Today on Twitch, Tentai Books announced their latest license, World Teacher. It is being published in both English and Spanish in both eBook and Print formats. According to the company owner, Alex, they’re aiming to have the first volume out in digital format around December. The print could be about a month later, barring any Covid-related delays.
Here’s some more information on World Teacher:
Japanese Title: ワールド・ティーチャー 異世界式教育エージェント
Author: Neko Kouichi
Illustrator: Nardack
There are currently 13 volumes in Japan and the series is still ongoing.
A man who was once called the world strongest agent ended up becoming a teacher after his retirement to train the new generation of agents. After many years of training his disciples, he is killed at the age of 60 by the ploy of a secret organization and was reincarnated in another world with all his past memories.
Though he was surprised by the magic and the strange species of that world, he adapted very fast to his condition as a newborn and took advantage of it. He acquired special magic and gained a massive amount of strength thanks to his tight discipline in order to reach his goal: resume his career as a teacher which he left halfway through in his previous life.
This is the story of a man who based on the memories and the experiences of his previous life, became a teacher who travels through the world with his new students.
As promised, Cross Infinite World has announced another light novel license on their Twitter feed.
This time, they’ve licensed the title Reincarnated as the Last of My Kind. The series is written by Kiri Komori with artwork by Yamigo (the artist of The White Cat’s Revenge as Plotted from the Dragon King’s Lap). Roman Lempert is the series’ translator.
The first book is set to release on November 30, 2020. The listing is already live on Amazon.
It appears this is similar to Cross Infinite World’s other licenses in that it is with the author directly. Kiri Komori (古森 きり) has three other published works on Bookwalker Japan.
A bicycle crashes into me one night, and the next thing I know, I’m a baby?!
Getting reincarnated in another world populated by humans, demi-humans, and mythical beasts is certainly not the turn I thought my life was going to take. I especially didn’t expect to be carried off by a wolf and given into the care of a one-armed former knight! Now I’m trying to repay him by rebuilding the family inn and healing his arm with alchemy. But the more time passes, the more it becomes clear to me that I’m not actually human…
Hello everyone and welcome to the monthly look at the new light novel series making their debut this month, October, 2020.
I imagine the biggest excitement will be for the release of High School DxD. This was one of those titles (along with Date-A-Live) that was always begged for in any licensing comments sections. It’s already a popular manga and anime in the English market as well.
That said, there are other titles releasing this month that provide some nice variety. We have a yuri/otome/isekai title, a new detective series from Nisioisin and a dark, gritty fantasy, among others! So, let’s get into it!
First up is the detective series from Nisioisin. I confess, I’m cheating by including this title because it actually released at the end of September. But, since I neglected to include it then, I’m trying to make amends. Besides, it released right at the end of September, so close enough, right?
In any case, this is Vertical’s new Nisioisin focus series. They’re wrapping up the main story of the Monogatari series and who knows about Zaregoto, so hopefully this will satisfy your itch for quirky characters, dialogue, and a healthy dose of absurdity.
From the renowed author NISIOISIN, the creator of BAKEMONOGATARI, Zaregoto Series and KATANAGATARI. Comes a new, innovative mystery series, Pretty Boy Detectives Club!
Mayumi Dojima, a second-year student at the exclusive Yubiwa Academy middle school, has lost something – a star she glimpsed just once, ten long years ago. But help is on the way, in the form of the unofficial, secretive, and thoroughly mysterious Pretty Boy Detective Club! Rumored to solve problems within the school (most of which they themselves may well have created) for reasons aesthetic rather than financial, these five gorgeous boys sweep Mayumi into their world of excitement, danger, and overwhelming beauty. So begins the thrilling new mystery series from renowned author NISIOISIN!
Next up is a digital pre-release from Seven Seas. Fantasy makes up a big chunk of the light novel market (even if we don’t include Isekai titles). And while many of those take the material seriously and often include a healthy dose of magic-using characters, this one decides to go for the funny side of things. Not only that, but our main character isn’t a magic user–he’s just got wicked powerful muscles!
For ten years, Yuri has lived alone in the forest, training his muscles day and night to hone his body into the ultimate fighting machine. But when the beautiful elf Filia stumbles upon his home, she begs him to help her escape the forest. There’s just one problem: Yuri’s never left the woods, and besides, this odd couple can’t seem to agree on anything. It’s the beginning of a wacky journey through strange lands and stranger adventures!
Muscles are Better than Magic!Volume 1 (eBook)(Print releases January 5, 2021) Amazon — Apple — Google Play — Kobo — Bookwalker Releasing October 1, 2020 — ASIN: B08CS87BSG
This next title is from J-Novel Club. It’s a single volume release from the author of Sexiled. In this one, the main character finds herself reincarnated in her favorite otome game. But she’s not looking to hook-up with any of the guys. Nope, she has her sights set firmly on the villainess!
Miyako Florence isn’t sad when her fiancé breaks off their engagement after two years. It’s all according to plan! Whisked to the world of her favorite otome game, Miyako frees herself from a dull noble to pursue her true soulmate: the game’s villainess Fuuka Hamilton. Proud Fuuka only has eyes for their mutual ex-fiancé! Miyako confesses her love to Fuuka and proposes that they run away together. Fuuka agrees on one condition: Miyako must make her say “I’m happy” in 14 days. With conniving nobles, strange diseases, and magical rituals pulling them apart, can Miyako win the villainess’s heart? A tentative bud blossoms in this twisting romance from the author of Sexiled!
Whelp, here it is, High School DxD, from Yen On. An urban fantasy series that has healthy doses of angels, demons, and oppai. Even if this isn’t your cup of tea, I’m pretty sure you’ve at least heard about it. Prepare for lots of magical battles and ecchi.
Most of Issei Hyoudou’s perverted life has been filled with dreams about having a harem, so it’s not a great sign when one of his dates ends with his murder! He’s fortunate enough to be revived by a beautiful girl, but his luck ends after he discovers his school is filled to the brim with deadly angels and demons!
The last thing she can remember is her life support beginning to fail. Her body had suffered terribly after a fateful accident and the only freedom left in her life came from the VR world of Leadale. How did she end up in a place that looks exactly like her game except that 200 years have apparently gone by?
The final new release from Yen On this month is a novel. I don’t have much to say about it because I think the synopsis tells you pretty much everything you need to know. I have heard from people who have read the manga of this one who say it is excellent!
In this dark, moody love story, college student Kusunoki decides to sell off the next thirty years of his life at a mysterious shop in exchange for money-and maybe a chance to find something worth living for.
Our final new release this month comes from Seven Seas. It is once again a digital advance release. This is the dark and gritty fantasy series I mentioned at the opening. To be honest, I wasn’t overly interested when the title was licensed, but the more I hear about this one, the more I find myself interested. It sounds like it could have a very interesting character journey. And a lot of brutal battles!
A strikingly illustrated dark fantasy, in which a frail young man’s terrible magic could lead him to ultimate power.
Fate Graphite has never tasted real power. Born with the magical skill Gluttony, he constantly hungers in a way that can’t be satiated, and has been shunned and looked down upon his entire life. One day, while working as a gatekeeper for a noble family and fighting a trespassing thief, he discovers Gluttony’s true power: when he kills someone, he devours their skills and feeds his gnawing hunger at last. In that grisly realization, Fate is awakened to his true potential. How many lives will he feed on to satisfy this hunger, and is the world ready for the frightening warrior he’ll become?
Berserk of Gluttony Volume 1 (eBook)(paperback releases January 5, 2021) Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker Releasing October 29, 2020 — ASIN: B08JC4X4R2
So, those are all the new light novel series making their debut during the month of October, 2020. What are your thoughts? Which of these titles are a must-buy? And are there any titles here you didn’t know about but are now curious to find out more? Let me know in the comments!
“A slave’s mark needed to be visible at all times, but it didn’t need to be branded on their skin. That he was about to put this chunk of glowing red metal on Flum’s cheek was nothing short of his own twisted, personal desire.” – kiki, on Flum’s branding ceremony(?) With the Reversal Affinity, curses are turned into blessings. Now kicked from the party of heroes, Flum is sold into slavery and soon sentenced to die. But, alongside her cursed sword, Flum’s mark comes with a blessing of its own – freedom to chase for an ordinary life.
ROLL OVER AND DIE: I Will Fight for an Ordinary Life with My Love and Cursed Sword!, Vol. 1 is the first entry to a darker fantasy light novel series featuring sinister heroes, powerful demons, unconventional monsters, and oppressive religions. Following Flum’s forced ejection from the party chosen by Origin, a near-death experience brings ties her path with an Epic-class cursed sword and a bandaged girl – Milkit. Thus begins Flum’s journey from a forsaken slave to a normal adventurer. Will the dark realities of their world crush their dreams? Or will Flum and Milkit rise above the chains with which society has bound them? This story of redemption and revenge by kiki and illustrated by kinta is full of exciting battles, light sandwich-eating, and gruesome depictions of injury and death. Action, horror, and romance are all contained in this fantastical world of despair.
ROLL OVER AND DIE, Vol. 1
How did you like my introductory section? Did it perk your interest? It certainly did for me! I was so excited to read this, that I bought the e-book even with the paperback pre-ordered. ROLL OVER AND DIE, Vol. 1 is my first dive into darker fantasy as I continue to broaden my horizons. And I’m glad to have taken it! This book manages to create exciting fights that tug on the most basic of urges – survival. It is this, the oppressive atmosphere, and juxtaposition with more light-hearted scenes that create a unique experience. If there are any recommendations for similar titles, I would love to hear them! Now, we will make some comparisons to Reincarnated as a Sword (review here) and The Alchemist Who Survived(review here) for some RPG-based mechanics, the slice-of-life vs. adventuring sections, and battles. For this spoiler-free review, we will look at the premise, the characters, the world-building, plot structure, and action + slice-of-life sections. With that, I hope to give you some good information about this series~!
To start, it has to be the first impressions. And the cover design is great! The colourful palette, fantastical outfits, and blood-splattered text tell you almost everything you need to know about the book. It’s a gruesome tale set in a fantasy world starring several young heroines. The lively colours will be nice on a bookshelf and hide the dark realities underneath. Moving on, the next interesting feature is the length of the book. The Reincarnated as a Sword, Vol. 1 paperback is ~370 pages & 66,000 words, and the ROLL OVER AND DIE e-book is 77,000 words (according to Kobo). For a standard-priced light novel, this is quite the value. Of course, this isn’t a necessarily good thing, and one should remember quality vs. quantity. Hopefully, the rest of this review will help you decide. Then, after opening the book, you’re greeted by three coloured-inserts: (1) a clean cover, (2) the featured banner, above, and (3) the ogre-thing, below. The latter two are particularly nice as they showcase the contrasting sides of this story. And now, with the mental conflict between slice-of-life sandwich-eating and horrific faceless beings in your mind, let’s get into the text!
Like another Seven Seas series’ review, we will start with the premise. Flum is a hero-turned-slave who finds a girl (Milkit) and a sword (Epic-ly cursed) that will change her life forever. From an outcast of the party of heroes, this fateful meeting has Flum narrowly escape death and kicks off their trajectory to an ordinary life – at least, whatever is ordinary for them. But their status as slaves and Flum’s zeroed stats put them at the bottom of society. This is a perfect setup; there is a clear start, end, and collection of obstacles in between. And the motivations pile up, for the reader and Flum; love, revenge, and overcoming evil are all present to see Flum and Milkit’s situation improve. The driver for such changes is Flum’s odd Affinity, Reversal. It is as the first two chapters have us believe; it flips the effects of curses and blessings for Flum. Such an idea isn’t unheard of, but it is put to some creative use by kiki. Overall, the premise produces a solid framework for the story and allows for interesting (though mildly cliché) twists in equipped curses. And in this story, the hook is subtle but powerful – Flum is a good girl in a bad world. One is drawn in hoping she succeeds to avoid feeling a sense of hopelessness. The only improvement I would suggest is a greater focus on Reversal later in the story. After halfway, Reversal acts more like a tool than a concept to be explored. Like… are there only certain blessings and curses that it affects? How about blessings that are hindrances? The list can go on. Of course, this can be left for future entries but, with 400+ pages, there was certainly a possibility for more exploration.
With the premise out of the way, let us briefly talk about the characterizations of our cast. There isn’t too much special about the heroines (Flum, Milkit, and Sara) or the people around them (chosen hero party included). Everyone is trope-like to start; although, this is not necessarily a bad thing. More complex motivations for the main three are established but only for them. This implies the harm inflicted by others is simply selfish: money, survival, sadism, etc. But for a story filled with evil, it feels absurd that so much of it comes from individuals (rather than an Eldritch horror or a dystopian society.) This may be the point – “the real monsters are the people” – but it takes away from the believability of the world. The fix here is complex, but hammering home the scarcity of resources or giving a reason to the bad deeds would be a start. And only then would I accept that evil dwells in the hearts of man. Now, what ROLL OVER AND DIE does decently is show change in the main cast over time. Even if left physically unscathed, Flum and co. are certainly affected as they experience the terrors of their world. Such changes come about in situations of extreme stress and from new evidence conflicting with their world views. Seeing their adventures shape their characters is a treat and I hope to see more of it in the future.
The world of ROLL OVER AND DIE is one easily imagined for those with fantasy RPGs or other similarly inspired light novels. Stats, weapon-classes, and monsters of all types are present in this story. This allows for a variety of concepts to be implemented, but the best stories are those that focus and expand on a few. ROLL OVER AND DIE has two main ideas: Affinities and stats. The background conflict is fought between humanity (backed by the church of Origin) and demon-kind (led by the Demon Lord and Chiefs). The tools of battle come in the form of conventional magic (tied to Affinities), superhuman physical feats (granted by stats), and prana – internal energy that allows for temporary reallocation of endurance into other stats. People are born with an Affinity, granting them a special ability. But despite the flashy magic and skills(?), it’s stat totals that tend to decide the outcome of each battle. The two main methods of increasing these are self-improvement and enchanted equipment – for Flum’s Reversal Affinity, this would be ‘cursed’ equipment instead. It is explained that such items come into being after an angry spirit refuses to let go after its body passes. For a world seemingly full of death, this might be a plus of our protagonist. That’s it… I think. See how things are connected and expanded on? These connections are a strong point for ROLL OVER AND DIE. Compare this to Reincarnated as a Sword, where new concepts are piled onto each other and create an endurance test in mental juggling. Now, what sets it apart from series like Reincarnated as a Sword is not the tighter mechanics but the tone. ROLL OVER AND DIE goes for a darker perspective on fantasy and awards itself the horror tag. This amounts to some grim uses of magic (slave marks) and graphic depictions of injury (melting flesh, amputation, spilling internals, etc.) Additionally, there’s an abundance of people with less than admirable desires and methodologies. The combination of the two creates a somewhat hopeless atmosphere for ROLL OVER AND DIE. It is this which makes for a unique reading experience. The overarching presence that is the church of Origin and demon-kind then add layers of intrigue and mystery. This gives the reader more reason to stay in this dark world – in addition to the desire to see Flum and Milkit succeed. What ROLL OVER AND DIE lacks then is a deeper exploration of those mysteries. It is clear these factions are foundations to the despair but ROLL OVER AND DIE fails to explain much in Vol.1, leaving things for future entries. But, in doing so, these concepts become disconnected and take away from the depth. For now, the world-building has strong mechanics but lacks depth in the background conflict. This is likely to be resolved with further reading but makes the single volume experience weaker.
As hinted in the world-building discussion, what ROLL OVER AND DIE chooses to do differently is what makes it interesting. This extends to the monster choice and design. For that, let us look at the ‘ogre’ in the colour-insert above. Such a creature twists our expectations just enough to make us curious and excited. We all have stereotypes for the ogre, and they dictate that ogres have a face. The uncanny change that ROLL OVER AND DIE introduces shock, interest, and fear into the story. And despite our reservations in interacting with such a beast, we know that it must be dealt with to protect Flum’s ordinary life. This dive into the unknown keeps the reader on their toes and tugs on a thread that unravels secrets of the world – one that allowed for such a thing to exist. And I can confirm that this thing strikes fear and awe when first encountered. Now, aside from this ogre, there are other unconventional creatures from standard RPG fantasy (werewolves, blue-skinned demons, anzu, etc.) All of them let kiki lean on RPG tropes but allow for a greater degree of creativity than, say, slimes. This adds more variety to the world and sets it apart from others in the genre. In summary, the monsters present in ROLL OVER AND DIE are decently interesting with some bearing unique traits.
For this RPG-esque story, we have a plot-structure reminiscent of others of its kind: a vague overarching goal with potential for adventure. In ROLL OVER AND DIE, the subtitle says it all, “fight for an ordinary life with my love and cursed sword.” It is this goal that pushes Flum to become an adventurer and make a living. The simple goal reminds me of Mariela in The Alchemist Who Survived, and the similarities between the two show why both series do it well. Though the result is something normal, the journey is far from it. This is because the world uses everything in its arsenal to break any sense of normality; slave marks, corrupt guilds, and monstrous abominations are all equal in their attempts to stop Flum in her tracks. You get the best combination of a relatable goal and fantastical adventure. And while the ambiguity risks having an unfocused plot and clear progression markings (as in Reincarnated as a Sword), we have a good grasp of what it means to live an ordinary life. One should aim for a stable income, sort out their housing situation, make some friends, find love, etc. With every little struggle towards this ideal, we get a sense of growth and continue to root for Flum. And in between conflicts, we grab a glimpse of normality with some slice-of-life + set-up. Without diving in too much, this structure works well for ROLL OVER AND DIE and I had great fun following Flum’s adventures. The action and slice-of-life sections complement and support each other; they are opposing palette cleansers. Now, the one major gripe I had was with the ‘Intermission’ chapters where we cut to the party of heroes post-Flum-enslavement. They mostly describe the effects of Flum’s departure and feel like revenge-pie. But their timing and lack of conclusion make them unrewarding and unnecessary to the plot. If they were placed later (after we got to know Flum more) and maybe had one more chapter to wrap it up (for Vol. 1), they would be worth the read. To summarize, the goal of an ordinary life serves as a great backbone for the fantastical adventures and subconsciously marks natural points of progression for the reader. But the parallel plot with the party of heroes needs a few changes in timing and closure to improve the overall experience.
Now with the foundations discussed, let us talk about the core aspect – the action. Flum has many obstacles on her travels to an ordinary life. And if it isn’t a societal issue, it is likely a monster or two. As an adventurer, such creatures can be as unique as a faceless ogre… or one wearing the skin of a human. It is when they are openly hostile that Flum decides to fight back. All the battles in Flum’s story are graphic and descriptive. You feel every cut appendage, hear every broken bone, and smell the rotting innards of those previously dispatched. These descriptive consequences add weight to every action in the spectacle. Such a focus on the harm brings a real sense of danger to each encounter. And with the world’s constant reminder of death, no character truly feels safe. It is through this method that ROLL OVER AND DIE creates impactful battle sequences. The unique monsters and spectacular feats then further add to the experience. However, what these sequences lack are deeper, personal motivations. This is particularly hard when dealing with (literally(?)) faceless creatures. Other than completing a quest, why are they there? Is this monster a direct threat to Flum’s ordinary life? Is it a long-lived beast that has terrorized her village for generations? Answers to questions like these would create a more lasting impact beyond the current shock and awe. As a final point, there is an instance or two where an ability/equip comes without much foreshadowing. This creates undeserved wins and breaks the flow when explained. In short, the action is generally great. It is more than pure spectacle and achieves this with a combination of graphic descriptions, unique monsters, and an ever-present sense of danger. But adding just a little more in terms of build-up and personal motivations would make it perfect.
After the action, we have the supporting aspects: the horror and the romance/yuri. Firstly, the horror in ROLL OVER AND DIE is almost entirely graphic. As mentioned before, this comes in the form of bodily injuries and horrific creatures. Although shocking, no lasting fear is created. This is a cheaper form that easily helps the action but finds difficulty standing alone. The greater horror comes from the treatment of slaves by society. Flum and Milkit have to live under a fear of mistreatment and disdain. However, as it is mostly individuals who commit the crimes, it isn’t scary at all – i.e. people can be maimed and/or killed. Having a solution available to Flum negates any true fear from existing. Thus, with only shocks to contribute to the horror, ROLL OVER AND DIE is only so in name. Secondly, we move to the romance/yuri. As hinted by the premise, Flum and Milkit are a pairing… somewhat. Flum is Milkit’s master after their near-death experience. And they act more like co-dependents joined by circumstance rather than lovers of any sort. Their relationship is as follows: Flum provides income and protection, and Milkit creates a light-hearted atmosphere with dialogue and sandwiches. In a way, Milkit is symbolic of the ordinary life Flum wishes to protect. This manifests as thoughts of Milkit that help motivate Flum in her adventures. Unfortunately, the shallow romancing and weaker characterization of Milkit makes her into an object of affection. This results in the reader feeling less invested and more annoyed when thoughts of her break up the action’s flow. Fortunately, there is a side-story that has a more romantic perspective on their relationship, but it comes far too late to be any use. In short, the romance/yuri leaves a lot to be desired and is more like bait instead of a supporting aspect. To summarize, the horror and romance/yuri somewhat support the strong action but fail on their own. The horror needs more than shock, and the romance/yuri needs to be explored earlier (and in more depth).
Finally, with everything else discussed, let us go over some additional details. Firstly, the writing is simple and quick; there is lots of dialogue and small pockets of exposition/descriptions throughout. This makes up for the missing density that makes Vol. 1 so thick. Although, there were some times where I had to reread a sentence to catch the speaker and/or the meaning. Overall, the pace feels quite fast but the longer chapters slow you down to a reasonable completion speed. Secondly, the use of ‘Scan’ to create pages to summarize Affinity and stats is decently implemented. Unlike Reincarnated as a Sword, where it’s filled to the brim with skills, ROLL OVER AND DIE has everything neatly packed into seven lines. One gets a sense of strength and available abilities without being bogged down with meaningless info. Lastly, the art is fantastical and detailed (see below.) Illustrations are skillfully placed at critical moments to accent the scene. Whether it is a hectic anzu battle, introducing a faceless ogre, or being sold into slavery, kinta works wonders at showcasing excitement, despair, and joy alike. And even for 400+ pages of text, there are enough inserts to keep them reasonably spaced. There are even some reference sheets at the back! In conclusion, I believe the series is in good hands. kiki and kinta have proven themselves capable of creating a fairly complete and unique experience – though not without many paths of improvement.
Overall, ROLL OVER AND DIE, Vol. 1 provides an interesting story set in a darker fantasy world. The hero-to-slave-to-adventurer premise is well-designed, creates opportunities for twists with Flum’s Reversal, and motivates the reader to see it through. Its chosen RPG mechanics (Affinities and stats) are thoroughly expanded and connect to the story and her progression. Grim uses for magic (slave-making) and graphic descriptions of various injuries and horrors help create a hopeless tone. And unique monster choices and design add to the shock and excitement. All of this culminates in spectacular action scenes where each cut is felt and every drop of blood accounted for. However, there are weaknesses in the base characterizations of the cast and disconnected world-building. This results in shallow horror (shock only) and almost non-existent romance/yuri (until the end). kiki’s writing is quick and simple – as expected for a light novel – and kinta’s art is used purposefully to illustrate important scenes (see above). I would recommend ROLL OVER AND DIE to readers seeking a more visceral approach to action. For now, I’m hoping to see deeper exploration into the world and characters in the next volume. See you next week~!
Rating: 4.1 / 5 – Moderately Recommended
Recommendation: To readers of fantasy looking for battles with some extra *squelch* with a sprinkling of (very) light yuri on top. To lovers of young heroines of all types: knights, clerics, mages, and… maids? To haters of the irredeemably corrupt and the two-faced (and the no-faced!)
Hello! Thank you for taking the time to read my review (even if you scrolled straight to the bottom). I hope that you take home even a little of what I’ve written down. This time we have another e-book! What do you think is better? I just love the feel of a nice paperback. <3
If action, horror, and yuri aren’t for you… then how about battle-ready nuns? Sara (see featured) is an adorable blonde set on helping Flum and Milkit on a certain mission. Though, as a cleric for Origin, perhaps there’s more than she lets on…?
I’m 春華 or Haruka, aspiring novelist and light novel reviewer. I’ve only started diving into light novels, so please bear with my naiveté. You can follow my Twitter for updates on my reviews and writing progress. Let’s all get along!
Reincarnated as a Sword Volume 7 (eBook)(print releases January 5, 2021) Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker Releasing October 8, 2020 — ASIN: B08CS95RRN
On Twitter, Cross Infinite World announced their latest license for English release, As The Villainess, I Reject These Happy-Bad Endings! (私、転生悪役令嬢なので、メリバエンドは阻止させていただきます!!) The one-shot novel is written by Iota AIUE (藍上イオタ) with illustrations by Kuroyuki (黒裄).
The author has had previous work published with Berry’s Cafe and Cross Infinite World indicates this work will also be published by the same beginning in November, 2020. The Japanese edition will have different artwork and the English edition is receiving an exclusive bonus after story!
The artist for the English edition has a number of previous professional works including the visual novels Period Cube and Black Wolves Saga.
Cross Infinite World’s blurb for the book:
Iris has awoken as the villainess in the world of her favorite otome game. But not just ANY otome game—one with nothing but bittersweet “Happy-Bad” Endings! If the heroine hooks up with one of her problematic love interests, the rest of the world is doomed… but if she fails, it’s the villainess who will pay with her life!
Fortunately, Iris has time on her side. All she has to do is set things up so that the heroine won’t go down those routes! Be it curing a fatal disease or re-parenting her possessive twin brother, she’ll do whatever it takes to reject these Happy-Bad Endings!
The book will release February 12th, 2021 and is already available for preorder on Amazon.
A Deluxe Limited-Edition Box Set of the Iconic Light Novel Series
NEW YORK, NY (10/8/20) – Yen Press, LLC announced the acquisition of the Sword Art Online Platinum Collector’s Edition, a deluxe limited edition box set of the iconic Sword Art Online light novel series written by Reki Kawahara with illustrations by abec.
Spanning twenty volumes of Sword Art Online, this special boxed set includes exclusive prints and a poster featuring gorgeous art by abec! With two beautiful collector’s edition volumes, this boxed set is an absolute must-have for fans of the series!
For nearly a decade, Sword Art Online has been one of the most beloved franchises in the world of light novels, manga and anime. This deluxe box set appeals greatly to passionate fans of the series as well as collectors of limited edition offerings, such as the Spice and Wolf Anniversary Collector’s Edition and the PandoraBox: Limited PandoraHearts Collection previously released by Yen Press.
Sword Art Online Platinum Collector’s Edition is on sale December 22. Pre-orders are available now on YenPress.com.
Above text is from the official Press Release
Yen Press has now posted a short video to their Twitter feed showing an opening of the box set…
The Sword Art Online Platinum Collector's Edition has two hardcover collections of the first 20 light novels, 20 art prints and a fold out poster…all exclusive to this limited edition box set!
J-Novel Club Announces the Acquisition of Five New Light Novel Series!
(SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – October 9, 2020) – J-Novel Club LLC is excited to announce the acquisition of five new titles following their latest announcement livestream held on October 15, 2020, on Twitch. Three brand-new light novel series were announced to have digital launches immediately, with two other series debuting later in the year.
Past trauma leads Shiraseki Kai to abandon the world of social game development. But as he runs away to start a new life, he meets Aoi Nanaka, who pulls him back in! Can Kai face his fears to create the ultimate social game?! The wonderful highschool slice-of-life series Our Crappy Social Game Club Is Gonna Make the Most Epic Gameby Oriori Siki will be launching today on J-Novel Club with two parts to read.
Misaki, who has found herself at a school for maids, has no interest in domestic service at all. So how did she end up with an exclusive contract to serve an elite young lady?! Nayo’s Girls Kingdomyuri light novel series will be joining the J-Novel Heart lineup today with two parts at launch!
In Dungeon Busters, the world suddenly finds itself faced with 666 dungeons and 10 years to clear them all…or face total annihilation. Ezoe Kazuhiko seeks out companions in order to establish Dungeon Busters Inc, a company dedicated to clearing all the dungeons in the world! Find out what Ezoe Kazuhiko and his newfound companions do in the face of overwhelming despair when this action-packed, fan service-laden series by Toma Shinozaki debuts today with two parts to read on J-Novel Club!
When a businessman’s life is cut short, he finds himself thrust into a wild fantasy world, reborn as a 15-year-old boy. In an attempt to make his way, he resolves to live out a quiet, carefree life as a young healer…but does fate have other plans for him? You can read Broccoli Lion’s The Great Cleric: White-Collar Survival in Another Worldlater this year on J-Novel Club!
From the author of The Magic in this Other World is Too Far Behind!, Gamei Hitsuji, comes another great fantasy series! Even when you are a failure in magic, you can still surpass your limits as the young boy Arcus Raytheft finds out in The Magician Who Rose From Failure: Tales of War and Magic. After being cast out of his family and stripped of his inheritance for his inept skills at magic, Arcus discovers that he possesses the memories of another life in a world where science prevails and magic belongs to the realm of fiction, and he resolves to find a way to break the laws of magic and Raytheft tradition. This series will be available to read from J-Novel Club’s catalog later this year!
J-Novel Club Membership is only $4.50 a month for an annual membership and gives you a new chapter a week from more than 50 ongoing series, including Invaders of the Rokujouma!?, Ascendance of a Bookworm, Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest, My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!, Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles, In Another World With My Smartphone, How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom, and many more!
Announced New Series:
Our Crappy Social Game Club Is Gonna Make the Most Epic Game
by Oriori Siki with Illustrations by Azuri Hyuuga
弱小ソシャゲ部の僕らが神ゲーを作るまで
Chelsea Past trauma leads Shiraseki Kai to abandon the world of social game development, so he transfers to Maikun High School to start a new life. But on his first day he meets Aoi Nanaka, the president of a low-tier social game club, and finds out that the club is on the brink of disbanding—and is also populated by total weirdos! The programmer, Oushima Aya, is a crazed gacha addict, and the illustrator, Kuroba Eru, faints from the cuteness of her own drawings?!
Kai joins the club, which gives them enough members to continue… or so they thought. The student council hands down an ultimatum: “Win a competition against another school or disband!” Now their management talents will really be put to the test. With the skills that he’s nurtured and his new set of friends, can Kai face his fears to create the ultimate social game?!
Launching today with Parts 1 and 2!
Girls Kingdom
by Nayo with Illustrations by Shio Sakura
ガールズキングダム
All Misaki wanted was a free education. Instead, she accidentally lands an exclusive contract with the most prestigious girl in school… to serve as her personal maid! Misaki soon discovers that Amanotsuka Academy for Girls is no ordinary school—her classes are all about how to be a maid, too! Students who impress the school’s elite young ladies with their domestic service skills might be lucky enough to become a “Seraph,” guaranteeing them a job with an upper-class household after they graduate.
But Misaki doesn’t want to be a maid; she just wants to study hard, go to college, and work for a good company. So why did Himeko make her into her Seraph out of nowhere? What kind of rich girl hires a maid who wants nothing to do with the job?! If she wants to get through high school, Misaki has a lot to get used to!
A J-Novel Heart title launching today with Parts 1 and 2!
Dungeon Busters
by Toma Shinozaki with Illustrations by SenriGAN
ダンジョン・バスターズ
Clear all the dungeons! There are 666 of them and 10 years to do it. If not, the only thing that awaits…is total annihilation.
Ezoe Kazuhiko suddenly finds a mysterious underground space in his yard. When he steps into what turns out to be the very first dungeon in this world, he ends up activating the Dungeon System and learns from the mysterious beauty who appears to him, Akane, that the world is doomed to destruction if the 666 total dungeons that will be appearing in this world are not all cleared within 10 years.
As countries begin taking measures in response to the dungeons appearing all over the world, Ezoe seeks out companions together with whom he establishes Dungeon Busters Inc., a company dedicated to clearing all the dungeons in the world!
The curtains rise on this dungeon-delving epic with overwhelming realism!
Launching today with Parts 1 and 2!
The Great Cleric: White-Collar Survival in Another World
by Broccoli Lion with Illustrations by sime
聖者無双～サラリーマン、異世界で生き残るために歩む道
One moment, a certain salaryman is on cloud nine, that promotion finally within his grasp, and the next, he’s keeled over pain, and that was all she wrote.
Luckily for him, fate had a bit more to say. A world of magic, monsters, and other such life-shortening entities await his newly-reincarnated self for a second shot at life. With nothing but his past-life experiences and sharp business skills to guide him in the foreign lands of Galdardia, he takes up the name Luciel and vows that his (next) demise will be from naught but old age. And what better way to avoid a(nother) gruesome death, than by taking up a nice, cushy job as a healer? But getting by in another world doesn’t come easy, or cheap.
It’ll take a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to hone the skills he needs to make his way. But make it he will…or die (again) trying!
Launching later in 2020! English cover coming soon!
The Magician Who Rose From Failure: Tales of War and Magic
by Gamei Hitsuji with Illustrations by Saika Fushimi
失格から始める成り上がり魔導師道！～呪文開発ときどき戦記～
The Raythefts are an old, minor noble house defined by magical talent and martial service. When six-year-old Arcus Raytheft, firstborn son to the family, proves disappointingly inept at magic, he is stripped of his inheritance and written off by his parents. His adoptive sister Lecia still adores him, but as the new heir, she is forbidden to interact with anyone who might drag her down.
But when one inheritance is lost, fate arranges another: Arcus remembers another life, in a world where science prevails and magic belongs to the realm of fiction. Suddenly endowed with the life experience of a grown man and pressed to find a purpose as his family turns against him, Arcus resolves to find a way to break the laws of magic and Raytheft tradition over his knee!
Launching later in 2020! English cover coming soon!
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 they are being translated, our goal is to build a growing community of light novel and manga readers 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.
Above text is of the official J-Novel Club Press Release
A little more about the titles announced today.
Our Crappy Social Game Club Is Gonna Make the Most Epic Game
There are currently 2 volumes released in Japan.
It began publication December, 2019. The second volume came out in June, 2020.
This is the Oriori Siki’s only work listed on Amazon.co.jp.
The artist, Azuri Hyuuga, has a few titles listed, but nothing that is currently released in English. While there is some work back in 2015-16, the bulk of their listed work appears to be newer titles released late 2019 and into 2020.
Girls Kingdom
A little confused about this one. There is a series by the name Girls Kingdom listed on Amazon.co.jp with the same author, but the artwork is different. Assuming it’s the same series, there are currently 8 volumes.
“Oh yeah, the upstairs guest room is my room now! Maaan, never in my wildest dreams did I think you’d be living in such a snazzy house, Mariela. Oh, Sieg, bring alcohol to my room later. And call me when the bath’s ready.” “Certainly, Most Venerable Mother.” – Freya and Sieg’s exchange in front of a shocked Mariela. A very pushy master indeed! Freya is shaping up to be quite the burden on her pupil. Will this fiery mentor be the spark our little alchemist needs to further her newfound conviction? Or will she simply drink Labyrinth City dry in the process?
(Warning: contains minor spoilers for Vol. 1 – 3)
The Alchemist Who Survived Now Dreams of a Quiet City Life, Vol. 4 is the latest installment of the fantasy slice-of-life light novel series where we follow the lives of Labyrinth City’s many inhabitants. These stories cover the simple to the complex and from light-hearted to deadly serious. And the appearance of Freya, the legendary(?) Sage of Calamity, gets things heated in the walled city. With Mariela and Sieg recovering from the events of Vol. 3, can the alchemist’s newly awoken mentor rekindle the drowned fire in their hearts? Only time will tell, and it’s not a luxury they can afford. Labyrinth City is undergoing some wide-spread changes, and only one thing is for certain – it’s going to be a lot less quiet at the Sunlight’s Canopy. Usata Nonohara and ox team-up once more to continue their story of potions, grilled orc-meat, and fiery seals.
The Alchemist Who Survived Now Dreams of a Quiet City Life, Vol. 4
Hey! Did you like the intro? Are you here to see if the series is worth continuing? Or a new face looking a little further before you decide on buying? In either case, welcome! This is one of my favourite series, so I’ll try to cover a lot – good and bad alike. If you haven’t already, please go check out my Vol. 1-3 review as we will be building on some of those discussions. As warned above, we will talk about some prior events that may encroach on spoiler territory for Vol. 1-3. However, there will be no spoilers for Vol. 4 if you choose to read it. Now, with that out of the way, let’s jump into this review! We will talk about Freya, new world-building, the overall plot structure, some new observations, and (a little) more. After this, I hope to have helped inform a decision or two of yours.
To start, it is always the first impressions. As it is with the other volumes, the cover art is colourful and fantastical: a fine addition to any bookshelf. It also features a new face, Freya, whom we will talk about later on. Then the thing to note is the size of this volume; it’s the longest so far at 400+ pages of writing and bonuses. Vol. 4 is just jammed full of stuff (as the author notes in the afterword.) After opening, we are greeted by this volume’s manga-like introduction – which both serves as the coloured-inserts and prologue. Like Vol. 3 this is where the action shots (exciting inserts) are concentrated; we get a peek at earth dragons and fire magic! Although, this leaves the subsequent written prologue feeling drawn out and hollow. At least we get more illustrations of the Schutzenwald brothers (I think they’re so cool!) Now with that described, let us bite into this thick text~!
With the general feel of the cast described in our previous review, let us talk about the new face. Front and not-so-center of this volume is Freya, the Sage of Calamity and Mariela’s master. Freya is an alcoholic alchemist backed by overwhelming spirit magic. Her whimsical attitude and bright presence make for fun situations in this mostly dreary city. And her abilities are showcased in the prologue, where she single-handedly defeats numerous A-rank monsters (earth dragons). Will this be her defining her trait moving forward? To say I was worried about her appearance back in Vol. 3 would be an understatement. For Mariela’s growth and the Labyrinth’s threat, an overpowered combat-type character would be devastating. However, I’m happy to say this is not the case. As it is with other fairly powerful characters, Freya has limitations. Instead of solving the problem herself, she acts as an alchemy/spirit-specific mentor. Freya is to Mariela what Haage was to Sieg during the events of the hot spring recapturing. As such, we see much development from our young alchemist and the world around her. Freya also acts as a narrative tie to the past; her awakening comes with answers to many questions surrounding Endalsia and the Stampede. Overall, Freya is a great addition to our interesting cast. Her role in Mariela’s arc and the overarching story is strong but not disruptive. The verbal and literal fireworks she creates also make for some extra fun. And for our lost protagonists with a newfound goal, she is a blessing. Unfortunately for all, it may cost the entirety of Labyrinth City’s alcohol supply.
Now, with Mariela’s new conviction and Freya’s sudden appearance, there are bound to be changes in Labyrinth City. Many of these are for the better. But because of them, Vol. 4 spends the majority of its time in exposition and world-building. For series veterans, this should come as no surprise. However, Vol. 4 takes it to the next level. For those who were disappointed in Mariela’s choice to not make a truck-load of money… this volume is for you. As hinted in Vol. 3, Mariela decides to step up her production of potions – for the sake of Labyrinth City and her quiet life. Logistics, resource collection, and potion distribution are all pushed along with the aid of Freya and the Schutzenwalds. These changes come with a whole host of consequences affecting those close-to-home and beyond – new and old faces alike. And those stories develop our cast in another light: one focused on economics and foreigners. Additional information regarding Endalsia, magic, and spirits come from Freya’s various interactions. Unfortunately, the focus on the world makes Vol. 4’s pacing feel particularly slow. Usata Nonohara’s comprehensive exploration of the world of The Alchemist Who Survived needs time after all. In short, the world-building continues to be strong and delves into topics usually left on the side by other fantasy worlds. There are some sections where it feels like it’s all useless info, but it should be good to know for the future. On the upside, many of the stories meet up in an exciting predicament involving outsiders and hauntings from the past. This ties many threads together to create a meaningful narrative. And it’s a nice jog after the laborious set-up and exposition.
With that, let us talk about the plot structure. (Did you like that segue [seg-way]?) In The Alchemist Who Survived, stories tend to revolve around a central development. This allows for branching exploration and parallel plots. Such developments are (Vol. 1) the setting up the Sunlight’s Canopy, (Vol. 2) the solving the mystery behind the Aguinas family, or (Vol. 3) the pushing further into the Labyrinth. This framework is the same for Vol. 4, and the topic is “increasing potion availability.” Now, what Vol. 2 and Vol. 3 do is provide an antagonist’s perspective (Robert and Jay) to build the tension – usually weaved alongside the other stories as a reminder. Thus, the fluffy slice-of-life can take center-stage, and a nagging feeling of something coming to knock that all over is never far away. But alongside the introduction of many new faces in Vol. 4, the primary antagonist and their reasons aren’t clearly defined. This creates an (albeit interesting) guessing game at the cost of character depth. Although the consequence is a loss of investment in any assumed antagonist until the reveal. For a story dependent on its world and characters, this leaves Vol. 4 with the weakest central conflict/development so far. It is for this reason that I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first three. While it was a nice experiment, I can’t say it was terribly successful. Fortunately, there is a new development that I’m very excited to see in the next entry.
After we’ve discussed the plot’s general structure, we should pick at a few details. Vol. 4 marks a turning point and (with meta-knowledge) begins the 2nd half to Mariela’s tale. Hence, it serves an important role in three-related aspects: (1) tying/finishing, (2) continuing, and (3) starting plot threads/arcs. The latter two are always well-done with Usata Nonohara’s ability to create and build atop solid foundations. Instead, what I want to talk about is (1). Without the details, Vol. 4 concludes some arcs – each with a lot of emotion and struggle behind them. It is very important to end properly as not to leave a bad impression (a certain series comes to mind). Unfortunately, Vol. 4 doesn’t give such moments the required build-up or dwelling time to achieve a payoff. And because of it, I felt a little cheated. (I’ll admit that some tears were welled, but I expected far more than that.) For a series with other satisfying conclusions (end of Vol. 1), this was quite disappointing, but there are still many ways to redeem it. I’ll keep you all updated as I finish this series!
In a similar vein to conclusions, I’ve noticed an odd trend that may be connected to the tone of the world. In The Alchemist Who Survived the atmosphere is typically fun with a touch of “something can go wrong.” But there’s never a continued sense of evil from people (other than a couple of exceptions). If someone is doing bad, it’s usually for understandably human reasons. Of course, this doesn’t mean what they’re doing is acceptable. But it would seem that any maliciousness is heavily punished in this world. From being dissolved by a slime, to becoming death lizard fodder, to getting spirited away into the Labyrinth, all those characters suffer terrible karmic fates (coincidentally). In a way, this allows for Usata Nonohara to remove any traces of malice from their world. I’m not sure how I feel about this technique. It maintains the slice-of-life tone by removing unsuitable characters but, by doing so, creates an idealistic world. With my favourite portions being where Mariela’s quiet life is in danger, I wish there were more recurring villains like the Labyrinth. Although, with a greater focus on it in the future, this will not be needed. For now, I can only wait for Vol. 5 and 6.
Finally, additional details will be discussed. As noted in the previous review, ox’s illustrations are amazing. And there are many new expressions to see (below) and characters to meet! Unfortunately, this means inserts divert from the exciting and critical moments towards character introductions and slice-of-life moments. In the latter half of Vol. 4, the absence of art/weaker scene choice is particularly felt. This gripe may have further exacerbated my disappointment with thread conclusions. Moving on to the complement, the writing, we find more of what Usata Nonohara is known for. Long descriptions and exposition for every detail and development are given. If you made it this far and enjoyed it, it’s more of the same. But some sentences go for far too long (a whole paragraph even!) There are also a few instances of typos; one had Corps turned into Corpse. I may have missed them in earlier volumes, but this is disappointing for a final (printed) copy. I suppose that is one benefit that e-books provide – a running version of a book. Overall, the book is more of what I love, even with the flaws in this particular volume.
In summary, The Alchemist Who Survived, Vol. 4 is a relatively weak entry into the series. It is more of what I love: the interesting cast and their stories, the detailed world-building, and increased potion-making depth. The addition of Freya was an excellent choice for the tone, narrative, and world-building: all despite the initial worries of her breaking the balance. And Vol. 4’s central development of increasing potion availability follows the same structure that allows for explorative stories and character developments. However, the lack of depth in the antagonist(s) and unsatisfying conclusions make for a disappointing experience. These issues are amplified by odd choices in scenes to illustrate and a few instances of typos. For a series so strong in creating a base and working from it, I’m sad to see it falter at such an important step. But one should remember this is not the end. After Vol. 1 set the stage, Vol. 2 – 3 were amazing reads. I hope the same can be said for Vol. 5 and 6. For now, I’m excited to see where the next entry takes us after teasing us at the end of Vol. 4. See you next week~!
Rating: 4.1 / 5 – Moderately Recommended
Recommendation: To readers of fantasy worlds and overcoming past tragedies. To lovers of fiery women with a penchant for spirits (the magical and the alcoholic).
Hello! Thank you for taking the time to read my review (even if you scrolled straight to the bottom). I hope that you take home even a little of what I’ve written down.
Now, for the extra point! For those more technically-minded folks… they reference supercritical water in this volume. Yes. That’s right. This basically magical state-of-matter makes an appearance. And I’m not sure if that makes this story more or less fantastical…
I’m 春華 or Haruka, aspiring novelist and light novel reviewer. I’ve only started diving into light novels, so please bear with my naiveté. You can follow my Twitter for updates on my reviews and writing progress. Let’s all get along!
The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter Volume 1 (paperback)(ebook released earlier) Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Book Depository — Rightstuf Releasing October 13, 2020 — ISBN-13: 978-1645058427
The Epic Tale of the Reincarnated Prince Herscherik Volume 2 (ebook) Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker Released October 14, 2020 — ASIN: B08F5KHFXX
Wild Times With a Fake Fake Princess Volume 3 (ebook) Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker Released October 17, 2020 — ASIN: B08FJJ2JVZ
Starting on their Twitter account, and then continuing during the NYCC digital event, Yen Press announced a number of upcoming manga releases and light novel licenses for their Yen On imprint.
First, on October 9th, Yen Press announced on their Twitter feed the following tiles.
When a Magician’s Pupil Smiles
Story and Art by Chisaki Kanai
Ouka Namae, a magician’s pupil, is incapable of feeling emotion. That is…he’s almost incapable. There is one particular circumstance when his feelings rise to the surface, but the scenario that unleashes them is too dark to even contemplate…
When a Magician’s Pupil Smiles is a dark supernatural manga that was originally published as a digital exclusive by Yen Press. This upcoming print edition collects the entire series in a single omnibus edition.
Goblin Slayer Side Story II: Dai Katana, Vol. 1 (manga)
Story by Kumo Kagyu
Art by Aoki Shogo
Original Illustrations by lack
Not a soul knows how the death and destruction started. Only one thing is certain-it came from the north. Deep within the Dungeon of the Dead is where the the Demon King resides and the only hope humanity has of defeating this great evil rests on the shoulders of a handful of adventurers. This tale of Sword Maiden’s past smells of ash and sounds like the ringing of bare steel.
Goblin Slayer Side Story II: Dai Katana is a manga adaptation of the upcoming light novel release. A spin-off of the ever popular Goblin Slayer that delves into the past of the legendary Sword Maiden, this manga appeals greatly to fans of the series.
Yen Press had previously announced the light novel license for this series.
I Was a Bottom-Tier Bureaucrat for 1,500 Years, and the Demon King Made Me a Minister (light novel)
Story by Kisetsu Morita
Illustrations by Benio
In this spinoff story of I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level, enjoy Beelzebub’s misadventures in her early days as the demon Minister of Agriculture, after she was promoted from entry-level office worker right to the top!
I Was a Bottom-Tier Bureaucrat for 1,500 Years, and the Demon King Made Me a Minister is a spin-off of I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level, a slice-of-life fantasy that has been rapidly growing in popularity with an anime adaptation on the horizon. As a spin-off that focuses on the past hijinks of fan-favorite character Beelzebub, this series further builds upon the fun and fantastical world that many have grown to love.
I Was a Bottom-Tier Bureaucrat for 1,500 Years, and the Demon King Made Me a Minister (manga)
Story by Kisetsu Morita
Art by Meishi Murakami
Original Illustrations by Benio
In this spinoff story of I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level, enjoy demon Minister of Agriculture Beelzebub’s adventures in the days before she met Azusa. After refusing promotions for 1500 years, how did she make it from entry-level office worker right to the top?
Like the manga adaptation of I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level, the manga adaptation of I Was a Bottom-Tier Bureaucrat for 1,500 Years, and the Demon King Made Me a Minister does an amazing job portraying the hilarious events and characters from the pages of the light novel series, all in a cute art style that fans are sure to love.
During their panel at the NYCC digital event on October 11th, Yen Press announced the following titles.
Durarara!! SH
Story by Ryohgo Narita
Illustrations by Suzuhito Yasuda
In the sequel series to the urban fantasy Durarara!!, Yahiro Mizuchi has come to Tokyo in the hopes of starting a new life (and maybe seeing the Headless Rider), but the famous Dullahan hasn’t been seen in half a year—and neither has anyone who’s gone to find her!
Durarara!! SH is a sequel series of the legendary Durarara!!, the most well known work by Ryohgo Narita, the creator of Baccano! and Dead Mount Death Play. With Durarara!! standing out as one of the most beloved franchises of the past decade, one that helped launch light novels in the West, Durarara!! SH is a highly anticipated release by the most passionate of light novel readers.
Hana-chan and the Shape of the World
Story and Art by Ryotaro Ueda
It’s the story of a girl. A girl who lives in the country. A girl encountering fragments, both bitter and sweet, of the world around her. It’s the story of the shape of her world.
Hana-chan and the Shape of the World is a unique addition to the growing category of slice-of-life manga, one that features a loveable female protagonist, a stylized art style and a story reminisicent of Yotsuba&!. Hana-chan and the Shape of the World is complete in one volume.
Please Put Them On, Takamine-san!
Story and Art by Yuichi Hiiragi
The student council president, Takane Takamine, is a beauty beyond compare, and she would normally never associate with a friendless nobody like Koushi Shirota. After seeing her undressed, however, he’s forced to become her walking “closet” as she changes underwear throughout the day. But Takamine’s stripping isn’t merely to tease—it’s the key to unleashing her time-bending powers!
Please Put Them On, Takamine-san! is a spicy romantic comedy manga that puts a sexy spin on popular science fiction tropes, one that appeals greatly to fans of the best-selling Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai looking for more of an edge.
In Another World With My Smartphone
Story by Patora Fuyuhara
Art by Soto and Eiji Usatsuka
Due to God having a bit of a clumsy accident, Touya Mochizuki is killed and reincarnated in a medieval fantasy world, along with his smartphone…? His easygoing, wondrous journey through another world starts here!
In Another World With My Smartphone is a manga adaptation of the light novel series that inspired the hit anime. The ongoing series puts a fun twist on the ever popular isekai genre.
(the light novel is published in English by J-Novel Club)
Yokohama Station SF
Story by Tatsuyuki Tanaka
Illustrations by Yuba Isukari
In a future where Yokohama Station covers most of the island of Honshu, there are two ways of life-inside the station and outside. Life within the station is strictly controlled, and those who fail to follow the rules are expelled to the harsher world outside. When one of these exiles receives a temporary ticket to go into the station, he’s also given a mission to find the leader of a group determined to free humanity.
Yokohama Station SF is a dystopian science fiction novel that has enjoyed best-seller status in Japan. An epic tale that is complete in one volume, Yokohama Station SF is a must-read for fans of Japanese science fiction novels.
Can’t Stop Cursing You
Story by Kensuke Koba
Art by Natsuko Uruma
Those who make contracts with devils gain the power to curse others to death. Their mortal enemy: the Curse Detective Kiyoharu Saeyama, who uses traces of the curses left on their victims to uncover the identities of these sick killers. Let this deadly, paranormal game of psychological warfare begin!
Can’t Stop Cursing You is an edgy and suspenseful manga series that features a stylish and often gruesome art style. A relatively new series that is quickly gaining traction in Japan, Can’t Stop Cursing You is a welcome addition to the ever popular category of psychological thriller manga.
Sex Education 120%
Story by Kikiki Tataki
Art by Hotomura
Gym teacher Tsuji-sensei has one mission: help with Japan’s terrible modern sex education standards. The problem is, her students barely know their birds from their bees! Between a girl who already has a girlfriend, a hard-core BL lover, and a girl who only cares about cats, Tsuji-sensei has her work cut out for her.
Sex Education 120% is a school life manga that takes a comedic and sexy approach to discuss the topic of sex education. Led by an eccentric cast of characters all with their own lovable quirks, Sex Education 120% answers all the questions one would ask (and might not know to ask!) on a very important subject.
Hazure Skill: The Guild Member with a Worthless Skill Is Actually a Legendary Assassin
Story by Kennoji
Illustration by KWKM
Roland is the world’s greatest assassin, he’s a man who’s taken a worthless skill and made it so powerful that he managed to kill the greatest demon lord that’s ever lived. He could live out the rest of his days as a wealthy and famous man, but instead chooses…an exceedingly normal life working at an adventurer’s guild?! For someone as exceptional as Roland, aiming for a normal life won’t come easy, however…
Hazure Skill: The Guild Member with a Worthless Skill is Actually a Legendary Assassin is an adventurous fantasy light novel series that is growing in popularity. The light novel series features popular RPG elements and a protagonist who shows himself to be a reluctant hero, an increasingly popular element seen in some of today’s hottest light novel series.
Love of Kill
Story and Art by Fe
She’s a professional hitman. And he…is also a professional hitman. And she’s his target. Caught in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, will she fall first…or will he?
Love of Kill is a thrilling manga series filled with intriguing action and romance. Originally a webcomic that has enjoyed success for years, Love of Kill is a dramatic and compelling romance story unlike any manga seen in the West.
Bofuri: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense (light novel)
Story by Yuumikan
Illustrations by Koin
When it comes to the VRMMO NewWorld Online, Kaede Honjou isn’t your run-of-the-mill greenhorn gamer. Forgoing a typical stat allocation for her Great Shielder, Maple, she pumps all her points into defense from the get-go! Her reasoning? “I don’t want to get hurt.” With no magic, agility, or strength to speak of, this walking fortress will have to get creative to beat the baddies early on. But little does she know that her pure-stat build will propel her to chaotic new heights that even the game admins couldn’t account for!
Bofuri: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense is the light novel series that inspired the hit anime that stands out as one of the most popular of 2020. Led by an adorable and endearing protagonist, this series excellently combines action, comedy and ever popular RPG elements to tell a story that appeals to a wide audience.
Bofuri: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense (manga)
Story by Yuumikan
Art by Oimoto
Original Illustrations by Koin
When Kaede Honjou agrees to try out VRMMO gaming with her best friend from high school, her inexperience and “I don’t want to get hurt” outlook cause her to max out her defense points—leaving her with no attack points to speak of! Luckily for her, the game’s mod system is diverse enough that a little creativity boosts her special abilities to heights beyond the game admins’ wildest imaginations…Will this noob become a new star in NewWorld Online?!
The Bofuri: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense manga does an amazing job portraying the events of the highly-anticipated light novel series in an art style that is just as adorable as its protagonist. This manga adaptation appeals greatly to fans of the upcoming light novel series as well as the hit anime.
Today on Twitter, Yen Press also announced their plans for the Haruhi Suzumiya series. They will be releasing all the previous volumes in softcover with the original Japanese artwork with the newest volume, The Intuition of Haruhi Suzumiya releasing in June, 2021. They further said that while the old volumes would be released only in softcover, The Intuition of will also receive a hardcover release in line with the previous hardcover releases of the Haruhi series.
I Reincarnated As Evil Alice, So the Only Thing I’m Courting Is Death
As the continuation of their license announcement per week on Twitter, Cross Infinite World Announced today their upcoming release of I Reincarnated As Evil Alice, So the Only Thing I’m Courting Is Death!
The series is written by Chii Kurusu with artwork by Minato Yaguchi. Cross Infinite World describes it as “a gothic romantic comedy.”
The blurb for the book reads:
Struck by a car while saving a kitten, I died and reincarnated as the heroine of Evil Alice’s Lover, my absolute favorite otome game. But before I could even enjoy my new life as Alice, I remembered something important. Even though this is a game about dating, there are so many bad endings, it won the award for “Deadliest Game of the Year”!
I’m not allowed to fall in love if I want to live?! But the death flags just keep coming!
Packed with suspense and romance, this is the story of my gothic romantic comedy!
In the comments section, Cross Infinite World indicated they were currently planning to release all their newly announced books in print editions sometime next year.
According to Anime News Network, the author began posting the novel on Shōsetsuka ni Narō website in March. Cross Infinite World didn’t indicate this was a standalone, and their inclusion of “Volume 1” in their press release suggests there should be at least another volume if not more.
The book has an eBook release date of December 18th, 2020 and is available for preorder on Amazon now.
Reset! The Imprisoned Princess Dreams of Another Chance!
English Title: Reset! The Imprisoned Princess Dreams of Another Chance! Japanese Title: 囚われた王女は二度、幸せな夢を見る — “Torawareta ōjo wa nido, shiawasena yume o miru” Author: Kei Misawa — 三沢ケイ Illustrator: Poporucha — ぽぽるちゃ Translator: Evie Lund Genre: Fantasy, Shoujo, Romance Original Run: November 2019 – ongoing English Run: January 2021 – ongoing Japanese Publisher: N/A – posted in Japan as a web novel on Shōsetsuka ni Narō English Publisher: Cross Infinite World Volumes in Japanese: N/A Volumes in English: 1 (In Progress)
Days before her marriage to the king of the neighboring Sunruta Kingdom, Princess Annabel of Najir is abruptly betrayed by her fiancé and thrown into prison with her magic knight under suspicion of being a spy. After being held captive for months and informed her kingdom is no more, Annabel passes out in a burst of destructive magic, only to awaken as her twelve-year-old self, six years before her political marriage. Armed with knowledge of the dark future to come, she now has another chance to bring about a new fate.
This is the story of Princess Annabel’s second chance at life, and her drive to stop the destruction of her kingdom.
Volume 1 Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker Releasing January 14, 2021 — ASIN: B08JLJBYYK
Volume 2 Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker Released TBA — ASIN: **********
Reviews of Reset! The Imprisoned Princess Dreams of Another Chance!
(forthcoming)
Illustrations Sampler
Anime Adaptation
None
Manga Adaptation
None
If you liked Reset! The Imprisoned Princess Dreams of Another Chance!, you might also want to try…
“A smile so sinister it could rival the King’s spread across his face. He had a foul and dirty personality, finding joy in creating under-handed strategies to defeat his enemies, interested in plans that disregarded morals and social standards. This part of him had been latent, useless in the abnormal peacefulness and safety of twenty-first-century Japan.” – Sakuma Sasaki, on Shin’s acceptance of becoming the Demon King’s advisor. The high-school boy, Shinichi Sotoyama, has been given the chance of a lifetime to indulge in his dark desires. In this heroically courageous(?) heart, a switch is flipped to create the most dastardly villain of them all. It’s not unethical to kill someone if they have infinite resurrections… right? Oh, alright… Maybe the mind-breaking is a little much.
The Dirty Way to Destroy the Goddess’s Heroes, Vol. 1 is the introductory volume to the isekai-fantasy series of food-loving demons and cheat-magic using humans. Shinichi Sotoyama (Shin) is whisked away from Earth only to be placed in front of a Demon King – who promptly begs for the boy’s help. With muscles for brains, the demons only know of physically destroying the assaulting heroes: humans with infinite resurrections! Thus, it is up to Shin to come up with a different plan. One must be creative, villainous, and, most importantly, be willing to play dirty. This unique story of magic, psychology, and weird references is brought to us by Sakuma Sasaki and Asagi Tosaka: two creatives still working hard in the light novel industry today!
The Dirty Way to Destroy the Goddess’s Heroes, Vol. 1
So, does this series sound interesting to you? It does some unique things, and I’ve learned quite a bit during its reading. But I’ll admit that I’m not really into isekais and only bought Vol. 1 on sale. Thus, there will be a bit of a bias in this review. However, I hope to inform you if you were thinking of buying this in the future! For this spoiler-free review, we will discuss the hook, plot, cast, and world-building. Then we’ll briefly talk about the comedy, action, and art at the end. Now, with that out of the way, let us get into it!
To start, let us talk about some first impressions. The cover is decently colourful and displays the main cast of the story. It also communicates the leading elements of the book: fantasy, pretty girls, and a sinister plot-maker. This is the mark of a great design. And those who’ve read my review for The Demon Sword Master, Vol. 1 will also recognize something; it’s drawn by the same illustrator! The Dirty Way is about 3 years older than The Demon Sword Master and there are some clear stylistic differences. Moving on, we see that the length is standard for a Yen Press release: ~ 200 pages. This is good for a light read (~ 4 – 5 hours) but can feel a little on the short side when compared to other fantasy series I’ve reviewed. For value-per-dollar, this book relies heavily on the quality of its story. Finally, after opening the book, there are the coloured inserts – all of which are on this page! The best is the reference sheet (see below) which depicts the main female cast + Shin. And with that, let us jump into the rest of the book!
The story’s premise is simple: the Demon King’s daughter, Rino, has fallen for human cuisine and, after many misunderstandings, heroes are sent to assault the demon’s castle daily (and fail). (Un)fortunately, there’s a stalemate. Rino doesn’t want humanity to be annihilated by demonkind’s overwhelming power, and the heroes have the power of infinite resurrections. Thus, Shin is summoned by the Demon King to help solve this odd debacle. This idea comes from other stories (especially video games) where the heroes can respawn (or reload): a hopelessly losing position for the final boss/demon king. Thus, the only way to win is to tire the gamer (mentally ‘break’ the heroes). For those familiar with role-playing games (RPGs), this is an interesting perspective on a concept that is simply accepted. In taking something people don’t usually think of and making a story of it, Sakuma Sasaki shows an impressive imaginative side. The premise also allows exploration of a variety of situations – always a good resource to have. However, an interesting premise and wide potential don’t necessarily lead to an engaging plot… What does The Dirty Way achieve in its 200 pages?
To be blunt, if the premise got you interested, you’re in for a boring read. The plot is as one would expect after the set-up – create and follow-through on plans to defeat the heroes. This process involves psychological torture and abusing magic to hinder and deter the first five heroes. Unfortunately, the majority of the fun occurs at the beginning third of the volume. And this is where it spends the value of the hook. Afterwards, the plot shifts focus onto Shin’s struggle with two heroes, Arian and Hube. While this gives us time to delve into their pasts, such investment is wasted when the solution is fairly simple. And it spends a lot of its time in the setup. Without going too deep, the psychological warfare isn’t creative or interesting due to the uncomplicated motivations carried by the heroes. The result is a squandering of the potential of the hook and a severe lack of sinister plan execution. Given those are the selling points of the book, I would say it failed on this front.
Now, to no surprise, Shin is a mostly normal high-school-aged boy from Japan; the ‘mostly’ comes from the reasons the summoning had picked him. Shin is supposedly courageous, is decently intelligent, and has a latent love for creating dastardly plans. The former two are respectively exemplified in his composure after being struck by a car at four-years-old and an adept understanding of the sciences. There isn’t any further exploration into his past or his base character. Instead, we are treated to passages telling us of sudden revelations of his change in motivations (e.g. the ‘latent’ desire for dark plans.) These aren’t built-up throughout the book and seem like conveniences. Then, without a solid foundation or coherent path, who is Shin? All of this leaves him feeling hollow, shallow, and inconsistent. (Perhaps Sakuma Sasaki accurately describes the pubescent mind…?) Thus, I’m led to believe Shin is closer to a vehicle for the narrator/reader rather than a full character. This implementation isn’t bad per se, but it’s not for those looking for a fully fleshed out world and cast. In short, I’m fairly disappointed with Shin’s characterization. I would’ve preferred more description of a person who would willingly psychologically torture other humans.
Moving on after Shin, there is the supporting cast. The rest of the characters take on a variety of personalities, but let us talk about the more prominent ones. There’s Ludabite, the muscle-headed Demon King; Rino, the sweet demon princess; Celes, the cool-faced dark elf; Arian, the loner hero; and Hube, the Goddess’s Bishop. From their descriptions, you have a good idea of how they’ll act. Each of them starts off trope-like and end… well, pretty much the same. Unlike Shin, there aren’t any notable character arcs – forced or otherwise – but at least their motivations are explained. Further value then comes from their worldly experiences and conversations with Shin. This is especially true with the first three; the demons’ absurd worldview contrasts well with Shin’s earthly expectations. This is the source of my infrequent chuckling – especially with Ludabite and Celes. The rest, Arian and Hube, represent the human-/hero-side of the story and present opportunities to better explore the religion that ties them together. With all this, these characters are simply better than Shin; they have core foundations, play narrative roles, and are tied closely to world elements. My only gripe is with the Bishop’s character at the end of the story… but I’ll leave that up to you to find out why.
Now that we’ve talked about the plot and characters, let us explore the world. The world is as one would expect from a RPG fantasy (compare with my Reincarnated as a Sword review). There’re class-like heroes, demons, gods, and monsters. It also borrows some inspiration from Dungeons & Dragons; one scene, in particular, makes use of a spell gone wrong. Of all the concepts, the demons and human society are decently explained (through the plot and character interactions). But there is a heavy reliance on RPG experience and niche scientific knowledge throughout the book. This isn’t all bad as it creates interesting situations where science and magic meet through the Element Conversion spell. As an example, an instance of the use of (C3H3NaO2)n, a polyacrylate, to absorb water is creative. I love science and fantasy and should be ecstatic to see the two mix. However, it is their implementation in the world that needs serious improvement. Like Shin’s motivational revelations, there is no build-up to their appearance. This sets the precedent that one should know a lot beyond the scope of the given world and creates unsatisfying resolutions. It also leaves the reader feeling the world is perpetually narratively-incomplete. In short, The Dirty Way has a decently explored relationship between the demons and humans and some cool interactions that expand the standard fantasy tropes. However, the resulting world feels hollow and relies too much on knowledge beyond its covers.
Finally, it’s the additional details. To start, let us focus on the writing. In The Dirty Way, one will notice a lot of outside references + analogies and an abundance of long dialogue tags. The former has the same issue with the world-building, and the latter is simply frustrating. Their presence creates a slow read with some needlessly long sections. For a series with ‘comedy’ as a tag, this writing style is very detrimental, and it isn’t helped by the lack of comedic situations. At best, the conversations about fantastical absurdities give some moments to forcefully exhale at. And on the other hand, the ‘action’ in The Dirty Way is bogged down by nebulous magic and sudden science. This leaves the series with very little value beyond some cute characters + the Demon King. Even then, one scene involving Arian was tasteless and only barely justifiable narratively (not the one shown below). All of these factors leave me with little confidence in the design or execution of further developments. Moving on, let us briefly talk about the art. If you like Asagi Tosaka’s style – cute designs and pretty characters – there’s more for you. However, don’t expect them to be used for exciting scenes as many are relegated to character introductions (but the Demon King isn’t even illustrated!) The combination of this with the weak writing has me disappointed in the overall experience. If you are looking for something better, let me direct you instead to The Demon Sword Master.
Overall, The Dirty Way to Destroy the Goddess’s Heroes, Vol. 1 is far from the best of books I’ve reviewed. Its interesting premise cashes in its potential by the end of the first act, and the plot proceeds to spend too much time setting up for unsatisfying sinister plans. These issues are exaggerated by the lack of characterization of Shin and the simple motivations of the remaining cast. The world-building relies heavily on RPG fantasy experience and real-world science. This leads to some cool interactions but is implemented poorly without proper build-up. And above all, the writing is frustrating to read, overly descriptive, and lacks comedic style/timing. The accompanying art is used mostly for character introductions (but not even the Demon King) and misses many more important scenes – at least it’s pretty. In short, I wouldn’t recommend The Dirty Way to any light novel readers. It is an example of why the isekai-genre has a bad rep, and I won’t be continuing the series. Hopefully, I will have something better for you all next week!
Rating: 2.2 / 5 – Not Recommended
Recommendation(?): To readers of isekai fantasy looking for another series to pad their bookshelves. To lovers of dark-skinned elves, magic + science mixing, and frustrating reads.
Hello! Thank you for taking the time to read my review (even if you scrolled straight to the bottom). I hope that you take home even a little of what I’ve written down.
If there is only one thing from this book I liked… it would have to be Celes. Her cold-exterior, ribbing, and secretly(?) sweet personality makes for the perfect sidekick. And as I always say, maid outfits are the best!
I’m 春華 or Haruka, aspiring novelist and light novel reviewer. I’ve only started diving into light novels, so please bear with my naiveté. You can follow my Twitter for updates on my reviews and writing progress. Let’s all get along!
Hello everyone! Here are are the light novels releasing during the week of October 19th to the 25th, 2020.
A big week as we have several brand new series debuts including the highly anticipated High School DxD!
If you want to see all the upcoming light novel releases, be sure to visit the Preorders page.
Ascendance of a BookwormPart 3 Volume 2 (eBook)(print to release later) Amazon — Apple — Google Play — Kobo — Bookwalker Releasing October 19, 2020 — ASIN: B08DP5Y7C6
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill Volume 8 (ebook) Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker Released October 19, 2020 — ASIN: B08FHYHXPV
Restaurant to Another WorldVolume 5 (eBook)(Print releases February 26, 2021) Amazon — Apple — Google Play — Kobo — Bookwalker Releasing October 22, 2020 — ASIN: B08CRT6LK8
I Became the Secretary of a Hero! Volume 3 (eBook) Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker Releasing October 23, 2020 — ASIN: B08BTZXPXD
English Title: The Bloodline Japanese Title: ブラッドライン Author: Taketeru Sunamori — 砂守 岳央 Illustrator: hakus Translator: Hikoki Genre: Action, Romance, Dystopia Original Run: November 2020 – ongoing English Run: November 2020 – ongoing Japanese Publisher: N/A (J-Novel is the 1st publisher. A Japanese release might follow) English Publisher: J-Novel Club Volumes in Japanese: N/A Volumes in English: 1 (In Progress)
Note: Also available to read online through a J-Novel Club subscription. This series is currently digital-only.
After the fall of civilization, a hierarchical society was born where blood determines everything. The rich steal both the blood and lifespans of the poor, rejoicing in their now-eternal lives.
Nagi is a commoner fated to die, while Saya is royalty, gifted with eternal youth. When fate brings their unlikely paths together, their innocent love set the gears in motion to tear down the walls of a society built upon tremendous inequality and racial discrimination.
Her words mix with the wind’s melody, the notes of the rustling leaves, then face away. Dragon and Knight turn to one another as they both watch over Princess, who now stands there alone. “Looks like our truce is gettin’ an extension.” “It goes against my wishes, but we have little choice.” Dragon lifts his foreleg and Knight his fist – they quietly knock them together. “For the princess.” “For the princess.” – Tsubaki Tokino, at the beginning of the three’s life in the Black Forest. This unlikely duo now must watch over the princess as she matures into the rightful(?) ruler of Reverfeat Castle. With a new identity and a forest full of game, this old knight has a chance to reignite his passion. How far will he go to fulfill his promises – those given to his princess, his captain, and, most importantly, his kingdom.
Little Princess in Fairy Forest is a fantasy light novel one-shot (standalone) set in a kingdom ravaged by a baseless takeover. Siegfried, popularly known as Lord Designs, deposed and disposed of the royal family – all except for one little princess. To legitimize his reign, Princess Lala is to be married to him – too bad she’s on-the-run! With nowhere to go, her two remaining knights are reduced to one. Gideon receives one final command before his captain’s heroic sacrifice: “Teach our princess [your] stubbornness.” Now it is up to the Thorn Knight to ensure Princess’s safety. Following this is a fantastical adventure with a variety of faces: dragons, witches, and demons, and more. By weaving together detailed exposition, hard-fought battles, and powerful magic, Tsubaki Tokino tells a tale of odd alliances, sinister machinations, and complementary princesses. Konno Takashi’s art then accents the text with a unique style inspired by the grim fairy-tales of old. There are only two questions to answer. How far will Siegfried go to capture the Princess? And how far will Gideon go to prevent it?
Little Princess in Fairy Forest (One-Shot)
Did I get you excited about the book? I hope so! This title instantly caught my eye as I browsed my regular shop. With fantasy as the go-to genre, I was pleasantly surprised to find something so inspired by classical fairy-tales. Thus, Little Princess in Fairy Forest became the newest addition to my collection. This title is quite different from my other Cross Infinite world romance reads (reviews are here) but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It’s darker plot points, fantastical elements, and beautiful art come together to create an exciting read. And I managed to finish it all in one sitting! Now, for this mostly spoiler-free review (the setup, first 1/6th, will have some details), we’ll look at the setup, plot structure, characterizations, world-building, and more! And with that, I hope I can inform you about this wonderful book!
As always, let’s go over some first impressions. We all know the saying… but it was the cover that grabbed my attention. The unique style, the characters present, and the dark forest told me all I needed to know. It’s going to be something different. It’s a darker fantasy tale with magic, creatures, and knights – and the princess is this fairy-tale’s small ray of light. The beautiful front is then followed by 60,000 words of text. This length is on the longer end of standard (about 10 % shorter than Reincarnated as a Sword, Vol. 1 but 20 – 30 % longer than most Yen Press releases). With an expected price of 7 or 14 USD for the e-book or paperback, respectively, Little Princess in Fairy Forest provides above par length-per-dollar value. Finally, the book greets its entrants with three inserts (two coloured, and one greyscale) – all of which are on this page. The coloured dragon-back ride and fight against the usurpers depict two sides of this story: wide exploration and struggling against an unforgiving force. The character sheet then acts as a detailed introduction and a helpful reference. (Have I said that I love the style?!) And with that, let us get into the text!
To start, it has to be the foundations. The premise of the story is as the synopsis says; a thorny Knight protects the budding princess as they flee into the Forbidden Forest. The threats then come from two fronts. We expect dragons at the front and pursuers from the back. This is great for exciting developments and complex three-way conflicts. And the setting of the Forbidden Forest creates a foreboding atmosphere for all. For a fantasy adventure-genre story, this setup is ripe with potential. So, where does The Little Princess go from there? Well, the setup (first 1/6 of the book) was disappointing. Despite the hype surrounding the conflict surrounding dragons and knights, the threat is eliminated immediately without effort. And Siegfried’s men are (understandably) unable to pursue effectively in the forest. Instead, we have an odd subplot involving a demon and fairy-godmother that concludes with the start of their new life in the forest. It seems the purpose was to solidify Dragon and Knight’s relationship and their roles moving forward. To this end, it succeeds. However, the expectations from the synopsis are shattered. And that demon plays no role further in the story. With that, I’m sad to see such a weak start to this unique tale.
After the shaky beginnings, let us talk about the plot as a whole. The real story begins as the consequences of Siegfried’s actions unfold. With corruption and violence spreading throughout the kingdom, it is only a matter of time before the forest’s interior is affected as well. Little Princess shows its true strength starting here. After a year’s time-skip, the story solidifies around stopping Siegfried and reclaiming the throne. This simple plot goal creates an understandable trajectory but maintains the potential for fantastical hazards along the way. And the Lord will stop a nothing to find and marry the Princess. As atrocities begin to encroach on the trio’s new life, it is up to them to act… or lose everything. As the threat becomes more real, we explore different elements (read: dangers) of the world. However, the focus on defeating Siegfried is (almost) never lost. We will go no further for spoiler-based reasons. But rest assured that such evils grips the reader’s morality and uses it to fuel our investment in the protagonists. This plot and the ever-growing stakes combine into an exciting read with a satisfying conclusion. In short, Little Princess‘s plot is well-done. It is simple but sturdy, adventurous but focused.
Then, as every plot needs characters, we’ll delve into them next. Little Princess is much like the fairy-tales by which it is inspired; every character plays a role and doesn’t deviate much from their prescribed trope. There’s the worn-out knight, the innocent princess, the wise dragon, the maniacal lord, and more – everyone acts as one would expect. This is great for creating base characterizations. However, this implementation risks feeling unoriginal and having stagnant characters. For Little Princess, such issues are present but ignored in favour of playing the characters off one another. Instead of dramatic arcs, we’re given interesting dialogue or new obstacles to overcome. Almost every combination is shown at least once and adds another layer of fun to the mix. Yes, fun even includes the meetings with the baddies. These scenes add colour to the blank canvases that are the tropes. My personal favourites are the hooligan vs. sage conversations of Knight and Dragon and the discordance between Megan and Lala. This all works because the story has one goal in mind: overthrow the tyrant. There’s no need for a character to develop for it to be satisfying. And with that, Little Princess is firmly in the ‘plot-driven’ camp of stories. To summarize, like the fairy-tales it is inspired by, Little Princess avoids complex character arcs. This loss is more than balanced by the interactions between their big cast. If you enjoy that, Little Princess has a lot in store for you.
Now with the plot and characters described, let us talk about the world elements. As hinted by the previous discussions, it is very fairy-tale inspired. There’s a kingdom, magical forests, witch magic, curses, dragons, demons, and more! With so much on the table, it’s a wonder how Little Princess incorporates it all. It does this by focusing on a core element and relying on tropes for the rest. Like our discussion on the setup suggests, the core element is related to Dragon and Knight. I won’t go into detail because it’s pretty unique, and it develops alongside their relationship. However, if you were looking for The Alchemist Who Survived-levels of world-building, Little Princess is not for you. Very little is explained, but this just adds to the fairy-tale nature of it all. (And the short length wouldn’t allow for it.) Instead, each element affects the plot in their own little way: triggering a development, creating a hazard, forming a solution, etc. This creates memorable story points as each is tied to a particular power. And although my curiosity wants to know more, I’m satisfied with their implementation (lead-up and foreshadowing are well-done here). In short, Little Princess‘s world is interesting, fantastical, and varied. And despite the short length, it manages to expand on one plot-developing element and create memorable moments with the rest.
After talking about the constituents, let us talk about the adventure, action, and dialogue a little more. When I hear ‘adventure’, I think of an explorative journey with a wide array of characters, elements, and themes. Little Princess does well with its characters and fantastical elements but falls a little flat with the themes and journey. There are some deeper themes of ‘taking responsibility’ and ‘growing up’ sprinkled about, but they aren’t fully explored, and the overall message simply feels like “Don’t be an evil dude, dummy.” The journey also visits only a handful of locales in total (incl. the castle and the forest). In this case, the shorter length may have been the flaw. For a ‘breathtaking saga’, it is certainly lacking some parts. Next, it’s the action; there are many fights to be seen. While fantastical spectacle certainly plays a role, these scenes all have some narrative weight to them (maybe excepting the one in the beginning.) And with additional gruesome details added in, every fight is a thrill to read. My personal favourite is one a bit later in the book – it was just so cool! Finally, let’s talk about dialogue (heh). Each character has a unique manner of speech and well-defined relationships with the others. This clearly distinguishes speakers without the need for tags. It also makes dialogue more fun as I can easily imagine how everyone sounds! With all this, Little Princess is not the perfect read but does many things right.
At last, it’s time to knock out the additional details. In line with the LN adventure-type story, the writing is simple and descriptive. Little Princess does this to (1) create a full atmosphere in every scene and (2) give the action more “oomph”. For (1), as the reader is usually primed to learn more about a newly introduced element or character, it never feels frustrating to read. Then (2) comes from a similar discussion from my ROLL OVER AND DIE review, where in-depth depictions of action can enhance the experience instead of obstructing it. However, not all is good. There are instances of confusing sentences and inconsistent naming (the princess vs. Princess). These aren’t deal-breakers but can frustrate keen readers. Additionally, we should note there are many perspective changes. This is mostly to give Siegfried’s plans some background and foreshadow new threats. To reduce confusion, each section naturally progresses the plot and is given sufficient time/lead-up. Lastly, let us briefly appreciate the art. Little Princess has plenty (10+) of black-and-white art in the style of its character page (above): one reminiscent of classical fairy-tales. Their use in punctuating important scenes is skillful and further add to the darker tones ahead. And they remind of some stories from The Brothers Grimm. My only disappointment is that I wish there was more!
Overall, I’m pleasantly surprised by the quality of Little Princess in Fairy Forest. This standalone light novel is very much like a larger fairy-tale. However, don’t let the synopsis fool you into thinking dragons and the forest are the real threats. It’s all about defeating Lord “Designs” Siegfried. Despite its disappointing start, the following 5/6’s are an engaging, dark, and focused journey towards this goal. The trope-like characters lack development but have many interactions to make up for it – Dragon and Knight are my personal favourites (and the main duo!) World-building is shallow but wide; this is in-line with other fairy-tales but Little Princess does well in focusing on one element in particular. The supporting fantastical elements (witches, demons, etc.) are interesting and memorable – with the latter coming from their ties to specific plot developments. And while the adventure-aspect is lacking in locale numbers and complex themes, the thrilling action and fun dialogue make up for it. Tsubaki Tokino’s descriptive writing and Takashi Konno’s grim illustrations come together to create an exciting unique experience for fantasy LN readers. And since this is a one-shot, I hope to read more of their other work in the future! See you all next week~!
Rating: 4.0 / 5 – Moderately Recommended
Recommendation: To readers of fantasy and fairy-tales; it’s a unique treat for light novel readers everywhere! To lovers of battle-hardened knights, wise dragons, sly witches, and adorable princesses.
Hello! Thank you for taking the time to read my review (even if you scrolled straight to the bottom). I hope that you take home even a little of what I’ve written down.
If you’re still on the fence after this review… please take some more time to appreciate the art. I love the grim and fantastical feel, and its style is very different from the standard LN’s. This one-shot’s experience is good on many fronts!
I’m 春華 or Haruka, aspiring novelist and light novel reviewer. I’ve only started diving into light novels, so please bear with my naiveté. You can follow my Twitter for updates on my reviews and writing progress. Let’s all get along!
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Familia Chronicle: Episode Freya Volume 2 (paperback & eBook) Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Book Depository — RightStuf — BAM! — Indigo Releasing October 27, 2020 — ISBN-13: 978-1975327552
ROLL OVER AND DIE: I Will Fight for an Ordinary Life with My Love and Cursed Sword! (Light Novel) Volume 1 (paperback)(ebook released earlier) Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Book Depository — Rightstuf — BAM! — Indigo Releasing October 27, 2020 — ISBN-13: 978-1645058601
The White Cat’s Revenge as Plotted from the Dragon King’s Lap Volume 3 (ebook) Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker Released October 27, 2020 — ASIN: B08F5K7YB7
Der Werewolf: The Annals of VeightVolume 9 (eBook) Amazon — Apple — Google Play — Kobo — Bookwalker Releasing October 28, 2020 — ASIN: B08DC95PHF
Classroom of the Elite Volume 7 (eBook)(paperback releases January 19, 2021) Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker Releasing October 29, 2020 — ASIN: B08CS884T6
Berserk of Gluttony Volume 1 (eBook)(paperback releases January 5, 2021) Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker Releasing October 29, 2020 — ASIN: B08JC4X4R2
Another World’s Zombie Apocalypse Is Not My Problem! Volume 2 (ebook) Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker Released October 30, 2020 — ASIN: B08BTTKJ9K
Can Someone Please Explain What’s Going On?! Volume 4 (ebook) Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker Released October 31, 2020 — ASIN: B08F5K5JP1
English Title: Reincarnated as the Last of My Kind Japanese Title: 転生したら絶滅寸前の希少種族でした。 — Tensei Shitara Zetsumetsu Sunzen no Kishou Shuzokudeshita Author: Kiri Komori — 古森 きり Illustrator: Yamigo — ヤミーゴ Translator: Roman Lempert Genre: Fantasy, Reincarnation, Slice of Life, Shoujo Original Run: Month Year – ongoing English Run: November 2020 – ongoing Japanese Publisher: N/A English Publisher: Cross Infinite World Volumes in Japanese: N/A — Directly licensed from the author’s webnovel Volumes in English: 1 (In Progress)
A bicycle crashes into me one night, and the next thing I know, I’m a baby?!
Getting reincarnated in another world populated by humans, demi-humans, and mythical beasts is certainly not the turn I thought my life was going to take. I especially didn’t expect to be carried off by a wolf and given into the care of a one-armed former knight! Now I’m trying to repay him by rebuilding the family inn and healing his arm with alchemy. But the more time passes, the more it becomes clear to me that I’m not actually human…
Volume 1 Amazon Released November 30, 2020 — ASIN: B08KFSHMPV
Our Crappy Social Game Club Is Gonna Make the Most Epic Game
English Title: Our Crappy Social Game Club Is Gonna Make the Most Epic Game Japanese Title: 弱小ソシャゲ部の僕らが神ゲーを作るまで — “Jakushou Soshage-bu no Bokura ga Kamige wo Tsukuru made” Author: Oriori Siki — 紙木織々 Illustrator: Azuri Hyuga — 日向あずり Translator: Mikey N. Genre: Slice of Life, Romance, Gaming Original Run: December 2019 – ongoing English Run: January 2021 – ongoing Japanese Publisher: Overlap English Publisher: J-Novel Club Volumes in Japanese: 2 (In Progress) Volumes in English: 1 (In Progress)
Note: Also available to read online through a J-Novel Club subscription. This series is currently digital-only.
Synopsis: Past trauma leads Shiraseki Kai to abandon the world of social game development, so he transfers to Maikun High School to start a new life. But on his first day he meets Aoi Nanaka, the president of a low-tier social game club, and finds out that the club is on the brink of disbanding—and is also populated by total weirdos! The programmer, Oushima Aya, is a crazed gacha addict, and the illustrator, Kuroba Eru, faints from the cuteness of her own drawings?! Kai joins the club, which gives them enough members to continue… or so they thought. The student council hands down an ultimatum: “Win a competition against another school or disband!” Now their management talents will really be put to the test. With the skills that he’s nurtured and his new set of friends, can Kai face his fears to create the ultimate social game?!
