“She's a dragon. He's a dragon slayer. And in this world, the Japanese have been wiped out! That day, giant dragons appeared in the sky above Tokyo, and the collapse of the nation of Japan began. With the arrival of monsters called Moju, Japanese people went extinct, and the nation was transformed into a lawless land occupied by armed forces and criminal syndicates. Yahiro is one of the few remaining. Having gained immortality from dragon's blood, he spends each lonely day as a “salvager” transporting artwork out of the uninhabited ruins of Tokyo…until one day, a pair of twin art dealers request that he salvage a particularly powerful and mysterious item.” (Yen Press)
The latest from the creator of “Strike the Blood”, Gakuto Mikumo's “Hollow Regalia: Corpse Reviver” shows an author at the peak of his abilities, working with familiar tropes of the genre but elevating it through sharp storytelling and quick pacing. Consequently, the inaugural release is a captivating read that most will blast through in a day or two, as, from the opening pages, the series is engaging and entertaining. However, there is a pervasive sense of tragedy behind the characters that form a deep attachment and pushes readers to dig in deeper.
While still staying true to the light novel format of being easily accessible and light entertainment, “Hollow Regalia” opens by explaining how the eradication of Japan led to Japanese citizens being hunted worldwide, known as the “J-nocide.” This serves to introduce the main protagonist Yahiro, whose life has been shaped by isolation and xenophobia. When he meets a fellow Japanese in Iroha, with a similarly tragic background, the two form a unique bond that resonates with a profundity that often takes several volumes for a lesser writer to establish–there is a strong connection through joint hardship. Additionally, the rest of the integral cast that surrounds the two are well fleshed out and intriguing in their own right.
Besides the fascinating personas, Mikumo excels at capturing action sequences with clarity, chalked full of explosive battles that flow in a descriptive way that makes them simple to follow. This extends to the creatures known as ‘moju,' with each encounter with the behemoths capturing the grandiose feats to take the gigantic beasts down. Gakuto Mikumo's descriptions of everything from fashion, character mannerisms, and action, all work to make “Hollow Regalia” a visually stimulating read.
The accompanying art from MIYUU compliments the story well, with detailed illustrations that further aid in helping envision the eclectic cast of heroes and villains. This extends into the afterward which contains some concept art and short character bios. However, it is the opening color pages that really pop and exemplify the artist's abilities (hopefully, later editions will include some mini posters with the release). The physical release is a joy to own, it is the perfect read for unwinding in the evenings away from the distraction of the phone.
“Hollow Regalia” is still full of familiar tropes including light comedy and lewdness, but it never indulges too heavily to take away from the seriousness of Yahiro and Iroha's situation. The writing is sharp and the action is explosive; it is one of the better new light novel series in recent memory. Ultimately, readers who seek action-heavy reads complimented by a strong narrative should be impressed with the world that Gakuto Mikumo has crafted in “Hollow Regalia: Corpse Reviver.”
