far from original premise and introducing so many new characters as to be unrecognizable.

Harry Potter vibes! The Swordcraft Academy is Hogwarts, Kirito is Harry and Eugeo is Ron and Alice the elusive Hermione. Humbert and Raios are Draco and his stooges reduced to two characters. Lots of schoolday routine in this opening chapter. I already loathe the two pages (Tease and Ronie), who appear poised to play larger roles.