You're probably already tired of knowing that Mushoku Tensei is an isekai and that, nowadays, the isekai genre has become the most saturated of all. I myself underestimated Mushoku Tensei because it was an isekai and today I bitterly regret having taken so long to read it. Mushoku Tensei is a superlatively beautiful masterpiece and I'll tell you why I think so. I've written this humble review and it doesn't contain any spoilers that might detract from your reading. I hope you enjoy it!
Story (10): Mushoku Tensei is a high-quality book that explores serious themes of second chances/redemption and coming of age. The protagonist is not an inherent saint or hero. He is a totally despicable person and this is a story about his attempt to be better in his new life. Is he going to magically become a different person overnight? No, he will evolve over the course of the story. The story itself is fascinating and the writing that accompanies it makes for a phenomenal long-running series. Anything can happen in this new world in which he has been reincarnated, there are risks, twists and constant oppositions. I take my hat off to Rifujin na Magonote for creating the most epic story of self-discovery and second chances ever.
Mushoku Tensei has several strong points. In particular, I think the work's strongest point is its characters. You feel that in Mushoku Tensei they are really human, because you will always see characters with flaws, who make mistakes and learn from them, who are not overpowers or perfect, but characters with layers, with depth and who, despite all their personality problems or mistakes they make, are still interesting characters. Everyone is unique and well-written, each has their own concerns and goals, they follow their own story and that's why the goodbyes are so impactful. It's surreal how many characters I liked in this book. They don't depend entirely on the MC to be important or to grow. The interactions they have with each other are simply perfect.
Another thing worth praising about Mushoku Tensei is its incredible worldbuilding process. Mushoku Tensei has the best worldbuilding process I've ever seen in a story. There's magic, knights, different species of intelligent creatures with cultural diversity, guilds, adventurers and everything reminiscent of a good MMORPG. Only by reading the Light Novel will you realize the absurd care and affection the author has taken in building the world, and the way the various territories affect the characters is masterfully crafted. The powerscaling is very well balanced. All the characters have weaknesses and understand that they can't win everything on their own. All of this makes the story much more exciting to read.
Another notable aspect of Mushoku Tensei is the way the romances develop. Unlike many other works, here the couples in the story seem like real couples. They have couple scenes, clearly show their affection for each other and face challenges together. The author always shows the povs and monologues of both main characters to justify their actions, which adds a genuine emotional dimension to the narrative. The series also manages to skillfully balance drama, comedy and action. The emotional moments are very well executed and often intertwined with hilarious ones, making for a diverse and captivating experience.
Art (10): Honestly speaking, Mushoku Tensei has the most beautiful art style I've ever seen in a light novel. The designer, Shirotaka, exuded a spectacular artistic style throughout the work and managed to successfully portray all the characters' emotions in the illustrations. The covers he gave to each of the 26 volumes are so well detailed that they impress and leave you spellbound.
Pleasure - (10): This was the most sublime and pleasurable story I've ever read in my life, I'm sure I'll never forget it. It resonated deeply in my core. The gift I received of being born in the same century as Rifujin and Shirotaka is of immeasurable value.
Overall rating - (10): In short, Mushoku Tensei is a fabulous work of art that will give you a divine experience. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for an unforgettable fantasy story that's totally out of the box, who has a fantastic worldbuilding process, incredibly striking characters, charismatic and extremely well-developed.
