- #1
Honestly my favorite currently translated novel. The main character is a complete tsundere but in a good way (I normally hate the trope). The characters and their interactions are amazing, and the plot is actually solid and develops naturally over time. There is a shift from the early to the later chapters with a rise in the main character's motivation level and overall how much action is in the series. I love pretty much everything about this novel and I highly recommend it for basically anyone who isn't wanting an edgelord action series (not that there's anything wrong with those). That's not to say it doesn't have dark moments, there's moments when subjects like death or torture come up, but by and large it has a lighter feel. There are some shounen tropes such as characters being overly loyal to their friends, but by and large it avoids tropes I can't really stand anymore like friendship = power which I very much appreciate. Cale generally wins through trickery and outsmarting his opponents in ways that don't seem forced at all. The writing in this series is genuinely good, with certain phrases having double meanings and actual clever use of plot devices.