Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Momo and Okarun share a close moment in Dandadan

    Momo And Okarun: The Gold Standard For Shonen Romance

    07/03/2025
    Ironheart Episodes 4 6 But Why Tho 1

    ‘Ironheart’ Explained: Explore MCU’s Bold New Chapter

    07/01/2025
    Buck in 9-1-1

    ‘9-1-1’ Has To Let Buck Say Bisexual

    06/29/2025
    Nintendo Welcome Tour promotional image of the maraca mini-game

    The One “Game” That Justifies The Nintendo Switch 2 Purchase

    06/25/2025
    Destiel Confession in Supernatural - Castiel (Misha Collins) and Dean (Jensen Ackles)

    The Destiel Confession: The Lasting Importance Of Supernatural’s Greatest Ship

    06/22/2025
  • Squid Game
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Switch 2 Games
  • Summer Game Fest
But Why Tho?
Home » Books » REVIEW: ‘Bungo Stray Dogs,’ Light Novel 5 – “Dead Apple”

REVIEW: ‘Bungo Stray Dogs,’ Light Novel 5 – “Dead Apple”

Olive St. SauverBy Olive St. Sauver01/21/20214 Mins Read
Bungo Stray Dogs: Dead Apple
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

Bungo Stray Dogs: Dead Apple

It has been a couple of years since the Bungo Stray Dogs: Dead Apple anime-original film premiered, but the novelization of the story has just received an English release from Yen Press. Bungo Stray Dogs centers around the Armed Detective Agency, a fictional group of “skill users” in Yokohama who take on cases. The majority of the characters in the series are inspired (and named after) real life literary figures, and references abound. The series started as a manga by Kafka Asagiri with art by Sango Harukawa, but soon expanded into a full multimedia franchise, widening the canon. The light novel series features standalone stories by Asagiri. Bungo Stray Dogs: Dead Apple is the first light novel to not be written directly by Asagiri, who instead supervised. This novel is written by Hiro Iwahata, with illustrations by Ganjii, based on the original story from Bungo Stray Dogs DA Partners. Matt Rutsohn translates it into English.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

A series of unexplained suicides by skill users prompt the Armed Detective Agency to track down a mysterious man by the name of Tatsuhiko Shibusawa. Separated from their teammates in a thick fog that covers the city, Atsushi and Kyoka must team up with former enemy Akutagawa of the Port Mafia. Behind the scenes, Dazai is once again pulling the strings, this time alongside Fyodor Dostoevsky, and he may have finally betrayed the detective agency.

The novel follows the film pretty closely, with only a few minor deviations and expansions to improve clarity. It crams a lot into just under 200 pages. There are multiple character cameos, and some work better than others. It is nice to see Oda again, with a brief flashback to the Dragon’s Head Conflict during Dazai’s mafia days. Even Dame Agatha Christie, elusive in the manga, makes a brief appearance. These are fun, and ultimately Bungo Stray Dogs: Dead Apple is more enjoyable looking at its individual parts, rather than their sum. Wires get crossed in the details, causing the big picture to collapse under its own weight. The novelization certainly improves on the film’s convoluted plot. It spends a little more time with the antagonists, giving a bit more context to their motivations and goals.

The Bungo Stray Dogs: Dead Apple light novel also expands more on Atsushi’s past trauma with Shibusawa. This helps ease some of the frustration with his character. Ultimately, the plot’s overall messages of trauma and self-acceptance aren’t given enough time to grow with the characters and feel rather forced. More so, since the timeline placement of the novel is after the conflict with The Guild, where Atsushi and Kyoka already had major character arcs about self-acceptance.

Presentation-wise, the Bungo Stray Dogs: Dead Apple novel includes a double-sided pullout featuring the key artwork used for the film. It is a nice touch. Ganjii’s illustrations are good, although not as detailed as Harukawa’s. The lines are bold, dark, and scratchy, in contrast to Harukawa’s usually thin, slick linework. The other frustration with this novel is consistency. Bungo Stray Dogs is a multimedia franchise. A different company, of course, localizes the anime, but both the manga and novels are published by Yen Press. Translation is hard, especially with a series that references literary works that have been localized in numerous ways previously. However, in-house, it is odd that elements, such as Chuuya’s trigger phrase for his ability, differ from the novel and manga. Additionally, there were a few noticeable typos. It isn’t a deal-breaker, as this happens, but Atsushi Nakajima’s last name was written as “Nakashima” multiple times and was distracting.

For fans of the franchise, this standalone light novel may be worth it, as it does improve upon the film. Unfortunately, the plot is still very convoluted and tries to do too much. Bungo Stray Dogs: Dead Apple is the weakest installment in the light novel series.

Bungo Stray Dogs: Dead Apple is available now wherever books are sold.

Bungo Stray Dogs: Dead Apple
2.5

TL;DR

For fans of the franchise, this standalone light novel may be worth it, as it does improve upon the film. Unfortunately, the plot is still very convoluted and tries to do too much. Bungo Stray Dogs: Dead Apple is the weakest installment in the light novel series.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleWhat to Watch After Alice In Borderland
Next Article Netflix’s ‘Blood of Zeus’ Comes to ‘Immortals Fenyx Rising’
Olive St. Sauver

Olive is an award-winning playwright with BAs in English and Theatre. At BWT she is a manga and anime critic, with an additional focus on mental health portrayals in media and true crime.

Related Posts

Jedi Battle Scars - But Why Tho

ADVANCED REVIEW: ‘Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars’

02/22/2023
The Battle of Jedha - But Why Tho

REVIEW: ‘Star Wars: The High Republic: The Battle of Jedha’

01/04/2023
A Day of Fallen Night

ADVANCED REVIEW: ‘A Day of Fallen Night’ Is An Epic Tale

12/03/2022
High Republic Convergence - But Why Tho

REVIEW: ‘Star Wars: The High Republic: Convergence’

11/22/2022
Sensory Life on the Spectrum - But Why Tho

ADVANCED REVIEW: ‘Sensory: Life on the Spectrum’

10/17/2022
Star Wars: The Princess and the Scoundrel

ADVANCED REVIEW: ‘Star Wars: The Princess and the Scoundrel’

07/26/2022

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Taecyeon and Seohyun in The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8
7.5
TV

REVIEW: ‘The First Night With The Duke’ Episodes 7-8

By Sarah Musnicky07/03/2025

The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8 spends welcome time in pre-domestic bliss before new developments stir up trouble.

Together (2025) still from Sundance
8.0
Film

REVIEW: Have A Grossly Good Time ‘Together’

By Kate Sánchez01/27/2025Updated:07/04/2025

Dave Franco and Alison Brie’s Together (2025) is disgustingly funny, genuinely ugly, and just a good time at the movies.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4 Alcatraz
9.0
PS5

REVIEW: ‘Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 + 4’ Gives Old Games New Life

By Kyle Foley07/07/2025

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and 4 is another example of how to breathe new life into a classic without losing touch of what makes the originals great.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here