By Chidori Hama and Wan Hachipisu. Released in Japan as “Akuyaku Reijō, Brocon ni Job Change Shimasu” by Kadokawa Beans Bunko. Released in North America by J-Novel Heart. Translated by Rymane Tsouria.
This book feels very different from the three books that preceded it. Oh, don’t get me wrong, the core of “incest? Or no? I’ll keep you guessing because I hate you” from the author is still in place. However, Alexei is absent from the bulk of this novel, which allows it to not only lean into Ekaterina basically making everyone around her fall for her even harder, but also allows her to lean even harder into her past life, the death, and Japan in general. This world has gods, after all, and they notice she’s different. This also leads to leaning harder on the environmental concerns as well – the deforestation had already hinted at this, but it’s emphasized even more. That said, I’m burying the lede here, which is that there’s a dragon and he’s here to make sure that the reader has someone to root for who isn’t incest boy or a wussy prince. The dragon is cool.
Alexei is VERY busy after the events of the third book, to the point where he can’t make a pilgrimage to the mines to visit his uncle and greet the gods. So Ekaterina volunteers to do it for him. Of course, she has to go with a retinue of knights and attendants, because everyone around her is overprotective. And, well, this book is exhibit A for why they should be overprotective. On the way there, they encounter a monster and Ekaterina learns she does not like to kill monsters (especially if they’re mandrake sugar beets that she immediately assigns personalities and backstories to). She learns the tragic backstory of a local legend, and then runs into said legend herself, who is the bride of death. The gods warn her that the local volcano is going to erupt… sometime. And then she meets the dragon, who is so impressed with her that he proposes.
As always, the best reason to read these books is the main character. The most interesting moment in the book comes right after the dragon proposes (where he also points out the very good reasons to marry him), where her Japan-persona completely breaks down… and the original Ekaterina, who is still a terrified child dealing with her family trauma, comes to the fore. This was the biggest surprise of the book, and I hope it’s picked up on in later books, because I had assumed that Ekaterina’s Japan side basically “won”. The other thing I liked is something I also enjoy in other series with characters like this, which is trying to see how others view her. “Goddess” is thrown around a lot, her genius uncle thinks she’s a genius, and the idea that she might have been abducted by a dragon sends the previously 100% stoic Mina to completely freak out. She’s rapidly become the most valuable asset in the world, and that’s concerning. Though possibly good news for those who worry she’ll just marry her brother.
Which is still in play, but I hope it doesn’t go that way. I’m fine with it kicking the can down the road. Next time we should see the return of the rest of the cast. An excellent volume.
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