Synopsis

Looking for a book in the library, Naofumi Iwatani is transported to a new world. He, along with three other men from alternate versions of Japan carry the legendary weapons. As the legendary heroes, they’re asked to save the country from destruction. However, he’s soon betrayed by his party member, accused of a crime he didn’t commit, losing all his support and forced to navigate a strange world. Already the weakest of all the heroes, he must learn what he can to succeed.

For Those Who’ve Watched the Anime

For those who have watched the anime, this first volume covers the first four episodes. It also adds some extra chapters. In general, it builds the world more, but the anime does a really good job at adapting this volume.

For Those Who Haven’t Watched the Anime

For anyone who hasn’t watched the anime, I’m a really big fan. It’s definitely one of my favorite fantasy stories. The fact that it’s an isekai is just a bonus.

Review

The pacing and writing are very good. Like Overlord, there’s a lot of expplanation, but it doesn’t feel like the story drags on. There’s also less exposition. It’s very accessible and easy to read. I actually stayed up until about 12:30 AM reading because of how interested I was. Hours later, I read the second volume.

The world feels real. It runs like a video game, so characters have to level up. Like Momonga in Overlord, Naofumi teaches himself magic and learns to navigate an unknown world. I love this tactic to build the world because, as the reader, I get to learn alongside the characters.

The themes are explored pretty well, but I think they’ll be further explored in subsequent volumes. Class, race, and slavery are the big ones. The topics are handled a lot better than some stories I’ve consumed. It’s also handled in a way that makes sense the world where it takes place.

The characters are developed mostly okay. My only critique is that there is only nuance to Naofumi and Raphtalia. Everyone else is who they appear to be. I’m hoping this is addressed in subsequent volumes. Side characters need more nuance than simply being.

Conclusion

Overall, this first volume is great. As a fan of the anime, I loved it. I had so much fun reading it. I gave it a four star rating. So far, I’ve read volume two and gave it the same rating. I’m looking forward to continue this story and watching the second season of the anime.

Writing Lessons

After reading the first volumes of Overlord and The Rising of the Shield Hero, I’ve found myself wondering more about other writing conventions. Writing styles vary, of course, but I’ve learned things I can use in my own writing. I’ve also found comfort in my current writing style, especially when it comes to show and tell. It’s the one lesson I can remember and the one I’m still not fully comfortable with. I sort of understand it, but I struggle with it at times.

When I read, I expect a balance between showing and telling. There are certain things I’m expecting to be shown. For example, in a romance or a story that has a romantic plotline, I expect to see the emotional beats. Show me why I should ship the couple. Show me different aspects. Let me see the journey. Don’t tell me they’re in love.

Depending on the book, too much exposition can ruin it for me. Depending on how exposition is written, it can be very hard to get through. I’ve actually changed between physical reading to listening to audiobooks if I’m able to because I would probably DNF a book based on how information is delivered. I don’t necessarily enjoy having my hand held when I read. It’s annoying. However, there are things I prefer to be told, such as facial expressions and gestures. I have a hard time identifying them if they’re described.

I write what I like or want to read. I also write how I want to read. Two different things for me. What I want to read refers to the genre and story. How refers to the writing. What I want to be told and what I want to be shown.

Earlier this year, I read a book called Craft In the Real World: Rethinking Fiction Writing and Workshopping by Matthew Salesses. One of the things that it discusses is how show and tell is pushed toward us. He also talks about the differences between Eastern and Western writing conventions. I’d love to read it again now that I’m dipping my toes into light novels. I think it’ll be really interesting to see what else I can learn about my writing style.

So far, as mentioned previously, I’ve become more comfortable with my writing style. I’m especially more comfortable with the way I show and tell. Although show and tell is very practical, I feel like it’s also a style choice. As the author, how much I want to show is at my discretion. For me, it’s not important to show everything. Sometimes, it’s about comfort. Other times, it’s about not wanting to. There are things that I always want to show, but that depends on the scene context.

I don’t know if this is helpful to you, but I hope it is. It’s been very interesting exploring my writing in the last few months. My first post in this blog was about writing a story called Daughter of Death. Writing this story is part of what made my writing evolve into something I’m beginning to love. Reading these light novels has also been very helpful to learning my writing likes and dislikes. Here’s the important thing I took away from the first volumes of Overlord and The Rising of the Shield Hero and emulating the styles of other authors: There’s no right way to write. You just write.

Where You Can Find The Rising of the Shield Hero Light Novels

You can definitely find the first two volumes on Audible. The audiobooks are between six and eight hours long. I also requested the first volume on Bookshare, an accessible library for people with reading barriers, but it might take some time for it to be added to the collection.

Call To Action

If you want to learn about how my writing has changed, read my first blog post.

https://anexismatos.wordpress.com/2022/05/09/writing-daughter-of-death/

Let me know what you think in the comments. Have you read The Rising of the Shield Hero light novels? Have you watched the anime? Did you enjoy both? If you haven’t read the light novels or watched the anime, do you plan to do so? You can also check out my channel for videos on the anime. I will be reviewing the second volume in October, so subscribe if you’re interested in seeing it.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhLwlGW5TJW5wmHdiTsMqcy0_wvty8UJ0