Title

The Eminence in Shadow

Also known as: Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute!, 陰の実力者になりたくて！, To Be a Power in the Shadows!, ชีวิตไม่ต้องเด่น ขอแค่เป็นเทพในเงา, 我想成為影之強者!, TEIS

by Daisuke Aizawa

Score from AniList: 83/100releasing

Action Comedy Fantasy More like The Eminence in Shadow

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One big fat lie and a few twisted truths. Even in his past life, Cid's dream wasn't to become a protagonist or a final boss. He'd rather lie low as a minor character until it's prime time to reveal he's a mastermind...or at least, do the next best thing-pretend to be one! And now that he's been reborn into another world, he's ready to set the perfect conditions to live out his dreams to the fullest. Armed with his overactive imagination, Cid jokingly recruits members to his organization and makes up a whole backstory about an evil cult that they need to take down. Well, as luck would have it, these imaginary adversaries turn out to be the real deal-and everyone knows the truth but him! (Source: Yen Press)

Type: Light novel

Hoard Verdict

The StoryHoard editorial verdict

★ 3.5/5

A self-aware fantasy comedy about a man who builds a secret organisation from pure imagination, with a playful structure that rewards close reading.

Pros

A clever, self-aware premise about power fantasy
Structured comedy that works through its setup
A lead whose eccentricity is central, not decorative

Cons

The joke can feel repetitive across volumes
Action beats take a back seat to the premise

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Read the full take

The Eminence in Shadow is a self-aware fantasy comedy that takes the power fantasy and turns it inside out. Its lead wants nothing more than to be a mastermind hiding in the background, and after he is reborn in another world, he sets about building a secret organisation through sheer imagination and a generous helping of bravado. The structure is clear and deliberate: each set-up is designed to be read with a wink, and the jokes depend on the reader spotting how the lead's fantasies collide with reality. The honest cons are repetition and emphasis. The central joke can feel stretched across a long run, and the action takes a back seat to the premise. Readers who want tight combat or a serious plot may find it thin. Still, it is a sharp, self-aware read for fans of comedic power fantasy. Recommended for readers who enjoy the joke more than the fight.