Holiday Review: DEATH MARCH TO THE PARALLEL WORLD RHAPSODY

Of course, the isekai trend continues unabated in the world of light novels and most of those end up with a manga adaptation for good measure.  Of course, the longer a trend goes on, the less inspired and more lazy it gets...at least, if this book has anything to say about it.

DEATH MARCH TO THE PARALLEL WORLD RHAPSODY (Desu Machi Kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyosokyoku), based on the novel by Ayamegumu, art by Hiro Ainana and character designs by Shri.  First published in 2014 and first published in North America in 2017.

PLOT:

Ichirou Suzuki is a programmer who is currently in the middle of a crunch to finish a new JRPG.  In the middle of testing, he falls asleep only to find himself in the game in a younger form of his body.  A chance encounters gives him all the resources, levels, and skills he needs to get by, so he's content to lay low, explore the world, and try to learn as much as possible from the many pretty girls that come his way so he can find his way back.  It seems this dream world has a greater destiny for him in mind, though, and he'll have to put all his knowledge of the game to the test.