I just finished reading the last light novel (The day I took in Dazai) and thus I decided it was finally time to write a review about the light novels. Most people know Dazai from the anime and some are really into the manga, I have to admit that even thought I am up to date with those, the light novels have a special place in my heart. I will give a review for each of the light novels, take into account that they have no order and you could just want to know what happens in one of them and that would be enough,so if that is the case you can just look at the review I write about it (if you don't want spoilers just read the first part of the review).

1. Dazai's entrance exam: For the people who have seen the anime this is basically how the Azure Baner arc actually happened, there was no Atsushi and it was how Dazai became a member of the ADA. I wished this was the first thing I read/saw from the series, cause I think knowing the present kinda makes you know parts of the outcome of the novel that wouldn't be as obvious. Having Kunikida as the narrator as quite fun in it's own way and you can still get surprised even if you watched the anime. (Spoiler part) I think it was written to make you believe Dazai was the culprit, since you aren't supposed to know he is a Port Mafia former executive. There is one part that was omitted in the anime that I actually believe was necessary since it makes Kunikida realise the potential of Dazai, and is a whole bomber case that they have to solve with lies, which Kunikida sucks at and Dazai just excels...eventually Kunikida points a gun at Dazai suspecting he is actually the one behind all of those request that have been straining the ADA, only for him to realise that they were trying to frame Dazai and Dazai himself was well aware of it, so as Kunikida said in the novel: If it was anyone other than Dazai, the plan of the perpetrador would have succeeded.

2. Osamu Dazai and the Dark Era: If I had to be brief...pain and suffering but absolutely worth it. This one is also already animated. However, what is quite novel is actually reading what Odasaku is thinking. The anime gives you al the actions and expressions but it doesn't convey the inner thoughts which I deeply appreciated. (Spoiler part) When Odasaku is finally fighting Gide and when he is saying his last words to Dazai, you can actually feel how much he cherished Dazai and how he regretted not trying to pry more into the darkness of his friend.

3. The Untold Origins of the Detective Agency: This one is divided into to stories. The first one is short and is how they planned Atsushi's exam, it is relaxing and fun but with a twist to it that is kinda predictable and at the same time not. Then the main story, which is the one on the title, has also been animated in the fourth season of the anime, which basically shows how the ADA came to exist, being Fukusawa and Ranpo the first members (one could argue the ADA was created with Ranpo in mind). I don't think I have spoilers for this one, more because I think this is my least favourite, not because is bad but because the other ones have characters I prefer and stories I relate more to.

4. 55 minutes: Hasn't been animated and doesn't have a manga. I do think for this one you might need to read the second one first or at least have watched the Dark Era arc in the anime, cause some details might be lost if you don't. The main objective in this one is avoiding the activation of a dangerous skill based weapon in an island that is now close to Yokohama, the terrorist that is supposed to trigger it can actually manipulate time and while reading it a lot of unexpected events will happen and it somehow felt like reading a mystery novel. (Spoiler part) There are actually multiple villains and many misunderstandings, the main villains turn out to be a captain who is actually related to the whole Mimic fiasco and there is also Verne who is no longer himself but an ability incarnated (the ability is "The mysterious island" thus why the novel happens on an island that moves as if it were a ship). Dazai is gonna get pierced and die for a few seconds (I was soooo scared in that part) and Atsushi is going to travel back in time with the help of a new character. I deeply recommend it, it's enjoyable and intriguing.

5. Dead Apple: I don't think I have much to say about this one, since the movie was actually faithful to it and I think must of the people interested in this novel have already seen the anime. However, it is interesting how it has different povs and some inner monologues are more interesting here than the actual situation depicted in the movie.

6. Beast: This one is pain and suffering as well and just as worth it. This is not your usual light novel, because it's neither an AU nor part of the main story, somewhere in between. I recommend watching or reading until the cannibalism arc of the anime/manga as well as reading the second light novel before this one, cause if not understanding why Dazai is doing what he is doing and his whole book functioning are going to be quite confusing. This novel basically shows a world were Akutagawa is in the ADA and Atsushi is in the PM, Dazai is also the boos of the PM and Odasaku is alive and a member of the ADA, so it feels like a complete flip from the world we know. (Spoiler parts) It is actually a world inside the book and it's the only one where Odasaku is alive and writing, the Dazai of the world inside the book learnt this creating a singularity and acquiring the memories of the Dazai outside the book, so he made this whole plan to kidnap Akutagawa's sister and train Atsushi just so they could protect this world. Part of the plan includes that Dazai commits suicide, since if three or more people know that it's a world inside the book it could become unstable and disappear...It will break you and hurt you if you like Odasaku and/or Dazai but it will also make you appreciate them all the more.

7. Dazai, Chuuya, Age Fifteen: This one is also already animated, this arc is actually the first four or five episodes of the fourth season, but I preferred the novel. Then again a lot of details the characters convey in books cannot be conveyed through animation. One detail that changes is the fact that in the anime Dazai already has the book with all those suicide methods, meanwhile in the novel he did not cause he actually got it in the first light novel.

8. Storm Bringer: It's trauma and at the same time healing, specially for those who also love Chuuya. Dazai will be quite the villain in this one but you actually get to know a lot more about Chuuya's past than you did in the seventh one (which is why I prefer this one). I do recommend reading the seventh before this one or watching the episodes indicated before, so that you can understand it better. (Spoiler part) Now we finally get to see how Chuuya is fairing in the PM after accepting the boss's offer as a way to get closer to his past. He starts as a part of an organisation called The Flags (I do not recommend getting attached to any of its members...doesn't end well) who become his friends. The main antagonist of the novel is Paul Verlaine, an experienced assassin who has the same ability as Chuuya (but somehow more potent and with more experience), he was actually brought by Dazai and eventually even though he should die and loose his ability, Rimbaud saves him and he becomes an executive of the PM.

9. The Day I Took In Dazai: For this one it is necessary to read the second and sixth one, cause if not you're gonna be very very lost. Here we have Side A, that happens in the real world, and Side B, which happens in the world mentioned in Beast. (Spoiler part) It is pretty short and I just read it so it is quite impossible not to give spoilers, as Kafka Asagiri said in the Afterword, it is a story of how they met and how they never met...It's quite hard to read, cause one is somewhat joyful but you know it ends with Odasaku dying and the other one hurts cause is a Dazai that can't talk to his friend and has to become a villain in his eyes just so that he can ensure that Odasaku can live and write.

All in all, they are an amazing experience and worth all the time you can invest to them.