"Tensura Nikki: Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken" also known as "Slime Diaries" is simply a (usually) lighthearted slice-of-life retelling of the main story of "Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken/That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime"

I highly recommend reading the parent manga: Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken, first before reading this as many jokes, references, and scenarios will either go over your head or be spoiled for you. If you're familiar with the Light Novel then you'll also enjoy several foreshadowing and references as well.

Slime Diaries is a spin-off that's somewhat canon to the main manga/light novel as it would retell/recall events but with a lot more jokes in them such as the first fight between Rimuru and Hinata where you'd see the full fight take place but in Slime Diaries, it would throw in many more jokes that clearly wasn't in the main story. There's also appearances and cameos of characters from other (maybe) canon spin-offs like "That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Trinity in Tempest" and the movies/OVAs.

Slime Diaries is, in my opinion, the main draw of the various "Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken" spin-offs. Memorable characters in a slice-of-life format. It's not the only slice-of-life spin-off out there but it's the only one that's so connected with the canon. Due to this, there's actually a lot of "what's going on?" during or between events and arcs. Whether it's the characters starting their first farm, forming connections (not the romantic kind), seeing what non-Tempest characters are up to in other regions, seeing what other side-characters are doing during certain arcs, getting flashbacks and a kind of origin stories for key characters, and just general world-building. The good kind of world-building that isn't just a bunch of people sitting in a room and talking about it.

The art is great and matches the design and aesthetics (sometimes even surpasses) the main manga's artstyle. I often prefer this artstyle as the main aesthetic for the series.

What stops this manga from truly being great is the seemingly sporadic release schedule. As of chapter 64 and this review's release, it's been almost a whole year since the last chapter update. I'm not even sure if this manga is still on-going as there's so little news or discussion around it and the way the last chapter ended seemed like it's either on hiatus or just finished. Which doesn't seem right as there's still so much more light novel and manga content it can throw its slice-of-life spin on!

Regardless, if you've already read the main manga, I highly recommend giving this a read as well as it compliments what you have already read and known with additional world-building, character motivations, and general fun with characters you enjoy.

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