The story started with a lot of promise but with every new person or event in the first two volumes, more questions were raised than answered. I suspect the piling up of characters and conflicts without real resolution grew too big for the author to deal with it. Oh well, at least it was only two volumes so there's not too big of a loss in invested interest and feelings for the characters. Guess I'll be putting it on my list titled "Check back in 2025".

Volume 8 (Premium Edition): A Bonus Short Story Prank

Volume 8 (Premium Edition): A Bonus Short Story & Textless wrap around cover illustration Lord☆of☆Air

Volume 13 (Premium Edition): A Chat between the Translator & Editor

@betenoire said in Quiet Blacksmith Life Vol. 2 Discussion:

I don't remember, did they say what race the Demon lord(?) At the start of the book was?

I'm guessing a demon?

regardless, if the pattern continues: commissioned sword = acquired harem member, the fact that the demon lord was wielding one of Eizo's top quality products seems to suggest...

yes. a smithy that has taken on the role of a weapons shop

@geirrlon-dunn-syrjh4g Oh, boy. I can only imagine the chaos to follow.

@weasalopes said in Walking My Second Path in Life: Volume 1 Discussion:

Speaking of volume 2, where's the blinking discussion topic?!
The link brings you here, and it's clear that there was no discussion of Volume 2 here!

https://forums.j-novel.club/topic/758/walking-my-second-path-watafuta-vol-2-discussion/2?page=1

I just put “second path” in the search bar, and sorted through the results. :)

I know, I'm making work for Rahuel, but if I do the final 'post' as an edit no one will realize that there were additional 'posts'; sorry for adding to your work!

Wowsers.
This was really really really good.
I'd love additional volumes, the author would like additional volumes, but if there aren't additional volumes this is an excellent ending.
And the bonus stories in the premium edition are worth their weight in gold.
Especially the final one; so much was explained concerning their dynamic, their relationship, that despite how it might appear to others it truly is a thing of beauty.

I might never had read this if it weren't for the catch up month, so I am ever so grateful that J-Novel does this.
I mentioned premium edition bonus stories, yes?
Yeah.
I bought them; I mentioned that already, didn't I? Whatever.

And on the April 2022 catch up is... this!.
Kinda interesting seeing so many familiar names commenting as I scroll through.
If I hadn't just finished reading Volume1, that'd be a decent recommendation in itself.

Concerning the use of 'Dear' as an affectionate form of address:
I guess it may be a generational/cultural thing, as while I haven't heard anyone use if that way for some time, that has to do with the folks I recall doing so being long dead or not seen in 20+ years.
My grandmother, parents, and various aunts would use "Dear' in various ways that seem to have fallen out of fashion in recent years.

"Be a dear and hand me that"
"Thank you, dear"
"Dear, could you [request]"
"Yes, dear"
"Be right with you, dear"

Not my circle, but in others you might hear the use of "Dearie."

--

This was a most enjoyable read.
It was interesting how the true details behind the interesting events at his former school were gradually revealed.
I was most pleased when the idiot was basically told that since he'd given up on the project, he could kindly shut up until the presentation was over.

He never did catch on that Akane was interested in him that way in addition to her interest as a mentor.
I'm honestly torn as to which Team to sign up with.

It's a heck of a lot easier to convince folks you've given up on an activity if all of your storage spaces aren't filled with your ongoing attempts. Just sayin'.

Anyway, onwards!

Oh, right.
Yes, this was another financially successful catch up for J-Novel; both volumes purchased.

@draco-s-01-0 The anime's rendition is broadly the same, and personally I found it decently satisfying back when I first watched it eight years ago oh god, but I could definitely see how not getting all the inner monologues from both parties and the general abridgement of the conclusion the anime has to work with could come across as a little less satisfying! I'm of the opinion that Hatoko's emotional arc is much better developed in the novel in general, but that's sort of an inevitability when you're adapting that much content in that number of episodes and I think they did well with what they had to work with

There's also the fact that (anime spoilers for content that's already been covered in the light novels by this point)

spoiler

Volume 2 (Premium Edition): High Resolution Color illustrations

@piisfun said in Fantasy Inbound Vol. 2 Discussion:

@terabyte said in Fantasy Inbound Vol. 2 Discussion:

Guess that's another volume done. After 2 whole volumes I'm still not that much invested in the story though (my lack of posts in this topic is another indicator lol). Not sure if I'll keep reading volume 3+. 🙄

I'm sure your reading list will appreciate the now vacant space.

Indeed. Quite a few series ended or caught up recently, but more free time is always welcome! 🙃

@poisonedbite I am aware of the coming books. I am expressing how the writing of the story, and the building of the characters impacted me. It is the same emotion I felt with how Smartphone was and is being written.

@keepbro All that info I pulled off wikipedia, so yeah... i just organized it a bit.

Slow day at work today = I managed to finish up Vol 8. ( I was already halfway through it when I put in my notes for Vol 7 on the other thread)

Vol 8 Thoughts:

Dragon Girl is pretty cute imouto type. She's got just the right about of tsun/dere mix. Usually tsunderes are a bit TOO much tsun, but she's got it down pat. I do hope it doesn't end up going romantic with her. She hits a good target in the sister role. Keep her there I say.

Funniest moment for me is problem how every single character is thinking "What am I gonna do about the future?! I'm worried..." or "Oh noes... the memories are fading or something...." or "What's gonna happen with XYZ" But no... not everyone.... Gerbera : "What's a spider-girl gotta do to get LAID" Haha. Love Gerbera. She's adorable as hell.

I'm all for the plan to have Rose and Gerbera open up a shop with Mana as clerk. Lily managing the stock with Taka. Ayame can be the adorable mascot that everyone will want to provide pets to. Asarina will be there to help out too, in her own lil ways. Shiran/Kei can be security... Lobelia (If they aren't hiding monster-ness at that point) can fly cargo. Hmm yes, that sounds nice, doesn't it?

Was this the first Volume that DIDN'T end on a cliffhanger? Hmm might be... can't remember them all too well though. How they ended anyways.

Now that I'm on Vol 9, I can slow down and not worry about missing out on the catchups. Since it's in prepub and all.

@myskaros said in Monster Tamer Vol. 7 Discussion!:

@kilocron said in Monster Tamer Vol. 7 Discussion!:

Also, what the HELL is a "Skanda"?

http://nihonshock.com/2010/05/韋駄天走り/

ohh. so that's what "idaten" is. I'd seen that word before (long time ago) but didn't know that it's a name. (also side note, it is now apparently impossible to google)