💧 🌕 ティアムーン帝国物語 Vol. 2 (Junior 3-4) - Informal Book Club

Megumin · July 21, 2026, 5:02am

Welcome to the Informal Bookclub of Tearmoon Vol 2 (Volumes 3 to 4 for the Junior version).

This bookclub is a continuation of the Tearmoon Vol. 1 bookclub and part of the Light Novel Book Club, although now in Informal form.

You can find Vol. 3 (5-6 Junior) informal book club here

There are no schedules or deadlines, so jump at any time and enjoy at your own pace.

In order to make it easier for everyone, and avoid spoiling, please use the following format when discussing the contents of specific chapters.

[details="Chapter X"]
Comments about XYZ in this chapter
[/details]

In case you are following the Junior version, you don’t need to specify in which book you are, as the chapters follow the same numbering as the normal book across volumes.

How will you be reading?

Physical
Digital
Audiobook
Hybrid (Reading w/ Audiobook)

0 voters

Kroki · July 21, 2026, 7:34am

Full-furigana ranobe give me the most satisfaction on Readathons, so I am considering waiting for one before picking it up.

(Bookmarked)

Megumin · July 21, 2026, 8:36am

I might binge during the audiothon if plans don’t go south like last time

Megumin · July 25, 2026, 11:05am

So I’m doing the read along the audiothon.

Completed up to chapter 8, which is roughtly 1h40’

Skipping on chapters where I have not much to say:

Chapter 1

Really like the Diary insights, which gets very lost in the anime. For example you can not tell at that point that Tiona is still an enemy, but she has made up with the Chef, which brings her a feast on the day of the execution instead of the poor meals she was getting while in prison.

Chapter 3

The great miss-understanding on “Friend’s prices”. I didn’t get this on the anime, but surprisngly I understood with the novel.

For Mia: “abusing” the friendship to get prices at a discount.

For Ludwig: using it as an excuse for nobles not to complain paying higher prices because Mia wants to repay/benefit her friend.

Also liked the detail how Chloe’s father would wish her daughter made a lower-tier in importance friend instead of going straight to a Princess of a country

Chapter 4

This is also something that is quite speed up over the anime. The hospital that Mia built is making business boom around the area.

Also the detail of when she visited the Church, reminding her she had to reply to Rafina’s letters, and still not wanting to be on her bad side out of fear alone.

Chapter 5

Got a bit lost on this chapter to be honest with the dispute among nobles.
Didn’t really understand the cursed box plot (Was it cursed because it was made out of that special tree?).

Chapter 7

Liked how with the meeting of the Lord where the forest is, Ludgwig had pre-prepared for departure for Mia to visit, so it was all arranged what seemed instantly.

Megumin · July 26, 2026, 10:01pm

From the finished audiothon and some more:

Chapter 9

I love Mia’s evil but somehow innocent plots, like how stupid is kicking a tree to make everything chain into a retreat

Chapter 10-13

She’s out of hell, under a rain of arrows towards her after kicking a tree, and she’s willing to go back for a hairpin out of fear of the results?

Also how far really is this forest, seems like they are commuting in a couple hours. I looked into the map image that’s on Vol. 2 on the normal edition, makes it feel the whole country thing quite small.

Chapter 15

Got a bit lost on Rudolphon’s backstory, quite a few words I didn’t understand.

To be fair, plenty of misunderstandings where flying around this chapter (story wise)

Chapter 16

So Tiona’s brother is now in plans of enrolling onto school, and Mia is planning to build a new school, in a new city that is also being built. How long does it really take to do all these? Wouldn’t be by the time it’s built be too late? This generated a bit of confusion to me.

Megumin · July 30, 2026, 7:10pm

I’m up to Chapter 26, and with that I’m done with the Junior Book 3, jumping to Vol. 4.

Commenting on some chapters only that left some kind of impression:

Chapter 18

The old diary disappears, for me a bit too soon IMHO, and I’ll kind of miss the edge of when she checked it.

Chapters 19-20

Ann complicates Mia’s life again with her ideals of Mia herself

It’s a bit weird that seems like Mia has no intentions of going to Remno then she at some point changes opinions.

Chapter 21

Probably Mia would be weirded out and also happy if she knew Tiona’s dead set in protecting her, but makes me wonder if she thinks she jumped onto the Remno trip only for Prince Shion.

Chapter 22

Now that’s an original way of performing first aid on someone that has drown, shoving up the finger deeply to the throat, not sure if it would work in real life

Chapter 23

Mia thinking herself of an older person due to the time jump with the memories, I wonder if this will be recurring, or at some point it will sync with her age as it approaches the age where she had the halt due to being killed.

Megumin · August 9, 2026, 10:53am

Been reading on and off from time to time this week, August is brutal as usual at work.
Right now up to Chapter 32.

Commenting on selected chapters as always.

Chapter 28

Hilarious that they tried to find some secret code on the Mia-Abel’s exchange letters purely because Mia is regarded as a genius from the others perspective.

Chapter 29

I got pretty lost during these chapters. I know they described the Diamond Guard, but didn’t get much else.

Chapter 30

Some entire phrases were missing from the Junior book that were in the Audiobook. Not sure what the deal was with those.

Mia got good at hiding money, but not good enough yet.

Chapter 31

Didn’t get the gist of the source of the Rebellion until mid chapter.

I found hilarious that the narrator said that Mia suddenly changing moods/opinions was one of her strong points.

I’m trying to aim to finish this before my trip in September, in order to device what I will mainly read while traveling.

Megumin · September 6, 2026, 12:19pm

Read up to chapter 43 for quite a few hours, which is about where the anime ends.

The revolution arc, which was very rushed in the anime, I kind of understood more of what really happened after reading.

Spoilers from 31 to 43

The extra chapter which follows on the timeline where Mia is executed was quite interesting. Ludwig trying his best to at least spare the life of Mia, despite being a pain to deal with her, he felt she was at least trying to fix things.

Shion having doubts in this timeline if executing Mia was the right choice, and the concatenating events after that, including the assasination of Rafina.

Still for some reason, doesn’t make me feel bad for him. Maybe if more details are given after on how he reached the extreme execution solution I could maybe fantom to see the logic.

As for the revolution arc, I don’t think I still have finished reading, but in the anime I didn’t get that the full scope that someone someone from the Shion’s country was that deeply involved.

That was a long session read, but it’s what it is when you have 16h of airplanes

Kroki · September 19, 2026, 4:07pm

39% in and I like this (3rd junior) volume more than most of the previous one

Chapters 1-10

We have circled back to the beginning and it’s great because I loved the beginning.

Mia is back in the palace for the school vacation, back to the diary with the future that didn’t improve much (??? I was under the impression that she’s got Tiona wrapped around her finger but as we find out pretty soon nope, Mia is on her way to screwing up and not evening knowing she’s doing anything), back to the famine issue that is still not solved and back to the hospital in the slums plot.

Also back to Ludwig and I’d really like to see more from his POV (show me your work, man).

I like how a small thing of getting a hair ornament from that kid she saved a book ago kicking off a story arc that will hopefully make Tiona not hate Mia in this iteration of Mia’s life.

Chapter 9 or so? 10?
When Mia kicked the tree I thought she has found a good reason to make the army withdraw but when we came back to her POV it seemed like she just threw a tantrum so uh yeah, good for us.

Now she’s realized she lost the hair ornament and obviously she needs to go back for it (I expected some elders to go “omg it’s my daughter’s!” and then for Dion (army general guy that is her future executioner) to join Mia-funclub assuming that was her bait and plan all along. Let’s see if I got any of that right

Kroki · September 20, 2026, 8:07am

I’ll write more detailed comments after my Readathon time runs out but wow vol 3 (Junior) just ends indeed in the middle of.. everything? It’s not a cliffhanger per se, but I don’t think they even tried to pretend it’s an end of a volume in any way (like add some extras to distract a reader, something?)

I’m gonna continue straight to volume 4 now thanks

Megumin · September 21, 2026, 1:42am

I finished Vol. 4 while on the plane back to my country. Couldn’t get much concentration due to RL things but alas.

Vol. 4 finishes everything that Vol. 3 starts in a neat way, so it’s a good stopping point if you feel overwhelmed or not interested in continuing.

Myself I’ll jump to Vol. 5 soon , what I’m dreading is when I jump from the Junior to the Normal version, but I think I’ll still give one volume a chance.

Final comments of last chapters (Vol 4 Junior)

I got a bit lost on how the punishment with Rafina was going to be worse than any other form of torture for the traitors. If someone can enlighten me I’d appreciate

So Mia finds a history book that narrates the future (had to laugh at the 8 children she’s going to have), but what shocked me is that it didn’t cross her mind to keep that book rather than leaving it at the library?

Even if words disappear and you can no longer read it, you keep it on the off-chance something is going to be written again? At least that’s what I’d do.

Kroki · September 21, 2026, 12:28pm

Chapter 11-13

Me in the comment above: I expected describes the plot of the next couple of chapters
Welp, okay then.

Dion - nooo, my buddy that wanted no promotion is giving in, stop, he knows it’s so much work and he doesn’t want it!
(Well, we already know he will be the army shougun but damn that was the only character trait of his I could relate to)

Chapter 14-15

Sero plotline is not… Realistic (can I even use this word?)

If you grab a guy before he gets his education and move him to do different education in a different place with different people you’re not likely to get the same research results.

Mia: seems to be banking on a romance with Abel
Also Mia: proceeda to flirt with Sero
(?)

But anyway, Tiona’s family is happy, Mia is happy, Sero will get the thing so Ludwig will be super happy, all’s good.

Chapter 18

We lost the diary gimmick! Already?!

I was attached to that diary
But congrats Mia? Now like, maybe don’t do anything going forward? Like. At all?

And nooo it WAS enemy action after all
It was nice to think this is a natural result of bad governing and external circumstances (like weather, not like people intentionally ruining the Empire)…

Chapter 19

Is revolution something that’s so easy to start? Raise taxes and die?

Chapter 20

Narrator: Everyone is so supportive, no-one said anything like ‘what can you even do, if you go there’
Me: Uhm. Yeah. Supportive is good but maybe do ask that?

I was surprised that this blind “okay let’s do what you want” approach was presented as something positive considering both we and the same narrator are very aware Mia goes with no plan and no thought.

あなたにできることは、ここでうつむき、立ち尽くすことではないのではないかしら?

This tripped me up so much for some reason (ではないのではないかしら part) I ended up asking AI. Sometimes the weirdest things would trip me up.

Two chapters in a row the text is ending on what seems to be an epic story letting type (and so, all figures have gathered on the board…) but feels just weird to me. Sorry, author.

Chapter 21

The assassins are really not saying anything? At all? 0 information?

Chapter 22-25

Yeah, we don’t need that kind of protection for Mia’s first kiss. The author is evil.

Also I can’t believe that falling out of a carriage at the entrance to rhe kingdom and being randomly thrown downstream still got them into the kingdom.

Nice to see a guy from a village that basically says that people in the capital and their revolutions are stupid and they don’t have time for bs like that So true, man, so true.

In general these chapters were concentrated Shion/Mia content that made me doubt Abel is the main lead. We didn’t see him much this volume anyway…

Chapter 26

Anna went back to the Empire, called Ludwig and Dion for an emergency “how do we help” meeting. You go girl

And then volume 3 went and ended (??).

Kroki · September 21, 2026, 1:06pm

Volume 4

Chapter 27

Abel’s father (aka the king) has his own fancy army.
金剛歩兵団 - Diamond + food soldiers + group

The strongest the fanciest guys of all origins criminals are welcome as long as they are strong

Shion:
Mia:
That’s the chapter

Chapter 28

We see more of rhe guys behind this whole thing.
Apparently destroying Abel’s kingdom was in their 10 year plan, after Tearmoon (in 5 or so? Who keeps track of the timeline anyway). Good, because by this point I assumed they took Tearmoon plans and just applied it to this kingdom (where the comonners are not starving and don’t care anyway).

The way this poor guy keeps thinking Mia is some kind of Super Smart Enemy that is definitely planning something by sending silly young teen love letters to Abel was hilarious. I love that part. Poor guy.

Chapter 29

Me: what even is this, a fake rebellion with no people in it that didn’t start yet?
Royal palace: Destroy the rebels! How dare they?!
Me: ???

Yeah it’s tough without the internet but come on guys.
The only thing saving them right now is the kuromaku guy wants king’s personal army to handle this and king wants his shiny personal army to be more like pretty figurines and less like a real army. Yeah, go overpower the rebels without any injuries at all. Good luck, captain

Chapter 30-34

So by sheer dumb luck (aka as usual) Mia gets kidnapped not by child traffickers but by the rebellion army and ends up directly with the sister of the head of rebels that immediately attests that (1) her brother was put to it by someone (2) he’s not ~~man enough~~ to be leading this and he doesn’t know what he’s doing and (3) apparently you can stop this so help please.

Overall bullshit events one after another land them into the rebel’s main building and Mia gets tea, snacks, bath and bed. She’s winning this thing.

Shion should’ve really understood she’s a moron at the mushrooms scene but no, the delulu is strong.

Chapter 35

Oh my, the cultprit is mr prefect (Shion)'s kingdom.
グレアム - the evil guy (espionage & using misinformation to destabilize other kingdoms to increase the territory of Shion’s kingdom)
Monica - the not evil spy lady from the same kingdom, different departments (espionage to have info only)

Monica’s introduction (and her role in Abel’s kingdom) kinda says “what sexism can do FOR you and not TO you” except that 2 sentences later were back to what it can do “to” you.

I would’ve expected a spy would enjoy this stupid sexism knowing these men will burn with their kingdom but well I guess that means Monica is a good girl. (You’re the one that killed Abel in the previous life, yes?..)

Chapter 36-40

So Mia’s plan was:

Find Abel
Done

Don’t base your plans on romance books???
But also wow she’s 12. Or 13. She’s a child and despite everything she both acts and thinks as a child would. I’m impressed with author’s consistency of her character.

She does not find any good words, she does not manage to put her feelings of this fake rebellion into words in time. She does not take control of Shion’s challenge and does not manage to stop the duel BY STARTING A DISCUSSION (which she should be able to do). Instead she’s 100% in the role of a damsel. That is distressed.

Dion stopping the duel seemed so cool in my head I went to check the anime and yeah no he’s underwhelming there, it’s better in my head

Shion: bows in dogeza to apologize for his kingdom’s actions
Mia: rapidly looks up to see if spears are raining from the sky
Well it’s like checking if pigs are flying but wow girl RUDE.

Note from chapter 43

The copy from kindle didn’t work at all (thanks for those stress marks) and the copy from Google lens didn’t pick up the "garasu’ in KazaGarasu here:

サンクランドの風(garasu)の者たちも。

Plot twist!
The evil guy from Shion’s evil spy&act group is apparently finding that group easy to manipulate too!

(I wonder if that wasn’t a thing in the web novel but got added to have plot going forward?)

My Readathon ended a bit further than this, let’s see how fast I can finish the book now that it’s been 24 hours since the end of Readathon

Edit: 5 minutes into the next chapter I see I got a name wrong thereグレアム is AN evil guy but not THE evill guy (somehow I thought he was Jem)

Kroki · September 21, 2026, 2:56pm

Chapter 45

From assuming she peed herself to assuming she planned this masterful shampoo counter-attack… People around Mia really should look at the reality more.
Also, poor Mia, that must’ve been so scary

Ugh. Had to Google.
風鴉 - Wind Crows are a legit info gathering devision (so Monica)
白鴉 - White Crows are these combat guys (like Jem)
Gemini for some reason has Black Crows instead of Wind Crows?

Being lectured for 3 years sounds pretty close to being sent to monastery. For 3 years.
You can just tell them “try again later” and let them go now, Mia. It totally would’ve helped you if you didn’t get executed /s.

Epilogue

And Dion who raised amazing results against bandits and 邪神教徒

???
We have Evil God Sect here? Is sending Jem to Rafina actually gonna be a reverse brainwashing?
I have vague memories of someone calling her a fake saint but I don’t remember if it was Mia

The “ex-prince that she was in love with since young years and became Mia’s husband” stayed nameless so we could keep doubting if it’s Abel or if Shion has a chance?

Also 8 kids and no mention of dying in childbirth. Look what you could have done, Saiunkoku Monogatari.

Epilogue: all’s good
Mia: nope, this sucks, (allegedly) Abel will have bad relationship with his family, I want a better future
A second epilogue: now calles Mia the last empress of the Tearmoon Empire and everything on fire again.

Should’ve kept what you could’ve had, girl

Megumin · September 27, 2026, 10:55am

Vol. 3 (Junior Vols 5-6) thread is up for whenever someone feels like starting.