My favorite two web novels are versatile mage and shadow slave. Anyone have any recommendations on what I should read next? I'm trying to get into lotm (on like ch55) but it's not really clicking for me :/
I never imagined I would enjoy a Slayers manga this much—mainly because until now, I've only watched the anime. But this story truly captured my attention and even made me prioritize the Slayers novels on my "plan to read" list, which I somewhat shamefully admit I haven't started yet.
The plot has almost no connection to the previous storyline, though it picks up after Slayers Next and essentially replaces Slayers Try. However, I found that quite refreshing since this manga stays true to the spirit of those two series. The storyline revolves around a new male character introduced to the series, Lyos, and as usual, Lina and her companions find themselves either involved in—or responsible for—all the chaos.
What particularly intrigued me was the introduction of new and exciting characters, mainly over-the-top, confident, big-breasted female characters, which struck me as unusual. Meanwhile, old favorites like Zelgadis or Xellos (though Xellos might show up—you never know) are absent. While their lack of involvement is understandable given the story's direction, it did make me feel like I'd stumbled into the Bleach manga! My point is, there are too many new characters for what you'd expect from a Slayers series.
Still, it's the small details that keep drawing me in: [SPOILERS] seeing Lina helpless and unable to use her black magic revealed a different side of her—one without the Dragon Slave at least, not in the beginning. There's almost an entire volume of traveling without Gourry, which made me miss him even more and appreciate his return all the more. The bonding moments between Lina and Gourry feel much more pronounced here than in any of the anime adaptations. And while I may seem like a dork for craving these moments, Slayers was the first anime I ever watched, so I have deep feelings for its story. There's also the subtle rivalry between Gourry and Lyos to see who's stronger, adding another layer of intrigue.
In the end, I hope I didn't reveal too much or dwell too long on my personal feelings. I genuinely hope you find my thoughts useful!
Overall: 9/10—I'm not sure why I liked it so much, but I guess I just rate based on how a story makes me feel.
Popular Reviews
The plot has almost no connection to the previous storyline, though it picks up after Slayers Next and essentially replaces Slayers Try. However, I found that quite refreshing since this manga stays true to the spirit of those two series. The storyline revolves around a new male character introduced to the series, Lyos, and as usual, Lina and her companions find themselves either involved in—or responsible for—all the chaos.
What particularly intrigued me was the introduction of new and exciting characters, mainly over-the-top, confident, big-breasted female characters, which struck me as unusual. Meanwhile, old favorites like Zelgadis or Xellos (though Xellos might show up—you never know) are absent. While their lack of involvement is understandable given the story's direction, it did make me feel like I'd stumbled into the Bleach manga! My point is, there are too many new characters for what you'd expect from a Slayers series.
Still, it's the small details that keep drawing me in: [SPOILERS] seeing Lina helpless and unable to use her black magic revealed a different side of her—one without the Dragon Slave at least, not in the beginning. There's almost an entire volume of traveling without Gourry, which made me miss him even more and appreciate his return all the more. The bonding moments between Lina and Gourry feel much more pronounced here than in any of the anime adaptations. And while I may seem like a dork for craving these moments, Slayers was the first anime I ever watched, so I have deep feelings for its story. There's also the subtle rivalry between Gourry and Lyos to see who's stronger, adding another layer of intrigue.
In the end, I hope I didn't reveal too much or dwell too long on my personal feelings. I genuinely hope you find my thoughts useful!
Overall: 9/10—I'm not sure why I liked it so much, but I guess I just rate based on how a story makes me feel.