So I just finished up Failure Frame Book 8. If you’re familiar with the anime, that goes up to the end of book 4. And there’s not a whole lot to distinguish it from other “my isekai power is so weak” series, especially when stuff like Arifuerta exists.

But the books are definitely better than what the anime shows. First, the book has a lot of inner monologue for the MC which doesn’t translate well to animation. Also, the book fleshes out all the characters of class 2-C more. You start to learn all of their motivations and backstories whereas the anime just gives you a sneak peak. And in Book 8? It was like everything exploded. Dynamics changed, lines were drawn, secrets were revealed… my mind was blown. And it wasn’t cheap gimmicks or deus ex machina either. Everything in the previous books seemed to come together and some of the biggest surprises weren’t even from the MC!

From Two-Bit Baddie to Total Heartthrob: This Villainess Will Cross-Dress to Impress! Vol 1&2

This reads like a tumblr shitpost. Gender is merly a suggestion in that world. Most of major characters have cross-dressed during the plot. I enjoyed that read.

The Otome Heroine’s Fight for Survival vol 1,2 and I’m still reading 3rd

I thought that it would be another otome isekai but I got possitively suprised. This was better version of “The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash” but with more blood, cruelty and unhidged characters. The MC figured out the most OP growth build with plot armor and fighting unwinnable fights. Quite enjoyable read.

I haven’t had much time to read the past week, but managed to read this one in one go last night:

Peddler in Another World: I Can Go Back to My World Whenever I Want! Volume 9—This concludes the arc that started in the last volume. The plot was very predictable, and the antagonists were one-dimensional to a fault, so I’m happy that this particular arc is over now. I still like the cast, so I’m looking forward to the next volume, but this arc was by far the weakest of the series so far.