Harry Potter knock-off. That sums it up. It might be better or worse in comparison to the inspirational source depending on your taste. Both terrible anyway.

Most of the time I just don't really get what's happening. Especially with the whole MC & Nanao drama. Don't get why MC is that sensitive in the first place.

The problem/drama in the first volume seems overdramatized. Author's naming sense is really cringey. "Kimberly Magic Academy" lol lame. The characters aren't that likable. Kinda boring if you ask me. The plot twist in the end... more>> is surprising, but not in a good way. Just makes me feel like, "tf?". <<less

This is basically a darker, shonen take on Harry Potter. Compared to Harry Potter, there is a lot more focus on combat and tactics, which makes it feel kind of like a shonen manga. The setting is fascinating. The resemblance to Harry Potter is only superficial. It's a world full of danger, mostly caused by other magicians, both students and faculty, who are obsessed with accumulating power and knowledge. Every time you think the villainous magicians can't get worse, you somehow find out about another magician who found some even... more>> more awful way to gain power from human suffering.

Oliver is an interesting protagonist, a kindhearted, empathetic person who is nonetheless driven by the need to kill for the sake of revenge. Not much is explained about him at the beginning, but he gets more character development with each volume.

The highlight of the story is definitely the slow unveiling of the mystery of what happened to

Spoiler

Oliver's mother and why. She was brilliant, good, and universally well-liked by even the villains, yet the Kimberley faculty, many of them friends or mentors of her, still betrayed and killed her. The reason for the torture they subject her to before her death is also still a mystery, but you do get hints about it with interesting implications that will likely change the world.

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The combat scenes are also quite good. I imagine that for some people, this aspect will be easier to appreciate in the upcoming anime adaptation.

The heroine, Nanao, is basically a samurai who is obsessed with fighting and expects to die in combat sooner rather than later. She is not as developed so far. Some other reviews have complained about this as well, but I don't see it as a big deal. The reason being, she has not been very involved in the plot so far. It's clear that she will be key to the plot in the future, but for now she is essentially a side character. That doesn't mean she's not well-written; it just means that her time has not yet come. She does gradually develop a healthier mindset now that she has friends, but this character development is not central to the plot.

This is a series with riveting action sequences, but it does require patience as far as plot and character development go. The writing is excellent, but don't expect everything to be revealed quickly. The story is told in third person, so even though Oliver essentially knows what's going on from the beginning and acts accordingly, you as the reader don't find out until long afterward. Even as of volume 7 there are still many things about Oliver's backstory which are hinted at but not yet revealed. This mystery aspect of the story is actually rather similar to Harry Potter. I can see why the story puts some people off though. It's like it was written specifically for fans of Harry Potter who are also into shonen anime and darker anime like Fate/Stay Night. For this specific cross-section of readers, you will not find a better story anywhere. Perhaps one of the reasons for the lower ratings is that this story reads more like an actual novel than a light novel. For me that's a plus, but it's a matter of opinion. <<less

I was drawn to this book because it was award winning or something like that. Probably because of that my expectations were too high. It really does have a Harry Potter feel to it. The setting and twist plot are the best parts, but the characters aren’t likeable. Both the two main MCs excel in almost every class to the point of being almost borderline generic op. The girl acts as a naive foreigner that just got picked up from countries away. The boy is edgy and doesn’t seem to... more>> like anyone outside his friends. The side characters are a country bumpkin, a magical version of PETA, gender bender tsundere, and the drill hair girl who I think has the best character (strong enough to be a contender but weak enough to grow). The worse part is that you know the interactions between the two MCs was dialed down to show more of the side characters, but the side characters are still just generic. The fight scenes were predictable and healing magic is so op in this world that getting mauled and losing limbs isn’t fatal and can just be brought back so there’s not much tension on that end. The twist at the end of volume 1 was good. I wish there was more focus on that because that was the only time the MC was interesting. Ultimately an okay read, but not as good as I was lead to believe. <<less

Looking at the 2 reviews below I can't help but feel that they were written by kids. They want to see more details about twist at the end of Volume 1 yet they didn't bother to read beyond 1 or 2 volumes to know it. These are the kind of people who will give a 5 star to any novel with good start even if the later volumes are downright bad.

Despite saying all of this, unfortunately I can't really defend this novel much. This novel has your typical goody two... more>> shoes MC with an exceptionally talented but airheaded heroine which is nothing new. Swords and magic with fantasy setting in an academy as usual. This should already give you a fairly good idea about this novel.

What makes it stand apart from other novels in the same genre is that it becomes progressively darker with each volume. You learn the motive of MC, his revenge targets, the vile activities and experiments going out in the academy, and how like literally everyone in the academy is broken as a person. It doesn't hesitate to delve into controversial and generally avoided mentioning issues like homosexuality, s*x ed, transgender etc. Deaths are common.

If you like reading novels in this genre, then you might want to read it till atleast Volume 3 before making the decision to drop or continue reading it. I'll give it a 3.7 out of 5, round off to 4 out of pity since everyone seems to rate it low. <<less

Well. This is a good plot by far. A lot of tense, suspense. A wonderful story for anyone who loves Harry Potter.

But. There is a BIG problem : the FMC. I was enjoying it a lot in the beggining, a good badaasss FMC. I was not expecting to be totally disgusted by her.
it’s quite simple, whenever she do a things : it’s perfect, easy, she won and next.
She is the best. She is better than anyone. She can do all, but better than anyone else. She take a broom ? It’s the best one, which one nobody can have. She never did broom before ? No problem, she is the best and destroy the seventh years player. She face a strong killer unkillable ? No problem, she kill him in one go.
This is disgusting. And I’ll drop the LN because of that.

That was really good but this huge mistake is too much. (I’m in vol. 6, I can’t support more).

Well, overall this novel is pretty good. Don't really understand peolpe who rated it low. There are some boring parts, like story with brooms in volume 6, but despite that, the story is interesting and I really can't wait for the translation of volume 10 to come out, especially after what happened at the end of volume 9.

Well what ever everybody say..... But this is just one of many novel which show boy MC just for showing purpose...... They tend to show that the heroine is more intelligent and other female character are more cunning then protagonist...... Our protagonist is cunning but when girl say anything romantic he is all red, like what the........ Man I want more ayano or hachi like characters who are not inferior.....

Now people might say something about me but yeah I don't like if MC is shown to be inferior whether it... more>> is male or female....... And I am not saying that MC have to be overly strong too...

I saw anime of this and like all three fights till now are just nanao supremacy. Nothing on kate or Olivier side.... If MC try something at last spotlight is still nanao.... Will see what happens next if I feel like watching it anymore <<less

Frankly, I don't usually write reviews because I struggle to put my thoughts into words. However, considering the unjust rating this novel has received and the fact that it's one of my favorites, I'll do my best to succinctly share my thoughts. This novel bears a resemblance to the Harry Potter series in its vibe, yet it takes a darker and more disturbing turn. Our protagonist is Oliver, a kind and hardworking mage who utilizes his extensive experience to help his friends—Katie, Guy, Pete, and Nanao—adjust to the academy.

Throughout the... more>> first volume, it's apparent that Oliver isn't innately gifted; his success in various areas is a product of his dedication and diligence. The reasons behind this become clear by the end of the first volume. Nanao, the female main character (FMC), possesses exceptional talent within the group. I find it bewildering that she receives criticism in other reviews. Typically, audiences complain about main characters being overly powerful and skilled, deeming it predictable or generic. However, in this novel, the spotlight is on a side character who excels, providing a refreshing difference compared to many light novels.

The story brims with mysteries, and the world-building is captivating. Admittedly, this type of novel demands more than just reading one or two volumes to truly appreciate the unfolding intrigue, revelations, and hints within each installment. The side characters here aren't dull or neglected; they undergo development and have their moments, but it requires a little bit of patience on the reader's part.

This novel boasts an array of strengths, which necessitates a patient approach to fully savor all the nuances of the narrative. The last thing I wanna say is that the twist in the first book will catch you off guard, and the sub-plot surrounding it is truly enjoyable. <<less

This series introduces a revolutionary and captivating world, reminiscent of a Harry Potter-like light novel. The story revolves around new students entering a magical school, struggling with their new lives, forming bonds, and confronting various life-threatening challenges. The traditional approach alone makes it a perfect 100 out of 100, but it also incorporates originality, making it the ultimate entertainment novel. Initially perceived as a magical school story similar to Harry Potter, it takes a fresh turn by adding swordplay elements and featuring a samurai girl as the heroine, which adds... more>> an exciting twist. The epilogue delivers a surprising and chilling plot development, taking the story in an unexpected direction with well-laid foreshadowing. The focus on character interactions and positive elements keeps the narrative engaging, despite hints of a potentially darker storyline. The gripping cliffhanger at the ending leaves readers eagerly anticipating the next volume. <<less