Time travel, being transported into an RPG like world and the main protagonist meeting a beautiful girl in this world that has something to do with his fate. None of this is something you have never seen before in the world of anime and manga. However, you have to give credit to the author of this light novel series, I couldn't help but get into the way the author executed this story. After watching the first few episodes of the anime, I just had to read the original light novel which the anime was adapted from.

Each chapter of the light novel series seems to end with a cliffhanger or a set of events that just wants to make you keep on going. Though the storyline isn't the most original one you have ever seen, it is certainly one of the most interesting ones out of other RPG like series. With it's excellent art style, fairly interesting characters, and character-based plot, this light novel will surely hook you in no time.

Story (8) : Like I said, these type of being transported into an RPG like world isn't rare in the anime/manga/light novel industry or real life entertainment. On the way home from the convenience store, the main protagonist, Subaru is transported to a fantasy world. Where he meets the beautiful and charming, Emilia. Their paths become intervened as he helps her find her stolen emblem. Only to find out in the end of the day, Emilia and him both were killed. While, someway or somehow, Subaru was able to return to where he first appeared in this fantasy world. Revealing that every time he dies, he goes back in time, thus the timeline is restarted. With his newfound powers, he begins his journey to save Emilia. However once he does, only to his own delight, he finds more problems and more people that seek to harm him or the people he are close with. Sounds familiar? Well, the thing about going back into time after death is something you might have heard before, especially in Tom Cruise's Edge of Tomorrow. I won't argue about the fact that this story isn't the most original, as they aren't many original ideas out there left anymore. As the light novel progresses, you are able to experience more of the protagonist's internal conflict that he has to go through and multiple other problems. As each twist starts to unfold one by one, you can't help but cheer for Subaru. Not only for him to get the girl, but also so that he is able to help and save his friends from tragedy.

Though after each problem he solves, when he dies, he doesn't return to the very beginning of the timeline, instead he appears in a time a few moments after the incident. The only problem I have with the storyline, is that since the story progresses, you don't know what will happen at all. As this light novel series is mainly completely character-based. Instead, you don't have a single idea how this manga series will end. Though by doing this, the light novel can be quite "refreshing", since I don't read many series like this, which gives the series a unique touch towards it. Whether this is a good thing or bad thing, I'm not sure yet, but I anticipated to see more chapters to come.

Art (10) : The art accompanied with this light novel series is detailed, refreshing, cute and gorey all at the same time. With his upbeat and cute artstyle, it tends to mislead the reader in a way to make them expect another story. The colored pages of this light novel series are also quite colorful and bright, they are also really well done. You don't expect any deaths or internal conflict at first, but then you are greeted by the violence of Subaru's countless deaths. In the anime, the first few deaths of Subaru isn't as deatailed as in the manga series.

Not only that, even with the cute artstyle, it's hard to believe that Subaru is going through physological issues even with the cutesy artstyle. I am a big fan of the art either ways. As the mangaka in charcge with the art is quite new to the industry, I can't wait to see the mangaka's future works.

Character (8) : Most of the characters in this manga series are completely lovable and cute. Though Subaru can be quite plan and hard to believe. He is an otaku shut-in, who works out everyday? I get bugged out about this part every once in a while throughout this series, but otherwise, I fell in love with pratically all the characters. Whatever flaws the main protagonist is, compared to many other protagonist from similar series, he is still quite likable. He is heroic, strong and is willing to sarcifice himself for the people he cares for.

Whether the characters are theives or are heirs to the throne, they all have an individual presenoailty that isn't too cliche. Each and every charcter is unique in their own way, and each of their flaws also help to build more personality for the characters. Though even though some characters may some bubbly and positive, some of them have dark sides to them and physilogical issues relating to their problems. For example with Subaru, his deaths and betrayal from other characters are building up inside him. Some times I can see that he wants to give up so badly, but because he is strong, he will not give up. Though I can't help but wonder, when will Subaru one day go mad and just give up? As the pain of each death can be incredibly painful, physically and mentally. Though I quite enjoy seeing Subaru go through his problems, as it adds more color to the story. It isn't common to see something as dark as this happening to the main protagonist in series similar to this.

Enjoyment (10) : This light novel series was simply one very, very fun ride. Even with this series's flaws, I really enjoyed reading it. It was funny, and they were mulitiple times where I can't help but just laugh out loud. The jokes in this series are not at all dumb or cliche, instead they are just plain funny. I also can't help but root for Subaru as he tries to make his relationship as friends with Emilia progress into something more. He is indeed, quite charming at times when he isn't insane from all the problems building within him. Not only does this light novel have an positive and cheerful mood towards this show, it also has a dark theme that comes in every once in a while as Subaru struggles thourgh in internal conflict.

Overall (9) : I would definetly recommend this show to anyone who enjoys time travel or characters being transported into RPG like worlds. Currenly, I am curious what will happen in the future of thie series. Will Subaru return back to the real world? Will Subaru die and not be brought back to life? Will Subaru find out the true meaning to his power? The possibilties are endless. This light novel series is pretty close to being perfect, and I anticipate for more updates of this series to come in the future. The wirting style (from the translatation) is quite refreshing and easy to read. I would also recommend watching the anime after reading this light novel series, or if you already watched the anime, I would also recommend you to read the light novel series. Even though the anime and light novel are already quite similar, the experince can be quite different. In conclusion, I really enjoyed this light novel series, it was exciting, dark and light-hearted all at once.