Reviews

A Certain Magical Index, Vol. 1 (Light Novel) by Kazuma Kamachi

brixdan's review

adventurous emotional funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

squidbillyinvictus's review against another edition

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

nolmtcam's review

challenging emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

tsuxis's review

2.0

hahaha my guilty pleasure series forever five stars in my heart

logantea's review against another edition

2.0

I have a feeling a decent amount of it is from the translation, but the writing of this book is not good. Its amateurish and badly formatted.

But it’s got the world and concepts that made me love the show. Given the poor translation I’m not sure if I’ll continue reading through this series or just read the chapters that are missing from other adaptations like the Railgun manga.

basterdsordsmang's review

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted 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

3.5

book_nut's review

2.0

I don't understand manga.

grimmarchive's review

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

archdaman's review

4.0

Wonderful introduction to the series, it has great characterisation for Touma and some hardhitting emotional moments towards the end. The world building is amazing, and the volume as a whole sets the standard for the entire series, with well structured plotlines and wonderful blends of both sci-fi and fantasy.

kikuhiko's review against another edition

2.0

I wouldn't say that I'm disappointed because I didn't have any high hopes of being amazed by this read since I wasn't amazed by the anime. I remember feeling bored and dropping it after watching the first few episodes. Anyway, it still wasn't anything near the incredible light novel people recommended me.

Things I didn't like:
- how the girl-ish side of Index is always highlighted. I should've wrote them while I was reading but there's so many of them... I don't know how to describe my unease but it's like, she's compared to a "cute little kitten", she's "so frail", she has to "be protected against anyone who'd want to hurt such a defenseless girl", she's an "unfortunate little girl" and so on. I'm not the kind to be put off by such descriptions but still, having tens of them at each chapter had be so so bored.
- repetitions. I think the translation is to blame for this.
- inconsistencies. Touma and Index have known each other for a week and yet they put their lives on the line to protect each other like they're childhood friends? That makes no sense to me. Index is supposed to be that really strong walking-library of 103 000 grimoires with strong forbidden magic inside, yet she hasn't defended herself even once in this volume? Yes, she make a demo of her power at the end but still, it bothered me. Here we are again with the strong girl who in fact need protection.

I swear this book has me nitpicking on things I usually turn a blind eye to.
I'm part of a reading reading group for this one so I'll have to read the other volumes, if not for this I wouldn't.