I feeel kind of like I was reading the description of a dark fantasy video game more than a book. It’s very awkward when the characters interact and hard to keep track of who is who, much less become engaged with them. Some nice artwork but not my cup of tea.

I was conflicted on whether or not I should pick up this light novel. There’s a lot going on in the cover and although I like the action genre, I’m not a fan of the dungeon environment found in many. Nevertheless, I’m glad I gave it a chance because I will be continuing this series.

Iarumas is resurrected after being found in an “unexplored area” of the dungeon, however he has no recollection of his past. Thus, he spends his days retrieving corpses of dead adventurers in the dungeon in hopes to find some hint of his past. After collecting his payment, he’s typically back in the dungeon looking for more which earns him scorn from many. Until one day, he happens upon a feral swordswoman, Garbage followed by Raraja.

The story has a slow start. It’s not information heavy but through Iarumas we learn about the dungeon and the world. Personally, I was initially grateful for this information but it became repetitive later on. The story has a few ongoing mysteries, such as Iarumas’ past as well as who Garbage is in reality. I did like those additions because it gave the story some boost in an otherwise plateau storytelling.

The story is told from multiple perspectives. It starts primarily in Iarumas’ perspective with Raraja’s perspective coming in second. There are also short sections told from the perspective of other characters. I do like the idea of multiple perspectives because it broadens the understanding, however I was getting confused. It was changing between perspectives quite unevenly and suddenly which did disrupt the flow of the story.

There are a few pieces of artwork in this light novel and we have strong female characters. I wish we had done more artwork because Aine’s bloody yet shining moment was beautiful. Aine and Garbage are prominent female characters and strong. I enjoyed this depiction although I wish Garbage had a different name and didn’t act like a dog.

Overall this was a good read. Although blood and violence are mentioned quite a bit, somehow the story reads more calmly. I feel like that’s an ode to Iarumas’ personality, even though he has many layers to uncover. There’s a lot of unknowns, so I will be continuing this series.

Overall, I enjoyed Blade & Bastard, Vol. 1. I had trouble getting into it because I have experience with dungeon crawlers and found the beginning full of basic dungeon-crawler knowledge that wasn't new to me. However, when I observed the story from the perspective of someone who isn't as familiar with the dungeon crawler genre, I grew to appreciate the writing and found myself wanting to continue reading. I am interested in seeing if the second volume moves away from that introductory point of view or if the series will continue to read the same. You can tell the author cares about this genre and wants to share their interest with the readers. I enjoyed the plot and thought this volume set a good foundation. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book for a honest review

‘Blade and Bastard Volume 1’ was ok the art was nice but I couldn’t really get into the story…

Rating 3 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is my first manga-type of novel, and I am HOOKED! It's a cross between the video games uncharted and star tropics and it has a choose-your-own-adventure vibe. The world building and attention to detail is phenomenal. I feel as if I am right there with the characters, walking through the dungeons and marketplace with them. Definitely looking forward to volume 2!

Sorta ok. The art is extremely good, but I found it very hard to get into. Pretty typical fantasy fare, not served up with much originality.

I'm not quite sure what happened in the book. I'm not sure if it was the translation or just the writing itself but I felt like I was reading something written by a child. I was so looking forward to this because I know how highly praised Goblin Slayer is, but I really struggled with this one. The only good thing about this was the artwork.

Magnificent. I was so surprisingly good and entertaining. I just can't wait for vol. 2 to get out. I'm already hook on this series!

Iarumas is an adventurer of sorts in the city of Scales who has no recollection of his past. Outside the city lies The Dungeon filled with treasure and monsters. Folks from all around the world have flocked to Scales to obtain the treasure. Groups of six go in, but not all come out alive. That is where Iarumas comes in. To pay for his resurrection, he gathers the bodies of adventurers for Sister Ainikki to raise from the dead or be turned into ash. While in the dungeon he gains two companions - Garbage - a fierce girl, and Raraja, a low-level thief. Iarumas also gains friendship with Sezmar and his group of adventurers. The tales of their adventures provide background for what looks to be a series culminating in a fight to save the world. Or maybe not. But it will be an interesting journey to see what happens next to Iarumas and his friends.

Thanks Netgalley and Yen Press for the chance to read this volume.