悲報伝

伝説 #4

by NisiOisiN

“究極魔法”獲得を目的とした実験により、全住民が消失した四国。閉ざされたその地では、対立する魔法少女のグループが死闘を繰り広げていた。十三歳の英雄・空々空と謎の幼児・酒々井かんづめは、少女たちの戦争を潜り抜け、死地を脱出できるのか。新兵器『悲恋』が上陸を果たし、地球との最終決戦が迫る!悲鳴に始まり、悲痛な別れを繰り返し、悲惨な死する越えていく英雄譚、第四弾。

512 pages, Paperback

Published November 26, 2013

About the author

Nisio Isin (西尾維新 Nishio Ishin), frequently written as NisiOisiN to emphasize that his pen name is a palindrome, is a Japanese novelist and manga writer. He attended and left Ritsumeikan University without graduating. In 2002, he debuted with the novel Kubikiri Cycle, which earned him the 23rd Mephisto Award at twenty years of age.

He currently works with Kodansha on Pandora, the Kodansha Box magazine, and Faust, a literary magazine containing the works of other young authors who similarly take influence from light novels and otaku culture. He was also publishing a twelve volume series over twelve months for the Kodansha Box line; Ryusui Seiryoin was matching this output, and the Kodansha Box website stated that this is the first time in the world two authors have done twelve volume monthly novel series simultaneously from the same publisher.

In February, 2008, his novel Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases was released in English by Viz Media. Del Rey Manga has already released the first volume in his Zaregoto series. His Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari and Katanagatari novels have been adapted into anime series. Nekomonogatari (Kuro) has been adapted into an anime TV movie, and Kizumonogatari will be release in theaters this year. Monogatari Series: Second Season, adapted from 6 books in Monogatari Series will air in July 2013. Another of his works, Medaka Box (manga), has been adapted into a two-season anime series.

Reviews

[Moonrune Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fourth volume finds us midway through the Shikoku Arc. A "new weapon" from the Earth Eradication Army gets deployed, and our boy Kuu gets dragged into a battle between teams of magical girls, that might also involve an ally.

It's still cool to see new characters with new powers, and the battle gets resolved before the volume ends, but it kind of feels like it's speedrunning the cool fighting action to get back to the talky/thinking bits.

[Nemo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compared to the third volume, the fourth moves at a faster pace. There are two prefectures right away.
Placing a heavy focus on Koya was a good decision — with each volume I like her more and more.

I didn’t really like that the final battle, which the reader is prepared for throughout almost the entire book, turned out to be quite short, and it was utterly ridiculous, though amusing in its own way.
I would have liked some balance between battles and narration.
Also, there is criminally little Chinou in this book.