The review writer was definitely exaggerating. The novels do a bit of a better job at conveying Rei thanks to more internal monologue but we are also still at the start of the story (just started chapter 3). Chapter 4 is where Rei starts developing more, and more importantly is where we get our first look at the real Rei.
Well, okay, but the first volume only has 3 chapters, right? So I can't imagine that we get that much development, unless the third one is significantly longer compared to the other two. (It was a review of the first volume)
The AI she played in the minigame and the person she's playing in the isekai world are one and the same.
Oh, I suppose that makes sense, I thought that she just played with random opponents, not the characters of the game themselves. Though, even if that were the case, it'd have to mean that Rodd isn't actually all that good at chess at all, otherwise she shouldn't have been able to rival him even in the minigames.
They have packed things a bit tight here and there compared to the novel, but I certainly don't think it's that bad
We've got: introductions to the setting and main characters. Introductions to the side characters (specifically Chess for Rodd to show he's a good leader, Poker for Yuu to show lying abilities, and harp playing for Sein to show his gift with the arts and insecurities).
I guess that's fair. Maybe it's my general tendency to prefer a smaller cast and more focused plot that makes this seem a bit all over the place.
(On a side note, did chess really show anything about Rodd? Other than how unpleasant he is. He hasn't even appeared that much, but I just can't bring myself to like him at all. The only prince I find likable so far is Prince Sein. Just why in the world was he the least popular?! I thought girls liked the beautiful types...)
Also, the exams were two different things.
Right. I did remember that they were separate exams, I just confused which was which (the result of binge-reading with little investment in the story, I suppose XD)
Claire adores Lene so she'd break the rules with her every now and then. As for Rei, she's also a student at the academy and thus more than permitted to eat at the cafeteria.
I was referring to the times when they're at home
...is what I was going to say, but then I realised that the scenes I had in mind probably took place in the school cafeteria and I just didn't understand it at the time. Oops
Actually... is this a boarding school? I just went back to chapter five and saw that Claire was sleeping in a bunk bed...? I never realised, I just thought that Rei lived at school 'cause she didn't have anywhere else to live lol
Just what have I been reading all this time?!
Don't remember that happening, but in chapter 6 Rei does confront a couple nuns in the spirit church who were being homophobic. Also Rei's backstory has a bit more stuff like that as well, kinda
Dammit, I wanted to see that... I guess I didn't remember this right, maybe he had actually referred to a conversation she had with her friends