Volume 3. Now things are getting really
interesting. The spider-plot thickens, and the tempo kicks up in the Shun-side
of things too, finally. But before that, a plug for your local library!
I found both volume 2 and 3 of So I'm a Spider, So What? on my last trip to my local library. While I was searching for them, I found another book that I had been wanting to read. So I've been doing very well on books lately. All thanks to the public library system!
Now for the review.
This volume is where things come
together. It's like the first two volumes, while totally fun and interesting on
their own, were to set up for the events of this volume here. Like I said, this
is where things get interesting.
Komoko learns the truth of the world.
Nothing is revealed to the reader, but our favorite spider protagonist is now
aware of some pretty heavy truth. It changes her thought process from
"live with pride in the labyrinth!" to something on a grander scale.
But first she sets her sights on Earth Dragon Araba.
Yes, the same titan of a creature that first appeared
in volume 1 and traumatized so terribly she decided to traverse the Middle
Stratum to avoid running into him again. She's going to pick a fight with him.
It is a magnificent fight.
Baba-sensei is able to show the fight to
the reader while maintaining Komoko's engaging narrative voice. It is a lot of
fun to read. What I particularly like is how Baba-sensei sets up the fight.
Komoko is an ambush predator. Her specialty is setting traps and sneaking up on her prey. Her "golden
combo" is to wrap someone up in webs and then deliver a killing blow while
they are helpless. So we see her prepare the area where she intends to confront
Araba by setting up webs. She also makes mention of a "special poison" she has prepared for
him, but doesn't go into details. So! When the fight reaches its final stage,
and this special poison takes effect, it feels like a perfectly earned and
prepared-for victory. Though the reader doesn't know what it is, because Komoko
hasn't used it before, it is still a Chekhov's Gun instead of an asspull.
On the other side of things, Shun's side
of the story picks up.
Thus far, the chapters that focused on
Shun and his peers have mainly been about developing them as characters and
providing worldbuilding that Komoko would not be privy to. Now, they have a
plot to themselves. We see them take action, and they do some awesome things.
Shun performs a daring and heroic rescue.
Ill-advised, definitely, but equally definitely a heroic thing to do it. He is
on the path to learning the truth of the world himself, but there is character
development before then. Gaining the title of Hero causes a significant
amount of it, both because of the responsibility inherit in the title and also because his admired older brother was the previous holder of the title.
Katia is not one to be left behind. A
subplot with her that has been building since her introduction now reaches a
critical point. It is a poignant scene. It is combined with an awesome moment even greater than Shun's
(in my opinion), which lends it greater gravitas.
Trickster Eric Novels gives So I'm a Spider, so what? light novel volume 3 an A+
Click here for my next book review: Ciaphas Cain - HERO OF THE IMPERIUM
Click here for my previous book review: So I'm a Spider, So What? (light novel 2)
Brian Wilkerson is a independent novelist, freelance book reviewer, and writing advice blogger. He studied at the University of Minnesota and came away with bachelor degrees in English Literature and History (Classical Mediterranean Period concentration).
His fantasy series, Journey to Chaos, is currently available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback.
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