elliotism's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Zaregoto most certainly is not at all what it entails initially. This is not simply a murder mystery but the beginning of a now 10 book long character study on somebody who truly lacks any sense of self worth, of somebody who can't do anything but put himself into the position of the narrator and judge other people based on his limited view of their outward appearances. I find it fascinating that so many people who review this book view it as if it were simply a cheap copy or an imitation of other greats in the genre like "And Then There Were None". Isin surely takes inspiration from them no questions asked but if anything he makes fun of the sheer lunacy of such a crime drama. The stupid amount of plot twists, the bigger than life characters and of course the main character who has to spurt out the entire solution to everything at the end. But in fact, Isin actually doesn't do anything akin to that. He astoundingly makes use of these tropes and works them in only to totally diverge from what you would expect to happen. I'm writing this only having read Decapitation and a few of his other works so I cannot judge as to how good of an entrypoint it serves but for now it is an excellent book with far more excellent ideas and even more excellent characters. (As for why this is not anything higher than 4 stars, I believe for this to be a mere introduction and thus lacking in actual high highs besides the final act which indeed was magnificent but not enough for me to rate it any higher)
xslaxerx's review
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
oribentham's review against another edition
1.0
no sabía qué esperaba cuando lo empecé, pero me sorprendió :O no es el estilo de libro que suelo leer, pero se volvió mucho más ágil la lectura a medida que avancé y conocí mejor a los pjes (obvio pff)
cada tanto sentía que medio me embolaba el plot y de golpe tiraba una quote que me traía de nuevo a la lectura así o.o i like that
3 estrellas porque sentí que la primer mitad se me hizo muy lenteja antes de engancharme (?) y porque quiero cagar a palo al protagonista cada cinco páginas (pero lo amo he's just like me fr)
cada tanto sentía que medio me embolaba el plot y de golpe tiraba una quote que me traía de nuevo a la lectura así o.o i like that
3 estrellas porque sentí que la primer mitad se me hizo muy lenteja antes de engancharme (?) y porque quiero cagar a palo al protagonista cada cinco páginas (pero lo amo he's just like me fr)
david93's review against another edition
4.0
Was a really good read. Fast paced and with really intersting characters interacting with eachother. The dialogue between them was refreshing and entertaining. Going to continue getting more into the series.
basterdsordsmang's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
ailecyume's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kokuto45's review against another edition
3.0
Not as good as expected but still good. I heard Vol 2's better though so I'm excited ! 7/10
country_art's review
1.0
Oof.
I don't think I have ever DNF'd a book so fast.
This was recommended to me to get an idea of what a light novel was like and I just could not handle the pseudo philosophical nonsense. They are supposed to be geniuses but they have conversations like MAC VS. PC that culminate in them saying certain people like certain operating systems as if it was a profound statement. Other times, they say things like ignorance is bliss in long drawn out ways to seem like it is more meaningful then it is.
In the words of Randy Jackson:
I don't think I have ever DNF'd a book so fast.
This was recommended to me to get an idea of what a light novel was like and I just could not handle the pseudo philosophical nonsense. They are supposed to be geniuses but they have conversations like MAC VS. PC that culminate in them saying certain people like certain operating systems as if it was a profound statement. Other times, they say things like ignorance is bliss in long drawn out ways to seem like it is more meaningful then it is.
In the words of Randy Jackson:
gnitro's review
4.0
This was a really interesting murder mystery surrounding an island full of geniuses. The main character not being one of those geniuses, is more inclined to just go through life with little conflict. Once the first murder occurs, he actually gathers up some initiative and starts actually working on solving it. The book did a good job of keeping me on my toes, and not fully grasping who the killer was until it was revealed. It's one of those where you think to yourself, how did I not catch that. Definitely worth a read for those whom like mysteries.
kakuzo's review
4.0
"Isn’t there something really scary about people who knowingly, consciously, use others as stepping-stones?”
My thoughts after re-reading "Decapitation: Kibikiri cycle, The blue savant and the nonsense user"
Written by NisiOisiN
Illustrated by Take
Re-read?:
Last time I read this book was back in 2017-2018? so with how bad my memory actually is it felt almost as if reading this book for the first time, and yes, it surprised me a lot with how great NisiOisiN's first book is.
The story:
A nameless narrator goes to an island where the most brilliant minds of the world are gathered, after a murder takes place, he tries to discover who the culprit is, not because he is a good-hearted guy but because it would ruin his schedule
Enjoyment:
The first 3/4 of the book are really slow but with some very interesting dialogues it never feels boring, the first part does an incredible job at character and world-building while the last 1/4 is just a blast to read when the story picks up it really picks up.
Enjoyment:
The first 3/4 of the book are really slow but with some very interesting dialogues it never feels boring, the first part does an incredible job at character and world-building while the last 1/4 is just a blast to read when the story picks up it really picks up.
The verdict:
It's a very slow book, some parts feel like they drag on for too long but in the end that really didn't matter, the good writing makes up for all of that. The last 70 pages of the book are especially good and what makes this book so memorable, decapitation is an 8/10
My thoughts after re-reading "Decapitation: Kibikiri cycle, The blue savant and the nonsense user"
Written by NisiOisiN
Illustrated by Take
Re-read?:
Last time I read this book was back in 2017-2018? so with how bad my memory actually is it felt almost as if reading this book for the first time, and yes, it surprised me a lot with how great NisiOisiN's first book is.
The story:
A nameless narrator goes to an island where the most brilliant minds of the world are gathered, after a murder takes place, he tries to discover who the culprit is, not because he is a good-hearted guy but because it would ruin his schedule
Enjoyment:
The first 3/4 of the book are really slow but with some very interesting dialogues it never feels boring, the first part does an incredible job at character and world-building while the last 1/4 is just a blast to read when the story picks up it really picks up.
Enjoyment:
The first 3/4 of the book are really slow but with some very interesting dialogues it never feels boring, the first part does an incredible job at character and world-building while the last 1/4 is just a blast to read when the story picks up it really picks up.
The verdict:
It's a very slow book, some parts feel like they drag on for too long but in the end that really didn't matter, the good writing makes up for all of that. The last 70 pages of the book are especially good and what makes this book so memorable, decapitation is an 8/10