自己写了一段英文的感想,懒得翻译中文了!有兴趣可以读读! This light novel is amazing!! I loved every moment of reading this ... except the "main heroine"'s character and story, which are absolutely garbage. Every volume is an emotional roller coaster ride that is a huge blast to read through (well except volume 1, which is focused on the cover girl that I abhor). From the internal struggle, the tears, the euphoric rush, the hemorrhaging pressure, the difference in talent causing lack of esteem and doubt, the love for this game, the hope for this game, the wish to want to know you didn't throw away your life away for nothing because of this game, the need to just have one person acknowledge you, the power to break your personal barrier etc. etc. etc. all the way to author's own real life story, every single event is carefully planned out and delightfully presented. Who knew that shogi players can be so BAMF! The characters are all great (except one, guess who), with Reika, Eisei Meijin, Meijin, and Yashiyajin Ai being the best written of the bunch. Reika and Ai's story brought me to tears, and the Meijins are just too godly (pun fully intended). Personally, I hugely empathize with Ginko Sora in particular and she is definitely my favorite (and the author's, and the author's fellow friends/writers). Given the story was supposed to end at volume 5 originally, I am not sure how I feel about Ginko being featured most prominently in volume 6 (certainly won't be reached in the anime). No matter though, I am still going to cheer her on no matter what. Also would be interesting to see how 姉弟子 is going to be translated, as I don't think such concept exist in English? Either way, I used to joke that GA shill the hell out of this series with KonoRano, but now I think the story's ranking is very well deserved (hence the reason for my choice of words at the beginning of this "review").