"Glory is won over the roar of cannon fire." With an introduction like that, I'll be a damn fool not to pick this up! Gunka no Baltzar is set around an interesting period of time between the trench warfare and emergence of tanks of WW1 but also after the time where the dense formation of the Napoleonic era has been rendered obsolete by the advancement of guns and tactics. It's a pretty interesting set up for a story, and from what I've read so far, they did a pretty damn good job at it. Now, before I get a little more thorough, I will first splitthe story into three major parts, Academy, War, and Conspiracy, so that I can talk about them without spoiling too much of everything.

1. Academy (9.5/10)

I love it, it introduces both the setting and conflict so well that I can grasp the bigger picture without slowing the pace to a crawl. Our protagonist, Baltzar, is a military officer experienced with the ongoing war and tactics at the time, send to teach at a military academy in a peaceful country stuck with outdated tactics and weaponry from Napoleonic era (from around his grandfather's time, according to Baltzar) as a diplomatic mission. There, he starts to inspect, criticize and improve on what they have, facing many oppositions along the way.

2. War (9/10)

If the academy is where we learn, war is when we truly practice it. I won't spoil too much to ruin the fun, but artillery bombardment and mass cavalry charges are but few things you should expect from this changing age of warfare. Baltzar's status and the theories he has written are also greatly challenged in this part, proving him wrong on some occasion and revolutionizing warfare as a whole in another.

3. Conspiracy (7.3/10)

To be blunt, I just don't find it that interesting, especially compared to the rest. I believe that Gunka no Baltzar's greatest strength is when it's about the actual war and military, not their background conspiracy. It still has its moments, but I just prefer it when these stuffs stay in the background as it has been rather than the main focus. I know war is the extension of politic, I just don't think this manga is that good at it as it does with the actual war.

Overall, if you enjoy stories about war and history, I highly recommend it, even if you're not familiar with the period of time. The characters are colorful enough to ease you into the plot, and the whole setting is explained in a brief and concise manner so that you can get a grasp on what's going on without hurting your head in the process. The theme is light-hearted enough to enjoy after a meal, but not so light that you forgot it's telling a story about war. Perfect for a casual reading.

I give it a 9/10, I have a lot of expectation for this manga and its author and hope the best for both.