I Was a Sword When I Reincarnated (WN) - Reviews

Not action-adventure, but slice of life

I picked up this book due to its relatively original premise involving a sword in a new world, expecting an action-packed adventure. However, I was disappointed when the first obstacle the protagonist faced—an inanimate object—was effortlessly overcome through telekinesis without any struggle. While this got the character moving, it's indicative of why this story isn't an action-adventure but rather a slice of life. Problems are rarely solved creatively, with the few exceptions being mere footnotes. Most conflicts are resolved by throwing a bunch of skills at them until they stop, followed by several chapters of the protagonist marveling at their own prowess. This pattern is especially frustrating given that the protagonist has hundreds of skills, allowing them to keep ten active at any time, making these confrontations quite simplistic. These skills are often overpowered and not used in any particularly creative way.

Clearly, this isn't the focus of the book, so I've realized I'm reading a slice of life novel, a genre I don't enjoy at all. This particular one is especially dull because the main characters are bland and inconsistent. Their interactions with the world fail to engage me, and the author tends to make the world revolve around the main characters, which feels forced and unrealistic.

The world-building is flat and unoriginal, and the translation quality is poor, with frequent errors. The translator can't even spell "gold" correctly, and there are plenty of other mistakes. On the most recent site, I would rate the translation quality as 3/5.

If I had to describe this series, it would be a European fantasy version of Dragon Ball with a touch of political intrigue, but without the all-powerful wish-granting device, and instead of a monkey boy, we have a cat girl... and I’m really enjoying it.

As the story progresses, the focus gradually shifts away from the sword and centers more on Fran’s development. Much like Goku, she is a battle enthusiast who is driven to become as strong as possible, and that’s what makes this story compelling for me.

If I had to judge by the first 10 chapters, I would rate this novel terribly. I would 100% honestly recommend anyone who hasn't read this to skip the first 10 chapters. They are entirely irrelevant to the story that unfolds once he meets his wielder, Fran. The narrative significantly improves once he has someone to interact with, and Fran is a particularly engaging character.

The description is extremely inaccurate! A word of advice: to truly enjoy this story, it is recommended (by me) to survive until the sword gets an owner. Until then, the sword-bro is kind of dull, which I actually enjoyed.

Why? Because it makes sense to me. He was just a random normal dude who died and found himself being a sword—an object. I believe we can fairly count his initial attitude as a post-dying shock, as his character expands greatly when he gets an owner.

Sword-bro post-meeting Fran > Initial Sword-bro.

As for the story, I'll give it a solid 4 for now. I enjoy the relationship between the protagonists. It's healthy, cute, and my god, it can't be from Japan.

Ah, right—*one of the reasons I ignored this novel so far was the description. It misrepresents the story terribly. It made me think it was another silly overpowered main character story full of crap. Instead, as of chapter 31, it's quite heart-warming (Sword-bro and Fran interactions kawaii :3) and finely paced. A lot is happening, and oh boy, can't wait to get more.

It's good, but I can't say it's great because, while most of it is really good, there are some arcs that are just not very engaging. I'm also a bit disappointed that there doesn't seem to be much character development beyond skill progression so far.

The necromancer arc, in particular, was quite underwhelming.

I'd say this novel's biggest flaw is its use of cooking as a device to stall the plot.

There's an entire arc dedicated to the main character's curry, which he even describes as mediocre. However, it's so poorly executed that it seems the author simply didn't have anything substantial to write about. The author doesn't delve into interesting aspects of food preparation or cultural significance, and it feels forced to assume that various cultures would automatically fall in love with Japanese or Indian cuisine.

I really don't want to wade through a dozen chapters of people discussing curry, which has led me to put this series on hold.

That said, I do plan to return and skim through this ridiculous curry arc, so I suppose that means the novel is still good overall.

The story primarily revolves around a shortsighted and laid-back Japanese man who assumes the role of a father figure to a young beastkin girl saved as a magic sword. Over time, she evolves into a battle enthusiast, adding a slice-of-life element to the narrative.

The protagonist’s casual demeanor sets the tone, while his shortsightedness introduces the challenges the story aims to overcome. Any mistakes are often hard-rewritten with a casual writing style, sometimes accompanied by poorly executed translations.

While the story holds its own when compared to the current status quo, the translations by Cardboard are more like interpretations, with many sentences starting with "oh shits" and ending with "god damns," with F-bombs used more frequently than in World War II. It seems like a 12-year-old punk trying to sound funny, and I doubt the original text contains such excessive swearing.

I would give this novel 5 stars if it had a different female lead.

Fran is one of the most bland characters I have ever encountered in literature. Her thought process is monotonous, revolving around "Fight," "Eat," and "Beg." Despite everyone around her perceiving her as a prodigious child, it seems that the real genius lies with the sword itself; whoever wielded it would have achieved the same outcome.

The author should have invested more effort in developing the protagonist further.

If you can overlook this aspect, the novel is still a compelling read, and the male protagonist is well-developed. It’s hard to believe it’s a Japanese-style novel because the main character isn’t a pushover. He thinks before he acts, but not to the point where it becomes tedious. Most importantly, he doesn’t adhere to the "do not kill" principles that often make other protagonists dull and frustrating.

2/5: Near Average

The premise is good, quite unique and striking with its main characters (Fran and Teacher). However, the reason I rate it 2/5 is due to several issues, primarily stemming from the author.

Firstly, the initial chapters develop the sword's power far too quickly. While the intention was to create an overpowered (OP) weapon, the execution is plain and dull. There are no further explanations; it’s just a sudden "poof" and the sword becomes OP.

Secondly, there is inconsistent characterization. If you portray a stoic, anti-social protagonist like Fran, you should maintain that trait while gradually adding character development as the story progresses. However, this doesn't happen here. Instead, the OP sword receives more character development than Fran does.

Lastly, the setting is inconceivable. If you introduce a society filled with political plots and manipulation, and have an MC with anti-social tendencies and trust issues (a former slave), be thorough with it. For example, if I were the OP sword:

**Spoiler**
Why would I reveal that I’m an intelligent weapon to someone I just met a day ago? That’s ridiculous. Wouldn’t I think that person might tell the higher-ups? There’s way too much trust in this kind of setting. Why would I openly enter the scheme of the Guild Master when I felt it moments before? Why, for the sake of the plot, was it written this way? Damn author… oh, and there’s some fourth-wall breaking too.
**[collapse]**

So, as it stands, it’s a 2/5. Don’t get me wrong, the series is good, even the manga (though it felt rushed). However, it lacks careful writing preparation and suffers from potential plot holes and a lack of a clear end goal, feeling more like a slice of life than an adventure.

Nevertheless, I highly recommend it for a good read.

This series stands out among isekai stories as one that truly delivers quality, unlike many others where the main character (MC) gains an overpowered cheat and embarks on a quest to build the ultimate harem, either intentionally or not, or those where the MC goes on a violent spree for revenge or personal gratification, showing no character growth whatsoever (though there are exceptions in revenge stories).

What makes this series a masterpiece in my eyes is multifaceted. Firstly, the MC is reincarnated as a sword—a unique twist on the typical isekai formula (it’s not much of a spoiler since the title gives it away). The MC isn’t bestowed with a world-altering power; they have a slight edge, but it’s not overwhelmingly powerful.

The main lead who accompanies the MC is far from an ignorant simpleton unaware of the world’s complexities. While she remains incredibly innocent (she’s so darn moe), she isn’t someone who stubbornly refuses to harm others. She evaluates each situation carefully and acts accordingly, neither being a ruthless killer nor a pacifist. The MC, too, isn’t a naive idealist; they recognize the different norms of this new world and adapt their beliefs to fit the circumstances they face.

The characters in this story are not flat, one-dimensional stereotypes designed to highlight the MC’s awesomeness. Each character has depth and nuance, and we get insights into their perspectives, understanding their motivations and actions. Supporting characters are not mere extensions of the MC and the main lead; they have their own agency and make independent decisions.

Character development is exceptional. We witness the MC and the main lead evolve, seeing shifts in their thinking and perceptions of the world. They strive to refine their methods and actions to achieve better outcomes. They’re not infallible; they acknowledge their mistakes and work to learn from them, ensuring they don’t repeat the same errors. Their growing reliance on each other strengthens their bond, making it both deeper and sweeter as the story progresses.

In summary, every aspect of this novel is superb. While it’s not perfect, any minor issues do not detract from the overall enjoyment. A big thank you to the translators, especially the current one, CarboardTL, for reviving the novel when it was dormant and consistently releasing 3-4 chapters a week, keeping readers engaged and excited.

Four stars across the board.

It's seriously well-rounded on all fronts. Isekai, OP, all the shebang, and yet it's still worth it—majorly. The author knows his tropes and clichés and likes to play them on and off almost randomly. Some parts are taken straight, while others are subverted, so you really can't figure out exactly how things will unfold around the next corner.

The main character (MC) and the female lead (MCette) really do well together, although I wish (personally) that the Sword would use one of his "fleshier" skills more often. Cat-people are made to be pet, and there's a definite lack of *hand-on-head* action in this (so far).

**Spoiler**
The only gripe, at this moment, would be the translation that got picked up in April of 2017. I had some minor issues beforehand, but [Comet Translation] couldn't translate his way out of a German McDonald drive-thru with the correct number of McNuggets. Heck, he'd probably make his getaway with a slice of pizza, *somehow!* It's become a chore to read from Chapter 67 onward. Newcomers beware, you might as well just Google Translate the raws yourself because that's pretty much what you're getting anyway.

I won't take any stars off because it's definitely not the fault of the author that it's become that bad, but if I *had* to take the current translation as a whole, I'd be very much tempted to dock a star, or even two. So, I'll be putting this in my [Ketchup] folder for now and wait either for [Comet Translation] to up his game or for someone else to pick up. All the better if the quasi-botched chapters are redone.

**EDIT:** Well, the gauntlet was run through, and Comet Translation has long since stopped screwing with us. CardboardTL is doing a great job of it, props to them.

If you're looking for a good power-leveling isekai with a mix of seriousness and lightheartedness, then this is most probably right up your alley.

This series isn’t a 5-star masterpiece, nor is it a 4.5-star great novel. You won’t find yourself jumping for joy with each new chapter, but I can confidently say that if you give this series a chance—specifically, if you keep reading until you meet Fran, or at least past chapter 12—you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised.

The series is cute, fun, and amusing, with plenty of action and, of course, Fran. For those who don’t know, Fran is the main character’s wielder and the black cat girl you see in the cover image. The plot isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s not non-existent either. It just takes its time unfolding.

This is a very good story. I think the synopsis needs to be revised as it makes the main character sound too lecherous. The main character is actually very caring and has a fatherly presence. It’s both funny and heartwarming, and watching him grow stronger is very entertaining. Despite being a sword, he still acts very human and maintains the main role.

The second main character is a kuudere cat girl loli. Her goal, as the weakest of the beast races, is to evolve. I hope she can evolve into a human, although it seems impossible. There are some flaws here and there, but that’s only natural for a web novel, right? Some aspects don’t make sense and could definitely be improved, so I rate this 4 stars. Still, it’s definitely one of the best web novels I’ve read. Once you start, you can’t stop reading.