Hai to Gensou no Grimgar (Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash)

Add to My List

Add to Favorites

Alternative Titles

Synonyms: Grimgal of Ashes and Illusion, Grimgal of Ashes and Fantasies, Hai to Gensou no Grimgal

Japanese: 灰と幻想のグリムガル

More titles

Information

Type: Light Novel

Volumes: Unknown

Chapters: Unknown

Status: Publishing

Published: Jun 25, 2013 to ?

Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy

Theme: Isekai

Serialization: None

Authors: Jyumonji, Ao (Story), Shirai, Eiri (Art)

Statistics

Score: 8.26¹ (scored by 4,732 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #415²

² based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #885

Members: 24,666

Favorites: 804

Resources

Wikipedia

8.26

Ranked #415Popularity #885Members 24,666

Light NovelJyumonji, Ao (Story), Shirai, Eiri (Art)

Add to My List

Volumes: /?

Chapters: /?

Edit
Synopsis

Why are we doing this...? When Haruhiro came to, he was in the darkness. Not knowing why was he here, or where "here" even was. With him were others who also remembered little more than their own names. What they found when they came out of the underground was a world that was "just like a game." In order to survive, Haruhiro forms a party with others in the same situation as him, learns Skills, and takes his first steps forward into the world of Grimgar as a Trainee Volunteer Soldier. Not knowing what awaits him... This is a tale of adventure born from the ashes.

(Source: J-Novel Club)

Edit

BackgroundHai to Gensou no Grimgar has been published digitally in English as Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash by J-Novel Club since December 15, 2016, and in print by Seven Seas Entertainment under the Airship imprint since June 6, 2017.

Edit

Related Entries

More characters
Characters

Haruhiro

Main

Merry

Main

Yume

Main

Ranta

Main

Shihoru

Main

Moguzo

Main

Manato

Supporting

Barbara

Supporting

Renji

Supporting

Setora, Shuro

Supporting

Reviews

Aug 27, 2023

Zirotaku

Recommended

Preliminary (284/? eps)

This is my favourite Isekai and one of my favourite LN's out there. Nevertheless, this story is flawed and I can see why some people would not like this. The biggest flaw is that the story really takes its time and some times it reeeeaally drags which might be a turnoff for some. But I do think that this (sometimes) flaw can be the LN's greatest strenght most of the time. Because it makes it possible for the character development to be handled with such care which is hardly seen in anime.

Story - 8-9

I think the story is one of the aspects of this LN ... which can't really be explained well because, well... the characters are just trying to survive and get by. Without knowing the full context you could think that this is just a slice of life/survival show which Grimgar definitely borrows from. I think it is more comparable to the likes of a "Walking Dead" tho. The characters try to survive, sometimes they have specific goals and sometimes they have to fight of people who want to harm them but overall they are just trying to secure their place in this world. I'll leave it at that with the story because it still has some mystery to it which souldn't be spoiled.

Characters - 9

The characters are absolutely the best part of this LN. Those who have watched the anime might think that the characters are interesting but nothing exceptional or remarkable. I think this is partially the animes fault and the way the characters are handled in it. Ranta, Yume, and Moguzo are handled fine. You can expect them to act the same in the LN. Shihoru feels a bit flat in the anime but that just comes with the medium and the necessity of cutting content from the light novel. Haruhiro was extremely mispresented in the anime tho. He is called Old Cat so he should have droppy Eyes and baggs under them but in the anime he looks way more generic. The way he acts also doesn't match the way he does in the LN. Haruhiro is kind off supposed to be self-doubt incarnate but in the anime that doesn't really shine through.
Now about the actual character writing: It's slow. The characters develop slowly but that means this development is handled with an intimacy and care which you can't really find in any other isekai. That includes the character relationships. Haruhiro's party has such a strong bond that it feels like they'd do anything for each other. It has a sincerity to it which I can't really describe. In romance anime or battle shonen there is often some kind of insincerity between the rivals or the main couple for example. Grimgar doesn't really have that. Characters say they love each other or they cuddle with each other or they throw themselves into dangerous situations just because they care abound the bond they have. It obviously isn't like that from the get-go but Haruhiro's group grows so clos because of all the shit they go through together.

World - 9

It's in the title. Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash. The Fantasy part is clear, Fantasy=Magic, Beasts, Monsters and so on. The Ash part is the one which makes Grimgar different from other isekai worlds. Grimgar is a dying world abandonded by the gods. People turn into undead because of the No-Life King's curse and basically anything that breathes is trying to survive and ready to kill you if you try to interfere. In contrast to other isekai worlds t doesn't feel like as if humanity is a nature-defying power, building huge cities and being the dominant species. In Grimgar there are no big cities. Humanity is just like the other races part of a dying ecosystem called Grimgar. Because of that, Grimgar always has a certain mystique to it and a sense of dread is looming over the group at all times.

Overall - 9

Grimgar might not be the most complicated story-driven political fantasy LN but it is definitely the rawest isekai LN I know and if you are interested just pick it up and see for yourself.

Open

Gift

Dec 6, 2022

LazyTh1ef

Recommended

Preliminary (18/? eps)

I will try to make this spoiler free and not too long 😊. I have read the 18 current volumes (no idea how many chapters Xd) and I would say this is a great LN but it will probably not work for everyone. This LN is very different from what most Isekai does, it takes a more “realistic” and dark approach which I enjoy. Some would probably say that it is too slow (which I can understand) but that is what I like about it.

Story: 10/10
Interesting plots and sub-plots during the entire series (so far) and nothing seems rushed. Amazing worldbuilding that the ...

Open

Gift

Jun 24, 2024

ForTheCuteThings

Not Recommended

Preliminary (10/? eps)

Loved the anime and decided to give this a shot. I have very little experience with light novels, but those I tried suffered from mind-numbingly bad writing. Unfortunately, this one was no exception.

I barely made it through the first few pages. The premise seemed interesting, and I wanted to know how the story unfolds, so I tried ignoring the horrendous writing style. After a few chapters I realized it wasn't worth it, whatever was to come. The author was building an amazing world (at least he did in the adaptation), but I no longer wanted to see it.

I'm still disappointed that I'll never see more ...

Open

Gift

More stacks

Interest Stacks

Adventurer party/Hero's Party in fantasy/isekai (PART 1)

by MagicFlier

50 Entries · 75 Restacks

Manga/LN with many interesting characters

by LazyTh1ef

20 Entries · 21 Restacks

Isekai Light Novel Read List

by Ssnowyy

50 Entries · 25 Restacks

More recommendations
Recommendations

View All

More news
Recent News

North American Anime & Manga Releases for December

Here are the North American anime, manga, and light novel releases for December. Week 1: December 2 - 8 Anime Releases Azumanga Daiou The Animation (Azumanga Daioh: ...read more

Dec 1, 2025 9:50 AM by Aiimee | Discuss (2 comments)

North American Anime & Manga Releases For February

Here are the North American anime, manga, and light novel releases for February. Week 1: February 1 - 7 Anime Releases Adachi to Shimamura (incl. Mini Anime) (Adachi...read more

Feb 4, 2022 9:30 AM by Aiimee | Discuss (4 comments)

More discussions
Recent Forum Discussion

Poll: Hai to Gensou no Grimgar Volume 15 Discussion Zaphkiel_El_Rem - Aug 7, 2020	7 replies	by StandingSitting »» Oct 27, 2025 10:01 PM
Poll: Hai to Gensou no Grimgar Volume 13 Discussion Zaphkiel_El_Rem - Mar 8, 2019	7 replies	by StandingSitting »» Oct 27, 2025 8:30 PM
Poll: Hai to Gensou no Grimgar Volume 11 Discussion Zaphkiel_El_Rem - Oct 8, 2018	4 replies	by StandingSitting »» Oct 27, 2025 6:40 PM
Poll: Hai to Gensou no Grimgar Chapter 21 Discussion StandingSitting - Sep 8, 2025	0 replies	by StandingSitting »» Sep 8, 2025 9:56 PM
Poll: Hai to Gensou no Grimgar Volume 10 Discussion Zaphkiel_El_Rem - Aug 27, 2018	5 replies	by StandingSitting »» Aug 25, 2025 10:43 PM

Hai to Gensou no Grimgar
Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash
Edit

What would you like to edit?

Alternative Titles

Information

Statistics

Resources

Edit
Synopsis

Related Entries

Visit MALxJapan
MALxJapan -More than just anime-

More characters
Characters

Reviews

Interest Stacks

More recommendations
Recommendations

More news
Recent News

More discussions
Recent Forum Discussion

MoreTop Anime

MoreTop Airing Anime

MoreMost Popular Characters

Hai to Gensou no GrimgarGrimgar of Fantasy and Ash Edit What would you like to edit? SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links

Alternative Titles

Information

Statistics

Resources

EditSynopsis

Related Entries

Visit MALxJapan MALxJapan -More than just anime-

More charactersCharacters

Reviews

Interest Stacks

More recommendations Recommendations

More newsRecent News

More discussionsRecent Forum Discussion

MoreTop Anime

MoreTop Airing Anime

MoreMost Popular Characters

Hai to Gensou no Grimgar
Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash
Edit

What would you like to edit?

Edit
Synopsis

Visit MALxJapan
MALxJapan -More than just anime-

More characters
Characters

More recommendations
Recommendations

More news
Recent News

More discussions
Recent Forum Discussion