I'm not a huge manga fan, but I liked the action and adventure in this first book in the series. One Piece is popular in my library so I will purchase this spinoff for my students.

It’s funny that we have to give actually written feed back for manga and/or graphic novels. I enjoy one piece manga, the anime and of course I wanted to continue any part of it I could. Thanks for giving me the ARC :)

I was SUPER excited Netgalley allowed me to review One Piece: Ace’s Story. One Piece is my favorite manga/anime and Ace is my favorite character. I have to say, though, it wasn’t what I was expecting. I expected a story about Ace from Ace. Well, I was half right. This light novel is written from Masked Deuce’s POV and describes pieces of his story with his fiery captain. A part of me liked getting to know more about Masked Deuce, but a larger part of me REALLY wanted to hear Ace talk. The story feels like it loses something because it’s not from Ace. This is especially so, because readers only get bits and pieces of what had to be amazing adventures. In the One Piece world, Ace made a name for himself fast and made comrades just like Luffy. The time skips that happen in the book feel like a disservice to the reader who have looked forward to more of the Spade Pirates.

The one thing I will say One Piece: Ace’s Story does well is the writing itself. The light novel translation of Eiichiro Oda’s characters and style is very well done. I felt like I could see the One Piece world and his characters (including those who rarely show) as I was reading. Some light novels can’t do that and some authors can’t write like that.

All in all, I would recommend this because it is a One Piece light novel about the Spade Pirates/Ace. Those who like the One Piece world would still like it. I can already see the increase of fanfictions.

I've never been much of a One Piece fan, but Ace was one of my favorite characters. I read the entirety of the Imperial Down and Marineforn Arcs in the manga. This is a great companion piece. I really love getting a more detailed backstory for Ace. I'm looking forward to the next novel.

I liked this book. I would have loved it more if the story was from Ace's point of view but alas it was not meant to be. While this book introduces some new characters in the One Piece world, it would have been great if this book was in manga form. Sorry readers, this book is a novel and a light one at that with only three chapters. The writing is simple and easy to follow, but leaves you wanting more. I wanted more chapters that cover the adventures leading up to each crew member like Luffy. It would be great if it was something like that, however this book goes on through time periods and not adventures. I give this book a 3.5 star rating because while this book is simple, it leaves a lot to be desired.

One Piece is by far the most popular manga in the world, and it makes a lot of sense. Between the ambitious scale of its world and its entertaining cast of characters, the series continues to draw in readers. That said, while English fans have been able to easily access the main series, many of the franchise's spin-offs have remained unlicensed. Thankfully, Viz has decided to satisfy that niche by releasing One Piece: Ace’s Story, a two volume light novel spin-off centered on the popular character Portgaz D. Ace. After reading the first volume, it’s safe to say that this will fill One Piece fans’ cravings for more content.

One Piece: Ace’s Story tells the tale of Ace’s early years at sea and the formation of the Spade Pirates. Interestingly, the novel is narrated not by Ace, but rather his subordinate Deuce. The story starts with Ace and Deuce’s first encounter, both men being stranded on the treacherous Sixus island. Surprisingly, Deuce had no intention of becoming a pirate. Inspired by the exploration books of his youth, Deuce had set out to sea to become an adventurer. While his ambitions differ from those of Ace, they both feel like outcasts from society. Deuce was considered a waste in his hometown, failing to live up to the high expectations of his family. What Duece sees in Ace is not only a friend, but someone who will accept him regardless of his past shame. In turn, by having the novel from Duece’s perspective, Ace’s charisma as a leader becomes all the more evident. Ace has the power to unite people far and wide, and Deuce serves as the first person to see that quality in him.

Being that this is Ace’s origin story, it doesn’t try to hide his biggest secret from the manga: Ace is Gol D. Roger’s son. This becomes evident from the very first page, and while it’s an unexpected choice, the novel is better off for it. When Roger is brought up, you can see that his legacy torments Ace. Since people viewed his father as a dangerous criminal, those expectations have been automatically placed on himself as well. Ace’s dream to become greater than the King of the Pirates represents his desire to be recognized for his own efforts and usurp the burdening shadow of his father.

Roger’s legacy also serves as fuel for Ace’s sense of loneliness. Ace continually questions whether his life has meaning beyond being Roger’s son, and if he deserves the same fate as his father. Ace’s recruitment of outcasts to the Spade Pirates is his way of battling against society. Ace does not want others to experience his fate, instead wanting those who have suffered to find a place to belong. Still, while Ace has given others a new purpose, he has yet to fill his own lonely void. This is a side to Ace that we rarely got to see in the manga, so to have it be explored in-depth in this novel is fascinating. Ace is still searching for his own happiness, and he hopes to find it through his journey down the Grand Line.

One Piece: Ace’s Story is a great exploration of Ace’s character that will easily satisfy One Piece fans. Ace gets the spotlight like never before, and his adventures with the Spade Pirates are a blast to read about. The second volume is set to release later this year, and I’m eagerly looking forward to it.

A fun story for fans of One Piece about Luffy's brother. It takes a while to get started, but for fans of the series especially, there's tons of adventure and daring escapes. Definitely one for reluctant teenage readers who might already be familiar with the anime or manga.

I really do enjoy One Piece, seeing Ace's story just reminds me how much I really do enjoy the character. Ace has been a favorite of mine and seeing his story how he began as a Pirate and how he ended up with the flame-flame fruit. It shows so much and you see a lot of Ace's emotions and just how much he cares about other people. It really is a great story and I do enjoy the story of Ace and ready to see the next book!

One Piece: Ace’s Story Vol. 1 is a light novel adventure written by Sho Hinata with the original concept for the novel being created by the mangaka of One Piece, Eiichiro Oda. VIZ Media is publishing the first-ever English release of the novel. The novel tells the origin story of Luffy’s adopted brother Ace and tells of his thrilling quest for the legendary One Piece treasure.

Portgas D. Ace and an unnamed man are washed up on the shores of a deserted island at the edges of the East Blue Sea. The two men come from very different backgrounds but are united by their shared thirst for adventure. One man, Ace, follows in his father’s infamous footsteps as the fearless captain of a pirate crew. The other man, Masked Deuce, becomes the very first crewmember of Ace’s Spade Pirates.

Initially, Masked Deuce is standoffish towards Ace after he learns about his infamous family’s heritage. However, when he becomes desperate for food and unsuccessfully tries to ambush Ace, Deuce is remorseful of his actions, and the two become friends. Together they combine their efforts to escape from the deserted and head off for the pirate adventure they both desired.

At 144 pages, Ace’s Story is a pretty light read. Nonetheless, it has a great story and adds a lot of value for One Piece lovers, especially for those who are big fans of Ace. Personally, Ace is one of my favorite characters in the One Piece series, so I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and getting more details about Ace’s mysterious origin.

For example, most fans of One Piece know that Ace got his powers for eating the Flame-Flame Fruit, one of the cursed Devil Fruit that allows a person the ability to create, control, and transform any part of their body into fire. An interesting fact about the Flame Flame Fruit revealed in Ace’s Story was that Ace shared the fruit with Deuce, having no idea it was a Devil Fruit. It was by complete chance that Ace gains the fruit’s the powers because he just so happened to take the first bite.

Something else that I enjoyed about Ace’s Story was that it gives us a more in-depth look into Ace’s character. The author, Sho Hinata, does this by telling the story from the perspective of Ace’s first crewman and trusted friend, Masked Deuce. Initially, I thought it was odd not to have the story told from Ace’s perspective. However, as I got into the story more, I think having the story told from one of Ace’s closest friends was a great decision. Deuce is a very perceptive character, especially when it comes to his observations of Ace.

From Deuce’s point of view, we can see some deeper layers to Ace. For example, Deuce compares being a captain to being like the sun. Just as the sun is at the center of everything, a ship’s captain is at the center of the crew and can bring people together instinctively. That is exactly how he views Ace. Deuce also recognizes that just like the sun, Ace attracts and brings people together, and they in-turn, admire him.

However, just like the sun, nothing can get very close to it, or else they would burn up. Deuce recognizes that Ace can bring his comrades together and give them a place in the world to call home and feel at peace. But questions if he and crew could ever do the same for Ace. I found this analogy to be very fitting because even with all of the admiration and fame Ace gained as a pirate, it shows that there was a deeper side to him. Sure he is surrounded by his comrades and has gained a lot of respect over the years as a pirate, but he still feels alone and isolated on some level.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed One Piece: Ace’s Story Vol. 1, and I can not wait until the next volume to see where the story goes. It is an enjoyable light read that has a great story and gives greater insight into a fan-favorite character’s mysterious past. I highly recommend this to all fans. Whether you’re a long-time fan or are relatively new to the One Piece franchise, Ace’s Story will only pull you further into the series.

One Piece: Ace’s Story Vol. 1 will be available at bookstores and online on May 5. To find out where to buy, check out Viz.com.

For fan's of One Piece this is a great side story about Luffy's brother, Portgas D. Ace. This volume is a prequel to Ace's appearance in One Piece and details how he got his Devil Fruit powers and a couple of his early adventures on the Grand Line. While reading the story it is fun to hear references that are familiar to fans of the anime and/or manga as well as revisit a familiar location that Luffy visits years later. At the end of the novel there are extras such as character sketches of the characters that appear in the book and a section to help make connections to the main One Piece storyline. This is a great extension to the One Piece universe that is fun to read for anyone who is already a fan.

This is great for One Piece fans as it gives you more knowledge and understanding of Ace. It was interesting and enjoyable. I’d defo be interested in other stories focusing on other characters for sure.

As a lover of One Piece and a huge fan of Ace, I couldn't stop myself from getting my hands on a copy of this book! I received an ARC from NetGalley and am voluntarily reviewing it. I thought it was going to be a manga, so I was surprised to see that it was an actual novel! While I prefer Oda's actual work, I still enjoyed this book. I felt cheated that we never got to see Ace's full backstory in the actual One Piece series, but this book helps make up for that. Many new facts about Ace were brought to light and the members/founding of the Spade Pirates were introduced. Told from the perspective of one of his crew members, the book tells the tale of Ace's journey after first setting sail from his home. Ace remains his lovable, dorky self and I loved getting to see him as the main character for once. Also, the character sketches in the back were so cute and really added to the story. While this book was not quite as enjoyable as the actual One Piece series, it was still a short and sweet read about one of personal favorite characters! Any One Piece or Ace fans definitely need to pick up this book! I'm very excited for the next volume!