Cover of “Farming Life In Another World” by Kinosuke Naito.I’m back with another book review, and this time I’m reviewing the manga “Farming Life In Another World” by Kinosuke Naito! It’s been a while since I read anything involving farming, but I’m interested in reading this since it’s both an isekai (reincarnated in another world) concept combined with the farming life. The premise reminded me of games like Harvest Moon and Story Of Seasons, so I just had to pick up this first volume and read it. Here’s a quick summary so we know what it’s about:
“After Hiraku dies of a serious illness, God brings him back to life, gives his health and youth back, and sends him to a fantasy world of his choice. In order to enjoy his second shot, God bestows upon him the almighty farming tool! Watch as Hiraku digs, chops, and ploughs in another world in this laidback farming fantasy!”
Worldbuilding Development: 3.5 out of 5 stars
The worldbuilding present in this book is well-explained. The bad news, however, is that much of it is info-dumped through the main character’s narration. I know this manga is a laid-back slice-of-life style of story, but I wish there was an easier way to convey all of this information without having to narrate it mostly through the main protagonist’s point of view. In this case, it became too much of a “telling” the information rather than “showing” the information to me as a reader.
Plot Development: 4 out of 5 stars
I enjoyed reading the main story so far. I thought it was a quirky and fun way of showing the complications and advantages of a farming lifestyle for the main protagonist. I also enjoyed the cliffhanger ending of the demon king being mentioned, and I hope to see more of that in the next volume.
One main issue I have with the main story right now is that the main character is getting overly powerful a bit too quickly. I understand him working well with the ever-changing farm tool he has, but he managed to tame a giant spider and a pack of wolves to his side within the first half of the book. And later on, he got about nine people (one angel, one vampire, and several elves) joining his living space in the second half. I do think it’s fortunate for Hiraku to be so lucky to have so many people helping him and living with him, but I’m also concerned that it’s making him a bit too powerful too fast. I know it’s a staple of many isekai stories to have the protagonist become overpowered in some way, but I feel like Hiraku has to do a bit more first before he can get so powerful so quickly.
Character Development: 3 out of 5 stars
Considering that this is the beginning of the series and most of the main cast was introduced late in the book, I thought the development was decently executed overall. I am interested in seeing more depth of the characters introduced in the second half of this volume, and I hope that happens in the next book.
Hiraku is a likable protagonist, but I want to see more of his personality. He’s certainly a determinator, and he comes off as quite humble and grateful for what he has (for example, him just wanting a body that doesn’t get sick and having a simpler life at the beginning of the story, when being asked about what he wants in his next life). He’s also smart and strategic (asking to instantly know the local language of whatever world he wakes up in, along with him figuring out how to expand his farm to accommodate himself and others’ needs). However, I want to see more sides to him. Hopefully, that will develop more as he gets to know the other characters.
Overall, I’m rating this book 3.5 out of 5 stars!
I think this is a good start to the series. I look forward to seeing more of the characters and developing world in the next one, along with hopefully encountering the rumored demon king sooner than later!
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