Good start to the series, but sometimes MC seems utterly useless! but that's ok considering the time loop he gets!

Subaru 
adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Ein durchschnittlicher erster Band einer Light Novel Reihe. Obwohl es ein wenig enttäuschend ist, dass der Beginn einer der erfolgreichsten Light Novel Reihen in Japan so durchschnittlich anfängt. Hoffentlich wird es mit der Zeit besser, sonst endet mein Ausflug in diese Welt schnell wieder.

- Der Protagonist ist recht nervig. Besonders intelligent kommt er auch nicht rüber, er braucht recht lange bis er seine Besonderheit (?) erkennt. Dabei stirbt er recht dumme Tode.
- Die fremde Welt wird für das Isekai-Genre noch recht wenig ausgeführt. Eigentlich fast gar nicht, man erfährt recht wenig über Rassen, Orte, Gegebenheiten etc.
- Die bis dato auftauchenden Figuren sind recht generisch.
- Handlungsmäßig passiert auch noch recht wenig, das Geschehen bezieht sich streng genommen auf einen einzelnen Tag.
- Der Humor ist ziemlich abgedroschen. Ich mag japanischen Humor in Populärkultur generell sehr und in all seinen Facetten, aber das hier ist zwischen Fremdschämen und dem, was der Japaner als 寒い (samui) bezeichnet. Mag aber auch mit dem folgenden Punkt zusammenhängen.
- Die Übersetzung ist sehr schwach und klingt für mich eher wie Fanfiction denn offizielle Übersetzung. Da gibt es zahlreiche Gruppen und einzelne Personen, die gratis bessere Übersetzungen von japanischer Populärkultur anbieten.

Das klingt jetzt bei genauerer Betrachtung eigentlich schlechter als drei Sterne, aber es liest sich zumindest recht schnell und einfach und erfüllt damit zumindest ein Kriterium für einen Light Novel. Mal sehen wohin die weitere Reise geht, ein paar interessante Anknüpfungspunkte würden sich zumindest anbieten.

Bounced this way after watching the anime, and, um. Not entirely sure what I've just read is this actual book? Plaintext English with some art, and utterly appalling writing/editing. I'm guessing what I was handed was... I dunno. Some knock-off? A scanlation passed as the real thing, badly? I just dunno.

I want my two dollars back.

Here's hoping the real thing - if it exists - is better.

I watched the anime before reading this, so I have to say the anime has a much stronger impact than the book does with visually showing Subaru's struggles with the "Return from Death" power, where he has to experience how people don't know who he is and how he has to take what he's learned to get the "better ending." And the action scenes are much more gripping since you can see the attacks happening outside of the descriptions we're given in the story. But that still doesn't take away how great the story is! As a gamer, I know the frustration of trying to get the better ending for a game with multiple endings and how you keep getting the bad version with different paths. And as a game dev, it's interesting to read how a story would work if you already know the story as the main character, but have to do the right moves to not show too much of your hand to the other characters who are probably meeting you for the first time. It's a great story overall and I'm going to keep reading what I can find. And I'm going to keep enjoying season 2 of Re: Zero. So glad that's finally out! Been waiting a while for this one!
adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Okay,to start, this is my first light novel and I have nothing to base it off of. I would give this a two based on enjoyment but I bumped it to three since I think light novels just aren't always my jam. I do plan on reading more when I'm in a certain mindset.

That being said, this was a fun read once you get passed that it's not supposed to be a literary genius of work(hence the term "light novel"). It had me genuinely interested in the well-being of the characters at moments, which can be hard for me while I read.

Also, I definitely think things get lost in translation so the original version is probably written much better. It's just hard for me to get passed that fact when I'm reading it. Better be off to learn Japanese so I can read it in all it's glory!

P.S. I defintley suggest this to anyone who wants to get started in reading light novels. :)
adventurous funny fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: N/A
Loveable characters: N/A
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A