Manga: Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online 3

SAO Alternative Gun Gale Online Vol 3 
Rating: 3/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review! 

A surprise attack leaves Llenn and M fleeing to the wasteland, where they devise a strategy to eliminate their trigger-happy pursuers and seize the Squad Jam victory. 

The opening of this volume is fairly tense as we pick up where we left off at the end of the last volume and our cornered heroes attempt to make an escape, of course the Squad Jam isn't over yet and we're down to the final two teams. 

Moving forward a little bit more, we have quite an interesting change in character from M, it made for a good twist and provided some interesting information on Pitohui as well as a slight sense of foreboding. 

This volume is action packed as we have a couple of little showdowns before tailing off as we prepare for the final showdown in the next volume. I think I struggle with this series a little bit because it takes so long for the volumes to come out, and they're quite short so we've had three volumes but we still haven't finished with the Squad Jam yet, and I feel like any progress we make is very small and it kind of inches forward, rather than anything else. 

Manga: Sword Art Online Hollow Realization 3

Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization Vol 3
Rating: 3/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review! 

When Kirito, Asuna, Silica, and Premiere are sucked into a world where dark elves and demons abound, the four head to the Forest of the Holy Tree, which has been tainted by demon sorcery.

Kizmel pops up and we pick up right where we left off once again! This time everyone ends up separated as Asuna and Kirito get pulled in to a side quest, with Silica and Premier being pulled in as well albeit initially separately. It was nice to get to see a fair bit of Silica for once as we rarely do more than we do as just part of the ensemble. It was also nice to see Kizmel teaming up with our characters again although I was initially a little bit worried about her and allegiances. 

The main focus of this volume is a side quest involving a demon and a stone curse along with the dark elves, obviously. There's also some super shady goings on involving Genesis and his little buddy Tara. We do speed through the quest a little bit but it's got a nice amount of action before things start to slow down again and there's talk of creating a guild. Plus we have Seven popping in to add something ominous to proceedings because of course something potentially shady is going on. 

The volume starts off quite pacy with a nice amount of action but then slows down while introducing lots of intrigue and a general sense of foreboding as things step up in one regard and we're definitely left wanting more. 

Manga: SAO Girls Ops 5

SAO Girls' Ops Vol 5
Rating: 3/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review! 

It's just an ordinary day for the girls' ops crew until a crimson-haired newbie named Garnet storms into Liz's blacksmith shop, demanding her most powerful weapon. Amused by the rookie's spunk, the girls decide to join her on a quest, planning to teach her a thing or two about gaming. As they make headway, all seems well until a mysterious path appears...Just what could be waiting ahead?

We have a fun few chapters of this volume thanks to Garnet, a new player to the game desperately in need of some help with how to function in the game, so the girls decide to show her the ropes. I found it quite funny and endearing to have a character new to games and gaming, with no idea what she was doing, and having to be taught everything. Plus she wasn't very good at it either which was another refreshing change. 

We have a mysterious changing mission and while Lux heals somewhat from the trauma of her past in SAO but there's a ghost hanging around her trying to tell her something so there's no lack of mystery this volume. I do like that the series is consistent with how traumatising being trapped in the game is and doesn't just shrug it off. 

We also get a familiar face popping up, and of course Kirito makes an appearance albeit a very brief one to hint at something bigger in the next volume, and to add more intrigue to our mystery. 

Volume 5 gives us action to start as the quest takes a wrong turn and then mystery thanks to some ghosts and a brand new quest. I do love the dynamic between the girls a lot better when they're alone and without Kirito, I have to be honest! Volume 5 moves along nicely, with a nice mix of action and mystery to keep you entertained! 

Manga: SAO Progressive 7

Sword Art Online Progressive Vol 7 
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

The mysterious player Morte has manipulated the human guilds into fighting on BOTH sides of the Elf War! While Kirito challenges him to a duel, Asuna has an important task of her own: steal the battle plans from the Forest Elves so she can end this quest before it turns deadly. They need to stop the war before anyone loses their life--permanently! 

I can't begin to describe to you how sad I was to discover this is the final volume in the Progressive manga, as I've mentioned before, I love this series because it's doing over Aincrad and fleshing it out more like it should have been the first time. I was anticipating this going for a while and I was so ready for that...but nope. This is the final volume. *ugly sobbing* 

There's tension from the start of the volume because Kirito is facing down Morte while Asuna and Kizmel are finishing off a fight of their own. This volume is actually pretty action heavy with a lot of excellently drawn fight scenes throughout from the two different battles. 

To alleviate some of the tension, we do have some humour thrown in too thanks to the humans from the two guilds who get involved but are on opposing sides to each other, and have no idea what's happening. 

Volume 7 goes by quite quickly, and wraps up this particular story arc involving the elf quest and completing Floor 3 of Aincrad, nicely. While it's wrapped up satisfyingly, it's also an open ended finale, as you'd expect because while the manga series ends here, the story obviously didn't. 

Light Novel: Sword Art Online 14

Sword Art Online Vol 14
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

While struggling to reach the highest point of Central Cathedral, Kirito and Alice must confront a lamentably natural Integrity Knight. 

Okaaaaaaaay, with this volume the whole Underworld Arc comes to an end...I think. Or it might be more accurate to say the Arc with the Administrator comes to an end? I have to say, thank God because I do feel like this arc has gone on waaaaay too long, and I feel like a couple of the volumes leading up to this one dragged it out too long, and it could have been cut down a bit. 

BUT this volume was badass. The entire volume is action packed, probably because the entire volume was a giant battle! Literally battle after battle, and I was quite impressed with how it's done. Much as I love SAO, I do feel at times that Kirito is a wee bit overpowered, like in the Aincrad ARC and GGO and so on...he never really has to sacrifice much to win. This volume changes that and there was a completely unexpected plot twist. SPOILER ALERT, I was not expecting a main character to be killed off, but it happened in order for Kirito to defeat the bad guy. 

As if all of that wasn't enough to have you nervous as you're reading, this volume gives us an excellent cliffhanger. It was so well done, and has me itching for the next volume! We get to hear fragments of what's going on in the real world, and it's not sounding good. Honestly I can't remember how we left things with Asuna and co but things have definitely gone downhill. I'm thinking we're getting thrown back in to where Kirito just came from BUT I have a feeling Asuna and the other characters are going to be joining him! This volume is probably the most exciting one recently! 

Light Novel: Sword Art Online 13

Sword Art Online Vol 13
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

After Kirito and Eugeo are separated in the Central Cathedral, Eugeo continues his quest alone-until he encounters a legendary hero he's admired since childhood. Can Eugeo defeat him alone...?

Vol 13 sees us heading towards the end goal/confrontation as all our characters are heading to the one place. Asuna makes a brief return this volume, and Kirito and Alice are in a sticky situation that they have to get themselves out of and she begrudgingly works with him.....meanwhile Eugeo is being tested and he has to face Bercouli without backup..and he ends up in perhaps the worst situation out of all of them. 

This volume has a badass battle and there's a bit of a mystery to solve as Kirito has to try and figure out who would want to slow down the experiment/project. I think Asuna is getting a wee bit suspicious too! 

I liked Alice and Kirito as a duo, they worked well together once she started to trust him and they made a good team although I did think she was going to go full "I am not a number" at one point. I actually felt quite disappointed with Eugeo this volume, he overcame his confidence issues and fought like a badass and I was cheering him on...but then he got sucked in completely towards the end and I just....heaved a massive sigh because really Eugeo? Really?! 

Because this is a Reki Kwahara novel, things start out bad and then get much, much worse by the end of the volume. The entire volume is paced well, and we speed towards the final showdown....with a huge plot twist that leaves you screeching. The final scene....it was seriously like some Star Wars stuff. It seemed a bit familiar and my brain screamed Star Wars and started playing the theme tune in my head. Either way, things have certainly taken an interesting turn and things are definitely livening up! 

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Manga: SAO Girls Ops 4

Sword Art Online Girls Ops 4
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

Lux's dark past with SAO 's Laughing Coffin guild has been revealed-along with the bad blood she shares with Gwen, leader of the Batty Bats. When the girls are sent on a quest to eliminate Gwen, will Lux be able to follow through and betray her former friend yet again...?

The time has come to deal with Gwen, finally! I have to say I really don't like her but by the end of this volume, I felt for her a little bit, I was softening towards her. I feel like she'll be a fun addition to our group and I'm hoping she'll be involved in coming adventures! 

The art is so cute, and it captures the characters we all know and love incredibly well. There's lots of action in this volume too, and I do love an action packed SAO volume, because the action sequences are always drawn brilliantly! 

We get a glimpse of Kirito too, it would be rude not to really wouldn't it!? ;) 

Kirito and Sinon get to have their badass hero moment, because SAO. It's probably the most we've seen of Kirito in this side series, it's actually one of the best side series I've read to be honest. The pace is fast, the art actually looks like the characters without having changed them too much and the plot has been really good. His appearance didn't take away from the girls moment either and it showed that friendship comes first, which was nice to see! 

The volume has a nice pace as we wrap up the story arc with Gwen and her group. It all comes to a satisfying end, as does the volume in general. Whether or not this is the last volume! I'm not entirely sure! If it is then it's all been wrapped up brilliantly, and if it isn't then this story arc has been finished up ready to start the next one! It's such a fun series, I hope it goes on for a bit longer! 

Manga: SAO Mother's Rosary

Sword Art Online: Mother's Rosary Volume 3
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

Yuuki's sudden disappearance has left Asuna bereft. It had seemed like everyone was having such a good time-what did she do wrong...? She turns to Kirito in her search for answers, but she may end up wishing she'd never pulled on that thread. The most heartbreaking arc in SAO comes to a tearful conclusion...!

This volume brings the Mother's Rosary arc to an end, and this arc really does wrap up beautifully! This is pretty much the saddest arc in SAO, and the ending manages to choke me up a little bit when I watch the anime, I can't lie! 

Yuuki is MIA and Kirito is sorting Yui out in the real world using a camera she can see through and some scientific things that quite frankly....I rarely understand. I'm not that great with technology but it does look good! We finally find out the truth about Yuuki and this arc will give you all the feels. 

The art is recognisably SAO but with the artists own twists and quirks. Whereas the Phantom Bullet arc is pretty much exactly the same, the art for this story arc is a little bit different. It's nice and totally cute! 

The entire arc follows the story in the anime, and it's just as heartbreaking on the page as on the screen. Yuuki is such a strong character and she shows you that you can push forward and keep fighting no matter what. I kinda envy her optimism, energy and strength to be honest! 

I wasn't sure how well some things would translate over from the anime, but I really loved how well drawn this arc was and how the montages where drawn throughout the volume. I also loved that after having such a spotlight on Kirito from the past couple of arcs we got more of a focus on Asuna in this one. This arc has been a nice change of pace, not just featuring the girls a bit more, but there's no high stakes fighting etc, they're just playing the game, if that makes sense. Either way, this arc has been an interesting change and it wraps up perfectly! 

Light Novel: Sword Art Online Vol 11

Sword Art Online: Alicization Turning
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

It's been two years since Kirito entered another mysterious fantasy world and met the boy named Eugeo. At the Northern Centoria Master Swordsmanship Academy, the two of them have advanced to become upper rank trainee swordsmen. Now they spend their days training, aiming to one day earn the rank of Integrity Knight, the greatest peacekeepers in the human world. Soon, appropriate for their new ranks, both Kirito and Eugeo are assigned apprentices and they all deepen their bonds while perfecting their bodies and minds. But suddenly, an evil rears its head and threatens their peaceful lives. Eugeo tries to draw his sword to fight but he finds himself helpless as a message appears in words he can't read. They say--SYSTEM ALERT.

Buckle in kiddies, you're in for a bumpy ride in this volume of Sword Art Online! Things happen, some realisations are made and then boom...end of the volume. See you next time! It's pretty brutal. Because I'm making all kinds of assumptions and theories and it's going to be a while until next volume, I guess! 

Sword Art Online, as a whole, was pretty disturbing. Let's be real. The whole concept behind it was disturbing. Reading it was disturbing. Watching it was disturbing. But this arc is taking all of that to a new level. Sure there's no 'you die in the game you die in real life' but that doesn't make this arc any less...well...disturbing. In this volume we learn a whole tonne more about the world that's been created, how it changed and grew and became what it is when Kirito found himself in it, and we get some more information on Rath. 

Then there's the disturbing scene with Raios and Humbert. My hatred for them knows no bounds. But this volume is pretty pacey. We have Eugeo's POV for most of the volume, and we shift from the school after said disturbing scene and meet up with Alice a lot sooner than I was expecting! I was here ready to be in it for the long haul and do the tournament etc but nope. This arc is moving forward pretty speedily. Thanks to Asuna we have some seeds of intrigue scattered throughout her POV and we even get some Kirito POV time. Things have changed with Alice, and Kirito finds himself participating in a prison break but that's not the most shocking development of the whole volume. 

We meet Cardinal. Yep...let that sink in. Where've you heard it before? Sounds super familiar right? It should *wink*. It took a moment when I was reading, for me to answer all of those questions and then it hit me like a brick. That's pretty much all I'm going to say about that...but yes. We have a pretty major development right before the end of the book! 

I'm mildly worried we're going to lose out on Tiese and Ronie, I feel like there's lots of potential with them and we're possibly not going to get to see them again. Which will be a liiiittlleee bit disappointing. 

While I found the beginning of this volume a little bit slow as we built up towards a certain dark event, the majority of this volume has a great pace and provides us with lots of intrigue and information as well as a shock twist at the end of the book. Yep. Right at the end! We finish up with the school and head in to new settings and territory just before the book ends, and I'm very intrigued to see how this is all going to play out. We have a rough deadline thanks to Asuna's POV for when this is all going to be resolved, but I since we've got a long way to go still! 

I feel like this arc is like every horror movie ever with the AI taking over control basically. But it's a bit more disturbing. 

Manga: Sword Art Online Progressive 5

Sword Art Online Progressive Vol 5
Rating: 4/5 
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher! 

It's time for the "real" SAO--the third floor! Kirito and Asuna are hardly out the door when they stumble upon the start of the Elf War quest. When they decide to side with the elite dark elf Kizmel, they're set on a path that will push them harder than ever before. But together, nothing can stop them...right? 

This volume of SAO Progressive carries straight on....like literally we're just a few hours on from the end of the last volume, and Kirito and Asuna have just hit the third floor. I've got to say, I'm loving the pace that this manga is taking, a couple of volumes for each floor. It's also funny, along with full of action. 

I love getting to know Asuna better in these volumes, we get to know her in Aincrad, and we get to see her past in little flashbacks...and we get to see how she adjusted and coped and became the Asuna we see for most of the main SAO. You guys might remember there was a point in SAO when Asuna refused to sacrifice NPCs...in this volume we see her struggling to deal with NPC's and how different they are. Kirito has a more logical approach. NPC's aren't real...whereas he and Asuna are and could die if they aren't careful. Whereas Asuna doesn't like letting the NPC's die. You see what made her feel that way, it was very well done. 

We also indirectly get to know Kirito better too as we see him quite a lot throughout the story, obviously. It's nice to get to see him in different situations, and during the beginning of Aincrad. In the original story there's a load of huge time jumps, and while we know Kirito....I just feel like we get to see that there's more to him, more sides. 

I also really love watching Asuna and Kirito's relationship in these volumes. In the original story...they meet a couple of times and then they end up together. In this volume we get to see how their acquaintance started, and watch as their feelings develop and their relationship develops and they get to know each other. They already know each other pretty well...Asuna knew straight away which Elf Kirito sided with in the Beta test...which cracked me up. 

I'm also loving all the new insights in to Aincrad and I was always so curious about what happened on the other floors and what the other floors where like. Turns out that SAO has Elves on the third floor. Yup. Didn't see that coming. We get a new character in this volume called Kizmel, she's a dark elf and an NPC and I'm interested to see how this is going to play out as Asuna is quite attached. Plus it's a Quest, and I don't recall seeing a Quest before in the original SAO. 

The only problem with this volume though...is that I spotted a couple of inconsistencies with the main/original story. Like Kirito makes a comment about SAO not having a marriage system or whatever the wording was, and um.....yeah there is. Because there's that whole murder mystery thing that goes on in the main story. I distinctly remember it in the anime at least. The guy murdered his wife to get an item or whatever it was and they had shared storage because they where married, I think was how it went. Either way, we know they do have a marriage system because.....Kirito and Asuna. There where a couple of other little things too. I mean, we pretty much saw the first floor and then skipped a tonne, so the author kind of has free reign, but some things do stick out as not fitting. 

I'm not going to lie to you guys. The art in Progressive is waaaaaaaayyyy better than the original Aincrad arc. Way better. Sword Art Online Progressive is the Aincrad we all deserved and seriously should have gotten. It's so damn good. We get to explore the world of Aincrad, see more of it, see the other floors. It's more fleshed out and so are the characters and their relationships. I know at the end of the SAO Ordinal Scale movie it says "SAO will return" or something, and I know they'll probably do the Alicization arc which is yaaaaay because continuing the story finally BUUUTTT, my heart longs for a Progressive anime too. Because awesome. But for now I'll have to settle for the manga, and I'm a-okay with that!