One keeps seeing good things and/or controversy about dark fantasy, and an avid reader loves and appreciates reasonable controversy, as the world is not simply black and white.

Isekai Goumon-hime unfolds the grim journey of an involuntary, and at first glance forced partnership between two different people, with similar melancholic, tragic and sinister background that gave birth to their present existences.

Tags: Beautiful Female Lead, Butlers, Capable Female Lead, Capable Male Lead, Character Growth, Contracts, Cruelty Depictions, Dark Fantasy, Demons, Determined Female Lead, Fearless Male Lead, Gore, Magic, Magicians, Maids, Male Protagonist, Master-Servant Relationship, Murders, Ruthless Female Lead, Serial Killers, Strong Female Lead, Summoning Magic, Sword And Magic, Torture, Tragic Past, Tragic Protagonist, Transported to Another World, Undead, World Travel

Story: After dying a pitiful and meaningless death, Sena Kaito's soul was summoned in another world and confronted with a peerless woman of transcending beauty, Elisabeth Le Fanu, who had forced his spirit into an artificially created body. Introducing herself as “Torturchen,” she commanded Kaito to become her man-servant, but he refused on the spot as he faced such an unreasonable demand out of nowhere. When Elisabeth presented Kaito with two simple choices of either torture or serving, he immediately submitted and began to serve at Elisabeth’s side, to accompany her until she completed her mission. Unbelievably, it turned out that Torturchen’s mission as a condemned sinner was to eliminate fourteen ranked demons and their mortal contractors!

Elisabeth's story is told out of Kaito's point of view - while the novel in itself centers around Elisabeth's gruesome background - with him attending to her to the best of his abilities, following in Torturchen’s steps on the travel around the world to wipe out the highest demons.

____________________________________

Enjoyment/Experience: I was immediately pulled into Elisabeth’s sociopathic little world, fascinated by the flashbacks of her grim past that hinted at how she became the amoral monster she embodied. The authors writing is a wonderful mix of vivid metaphor and tight, economical prose. There are no wasted words, each is beautifully and carefully chosen. The world, too, is a wonderful blend of medieval and post-apocalyptic fantasy where demons freely roam the world. The character interactions with their environment, foes and flashbacks are fabulously done.

Don’t get me wrong. Elisabeth Le Fanu is one delightfully twisted woman. But you may find yourself having a little sympathy as you get to know her dark past. Blink, and you might even find yourself rooting for her to succeed on the road to redemption. The legend of world salvation, undertaken by the maiden who had been condemned by the world.

Elisabeth is in fact one of my favorite anti-hero characters of all time, why is that? She is complex. She has layers. She is a (in-)human monster. I could say so many things about her without never shedding light on the depth of her complex personality. If you don't know her, you might say she's evil. If you come to unveil the truth behind her actions, you will come to understand that there might be more behind the facade of cruelty.. another pitiful victim? There's no need telling that Elisabeth is infuriating, sarcastic, selfish, smart-ass, ruthless.. if you only know her on the surface. Of course all these words could define her but the only thing you need to know is that you're going to have to brace yourself because we have a female lead who is not just words. And damn, I loved that. Indeed it gives the plot so much more depth! Last but not least, the art. The art of 'Ukai Saki' is the icing on the cake, making for a perfect overall picture with each new volume.

One last warning, it's dark, incredibly dark! Don't read the novel, if you can't deal with cruel themes like torture, depicting numerous atrocities in colorful words, and as means to reach one's goal. Dark fantasy is and will always be for adults, and not kids. It's the kind of story you won't find very often, especially in the Japanese novel section, a real outstanding reading treat and fabulous piece of written art.

-> Keep in mind that this a preview, where the final score can change at the appropriate time.