Zaregoto Series

Alternative Titles

Synonyms: Decapitation: Kubikiri Cycle, Strangulation: Kubishime Romanticist

Japanese: 戯言シリーズ

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Information

Type: Light Novel

Volumes: 9

Chapters: 71

Status: Finished

Published: Feb 5, 2002 to Nov 7, 2005

Genres: Action, Drama, Mystery, Supernatural

Serialization: None

Authors: NISIO, ISIN (Story), Take (Art)

Statistics

Score: 8.65¹ (scored by 3,529 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #63²

² based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #724

Members: 20,326

Favorites: 1,009

External Links

Wikipedia

8.65

Ranked #63Popularity #724Members 20,326

Light NovelNISIO, ISIN (Story), Take (Art)

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Volumes: /9

Chapters: /71

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DECAPITATION
Volume 1
$9.99

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Synopsis

The story revolves around an unnamed protagonist and the murders and mysteries he encounters. He tries in vain to stay out of the story, but instead, he always gets dragged into the center of everything. Even though it seems that he contributes a lot, he always finds out that whatever he did was meaningless in the end.

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Background

Zaregoto Series placed 1st on the Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! in 2006. The first volume of series, Kubikiri Cycle, won the 23rd Mephisto Prize in 2002.

Del Rey published the first two novels in English on July 22, 2008 and June 22, 2010, respectively. Vertical Inc. republished both on January 24, 2017 and April 27, 2018, respectively. They also published the third volume on September 17, 2019.

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Related Manga

Spin-off:	Ningen Series, Saikyou Series
Other:	Mazemonogatari
Adaptation:	Kubikiri Cycle: Aoiro Savant to Zaregototsukai

More characters
Characters

Boku

Main

Kunagisa, Tomo

Main

Aikawa, Jun

Main

Zerozaki, Hitoshiki

Main

Yukariki, Ichihime

Main

Niounomiya, Izumu

Main

Omokage, Magokoro

Main

Niounomiya, Rizumu

Main

Yamiguchi, Houko

Main

Himena, Maki

Supporting

More reviewsReviews

Jul 23, 2012

72 of 71 chapters read

Overall Rating: 10

Jackster27 (All reviews)

47 people found this review helpful

First off let me start by saying that this is series of light novel author Nisio Isin (Bakemonogatari, Katanagatari and Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases). There are are a total of nine novels but only the first two have been translated and licensed by Del Rey with no plans for future release.

The story is a murder mystery that takes place on a isolated island. The protagonist "Ii-chan" and his friend computer genius Tomo Kunagisa are invited to the island by the it's wealthy owner who has invited female geniuses from all over the world for her own entertainment. read more

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Sep 1, 2013

72 of 71 chapters read

Overall Rating: 10

procyonvega (All reviews)

37 people found this review helpful

No spoilers.

The first book's concept is very similar to a standard mystery novel, and is executed very well. It just allows you to work things out enough that you can piece together clues and figure out flaws within character logic. However, it will be impossible for you to work out what actually happens unless you are an ace detective.

The main character- Ii-chan plays the role of Watson in the novel. He isn't really solving the mystery completely and is only filling in gaps in what actually happens. This of course means the reader is also left unaware of what is truly going on read more

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Feb 11, 2019

72 of 71 chapters read

Overall Rating: 9

-Penta- (All reviews)

22 people found this review helpful

'"Not a very grand finale, but... hahhh, how do you say it? Hearing the whole story laid out like that makes it seem like such..."

"A masterpiece?"

"No, nonsense", he said, as if he had heard the most disappointing joke of all time.

I felt pretty much like that myself.'
— Conversation between the protagonist and Zerozaki, from the final stretch of the second book.

If you're a spelunker looking for a hidden gem, then dig no further than this. The Nonsense Series (or as the cool kids call it, "Zaregoto") is a series of one-off murder mysteries from the early-2000's, except that it throws everything you know about murder read more

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Sep 14, 2021

71 of 71 chapters read

Overall Rating: 10

LadaFanboy (All reviews)

6 people found this review helpful

Have you ever read, watched or played a piece of media that looks like it was just made for you? Everything from the story and characters that just seems to be made for you, that is Zaregoto for me.
I read all the novels, both the official translations and fan translations of the later volumes, when reading this review I want you to undertstand that one, I won't mention Nisio Isin legendary wordplay as I still don't know Japanese and have only read the english versions, two, this is a complete biased review, I love the Zaregoto series, although I will try to bring some criticisms, but don't expect much from that, as I love pretty much every aspect of ths LN series.
With all that said let's begin the review.

Story
Zaregoto is divided into 6 parts, separated into 9 volumes, each part tells a different story, the only thing in common between each story is that they always end with one or more characters being killed brutally and the narrator/protagonist "I" which never changes.
The plot seems simple as first, but anyone who read the books know that this series is absolutely insane, and I don't mean insanely good, I mean genuinely insane. It feels like the story was made by a lunatic, this is due to two factors, Zaregoto incredibly unpredictable narrative and how it will constantly try to break readers expectations and do the exact opposite of what you are waiting, the series begins in a way and ends in a complete different way, it's an extremely frustating plot to read, and I love it.
There is something really enjoyable and even comical abouut seeing everything going crazy and ending in a really anti-climatic way, the books are made with the intention of being almost like some sort of twisted joke. I really like the story, but I have to say that it can be overwhelming at times and also it's not something everyone will enjoy.

Art
The art of Zaregoto is strangely simple and cartoonish, which works as a contrast to the fairly dark stuff that happens in the books. It's all very bubbly and cute, which gives you a feeling like there is something wrong, strangely enough even though it's an LN there are no illustrations of images that show what is happening, rather it's all characters illustrations, speaking of which.

Characters
Zaregoto series is character driven right from the get go, the min focus of Zaregoto is always on the charceters and their conversations, this series is a master of characterizing characters and make them feel distinct and unique, almost all characters are memorable in a fun way, all of them with unique quirks and individualitys that makes them fun to see.
I have lots of favorites, the talakative serial killer Hitoshiki Zerozaki, be the creepy, but happy-go-lucky genius Tomo Kunagisa, and others, but the highlight is definitely the main charcater "I". "I" is without a doubt my favorite charcter of all time, his narration is amazing, being a mix of sarcarsm, nihilism and self-deprication, he is the perfect view point character for a series that focus on the absurd and insane, and his character journey throughout the books is phenomenal.

This series marked me, and is something I would like everyone to read, that is how good this book series is, and I can only hope that the next books can be officially translated soon so that everyone can enjoy this bizzare, insane series that is sheer, but beautiful nonsense.

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Rank/Rate your fav volumes _Ace-kun_ - Jan 6	4 replies	by ar1sh »» Jun 18, 1:35 PM
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Book 1: The Kubikiri Cycle Discussion MrHatandClogs - Feb 6, 2010	14 replies	by crescensXG »» Dec 28, 2021 7:06 AM

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