Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance

"You'll have to become my contracted spirit!" - Claire Rouge

If someone hears "Action Harem" the first title which comes to mind is "High School DXD," "Date A Alive," or "Trinity Seven" but there are also many hidden gems. Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance is definitely one of them.

In the beginning, it may seem like another unoriginal crap, but over time as the story progresses it becomes a lot better and more interesting than what's initially at the surface. The story revolves around Kazehaya Kamito - The strongest and only male elementaler in his generation. He is forced by the headmaster to join the Spirit Academy to win an upcoming tournament and acquire new pieces of information about his lost contracted spirit.

Story and World-building 8/10 - Blade Dance of Elementalers is not the only plot of this title. Over the next few volumes, we get to know other characters and the rest of the world. Yū Shimizu really puts a lot of effort into the world-building, we can notice it while reading the story. We also get acquainted with different nations all having their unique traditions and backgrounds. So much so that I’m sure that the whole potential of this world was not used to the fullest. To be honest, the ending itself did not satisfy me, but after reading the story u will find out that was the best way to end this series.

Art 6/10 - Blade Dance of Elementalers changed illustrators quite often throughout the whole Light Novel so the art style varies with the course of the next few volumes. Some of them were really cool and I could feel the different emotions bursting out from the drawings but the rest were at most decent. It is however understandable since the illustrators had to adjust to the specific art needed.

Characters 10/10 - Oh my... The characters, were the best thing about Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance. In the first couple
of volumes, they seemed like the usual, unaware of anything noble girls but as the plot thickens, we get to know each character with their own backstory and admirable goals. All, literally, ALL of them get their own spotlight. Kamito was also a solid character, his past story and relations with his old spirit were interesing. Narratives between the MC and all of the girls are balanced perfectly. Antagonists are not worse at all. They actually have good motives, a very well-written backstory, and even amazing personalities that make them incredibly likable. The thing I like the most about villains and side characters is that they are brought back in unexpected moments. It’s not only one volume of them being introduced and never talked about again. Yū Shimizu made them significant pieces of the whole puzzle that should not be forgotten.

Enjoyment 10/10 - I really loved it!
Although I have to say that some of the fanservice moments were distracting at times, overall it was still very enjoyable. Yū Shimizu definitely knows how to make it.

I genuinely recommend this novel for any "Action harem" fans, and people who liked the anime adaptation. I promise that you will not be disappointed.