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REVIEW: The Holy Grail of Eris Novel 2




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invalidname
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Joined: 11 Aug 2004
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI
PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2022 5:48 pm Reply with quote
With this title coming out simultaneously as both a light novel and a manga, I’d be interested in any opinions of which is the better way to experience the story.
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harminia



Joined: 24 Aug 2015
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Location: australia
PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2022 7:34 pm Reply with quote
^I've only read part of the manga but it seemed like a pretty good adaptation to me! Complete with the fun little character progression notes that are the end of each chapter of the novel (having read the manga first, seeing they were in the novel originally was a pleasant surprise).

__
I'm really enjoying the series. There's so much going on. Like you said in the review, it's really different from the normal villainess stories. The realisation that Scarlet really was just a minor player in a giant scheme, and not even worth thinking about was a big shock. Here we thought there were all these conspiracies revolving around her but really she wasn't even an important chess piece...
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Viren21



Joined: 16 Sep 2022
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2022 8:33 pm Reply with quote
invalidname wrote:
With this title coming out simultaneously as both a light novel and a manga, I’d be interested in any opinions of which is the better way to experience the story.
\
I'm currently reading the manga version which is fan translated by a group. I cant really compare both, the manga has a steady pace on the story progression but still slow on giving some details of the overall mystery (coming from every chapter release of the group). The good part is, if you didn't remember the previous chapters it always compensate with a one page recollection of it through using chibis to show the important scenes so a reader wont be lost of what happened and what's going on. The highlight of the manga really is the partnership and bond of Constance and Scarlet throughout the story and its nice to see it and those two act together as sleuths. The dynamic of the two is great but i cant describe how their dynamics being partners and at the same time their standings its up to you to see it for yourself.

Overall, its really an engaging story since every now and then it shows some clues and revelations of the events before scarlet's death. I can't really say if its the same with the Light Novel but I'm sure there are quite differences in terms of story's pacing, details revealed and some omissions from the source.
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Viren21



Joined: 16 Sep 2022
Posts: 49
PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2022 8:47 pm Reply with quote
harminia wrote:
^I've only read part of the manga but it seemed like a pretty good adaptation to me! Complete with the fun little character progression notes that are the end of each chapter of the novel (having read the manga first, seeing they were in the novel originally was a pleasant surprise).

__
I'm really enjoying the series. There's so much going on. Like you said in the review, it's really different from the normal villainess stories. The realisation that Scarlet really was just a minor player in a giant scheme, and not even worth thinking about was a big shock. Here we thought there were all these conspiracies revolving around her but really she wasn't even an important chess piece...
'

What volume is the latest chapter of the manga in the novel? it seems its only on volume 2 only.spoiler[Since the fan translated latest chapter of the manga also reveals it that she's not part of the plan and Cecilia said already that she brought it to herself, But it also became harder for them to do it.]
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harminia



Joined: 24 Aug 2015
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2022 10:13 pm Reply with quote
Viren21 wrote:
What volume is the latest chapter of the manga in the novel? it seems its only on volume 2 only.spoiler[Since the fan translated latest chapter of the manga also reveals it that she's not part of the plan and Cecilia said already that she brought it to herself, But it also became harder for them to do it.]


I couldn't say, sorry. I was reading the manga fan translations (though I plan to get the licensed manga releases at some point, once I make room for more books..), but I haven't read it recently. I know the second book went well past where I had read to in the fan translation, but I assume it's gotten up to most of the events in the second volume.
Refreshing my memory of where the book ends it literally ends right when Randolph accuses a person who organised Scarlet's death, and then has a flashback story about the people organising it (trying to be vague).
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Viren21



Joined: 16 Sep 2022
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2022 11:57 pm Reply with quote
harminia wrote:
Viren21 wrote:
What volume is the latest chapter of the manga in the novel? it seems its only on volume 2 only.spoiler[Since the fan translated latest chapter of the manga also reveals it that she's not part of the plan and Cecilia said already that she brought it to herself, But it also became harder for them to do it.]


I couldn't say, sorry. I was reading the manga fan translations (though I plan to get the licensed manga releases at some point, once I make room for more books..), but I haven't read it recently. I know the second book went well past where I had read to in the fan translation, but I assume it's gotten up to most of the events in the second volume.
Refreshing my memory of where the book ends it literally ends right when Randolph accuses a person who organised Scarlet's death, and then has a flashback story about the people organising it (trying to be vague).

I guess with what you said the manga really did a lot of changes since i can't remember that also.spoiler[Its already at the part when Scarlet and Connie visited Aisha and reveal in her backstory that she indirectly cause Scarlet's death unknowingly with a vial that supposed to be a drug poured into one of the plant vase. The latest chapter Aisha got killed by Salvador in the following day since she announce to reveal what she knows about Scarlet's case. Aldous the reporter who's invited for the interview is framed as a suspect fortunately he got a chance to runaway. ]
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harminia



Joined: 24 Aug 2015
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 05, 2022 3:44 pm Reply with quote
Viren21 wrote:
I guess with what you said the manga really did a lot of changes since i can't remember that also.spoiler[Its already at the part when Scarlet and Connie visited Aisha and reveal in her backstory that she indirectly cause Scarlet's death unknowingly with a vial that supposed to be a drug poured into one of the plant vase. The latest chapter Aisha got killed by Salvador in the following day since she announce to reveal what she knows about Scarlet's case. Aldous the reporter who's invited for the interview is framed as a suspect fortunately he got a chance to runaway. ]


Ah, in that case the manga still has a bit to go before it catches up to vol 2 because I remember that happening around the middle/late middle part of the novel.
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whiskeyii



Joined: 29 May 2013
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 05, 2022 5:16 pm Reply with quote
invalidname wrote:
With this title coming out simultaneously as both a light novel and a manga, I’d be interested in any opinions of which is the better way to experience the story.


According to the first volume's review, it's trying to be an extremely faithful adaptation, so unless Rebecca says otherwise, I think it's pretty much a matter of preference at this point.
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TarsTarkas



Joined: 20 Dec 2007
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Location: Virginia, United States
PostPosted: Tue Dec 06, 2022 1:18 am Reply with quote
Volume 3 and finale of the Light Novel is already out.

I loved this series and it was interesting. Rebecca Silverman was quite correct on her points, especially concerning Scarlett Castiel's father. spoiler[So despite the light novel's (3rd Volume) attempt to humanize her father and make us feel his pain, I still think he and the King should have followed Scarlett on madame guillotine

Sadly, many anime and light novels have the bad Japanese habit of pushing the idea of forgiveness beyond the realms of believability and acceptability. Then again, Scarlett did have 10 years as a ghost, for her anger to die down. Though I do think more should have been said (you know a little unloading), instead of just what happened. Then again, that may have been his just punishment. No words, just a termination.]
As you can see I am of two minds, don't know which one is the winner. Still a good series.
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zztop



Joined: 28 Aug 2014
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 06, 2022 12:29 pm Reply with quote
TarsTarkas wrote:
Volume 3 and finale of the Light Novel is already out.

I loved this series and it was interesting. Rebecca Silverman was quite correct on her points, especially concerning Scarlett Castiel's father. spoiler[So despite the light novel's (3rd Volume) attempt to humanize her father and make us feel his pain, I still think he and the King should have followed Scarlett on madame guillotine

Sadly, many anime and light novels have the bad Japanese habit of pushing the idea of forgiveness beyond the realms of believability and acceptability. Then again, Scarlett did have 10 years as a ghost, for her anger to die down. Though I do think more should have been said (you know a little unloading), instead of just what happened. Then again, that may have been his just punishment. No words, just a termination.]
As you can see I am of two minds, don't know which one is the winner. Still a good series.


spoiler[Interesting you mention the forgiveness aspect in Japanese-themed works, because I find that in some Korean or Chinese works it goes the other way. Absolutely no forgiveness or mercy in those stories, expect proper (or extreme) punishment and "eye for an eye" stuff.]

Interestingly, there will be a Vol 4 of Holy Grail releasing in Japan in March 2023, whose synopsis suggests it will be an afterstory adventure. However it will only be a digital release.
https://ga.sbcr.jp/product/9784815610609/
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durask



Joined: 20 Jan 2012
Posts: 19
PostPosted: Tue Dec 06, 2022 3:03 pm Reply with quote
Just finished all 3 volumes, very nice mystery/thriller set in pseudo early Victorian type setting.

Not sure what to expect of upcoming Vol 4 - hopefully it's a good story it its own right and not just a quick cash grab.
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harminia



Joined: 24 Aug 2015
Posts: 2004
Location: australia
PostPosted: Tue Dec 06, 2022 4:27 pm Reply with quote
Oh, there's only 3 volumes? That's good news for my bookshelf and wallet (though bad news for me as the story is so good). I'll keep an eye out for volume 4 and what it's about.
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Blortle



Joined: 07 Jul 2021
Posts: 22
PostPosted: Wed Dec 07, 2022 3:10 pm Reply with quote
invalidname wrote:
With this title coming out simultaneously as both a light novel and a manga, I’d be interested in any opinions of which is the better way to experience the story.


In my opinion, the manga is the better of the two even though it's the adaptation. To start with, LN writing style is just... blegh. That's not a problem specific to the author but with LNs as a whole; the writing is just too direct and too dry which takes a great story and dulls it. The pacing of the manga is also slowed down a lot compared to the LN which I feel allows the story to read better and the events to hold more weight. Also helped by a lot of the third person narration being refitted to be Connie's narration in the manga which I think helps her characterization a lot.

Also to be truthful, I find Hinase Momoyama (who does the manga adaptation) to straight up be a better artist than Yu-nagi. The designs look a lot better and Momoyama does a really great job of making things like the social cattiness hit really hard. You wouldn't think that ~80 pages of Connie and three other women sitting around a table and talking could be so intense but the artist really makes it work.

harminia wrote:
I'm really enjoying the series. There's so much going on. Like you said in the review, it's really different from the normal villainess stories.


It feels like the villainess part is basically a bait and switch, in a good way. Villainess stuff is popular so it's there to hook you so that you're already in once you get to the real plot which is the political/conspiracy thriller and a very well written and tightly constructed one as well.

I appreciate, too, that Scarlet isn't some poor misunderstood good girl all along or whatever as well: she really was a nasty piece of work but then again so was almost everyone else around her so she's at least partially a product of her environment. Of course, she gets better thanks to Connie's influence but she never does lose her haughty and arrogant demeanor. It's just much more tempered.
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