Lout of Count's Family (Novel) Vol. 1 Paperback – September 3, 2024

I really enjoyed volume one! Great characters, well developed plot tension, and enough hints of what to look forward to to keep things interesting! Definitely getting volume 2!

Kim Roksu only got five volumes into Birth of a Hero before falling asleep--and waking up as Cale Henituse, the minor villain the protagonist Choi Han beats up on his way to starting his adventure! Since Cale is not a fan of being beaten to within an inch of his life, he decides a few small changes to the plot can't hurt . . . and finds his dreams of a lazy life as a rich layabout are somehow getting farther and farther away.This is one of my favorite stories, and I'm so happy to see it's finally gotten an official English release!Cale is a unique protagonist. He's unapologetically selfish, lazy, and entitled, yet he's also unable to turn his back on the suffering, and unwilling to put someone else in a position where they'll be harmed. Unless they deserve it, of course. He hates work so much he refuses to learn swordsmanship or magic and instead opts to collect Ancient Powers---a kind of historical relic the book's characters never got much use out of, but might help a weakling like Cale if a situation turns sour.Over the course of this volume, he collects a number of people either in need, or whose goals simply work well with his purposes, and starts a chain of machinations that will alter the face of the world. Cale is very much more of a chessmaster than a player---he prefers to create the plans and then issue orders, but he's also not above doing what he can on his own. (One of the funnier instances of this is when he creates search teams for the plaza, and assigns himself the role of drinking at a local bar. When one of the party members tries to protest, she realizes that everyone, including Cale himself, agrees he'd be useless.)There is NO ROMANCE in this series. Personally I find that a huge plus. Cale ends up more in a dad role to two kittens and one very young dragon, and is well on his way to building solid friendships with a number of other characters, both men and women. It's also refreshing that secondary characters by and large have their own personalities and goals, and Cale is simply appealing to their own inclinations to get them moving in the way that he needs. For the lonely, he provides friendship (and not only with himself). For the ambitious, opportunities. And for the villains? Endless frustration.Choi Han is also interesting, as Cale has an outsider's view to a very typical protagonist. Here's a 17-year-old kid who got thrown into a fantasy world in the middle of a very dangerous forest, then had to survive for decades before he started on the story's adventures. Cale never tries to undercut his strength, or steal anything that Choi Han would acquire. He can see the emotional journey that Choi Han is taking, and if Cale's actions shortcut some of the trauma, what's the harm? He's simply helping a little. And Cale completely fails to acknowledge that his actions are starting to make a much bigger impact on this wayward hero than he ever planned.Because that's the main attraction of this story. It's full of misunderstandings. Other characters misunderstand Cale, whether by his plot or by accident. Cale misses some clues that the readers pick up on. But there's also a layer where the readers are being misled by the narrative Cale is telling himself. Look at what he says. Then look at what he DOES. Cale likes to lie, even to himself.This particular volume covers the first segment of the journey, although irritatingly it cuts off in the middle of the plaza arc. I still recommend it wholeheartedly, and the cliffhanger hits before any of the action gets started, but it does end before the rising tension gets a chance to pay off. Before we get to that point, however, there are a few other arcs that do get completed, and they also serve to build up the ongoing story.Highly Recommended.

I love these books! I was over the moon when I saw them scheduled for publication! One of my favorite all time series, and I can't wait until the rest are released!

I have been waiting for this novel to come on print for a while and it’s great to have it in my hands nowThe story is amazing, definitely recommend reading the seriesAs for the book’s quality, it’s not bad but I was expecting more given that it is form seven seas… it was a shame to not have this series getting the same quality of paper as others from this printing houseStill, it was a good purchase and I definitely recommend you get it!

I’ve actually read this novel on novel updates and I absolutely ADORED it. It’s not the typical sort of novel with harems and romance, etc. Instead it is a feel-good story about found family and kicking ass in an upcoming war. The protagonist is a self proclaimed slacker seeking a relaxing life of farming, but has a very round about way of achieving that goal by hitting people in the back to get his ultimate goal. Along the way he picks up family members, and even becomes a reliable adoptive father.On another note there are certain things that the author puts in that is actually explained further in the novel with some pretty good twists! It’s 100% recommended to buy and read, allow yourself to sit down and relax with the skills of one Cale Henituse.*****Only Con and has nothing to do with the novel/story/author. The book had come to me slightly bent on the back but that is blamed on the way it had been shoved into the mail box to be bent by the delivery person.

I’ve been waiting for this title to get an “official” translation and it was worth the wait now that I have my own copy.The story is a good one, it’ll start off a slow in action as it’s laying the foundation, but will pick up so it’s worth it to keep reading into the second book.

Great book it came in perfect condition no complaints :)

I'm still reading the webnovel as it updates and when I'm waiting for chapters, I find myself rereading it again and again. I started from the manhwa and had to know what's next so I went to the novel. I was so excited to see an official translation in a physical copy, I intend to buy the entire series.