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Goblin Slayer Light Novel #1
Goblin Slayer, Vol. 1
A young priestess has formed her first adventuring party, but almost immediately they find themselves in distress. It's the Goblin Slayer who comes to their rescue--a man who's dedicated his life to the extermination of all goblins, by any means necessary. And when rumors of his feats begin to circulate, there's no telling who might come calling next...
232 pages, Paperback
First published February 12, 2016
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2182 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
January 13, 2024
I've watched the anime and it was okay but I had a blast with this first volume of the novel series.
December 20, 2018
DNF at 40%
It was dull, it was generic, and it seemed to be going just for shock value.
The characters are painfully paper thin. Priestess is young, naive, pretty, and nice. You know, a generic priestess. Guild Girl is hardworking and overworked. You know, generic office worker. Cow girl is lively and spunky. You know, generic farmer childhood best friend. Goblin Slayer is a dude obsessed with killing goblins for revenge. You know, generic... actually, he's fairly plain and boring and undefined for self-insertion power fantasy purposes, but that goblin revenge thing is probably the most specific thing in this book. So generic characters I don't really care about forming a harem around a guy that I don't really care about and isn't particularly nice to any of them. I'd say he's a typical harem guy except he's not even generically nice. He doesn't show much kindness to any of these characters. He just happens to save the one, and that's the nicest thing I've seen him do so far...
As for the writing... we have a omniscient narrator who gets distracted by boobs constantly. I was afraid my eyes were going to roll back into my head with the number of times the author felt the need to comment on so-and-so's gorgeous body or delicate arms in the middle of a battle. It would have been tolerable if not for the constant asides from the important stuff going on.
Is the premise good? Yeah, but execution kind of kills this one for me. Plus, after That Time I was Reincarnated as a Slime, I'm rather fond of those those little goblin guys.
It was dull, it was generic, and it seemed to be going just for shock value.
The characters are painfully paper thin. Priestess is young, naive, pretty, and nice. You know, a generic priestess. Guild Girl is hardworking and overworked. You know, generic office worker. Cow girl is lively and spunky. You know, generic farmer childhood best friend. Goblin Slayer is a dude obsessed with killing goblins for revenge. You know, generic... actually, he's fairly plain and boring and undefined for self-insertion power fantasy purposes, but that goblin revenge thing is probably the most specific thing in this book. So generic characters I don't really care about forming a harem around a guy that I don't really care about and isn't particularly nice to any of them. I'd say he's a typical harem guy except he's not even generically nice. He doesn't show much kindness to any of these characters. He just happens to save the one, and that's the nicest thing I've seen him do so far...
As for the writing... we have a omniscient narrator who gets distracted by boobs constantly. I was afraid my eyes were going to roll back into my head with the number of times the author felt the need to comment on so-and-so's gorgeous body or delicate arms in the middle of a battle. It would have been tolerable if not for the constant asides from the important stuff going on.
Is the premise good? Yeah, but execution kind of kills this one for me. Plus, after That Time I was Reincarnated as a Slime, I'm rather fond of those those little goblin guys.
December 7, 2016
Not only was this easily my favorite light novel in a long time, it also is the closest thing to a genuine sword-and-sorcery fantasy devoid of the usual "living in a game world" trappings. It's kind of like a Forgotten Realms novel by way of an LN.
Full review eventually appearing on ANN.
Full review eventually appearing on ANN.
October 11, 2018
I'm just going to write a few quotes from this book to give you an idea of what it's like.
Goblin Slayer immediately rushed over, pierced his sword into its medulla oblongata, and turned the blade.
Even if she was shot with arrows, wet herself, scared until she was unable to stand, kept relying on her dying comrades.
With her plump breasts shaking furiously, she struggled with her arms and kicked with her legs she had never trained.
Every time the cart shook on the sandy road, the Rancher Girl's plump breasts shook along with it.
Goblin Slayer was written by a Japanese Imperialist with several bizarre sexual fetishes and no writing experience whatsoever. While I appreciate him attempting to buck the trend of light novels by taking a standard story and making it really dark, it's just edgy and stupid. But also funny. As long as you aren't bothered by the constant mention of rape, this is a pretty good time.
Goblin Slayer immediately rushed over, pierced his sword into its medulla oblongata, and turned the blade.
Even if she was shot with arrows, wet herself, scared until she was unable to stand, kept relying on her dying comrades.
With her plump breasts shaking furiously, she struggled with her arms and kicked with her legs she had never trained.
Every time the cart shook on the sandy road, the Rancher Girl's plump breasts shook along with it.
Goblin Slayer was written by a Japanese Imperialist with several bizarre sexual fetishes and no writing experience whatsoever. While I appreciate him attempting to buck the trend of light novels by taking a standard story and making it really dark, it's just edgy and stupid. But also funny. As long as you aren't bothered by the constant mention of rape, this is a pretty good time.
October 21, 2018
One of the best TRPG-related Novels Ever
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
Goblin Slayer's world is straight out of a tabletop fantasy roleplaying game of which Dungeons & Dragons is the most popular.
The author is also an avid TRPG and wrote the novel based on the idea of an adventurer who only kills goblins, as opposed to normal ones who move on to more powerful monsters and eventually saving the world.
And no, Goblin Slayer will not be saving the world. Or, at least, none of the gods have that role envisioned for him.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
Goblin Slayer's world is straight out of a tabletop fantasy roleplaying game of which Dungeons & Dragons is the most popular.
The author is also an avid TRPG and wrote the novel based on the idea of an adventurer who only kills goblins, as opposed to normal ones who move on to more powerful monsters and eventually saving the world.
And no, Goblin Slayer will not be saving the world. Or, at least, none of the gods have that role envisioned for him.
April 1, 2024
This is what happens you value shock over plot. Stay away.
June 15, 2017
In a world based on standard RPGs and Dungeons and Dragons, mythical creatures and gods rue the spotlight. Adventurers, no name except for their class names, venture to win fame, fortune, and anything else that comes along. This story could be focused on something large scale and worth people’s time.
Instead, the focus is on Goblin slaying. And in particular, the Goblin Slayer.
Kumo Kagyu said he got the idea for Goblin Slayer when he asked what would a fantasy world be like if it were home to an adventurer who only hunted goblins. So far, the answer is a mostly compelling read in its first volume. What instantly sets it apart is its personal scale. Compared to everything else happening in the world, Goblin Slayer’s goblin killing agenda is super small, but nothing matters to him than ensuring the goblins — mostly weak, mostly dumb — and any creatures who will do any evil (whether it’d be torture or using humans as “meat shields”), are dead. Why? Because growing up, he experienced their terror first hand.
The big problem for him is he’s the only one who perceives them as a massive threat, but this changes when he encounters Priestess. The female protagonist’s first adventure ended horribly as goblins ravaged her party, with her being the only survivor thanks to Goblin Slayer. This encounter eventually leads to him being asked on a quest by other formidable adventurers in order to rid goblins from an area.
With one really well developed arc and that personal scale, Goblin Slayer is a good, rewarding read. It does note just how devoted Goblin Slayer is to killing his enemy, but also how devoted everyone else is to knowing how bad goblins are compared to everyone else in this world. It also shows when it comes to dealing with goblins, how dumb and overpowered he really is.
The general issue with Goblin Slayer is that it’s there’s just Goblin Slayer and his slaying. This volume did plant some seeds of interest — there are gods bored with things and don’t care about much else, except noting one adventurer doing too much — but that’s it. The characters introduced are your typical archetypes (the cocky dwarf, tsundere elf, etc), and some are really annoying. I do imagine there’s going to be something more to them, but for now, they’re pretty bare-bones.
The most obvious thing that stands out in this light novel is the violence. From torture to death, it’s descriptive. So in essence, this is exactly how a dark fantasy world would be, with RPG classes, weapons, names, etc. It doesn’t seem like that will slow down as the series goes on. The only issue is whether or not it can continue to be interesting in future volumes. At least for Volume 1, this is a solid, quick read.
- Justin
Instead, the focus is on Goblin slaying. And in particular, the Goblin Slayer.
Kumo Kagyu said he got the idea for Goblin Slayer when he asked what would a fantasy world be like if it were home to an adventurer who only hunted goblins. So far, the answer is a mostly compelling read in its first volume. What instantly sets it apart is its personal scale. Compared to everything else happening in the world, Goblin Slayer’s goblin killing agenda is super small, but nothing matters to him than ensuring the goblins — mostly weak, mostly dumb — and any creatures who will do any evil (whether it’d be torture or using humans as “meat shields”), are dead. Why? Because growing up, he experienced their terror first hand.
The big problem for him is he’s the only one who perceives them as a massive threat, but this changes when he encounters Priestess. The female protagonist’s first adventure ended horribly as goblins ravaged her party, with her being the only survivor thanks to Goblin Slayer. This encounter eventually leads to him being asked on a quest by other formidable adventurers in order to rid goblins from an area.
With one really well developed arc and that personal scale, Goblin Slayer is a good, rewarding read. It does note just how devoted Goblin Slayer is to killing his enemy, but also how devoted everyone else is to knowing how bad goblins are compared to everyone else in this world. It also shows when it comes to dealing with goblins, how dumb and overpowered he really is.
The general issue with Goblin Slayer is that it’s there’s just Goblin Slayer and his slaying. This volume did plant some seeds of interest — there are gods bored with things and don’t care about much else, except noting one adventurer doing too much — but that’s it. The characters introduced are your typical archetypes (the cocky dwarf, tsundere elf, etc), and some are really annoying. I do imagine there’s going to be something more to them, but for now, they’re pretty bare-bones.
The most obvious thing that stands out in this light novel is the violence. From torture to death, it’s descriptive. So in essence, this is exactly how a dark fantasy world would be, with RPG classes, weapons, names, etc. It doesn’t seem like that will slow down as the series goes on. The only issue is whether or not it can continue to be interesting in future volumes. At least for Volume 1, this is a solid, quick read.
- Justin
January 29, 2017
Won this book in a goodreads giveaway.
2.5/5 stars.
To think, I would actually win a light novel...
I was excited going in cause light novel! Duh!
^My experience after reading a couple of chapters.
This isn't a good book per-say but it isn't a bad book either. It's mediocre. It's like the anime that air every season where it is good enough that people will watch it to the end but not great enough that the popularity will carry it through for months after the show airs, leading the anime to fade into the background and people will only have a faint recollection of it during those top anime op lists(if it has a good op).
I know I went on for a bit there but that is pretty much what this book is.
It's about a dude named Goblin Slayer and his quest to slay goblins. That's it. I never felt any connection to him and the various characters he interacted with never had any heart for me besides a bunch of anime tropes.
Ex: That girl on the cover? Priestess has the exact personality you would expect a girl like her to have. Look on the inside cover at one of the art things and look at each character. Guess their personality. You are probably right. The only one you might not be able to guess is Lizard Priest...because he is a lizard.
This book also suffers from harem protagonist syndrome(shortened to HPS from here on out).
Why do all of these girls like him?
I dunno. He has HPS! The only girl I can accept is Cow Girl(yes, that is her name. No one has a real name in this book, everyone is named based on what they do) as she is Goblin Slayer's childhood friend. Everyone else? Nope, I'm not buying it.
Goblin Slayer does not have the type of personality to carry a series on his own. Usually this type of character needs a secondary protag to bounce off of to help the character thrive and work as a protag. Guess what? Priestess doesn't fit the bill.
Also, speaking of Priestess...what made her so special? Why did he allow her to join him? It really makes no sense unless going from HPS route.
The ending part felt ridiculous to me. Goblin Slayer did not seem to make an impact on anyone in a positive way. I could not accept that fact that everyone would rush in to his aid.
The book also has the one-shot feel to it despite it being part of a series. I really don't care about continuing this though.
The inner art is nice I will admit. I love the details on the hair and the colored pages are beautiful. Just wish the story matched the art.
2.5/5 stars.
To think, I would actually win a light novel...
I was excited going in cause light novel! Duh!
^My experience after reading a couple of chapters.
This isn't a good book per-say but it isn't a bad book either. It's mediocre. It's like the anime that air every season where it is good enough that people will watch it to the end but not great enough that the popularity will carry it through for months after the show airs, leading the anime to fade into the background and people will only have a faint recollection of it during those top anime op lists(if it has a good op).
I know I went on for a bit there but that is pretty much what this book is.
It's about a dude named Goblin Slayer and his quest to slay goblins. That's it. I never felt any connection to him and the various characters he interacted with never had any heart for me besides a bunch of anime tropes.
Ex: That girl on the cover? Priestess has the exact personality you would expect a girl like her to have. Look on the inside cover at one of the art things and look at each character. Guess their personality. You are probably right. The only one you might not be able to guess is Lizard Priest...because he is a lizard.
This book also suffers from harem protagonist syndrome(shortened to HPS from here on out).
Why do all of these girls like him?
I dunno. He has HPS! The only girl I can accept is Cow Girl(yes, that is her name. No one has a real name in this book, everyone is named based on what they do) as she is Goblin Slayer's childhood friend. Everyone else? Nope, I'm not buying it.
Goblin Slayer does not have the type of personality to carry a series on his own. Usually this type of character needs a secondary protag to bounce off of to help the character thrive and work as a protag. Guess what? Priestess doesn't fit the bill.
Also, speaking of Priestess...what made her so special? Why did he allow her to join him? It really makes no sense unless going from HPS route.
The ending part felt ridiculous to me. Goblin Slayer did not seem to make an impact on anyone in a positive way. I could not accept that fact that everyone would rush in to his aid.
The book also has the one-shot feel to it despite it being part of a series. I really don't care about continuing this though.
The inner art is nice I will admit. I love the details on the hair and the colored pages are beautiful. Just wish the story matched the art.
June 4, 2018
Out of all the light novels I've read, this is the most well written. Granted, it is still very much a Japanese Light Novel, so it has a lot of elements in the writing itself that many would consider bad writing. It is only through comparison with others that I have read that I can say that this one is the least insulting to my intelligence and reads more like a a run of the mill young adult novel. I know everything I am saying now can be considered back handed compliments, but I really mean it when I say that I truly enjoyed this story. It succeeds by virtue of its premise and characters alone, and is elevated to its current rating based on the fact that those who transcribed this novel actually cared enough to give us a professionally edited product.
If you enjoy story's like Berserk, or if you are tired of the same cliched fantasy tropes in anime and other light novels, then I implore you to give this one a shot. The entire idea is based off the premise that there is a single individual in this world who slays nothing but Goblins. For some, that may sound boring, but it is actually quite interesting. The main character treats his goblin slaying adventures as more of a mundane job rather than some quest, and it goes into great deal who goblin slaying is actually a fairly complicated matter. Think of this book like the Mike Rowe's Dirty Jobs of the anime world, or the movie Troll Hunter to get a better idea of what you are getting yourself into.
I rather enjoyed this novel, and immediately bought the second the one. I think anyone who loves Japanese Light Novels should do themselves a favor and read this one.
If you enjoy story's like Berserk, or if you are tired of the same cliched fantasy tropes in anime and other light novels, then I implore you to give this one a shot. The entire idea is based off the premise that there is a single individual in this world who slays nothing but Goblins. For some, that may sound boring, but it is actually quite interesting. The main character treats his goblin slaying adventures as more of a mundane job rather than some quest, and it goes into great deal who goblin slaying is actually a fairly complicated matter. Think of this book like the Mike Rowe's Dirty Jobs of the anime world, or the movie Troll Hunter to get a better idea of what you are getting yourself into.
I rather enjoyed this novel, and immediately bought the second the one. I think anyone who loves Japanese Light Novels should do themselves a favor and read this one.
March 2, 2017
When I opened this book, I thought I was in for one of those classic, generic, entertaining novels. But all of my hopes were dropped around the third chapter. I like the vibe like how everyone is a pawn of the gods, but I can't stand it sometimes. I had to force myself to read the entire thing. I thought some things were good. Like the beginning. When Goblin Slayer (his actual name) rescued Priestess (her actual name too) it was getting entertaining. But it got downhill when Cow Girl (her actual name) was introduced, around the third chapter. It was all good until then. I'm sorry to those who liked this but I couldn't find it appealing.
June 29, 2017
CONTENT WARNING: THIS REVIEW DISCUSSES MATURE THEMES IN THE NOVEL
Great book, showcases the 'little guy' and the people who aren't the big adventurers in a world where Heroes fight Demons. Kumo Kagyu portrays Goblins as one of the most disgusting creatures possibly ever published.
We see some clever meta humour related to Dungeons and Dragons, fantasy works and the supernatural genre in general. Kumo Kagyu does know how to write a fluid and impacting fight scene to boot.
Goblin Slayer does falter in some aspects, notably the character only known as Priestess (You'll find ever character is named after a Dungeons and Dragon's style class/race instead of actual named) I wish we knew more about her, even if her life at the church seemed a bit dull. Instead we focus solely on our titular character, which is acceptable for a 200+ page light novel.
The most isolating part of the story is the several scenes and mentions of graphic rape. The Goblin's, as I said before, are vile and disgusting. Kagyu doesn't hold back in letting us know what the monsters do to their victims as well. In some ways it works as almost serves as a misogynistic, but realistic statement on female adventures. As in, they'll go out and fight but may face a horrible fate if they are defeated. But in other ways it fails the story; the novel is based around the role playing game, Dungeons and Dragons. A chapter is dedicated to the 'Gods' who are really a bunch of people playing DnD. In one scene Priestess gives 'Guild Girl' a character sheet (in the manga adaption is seen to be a DnD version 5e character sheet to ever nerd - and this one critic's - meta joy) So this raises the question, what kind of group of sicko's would play a game where their game-master will force their characters to be molested and murdered?
As a DnD player of about 3 years, I've played with groups of normies, casuals, PC Master races, Phd's, Oldies, Virgins and creepy weird weeaboos, I've seen some pretty fucked up shit, I've never seen anyone actually get raped in-game.
What I'm trying to get at here is, its a great novel with investigating characters, but the novels make itself look only more childish by playing around with such mature and harsh subject matter. If we had at least one scene showing compassion to the rape survivors, it would make all the more difference. Early on we see Fighter, a young woman who survives a goblin attack, who disappears after 'retiring' from her adventures. If we saw her again, maybe Goblin Slayer and Priestess visiting her and comforting her, then that would have made all the difference. But the lack of empathy towards the victims is quite shocking when you think about it. The only sense of empathy is when the girls are rescued and healed, but nothing is done towards the implied emotion duress they'd experience after.
I do plan on reading the future volumes to see where the story progresses, I also hope to see some changes and a bit of heart in the new volume.
Great book, showcases the 'little guy' and the people who aren't the big adventurers in a world where Heroes fight Demons. Kumo Kagyu portrays Goblins as one of the most disgusting creatures possibly ever published.
We see some clever meta humour related to Dungeons and Dragons, fantasy works and the supernatural genre in general. Kumo Kagyu does know how to write a fluid and impacting fight scene to boot.
Goblin Slayer does falter in some aspects, notably the character only known as Priestess (You'll find ever character is named after a Dungeons and Dragon's style class/race instead of actual named) I wish we knew more about her, even if her life at the church seemed a bit dull. Instead we focus solely on our titular character, which is acceptable for a 200+ page light novel.
The most isolating part of the story is the several scenes and mentions of graphic rape. The Goblin's, as I said before, are vile and disgusting. Kagyu doesn't hold back in letting us know what the monsters do to their victims as well. In some ways it works as almost serves as a misogynistic, but realistic statement on female adventures. As in, they'll go out and fight but may face a horrible fate if they are defeated. But in other ways it fails the story; the novel is based around the role playing game, Dungeons and Dragons. A chapter is dedicated to the 'Gods' who are really a bunch of people playing DnD. In one scene Priestess gives 'Guild Girl' a character sheet (in the manga adaption is seen to be a DnD version 5e character sheet to ever nerd - and this one critic's - meta joy) So this raises the question, what kind of group of sicko's would play a game where their game-master will force their characters to be molested and murdered?
As a DnD player of about 3 years, I've played with groups of normies, casuals, PC Master races, Phd's, Oldies, Virgins and creepy weird weeaboos, I've seen some pretty fucked up shit, I've never seen anyone actually get raped in-game.
What I'm trying to get at here is, its a great novel with investigating characters, but the novels make itself look only more childish by playing around with such mature and harsh subject matter. If we had at least one scene showing compassion to the rape survivors, it would make all the more difference. Early on we see Fighter, a young woman who survives a goblin attack, who disappears after 'retiring' from her adventures. If we saw her again, maybe Goblin Slayer and Priestess visiting her and comforting her, then that would have made all the difference. But the lack of empathy towards the victims is quite shocking when you think about it. The only sense of empathy is when the girls are rescued and healed, but nothing is done towards the implied emotion duress they'd experience after.
I do plan on reading the future volumes to see where the story progresses, I also hope to see some changes and a bit of heart in the new volume.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2018
As far as fantasy novels go, this one was pretty good. This light novel is unlike a lot of other light novels out there, and takes a unique approach to the fantasy genre.
You still see a lot of the usual light novel tropes, but it's balanced out by the brutality sprinkled throughout the story. And we're not talking about your usual stuff here, we're talking about trigger worthy things, such as rape, infanticide, etc. This creates a very weirdly balanced story, going from your normal anime flare to downright dark fantasy.
Still, throughout the story you gain a certain appreciation for the protagonist and what he has gone through and what he is fighting for. It is interesting that the author could take something such as goblins and make them into something so threatening, and yet you can totally understand that adventurers would view them as a low questing point due to the low reward. Even in the end near the climax, you see just how selfish adventurers are, and in many ways, just how threatening goblins are and the truth behind why they won't fight them.
This was a good book, and I really enjoyed it. The characters were enjoyable and different enough from your normal light novel characters to stand out. The protagonist is a mystery, and every glimpse you get of him through the story just makes you want to know more. Even when you find out what's behind the helmet, you still don't really know. That's good writing.
In the end, I recommend this light novel to anyone who wants to read something unique in the light novel genre, or if they are looking for something fantasy that is not too dark.
You still see a lot of the usual light novel tropes, but it's balanced out by the brutality sprinkled throughout the story. And we're not talking about your usual stuff here, we're talking about trigger worthy things, such as rape, infanticide, etc. This creates a very weirdly balanced story, going from your normal anime flare to downright dark fantasy.
Still, throughout the story you gain a certain appreciation for the protagonist and what he has gone through and what he is fighting for. It is interesting that the author could take something such as goblins and make them into something so threatening, and yet you can totally understand that adventurers would view them as a low questing point due to the low reward. Even in the end near the climax, you see just how selfish adventurers are, and in many ways, just how threatening goblins are and the truth behind why they won't fight them.
This was a good book, and I really enjoyed it. The characters were enjoyable and different enough from your normal light novel characters to stand out. The protagonist is a mystery, and every glimpse you get of him through the story just makes you want to know more. Even when you find out what's behind the helmet, you still don't really know. That's good writing.
In the end, I recommend this light novel to anyone who wants to read something unique in the light novel genre, or if they are looking for something fantasy that is not too dark.
November 1, 2018
Goblin Slayer is a fairly dark book that follows the life of one man who just wants to rid the world of goblins. I normally don't enjoy books where there is a lot of death and sadness - but I found that I really liked this one.
I thought it was fascinating how the main character was not the stereotypical overpowered dude. He also isn't going around saving the world or going on any crazy awesome adventures. Furthermore, he isn't a happy-go-lucky type of guy; instead, he's actually pretty broken and mentally unstable. He spends his time taking the quests nobody wants (goblin killing) that pay very little but truly help out the lives of the small town people. His interactions with everyone are short and simple - almost robotic. Yet, with that being said, he appears to not be too far gone that he can't come back. I'm really excited to see where the author takes this. Is he going to become more or less human over time?
While I haven't read too many Japanese light novels so far, I did feel like this one differentiated itself a bit. The way the characters were presented and the overall tone of the book just felt pretty unique to me. It's a nice change of pace to read about the "other" people in these epic fantasy worlds. I know that many reviewers felt like it was trying too hard to be edgy and do something different - but I actually genuinely enjoyed it.
I don't think this book is for everyone - but if you can get over the gruesome scenes depicting some of the worst human elements and don't mind reading about a broken main character - I think it could be a book you could enjoy :)
I thought it was fascinating how the main character was not the stereotypical overpowered dude. He also isn't going around saving the world or going on any crazy awesome adventures. Furthermore, he isn't a happy-go-lucky type of guy; instead, he's actually pretty broken and mentally unstable. He spends his time taking the quests nobody wants (goblin killing) that pay very little but truly help out the lives of the small town people. His interactions with everyone are short and simple - almost robotic. Yet, with that being said, he appears to not be too far gone that he can't come back. I'm really excited to see where the author takes this. Is he going to become more or less human over time?
While I haven't read too many Japanese light novels so far, I did feel like this one differentiated itself a bit. The way the characters were presented and the overall tone of the book just felt pretty unique to me. It's a nice change of pace to read about the "other" people in these epic fantasy worlds. I know that many reviewers felt like it was trying too hard to be edgy and do something different - but I actually genuinely enjoyed it.
I don't think this book is for everyone - but if you can get over the gruesome scenes depicting some of the worst human elements and don't mind reading about a broken main character - I think it could be a book you could enjoy :)
January 21, 2020
Esta obra está construida sobre un sólido conocimiento de muchos tropos del rol de fantasía (específicamente dungeons and dragons), a tal punto que me costaría recomendarselo a nadie que no esté muy empapado en el tema. El poco worldbuilding que hay se sostiene en el conocimiento previo de los juegos de rol y en exposiciones al lector de parte de los personajes que suelen romper un poco con la cuarta pared.
Para un rolero puede ser muy satisfactorio leer sobre formas de resolver encuentros pensando por fuera de los márgenes y descifrar las referencias, pero fuera de eso no tiene mucho más que ofrecer.
Varios clichés de anime incel se repiten hasta al hartazgo, al punto de que no se hace espacio para caracterizar al protagonista y sin embargo cada personaje femenino que aparece tiene algún párrafo para describir sus curvas.
Para un rolero puede ser muy satisfactorio leer sobre formas de resolver encuentros pensando por fuera de los márgenes y descifrar las referencias, pero fuera de eso no tiene mucho más que ofrecer.
Varios clichés de anime incel se repiten hasta al hartazgo, al punto de que no se hace espacio para caracterizar al protagonista y sin embargo cada personaje femenino que aparece tiene algún párrafo para describir sus curvas.
April 3, 2024
Goblin Slayer, Vol. 1 (Light Novel) by Kumo Kagyu
Goblin Slayer, Vol. 1 (Light Novel) by Kumo Kagyu plunges readers into a dark and gritty fantasy world where the horrors of goblin infestation loom large. With its intense action, morally ambiguous characters, and exploration of the human condition, this volume sets the stage for an engaging series that delves into themes of survival, vengeance, and redemption.
Kagyu's writing style is raw and unapologetic, painting a vivid picture of a world overrun by goblin hordes and the individuals who dare to stand against them. The prose is sharp and concise, delivering punchy dialogue and heart-pounding action sequences that keep the reader on the edge of their seat.
In this volume, readers follow the enigmatic protagonist known only as Goblin Slayer as he embarks on a relentless crusade to exterminate goblins, the bane of humanity's existence. Along the way, he is joined by a motley crew of allies, each with their own reasons for seeking vengeance against the vile creatures.
One of the strengths of Goblin Slayer, Vol. 1 is its character development. While initially seeming like a one-dimensional avenger, Goblin Slayer's layers are gradually peeled back to reveal a complex and deeply troubled individual haunted by past traumas. Similarly, the supporting cast adds depth and nuance to the narrative, each grappling with their own demons and motivations.
Moreover, the world-building in this volume is rich and immersive, with Kagyu crafting a detailed and believable fantasy setting that feels both familiar and unique. From the sprawling cities of the human kingdoms to the dank caverns of the goblin lairs, every aspect of the world feels meticulously realized and ripe for exploration.
In conclusion, Goblin Slayer, Vol. 1 (Light Novel) is a gripping and intense read that will appeal to fans of dark fantasy and gritty storytelling. With its compelling characters, pulse-pounding action, and thought-provoking themes, it sets the stage for an epic series that promises to keep readers hooked from beginning to end.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
March 21, 2021
Sarja esimese raamatu kaanepildil on ilus tüdruk - see on Preestrinna, kellega lugu algab. Pärast jumalakojast lahkumist liitub ta Seiklejate Gildiga ning koheselt kutsub üks seltskond teda endaga kaasa goblineid tapma. Tüdruk lähebki. Ehkki goblineid peetakse üldjuhul algajatele sobivaks, siis tegelikult on nad seda ainult üksikult ja väikestes gruppides. Algajatest seiklejatest koosnev seltskond hävitatakse kiirelt. Ellu jääb ainult Preestrinna, kellele satub õigel ajal appi Goblinitapja.
Goblinitapja on kõrgema auastmega Seikleja, kes ei aja taga lohesid ega muid suuri koletisi. Tema ainus huvi on goblinite hävitamine. NIi teeb ta päevast päeva tööd, mida keegi teine teha ei taha. Goblinid on väikesed, vastikud ja samas kohutavalt palju tööd väikse tasu eest. Preestrinna, nähes temas õnnetut hinge, otsustab teda aidata ja olla talle nagu ellujäämisinstinkti eest. Hiljem liituvad nendega veel haldjas, päkapikk ja sisalikmees.
Samal ajal mängivad Jumalad täringutega, elades talle kaasa. Sest goblinitapja ei pruugi muuta maailma, kuid ta ei allu ka täringutele, nii et isegi Jumalad ei tea, mis temast saab.
Mulle väga meeldib idee sellisest kangelasest, kes teeb oma asja hästi ja põhjalikult. Fantaasiamaailmad on ka täiesti minu rida, nii et täitsa vahva lugemine. Sarja esimene raamat katab ära anime esimese hooaja. See oli minu jaoks veidi pettumus, aga natuke tore ka, sest raamatuid on veel päris mitu (inglise keeles praegu vist kümme kokku). Nüüd tuleb lihtsalt otsustada, mida ma tahan rohkem: teada, mis raamatutes edasi saab või näha esimesena erkaniseeringut. Rasked valikud!
Ainus, mida ma ette heidan sellele raamatule, on see, kui vähe tegelased arenesid. Pikapeale harjus ära sellega, et neil nimesid ei ole, aga ma tunneks rõõmu, kui tegelastel oleks rohkem sisu.
Goblinitapja on kõrgema auastmega Seikleja, kes ei aja taga lohesid ega muid suuri koletisi. Tema ainus huvi on goblinite hävitamine. NIi teeb ta päevast päeva tööd, mida keegi teine teha ei taha. Goblinid on väikesed, vastikud ja samas kohutavalt palju tööd väikse tasu eest. Preestrinna, nähes temas õnnetut hinge, otsustab teda aidata ja olla talle nagu ellujäämisinstinkti eest. Hiljem liituvad nendega veel haldjas, päkapikk ja sisalikmees.
Samal ajal mängivad Jumalad täringutega, elades talle kaasa. Sest goblinitapja ei pruugi muuta maailma, kuid ta ei allu ka täringutele, nii et isegi Jumalad ei tea, mis temast saab.
Mulle väga meeldib idee sellisest kangelasest, kes teeb oma asja hästi ja põhjalikult. Fantaasiamaailmad on ka täiesti minu rida, nii et täitsa vahva lugemine. Sarja esimene raamat katab ära anime esimese hooaja. See oli minu jaoks veidi pettumus, aga natuke tore ka, sest raamatuid on veel päris mitu (inglise keeles praegu vist kümme kokku). Nüüd tuleb lihtsalt otsustada, mida ma tahan rohkem: teada, mis raamatutes edasi saab või näha esimesena erkaniseeringut. Rasked valikud!
Ainus, mida ma ette heidan sellele raamatule, on see, kui vähe tegelased arenesid. Pikapeale harjus ära sellega, et neil nimesid ei ole, aga ma tunneks rõõmu, kui tegelastel oleks rohkem sisu.
March 8, 2021
3.5/5 A fun bit of dark fantasy. I enjoyed the anime a couple years back and figured I’d give the novels a shot. While not poorly written it’s not terribly deep either.
Goblin Slayer is an introverted protagonist who specializes in, you guessed it slaying goblins. The anime was pretty brutal and gruesome as is the manga from my understanding but I didn’t feel like this was. It was a little disappointing in that regard honestly. There still is a decent amount of gore and violence. Rape is mentioned a fair bit as that is how the goblins reproduce but it isn’t graphically described.
The novel itself is easy reading and not difficult to just sit back and enjoy. The characters and world building are fun but I’d call them middle tier. There’s definitely better fantasy and GrimDark available but I wasn’t disappointed and will go back for another volume.
Goblin Slayer is an introverted protagonist who specializes in, you guessed it slaying goblins. The anime was pretty brutal and gruesome as is the manga from my understanding but I didn’t feel like this was. It was a little disappointing in that regard honestly. There still is a decent amount of gore and violence. Rape is mentioned a fair bit as that is how the goblins reproduce but it isn’t graphically described.
The novel itself is easy reading and not difficult to just sit back and enjoy. The characters and world building are fun but I’d call them middle tier. There’s definitely better fantasy and GrimDark available but I wasn’t disappointed and will go back for another volume.
March 17, 2020
I had watched the anime before reading this so I already knew pretty much what was going to happen. Looks like they took a couple of volumes and mixed up the order. Not a huge deal, but worth noting.
Still enjoyed it. Super fast and easy read. As is usual there is a bit more to the LN than the anime while in this case it doesn't (yet?) add much. Just a bunch of gods rolling the dice as if this story is their RPG campaign. *shrug*
Are the characters somewhat generic? Sure. At least they start that way. But even our eponymous Goblin Slayer actually starts to make some changes in his personality by the end of the volume. And the rest of the adventurers who always gave him a hard time lighten up a bit.
I didn't find it as dark as the anime. Perhaps because it isn't as visual and/or no auditory cues either. But there is a lot of blood and gore mentioned.
Verdict: If you are already interested in GS, you'll probably enjoy the LN. If you are on the fence because of the controversy you may want to start here as it is isn't quite as visceral.
Still enjoyed it. Super fast and easy read. As is usual there is a bit more to the LN than the anime while in this case it doesn't (yet?) add much. Just a bunch of gods rolling the dice as if this story is their RPG campaign. *shrug*
Are the characters somewhat generic? Sure. At least they start that way. But even our eponymous Goblin Slayer actually starts to make some changes in his personality by the end of the volume. And the rest of the adventurers who always gave him a hard time lighten up a bit.
I didn't find it as dark as the anime. Perhaps because it isn't as visual and/or no auditory cues either. But there is a lot of blood and gore mentioned.
Verdict: If you are already interested in GS, you'll probably enjoy the LN. If you are on the fence because of the controversy you may want to start here as it is isn't quite as visceral.
May 26, 2020
I'm REALLY loving this series, even though I only read the first book so far. A buddy of mine read something I wrote, and suggested I read this series as a way of seeing the writing style. Hahahaha for reals I LOVE the style this is written in AND its done by a D&D Game Master! Fun times.
April 25, 2019
Adorei a leitura.
December 8, 2022
The goblins and the orcs in this book are really scary. This was a grim dark fantasy. It might not be for everyone.
T.W: rape and more.
T.W: rape and more.
March 10, 2020
It was ok, the anime was very faithful to the book so there was nothing I didn't know, which takes away some of the tension in certain stories. The descriptions are less gorish here than in the anime and that's kinda nice, because goblins are utterly terrifying in the anime.
We are introduced to a world that kinda sounds like a D&D world, with random characters, none of them with a name, and probably a few NPCs scattered around. They way characters are called depending on their trade seems interesting, and our little Gods subplot seems promising. I'll keep reading to see where the story goes, because since Goblin Slayer is our main character, and I already know there's at least 8 books... well, I can't help but think, that's a lot of goblins.
We are introduced to a world that kinda sounds like a D&D world, with random characters, none of them with a name, and probably a few NPCs scattered around. They way characters are called depending on their trade seems interesting, and our little Gods subplot seems promising. I'll keep reading to see where the story goes, because since Goblin Slayer is our main character, and I already know there's at least 8 books... well, I can't help but think, that's a lot of goblins.
March 10, 2019
Going to be completely honest here, I kinda choked up when Goblin Slayer was forming the massive party near the end of the novel. Kinda dumb of me, but fuck it.
I've known a bit about this series before reading it, but I've mostly just seen it described for all the rape and graphic violence, with GS portrayed as some sort of battle-autist, like an outsider's perspective of Guts from Berserk, or something. The actual end product was more pleasant than I'd predicted.
I guess the basic thing is that this novel flirts with "isekai" tropes by being set in something of a "game," but it's more that the setting is just a regular ol' fantasy world passively shaped by Gods rolling dice, like a big game of Dungeons & Dragons, presumably with these "Gods" being human players, in a manner not too different from The LEGO Movie or something. Aside from brief interlude chapters, the Gods aren't really touched on too much, and indeed the novel's world features a number of lesser gods to act directly as the deities for various cultures within the smaller plot (Priestess's Earth Mother, whatever Lizard Priest follows). Goblin Slayer is described occasionally as not letting the Gods' dice control him, but at this point in the series it seems less like he's a purely autonomous entity and more that he defies the basic "adventuring" function of a tabletop gamer's player character by just repeatedly slaying goblins, affecting a very simplistic personality, and ultimately appearing like something of an NPC.
GS has a past that traumatized him into becoming the autist he is, sending him on the personal quest to keep slaying goblins. Basically, his whole village got murdered, and he saw his beloved older sister raped and killed before his eyes. Pretty big deal, I guess, and it is handled with some gravity, but for the most part it feels like a throwaway backstory, and I'm not terribly concerned with "how" GS became GS. At first, the whole thing seems like a method of placing emphasis on Priestess, Cow Girl, Dwarf Shaman, High Elf Archer, Lizardman Priest, and maybe Guild Girl, with Goblin Slayer existing to wrap up the quests after the gears are in place for everyone else to receive character development. Over time, GS becomes a bit more interesting, but by that I really just mean that his coming to the Guild to request assistance in defending Cow Girl's farm is met with the other Adventurers justifying their help because they've become so used to GS as a fixture in their adventuring lives. It's almost sad, or at the very least bittersweet, as the overall tone is one of triumph.
The difference between this and, say, Overlord, is that Ainz is well aware of his own social shortcomings, and his internal awkwardness leading to him appearing outwardly badass is a point of great humor. GS, as I've been meme-ing a lot, comes across as borderline autistic, and it's not really played for humor exactly, so the novel kinda threatens to appeal to those braindead light-novel readers who just want cool shit to happen while following a soulless Terminator of a hero so they can easily self-insert. But it's kinda tasteful here. Probably.
A big reason why I enjoyed this novel was, paradoxically, because of how "generic" it comes across. I love Dragon Quest for the simplicity with which it treats its genre. The same can be said here. Goblin Slayer slays goblins. A young hero saves the world from destruction at the hands of evil spirits, but this occurs off-screen, the other adventurers care more about making money for their own smaller quests, and Goblin Slayer seems incapable of retaining any information not related to slaying goblins. Hell, when one quest turns out to feature an Ogre, GS has trouble recalling what an "Ogre" is (also giving the author convenient reason to describe how ogres work in his world, I guess).
A couple more "big" reasons I enjoyed this: Guild Girl's ass (the color illustration when you can see her panties through her skirt), Cow Girl's tits, High Elf Archer's ass (the illustration on page 112 when she's leaning forward and thus poking her ass out in back). Pretty interested in Sword Maiden joining the cast next novel. Hopefully some future volumes have clearer illustrations of Witch, too.
I've known a bit about this series before reading it, but I've mostly just seen it described for all the rape and graphic violence, with GS portrayed as some sort of battle-autist, like an outsider's perspective of Guts from Berserk, or something. The actual end product was more pleasant than I'd predicted.
I guess the basic thing is that this novel flirts with "isekai" tropes by being set in something of a "game," but it's more that the setting is just a regular ol' fantasy world passively shaped by Gods rolling dice, like a big game of Dungeons & Dragons, presumably with these "Gods" being human players, in a manner not too different from The LEGO Movie or something. Aside from brief interlude chapters, the Gods aren't really touched on too much, and indeed the novel's world features a number of lesser gods to act directly as the deities for various cultures within the smaller plot (Priestess's Earth Mother, whatever Lizard Priest follows). Goblin Slayer is described occasionally as not letting the Gods' dice control him, but at this point in the series it seems less like he's a purely autonomous entity and more that he defies the basic "adventuring" function of a tabletop gamer's player character by just repeatedly slaying goblins, affecting a very simplistic personality, and ultimately appearing like something of an NPC.
GS has a past that traumatized him into becoming the autist he is, sending him on the personal quest to keep slaying goblins. Basically, his whole village got murdered, and he saw his beloved older sister raped and killed before his eyes. Pretty big deal, I guess, and it is handled with some gravity, but for the most part it feels like a throwaway backstory, and I'm not terribly concerned with "how" GS became GS. At first, the whole thing seems like a method of placing emphasis on Priestess, Cow Girl, Dwarf Shaman, High Elf Archer, Lizardman Priest, and maybe Guild Girl, with Goblin Slayer existing to wrap up the quests after the gears are in place for everyone else to receive character development. Over time, GS becomes a bit more interesting, but by that I really just mean that his coming to the Guild to request assistance in defending Cow Girl's farm is met with the other Adventurers justifying their help because they've become so used to GS as a fixture in their adventuring lives. It's almost sad, or at the very least bittersweet, as the overall tone is one of triumph.
The difference between this and, say, Overlord, is that Ainz is well aware of his own social shortcomings, and his internal awkwardness leading to him appearing outwardly badass is a point of great humor. GS, as I've been meme-ing a lot, comes across as borderline autistic, and it's not really played for humor exactly, so the novel kinda threatens to appeal to those braindead light-novel readers who just want cool shit to happen while following a soulless Terminator of a hero so they can easily self-insert. But it's kinda tasteful here. Probably.
A big reason why I enjoyed this novel was, paradoxically, because of how "generic" it comes across. I love Dragon Quest for the simplicity with which it treats its genre. The same can be said here. Goblin Slayer slays goblins. A young hero saves the world from destruction at the hands of evil spirits, but this occurs off-screen, the other adventurers care more about making money for their own smaller quests, and Goblin Slayer seems incapable of retaining any information not related to slaying goblins. Hell, when one quest turns out to feature an Ogre, GS has trouble recalling what an "Ogre" is (also giving the author convenient reason to describe how ogres work in his world, I guess).
A couple more "big" reasons I enjoyed this: Guild Girl's ass (the color illustration when you can see her panties through her skirt), Cow Girl's tits, High Elf Archer's ass (the illustration on page 112 when she's leaning forward and thus poking her ass out in back). Pretty interested in Sword Maiden joining the cast next novel. Hopefully some future volumes have clearer illustrations of Witch, too.
June 20, 2020
I just recently watched the anime for this (which, though a bit fan service-y, is quite good), and saw that there was a whole bunch of light novels... family got me the first 2 for my birthday, so here I am.
It's very clear this author is a gamer, and alot of the joy of the book comes from some of the cool stuff Goblin Slayer does... using 'standard' spells in unique ways.. all to defeat goblins, usually the easiest of foes. Very cool.
The fan service/harem bits are slightly present in the text (there's far more describing the women than needed), but it's not bad enough to hurt the flow of the story.
The whole 'no names' thing did work a bit less well in print that it did watching the show, though... I suspect if I read this first, it would have taken me some time to get the characters straight.
This is also my first official light novel... it didn't read as fast as I feared, so that's good. The book has things play out in a bit of a different order than the show...which explains why there were a couple of head scratching moments there... I suspect things in the 2nd volume will flow nicely.
It's very clear this author is a gamer, and alot of the joy of the book comes from some of the cool stuff Goblin Slayer does... using 'standard' spells in unique ways.. all to defeat goblins, usually the easiest of foes. Very cool.
The fan service/harem bits are slightly present in the text (there's far more describing the women than needed), but it's not bad enough to hurt the flow of the story.
The whole 'no names' thing did work a bit less well in print that it did watching the show, though... I suspect if I read this first, it would have taken me some time to get the characters straight.
This is also my first official light novel... it didn't read as fast as I feared, so that's good. The book has things play out in a bit of a different order than the show...which explains why there were a couple of head scratching moments there... I suspect things in the 2nd volume will flow nicely.
January 21, 2019
Defintely for the Dungeons and Dragons fan, though it does take some liberties.
Goblin Slayer tells the tale of Goblin Slayer, a person wearing a cheap leather armor, chain mail, shield and a small sword who lives to slay Goblins and nothing else.
How does one make this type of monster interesting to fight when they are considered one of the weakest monsters in all forms of medieval fantasy stories? well here in this case it seems the author decided to take a few liberties in how ruthless the Goblins are, specifically with human females, some people might think that the author did it to give it shock value, I personally think that he did this to make them seem more menacing as the intention of the author was to have a guy who specialized in combat against these weak creatures that most adventurer don´t care about as they are considered to weak to be worth the effort, yet for people who let their guard down, they could be viciously ruthless. Take this as a warning on whether you might like this
Such is the story of this first novel, it starts with the story of Priestess, a young priestess fresh out of church who just started her adventurer life with her new found adventurer party, yet soon she finds out that the adventurer life aint all fun and thrills and meets this Goblin Slayer who will prove to be a great mentor.
You can tell the author loved or loves playing Dungeons and Dragons as he explains how the world works in Goblin Slayer, instead of having lets say.. Mana for magic, magic users have miracles which they can perform, he explains how "experience points" work etc, goes into explaining about startegies, weapon durability and other quirks that are usually forgotten in some medieval fantasy stories which are common place in Dungeons and Dragons.
The story is very straight forward, you are going to read Golbins being slain, yet there is a back story of the main character and his motivations as well see the growth of both Priestess becoming a more reliable adventurer as well as Goblin Slayer growing and getting over past problems.
Even though the story for the most part is a bit grim it does offer some moments of comedy in the form of an elf and a dward which well .. they are always at odds with each other and the banter is quite entertaining, yet I do feel it has been a bit overplayed by most medieval fantasy stories and movies (Think of Legolas and Gimly in Lords of the Rings) that said, it is still nice having them.
All in all it was a fun read, I liked all characters presented in this volume and look forward to book 2, and I recommend for anyone intersted in medieval fantasy adventures.
Goblin Slayer tells the tale of Goblin Slayer, a person wearing a cheap leather armor, chain mail, shield and a small sword who lives to slay Goblins and nothing else.
How does one make this type of monster interesting to fight when they are considered one of the weakest monsters in all forms of medieval fantasy stories? well here in this case it seems the author decided to take a few liberties in how ruthless the Goblins are, specifically with human females, some people might think that the author did it to give it shock value, I personally think that he did this to make them seem more menacing as the intention of the author was to have a guy who specialized in combat against these weak creatures that most adventurer don´t care about as they are considered to weak to be worth the effort, yet for people who let their guard down, they could be viciously ruthless. Take this as a warning on whether you might like this
Such is the story of this first novel, it starts with the story of Priestess, a young priestess fresh out of church who just started her adventurer life with her new found adventurer party, yet soon she finds out that the adventurer life aint all fun and thrills and meets this Goblin Slayer who will prove to be a great mentor.
You can tell the author loved or loves playing Dungeons and Dragons as he explains how the world works in Goblin Slayer, instead of having lets say.. Mana for magic, magic users have miracles which they can perform, he explains how "experience points" work etc, goes into explaining about startegies, weapon durability and other quirks that are usually forgotten in some medieval fantasy stories which are common place in Dungeons and Dragons.
The story is very straight forward, you are going to read Golbins being slain, yet there is a back story of the main character and his motivations as well see the growth of both Priestess becoming a more reliable adventurer as well as Goblin Slayer growing and getting over past problems.
Even though the story for the most part is a bit grim it does offer some moments of comedy in the form of an elf and a dward which well .. they are always at odds with each other and the banter is quite entertaining, yet I do feel it has been a bit overplayed by most medieval fantasy stories and movies (Think of Legolas and Gimly in Lords of the Rings) that said, it is still nice having them.
All in all it was a fun read, I liked all characters presented in this volume and look forward to book 2, and I recommend for anyone intersted in medieval fantasy adventures.
March 17, 2019
Read this review (and others) at: https://literatureislife.com/2019/03/...
Goblin Slayer is a very mixed bag. It is a “love it or hate it” series for the majority of readers out there. The range of reactions to the series mainly seems to do with audience expectations. If you are looking for something that is critical and serious with top-notch world building and character development, this is not necessarily for you. If you are looking for a combination of dark humor/shock value and humor, this can be a just-for-fun story. There are good and bad things about the book and how those factors rank, or whether you consider them good/bad yourself, will determine if this is a book for you.
Starting with the good, Goblin Slayer takes place in a genuine fantasy land. This is not a “trapped in a video game” scenario. By this point, everyone knows we have enough of those. The world here seems to run on D&D-type rules, with adventurers slaying monsters but not being too overpowered. People take quests, magic has limited uses per day, and so on. The other key takeaway is that this is not a “save the world” story. The stakes are rarely high, but they are personal. Goblin Slayer (the character) is driven by an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, not a sense of righteousness.
Now, for the bad bits. None of the characters have actual names. Everyone is referred to by whatever their role is. “Goblin Slayer”, “Priestess”, “Guild Girl”, etc. And their personalities pretty much match stereotypical fantasy roles for whatever character class they use. The other glaring issue is the writing. Saying the writing is bad is a bit of a stretch, but the author is no seasoned professional. It is a very basic style. If your interests lie in great works of literature, look elsewhere.
SMALL SPOILER BELOW
So, the last thing that must be addressed could be considered either good or bad. This one is really a matter of personal preference. And that is the extreme level of violence. Having watched the anime first, I knew what was coming in the book. The violence is not quite on the level of absolute extremes like Higurashi or Elfen Lied, but it comes close. It is dark, it is brutal, and it comes completely out of left field after the soft introduction. Some people are disgusted by it but for others that is the draw of Goblin Slayer. The decision there is up to you.
Goblin Slayer is a very mixed bag. It is a “love it or hate it” series for the majority of readers out there. The range of reactions to the series mainly seems to do with audience expectations. If you are looking for something that is critical and serious with top-notch world building and character development, this is not necessarily for you. If you are looking for a combination of dark humor/shock value and humor, this can be a just-for-fun story. There are good and bad things about the book and how those factors rank, or whether you consider them good/bad yourself, will determine if this is a book for you.
Starting with the good, Goblin Slayer takes place in a genuine fantasy land. This is not a “trapped in a video game” scenario. By this point, everyone knows we have enough of those. The world here seems to run on D&D-type rules, with adventurers slaying monsters but not being too overpowered. People take quests, magic has limited uses per day, and so on. The other key takeaway is that this is not a “save the world” story. The stakes are rarely high, but they are personal. Goblin Slayer (the character) is driven by an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, not a sense of righteousness.
Now, for the bad bits. None of the characters have actual names. Everyone is referred to by whatever their role is. “Goblin Slayer”, “Priestess”, “Guild Girl”, etc. And their personalities pretty much match stereotypical fantasy roles for whatever character class they use. The other glaring issue is the writing. Saying the writing is bad is a bit of a stretch, but the author is no seasoned professional. It is a very basic style. If your interests lie in great works of literature, look elsewhere.
SMALL SPOILER BELOW
So, the last thing that must be addressed could be considered either good or bad. This one is really a matter of personal preference. And that is the extreme level of violence. Having watched the anime first, I knew what was coming in the book. The violence is not quite on the level of absolute extremes like Higurashi or Elfen Lied, but it comes close. It is dark, it is brutal, and it comes completely out of left field after the soft introduction. Some people are disgusted by it but for others that is the draw of Goblin Slayer. The decision there is up to you.
November 5, 2018
Since their beginning, authors have used the setting of fantasy worlds to tell epic tales. Stories of larger than life heroes fighting against impossible odds and unredeemable villains. The typical fantasy story tells the tale of a chosen hero fighting against a great evil that only they can defeat.
But Goblin Slayer isn't a typical fantasy novel. As a fan of fantasy adventure novels, Goblin Slayer feels like a breath of fresh air. Goblin Slayer is a novel series about the adventures of a man only known as "Goblin Slayer", who as his name states, is a specialists adventurer who is hell bent on the complete and total destruction of Goblins as a species. He has no special powers, no holy sword, no grand magic, Goblin Slayer is just a man traumatized by the destruction and depravity that goblins showed when they burned his village to the ground. Because of Goblin Slayers' lack of powers, every battle is a fresh experience. How will he fight? How will he win? Every encounter keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
However, this series isn't for everyone. The goblins are written to vile, irredeemable creatures, and the author establishes this by making them do some of the worst things imaginable to their victims. They murder their victims brutally before using their corpses as food and take women from nearby villages to rape and torture. The author even makes clear that the goblins are capable of complex thought, and do all of this willingly. Goblins are the scum of the Earth, and are not deserving of a chance of redemption.
Would I recommend this series to everyone? No. But if you are able to stomach graphic depictions of violence, are mature enough to handle the subject matter, and are in the mood for something new, This might just be the series for you.
(TL;DR: Strong fantasy series with graphic depictions of violence and sexual assault. Not for everyone, but for those it's meant for, it fits like a glove.)
But Goblin Slayer isn't a typical fantasy novel. As a fan of fantasy adventure novels, Goblin Slayer feels like a breath of fresh air. Goblin Slayer is a novel series about the adventures of a man only known as "Goblin Slayer", who as his name states, is a specialists adventurer who is hell bent on the complete and total destruction of Goblins as a species. He has no special powers, no holy sword, no grand magic, Goblin Slayer is just a man traumatized by the destruction and depravity that goblins showed when they burned his village to the ground. Because of Goblin Slayers' lack of powers, every battle is a fresh experience. How will he fight? How will he win? Every encounter keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
However, this series isn't for everyone. The goblins are written to vile, irredeemable creatures, and the author establishes this by making them do some of the worst things imaginable to their victims. They murder their victims brutally before using their corpses as food and take women from nearby villages to rape and torture. The author even makes clear that the goblins are capable of complex thought, and do all of this willingly. Goblins are the scum of the Earth, and are not deserving of a chance of redemption.
Would I recommend this series to everyone? No. But if you are able to stomach graphic depictions of violence, are mature enough to handle the subject matter, and are in the mood for something new, This might just be the series for you.
(TL;DR: Strong fantasy series with graphic depictions of violence and sexual assault. Not for everyone, but for those it's meant for, it fits like a glove.)
April 27, 2019
Goblin Slayer is yet another light novel with a "Gimmick." Set in a fantasy world it focuses on the exploits of one man, a man who made it his life's mission to kill Goblins, and only Goblins. Many adventurers look down upon the stereotypical level 1 monsters, but as you read further and further you start to see the gruesome reality that Goblins are in fact more dangerous than expected. The story does get gory, a bit rapey, but as far as I could tell it was in service of the story and building up what Goblins truly are. The actual unabashed fanservice is left to a character wearing clothes and aptly named "Cow Girl."
Speaking of her, the story doesn't allow their characters to have names. Simply, they are referred to by their status. A priestess is Priestess, a warrior is Warrior, and the slayer of Goblins is Goblin Slayer. This does add some distance between the reader and the characters, but once the story slowly introduces how the world works, and the gods of that world, you start to understand it more. That, and the author is an unabashed fan of D&D.
There was a lot of thought put into this world and characters. Even to the point where Goblin Slayer's armor, weapons, shield, items, everything he has on him is there for a purpose and detailed during the slaughtering scenes.
Volume 1 is a solid start and I'm definitely curious as to where it'll go next. We've seen multiple Goblin hunts in a variety of scenarios, so it'll be fascinating to see how often the author can keep this interesting. The characters are likable, the story balances a mature dark fantasy with the tropes of...well, every anime as it explores big vs small breasts, bad social manners, the slow gathering of friends, the ravaging results of Goblin hordes, etc. If you like fantasy, magics, and don't mind some gruesome thoughts then I'd recommend this.
Speaking of her, the story doesn't allow their characters to have names. Simply, they are referred to by their status. A priestess is Priestess, a warrior is Warrior, and the slayer of Goblins is Goblin Slayer. This does add some distance between the reader and the characters, but once the story slowly introduces how the world works, and the gods of that world, you start to understand it more. That, and the author is an unabashed fan of D&D.
There was a lot of thought put into this world and characters. Even to the point where Goblin Slayer's armor, weapons, shield, items, everything he has on him is there for a purpose and detailed during the slaughtering scenes.
Volume 1 is a solid start and I'm definitely curious as to where it'll go next. We've seen multiple Goblin hunts in a variety of scenarios, so it'll be fascinating to see how often the author can keep this interesting. The characters are likable, the story balances a mature dark fantasy with the tropes of...well, every anime as it explores big vs small breasts, bad social manners, the slow gathering of friends, the ravaging results of Goblin hordes, etc. If you like fantasy, magics, and don't mind some gruesome thoughts then I'd recommend this.
May 22, 2017
I must say, I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would.
It's quite different from the usual fantasy world light novel. It's dark and depressing while being hopeful at the same time.
There is no stats or levels just some card with your name and description so the Guild can identify you if you died, sort of like a dog tag except it tells your rank in the guild as well. The protagonist has no cheat, magical items or some god's blessing. Just his grit, determination and resourcefulness.
At first I find it a bit hard to enjoy the book and I found out that it was because I was imagining the whole thing in anime form, adding to the fact that the illustration in really "cartoon-y", just like every Japanese light novel out there. When I tried imaging everything in realistic perspective; grim, dark and even filthy. I found that I enjoyed it a great deal.
I will keep reading the series and I'm quite curious as to the part the gods will play in later stories as there are some hint that some of them will make an appearance later. Also, of course, how the Goblin Slayer will grow as a character.
It's quite different from the usual fantasy world light novel. It's dark and depressing while being hopeful at the same time.
There is no stats or levels just some card with your name and description so the Guild can identify you if you died, sort of like a dog tag except it tells your rank in the guild as well. The protagonist has no cheat, magical items or some god's blessing. Just his grit, determination and resourcefulness.
At first I find it a bit hard to enjoy the book and I found out that it was because I was imagining the whole thing in anime form, adding to the fact that the illustration in really "cartoon-y", just like every Japanese light novel out there. When I tried imaging everything in realistic perspective; grim, dark and even filthy. I found that I enjoyed it a great deal.
I will keep reading the series and I'm quite curious as to the part the gods will play in later stories as there are some hint that some of them will make an appearance later. Also, of course, how the Goblin Slayer will grow as a character.
February 10, 2017
This was a really fun book to read!
I was lucky enough to win a copy of Goblin Slayer, Vol.1 by Kumo Kagyu through a Goodreads first-reads Giveaway.
Goblin Slayer is a unique and fun twist on your usual fantasy tale. It focuses on a character that other adventures scoff at, an adventurer with a specialty! Not only do the others laugh at the sheer boredom of repeating similar quests all the time, but that he always fights pathetic goblins! Where is the fun and glory in that!?
The illustrations are beautiful, the book is well paced and it keeps your attention from cover to cover. I finished the book quite quickly because I was enjoying it so much that I didn't want to put it down. I would read more in this world and series.
I was lucky enough to win a copy of Goblin Slayer, Vol.1 by Kumo Kagyu through a Goodreads first-reads Giveaway.
Goblin Slayer is a unique and fun twist on your usual fantasy tale. It focuses on a character that other adventures scoff at, an adventurer with a specialty! Not only do the others laugh at the sheer boredom of repeating similar quests all the time, but that he always fights pathetic goblins! Where is the fun and glory in that!?
The illustrations are beautiful, the book is well paced and it keeps your attention from cover to cover. I finished the book quite quickly because I was enjoying it so much that I didn't want to put it down. I would read more in this world and series.
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