Accel World, Vol. 1: Kuroyukihime's Return - light novel (Accel World, 1) (Volume 1)

*Accel World* is from the same author as *Sword Art Online*, Reki Kawahara. The show takes place many years in the future where the youngest people, those aged fifteen years and younger, are implanted at birth with the ability to access a special virtual reality network. Information, games, they are all activities that are now done in cool and exciting new way.But none of this can change human nature. There are still bullies everywhere you look. Our hero, Haruyuki, is the victim of one such bully. The little boy is overweight and has serious, and I mean *serious*, self-esteem issues. His whole life as an overweight, but really weak, boy has been of not daring to do better than anyone else but his two childhood friends. If he does do so, he will be tormented and beaten up by others as a sign to "learn his place". He has learned it, all too well.Then one day, a beautiful upperclassman, a girl called Kuroyukihime in the school, befriends him and helps stop his bullying problem. She does so as she introduces him to a new world in the virtual network. A hidden world known only to a few. The Accelerated World of Brain Bursters.Now introduced to this new world of great possibilities and freed from his tormentors, Haru determines to do whatever his princess needs and help her fulfill her dreams of reaching the highest levels of the Accel World.This book was a fun, if difficult, read. It can be kinda cool to see this character grow, and his interactions with his friends is cool. At the same time, however, like with other books such as *Mansfield Park* and others, it is really difficult to watch the abuse he takes and to read of his devastated psyche. There are warning signs that his mother and him don't get along and it's just so sad. :(Of course, the above just makes his victory and solving of some of his social problems at the end of the book, though not all of them by any extent, all the more satisfying.My only problem was that there wasn't enough characterization given to the other main characters, such as Kuroyukihime, Chiyuri, and Takuma. Some for the latter two, especially Takuma, but not enough.In all, a fun read and I can't wait until the next one is released from *Yen On* in 16 days. :D

One never knows how an English translation of a light novel will turn out, but I'm pleased to say that Yen Press did a fantastic job with Accel World, Vol. 1.The light novel adheres closely to the early episodes of the anime with little deviation (though the light novel predated the anime's release in Japan), but we do get inside the thoughts of our main character, Haru, a little more here. The action scenes are handled well and written with a dynamic quality that really gets you visualizing Haru's battles in the Accelerated World.Fans might like to know that there's also an afterword by author Reki Kawahara, all of the original illustrations by HIMA are included, and there's even a 'commentary' (as they call it) by Japanese author and game creator, Minoru Kawakami. Included as well are some very interesting art renderings at the end of the book depicting the characters in a vastly different visual style than what they appear in HIMA's illustrations and in the anime. It's a rougher, edgier look which, personally, I wish the anime had used -- particularly the Kuroyukihime design.A great read, and thankfully an excellent translation. Perhaps one of the better Japanese novel translations I've read in quite some time, right up there with the Dirty Pair novels, the Koga Ninja Scrolls, and the revised edition of the Gundam novel trilogy (a gold-standard for Japanese-to-English translations).As fans of anime, manga, and those interested in Accel World, please support this novel and purchase it for the modest price on Amazon or at your favorite retailer. Show Yen Press that we would like future light novel installments, not only of Accel World, but of the countless light novels not yet translated. There are numerous Gundam novels that have yet to see proper translation, along with current popular titles like High School DxD and Steins;Gate.EDIT: I forgot to make one note...and I sincerely hope that someone from Yen Press, or a publisher of English-language translated light novels reads this. However, this may be an issue solely with Amazon's listings...but in the future, it may be best to clearly state the term "Light Novel" with regards to the book's title, as to avoid confusion between manga and light novel volumes. As it is, titles like "Accel World, Vol. 1 Kuroyukihime's Return" could easily be mistaken for a manga when ordering online -- especially if the buyer is not informed enough regarding the product. This was not an issue for me, but it does seem like English-language publishers tend to shun the term "light novel."

This is the first light novel I've ever read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story seemed at first to be somewhat cliched, but the writing style and world-building really captivated me. As far as plot, there were moments where I expected something to turn out a certain way, but was completely surprised and caught off guard by what happened next. In the end, I have to say the story was well thought out, and very moving. It was a journey that made me both laugh and cry (for real). The author is adept at humor and drama alike. On another note, the author's vision of the state of technology in the future and the part it plays in people's daily lives will appeal to fans of "hard" sci fi, as it's (for the most part) very plausible and convincing. The characters are likeable, even the nerdy, antisocial protagonist with a huge inferiority complex. I don't particularly identify with the protagonist, but there are lessons, tastefully embedded in this tale, that have universal value. I'm hooked on this series now. I bought and read vol. 2, The Red Storm Princess, and just ate it up. I can't wait until they translate and release the third one. I highly recommend these books.

Written by the same author as the 'Sword Art Online' Light Novels, 'Accel World' is implied to take place within the same world as its sister series, just a few decades later where the widespread use of Neurolinkers has led to virtual and augmented reality becoming an inescapable fact of life. The story follows Haruyuki Arita, an overweight and bullied junior high school student as the most popular girl in school introduces him to Brain Burst, a unique computer program that will change his life for the better.'Accel World: Book One – Kuroyukihime’s Return' is an easy to read and enjoyable book that does a very good job of introducing the characters and the very interesting setting. Although it is by the same author and set in the same world as 'Sword Art Online', no knowledge of the previous work is required for enjoyment of this book as it has a separate narrative. The book has some nicely written action sequences and, although I did feel it gets a little slow in the middle, the plot was still interesting enough to keep my interest.The artwork by Hima is good with some cute pieces but I do think some of them may have been place a page later than they should have been. The translation of the book seems to be reasonably good in general even if they didn’t retain the Japanese honorifics (something I know some purist fans could find annoying). The book also includes an afterword by the author, Reki Kawahara, as well as a commentary and short story by Minoru Kawakami, the author of 'Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere', accompanied by some of his own artwork of the Accel World characters.The anime adaption of this Light Novel is one of my favourite anime series and I have wanted to read this original version for a while. Overall I think that both versions of the story are very good with this original Light Novel probably being slightly better as it goes into a bit more depth than the anime. Overall I feel that this first Light Novel was great and is well worth a high four stars.

I don't like it. The main male character is so submissive and depicted as short to the point of being ridiculous. The accelerated world doesn't seem as important as the author has tried to make it seem. There's no depth to the characters.

I really can't make a comment on this item due to the fact that although it said it was delivered along with a PS4 game it wasn't!! In fact in the beautifully neat sealed cardboard envelope was NOTHING at all no book no game!! Needless to say my son is a little upset due to them both being birthday gifts and then too it off after speaking to customer service and being told new would be sent I check and it's something completely different!!

Came just as described. Book itself? Incredible. The story i find amazing and some illustrations look exactly like they do from the original anime.

Haruyuki is a young kid that is bullied at school, he’s over weight and by his standars, “not good-looking”, so he loathes himself. But, you see? Haruyuki is quite smart and he’s great at videogames. His two childhood best friends, Chiyu and Taku, have always cared for him. It’s always been the three of them together.That is until one of the most popular people in the school, Kuroyukihime, talks to him. She’s gorgeous in every way and her personality too, is what makes her unique. She sees throught his self-imposed barriers and sends him an app called Brain Burst after seeing him score a high number on a virtual game.Now, this new app is basically, kind of like an RPG/battle game, where you can use your avatar and fight against other Burst Linkers. But with this, you can accelerate, so a few seconds IRL translate into minutes in the field –which can become addictive. All of the Burst Linkers have different skills and powers that determine the color and the range of the avatar; they also come from our combined fears and abilities.The only rule: to fight against others to gain points, so when they reach level 10, they can talk to the creator. Long ago, Kuroyukihime, the Black King and her legion, tried to change the “peaceful pact” that all the other kings made when they got to level 9. Turns out that if you want to reach level 10, you have to defeat the other kings but if you lose, you’ll get the app deleted and your memory erased –and nobody wants that, of course.Two years have passed since the Black King beheaded the red one, and she’s laid low, not connecting to the Global net, therefore, not fighting anyone. That is until Haruyuki gets into the picture. He has a new ability that nobody else has had before: wings. Wings that can truly fly and whose acceleration is faster than anyone.Now, I might be biased by this, but I truly don’t care. I love Accel World so much. I love how Haruyuki grows into accepting and loving himself. He proves himself to his friends, to Kuroyuhime, but most importantly, to himself. He really has self-esteem problems but he’s the underdog you can’t help but to root for.I absolutely adore the way Haru and Kuroyukihime become friends and eventually they develop a crush on each other. I loved the action scenes but also how slowly but surely the Nega Nebulus (Black Lotus’ legion) starts growing bit by bit.I honestly can’t wait to read the next one!