S*ave Harem in the Labyrinth of the Other World (LN) Novel Review

My Thoughts on S*ave Harem in the Labyrinth of the Other World (LN)

Alright, let's dive into "S*ave Harem in the Labyrinth of the Other World." I went into this one with mixed expectations, knowing its reputation within the isekai genre. I've seen the manga adaptation, so I had some visual context, but I wanted to see how the light novel held up on its own.

First Impressions

Initially, I was intrigued. The concept of a protagonist with a unique point allocation system and the premise of dungeon crawling offered a decent hook. The early volumes seemed to establish a world with its own set of rules, and I was willing to see where the story would take me.

What Works Well

For some, the story seems to hit the spot as a power fantasy with slice-of-life elements. I can see the appeal of watching a character steadily grow stronger and build a harem in a fantasy setting. Some readers appreciated the world-building and found the characters interesting enough to keep reading, especially if you enjoy tabletop RPGs.

Areas of Concern

However, I found myself increasingly frustrated as I progressed. One of my biggest issues was the pacing. The story often felt incredibly slow, with excessive internal monologues and repetitive descriptions. The protagonist's constant overthinking and indecisiveness became tiresome, making it hard to stay invested.

I also noticed that the characters, particularly the harem members, often felt one-dimensional. They seemed reduced to simple tropes, and their interactions with the protagonist lacked depth. The lack of meaningful character development made it difficult to connect with them on an emotional level. And I have to agree that the MC is unlikeable, his inner monologues reveal that he is self-centered, clueless, and suspicious. It would be realistic that some of those characteristics flourish in his inner monologues, but it just passes out as a boring dude and egocentric to a great degree that rarely develops or gets better, while the problem is the world and not him.

Final Verdict

Overall, "S*ave Harem in the Labyrinth of the Other World" is a mixed bag. While it offers some initial appeal with its unique system and fantasy setting, the slow pacing, repetitive descriptions, and shallow character development ultimately detract from the experience. If you're looking for a deep, engaging story with complex characters, this might not be the one for you. However, if you're simply seeking a lighthearted power fantasy with some ecchi elements, you might find some enjoyment here. I'd recommend going into it with tempered expectations and being prepared to skim through some of the more tedious sections.