You could try to “translate“ the katakana names to their original language, though, which might make them easier to remember and reference.
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My guess is that the cover artist changed 
They really do look different
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Yeah; the cover artist changed starting with volume 12, hence the extremely different art direction.
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I kind of prefer the older style anyways, like the cover for Lydia and Edgar. Shiny anime covers just don’t do it for me the same way.
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Happy new year, everyone! Our little F&B book club has officially started!
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I have a question, @eefara , @暁のルナ. As there was also a scheduled bookclub before, where do we put discussion topics or impressions? To the weekly threads from the former bookclub? Or here? (Will this informal thread also cover other volumes later on as well?)
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I’d say feel free to post your thoughts here! If there’s interest in reading more volumes we’ll probably set up spin-off threads, just to keep things clean.
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That story is so cool! 
I was so excited starting this story and as I have some free time I’m diving right into it since yesterday (and probably loosing a bit track of my real life 
).
The first 4 or 5 pages felt a bit uncomfortable, as I had to check a couple of vocabularies and get used to the writing style. In between are some historical or geographical vocabularies, but overall until now I would not rate it L35. It feels more like the 京都寺町三条のホームズ | L31 series where I also have occasionally specific vocabularies to look up. I’m sure it was L32 before 
(After chapter 2: Though I assume the language will get more difficult, once we are time-slipped.)
Until end of chapter 2
Woah! That was dramatic! First I thought Kaito really want to go there. But once he recognized it must be a tunnel to the 16th century he desperately tries to go away and not to take Kazuya with him. Poor younger girls who have to witness this and also … Wow. Kind of detailed on what Kazuya is able to see like how the hand is cut off 
Though not relevant for Kaito anymore, but I liked that they were able to get a room. I felt a bit stressed reading until now that they are doing sightseeing without having a place to stay 
Great that they explained what the マス in the place names meant. Though I checked for プリマス manually beforehand (Plymouth), I kept stumbling on this マス as my mind kept comparing it to ます like いきます、ねます、たべます😂
I also asked the internet a bit about where those places are to get a better understanding. I somewhere read that somebody here had created a map, but I’m not sure whether this will spoiler something, so I’ll keep checking manually for now.
To decrease Kazuya’s pain it would be nice if on the drum in the museum would be some hidden carvings from Kaito a la he is fine. Maybe in Japanese characters? So that Kazuya goes there and feels okay with being the one staying behind. OR he also triea to fins the tunnel and we at some point see him again. But hopefully not on the Spanish side
Until end of chapter 1
Hilarious. Before deciding to join this bookclub I read a few pages online to see whether I would like it. But while checking before I read so fast that my mind misread oder misunderstood the context. So when starting the book I was on the assumption, that we would be on a small boat and Kaito was unconscious and waking up I don’t know what I did read wrong, but this time I also looked up quite a few words in the beginning and now am sure they were not on a boat (though I liked the dreams they were talking about later at the train)
So nice that they got a polaroid picture. I hope that the pirates (will we meet Drake?) will get to see this as well and decides that Kaito has some value and is not an enemy.
Teenage angst in the train was so lovely and interesting to read. I was so surprised that Kazuya hit him. At the same time this situation really pointed out how misunderstandings can evolve if someone always assumes how the other person must think or feel.
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I was worried about not having chapters in the table of contents and by the time I reached that “2” I feel like my brain has turned into mush a couple of times but that was a whooping 14%
Kindle estimates I’ll finishing it in 14 more hours (ugh!), so the level increase from by usual 20is is definitely there lol.
“1” - long comments alert!
The mystery of covers, finally unlocked!
染めたばかりの赤い髪
And then between the two artists the definition of “red” really changed.
I feel a bit awkward not knowing the history, but well, let’s go blind I guess, I’m really not feeling like going down a Wikipedia spree and I hope they author will give me all the info I need so I could enjoy it without the extra layer “oh, I know this place/person/piece of info”.
(Tbh 少女王 took me by surprise, I didn’t realize she had such a, sorry, degrading nickname. Guys get to be The Impaler, Bluff King, The Accountant, The Warrior and what’s not and this is the best history could do for this queen that seems pretty cool?)
The mother is soooo creepy.
I wouldn’t think much of it if I read this younger, but alas. I hear a mother say things like these and I think she’s disgusting (even before touching on the fact she seems to be neglecting her younger child):
娘だったら嫉妬しちゃうもの。どうしたって、私より若いんだから。
And like, “no matter what bad thing you do, I still love you” would’ve been nice if not for the reasoning ハンサムで、頭がいい、ママの自慢の息子だもの
I like the whole Kazuya thing sooooo much!!! We really went for the throat there!
We start off with Kaito being hmm rude? About Kazuya’s picture taking preferences and when Kazuya is polite in response Kaito thinks “wow, if I was told that I’d get may and say ‘it’s none of your business’” - well, don’t say stuff that’d make people mad then? And after your sad flashback you actually say you like the guy? Buddy, it’s not showing at all.
So I didn’t expect it to escalate so nicely in this feels-like-foreshadowing conversation on the train 
I wonder if the pic in the wallet gonna star in “I look at this picture and regret to this day” kind of scenes, but I’m running way ahead of the things.
A big part of me was chanting “is it nowww” in each scene for the time travel part of these time travel pirates: Are we gonna fall of a cliff? No? Well, one of you missed bus? No? Okay, get separated on a train? Still no? Oh there is a child! A freak accident getting off the train? Still no???
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About the misreading the situation when checking it out
I do! In a place where nothing is around but wind from all directions, the sky and the see meet each other and the MC is struggling to stand and has to really put weight into his legs - yeah, doesn’t sound like we are on land at all!
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Replies to Kroki, chapter 1
Similar here. I’m also feeling a bit awkward about not knowing so much about that century with the pirates (did a bit of internet research though to understand the Japanese better)
Totally agree! The sentence you quoted also took me by surprise like how can she think that? And how does it come Kaito gets the feeling her mother is threatening everyone around her to be nice to her (and him)
That sounds nice a well! Hope we get some scene with this polaroid pic 
Me too!
If you point it out like that it does sound reasonable 
Thank you for your thoughts!
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Replies to Chapter 1
I’m gonna post a short history blurb tomorrow for any who need it, no worries. 
It’s funny, I’ve never considered that. I guess it’s one of those things where you learn she was the “Virgin Queen” in school, memorize it, and sunny give it a second thought.
Right?! I almost have to wonder if Kaito’s under-selling things, like he’s so used to her narcissism he underplays it a bit.
Yeah, things escalate real quick, haha. I’m glad Kazuya didn’t downplay it all as well; I get the feeling Kaito probably wouldn’t pick up on subtle hints well…
Hahaha, that’s the tricky when you’re anticipating big story events.
Replies to Chapter 2
The drama CD has some pretty “crunchy” sounds for that scene, too; it’s a little weird, haha.
Lmao, that’s a good point. I wonder if Kazuya had to go back to their hotel room and just sit there…
I started a small map for the early bits of the series, but I don’t think it’ll be that useful for this book. If you know where Plymouth is you should be fine.
Kazuya will have to beat the drum for Kaito in that case, haha.
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Here we go, the promised gloss of the history lesson! Though this probably exceeded the limits of a “gloss”, haha, so please let me know if you spot any errors/need clarification/have any questions! There are no book spoilers here, just (probably something like) 98% true history and setting up political backgrounds.
Chapter 3 History Lesson
For any interested, here’s a quick breakdown of the history lesson Vicente gives us right as chapter 3 begins:
Our history begins in 1587 with the death of Mary Stuart (popularly known as Mary, Queen of Scots), Elizabeth I’s Catholic cousin. Mary was six days old upon the death of her father, the king of Scotland James V, in 1542; she was moved to France and betrothed and married to Francis II, king of France. After his death, she returned to Scotland to rule as a Catholic monarch, but due to political tensions among the nobility opposing her rule, she was forced to abdicate.
She fled Scotland and arrived in England, expecting her cousin Elizabeth to welcome her and treat her as she would a fellow queen. (Vicente here shows his sympathy to Mary, describing her as 単純なところのある.)
However, by this point in time England has ceased to be Catholic, instead declaring itself following a form of Protestantism, the Church of England. Elizabeth herself had, by the present day, been excommunicated by the papacy; as early as the execution of her mother Anne Boleyn when Elizabeth was 3 (due to charges of adultery), her heirship to the throne was put into question. The reigning Pope at the time, Sixtus V, was instead an advocate of Mary Stuart being the rightful heir to the English throne.
Mary Stuart was, according to Vicente, not aware of this past political turmoil Elizabeth had been and still was, in some capacity, contending with. Elizabeth, known as the “Virgin Queen”, had not married and had no children, meaning that if she died, control of the English crown would pass to the next closest person, Mary, as well as any husband Mary may take.
Elizabeth, quite aware of the gain Mary would see should Elizabeth be assassinated, also knew that it would stain her reputation and bring blowback if she were to outright kill Mary, given Mary’s close relation to her and request for aid (after she was forced to flee Scotland). So instead she decided to “hide” Mary, confining her in a manor far away from London.
Years later, upon finally realizing that Elizabeth never actually intended to free her and allow her in court, Mary attempted to escape from England. Her plans, however, were discovered before she could attempt them, and she was moved and confined with even more strict security.
Vowing revenge against Elizabeth, Mary sends a secret missive to Philip II, king of the country where the sun never sets, Spain, offering to marry him if he helped her escape and depose Elizabeth. (Note: the vast majority of this is real history, but I don’t know if real-life Mary ever proposed marriage to Philip II. I haven’t read anywhere if she did, but please drop me a source if you find one that said she did!)
Philip II (in this book, at least) was happy to accept her offer; a marriage between the two of them would be an economically sound way to increase the size of Spain’s empire. Spain’s finances were already being depleted from constant warfare in pursuit of expanding and maintaining said empire, despite the steady flow of gold coming in from the New World. Philip II had already previously been married to Elizabeth’s half sister, Mary Tudor (Mary I, known colloquially as “Bloody Mary”), and upon her death by illness, in order to maintain rule over England, had already attempted to court Elizabeth to no success.
Mary’s plot to escape England and depose Elizabeth was discovered, the assassins sent from Spain captured and executed by Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth’s secretary of state and spymaster. Learning that Mary was behind the plot, Walsingham informed Elizabeth and advised her that her life and rule would be in danger if she continued to allow Mary to live. Elizabeth agreed with him, but continued to maintain the image of having to be “convinced” by her Privy Council, and she finally signed an execution warrant for Mary. In order to maintain her “unwillingness” to execute a family member, however, the courier who delivered the notice of execution was apparently jailed in the Tower of London.
Philip II, understandably not happy with this turn of events, threatened Elizabeth and England with invasion if she followed through with the execution while continuing to attempt to free Mary. On February 1587, Mary was executed. In order to distract England’s populace from the death, a funeral for Philip Sidney, an English hero who had died fighting the Spanish in the Netherlands, was held the same day. (I haven’t heard of this happening either, and as Wikipedia mentions he died the year previous to Mary’s real-life execution, I’m not sure how accurate this is. Again, if you find a reputable source stating it’s validity, please let me know!) Mary was beheaded after three strikes of the axe.
Her death was lamented and protested by the Vatican, Spain, and France, and she was honored as a martyr. Philip II upheld his promise and began to prepare for war against England.
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Until page 80 (Natively 26%)
There we are. Welcome at L35 Finishing chapter 2 with having the time slip right before our eyes, I was anticipating it, but damn there really is a lot historical and military vocabulary; as well as a bit archaic grammar.
Taking this book club to actively learn I’m sitting there and almost looking up every vocabulary. I’m happy about the shared vocabulary list that I uploaded to JPDB, but I need to cut down my reviews, before I can start those.
Haha, but now I can tell my friends that I know the Japanese word 処刑 or 刺客 next to 暗殺者. By the way, how would you read 刺客? しかく、しきゃく or with せ instead of し?
Thank you for the history lesson, @eefara, I’m glad to see that most of the stuff I got right while reading page 70 - 76.
Hhhm… I hope we get to know where Kaito is, soon. Currently we have the backstory of Vicente and how he is moving around to spy on the Plymouth navy. He is on the same hill where Kaito was, so I assume they will bump into each other. Will Kaito know who Vicent is? Aaah, and wasn’t it cold now in 1587 in Februrary? Kaito was wearing a summer shirt! That will be freezing cold 
By the way, I do have new not-best-friend kanjis and need to talk about them here so it hopefully helps me remember them: 端、岸、崖 and there was another one that I don’t remember now (EDIT: It’s 峡).
端 はし I always want to read as つみ, probably because of 角 すみ. And I don’t know why but I have on-yomi べ in mind for this and that is wrong as well.
And 峡部 I know you read it きべ, but the on-yomi is きょう and I cannot remember this, when I see 峡 in other words 
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Good catch! I wanted to write 隅 with すみ, but 角 is shown as an alternative there as well
I think I’m linking 端、隅 ( & 角) because they are sharing some semantic potion around “edge, point, corner”
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I like that!
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Replies to Makochou, up to p. 80
ようこそ, haha. The vocab deluge should (hopefully?) calm down a bit soon now that there’s less info dumping.
しかく is correct. 
しきゃく is apparently listed as an alternate reading, but I think I’ve only seen しかく furigana-wise.
You’re welcome! Glad it was helpful!
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Chapter 1
Whew I finally made it!!!
This hasn’t been that hard a read (I’m thinking it’s overleveled at 35, unless we get hit square in the face with a pirate ship pretty soon), but I’m still usually looking up multiple words a page, so I’m not exactly zooming through it.
I was also surprised at the mom, but also, in the back of my mind was like “ah ok, then he won’t miss his family once he gets time slipped ”
Speaking of things set up for when he gets time slipped, Polaroid picture in his wallet is giving Look At This Photograph.[1]
Don’t know that I have a lot more to say that wasn’t already mentioned. I read a bunch more today than the past few days, so I’m hoping I’ve finally gotten to a reasonable pace. Excited to see how we finally get onto a pirate ship.. 
I think I learned this pretty early as why the state of Virginia is called that. Which is even grosser, if you ask me. Apparently there’s speculation that she wasn’t all that virginal of a queen, and to that I say
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Up to chapter 1, replies to shitsurei
That’s cool! 
I had the same thoughts and also was not able to really zooming through chapter 1.
Oh! I Haven’t made the connection to the state of Virginia yet. I think I will check the internet for some background info. (I like the meme afterwards though )
Up to p. 80, replies to eefara
Hehe, I’m grinning now as shitsurei was also thinking about the level. Now that I have read more far ahaed, chapter 3 was still a bit difficult even after the history lessons up to p. 80. I had do look up quite a few words. But I also recognized that probably I haven’t read too much diverse novels yet to stumble across all the most frequent and beginner or intermediate level like vocabularies
Later on though it get’s easier for me
Thank you!
I kind of feel bad that I have so much free time this week and am in the mood to read that I actually get to read so much 
Chapter 3
やっと！At last we get to see a bit of Kaito. But of all people he had to bump into Vicente. I mean on one side that was great because Vicente nicely explained him a lot, but on the other side I was afraid that he would take Kaito with him and we wouldn’t get to meet the English pirates early on. Luckily it’s not the case! Now it seems that because the search troup brought him to Thomas we might get to a Kaito x Drake meeting soon.
But that was a good way to build suspense! Right after Kaito got into the tunnel we get a whole history session and then also get the meeting with Kaito from Vicente’s perspective - so we don’t get Kaito’s thoughts (in case there were any at all in that moment).
I was so taken aback though, when Vicente suddenly strungled him. And right after Kaito’s conciousness was back, now it’s gone again. Poor Kaito
I liked the part in the beginning of their conversation with the different languages. Matsuoka-sensei did this really nicely, so we got to know what they were speaking in. Also though it feels kind of frustrating it is really helpful to got this chapter from Vicente’s perspective to understand and feel more the differences of the times. I’m really astouned by how well Matsuoka-sensei describes this.
(I actually had to google whether that really was the Spanish word for “Japan” as I don’t know any Spanish and this sounded so different 
)
Chapter 4
Again a short cliffhanger until we know how Kaito is doing Though I kind of expected this as Matsuoka-sensei was doing the same in chapter 3.
I was struggling a bit in the beginning whether they were watching an ecchi theater or actually doing the act; but it got clear soon that we were watching a bed scene I probably got confused with all the different roles the acting person already played.
I like Rufus and his communicating with Jeffrey. (I read in the weekly book club that it’s probably spelled with G, but my mind right now somehow wants to keep the J 
).
And やった, the polaroid at least got attraction. I like how this is all described so nicely. We can really feel how absurd Kaito and his belongings must look like to the others.
But sadly we don’t have the meeting between Kaito and Drake yet. Though I’m interested to see whether Jeffrey cnan keep his curiosuity to himself 
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