Here we have the manga adaptation of kiki’s light novel series, ROLL OVER AND DIE: I Will Fight for an Ordinary Life with My Love and Cursed Sword!, illustrated by Sunao Minakata. That’s a name I’d hope yuri fans are familiar with.
Just like the light novels, the manga has been licensed for English release by Seven Seas Entertainment. This first volume contains chapters one through to four.
Front cover of the first volume of the manga adaptation of ROLL OVER AND DIE: I Will Fight for an Ordinary Life with My Love and Cursed Sword!, featuring Flum Apricot and Milkit
Changing Fate at the Edge of Her Sword
To vanquish the increasingly powerful Demon Lord, divine revelation ordained a party of heroes, each blessed with a unique power. That spelled trouble for Flum Apricot, a total weakling of a girl who has no idea what her power of “Reversal” even does. Betrayed and left behind with a wretched slave trader who enjoys nothing more than seeing his merchandise fight for their lives, Flum thinks all hope is lost – until she gets her hand on a massive, cursed sword. Finally, after so many years, she understands the nature of her power, and both she and her new companion Milkit are about to experience a huge “Reversal” of their fate!
So, as I’ve mentioned, this manga is illustrated by Sunao Minakata. That is Sunao Minakata, who gave us Akuma no Riddle: Riddle Story of Devil. I have to say, her art style is a perfect match for the tone of ROLL OVER AND DIE. It is a dark, bloody story, and Minakata captures that perfectly.
The story for this volume starts with Flum being forced to fight for her life in an almost hopeless situation. It goes on to Flum trying to prove her worth as an adventurer, with Milkit at her side.
Something you’ll discover pretty quickly, no matter whether you read the light novel or manga: nothing ever comes easily for Flum. The entire world seems out to get her, yet she keeps finding the resolve to get back up again and again. Particularly after having met Milkit.
A light-hearted fantasy adventure this is not. If you want something incredibly dark, though, then you’re definitely in business. Well, at least until you get to the bonus short story written by kiki, which involves eating cake and groping. That’s quite the tonal whiplash there, but it is a bonus story.
This manga is a great adaptation of the light novel, undoubtedly helped by Sunao Minakata’s art. If you find the prospect of reading a light novel too daunting (though frankly I don’t think you should), then this is a solid alternative.
Rory Muses 