I've Been Killing Slimes Vol 2
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher!
Azusa's life has gotten a little more lively since word got out that she's level 99, but she's been able to take it relatively easy with her new companions. Well, except for the ghost in Halkara's workshop...and a run-in with the law...and an invitation to a demon castle?! Still, even with so much trouble brewing on the horizon, Azusa's not about to forget the importance of taking life one step at a time.
The first volume of this series was fun and a little wacky, and this second volume continues in much the same vein. Our merry little group are opening a maid cafe and it's not long before Beelzebub is roped in to help. I love how she's seemingly cold and harsh on the outside but is actually quite indulgent like a doting aunt to Falfa and Shalsha. I'm also enjoying that each volume seems to want to make use of all the characters.
Along with the hilarity of the cafe, Halkara opens up a factory too providing a more...serious note. It's apparently haunted and of course the ghost, Rosalie, is the newest roommate to come to the house. She's hilariously blunt about how she died, and of course she gets a job as a cleaner to pull her weight. I'm looking forward to seeing more of her and I like how new characters are smoothly being added in without overwhelming the cast.
Unfortunately it's not all smooth sailing once we get past the ghost aspect of the factory, there's a bit of a conspiracy to get Halkara arrested by the shady Noble/Governor Golder. She wouldn't pay him bribe money, and it all gets a bit Suits but with a supernatural twist and without Mike and Harvey...obviously.
Thanks to Beelzebub winning a medal and having to attend a ceremony, we get to meet the Demon King Pecora and of course...things don't go to plan. Perhaps somewhat predictably it all goes terribly wrong anf Azusa has to fight the Demon King to save lives.
Volume 2 is another fun volume with humour, suspense and tension as well as action. New characters Rosalie, Vania the leviathan and Pecora being added to the mix bring the fun in this volume, and we kind of get a bit of everything. The characters have really become like a family which is nice to see! There's chaos, new characters, and this volume is excellently paced with never a dull moment. It keeps moving forward.
I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher!
After living a painful life as an office worker, Azusa ended her short life by dying from overworking. So when she found herself reincarnated as an undying, unaging witch in a new world, she vows to spend her days stress free and as pleasantly as possible. She ekes out a living by hunting down the easiest targets - the slimes! But after centuries of doing this simple job, she's ended up with insane powers...how will she maintain her low key life now?!
Okay I think this might be my new favourite "reincarnated in another world" kinda light novels, because this was pretty freaking funny!
Azusa basically gets reincarnated in another world and she requests a chill life because you know...she died from overwork and she figures she's due some R&R time. She ends up as an immortal witch and she basically kills slimes for 300 years because it's easy money and why not...and then she ends up completely maxed out.
Unfortunately her quiet and chill life comes crashing to an end when she discovers she's maxed out, and then others start to find out she's a level 99 too. Everyone wants to challenge her or wants her help and it's hilarious because she's trying so hard to keep it a secret. Her chill life is basically over now and it's one adventure after another. She hilariously has a thing about working conditions too, because of how she died, I thought that was a nice little character touch to make her more real!
Azusa encounters a dragon Laika, who ends up as her apprentice, and she's actually kind of sweet, and she tries really hard to learn from Azusa and be considerate of other people. The elf Halkara also joins Azusa's little crew, as another apprentice, along with two slime spirits who call her Mom, Falfa and Shalsha. Beelzebub pops in from time to time too. They're a brilliant bunch of characters and each brings something different to the group. They make for an interesting bunch of characters and their interactions with Azusa are always entertaining!
I've Been Killing Slimes is kind of like a slice of life type thing, there's no over arcing plot as of yet, we get little mini plots or stories, and we watch Azusa go from being isolated and alone...to having a family of sorts and being really popular with everyone! There's plenty of battles and action, a fast pace, and a lot of humour! An entertaining and overall fun first volume!
