ADVANCED REVIEW: ‘A Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendation,’ Volume 1

In A Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendation Volume 1 mangaka Misekai, Momochi, and Sando take on the popular isekai trope as nobleman Lizel finds himself unexpectedly dropped into an unfamiliar city.  The manga is published by Tokyopop and translated into English by Christine Dashiell, while Vibrraant Publishing Studio handled retouching and lettering. Originally published as a light novel called The Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendation, Tokyopop licensed the story, and A Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendation Volume 1 collects the first five chapters of Lizel’s story and includes a bonus short story chapter. 

For someone unexpectedly dropped into an unknown city in an unknown world, Lizel takes things in stride, completely unbothered by the turn in circumstances. Deciding to treat the whole experience like a vacation, Lizel wants to explore everything this new town has to offer including joining the local adventurer’s guild. With the help of Gil, aka Single Stroke, a renowned B-Rank adventurer, Lizel is on his way to having not only a great vacation but a remarkable adventure.

While A Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendation Volume 1 follows a typical isekai plot, the protagonist ends up in a fantasy world and has to figure out how to survive/how to get home, Misekai’s writing helps this story stand out from the crowd, creating an enjoyable and endearing read. Lizel’s nonchalant attitude towards the situation is the opposite of what one would expect and it’s refreshing.

In addition to the writing, Momochi and Sando’s art makes A Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendation Volume 1 standout amongst the slew of isekai titles being offered. When he first arrives, Lizel stands out from everyone else because he doesn’t have the proper style for his new town. But even as Lizel adjusts his look, he still maintains his own unique and iconic style; knee-high boots with built-in garters and a matching belt? Why even bother adventuring if you can’t look that good doing it. And when Lizel and Gil interact it’s clear from the art how they feel about each other. Even when they are arguing, or rather, Gil is trying to argue with Lizel, it’s clear that they only have eyes for each other. No matter what’s going on, Gil always has eyes on Lizel, and vice versa.

One of my favorite moments in A Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendation Volume 1 is when after learning that libraries don’t exist in this world,  Lizel purchases all of the books in a bookshop so he can return to the shop and take the books as needed. And in the meantime, the shop owner can sell the books to other patrons. This is such a great moment because I can relate to Lizel’s love of books, and also because it shows what kind of character Lizel is; he’s quite selfless and wants to do good.

The interactions between Lizel and Gil are a delight to read as they play the role of the excitable interloper and cynical adventurer respectively, without being one-dimensional tropes. Lizel is easygoing and spirited without being naive, proving himself capable in guild interactions as well as battle, and Gil maintains his stoic loner appearance in public, as he gets to know Lizel you can see his walls start to drop ever so slightly. It’s not quite a friendship yet, but Gil starts to enjoy being around Lizel.

While reading A Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendation Volume 1,  I felt like there was the start of not only a friendship between Lizel and Gil but maybe a romance as well. If romance is in the cards for these two, it’s sure to be a slow burn, friends to lovers. Even if the creators don’t go the romance route with these two, it will be heartwarming to watch their friendship grow and deepen.

As a fan of isekai manga, I was eager to jump into A Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendation Volume 1 and it exceeded my expectations. Lizel’s journey is just beginning and I am eagerly anticipating the next chapter in his story. 

A Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendation Volume 1 is available from booksellers on August 11, 2020.