Hai to Gensou no Grimgar

Great. That is a good word to describe this story. I've barely read one volume and have gotten addicted to it.
In the many novels that incorporate MMORPG elements, this is one of those that deviate from the normal formula and also incorporates more of a realistic take.
A group of twelve wake up in a the darkness without memories except for their names. The need to survive is right there, after all, food and necessities must be bougth, right?
You are given a chance: become one of the many that fights monsters or find another way to live. But experience plays a role and for people without memories, what experience is for them? The only option to survive is to risk your life.
But not everyone can adapt easily and not everyone can be ready for these challenges. One think I like in this novel is how it portrays such a thing. Teenagers learning to fight and without memories will obviously struggle. Battles must be made and some won't be won. In others, fleeing will be the best option, but nothing stops anyone from dying.
And even if someone dies, the fighting will have to continue.
I really like the characters. The protagonists aren't overpowered and have to make use of their intelligence and skills. At the same time, they aren't a genius in so to say and that has an impact; only when they stop to look aroung and analyze the situation, they can understand how to succeed. Why does my teammate act like that? Why can't I get better? Why is the enemy so strong?
Is it really the others' fault? Is there really nothing that I can do?
In the first volume, I really liked the novel and how the story progresses and characters develop, so I am giving this series a 9.
I really enjoyed the novel, but somehow I realized it lacked something, a long-therm objective as pointed out by Haruhiro in one point in it. As such, as the next volumes progress, this rating may change.

What to expect:
TL;DR Hai to Gensou no Grimgar is a fresh take on the "Stuck in a video game" type of story. This novel gives you a realistic take on what is likely to happen if one was transported into an MMO-like world. The world is brutal, unforgiving. Character are realistically cautious and take a "slow and steady wins the race" type of approach. The author constantly reminds you what happens when one is careless in this world. If character development is important to you, and you want a realistic approach to the "trapped in another world" genre, then you will certainly enjoy this book.

Characters:
The characters well written. Every character is human-like and has unique thoughts and feelings that people can identify with. For better or worse, characters can and will anger you. However, this is intentional as it is used for character growth and development. The characters and how they develop, is easily one of the best things about these novels.

Story: While the story starts off as a generic transported to another world this novel distinguishes itself on its realistic approach. The characters aren't gifted, they aren't given some super special power. They start mediocre and slowly become less mediocre. While world building does occur, it is done in a way of discovery. Less in a way of being taught, and more in a child exploring the neighborhood type of way.

Enjoyment: Between the good story and the excellent character development, this is definitely a great read.

This review is based on the official NA translation of the first and second volumes and will be updated as I continue to read.

Story: 10
First of all, it was extremely refreshing to see the isekai genre take on this type of story. It's a simple story of confused teenagers thrust into an unknown world without prior knowledge of who they once were. The main reason I enjoyed the story of the first two volumes was specifically because of them not knowing what to do. Seeing them grow through trail and error in a vast and unforgiving world made for a surprisingly emotional story.

Character: 10
Another aspect that I absolutely loved were the characters. Each and every one of them had multiple layers(much like onions). They all had personalities unique to them, I could even tell in an instant who was talking because of their distinct speech pattern. A character that stood out the most for me was Ranta, at first (especially in the beginning of the second volume), he was the most annoying person in the entire book, at times I actually wanted him to die, but he quickly became my favorite characters in this series, I don't really want to spoil anything so I'll just end it there.

Translation: 10
Flawless,nothing was out of place and in fact, it felt like I was reading an actual novel and not a light novel.

Overall Enjoyment: 10
The two volumes gave me more closure than any of the other 40 or so light novels I've read. The author could even end the entire series at the second volume and I wouldn't be disappointed.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this is probably the best fantasy light novel I've read. This story, at times, even felt like a normal fantasy adventure novel and less like a typical isekai light novel, and coming from a guy who dropped the anime on the first few episodes, I recommend "Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash."

For a lightnovel that recycles one of the most overused tropes in the industry, I find Grimgar to be particulary interesting, mostly because of it's unique way of weaving through the isekai theme. Throughout the story, the book continuous to remind it's readers of the harshness of reality, in a world where sword and magic is commonplace. Without cheat items or even overpowered skills to rely on, the story attempts to present a somewhat realistic view of another world, by using the narrative view point of a timid, weak, and uncharismatic main character, in establishing a unique representation of a game-like world where the idea of save states, resets, and other convinient options are non-existent. For this reason, I'll give the story a generous rating of 9/10.

Art-wise, the illustrations are pretty good considering the form of each character's body proportions. And although, the facial expressions are a bit rough (particularly the eyes), it doesn't really get away with the tone and mood that the author originally intends. For this reason, im going to rate it with the score of 7/10.

Character-wise, I find the character development to be unique. As the story explores more of the world of grimgar with each page, so does the characters in each chapter. By being exposed to the harsh reality of a game-like world, the characters eventually starts to grow albeit slowly. Sure they don't really have any intriguing backstories or plot-breaking expositions, but for each challenges and hardships that they encounter, they grow more and more like a party of adventurers many times greater than when the first time they formed a ragtag party of rejects. For this reason, it gets the rating of 9/10.

Enjoyment-wise. Personally, I find the challenges that each characters have to face and overcome to be particularly endearing. With a party of stereotypical teenagers bickering, joking, and fighting amongst themselves, in a world where carelessness can lead to death, the idea of having to rely on one another in order to survive instead of going solo and bulldozing through mobs and bosses really shines the brightest. For this reason, I'll give a grand rating of 10/10.

Overall rating: 9/10

The reason you should read this is for how realistic it all feel. You actually can feel who they are and how they grow through their experiences. Beyond that I cannot say anything I am horrible with spoilers but trust me if you are ever like I wish these dungeon crawler books felt more gritty and realistic this is for you. Even the main character has a couple spot light moments. But most of the times he is just as useless as everyone else. Even when he has his moments it is more out of sheer luck and not because he is super strong. Though that kind of comes with the class he follows. So it does not feel like he pulls out a win for no reason. Beyond this it is very well written but as someone bad with names the beginning was a bit much for me. The last thing was the books seem to follow a style that cycle the ups and downs depending on the page in each book. So you can almost tell if something good or bad is going to happen based on your position in the book. Though only read the first couple books.

This review is based off the North American translation of book one.
Hai to Gensou no Grimgar. What it lacks in premise makes up for fully in its characters. While it may seem like your traditional Isekai (random group is teleported to an RPG style world) story, the characters in this story are all amazing, all with their own layered personalities and personal traumas/drives. Instead of our main characters being overpowered from the beginning and destined for greatness, we sit back and watch as they struggle to take in this new reality. Although slow in the beginning (which is why many quit both the light novel and anime), it slowly picks up pace completely entrancing you in the world of Grimgar.

Review is for the Light Novel up to book 11 which is right now the newest one translated.

Story: Grimgar has a very slow and character driven story. A lot of time is used to show the interaction of the characters with each other and their own self image, especially from the perspective of Haruhiro, the main POV character through most of the series. But there are also bits for a greater narrative that takes place and is very slowly brought up and explained to the reader. We learn more and more about the world and also therefore about the mystery where they came from, why they cant remember their previous world and the truth behind all that. That is very slowly but consistently build up through the series and in my opinion very well executed and keeps the tension high especially as we know that the main characters are quite weak and there is always the chance that one might die.
in the end it has tension, amazing character development and interesting fights as well as a higher plot that slowly begins to unravel. 10/10


Art: The art is sometimes a bit unusual but it rather dark tone with more shades works very well for the characters so I`m satisfied there.
8/10


The world: Something Grimgar really shines in is its worldbuilding. We learn a lot about how our characters life, what they usually do and what they know about the world. we learn about different species, more about the geography and history of this world and as the story continues even about more than just this world. Many things are explained or at least mentioned and its easy to feel with the characters as you know their circumstances and lifes quite well.
10/10

the characters: By far the main driving point of this series. At first they mostly feel one dimensional and stereotypical but the more the story continues the more we learn about the characters and the more you come to care about them. Their struggle, their bickering and so much more really makes you feel with them. One explanation is that they are just in essence totally normal people, of different background and history that were summoned in this world. they don't have knowledge from their original world or any kind of cheat skills or abilities and even struggle to defeat even the weakest opponents. It's a very realistic approach to the typical Isekai Genre where usually the Main Character has some sort of advantage and is quite overpowered from the beginning. So the feeling that death is a real threat to the characters and that they must improve and work together to overcome this is an important part of the story and one I quite enjoy. Another point is how the characters develop and bond due to loss, new challenges and new comrades or places they visit. They change, all of them do, but its not so abrupt as one big moment and the personality changed 100%. You can see that they slowly change over time and while deep losses leave their scares you see that the characters need time to evolve and accept it or to start and rethink their decisions.

But what I love most about the characters is, that after reading from the perspective of all of them I can bond with them on an emotional level. This is because they are all deeply flawed and scarred from the very beginning. Haruhiro for example has deep inferiority complex and depression due to which he often cannot see himself in a good light, and constantly compares himself to stronger volunteer soldiers instead of accepting his own grow. He is aware of that, but also knows that just being aware doesn't mean that he can simply change and become a different person, which I personally love about the story. I feel like the author really knows this kind of attitude well, an attitude that I feel I share to some extend so that I'm really happy to find a negativ character who tries to overcome his flaws but knows the difficulty of this and changes only little over the course of the story. That is in my eyes on of he best writing I have ever seen, and I have never felt so connected to a character personally than to him, because he is the first character that really thinks the same way I do. And that is something I can say about all characters to an extend. They all have their own problems that hold them back. These problems may change but more often than not I feel like to true enemy lies not in the monsters they are fighting but in their own heart. Which is why charachters would get even more than 10/10 if possible.

At last let me say that Grimgar will not speak to everyone. The plot advances very slowly and mostly concentrates on the group and their little interactions. For those that love overpowered or strong protagonists, powerful magic or a fast exciting plot this may not be the story. But if you like small interactions and slow development over time I truly recommend this Light Novel series to you. I have read 11 volumes so far and I can safely say that together with Spice and Wolf its my favourite Light Novel of all time

Im on vol 11 as im writing this review so my opinion is based on what I've read uptill now.

... i don't even know where to begin with this. This novel is something special for me so the review might be biased... and as to why it's special, is simply because it grew on me. You know a story is good when it changes you and your thinking along the way. My taste in novels has been remolded after this experience and i wish it could have happened sooner.

Not your run of the mill isekai or high fantasy novel no no this one is on a whole different level. The story is .. captivating, the caracters are more deep than I've ever read or seen, the settings and theme :thrilling and profound. Every book or story has that one aspect of it that makes it the way it is, in this book it's the characters. Their depth, their growth and their thinking is transparent yet shrouded a little, making you connect with them feel for them as much as you would for real people. It may seem exaggerated but in my honest opinion I've never felt more connected or understanding towards a character and it's thinking. In all of novels the mc isn't as connected as here you never know their true intentions or morals in some situations but here you and mc walk side by side knowing each other well and good like as if he's a part of you.

I won't talk about how good or bad the plot is or how the action and fighting is because you can find them almost in all top novels. What i will clarify is the special trait of this novel that goes sometimes unnoticed is it's realistic approach to certain things. Not op mc but extremely rational mc that makes you feel as if you couldn't have thought any other way if you were in his place. Not daring ofc but realistically would any of us be? The party system heavily emphasises that no such thing as one puch man exists in this novel, the nitty and gritty reality of being a weak party and a weak mc are shown throughout the pacing.... but above that is shown how they rise, how they grow and change overcome their weaknesses and thus this novel is something like an adventure in itself. You learn and grow with the characters, you laugh and cry with them and feel the pain and thoughts they do.
But credit is due where it should be, the action, strategy and thrill is top notch here. Romance is not forced at all and do i freakin love that. Its literally like a normal teenager battling for his life in the middle of unknown territory riddled with orcs, elves and other high fanatasy beasts/races. You don't know how others feel for you or how you actually feel for them, romance is slow but well paced and realistic. Priorities are well shown and sometimes mc can show his awesome and op side.
This novel is a master piece no doubt, the world building is awe inducing and will make you actually feel like you are an adventurer on uncharted lands. The prejudice and the stereotypes are well encountered with in a way that will absolutely satisfy you. Like Not all orcs are orcish some might be more gentle than a human can be with more wisdom than an old demon can hold. Twists and turns will keep you on the edge of the seat.
Last not the least the writing and translation are top notch. Makes you wonder if you're actually reading something like lord of the rings or the faraway paladin(another LN with superb writing)
Overall i dragged this out quite a bit, but if you give this novel a try please hold on untill you read past vol 4 because that's where the fun actually starts.
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I rate this 10 because like the mc i also grew up little by little.