“Deep in the unexplored reaches of the dungeon, a corpse is discovered—one that shouldn't exist. After Iarumas is resurrected, his memories of life before death are gone, and he spends his days delving into the dungeon to retrieve the bodies of dead adventurers. Can they be revived as well? Or will God reduce them to piles of ash on the altar? Either way, Iarumas collects his finder's fee.” (Yen Press)
“Blade and Bastard” takes place in the world of “Wizardry,” a videogame following the structure of “Dungeons and Dragons.” The franchise may not have wide notoriety, with the last game release dating back to 2000. In addition, much of the media surrounding it, novels, manga, and a TRPG, has not quite reached the same heights as its more famous counterpart.
This is outlined in the afterword by Kumo Kagyu (Best known for “Goblin Slayer”), and it may serve readers to jump in there first to get the framing of the work. That said, familiarity with “Wizardry” is not required, as the story is self-contained. Moreover, Kagyu crafts a profoundly engaging story using the lore without being bogged down by it. This is a necessary precursor, as readers should not be dissuaded when approaching this outstanding dark fantasy title because of its unfamiliarity.
Check also this video
In fact, “Blade and Bastard” thrives in the dark realm of fantasy, crafting an unforgiving world and focusing on the injustices within it. The protagonist is introduced as a corpse collector who robs the dead and takes fees for resurrection. The dungeon, which creates the culture and capital of the town of adventures, is full of cutthroats. The lower rungs of society are preyed on by gangs that will send inexperienced fighters in to grab what little they can, with little concern of if they return. It is bleak, but Kagyu balances this with a resilient cast that contradicts the society's dark machinations and exploitative practices.
This is primarily navigated through Iarumas' matter-of-fact approach to the harsh realities of the dungeon system and the suffering of those around him. The coldness comes from a lack of memory and less from a place of spite; his observations are only that, and they frame the dark narrative without indulging in them. The supporting characters include Garbage, a young female warrior who acts like a dog (it is not a kink thing as one might expect), who brings out what little kindness Iarumas can muster, and their young thief companion Raraja gives a voice to those less fortunate when he is given a second chance adventuring with the two. The supporting characters are equally fascinating and fit perfectly into the lore.
The action remains light, focusing more on competent storytelling and thoughtful reflections from the various adventures. When the action does happen, it is quick but explosive, complimenting the story but not bogging it down. Surprisingly, the drama-focused approach still makes the book a page-turner. Kagyu masterfully unveils tidbits about the world and characters that keep the story engaging even during relaxed sequences like having drinks at the tavern. The book feels meticulously planned despite the lesser focus on action; it may fall below the expectations of some in this regard.
The artwork from So-bin perfectly captures the dark aesthetic outlined in Kagyu's description, and the illustrations summon up images of blood-soaked warriors as constantly described in the text. Moreover, the character designs align pretty accurately with what is described. The series, originally published as part of J-Novel Club, is given the hardcover treatment with a dust jacket combo, looks sharp on the shelf, and has that feeling of quality when reading. While it is not always clear why Yen Press chooses the hardcover route, it often aligns with expertly written works.
“Blade and Bastard” offers some of the best dark fantasy I have encountered. It is a series I am excited to dive deeper into, to the point I may read ahead on J-Novel Club and then grab the physical releases when they drop; it is that expertly crafted—an ideal last read of 2023.
