Warlords of Sigrdrifa Rusalka is a military/sci-fi action light novel written by Tappei Nagatsuki and illustrated by Takuya Fujima. Debuting in Japan in May 2020, and being released here in the United States, courtesy of Yen Press’s Yen On line of light novels, releasing the two-volume light novel series as one hardcover, omnibus edition in May 2022. The series also boasts a fair amount of additional adaptations of the franchise’s universe in other forms of media, including two manga series (which have yet to see a Stateside release), as well as a 12 episode animation, with animation work for the series being done by A-1 Pictures. Fortunately, anyone interested in checking out the anime will be delighted to hear that it is available to be streamed via Crunchyroll, so anyone wanting more of the series and it’s universe over here in the USA will be able to see the series come to life and experience the story of Warlords of Sigrdrifa in a different format. Without any further ado, let’s dive into the series and discuss what makes Warlords of Sigrdrifa Rusalka such a great read.
In the world of Warlords of Sigrdrifa, which is a fictional take on our own earth, giant monoliths of light have begun to appear around the globe. These large pillars of light also have the ability to spawn alien creatures, that humanity has come to refer to as pillars. These beings do not come in peace, and bring destruction in their wake, and it is up to a small group of fighter pilots to defend the earth from this otherworldly siege. Enter Rusalka Evereska, a young military woman who is part of a small, elite group of air force pilots chosen by Odin called The Valkyries. Rusalka and her fellow Valkyries make up a division of the European air force that is vital to combating the invasion of pillars, as their aircraft are the only weapons equipped to fight the alien menace, as traditional weapons of war have no effect on them. With the fate of the world in balance, these brave young women soar the skies, engaging in life-or-death dogfights with strange, unknown entities to protect what is most important to them.
As previously mentioned, the setting of the story is a fictional take on modern day earth. A lot of the story takes place on military bases, showcasing the day to day life of Rusalka and her fellow sisters-in-arms. The series also has a great balance between daily life, character development portions, and the more action packed, airborne battles at high altitude. A balance like that makes sure that the reader is not only engaged in the action, but has had time to learn about the characters, their motivations, their personalities, and really get invested in them as the story unfolds. One unique aspect of the world of Warlords of Sigrdrifa Rusalka, is that of the series’s choice of aircraft. Instead of employing modern day fighter jets in the modern day setting, the Valkyries fly propeller driven planes, akin to those used in the first two world wars. These relics of a bygone era are blessed with magical properties to their weapons, enabling them to take down foes that are otherwise impervious to gunfire. This dichotomy between a modern world and weaponry of the past gives the series a truly unique flair to its storytelling, which made my experience with the series all the more memorable.
The characters of Warlords of Sigrdrifa Rusalka also all have their own unique charm to them. From the serious to a fault demeanor of protagonist Rusalka, to the mysterious, enigmatic Odin who has granted various capable women and girls the power of the Valkyries, to the happy-go-lucky first Valkyrie, Amy. Each character has their own unique demeanor and personality traits, making them stand out from each other, and everyone who gets their hands on a copy of the story is bound to have a favorite of the bunch. The character writing is a joy to read, and many of the fan-favorite archetypes of characters among manga and light novel readers are on display in Warlords of Sigrdrifa Rusalka, but are done in a way that each character feels fresh and doesn’t make the cast or writing feel trope-y.
The illustrations scattered throughout the chapters of Warlords of Sigrdrifa Rusalka are a pleasure to see as well. Light novels don’t have the luxury that manga does, where everything is visual at all times, so illustrations of key moments to convey the emotions of a character, or the ongoing action are essential to the identity of light novels. Warlords of Sigrdrifa Rusalka executes on this idea excellently. The writing is compelling and easy to visualize all the emotions, dogfights and drama unfolding within the pages of the story, but Takuya Fumjia’s illustrations kick it up a notch, and capture the critical moments of the story in the form of single page images that appear throughout the book. Also, the color illustrations in the novel’s opening pages are a delight as well. They capture a glimpse of what is to come, in regards to the characters, and also give a brief overview of who is who. This helps you get a visualization of what each character looks like as you read, helping establish a complete mental image of the events taking place within the pages of Warlords of Sigrdrifa Rusalka. Also, as big fan of action sequences, I must say that the writing on the high speed dogfights is extremely easy to follow and visualize as you read. The tactics employed by the Valkyries in their skirmishes with the pillars is also well detailed, as was obviously well thought out, making the battles within the story all the more realistic and gripping.
Warlords of Sigrdrifa Rusalka is a light novel series that I would highly recommend to anyone who likes military stories with an anime-esque flair to them, stories of air combat, or readers who enjoy a tale about humanity’s struggle against an unknown force that threatens all life on earth. The story is very well written, and the key illustrations make the high points of the book all the more compelling. I personally loved the book, and hope that the sister light novel, Senyoku no Sigrdrifa Sakura sees an American release sometime in the future.
