Risou no Himo Seikatsu
The Ideal Sponger Life

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DISCLAIMER: THIS REVIEW WAS WRITTEN ONLY AFTER HAVING READ UP TO CHAPTER 12

Can I just say wow? I don't think I've ever gone into a series expecting less and been so so wrong. If you read the description or look at the cover art your first reaction will probably be "Really? Another isekai harem? When will the SAO wannabes finally die?", and then you will precede to read it anyway as a guilty pleasure because you're bored trash and have nothing better to do.

Allow me to say one thing:

READ THIS MANGA.

So you know how typical isekai protagonists are some hated garbage of humanity, ... they die unexpectedly, end up in a new world, become super op, and have a truck load of girls they sleep around with? This manga is nothing like that. Lots of political intrigue, some thought was put into the plot, the mc isn't some awful guy that sleeps with anything that isn't male, and it has a lot of unexpected twists. I am constantly worried that the author is going to revert back to cliche isekai tropes, and then I am always equally impressed that the author makes original choices and plot developments.

Yeah, it's just really good. I gave it a 9. Did I give it such a high score because I was expecting something way worse? Probably, but perhaps that is what makes it so enjoyable.

** I'm not native english speaker, sorry for any mistakes.

I started reading this work without any expectations. I already kind of gave up on Isekai due to having some boring elements such as extremely strong or extremely cowardly protagonists, completely passive heroes or Tsundere hysterics. But Risou no Himo Seikatsu seems to be one more at first glance, but it is not.

Story 8
Art: 10
Character: 9
Enjoyment: 10

Risou no Himo Seikatsu tells the story of Zenjirou, a simple Japanese worker who ends up being summoned to a fantasy world to marry Aura, a queen from a less developed kingdom than the land. The reason is his lineage ... of 150 years ago that has magical connections with that of the queen.


It looks pretty generic and rom-com, but it isn't. Expect a lot of intrigue and politics, a protagonist who is not a badass but also is not a dense coward, would be something much closer to reality. Expect a protagonist who has more knowledge than the inhabitants of his new kingdom, but that does not mean that he knows all the processes of making anything on earth, after all, he was just an office worker. Fantasy elements such as magic and other races exist but despite being the focus of much of the plot, the development of the novel is not hindered. Expect a strong and determined heroine, more skilled than the protagonist in several things, but who won't make your partner an idiot. In other words, expect a work that gives you everything you want, everything you curse at the authors of Japanese romantic comedies for not having the balls to show.

If ever the phrase 'never judge a book by its cover' applied to anything it definitely applies to this series.

The cover art and description leads you to believe it's another run-of-the-mill wish fulfillment isekai dripping with fan service, but what you actually get is a deep, intriguing political drama wrapped in a heartwarming love story that has a healthy power dynamic and rich characters filled with personality, hopes, and dreams.

In a refreshing change from most romance-oriented Isekai, the protagonist consistently rejects the idea of forming a harem, even as the world literally thrusts additional suitors at him (for political reasons).

The Queen isn't a hero ... worshipper, but instead is allowed to transform her political arrangement into an actual relationship of based on love and trust.

And I can't go any further without talking about the real meat and potatoes of this series, the world politics. What makes this world feel so real is that it is clear how important the characters' -especially the protagonist's- actions are to the balance of power. The actions the protagonist make actually matter, and have real consequences for how the world functions.

The ensemble are more than just tropes, foils, and heels. They are political players who make moves and use each conversation to curry favor or feel out their counterpart. This gives each speech bubble that much more significance, because you are just waiting for a character to slip up and reveal a secret or make a mistake.

There are no characters that are wasted space here. Each has an important role to play, and are far from falling into archetypes. They feel like people.

Read this story, you will not regret it.