Read Up on Light Novels with J-Novel Club’s “I Couldn’t Go Outside, So I Just Stayed In and Read Light Novels All Day” Campaign!

Read popular light novel titles for free for a limited time on BOOK☆WALKER and J-Novel Club!

(PORTLAND, OREGON– April 3, 2020) – J-Novel Club LLC is happy to announce the launch of their “I Couldn’t Go Outside, So I Just Stayed In and Read Light Novels All Day!” campaign in partnership with eBookstore BOOK☆WALKER and publishers Earthstar Entertainment, Frontier Works, Futabasha, Hayakawa, Hobby Japan, and TO Books!

Over 24 series and 55 volumes will be available to read for free for a limited time on BOOK☆WALKER as a special promotion from April 3, 2020 to April 30, 2020. Please note that eBooks downloaded from this promotion will only be readable until April 30th, 2020 PT. More details about this special event can be found on BOOK☆WALKER’s promotional landing page.

In addition, these titles will also be available to read for free on J-Novel Club for everyone (both member and non-members) during this promotional period. You can find out more about the titles featured in this campaign on J-Novel Club’s special campaign webpage at http://j-novel.club/special. J-Novel Club is also offering a free trial membership for 30 days via the coupon code “readinside” until April 30. Cozy up in your favorite chair and get ready to read to your heart’s content!

The following titles will be made available from April 3, 2020 to April 30, 2020 to read for free:

Earthstar Entertainment

• Der Werewolf: The Annals of Veight (Volumes 1-3) by Hyougetsu with illustrations by Nishi(E)da
• Walking My Second Path in Life (Volume 1) by Otaku de Neet with illustrations by Kurodeko

Frontier Works

• Can Someone Please Explain What’s Going On?! (Volume 1) by Tsuredurebana with illustrations by Rin Hagiwara

Futabasha

• Demon Lord, Retry! (Volume 1) by Kurone Kanzaki with illustrations by Makoto Iino

Hayakawa

• Otherside Picnic (Volume 1) by Iori Miyazawa with illustrations by shirakaba

Hobby Japan

• An Archdemon’s Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride (Volumes 1-3) by Fuminori Teshima with illustrations by COMTA
• Bluesteel Blasphemer (Volume 1) by Ichirou Sakaki with illustrations by Tera Akai
• Cooking with Wild Game (Volumes 1-3) by EDA with illustrations by Kochimo
• Demon King Daimaou (Volumes 1-3) by Shoutarou Mizuki with illustrations by Souichi Itou
• I Saved Too Many Girls and Caused the Apocalypse (Volumes 1-3) by Namekojirushi with illustrations by Nao Watanuki
• If It’s for My Daughter, I’d Even Defeat a Demon Lord (Volumes 1-3) by CHIROLU with illustrations by Truffle, Kei
• In Another World With My Smartphone (Volumes 1 and 2) by Patora Fuyuhara with illustrations by Eiji Usatsuka
• Infinite Dendrogram (Volumes 1-3) by Sakon Kaidou with illustrations by Taiki
• Invaders of the Rokujouma!? (Volumes 1-6) by Takehaya with illustrations by Poco
• My Big Sister Lives in a Fantasy World (Volumes 1-3) by Tsuyoshi Fujitaka with illustrations by An2A
• My Little Sister Can Read Kanji (Volumes 1-3) by Takashi Kajii with illustrations by Halki Minamura
• Paying to Win in a VRMMO (Volumes 1-3) by Blitz Kiva with illustrations by Kuwashima Rein
• Record of Wortenia War (Volume 1) by Ryota Hori with illustrations by bob
• Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles (Volumes 1-3) by Yuri Kitayama with illustrations by Riv
• The Combat Baker and Automaton Waitress (Volume 1) by SOW with illustrations by Zaza
• The Greatest Magicmaster’s Retirement Plan (Volume 1) by Izushiro with Ruria Miyuki
• The Master of Ragnarok & Blesser of Einherjar (Volumes 1-3) by Seiichi Takayama with illustrations by Yukisan

TO Books

• Ascendance of a Bookworm (Part 1 Volume 1) by Miya Kazuki with illustrations by You Shiina
• Ascendance of a Bookworm (Manga) (Volume 1) by Miya Kazuki with Art by Suzuka
• Sorcerous Stabber Orphen: The Wayward Journey (Volume 1) by Yoshinobu Akita with illustrations by Yoshinobu Akita

ABOUT J-NOVEL CLUB
J-Novel Club is a digital publishing company started by translators and fans like you! By focusing on digital releases and providing a membership service to let people read our books as soon as they are translated, our goal is to build a community of light novel readers and grow the market, so that more and more releases can be officially licensed and translated. J-Novel Club has published over 450 volumes of light novels and manga in 3 years.
Membership on J-Novel Club starts at $4.50 a month for an annual membership and delivers new chapters of your favorite series each week. There are more than 20 ongoing light novel and manga series to read each week!

ABOUT BOOK☆WALKER
BOOK☆WALKER is one of Japan’s most popular reading platforms for digital manga & light novels. There are over 14,000 English light novels and manga being offered from publishers like Kodansha Comics, Yen Press, Seven Seas Entertainment, J-Novel Club, and more.
Come experience a new way to enjoy and collect the latest manga and light novels digitally on your PC, iOS, or Android devices.
BOOK WALKER Co. Ltd. is a member of KADOKAWA CORPORATION and was founded in 2010. Visit the Japanese site at: http://bookwalker.jp/ or English site: http://global.bookwalker.jp/.

License Announcements

Yen Press announced two new light novel licenses this month. All the titles are slated for release in August 2020.

• The Garden of Words by Makoto Shinkai

From director Makoto Shinkai comes the novel adaptation of his award-winning 2013 film Garden of Words, a moody drama about two lonely souls who meet in the garden of Shinjuku during rainy season and help each other “learn to walk again” in life.

Light Novels of Makoto Shinkai

• Konosuba: An Explosion on This Wonderful World! Bonus Story: We are the Megumin Bandits by Natsume Akatsuki (story) and Kasumi Morino (art)

The right magic words can stir a person’s soul. For Megumin, those words are “vigilante justice.” Join everyone’s favorite one- trick wizard, as well as Iris the Headstrong, Cecily the Problematic, and Yunyun…as they get a taste of the righteous bandit lifestyle! Evil aristocrats beware!

Konosuba series

News Stories

Obake Zukan Ghost Story Picture Books Get TV Anime With Nana Mizuki – The Obake Zukan series illustrates various monsters and spirits and explains why they are scary.

Otherside Picnic Sci-Fi Yuri Novels Get TV Anime – This series is currently published in English by J-Novel Club.

Jigokudō Reikai Tsūshin Manga Ends ‘1st Season’ in April – The manga is based on a light novel series by Hinowa Kozuki that “follows three elementary school troublemakers who open the door to another world.”

One Peace Books Licenses ‘The New Gate’ VRMMORPG Manga –  “The New Gate tells the story of Shin, the strongest player in a VRMMORPG (Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) known as The New Gate. After the game was turned into a death game and the players were all trapped inside, he took it upon himself to defeat the final boss and set everyone free. However, as he lingered in the game afterwards while everyone else logged out, he suddenly found himself falling unconscious. He then wakes up in an unfamiliar field, and comes to discover that not only is he still trapped within the game’s world, but that 500 years have passed since he defeated the final boss. He needs to find his way through a world that is now unfamiliar, and figure out what happened to the world 500 years ago after the boss was defeated, and all the players logged out.” This is an adaptation of Shinogi Kazanami’s light novel series.

Otoko no Sahō Essay by Onihei’s Shōtarō Ikenami Gets Manga Adaptation – The original essay focuses on men’s dress, etiquette, and manners. The story will center on a saleslady who meets an old man she calls “Sensei” and learns men’s manners. Ikenami is also the author of the Onihei Crime Reports in Edo (Onihei Hankachō) novel series.

’86’ Sci-Fi Battle Light Novel Series Get TV Anime – This series is currently published in English by Yen Press.

Combatants Will Be Dispatched! Novels by Konosuba’s Natsume Akatsuki Get TV Anime – This series is currently published in English by Yen Press.

Date A Live Light Novel Series Ends on March 19

Magic User: Reborn in Another World as a Max Level Novels Get Manga – This series is currently published in English by Seven Seas Entertainment.

Yen Press Names Mark de Vera Sales and Marketing Director

Studio Trigger’s BNA: Brand New Animal Anime Gets Prequel Novel – “In the 21st century, the existence of animal-humans came to light after being hidden in the darkness of history. Michiru lived life as a normal human, until one day she suddenly turns into a tanuki-human. She runs away and takes refuge in a special city area called “Anima City” that was set up 10 years ago for animal-humans to be able to live as themselves. There Michiru meets Shirou, a wolf-human who hates humans. Through Shirou, Michiru starts to learn about the worries, lifestyle, and joys of the animal-humans. As Michiru and Shirou try to learn why Michiru suddenly turned into an animal-human, they unexpectedly get wrapped up in a large incident.” (refers to the anime)

BOFURI: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense. Anime Gets 2nd Season –
The novels’ story centers on Kaede Honjō, who is invited by her friend Risa Shiramine to play a virtual reality MMO game with her. While Kaede doesn’t dislike games, what she really, truly dislikes is being in pain. She creates a character named Maple, and decides to put all her points in VIT to minimize pain. As a result, she moves slowly, can’t use magic, and even a rabbit can get the best of her. But as it turns out, she acquires a skill known as “Absolute Defense” as a result of her pumping points into VIT, as well as a “Counter Skill” that works against special moves. Now, with her ability to nullify all damage, she goes on adventures.

Science-Fiction Author Hiroshi Yamamoto Reports Cerebral Infarction – Yamamoto’s Project Piano novel centers on the protagonist named Piano, an idol singer who is also a lover of science. While she is a member of a popular idol group, she also collects various machines and electrical knick knacks from Akihabara to conduct experiments in her parents’ garage. She struggles to climb the world of entertainment, while also trying to achieve her dream of going to space.

Extras

Interview with Tomihiko Morimi, author of “The Night is Short, Walk on Girl” – This light novel was published in English by Yen Press.

Hey there light novel fans! This week could be a great time to stock up on some light novels from J-Novel Club and One Peace Books!

RightStuf is offering an average saving of 33% on titles from those two publishers, as well as TokyoPop and Denpa. So head on over there and stock-up for your stay-at-home reading time ;) The sale runs until midnight Saturday, April 11, 2020.

Here’s a link you can use. Any sales will help support the site, so it’d be super amazing if you used it. Thanks and enjoy your reading!

RightStuf Weekly Sale

English Title: One Piece: Ace’s Story
Japanese Title: ONE PIECE novel A
Author: Sho Hinata – ひなたしょう
Illustrator: Eiichiro Oda – 尾田栄一郎
Translator: Stephen Paul
Genre: Action, Adventure
Original Run: April 2018 – June 2018
English Run: May 2020 – ongoing
Japanese Publisher: JUMP jBOOKS (Shueisha)
English Publisher: Viz Media LLC
Volumes in Japanese: 2 (Completed)
Volumes in English: 1 (In Progress)

• English Website — Japanese Website
• LNDB.info

Synopsis:

Adventure on the high seas continue in these stories featuring the characters of One Piece!

Get the backstory on Luffy’s brother Ace! This volume contains the origin story of Luffy’s adopted brother Ace, and tells of his thrilling quest for the legendary One Piece treasure.

Washed up on the shores of a deserted island at the edge of the East Blue Sea, two men from different backgrounds unite in their shared thirst for adventure. One of them, Portgaz D. Ace, will follow in his infamous father’s footsteps as the fearless captain of a pirate crew. The other, Masked Deuce, becomes the reluctant first member of Ace’s Spade Pirates. Survival is not enough for these seafaring buccaneers, as together they seek treasure, excitement, and a route to the New World.

Volume 1
Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Book Depository — Rightstuf
Releasing May 05, 2020 — ISBN-13: 978-1974713301

Upcoming Releases

Volume 2
Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Book Depository — RightStuf
Releasing TBA — ISBN-13: ###-##########

Reviews of One Piece: Ace’s Story

• (forthcoming)

Anime Adaptation of Manga

MAL Entry — Aired October 1999 – ongoing
Amazon — RightStuf

Manga (original source material)

MAL Entry — (Japan) Published July 1997 – ongoing (English release by Viz Media LLC) Published June 2003 – ongoing.
Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Book Depository — RightStuf

If you liked One Piece: Ace’s Story, you might also want to try…

• Death Note: Another Note — also a manga side-story novel
• Berserk: The Flame Dragon Knight — also a manga side-story novel
• Bleach: Can’t Fear Your Own World — also a manga side-story novel

If you find any errors or broken links in this entry, leave a comment!

*Note: Banner image is from the manga*

—–

The following is Cross Infinite World’s Press release concerning their new title;

Looking for the next spin on the villainess genre? We’ve got you covered! We’re excited to announce the acquisition of The Weakest Manga Villainess Wants Her Freedom! by Kazuki Karasawa and Masami, a standalone light novel that plays with the popular subgenre of being reincarnated as a villainess, but this time the heroine is reincarnated as the weakest boss character in her favorite manga! Will she be able to escape death at the hands of the manga heroine and live in peace?

Oh, crud, I just realized that I’ve been reincarnated into my favorite manga as the first boss defeated by the heroine at the start of the story! Worst yet, it turns out my fiancé is the strongest of the Four Grand Magi and the very villain who slanders my character as a disgrace on her deathbed! I’m outta here!

This is the story of the weakest manga villainess who seeks out the slow life instead of the villain life.

The Weakest Manga Villainess Wants Her Freedom! will be available digitally worldwide on May 22nd, 2020 for $7.99.

You can already preorder it on Amazon

J-Novel Club Announces the Acquisition and Digital Launch of Four New Series!

Three new light novel and one new manga series are available to read now on J-Novel Club!

(PORTLAND, OREGON– April 17, 2020) – J-Novel Club LLC is delighted to announce the acquisition of several new titles following their announcement livestream on April 17th. Three brand new light novel series and one manga series were announced to have digital launches within the next day with parts of Volume 1 being available to J-Novel Club Members. A free preview will be available to everyone to enjoy for all of these brand additions to J-Novel Club’s library.

Deathbound Duke’s Daughter is a fantasy isekai light novel series starring a young woman who is reincarnated as Erika Aurelia, a little villainess from an otome game who’s fated to die in all seven routes. Using her wits and her brother’s (very expensive!) magical items, she aims to destroy her death flags… and survive! Parts 1 and 2 of Terasu Sunoo’s first volume of this series are now available to read for members on J-Novel Club.

In author Ichiro Sakaki’s Wild Times with a Fake Fake Princess, protagonist Kyouhei is the kind of guy who cherishes every moment of his peaceful, ‘normal’ everyday life. Enter a naked girl released from a coffin with no idea what ‘normal’ is. Now he just wants off this fake fake princess’s wild ride! Parts 1 and 2 of the first volume of this romantic comedy are now available to read on J-Novel Club for members.

Featuring stunning art by Akagishi K, the manga adaptation of Ren Eguchi’s Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill is sure to sate the appetite of isekai enthusiasts. Mukouda just wants to live quietly away from the sketchy kingdom that summoned him. He may have low stats, but his unique skill gives him more leeway than he thinks. Can he get by on half-baked cunning, a love of home-cooking, and a bit of luck? Find out when you read Chapter 1 of the first volume on J-Novel Club today!

Last, but not least, comes Firehead’s A Wild Last Boss Appeared! The Black-Winged Tyrant Lufas Maphaahl was vanquished 200 years ago… until a man wakes up in her body, the character he played in Exgate Online. Trapped in this body, he seeks out answers as to why all of this happened, but it’s a bit hard to talk to the locals when your legacy is one of fear! Parts 1 and 2 of Volume 1 are now available on J-Novel Club for your reading enjoyment.

COVID-19 and J-Novel Club Activities

In response to the worldwide pandemic, J-Novel Club has been working entirely from home since the end of February, however, our operations have not been significantly affected as of this moment. Our release schedules for digital books have not been postponed, nor have our release dates for physical books through July, and we do not anticipate delays in the future at this time. With the emergency declarations in Japan, newer volumes and new licenses may take a little bit longer than usual, but we will continue to work hard to bring out our series to everyone as soon as we can.

In order to help everyone stay at home and stay safe, we have partnered with BOOK☆WALKER to provide over 50 volumes of our light novels and manga for free during the month of April, and we sincerely wish everyone good health for the future. More information about the campaign can be found on our special webpage.

Announced Title List:

Deathbound Duke’s Daughter by Terasu Senoo with Illustrations by Munashichi
死にやすい公爵令嬢

One evening in early spring, eight-year-old Erika Aurelia realizes she’s the detestable little villainess from an otome game called Liber Monstrorum: The Winter Maiden and the Phantasmic Beasts.

As if that wasn’t bad enough already, Erika’s role in the game is to pester the main character… and then die in order to kick off a mysterious series of events! These incidents are different in each love interest’s route, and seven routes means seven deaths to avoid.

Not one to throw in the towel, Erika knows she must take action to destroy her death flags—and since her life is on the line, there’s no time to lose!

Wild Times with a Fake Fake Princess by Ichiro Sakaki with Illustrations by Kaori Fujita
模造王女騒動記 フェイク・フェイク

Kyouhei is the kind of person to cherish every moment of his peaceful, ‘normal’ everyday life. Choose whichever synonym you like; he just wants a quiet life. However, with his dad being involved in some really shady businesses, his best friend being a wannabe rockstar, and his schoolmate Sanae… being Sanae, that’s easier said than done, but he does his best.

One day, he ends up accidentally releasing a naked girl from a coffin, who has no idea what ‘normal’ means. Unfortunately for him, Kyouhei can kiss that peace and quiet goodbye.

Now, on top of his dad’s lack of regard for anything approaching common sense or decency, his friend’s thirst for excitement, and his admirer’s… attention, Kyouhei has to deal with a (self-proclaimed) body double android of a princess from some European country?

He just wants off this fake fake princess’ wild ride!

Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill (Manga) by Ren Eguchi with Art by Akagishi K
とんでもスキルで異世界放浪メシ

Mukouda Tsuyoshi was nothing special in modern Japan, so when he was summoned to a world of swordplay and sorcery, he thought he was ready for the adventure of a lifetime. Too bad the kingdom that summoned him only got him by mistake! Not only was he not one of the three summoned heroes, but his stats were laughable compared to theirs.

On top of that, there’s something really sketchy about this kingdom… “Ah, these people are the kind to try and use the Hero,” he realized, and immediately left to make his own way in this other world. The only thing Mukouda can rely on is his unique skill: the “Online Supermarket,” a skill that allows him to buy modern goods in a fantasy world. It’s useless for combat, but if he plays his cards right, he could lead a comfortable life, maybe? At least, that’s what Mukouda thinks, but it turns out modern food bought with this skill has some absurd effects!

What happens when Mukouda introduces ridiculously tasty modern cooking to a fantasy world like this? He gets some ridiculous repeat customers begging for more…!

A Wild Last Boss Appeared! by Firehead with Illustrations by YahaKo
野生のラスボスが現れた！

The year is 2800 and Lufas Maphaahl – The Black-Winged Tyrant, Great Conqueror, and leader of the Twelve Heavenly Stars – has returned.

A man wakes up in the body of his MMO character 200 years after her defeat during an player-made event in the game, Exgate Online. Now, he’s stuck in her body. But this isn’t a game, it’s real. With her reign long over, and her legacy one of fear, Lufas must journey through the world of Exgate, looking for answers, possible comrades, and all the monsters her “death” unleashed upon the world…

ABOUT J-NOVEL CLUB

J-Novel Club is a digital publishing company started by translators and fans like you! By focusing on digital releases and providing a membership service to let people read our books as soon as they are translated, our goal is to build a community of light novel readers and grow the market, so that more and more releases can be officially licensed and translated. J-Novel Club has published over 450 volumes of light novels and manga in 3 years.

Membership on J-Novel Club starts at $4.50 a month for an annual membership and delivers new chapters of your favorite series each week. There are more than 20 ongoing light novel and manga series to read each week

English Title: The Weakest Manga Villainess Wants Her Freedom!
Japanese Title: 魔王軍四天王の最弱令嬢は自由に生きたい！ — “Maou-gun Shitennou no Saijaku Reijou wa Jiyuu ni Ikitai!”
Author: Kazuki Karasawa – 唐澤和希
Illustrator: Masami – 昌未
Translator: Charis Messier
Genre: Reincarnation, Fantasy, Shoujo
Original Run: July 2017 – March 2018
English Run: May 2020
Japanese Publisher: Serialized on the Shōsetsuka ni Narou website
English Publisher: Cross Infinite World
Volumes in Japanese: N/A
Volumes in English: 1 (Completed)

• English Website — Japanese Website
• LNDB.info

Synopsis:

Oh, crud, I just realized that I’ve been reincarnated into my favorite manga as the first boss defeated by the heroine at the start of the story!

Worst yet, it turns out my fiancé is the strongest of the Four Grand Magi and the very villain who slanders my character as a disgrace on her deathbed! I’m outta here!

This is the story of the weakest manga villainess who seeks out the slow life instead of the villain life.

Volume 1
Amazon
Released May 22, 2020 — ASIN: B0871DYDXH

Reviews of The Weakest Manga Villainess Wants Her Freedom!

• (forthcoming)

Illustrations Sampler

Coming Soon…

Anime Adaptation

None

Manga Adaptation

None

If you liked The Weakest Manga Villainess Wants Her Freedom!, you might also want to try…

• My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom — reincarnation, main character reborn into a villainess role, romance, fantasy
• Tearmoon Empire — main character trying to escape villainess route, fantasy
• I Refuse to be Your Enemy — reincarnation, main character reborn into a villainess role, romance, fantasy

If you find any errors or broken links in this entry, leave a comment!

—–

LIGHT NOVELS RELEASING THIS WEEK (April 20 to April 26, 2020)

Kobold King Volume 2 (ebook)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/39fLKM6
iBooks: https://apple.co/2JqQXp0
Releasing April 20, 2020 — ASIN: B084BWGGXS

Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 2 Volume 3 (ebook)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2vuAWLl
iBooks: https://apple.co/3dIoCrZ
Releasing April 20, 2020 — ASIN: B084BWGGXS

Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki Volume 3 (paperback & ebook)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2G2ISoZ
Book Depository: https://bit.ly/2w3BMiw
Releasing April 21, 2020 — ISBN-13: 978-1975384593

Der Werewolf: The Annals of Veight Volume 7 (ebook)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2u6Dq1o
iBooks: https://apple.co/2QV56ii
Releasing April 21, 2020 — ASIN: B083XP75H9

Accel World Volume 21 (paperback, ebook)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2u2vJt7
Book Depository: https://bit.ly/39vbRxQ
Releasing April 21, 2020 — ISBN-13: 978-1975332730

Baccano! Volume 13 (hardcover, ebook)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2TwuTzF
Book Depository: https://bit.ly/3bA3LW7
Releasing April 21, 2020 — ISBN-13: 978-1975384739

Combatants Will Be Dispatched! Volume 3 (paperback, ebook)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/30ux1sQ
Book Depository: https://bit.ly/2QWQ2kl
Releasing April 21, 2020 — ISBN-13: 978-1975399023

Sword Art Online Volume 19 (paperback, ebook)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2QZViUy
Book Depository: https://bit.ly/39wx7mR
Releasing April 21, 2020 — ISBN-13: 978-1975357016

Isekai Rebuilding Project Volume 2 (eBook)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2VI6Crv
iBooks: https://apple.co/2xzrDuo
Released April 25, 2020 — ASIN: B08543VFBZ

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Volume 5 (eBook)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2V3ZRQs
iBooks: https://apple.co/33Xf2wW
Released April 26, 2020 — ASIN: B084NSYX19

How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom Volume 11 (eBook)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Jpbuu5
iBooks: https://apple.co/3bDyBx3
Released April 26, 2020 — ASIN: B084C1C86R

For a complete list of light novel releases, visit https://englishlightnovels.com/preord…

English Title: Deathbound Duke’s Daughter
Japanese Title: 死にやすい公爵令嬢 — “Shini Yasui Kōshaku Reijō to Shichi-nin no Kikōshi”
Author: Terasu Senoo — 瀬尾照
Illustrator: Munashichi — 六七質
Translator: Roy Nukia
Genre: Fantasy, Otome Game, Shoujo
Original Run: July 2017 – December 2017
English Run: April 2020 – ongoing
Japanese Publisher: M Novels (Futabasha)
English Publisher: J-Novel Club
Volumes in Japanese: 2 (Complete)
Volumes in English: 1 (In Progress)

Note: Also available to read online through a J-Novel Club subscription. This series is currently digital-only.

• English Website — Japanese Website
• LNDB.info — Novel Updates

Synopsis: One evening in early spring, eight-year-old Erika Aurelia realizes she’s the detestable little villainess from an otome game called Liber Monstrorum: The Winter Maiden and the Phantasmic Beasts. As if that wasn’t bad enough already, Erika’s role in the game is to pester the main character… and then die in order to kick off a mysterious series of events! These incidents are different in each love interest’s route, and seven routes means seven deaths to avoid. Not one to throw in the towel, Erika knows she must take action to destroy her death flags—and since her life is on the line, there’s no time to lose! Her very first death flag is set to rise after she meets two noble children from a prominent magician’s house. In order to prevent the resulting incidents, the Gold Rush Murders, she arms herself with her brother’s expensive(!!!) magical items and heads into the ancient Seafarer’s Ruins. But things don’t quite go according to plan…

Volume 1 — Erika Aurelia and the Seafarer’s Ruins
Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play –Nook — Bookwalker
Released TBA — ASIN: **********

Volume 2
Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Nook — Bookwalker
Released TBA — ASIN: **********

Reviews of Deathbound Duke’s Daughter

• (forthcoming)

Illustrations Sampler

Anime Adaptation

None

Manga Adaptation

None

If you liked Deathbound Duke’s Daughter, you might also want to try…

• My Next Life as Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom — main character reincarnates into a “bad end” role, fantasy
• Tearmoon Empire — main character trying to avoid “bad end,” shoujo, fantasy
  

If you find any errors or broken links in this entry, leave a comment!

—–

Today, Seven Seas announced two new light novel titles they’ve licensed for English release. In addition, Cross Infinite World also announced a new series.

I’M IN LOVE WITH THE VILLAINESS

私の推しは悪役令嬢。

by Inori and Hanagata

Ordinary office worker Oohashi Rei wakes up in the body of the protagonist of her favorite otome game, Revolution. To her delight, the first person to greet her is also her favorite character, Claire Francois–the main antagonist of the story! Now, Rei is determined to romance Claire instead of the game’s male leads. But how will her villainous lady love react to this new courtship?!

Seven Seas will release Volume 1 in print on November 10, 2020

THE SORCERER KING OF DESTRUCTION AND THE GOLEM OF THE BARBARIAN QUEEN

破滅の魔導王とゴーレムの蛮妃

by Northcarolina, Shiba

In a land of swords and sorcery, a ritual is conducted to summon forth the “sorcerer king” who will bring about ruin–but succeeds only in summoning an ordinary human boy from Earth. Stripped of his name and memories but endowed with sudden, enormous magic power, our protagonist has no intention of destroying the world. Fortunately for him, tinkering with his newfound magic results in the creation of a powerful (and beautiful) new partner…and she can keep him safe!

Seven Seas will release Volume 1 in print on November 24, 2020

HELLO, I AM A WITCH AND MY CRUSH WANTS ME TO MAKE A LOVE POTION!

by Eiko Mutsuhana and vient

“I want you to make a love potion.”

The Good Witch of the Lake’s four-year crush ended in heartbreak with a single request from the object of her affections! Wanting to increase what little time she has with Royal Knight Harij, Rose sends him on a wild-goose chase for the ingredients but gets more than she bargained for when the grumbling knight starts visiting her every day…to feed her?

This is the heartwarming story of a shut-in witch and an arrogant, straitlaced knight whose romance starts from a love potion.

Cross Infinite World will release Volume 1 digitally on June 30th, 2020

Seven Seas is expected to announce more titles on Thursday and Friday.

Which of these titles catches your eye?

Seven Seas announced today that they had licensed the light novel series

Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs

乙女ゲー世界はモブに厳しい世界です

The series is written by by Yomu Mishima with artwork by Monda. It began publication May 30, 2018. There are currently 5 volumes available in Japan. There’s also a manga adaptation of the series which is currently unlicensed for English release. In the latest edition of Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi, this title placed 8th on the Tankobon list.

Office worker Leon is reincarnated into a particularly punishing dating sim video game, where women reign supreme and only beautiful men have a seat at the table. But Leon has a secret weapon: he remembers everything from his past life, which includes a complete playthrough of the very game in which he is now trapped. Watch Leon spark a revolution to change this new world in order to fulfill his ultimate desire…of living a quiet, easy life in the countryside!

Seven Seas has set February 9, 2021 as the release date for the paperback. Expect an advance eBook release before that, as Seven Seas has adopted that as a pretty standard practice for their light novels.

Seven Seas has promised to announce more licenses tomorrow, Friday April 24th. Given that the past two days have had some light novels, expect we might get at least another 1 or 2 announced tomorrow!

English Title: Wild Times with a Fake Fake Princess
Japanese Title: 模造王女騒動記 フェイク・フェイク — “Mozou Oujo Soudouki: Fake Fake”
Author: Ichiro Sakaki — 榊一郎
Illustrator: Kaori Fujita — “Japanese”
Translator: MPT
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Superpowers, Sci-Fi
Original Run: March 2007 – February 2009
English Run: April 2020 – ongoing
Japanese Publisher: HJ Bunko (Hobby Japan)
English Publisher: J-Novel Club
Volumes in Japanese: 3 (Complete)
Volumes in English: 1 (In Progress)

Note: Also available to read online through a J-Novel Club subscription. This series is currently digital-only.

• English Website — Japanese Website
• MAL Entry — Forum
• LNDB.info

Synopsis: Kyouhei is the kind of person who cherishes every moment of his peaceful, ‘normal’ everyday life. Choose whichever synonym you like; he just wants a quiet life. However, with his dad being involved in some really shady businesses, his best friend being a wannabe rockstar, and his schoolmate Sanae… being Sanae, that’s easier said than done, but he does his best. One day, he ends up accidentally releasing a naked girl from a coffin, who has no idea what ‘normal’ means. Unfortunately for him, Kyouhei can kiss that peace and quiet goodbye. Now, on top of his dad’s lack of regard for anything approaching common sense or decency, his friend’s thirst for excitement, and his admirer’s… attention, Kyouhei has to deal with a (self-proclaimed) body double android of a princess from some European country? He just wants off this fake fake princess’ wild ride!

Volume 1 — Title
Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play –Nook — Bookwalker
Released TBA — ASIN: **********

Volume 2 — Title
Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Nook — Bookwalker
Released TBA — ASIN: **********

Volume 3 — Title
Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Nook — Bookwalker
Released TBA — ASIN: **********

Reviews of Wild Times with a Fake Fake Princess

• (forthcoming)

Illustrations Sampler

Anime Adaptation

None

Manga Adaptation

None

If you liked Wild Times with a Fake Fake Princess, you might also want to try…

• Bluesteel Blasphemer — also written by Ichiro Sakaki
• Outbreak Company — also written by Ichiro Sakaki
  

If you find any errors or broken links in this entry, leave a comment!

—–

Today, Seven Seas announced they had licensed the Light Novel series, The Saint’s Magic Power is Omnipotent (aka 聖女の魔力は万能です or Seijo no Maryoku wa Bannou desu, or The Power of the Saint is All Around).

The series is written by Yuka Tachibana with artwork by Yasuyuki Syuri. The series began publication in Japan February 10, 2017. To date, there are five volumes released.

Sei, a 20-year-old office worker, is whisked away to a whole new world. Unfortunately for Sei, the ritual that summoned her—meant to produce a “Saint” who would banish the dark magic—brought two people over instead of one. And everyone prefers the second girl over Sei?! But this is just fine by Sei, who leaves the royal palace to set up shop making potions and cosmetics with her newfound magic. Business is booming, and this might not be such a bad life, after all…as long as her supposed Sainthood doesn’t come back to haunt her.

Seven Seas is set to release the light novel in print on November 24, 2020. With Seven Seas typical policy being to release the eBook in advance, expect to see the eBook released in late September or early October.

During the event, Seven Seas also revealed they had licensed the manga version of this title as well. Volume 1 will be released on December 8, 2020.

LIGHT NOVEL RELEASES THIS WEEK (April 27 to May 3, 2020)

The Extraordinary, the Ordinary, and SOAP! Volume 1 (eBook)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2VzCm1O
iBooks: https://apple.co/2wMHvJK
Released April 27, 2020 — ASIN: B0859842DM

Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World Volume 3 (paperback, ebook)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Ro1bdt
Book Depository: https://bit.ly/3aqoMSZ
Releasing April 28, 2020 — ISBN-13: 978-1975305758

Torture Princess: Fremd Torturchen Volume 4 (paperback, ebook)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/372bmuK
Book Depository: https://bit.ly/2UxwPrL
Releasing April 28, 2020 — ISBN-13: 978-1975304751

The Devil is a Part Timer Volume 16 (paperback, ebook)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Tulmc7
Book Depository: https://bit.ly/39wDUNn
Releasing April 28, 2020 — ISBN-13: 978-1975302719

Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai Volume 1 (paperback, ebook)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/375A1yw
Book Depository: https://bit.ly/3dM64Yf
Releasing April 28, 2020 — ISBN-13: 978-1975399351

Konosuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! Volume 11 (paperback, ebook)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3afOU3f
Book Depository: https://bit.ly/2QZdFZv
Releasing April 28, 2020 — ISBN-13: 978-1975332365

At Night I Become a Monster (paperback)(ebook released earlier)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/35TWld6
Book Depository: https://bit.ly/2xCmEZE
Releasing April 28, 2020 — ISBN-13: 978-1645052975

Beatless Volume 2 (eBook)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2vUjPTy
iBooks: https://apple.co/2UTQwci
Released April 28, 2020 — ASIN: B085KNZV5D

The Underdog of the Eight Greater Tribes Volume 2 (eBook)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2P1ThpC
iBooks: https://apple.co/2WUc1Mx
Released April 28, 2020 — ASIN: B084NZBKC8

Why Shouldn’t a Detestable Demon Lord Fall in Love?! Volume 2 (eBook)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3eFDiZz
Bookwalker: https://bit.ly/2VKuHw2
Released May 01, 2020 — ASIN: B087F7JMZ6

Teogonia Volume 2 (eBook)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2SF6Spd
iBooks: https://apple.co/2JocIph
Released May 02, 2020 — ASIN: B084P4GX4D

For a complete list of light novel releases, visit https://englishlightnovels.com/preorders/

English Title: A Wild Last Boss Appeared!
Japanese Title: 野生のラスボスが現れた！ — “Yasei no Last Boss ga Arawareta!”
Author: Firehead — 炎頭
Illustrator: YahaKo — やはこ
Translator: Kevin Chen
Genre: Fantasy, Isekai, Action, Gender Swap
Original Run: February 2016 – April 2019
English Run: April 2020 – ongoing
Japanese Publisher: Earth Star Novel (EARTH STAR Entertainment)
English Publisher: J-Novel Club
Volumes in Japanese: 9 (Complete)
Volumes in English: 1 (In Progress)

Note: Also available to read online through a J-Novel Club subscription. This series is currently digital-only.

• English Website — Japanese Website
• MAL Entry — Forum
• Baka Updates (Manga) — LNDB.info — Novel Updates

Synopsis: The year is 2800 and Lufas Maphaahl – The Black-Winged Tyrant, Great Conqueror, and leader of the Twelve Heavenly Stars – has returned. A man wakes up in the body of his MMO character 200 years after her defeat during an player-made event in the game, Exgate Online. Now, he’s stuck in her body. But this isn’t a game, it’s real. With her reign long over, and her legacy one of fear, Lufas must journey through the world of Exgate, looking for answers, possible comrades, and all the monsters her “death” unleashed upon the world…

Volume 1
Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker
Releasing July 12, 2020 — ASIB: B087CKL6X2

Volume 2
Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Nook — Bookwalker
Released TBA — ASIN: **********

Volume 3
Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Nook — Bookwalker
Released TBA — ASIN: **********

Reviews of A Wild Last Boss Appeared!

• (forthcoming)

Illustrations Sampler

Anime Adaptation

None

Manga Adaptation

MAL Entry — Began publication in Japan June 2017. No English publisher.

If you liked A Wild Last Boss Appeared!, you might also want to try…

• Overlord — main character becomes their game character, fantasy
• Her Majesty’s Swarm — main character becomes their game character, fantasy
• Magic User: Reborn in Another World as a Max Level Wizard — main character becomes their game character, fantasy
  

If you find any errors or broken links in this entry, leave a comment!

—–

English Title: The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy
Japanese Title: 聖剣学院の魔剣使い — “Seiken Gakuin no Maken Tsukai”
Author: Yu Shimizu – 志瑞 祐
Illustrator: Asagi Tosaka – 遠坂あさぎ
Translator: TBD
Genre: Fantasy, Action, Ecchi, Harem
Original Run: May 2019 – ongoing
English Run: August 2020 – ongoing
Japanese Publisher: MF Bunko J (Media Factory)
English Publisher: Yen On (Yen Press)
Volumes in Japanese: 3 (In Progress)
Volumes in English: 1 (In Progress)

• English Website — Japanese Website
• MAL Entry — Forum
• Baka Updates (Manga) — LNDB.info — Novel Updates

Synopsis: One of the most powerful demon lords in history has been sealed away for a thousand years. When he finally awakens, he is reincarnated as…a 10-year-old boy?! Now under the care of the girl who released him, the demon lord Leonis must navigate the perils of Excalibur Academy!

Volume 1
Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Book Depository — Rightstuf
Releasing August 18, 2020 — ISBN-13: 978-1975308667

Volume 2
Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Book Depository — RightStuf
Releasing TBA — ISBN-13: ###-##########

Volume 3
Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Book Depository — RightStuf
Releasing TBA — ISBN-13: ###-##########

Reviews of The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy

• (forthcoming)

Illustrations Sampler

Anime Adaptation

None

Manga Adaptation

MAL Entry — Began serialization in Shounen Ace November 2019. No English publisher.

If you liked The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy, you might also want to try…

• The Dirty Way to Destroy the Goddess’s Heroes — also illustrated by Asagi Tosaka
• The Greatest Demon Lord Is Reborn as a Typical Nobody — reincarnated demon lord
• Demon King Daimaou — action, magical high school, harem
  

If you find any errors or broken links in this entry, leave a comment!

—–

Japanese Title: 終わりのセラフ 一瀬グレン、19歳の世界再誕 “Owari no Serafu – Ichinose Guren, 19-sai no Sekai Ressurection”
Author: Takaya Kagami — 鏡 貴也
Illustrator: Yo Asami — 浅見 よう
Translator: James Balzer
English Publisher: Vertical

Despite the three-year time skip in the title, Seraph of the End: Guren Ichinose: Resurrection at Nineteen picks up immediately after the events of its prequel light novel series, Guren Ichinose: Catastrophe at Sixteen. It also continues to be a prequel to the original Seraph of the End manga. The light novels are actually written by the manga’s author, so these are canon and consistent with the events of the manga.

This volume deals with the outcome of Guren’s choice at the end of Catastrophe where he resurrected his friends, despite knowing it would trigger the apocalypse.

The book has three narrative sections: Guren trying to keep his friends in the dark regarding their deaths (there is a reason, but I won’t spoil it), two boys from Guren’s clan witnessing the onset of the apocalypse first hand, and Guren and his friends rejoining the Imperial Demon Army.

I was glad to see this one avoided an immediate time skip. First off, it would cheapen the build-up of the previous series to not see what the promised apocalypse looked like. Also, it allowed the reader to experience Guren’s emotional state, knowing what his decision caused. It shows his growth from the loner at the start of Catastrophe to someone who cares and values his friends above all else. But it also starts a new emotional journey for the character–the question of whether he deserves to exist in this new world. It’s interesting to watch a character struggle with the idea of whether they have the right to fix a world they helped destroy.

Perhaps my favorite part of the book was the journey of the two boys from Guren’s clan, Makoto and Shusaku. Initially, they are up in the mountains training. When they see planes falling from the sky (I mean this literally), they make their way home. It’s their journey that shows the brutal “wrath of God.” Kagami uses a clever way to let the boys view the apocalypse as it occurs, while allowing them to maintain some distance from its immediate dangers. And the small, localized view they glimpse not only reveals the horror, but makes it personal enough to give emotional weight.

The third arc of the book reveals multiple levels of duplicity on the part of the Imperial Demon Army, but also of Mahiru’s brother, Kureto. This final section is obviously the setup for much of the rest of the series and the new world order seen in the Seraph of the End manga. It also reintroduces us to a changed Mahiru, and I can’t help but be curious about her new relationship with Guren and whether this still somehow is part of her plan.

Like Catastrophe’s volumes, the pace of this one is fast. Not only is the volume relatively short, but with action sequence immediately following action sequence, there is little time to take a breath. This mostly works in the book’s favor as it heightens the tension. Though some sections, most notably part of Makoto’s and Shusaku’s journey, felt rushed, or I guess existed as throwaways to shout-out fans of the manga.

Aside from these minimal pacing issues, my only other small gripe with this volume was the jarring “we’re still horny teenagers” moments. While the author plays this off as the characters lightening the mood, it just felt out of place with most of the book. But thankfully, these are few.

Fans of both the Catastrophe light novels and Seraph of the End manga will find they enjoy Seraph of the End: Guren Ichinose: Resurrection at Nineteen volume 1. While Catastrophe raced toward disaster, this volume begins a new journey to find a worthy life in a changed and frightening world.

You can pick this book up at the following retailers:

Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Book Depository — RightStuf

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Justus R. Stone has been running a light novel dedicated YouTube channel since 2014. He’s also the founder of the Light Novel Podcast, one of the first English language podcasts dedicated to Light Novels. In addition to his love of Japanese light novels, he is also the author of his own light novel-inspired series, The Bleeding Worlds.

Here are the light novel series making their debut in English during the month of May, 2020. Out of the five new light novels, there are two which are digital pre-releases, one one-shot, and another that is a spin-off from a super popular manga series. And shockingly, not a single one of these new series is from J-Novel Club! But don’t worry, they have a few new series coming out in June!

So let’s get started…

First up, we have the spin-off title. This one serves as the backstory for a popular character from the One Piece manga series, Ace! It’s being released by Viz, who also releases the manga in English.

One Piece: Ace’s Story Volume 1

Adventure on the high seas continue in these stories featuring the characters of One Piece!

Get the backstory on Luffy’s brother Ace!This volume contains the origin story of Luffy’s adopted brother Ace, and tells of his of his thrilling quest for the legendary One Piece treasure.

Washed up on the shores of a deserted island at the edge of the East Blue Sea, two men from different backgrounds unite in their shared thirst for adventure. One of them, Portgaz D. Ace, will follow in his infamous father’s footsteps as the fearless captain of a pirate crew. The other, Masked Deuce, becomes the reluctant first member of Ace’s Spade Pirates. Survival is not enough for these seafaring buccaneers, as together they seek treasure, excitement, and a route to the New World.

One Piece: Ace’s Story Volume 1 (paperback)
Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Book Depository — Rightstuf
Releasing May 05, 2020 — ISBN-13: 978-1974713301

Next up we have a new series debuting from Seven Seas. This is a digital advance release. The print release will arrive in late June. It’s also been recently announced to have an anime in the works!

Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

Stronger Than The Average Bear!

A dedicated gamer and antisocial shut-in downloads an update to her favorite fantasy RPG–only to find herself sucked into the game world for real. Reset to level one and equipped with only a cute bear onesie that grants her impressive abilities, Yuna sets out to explore her new reality–even though the fact that she can’t seem to take the bearsuit off gives her paws, er, pause!

Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Volume 1 (eBook)(print will release later)
Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker
Released May 07, 2020 — ASIN: B0866J1DWY

The next title is a one-shot from Cross Infinite World. It’s another entry into a growing trend in light novels, a girl reincarnated as a villain! Even though she’s not all that villainess.

The Weakest Manga Villainess Wants Her Freedom!

Oh, crud, I just realized that I’ve been reincarnated into my favorite manga as the first boss defeated by the heroine at the start of the story! Worst yet, it turns out my fiancé is the strongest of the Four Grand Magi and the very villain who slanders my character as a disgrace on her deathbed! I’m outta here!

This is the story of the weakest manga villainess who seeks out the slow life instead of the villain life.

The Weakest Manga Villainess Wants Her Freedom! (eBook)
Amazon
Released May 22, 2020 — ASIN: B0871DYDXH

Next is a release from Yen On (Yen Press). This one is not only notable for its play on a famous Japanese historical figure, but also because it’s from the author of I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level!

A Mysterious Job Called Oda Nobunaga

In this world, on the day that they reach adulthood, everyone visits the temple to receive their life’s calling. Many will become warriors or magic users. But when the frail younger brother of a minor feudal lord named Arsrod goes in for his job, he comes out with…Oda Nobunaga?! Not only has that job never been heard of, not a single person can even figure out what it’s supposed to mean. But when this young man inherits the experience, tactics, and prowess in war of the great Sengoku strategist Nobunaga, his very destiny will change!

A Mysterious Job Called Oda Nobunaga Volume 1 (paperback, ebook)
Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Book Depository — Rightstuf
Releasing May 26, 2020 — ISBN-13: 978-1975305567

Our final series debut is another digital advance release from Seven Seas. This is a novelization of an anime that came out several years ago. In the typical style of its celebrated director, it was odd, quirky, and poignant.

Penguindrum

The novels for the supernatural anime by acclaimed director Kunihiko Ikuhara (Sailor Moon, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Sarazanmai). And don’t miss the manga, also from Seven Seas!

Brothers Kanba and Shoma adore their terminally ill little sister, Himari, and aren’t prepared to lose her. They’re definitely not prepared for a family trip to the aquarium, source of many of Himari’s fondest memories, to suddenly turn tragic when Himari collapses and dies. What happens next, however, is beyond the siblings’ wildest imaginations―as Himari miraculously returns from the dead, sporting a penguin-shaped hat, and accompanied by some magical new friends!

Penguindrum Volume 1 (eBook)(print to release later)
Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker
Released May 26, 2020 — ASIN: B0866H9K96

So those are your series debuts for May, 2020! Are any of these books you’re excited for? Let us know in the comments!

And as always, if you’re interested in seeing all the light novels releasing during the month of May, check out the Preorders Page.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Justus R. Stone has been running a light novel dedicated YouTube channel since 2014. He’s also the founder of the Light Novel Podcast, one of the first English language podcasts dedicated to Light Novels. In addition to his love of Japanese light novels, he is also the author of his own light novel-inspired series, The Bleeding Worlds.

In news that surprised a lot of English light novel fans, not only did two new light novel licenses get announced, but they are coming from a brand new publisher, Tentai Books!

They are located in Madrid and are releasing their titles in both English and Spanish. With their announcements, they mentioned their titles would be initially available in digital format and they would release physical copies once the situation with Covid-19 stabilizes.

Both of their initial offerings are newer ongoing series from Overlap with each having 2 volumes released so far in Japan.

There’s no way a side character like me could be popular, right?

“I just love you sooooooo much, Senpai!”

My name is Tomoki Yuuki, a second-year student in high school. I’d say I’m a fairly normal student, save for the fact that everyone avoids me like the plague because I apparently look like I’m out for blood. Ike Haruma is the only one that doesn’t steer clear of me. He’s your typical ‘perfect guy’ in every sense; the protagonist with no real flaws that you see in any given story.

Life at school was going on as usual… until one day Haruma’s super popular little sister confesses to me out of the blue?! Though she later clarifies that her feelings toward me are anything but romantic and that she has an ulterior motive, I end up accepting my new role as ‘fake boyfriend’ as a favor to Haruma.

Believe it or not, the moment I start going out with her, Haruma’s idol-tier childhood friend and my super hot teacher get involved with me too!

Wait a minute, this can’t be a dream rom-com scenario setting itself up for me, can it?! I mean, there’s no way a side character like me could be popular, right?

They have posted a release date for the digital edition of May 29, 2020.

Welcome to the Diner of the Exiled!

Leave everything to the strongest cook of them all!

Backstabbed by those he considered friends, Dennis has been exiled from one of the strongest guilds around: The Silver Wings Battalion. He doesn’t think much of it, though, as he was dying to use his Level 99 cooking skills anyway. That’s why he decides to leave the city behind and open up a diner in the countryside.

While pursuing his dream, Dennis meets Atrielle, a girl exiled from her noble household and relegated to slavery until he saves her.

The pair open the diner together, and their first client is… an exiled knight from a different guild? How peculiar. But she is not the only customer; a cocky mage and a drastically overworked yet underpaid sage become regulars as well.

The knight brings trouble to the diner at times, but Dennis’s cooking skills and beloved butcher knives cut through trouble and hunger alike!

Thus begins the legend of Dennis and his diner, the talk of the town!

They have yet to announce the release date for this title.

As usual, English Light Novels will be adding title-specific posts for these books and as soon as preorder information is available, it will be added to those posts and the Preorders page.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Justus R. Stone has been running a light novel dedicated YouTube channel since 2014. He’s also the founder of the Light Novel Podcast, one of the first English language podcasts dedicated to Light Novels. In addition to his love of Japanese light novels, he is also the author of his own light novel-inspired series, The Bleeding Worlds.

English Title: There’s No Way a Side Character Like Me Could Be Popular, Right?
Japanese Title: 友人キャラの俺がモテまくるわけないだろ? — “Yujinchara no Ore ga Motemakuru Wakenaidaro?”
Author: Sekaiichi – 世界一
Illustrator: Tomari – トマリ
Translator: Alejandro de Vicente Suárez
Genre: Comedy, Harem, School Life
Original Run: July 2019 – ongoing
English Run: May 2020 – ongoing
Japanese Publisher: Overlap Bunko (OVERLAP)
English Publisher: Tentai Books
Volumes in Japanese: 2 (In Progress)
Volumes in English: 1 (In Progress)

• English Website — Japanese Website
• LNDB.info — Novel Updates

Synopsis:

“I just love you sooooooo much, Senpai!”

My name is Tomoki Yuuki, a second-year student in high school. I’d say I’m a fairly normal student, save for the fact that everyone avoids me like the plague because I apparently look like I’m out for blood. Ike Haruma is the only one that doesn’t steer clear of me. He’s your typical ‘perfect guy’ in every sense; the protagonist with no real flaws that you see in any given story.

Life at school was going on as usual… until one day Haruma’s super popular little sister confesses to me out of the blue?! Though she later clarifies that her feelings toward me are anything but romantic and that she has an ulterior motive, I end up accepting my new role as ‘fake boyfriend’ as a favor to Haruma.

Believe it or not, the moment I start going out with her, Haruma’s idol-tier childhood friend and my super hot teacher get involved with me too!

Wait a minute, this can’t be a dream rom-com scenario setting itself up for me, can it?! I mean, there’s no way a side character like me could be popular, right?

Volume 1
Amazon — iBook — Google Play — Kobo — Nook — Bookwalker
eBook Release May 29, 2020 — ASIN:

Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Book Depository — RightStuf
Paperback Release TBA — ISBN-13: 978-8412200805

Volume 2
Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Book Depository — RightStuf
Releasing TBA — ISBN-13: ###-##########

Reviews of There’s No Way a Side Character Like Me Could Be Popular, Right?

• (forthcoming)

Illustrations Sampler

Anime Adaptation

None

Manga Adaptation

None

If you liked There’s No Way a Side Character Like Me Could Be Popular, Right?, you might also want to try…

• Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki — harem, school life, comedy
• Toradora! — school life, romance, comedy

If you find any errors or broken links in this entry, leave a comment!

—–