Saturday, August 8, 2020

Book Review: Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World Vol. 10


Review:  #925
Title:  Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World Vol. 10
Series:  Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World – 10th volume
Author:  Tappei Nagatsuki
Comments:  Volume 10 is the start of a new arc and it is an explosive one.  It starts off fine and normal, well, as normal as it can be after the cliffhanger than was the ending of the previous volume.  As Subaru is taking stock of what happened now and reflecting on the past, we get a sense of the timing of events and the amount of subtle foreshadowing that had occurred.  After a long time without seeing much of Emilia, she now has a constant presence and maybe because it’s been so long but her personality feels more forward, accepting Subaru’s affections with brutal honesty.  On the other hand, new characters show up and thanks to the hardships that Subaru has endured, we don’t know who can be trusted.  Subaru and Emilia are thrown into trials that they must overcome.  As a part of it, a significant section is dedicated to Subaru’s past.  We had only known him when he was transported into this world but now, we’re given a glimpse of his family and what he was doing before then.  This section is both cheesy and emotional at the same time.  It feels weird with a isekai fantasy setting to suddenly go back to a reality setting, however, the moments where Subaru says goodbye and realizes the significance of his experiences packs quite an emotional punch.  As the volume draws to its end, you experience a rising sense of foreboding.  This leads into yet another out-of-nowhere cliffhanger that’ll led you to yell “WHAT!”  While there are moments of disjointedness, the buildup and sheer amount of character growth is engrossing.
Rating:  6.5/10
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