Hai to Gensou no Grimgar

Jun 26, 2015

NKNIGHT

Recommended

Preliminary (25/? chp)

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 ...

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Jun 5, 2022

Tharr

Not Recommended

Funny

Informative

Preliminary (200/? chp)

"OMG! Finally someone succeeded in creating something good!"
That was my first thought when i saw the anime. The art, the story, the dialogue, the world... All of them were something I've always longed for but never found.
So, after the anime ended, of course I had to read the source material to find out what happens next.

Like I've said, the world of Grimgar is fantastic. It is something any RPG lover would feel like home. And after reading the 1st volume "Afterword", I was like "huh, this author sounds like me". I was reading volume 3 and I was imagining how the anime would look like. ... "oh, nice. Oh, so this is the perfect way to end the season. And the next one can start like this.. I can already see it. Uuuuuhhh, its gonna be great!" Well, all I can say spoiler-free, is that the books go downhill after volume 3. Or starting with volume 4. And the reason is: the couples. At a first glance it might look like something that shouldn't impact the story too much. Wrong! You can have dragons, a normal guy or a genius doing heroic feats, you can kill some dear characters and still it will work itself out. But if you put the wrong people together, well, that's the part that makes or breaks a masterpiece. Or should. These days its all about forums and novel clubs and whatnot. "OMG! You watched the anime but you haven't read the source?" And the "tricked" person will praise the same bad things of the novel to other persons and so on, and so on. By volume 6 I was almost shouting "Oh, c'mon! How could you screw it up that hard? WTF?!?". And I won't even start with the whole inner monologue. Some people might say that's for character development. Those people would be wrong. Very wrong! I usually don't care if is isekai or not, if it is harem or not, if the chars are overpowered or not, if the pace is slow or not, but when you copy/paste the same damn inner monologue over and over again, well, that's where I draw the line. Again. It was cute for the first volumes. Even understandable. I mean I could see the struggles and understand why. I was oki even with the very slow pace. The changes don't happen overnight. I get it. But changes do happen, even for a mediocre person. The way the MC is described as. So when you get to the final arc and and the inner monologue is the same... But hey, the author made some quick buck with every new volume, even if the story is s**t. "Hmm... Should I make him a bit smarter? Learning from his past mistakes? Well the deadline its too soon I can't be bothered to think about that now. Lets copy/paste the same thing over and over, but in a new decorum. I really need that money to keep flowing in until I figure it out..."

By the end, the loser (author) starts to pick up the pace of the events, but the "writing" is the same (horrible), tries to manipulate the reader's feelings with some nonsense character killings, the art is more and more on the way to ecchi (not a bad thing, obviously, but why now? You've finally figured it out that you can't attract readers with the story anymore?). Anyway, you get the gist.

World: 10/10. Spectacular!
Art: 6/10. Meh. Its only about characters. And even that is not top-grade. I mean, if you went for "lets draw some cute characters and hope it will attract readers", you could at least make sure the drawings/proportions are the same. The last volumes are even worse, trying to keep the readers hooked with sexier drawings (if the writings sucks, what else can you do?)
Couples: 2/10. The author messed up big time.
Return value: only if you can stop to Volume 3. It is better to just watch the anime.

In the end, all I can say is that I had high hopes and unfortunately it feels like I was robbed of something precious. It would be nice if authors could get sent to jail.
You know, it is funny. I keep writing this review and I keep breaking down 'cause I remember how he destroyed something that could've been the foundation of a new era for this genre. I've never did this, but he's the first person I'd spit in his face and then look at him with utter disgust.
Anyway, do yourself a favor and watch the anime, read the first volumes and then stop. I know we want an ending, some closure, but don't. What I mostly regret is that the author made money after me. He tricked me (and probably many more) with his first volumes. For the first time in my life I wish some fanfic would appear, canon the first 3 volumes and correct this mess.
With a bit of luck, we'll never get a new season. But if we do, lets hope they change the story.

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Sep 18, 2017

OnyLink

Recommended

Preliminary (21/? chp)

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 ...

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Aug 14, 2018

Kyuless

Recommended

Preliminary (40/? chp)

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 ...

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Jan 26, 2018

Icelham-kun

Recommended

Preliminary (1/? chp)

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 ...

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May 31, 2017

Harizak

Recommended

Preliminary (15/? chp)

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 ...

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Oct 2, 2018

Lankybuttwipe

Recommended

Preliminary (102/? chp)

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.
ಠ‿↼
I rate this 10 because like the mc i also grew up little by little.

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Aug 27, 2023

Zirotaku

Recommended

Preliminary (284/? chp)

This is my favourite Isekai and one of my favourite LN's out there. Nevertheless, this story is flawed and I can see why some people would not like this. The biggest flaw is that the story really takes its time and some times it reeeeaally drags which might be a turnoff for some. But I do think that this (sometimes) flaw can be the LN's greatest strenght most of the time. Because it makes it possible for the character development to be handled with such care which is hardly seen in anime.

Story - 8-9

I think the story is one of the aspects of this LN ... which can't really be explained well because, well... the characters are just trying to survive and get by. Without knowing the full context you could think that this is just a slice of life/survival show which Grimgar definitely borrows from. I think it is more comparable to the likes of a "Walking Dead" tho. The characters try to survive, sometimes they have specific goals and sometimes they have to fight of people who want to harm them but overall they are just trying to secure their place in this world. I'll leave it at that with the story because it still has some mystery to it which souldn't be spoiled.

Characters - 9

The characters are absolutely the best part of this LN. Those who have watched the anime might think that the characters are interesting but nothing exceptional or remarkable. I think this is partially the animes fault and the way the characters are handled in it. Ranta, Yume, and Moguzo are handled fine. You can expect them to act the same in the LN. Shihoru feels a bit flat in the anime but that just comes with the medium and the necessity of cutting content from the light novel. Haruhiro was extremely mispresented in the anime tho. He is called Old Cat so he should have droppy Eyes and baggs under them but in the anime he looks way more generic. The way he acts also doesn't match the way he does in the LN. Haruhiro is kind off supposed to be self-doubt incarnate but in the anime that doesn't really shine through.
Now about the actual character writing: It's slow. The characters develop slowly but that means this development is handled with an intimacy and care which you can't really find in any other isekai. That includes the character relationships. Haruhiro's party has such a strong bond that it feels like they'd do anything for each other. It has a sincerity to it which I can't really describe. In romance anime or battle shonen there is often some kind of insincerity between the rivals or the main couple for example. Grimgar doesn't really have that. Characters say they love each other or they cuddle with each other or they throw themselves into dangerous situations just because they care abound the bond they have. It obviously isn't like that from the get-go but Haruhiro's group grows so clos because of all the shit they go through together.

World - 9

It's in the title. Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash. The Fantasy part is clear, Fantasy=Magic, Beasts, Monsters and so on. The Ash part is the one which makes Grimgar different from other isekai worlds. Grimgar is a dying world abandonded by the gods. People turn into undead because of the No-Life King's curse and basically anything that breathes is trying to survive and ready to kill you if you try to interfere. In contrast to other isekai worlds t doesn't feel like as if humanity is a nature-defying power, building huge cities and being the dominant species. In Grimgar there are no big cities. Humanity is just like the other races part of a dying ecosystem called Grimgar. Because of that, Grimgar always has a certain mystique to it and a sense of dread is looming over the group at all times.

Overall - 9

Grimgar might not be the most complicated story-driven political fantasy LN but it is definitely the rawest isekai LN I know and if you are interested just pick it up and see for yourself.

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Dec 6, 2022

LazyTh1ef

Recommended

Preliminary (18/? chp)

I will try to make this spoiler free and not too long 😊. I have read the 18 current volumes (no idea how many chapters Xd) and I would say this is a great LN but it will probably not work for everyone. This LN is very different from what most Isekai does, it takes a more “realistic” and dark approach which I enjoy. Some would probably say that it is too slow (which I can understand) but that is what I like about it.

Story: 10/10
Interesting plots and sub-plots during the entire series (so far) and nothing seems rushed. Amazing worldbuilding that the ...

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Jun 30, 2020

kiibocor3

Recommended

Preliminary (1/? chp)

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 ...

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Apr 30, 2022

Mattymatrix

Recommended

Preliminary (17/? chp)

Grimgar Ashes and Illusions :

is one of my personal favourite series ever. The unique visual style giving off this serene and calming vibe is something I've never seen before. That unique vibe complements the realistic way the characters are portrayed and the music and sound design is the finishing touches perfecting the anime immersive experience.

I got so immersed and invested to the story that I couldn't help myself but check out the lightnovel so I did.
The lightnovel is written in a pretty basic form, it doesn't use big words and is simple to visualize. The writing style is a big reason why it's one ...

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Oct 28, 2018

Worldbuildingfan

Recommended

Preliminary (11/? chp)

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

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Jul 13, 2021

pepepipi

Recommended

Preliminary (200/? chp)

I don’t write many of these reviews, but if I just convince one person to read this amazing story, I think it was worth it. At this moment I’ve read 15 volumes of the story (I don’t know how many chapters, that’s why I’ve written 200 down, but it’s at least that much by simple maths).
The story is I think has a pretty ordinary fantasy setting (at least in the beginning). For most people it will a little bit interesting, but for others, who have had enough of this genre, I can imagine it being repulsive. But! Please believe in the mal points this ...

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Nov 21, 2021

Maurex

Recommended

Preliminary (110/? chp)

This review is more about why you should read this light novel and the good/bad points of it

Why you will keep on reading:

MY FAVORITE POINT: without going into spoilers, the MC falls into a position of leadership early on while knowing he's not fit for it. Through the whole work, you see his hardships and struggles trying to make his comrades survive and become a better leader. It is not said but this is a really psychological light novel and is very nerve wracking on that side.

Hai to gensou no grimgar is set in a REALISTIC fantasy world, you totally forget that it's actually ... a game-like isekai because of how you're directly immersed in the world and how just natural every interaction and set of events happen

The characters aren't strong and every new skill learnt feels like it's insane even though comparatively speaking to other works, it's just a standard skill.

The world-building is also solid, just enough is said without giving you too much information, you just feel as lost as the characters and nothing is conveniently said at the begining and is only slowly revealed later on.

The characters are well-written, you have your typical characters you see in anime but WITHOUT BEING ROMANTICIZED, you will grow to like and hate certain characters. Despite that, the author somehow makes you care for you comrade as if you were the MC

The fear of death is actually present and is overly stress inducing, it will keep you constantly on the edge of your seat hoping they don't fuck up or something very unlucky happens and someone ends up dying

Downsides:
The written can turn off a lot of people as it is from the MC's perspective and is overthinking absolutely everything in order to take the best course of action, although it's my favorite part, it might not be for everyone

The party you're following really suck, honestly, they're terrible, they do get insanely better as they gain experience but that's just life, they are people much better than them skill wise but they still make it out alive unlike people who are better than them. Basically, if you're into power fantasy and that's what you're looking for you shouldn't be reading it man

Also, towards the latest volumes, there are some weird arcs that don't really make sense and just feel like fillers, I didn't hate them but that's just a small regret of mine.

OVERALL: This light novel is a masterpiece, I love it despite knowing its shortcoming but that's what everything is all about right?

I would highly recommend you to read it as it is a very refreshing light novel that just seem to always surprise you. Especially with the MC feeling really relatable always overthinking the smallest desicion haha Although it is understandable as his comrades' lives are on his shoulders

Hope it helped you

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Hai to Gensou no Grimgar
Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash
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Hai to Gensou no Grimgar
Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash
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