If someone invited you to a day out on the water, would you want: a) to do some thrilling activities like water skiing and whitewater rafting b) go out on a nice, calm, relaxing cruise?
If you are the type who prefers and like your isekai stories the same way…Reincarnated as the Last of my Kind is not for you.
After a bike accident, a 20-year-old woman discovers she’s suddenly a baby. The strange couple crying in front of her, she gathers, are her parents, and they send her down the river, praying for her survival and mentioning something about a Stone of Daybreak. After nearly winding up with some unscrupulous fellows, she’s saved by a Mythical Beast, and he leaves her with a recently divorced, one-armed knight named Marcus who raises her, although that little girl, whom he names Tinaris, finds it awkward to go through childhood again.
Reincarnated as the Last of my Kind is an episodic novel covering significant events when Tinaris was a baby and then between ages four and six. Through crises both big (monster attack) and small (finding a ring), Tinaris discovers she has an incredible talent for alchemy, making potions and other useful items.
Although she uses alchemy, technically, she’s training as an alchemical apothecary; alchemists are more closer to the Fullmetal Alchemist kind. Tinaris takes various plants and animal matter and mixes them with her mana to create healing medicines and other mixtures to help people.
Of course, that’s likely due to her blood, but Tinaris doesn’t know yet she’s the last of her kind. So any plot about saving her species or the world or whatever is going to have to wait. The basis is there though: some countries in the world believe in species supremacy, others equality. Plus, due to the natural magic in the world, defeating monsters leads to more monsters. So while I’m guessing Tinaris and this Stone of are going to play a part in fixing this, even then, I bet this is going to stick to being about Tinaris’ personal journey rather than a physical one.
That’s also because she doesn’t have any specific goal right now other than repaying Marcus for raising her. Tinaris explains why she has put up an emotional wall around Marcus and his family, but this prevents Reincarnated as the Last of my Kind from being as heartwarming as the cover and Tinaris’ age might suggest. Marcus took over the inn to repay his parents, and between the two of them, “just because I love you” felt like a foreign concept. Crossing my fingers for Tinaris to fully accept Marcus in the future.
The novel is structured so that Tinaris meets a group of inn guests or merchants, and then Marcus covers the same time period/events but from his perspective…and it usually involves him getting emotional at how adorable, helpful, and talented Tinaris is. I don’t think it’s going down that type of path, but this back-and-forth between father and daughter provides a unique angle in the isekai genre. The fact we know Tinaris wouldn’t be that upset to call Marcus by his first name would likely crush the man. Not that he’s perfect either — he was so dedicated to his work that he neglected his wife and daughter, which is why he wants to do better with Tinaris. His narration explains his decisions and elaborates on his worries, but some readers may be frustrated that almost half the volume is not “new”.
Plus, out of the three batches of visitors, audiences may find themselves favoring one group over another and be disappointed at their departure or late arrival. I’m sure we’ll be seeing some (all?) of these characters again, but they have such strong personalities that it’s a shame it may be a while before they return. Maybe by then the writing will have become a bit stronger. Some paragraphs almost seemed to repeat lines, and some dialogue-heavy portions can be muddled with unclear speakers.
For those who just want a relaxing read, those issues aren’t going to be much of barrier to enjoy this series’ debut volume. But the current lack of battle or romantic sparks means Reincarnated as the Last of my Kind needs to be matched up to the right audience to be fully enjoyed.