Full Title: Sexiled: My Sexist Party Leader Kicked Me Out, So I Teamed Up With a Mythical Sorceress! Volume Two
Author: Ameko Kaeruda
Illustrator: Kazutomo Miya
Translator: Molly Lee
Editor: Hannah N. Carter
Publisher: J-Novel Club (English) / Overlap (オーバーラップ) (Japanese)
Genre: Fantasy, GL
Recommended Age: Not Given By Publisher; 14+
After taking first place in the Sparring Tournament, Tanya Artemiciov and the rest of her party members are invited to the royal soirée. Following a chance encounter with Princess Arianora, they catch a glimpse of Maxwell, the man who sealed Laplace away for 300 years. And the very next morning, Laplace goes missing. What secrets are hiding in Laplace's dark past? What's the REAL reason she was sealed away for so long? And... why does she look so much like Arianora?! Kick off your high heels and loosen that corset, because it's time for revenge: part two!
Content Warnings: (Graphic, Depicted, Mentioned)
Depicted: Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual Harassment, Child Abuse (Physical), Pseudo-Incestual Plot Elements, Attempted Forced Arranged Marriage, Violence
Tags:
Immortal Sorceress and Magi-Knight Girlfriend Smash Patriarchy, Black and Pink Girlfriends, Fan Service (Subverts and Critiques), Feminist, Yuri / GL, Sapphic, Men are Trash
Review
Ameko Kaeruda continues to be an auto-buy author for me as she continues to pump out campy, fun, and feminist GL novels. In the conclusion of Sexiled, we watch our heroines smash the patriarchy with their love in a good old revenge plot.
Volume two of Sexiled continues the zany adventures of Immortal Sorceress Laplace and her Magi-Knight Tanya as they try and take down the Grand Mage Maxwell. We finally learn why Laplace was sealed away in the Western Wastelands for 300 years in this volume. And Laplace finally gets her revenge on Maxwell for doing so and exposing him for his lies. We are also introduced to Princess Arianora Aweigkorrt, a princess with an uncanny resemblance to Laplace, who has her troubles with Maxwell.
In this latest instalment, Ameko Kaeruda continues her feminist critique of many elements in anime, manga, and light novels. This time taking down the stereotype of the beautiful all-powerful but evil sorceress. By critiquing the man who made Laplace into the weapon she was and then ultimately discarding her when she was no longer of use to him as an obedient puppet.
And while Laplace’s revenge story goes into darker territory than Tanya’s Sexiled never loses its campy tone. Continuing to fight the patriarchy with the sheer force of will of our protagonists. Who bring gleeful revenge on the men who ruined their lives.
One of my only critiques of this novel is that our secondary party members, Nadine and Katherine, receive less character development than our leading pair, Laplace and Tanya. While we do get a couple of cool fights featuring Nadine and Katherine, their backstories and character progression are very much light in comparison. And while I would like an extra two novels that focus on these two characters’ backstories and futures, I do realise that’s probably not in the cards as the series is currently complete at two volumes, both in Japanese and English.
The second critique I would have contains a spoiler. Skip the next paragraph if you don’t want to be spoiled.
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My second more major critique involves our antagonist Maxwell. Maxwell’s entire plot revolves around him trying to become immortal and creating a harem of brides to obey him. My only problem with this plot is that the harem of brides Maxwell is creating are essentially clones of his daughter Laplace - as explained in the epilogue. Making this plotline somewhat incestuous. And while Kaeruda is critiquing this type of man, a man who views himself as the victim and raises himself by hurting everyone around him. It still feels cheap and gross to make the clones not only a way for Maxwell to gain immortality and power but also clones of Laplace. And it immediately drew me out of the story once that revelation was made.
END OF SPOILER
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Even with that one turn off I have with Sexiled Volume Two, Ameko Kaeruda continues to be an auto-buy author for me. Her campy feminist fantasy GL stories always bring a smile to my face. And, Sexiled continues the trend with the immortal sorceress Laplace and her magi-knight Tanya smashing the patriarchy with their love. This series was such a delight to read, and I can’t wait to pick up more of Kaeruda’s work in the future as it gets translated to English.