English Title: Girls Kingdom Japanese Title: ガールズキングダム Author: Nayo — なよ Illustrator: Shio Sakura — 佐倉汐 Translator: Philip Reuben Genre: School Life, Yuri, Comedy Original Run: 2014 – ongoing English Run: December 2020 – ongoing Japanese Publisher: GL Bunko English Publisher: J-Novel Heart (J-Novel Club) Volumes in Japanese: 8 (Complete) Volumes in English: 1 (In Progress)
Note: Per J-Novel Club, the original Japanese release was done as several short novellas. J-Novel Club is releasing all the original material in 3 book releases with new covers.
Note: Also available to read online through a J-Novel Club subscription. This series is currently digital-only.
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!
“Your existence shall disappear from this world, but I won’t ever forget you. Even when I reach the deepest depths of hell, I will remember you.” – Rain Lantz, speaking to an unknown recipient. This young soldier from the East bears a burden very few share. With each use of the Devil’s Bullet, another life is erased from existence – their past, their present, and their future. The only traces are left in the minds of Rain and Air. How will our duo act, knowing there’s no taking it back?
(Warning: contains spoilers for Vol. 1)
May These Leaden Battlegrounds Leave No Trace, Vol. 2 is the next entry of the war-fantasy light novel series set during the fourth war between the nation of the West, Harborant, and the nation of the East, O’ltmenia. With the East suffering numerous defeats, Rain and Air are deployed on an escort mission – one whose cargo may change the course of the war. Strained relationships, new technologies, and tragic paths all come together in this story of erasing history and exacting revenge. What is the limit of Rain and Air’s determination to survive? Kei Uekawa’s writing and TEDDY + Naohiro Washio’s art/design mixes action, sci-fi, and fantasy for this cold, isolating sequel.
May These Leaden Battlegrounds Leave No Trace, Vol. 2
So, did the intro make you want to continue the series? I decided to give May These Leaden Battlegrounds another try. After all, Vol. 1 wasn’t horrendous – just sub-par. And there are some aspects of it that I do like and want to see expanded on. Unfortunately, Vol. 2 fails to deliver on those fronts and continues to play setup without any reward. If you haven’t already, please read my Vol. 1 review as we will reference it and touch on other topics. For this review, we mention important events from Vol. 1 but will be avoiding spoilers from Vol. 2. Discussions will be targeted at the setup, plot + character developments, world-building, and writing. Now, with that all out of the way, let’s jump into the review!
To start, let us talk about some first impressions. The cover for this entry depicts our main duo (Rain and Air) with an unknown character in wintry clothes. This instantly tells us that the new face is central to this volume (are they friend or foe?) and that we’ll see a lot of snow. The clothing and weapons add that this series is in the genre of war-fantasy – a mark of good design. Additionally, there is a clear change in the art style by TEDDY from Vol. 1: pay attention to Rain’s hair and the outlining of the clothing. Seeing such an evolution of art is always interesting. Moving on, we should note the short length of Vol. 2. With the paperbacks, it is easy to see the difference. And using word count, we find that Vol. 2 contains 43,000 words vs. Vol. 1’s 51,000 words. This makes it ~ 16 % shorter for the same price and one of Yen Press’s shortest releases (that I’ve reviewed). Of course, this isn’t necessarily detrimental, just something to remember. Lastly, let us talk about the coloured-inserts. There are five (5) to be seen: the clean cover, reused character sheet (below), an action shot (bottom of post), a cuter moment (featured banner), and the mechanical design (not included here). Of them all, the mechanical design is the coolest – so much technical detail and style for a newly added Exelia. If only there was more… And with that, let’s bite into the text!
As we covered the world, characters, and premise in the previous review, let us talk about the new stuff. For one, I’ll focus on this entry’s hook and setup. In Vol. 2, Rain is sent to support an escort mission through the northern regions of O’ltmenia – something far from his usual battlefields. According to his superiors, this is to ‘cool his head’ from the many defeats in which he was involved. It is then during this mission that an incident occurs that strands Air, Rain, and two others in the mountains. And with some out-of-the-blue straining in Air and Rain’s relationship, we add to the potential drama. Narratively, the point is to (1) develop Rain’s relationship with Air and (2) introduce the second-generation of Exelias. There are also some concerns about Athly’s involvement in the latter half of Vol. 1, but they aren’t addressed much further. As a whole, this setup isn’t particularly special and feels contrived: both in the ‘issue’ Rain and Air are experiencing and creating the aforementioned stranding. And while the next-gen Exelia’s are exciting, the Devil’s Bullet lost the focus – not good for the central concept. Most of all, I was mostly disappointed by the lack of expansion on the Athly plot; there was that huge cliffhanger at the end of Vol. 1! Hence, for a start, May These Leaden Battlegrounds, Vol. 2 misses the mark.
After the setup, let’s talk about plot and characterization. Much of Vol. 2 is spent recovering from the incident involving Air, Rain, and their plus two. Without detail, the four are isolated in the mountains with one Exelia and await help. Tensions are high, and lives are at stake. Finding heat, healing the injured, and maintaining shaky alliances are all part of the package. This situation takes up almost 2/3’s of the book and serves as the overarching backdrop. Thus, there won’t be too much Exelia fighting here. But it brings to light new developments, especially concerning the nature of Air and Rain’s relationship. How is this all handled? Not convincingly. Because of the (forced) time spent together, the focus is on the dialogue and exploration of the four characters. With the way information is conveyed (discussed later), conversations feel unnatural. And there is toomuch focus on the new characters – such investment doesn’t pay off. Instead, a deeper exploration into Rain, Air and perhaps Athly would have been preferred. This would’ve patched up the shallow characterizations from Vol. 1. But after two volumes, I still don’t fully understand or sympathize with any of the three leads. In short, the plot doesn’t delve into the widespread impact of second-generation Exelias on the war and tries to build character instead. However, it’s efforts are misplaced and loses development on more important characters and background plots.
Now, we’ll delve into the new world elements. As mentioned in the Vol. 1 review, there are many concepts mixed into May These Leaden Battlegrounds. From mechas (Exelia), to Ghosts, to Bullet Magic, to Gods, there is no lack of cool-factor. With the plot, the focus in Vol. 2 is on the next-gen of Exelia and Ghosts. As the intro suggests, the former is a new design that allows for some explosive changes. By implementing something called the flow engine, the decay heat of graimar nuclear alloy (GNA) can be exploited for great power output. And for the Ghosts stuff… I leave it to you to read it. For both, their addition to the lore doesn’t feel impactful – more akin to adding junk to a pile. And the lack of explained connections between concepts continues to imitate a sandbox rather than a cohesive world. I want to know more about the Gods; how does their worship affect the world/Ghosts? I want more on GNA; how does it interact with Qualia/Bullet Magic? Such fundamental questions are left unanswered as if to create a sense of mystery. However, this simply propagates the incomplete, unconnected, and shallow feeling the world exudes.
Finally, let’s do the additional details. First, as hinted at before, the writing is frustrating to read. In addition to my Vol. 1’s points, the two most notable contributors are (1) the constant reiteration (of various things) and (2) the tell with little show. The former is exemplified by Air explaining Ghosts to Deadrim and Isuna – every detail. It’s not cut short with a courteous “and so, she told them everything about Ghosts.” This is just poor presentation. For those who have read Vol. 1, it’s all repeated; any interesting bits regarding Deadrim and Isuna are completely washed out. At best, such scenes pad the page count and thoroughly drip in the information. At worst, it kills the pacing and tempts you with skipping over such parts. Now, (2) is related to (1). But don’t get me wrong – telling is fine, showing is just stronger. And with so much saying how things are, there is very little in the way of convincing the reader that is the case. This is exaggerated by this entry’s short length. Air and Rain’s relationship development? Shallow. The domination of the West over the East? Not a major concern. It’s all of these little things that take away from the story and leave you with a verbose fact-book. Moving on, let’s talk about the illustrations. To put it bluntly, it feels like the quality dropped – mostly for the black-and-white inserts. The reused second colour-insert is the first hint at this. In Vol. 1, there were a handful of cool shots for Rain, Air, and the antagonists, and one debatably wasted on Athly-service. Compare this to Vol. 2, where 3 or 4 illustrations are used for completely inconsequential scenes. Instead, they should have placed the effort into depicting the ‘cool’-potential its concepts possess (see coloured-insert 3, below). That way, it could maintain some layer of spectacle on top of the padded text. At least they have the new Exelia design as a coloured-insert. Overall, this downwards trajectory may tell of worse times ahead. In short, the continued sub-par execution of the writing and art throughout Vol. 1-2 don’t produce much confidence moving forward. The only thing I have left to hope for is the resolution of the Athly plot…
Overall, May These Leaden Battlegrounds, Vol. 2 is an underwhelming sequel to a sub-par series. With a contrived setup that doesn’t build on Vol. 1’s cliffhanger, we get a shift in focus towards Exelias and Ghosts (and away from the Devil’s Bullet). The story then strands Air and Rain with two side characters. This stifles the next-gen Exelia’s potential impact in our story. And the unnatural dialogue and ton of exposition about the new faces take away from more important developments (i.e. our lead characters + background plots). Vol. 2 also continues its predecessor’s style of world-building – throwing stuff together for the sake of ‘cool’. Each element’s lack of elaboration and explanation creates an incomplete and shallow world. Finally, the re-iterative and all-tell writing are frustrating to read and unconvincing. And the use of the black-and-white illustrations for critical scenes and action has declined. I wouldn’t recommend continuing May These Leaden Battlegrounds unless you like something from it (character design, cool concepts, etc.) And if you do, be warned that it seems unlikely to expand on old things and prefers to lump more junk into the pile. As for me, I will not be continuing and will divert my attention elsewhere (for real this time!) And with that, see you all next week!
Rating: 2.3 / 5 – Hardly Recommended
Recommendation: To readers looking for war-fantasy but with more confusion, frustration, and expositional padding on the side. To lovers of black-haired, sword-wielding women with a fatally sadistic side.
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.
While you’re down here, let me give you two bonus points! There’s another new character: Kreis Falman. She’s a Major General with a background in mathematics. If there’s one character I admire, it would have to be her – so cool! And the flow engine… using nuclear material for a car/tank-sized vehicle? Even cooler!
I’m 春華 or Haruka, aspiring novelist, light novel reviewer, and the recently titled “Effortlessly Effervescent Embodiment of Eloquence.” 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!
Fushi no Kami: Rebuilding Civilization Starts With a Village Volume 1
Hello everyone! Here are all the light novels releasing this week, November 2nd to 8th, 2020.
If you want to see all the future light novel releases, be sure to check out the Preorders page.
This week sees several books coming out in print for the first time and ends with the month’s first new series! Also, a wide selection of light novel publishers are represented with books coming from Viz, J-Novel Club, Yen On, and Seven Seas!
Skeleton Knight in Another WorldVolume 8 (eBook)(Print releases February 23, 2021) Amazon — Apple — Google Play — Kobo — Bookwalker Releasing November 5, 2020 — ASIN: B08CS93B1G
Fushi no Kami: Rebuilding Civilization Starts With a Village Volume 1 (ebook) Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker Released November 07, 2020 — ASIN: B08HFHFHJ7
Today on Twitter, Seven Seas announced they had licensed two new light novels series as well as their accompanying manga.
The first series they described as a shoujo/josei title, I Swear I Won’t Bother You Again! (今度は絶対に邪魔しませんっ！ — Kondo wa Zettai Jama Shimasen!) The series is written by Reina Soratani with artwork by Haru Harukawa. It premiered in Japan March 28, 2019. There are two volumes so far, with the second having released February 28, 2020.
Seven Seas describes the series:
Succumbing to long-simmering jealousy over her younger sister, noblewoman Violette snaps and does something terrible. As she languishes in prison, something unexpected happens: time is rewound, sending her back to the day she first met her sister! Armed with the memories of her disastrous first go-round, Violette is determined to take the script in a different direction this time.
Both the light novel and manga adaptation of I Swear I Won’t Bother You Again! will release in June 2021.
I Swear I Won’t Bother You Again! (Light Novel / Manga)
The second series they announced is a gender-bending isekai, She Professed Herself Pupil of the Wiseman (賢者の弟子を名乗る賢者 — Kenja no Deshi wo Nanoru Kenja). The series is written by Hirotsugu Ryuusen with artwork by Fuzichoco. The series premiered June 30, 2014. There are thirteen volumes released to date, with the most recent coming out May 29, 2020. An anime is currently in production for the series.
Seven Seas describes the series:
Sakimori Kagami has woken up in the world of Arch Earth Online, a VRMMORPG he’s been playing intensely for a long time. The catch? He made some adjustments to his character when he last logged on, which he thought he hadn’t saved. Instead of his normal avatar of an old, bearded sorcerer, he’s in the body of a young woman! Now he must convince the people of this world that he–she–is a pupil of the wiseman who vanished without a trace thirty years ago.
Another month has come to an end. And with the arrival of a new month comes a slew of new light novel series making their debut! Overall, there are EIGHT debuts this month with light novels coming from J-Novel Club, Yen On, and Cross Infinite World.
If you follow Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi and wish to check out the number 1 tankobon and bunkobon series from their top 10 lists, this is your month as both top ranked titles make their debut in English!
The new series begin with the November 7th debut of this title from J-Novel Club. It’s an isekai title where the main character decides to use ancient knowledge to make the world he now lives in more modern–better transportation and flushing toilets! If you’ve been enjoying kingdom building light novels, this might be one to check out.
Ash is a young boy with apparent past-life memories who lives in a remote, deserted village. As he remembers leading a bountiful life, he can’t bear living in a world akin to the Dark Ages, where not even the internal combustion engine exists. Ash envisions the rebirth of a civilization where housing with proper sanitation is the norm and the world is connected via a means of transportation faster than horses. For that reason, he is eager to consult books containing knowledge from a highly-developed ancient culture that is rumored to have existed far in the past. Ash makes use of the church’s resources, learning how to read and obtaining the knowledge that he seeks. In addition, he enlists the help of the people around him, including Maika, the village chief’s daughter. Together, they aim to develop their own village. This is only the beginning of the story about a young boy who sets out to revolutionize the world in order to rebuild civilization and create his ideal life!
Fushi no Kami: Rebuilding Civilization Starts With a Village Volume 1 (ebook) Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker Released November 07, 2020 — ASIN: B08HFHFHJ7
On November 10th, we have another J-Novel Club title. This one has a distinctly Cinderella sounding feel to it! It’s part of J-Novel’s Heart line of books.
Chelsea may be the eldest daughter of a Baron, but her days are spent enduring both verbal and physical abuse from her mother and younger twin sister. However, upon skill appraisal on her 12th birthday, it’s discovered that she has a never before seen skill—[Seed Creation]! Brought to the Royal Research Institute for the investigation of her new skill by the Appraiser Glen, Chelsea’s life does a 180. A big room with personal maids, a warm, soft bed to sleep in, and delicious food to increase her mana pool… She’s treated like a princess! But of course, her younger sister Margaret won’t sit by quietly as Chelsea is pampered…
I’ll Never Set Foot in That House Again! Volume Volume 1 (ebook) Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker Released November 10, 2020 — ASIN: B08HFHVBYW
On November 17th, we get the first of Yen On‘s series debuts. And this is one a lot of people have been looking forward to. Probably because Anime News Network’s Frog-kun has been pumping this one up since it premiered in Japan. It also doesn’t hurt that it took the top spot on the Tankobon list in the most recent Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi. A tale of the unlikely pairing of a king and witch!
Love can bloom in the strangest places…and people! A cursed king and the world’s strongest witch are about to cross paths, forever changing their future and the fate of the world!
Also on November 17th, and also from Yen On, we get the first volume of the Index Short Stories. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure if I should include this as a “series debut” since it isn’t even a spin-off, but with an entire sequel series (New Testament) still waiting to be licensed, this one getting picked up by Yen has people hoping NT will be next!
Kamijou Touma faces his roughest challenge yet-a classroom hot pot party! Meanwhile in London, the women’s dorm in a base of magicians may never see another day as wild as this one. And in the underbelly of Academy City, Accelerator stumbles upon someone who has been waiting for him all this time…? Here begins the supplementary SS series of A Certain Magical Index!
Originally published in Japan during the serialization of A Certain Magical Index, A Certain Magical Index SS was the first spin-off of the popular light novel series. The side stories featured in A Certain Magical Index SS are led by fan favorite characters such as Touma, Hamazura and Accelerator.
The final light novel debut of November 17th is also another Yen On title. And it’s an adaptation of one of Mikoto Shinkai’s earlier films. This is the official novelization of the film, as opposed to other books based on Shinkai’s films which are a re-envisioning.
In the Soviet-occupied Japan of an alternate history, two childhood friends who have grown apart find each other again and begin a search for a missing third friend–and possibly save the world in the process.
The next title is slated for a November 24th release. However, I have heard rumor it might be delayed until December. But, let’s keep it here out of wishful thinking ;)
This too the top place on Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi’s most recent Bunkobon list. It sounds like magical high school stories taken to the nth degree! And it’s from the accomplished author of Alderamin on the Sky.
Springtime at Kimberly Magic Academy, when new students begin their first year. One boy, clad in black robes with a white cane and sword strapped to his hip, approaches the prestigious school. This young man-Oliver-must form a bond with a katana wielding girl named Nanao if he’s to survive the dangers he’s to face at this school that is anything but what it seems!
On November 25th, J-Novel Club is releasing a title that looks at class and racism framed in a Romeo and Juliet-type story. You know, assuming Juliet was a vampire! Interestingly enough, this title has yet to be published in Japan. It sounds as though this was arranged directly via the editor and author and they hope a successful English release will help it gain more traction in Japan. The author has numerous other published works, so this isn’t a straight from Narou unknown author type of license.
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.
Our final new series of November also makes its debut on the last day of the month, November 30th. This one is coming from Cross Infinite World and sounds like a heart-warming isekai tale of a girl trying to repay the kindness of her adoptive family.
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…
Reincarnated as the Last of My KindVolume 1 (eBook) Amazon — Apple — Google Play — Kobo — Bookwalker Releasing November 30, 2020 — ASIN: B08KFSHMPV
So those are all the light novel series making their debut during the month of November, 2020! Which ones are you interested in? Let us know in the comments.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Justus R. Stone has been running a light novel dedicated YouTube channel since 2014. He’s also the founder of the Light Novel Podcast, one of the first English language podcasts dedicated to Light Novels. In addition to his love of Japanese light novels, he is also the author of his own light novel-inspired series, The Bleeding Worlds.
English Title: Dungeon Busters Japanese Title: ダンジョン・バスターズ Author: Toma Shinozaki — 篠崎冬馬 Illustrator: SenriGAN — 千里GAN Translator: Taishi Genre: Action, Fantasy, Comedy Original Run: June 2020 – ongoing English Run: January 2021 – ongoing Japanese Publisher: Overlap Novels English Publisher: J-Novel Club Volumes in Japanese: 1 (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: 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!
NEW YORK, NY (11/6/20) – Yen Press, LLC announced a slate of upcoming titles that include light novels (The King of Death at the Dark Palace, Children Who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below + 5 Centimeters per Second), manga (Hazure Skill: The Guild Member with a Worthless Skill Is Actually a Legendary Assassin, I’m the Catlords’ Manservant, Hard-boiled Stories from the Cat Bar, I’m the Hero, But the Demon Lord’s Also Me, Uncle from Another World, Your Turn to Die and Afterschool Hanako-kun) and both the light novel and manga adaptation of If the RPG World Had Social Media.
Hazure Skill: The Guild Member with a Worthless Skill Is Actually a Legendary Assassin (manga)
Story by Kennoji
Art by Fuu Araki
Character Design by KWKM
With a worthless skill, Roland managed to kill the most powerful demon lord that’s ever lived. While he could have all the riches in the world, all Roland really wants now is a normal life. Such an unremarkable existence may not come easy to someone so exceptional, however…
Hazure Skill: The Guild Member with a Worthless Skill Is Actually a Legendary Assassin is a stylish manga adaptation of the highly-anticipated light novel series by the same name. The previously announced light novel series is scheduled for a March 2021 release under the Yen On imprint.
I’m the Catlords’ Manservant
Story and Art by Rato Kitaguni
Izumi Yukihara, high school second year. His life is completely average—until a series of misfortunate events turn his life upside down. As if losing his parents weren’t enough, he’s saddled with their massive debt and forced to relocate to a new residence. On the bright side, the owners of his new residence offer him a chance to repay his debt…by serving cats?!
A quirky manga series that is as hilarious as it is adorable! This series appeals to the ever popular genre of cat manga such as Nyankees and Chi’s Sweet Home.
Hard-boiled Stories from the Cat Bar
Story and Art by Ono Yourei
An assassin unable to get over the loss of his cat, a man with a scar on his cheek, and a feline named Dandy that is waiting for its master to return are at the center of this gritty tale of men and tears.
A cute twist on hard-boiled crime manga, this charming yet gritty standalone title appeals to those who are fond of noir fiction and beautiful illustration. Additionally, Hard-boiled Stories from the Cat Bar appeals to fans of manga featuring beautiful men, such as Monster and the Beast and Penguin Gentleman., and, of course, fans of cat manga!
I’m the Hero, But the Demon Lord’s Also Me
Story by Akiyoshi Ota
Art by Tatsuya Endo
Yuuma Tsugari is an ordinary high school student whose family runs a public bath house. He leads a peaceful, uneventful life, but all that changes when a beautiful woman from another world appears before him, certain that he’s the hero she’s been searching for! Sure, he’s no hero, but how can he refuse such a beauty…!?
This romantic comedy manga involving traveling between worlds filled with beautiful women is a welcome treat to fans of fantasy manga that are heavy on the fanservice! With a mature take on the ecchi fantasy genre, this series appeals greatly to fans of To Save the World, Can You Wake Up the Morning After with a Demi-Human?
If the RPG World Had Social Media (light novel)
Story by Yuusuke Nitta
Illustration by Yukinatu Amekaze and LOL
When a fantasy world has fully functioning internet and smartphones (for some reason), it’s only natural for its sixteen year-old Hero to declare war on the Demon Lord via text message. But is it natural for that Demon Lord to be an innocent snowflake who hates conflict…!? Take a peek into this unfortunate Hero’s chatlog with a…unique group of RPG characters, like an overly pure Demon Lord, her cheerful Generals (who all adore her), and the kidnapped princess who seems to be developing a major crush on her captor!
While there have been plenty manga and light novels that have placed fun twists on fantasy storytelling, If the RPG World Had Social Media goes deep into the concept of social media and text communication in a fantasy world coupled with a fun adventure! This light novel series is perfect for fans of In Another World with My Smartphone.
If the RPG World Had Social Media (manga)
Story by Yuusuke Nitta
Art by Sato Kamegoya
When a fantasy world has fully functioning internet and smartphones (for some reason), it’s only natural for its sixteen year-old shut-in of a Hero to declare war on the Demon Lord who has kidnapped the kingdom’s princess via text message. But is it natural for that Demon Lord to be an innocent snowflake who hates conflict!!? And somehow, this hopelessly weak Level One Hero ends up texting this overly pure Demon Lord, her cheerful Generals (who all adore her), and the princess who also seems to be developing a major crush on her captor as he goes about his adventures!
This two volume manga adaptation of If the RPG World Had Social Media captures all of the fun and silliness of the light novel series with a cute art style portraying the events of our hero’s adventure as well as all of the quirky texting and social media interaction in between!
Uncle from Another World
Story by Akiyoshi Oota
Art by Tatsuya Endou
When a middle-aged man wakes up from a seventeen-year coma, he tells his nephew Takafumi that he’s been adventuring in another world. It’s a generation gap comedy starring an uncle who bridges two universes!
Uncle from Another World goes back and forth between the real world and the fantasy world as a comatose uncle who spent the past 17 years living in another world recounts his adventures! This isekai manga playfully puts twists on well known tropes that are sure to please fans of the ever popular genre.
The King of Death at the Dark Palace (novel)
Story by Tsukikage
Illustrations by meron tomari
When a sickly boy succumbs to illness only to reawaken as a weakly undead, his first thought is not of horror, but joy. Sadly, his delight is cut short by the realization that he is still not in control of his own body. The excruciating pain that plagued him in his previous life has simply been replaced by the necromancer that brought him into this one. Now, to win true freedom, he must put his unlife on the line and fight for his dark master…!
An intense fantasy light novel series involving a resurrected protagonist seeking freedom and solace. A story that goes into darker places than many other light novels, this series is a long-awaited release for fans of horror light novels such as Torture Princess: Fremd Torturchen.
Your Turn to Die: Majority Vote Death Game
Story and Art by Tatsuya Ikegami
Sara Chidouin has been getting harassed by a mysterious stalker lately, so her concerned friend Joe Tazuna decides to walk her home. But once they arrive, the two of are attacked by someone and black out. When they come to, they find that they’ve been restrained to some tables in a strange room…
Your Turn to Die: Majority Vote Death Game is a manga adaptation of the popular virtual novel by the same name, one that tells the tale of an assortment of people trapped in a death game. This manga is naturally a must read for fans of the prolific series as well as for fans of similar visual novels such as the Danganronpa series.
Children Who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below + 5 Centimeters per Second
Story by Makoto Shinkai
Experience in a new way the worlds of acclaimed animation director Makoto Shinkai’s award-winning romantic drama 5 Centimeters per Second, along with the adventure of Children Who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below, in this two-in-one novelization!
The newest addition to Yen On’s beautiful collection of hardcover novel adaptations of Makoto Shinkai’s finest works, Children Who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below + 5 Centimeters per Second is a bind up collection that retells the stories from two of Shinkai’s earlier works. With 5 Centimeters per Second standing out as one of the films that introduced Makoto Shinkai to the West, this collection is a highly-anticipated release for fans of one of today’s most beloved creators.
Afterschool Hanako-kun
Story and Art by AidaIro
The ghostly Hanako-kun and his mortal assistant Nene Yashiro usually have their hands full resolving various supernatural incidents in Kamome Academy, but how do they spend their time when they get a break from all that? Come and see what the characters of Toilet-bound Hanako-kun do on their laid-back afterschool days!
Afterschool Hanako-kun is a fun manga spin-off of Toilet-bound Hanako-kun that showcases what fan favorite characters are up to in between events of the main story. With Toilet-bound Hanako-kun enjoying success as the best-selling new manga series of 2020, Afterschool Hanako-kun is sure to please many fans eager for more Hanako-kun!
About Yen Press, LLC
Yen Press, LLC is a joint venture between Kadokawa Corporation and Hachette Book Group. Founded in 2006, YenPress has quickly risen to become one of the largest and most prolific publishers of manga and original graphicnovels in the North American marketplace and a driving force in the introduction of light novels and Japanese literature to new readers through its Yen On imprint. For more information, visit www.yenpress.com.
Yesterday on Twitter, light novel, manga, and visual novel publisher, Sol Press, announced the acquisition of two new manga titles and three light novels. While the manga still have their release dates pending, all three light novels are currently slated for a late-December release.
Let This Grieving Soul Retire! Woe is the Weakling Who Leads the Strongest Party
Story By: Tsukikage Illustrations: Chyko
The golden age has dawned for treasure hunters, who raid treasure vaults all over the world in search of glory, despite the dangers. Immeasurable wealth, fame, and power await those who prevail. “Let’s be treasure hunters!” This promise between Krai Andrey and his friends came to a sad conclusion when young Krai realized he didn’t have a treasure-hunting bone in his body. Yet for some reason, people’s expectations of Krai continued to grow—as did the danger to his life. While his friends became greater, greedier beasts, Krai mastered the art of begging and pleading! Witness the weal and woe of a man who just wants to retire.
I Surrendered My Sword for a New Life as a Mage
Story By: Shin Kouduki Illustrations: necömi
One day, Soma learns that he was reincarnated from a powerful swordsman. In this life, however, all he wants is to master magic! When he learns that he has no skills at all in this life, he gets left behind by his family. With no magic spells, most would assume he’ll never be able to cast even a single spell, but Soma isn’t ready to take “no” for an answer…
The Game Master has Logged In to Another World
Story By: Akatsuki Illustrations: merontomari/yuui
This MMO is taking the world by storm! Become a GM today and gain access to unique and powerful abilities! Masaki Toudou, game master for the popular MMORPG Brittalia Online, collapses on his way to a ramen shop. When he awakes, he finds himself in a world ravaged by war and chaos. In this new world, countless other players have been summoned from various games and forced to do battle. The moment he arrives, Masaki is put on the execution block. If he wants to escape, he’ll have to call on his powers—a collection of GM-only skills that even cheaters can’t replicate.
Is the order a rabbit?
By: Koi
“Rabbits, rabbits!♪” Cocoa sang as she entered the café “Rabbit House.” Little did she know that she would spend the next few years of her life there. Follow Cocoa as she makes friends with the quiet and blunt Chino, the strict yet kind military buff Rize, the calm and gentle Chiya, and the elegant yet down-to-earth Syaro! You don’t want to miss the first volume of Is the order a rabbit?
BLEND･S
By: Miyuki Nakayama
While looking for a part-time job, Sakuranomiya Maika finds herself hired by a café where each waitress plays a different character type. She’s got a pretty scary look in her eyes, so for her role, she’s asked to play a sadist. As it turns out—and much to her surprise—she’s actually quite good at it! Just what sorts of strange, fun situations await her at her new post? Find out in BLEND･S!
“Hello! I’m Elaina! The Ashen Witch, Elaina! […] I’m a beautiful young witch whose most outstanding characteristics are my lovely ash-colored hair and my lapis-blue eyes! I’m always wearing a pointy black hat and a black robe. If you see me around town, say something to me, okay? Oh-ho-ho!” – Elaina, words possibly misconstrued for advertisement. In her third book of adventures, the girl’s ashen hair is cut short. Her lapis eyes shimmered in the early light. Her pointed hat and black rode hinted to her witchy prowess. Who was she? That’s right. It’s Elaina.
Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina, Vol. 3 is the newest volume of the fantasy-adventure series that follows the titular Ashen Witch on her travels. Along her journey, she’ll participate in magical investigations and mundane quests alike. Grape-throwing, odd furballs, and animate furniture are all encountered in this volume. And with Elaina’s experiences, we’ll learn that their fantastical world and its inhabitants may not be so different from ourselves. In this conglomeration of short stories, we find humour, tragedy, absurdities, and introspective messages. Jougi Shiraishi improves their concoction of drama, adventure, and action to give us a fantastical world to explore. And don’t forget Azure’s beautiful illustrations of all the (female) characters!
Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina, Vol. 3
So, how was my intro? I’m not sure of what to say as Vol. 3 is more of the same – though improved in a few ways. If you’re on the fence on continuing or starting this series, I hope to inform you even just a little. But I want to say some things before we start. Wandering Witch is one of my first light novel series ever, and I’m happy to see it grow over time. I haven’t seen the anime yet and am waiting until it is complete (I’ll update then). And as I’ve talked about it in my older reviews (here and here), we’ll focus on the changes Vol. 3 brings to the table. This focus will be targeted at the stories, characters, and world-building, as always. We’ll also avoid any spoilers from Vol. 3 but may tread upon hidden elements of Vol. 1 and 2. Beware! And with that, let’s start this review!
To start, we’ll do some first impressions. For Vol. 3, the cover is more solemn with the sunrise(set?), less vibrant colour palette, and Elaina’s cut hair. This is odd given the overall lighter tone of this entry vs. its predecessors. Instead, something more akin to Vol. 2’s cover would’ve been a better fit. But I’ll admit it piqued my curiosity as I worried for Elaina in this volume. Moving on, the length of this volume is very similar to the others (~ 230 pages & ~60,000 words). This is about average length and value, if not a little more than that. The uniformity between releases is quite impressive; I just hope it doesn’t push Jougi Shiraishi too much to fill a page requirement. Finally, once you open the covers, you’re greeted by the colour-inserts. Like Vol. 2, there’s one of Elaina (not shown), an action shot (bottom, cropped), and a character page (below). There’s not much more to say other than the designs are pretty and colourful, but I wish there were more male characters (bishounen!) illustrated as well. Now onto the meat of the text!
The one thing that distinguishes Wandering Witch from other fantasy-adventure series is the story structure. Like a certain K’s Journey, Wandering Witch features a collection of short stories in a variety of locales. This hasn’t changed from the previous two entries. What has changed in Vol. 3 is the average tone and the size of the issues it tries to grapple with. In Vol. 1 & 2, one aspect that turned readers away was how it handled some issues – troublesome ones in particular. (See the constant use of ‘pig’.) Given the short length and disjointed nature of the chapters, such themes are difficult to convincingly and thoroughly convey. Thus, the resulting message comes off as heavy-handed and clumsy. So, the tonal-shift is directed towards more light-hearted and simple topics: taking care of your possessions, the customer is always right, etc. And though this risks creating an imbalanced perception of the world, Wandering Witch still includes a few serious stories or two to maintain a sense of reality. Otherwise, the stories in Vol. 3 are stronger overall with some neat twists. This is also helped by having fewer ‘inconclusive’ endings which tend to leave an unsatisfied feeling. Though there were one or two chapters that were on the verge of disappointing, everything on average was a step up!
In addition to the tone shift, the connectivity has vastly improved. A large issue for Vol. 1 (which saw minor improvements in Vol. 2) was the disconnected feeling of its overarching plot structure. Elaina’s aimless wandering is exactly that – aimless. Though each story may feel (un)satisfying to complete, it never felt like it was building towards anything greater. With Vol. 3, we see an increase in cross-references and recurring characters. This helps build not only a timeline but the character arcs and world beyond. We see Elaina compare situations she’s seen and poke fun at previous encounters – as any real traveller would. With that, we see the hints of a girl growing from her accumulated experience. And this is all helped by firmly establishing pervasive elements that Elaina frequently encounters (e.g. Witches and the United Magic Association (UMA)). We’ll talk about the details and effects in the following paragraphs.
To begin the elaboration, let us talk about the characters – recurring first. In Vol. 3, we see much more of Saya, Fran, and a few other faces. This should come as no surprise to those who have read Vol. 2. With each appearance, we gain new insight into their characters and pasts (as well as some humour!) From there come new revelations about them and their relationship with Elaina. Like the Ashen Witch’s references to her other adventures, these extra connections add to a cohesive world and further overarching plots. Thus, the choice to increase their page time is a welcome one, that’s for sure. Next is the non-recurring characters. There is not much more to talk about beyond my thoughts on Vol. 2. This is not a bad thing; the way Wandering Witch has handled non-recurring characters has always been decent. They feel distinct, play the main role in their own stories, and make interesting/fun dialogue with Elaina. This makes them more memorable, especially if we’re to hear references about them later on. My personal favourites from this entry are Estelle and the Werewolf. And seeing that this aspect hasn’t weakened means we can enjoy all the other improvements instead!
Now, for the world, let us talk about the common and unique elements of each story. As previously mentioned, magic, witches, and the UMA are frequently present in varying quantities. Given these elements link Elaina and the setting, tales with them have the inherent bonus of a familiar and concrete base – then they are free to build off it as they please. This is most fun with witches from the UMA as they are typically dispatched to resolve a conflict (Saya and Sheila, for example). Magic maintains its nebulous nature but is primarily used to create absurd situations rather than solve them – a tried-and-true technique for inciting interesting reactions from characters. Now, after these common elements, let us talk about how Wandering Witch, Vol. 3 handles story specifics. In Vol. 2, we saw an improvement in unique locales to add a sense of adventure. Unfortunately, many of the stories in Vol. 3 are of villages or cities; no deserts, snowy cities, or ghoul towns are present. Instead, a focus on certain elements in each setting is done to further a theme. Without going too far, examples include a bell tower and a massive country-splitting wall. This is great for storytelling and adds an extra layer of thinking. Further improvements were found in the descriptions of each locale and atmosphere building. In short, the increased presence of common elements related to witches and stronger storytelling through the setting makes Vol. 3 stronger than previous entries.
Finally, let’s talk about some additional details. Like the previous entries, the writing style is clear and simple, making for an easy read. The descriptive portions help build each story’s setting without bogging down the pace. And the dialogue is always fun with the interesting side characters (and a smidgen of Elaina’s snark). One confusing aspect, however, is perspective changes. It can be disorienting at times, but the fun comes from the subtle differences in the world views – depending on whose perspective we’re taking (see Chapter 6 of Vol. 2). As each person’s experience is different, the way they see things also varies. This is especially true in Vol. 3 and adds an extra layer of fun. Moving on, let’s talk about the art. As it is with Vol. 1-2, Azure’s black-and-white illustrations are sparse (5 in total) but pretty. However, there appears to be a small drop in quality and placement skills. Vol. 1-2 use their inserts to punctuate important scenes and always have another character w/ Elaina. In Vol. 3, we see two images where neither is the case (and have simple backgrounds as well). This isn’t a deal-breaker but, if you’re looking for more art, Vol. 3 is a slight disappointment.
Overall, Wandering Witch, Vol. 3 is a step up from its predecessors, and it continues the series’ upward trajectory in quality. Its tone shift towards light-hearted and simple messages fits well with its shorter chapters – though there are still some serious tales to consume as well. And the lack of ‘inconclusive’ endings avoids unsatisfying the reader. An increase in references – in the form of comparisons and jokes – between tales adds to the connected feeling of Elaina’s journey. Also, a focus on pervasive elements such as magic and the United Magic Association add to a common world base for future stories to build from. In a similar vein, more witches and other recurring characters further add to the overarching world and explore Elaina through their relationships. As a bonus, this doesn’t cut into the quality of the non-recurring characters we’ve seen in Vol. 1-2. Thus, the improved storytelling, characterizations, and world-building make Vol. 3 the high point of this series. I’m confident Jougi Shiraishi and Azure will continue to make Wandering Witch even better. And I’m most certainly buying the next volume. See you then!
Rating: 4.3 / 5 – Moderately Recommended
Recommendation: To readers of the Wandering Witch series, new and old – if you’re considering it, Vol. 3 is the current highlight. To lovers of short-haired, ill-tempered witches with a penchant for widespread destruction.
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 is where my extra blurb goes! Usually, I add a bonus reason to check it out. Instead, I think I’ll ramble a little. The increased focus on additional witches and magic has done very well for this series. Relatedly, Saya is great; I hope we’ll see more of her (and the UMA) in the future. Oh! And more short-haired witches, please!
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!
Here are all the light novels releasing this week, November 9th to 15th, 2020.
If you want to see all the future light novels releases, be sure to visit the Preorders page.
I’ll Never Set Foot in That House Again! Volume 1 (ebook) Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker Released November 10, 2020 — ASIN: B08HFHVBYW
Magic User: Reborn in Another World as a Max Level Wizard Volume 3 (paperback)(ebook released earlier) Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Book Depository — Rightstuf — BAM! — Indigo Releasing November 10, 2020 — ISBN-13: 9781645057239
In Another World With My Smartphone Volume 21 (ebook) Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker Released November 14, 2020 — ASIN: B08HFJF8LM
Mapping: The Trash-Tier Skill That Got Me Into a Top-Tier Party Volume 2 (ebook) Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker Released November 15, 2020 — ASIN: B08HHC8T7T
English Title: Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs Japanese Title: 乙女ゲー世界はモブに厳しい世界です — “Otomege Sekai wa Mob ni Kibishii Sekai desu” Author: Yomu Mishima Illustrator: Monda – Japanese Text Translator: TBA Genre: Comedy, Isekai, Otome Game, Harem, School Life Original Run: May 2018 – ongoing English Run: February 2021 – ongoing Japanese Publisher: GC Novels English Publisher: Seven Seas Volumes in Japanese: 6 (In Progress) Volumes in English: 1 (In Progress)
A tongue-in-cheek jaunt through romance, giant robots, and dating sim jokes!
Office worker Leon is reincarnated into a particularly punishing dating sim video game, where women reign supreme and only beautiful men have a seat at the table. But Leon has a secret weapon: he remembers everything from his past life, which includes a complete playthrough of the very game in which he is now trapped. Watch Leon spark a revolution to change this new world in order to fulfill his ultimate desire…of living a quiet, easy life in the countryside!
Japanese Cover. English Cover NYA
Volume 1 Amazon — Apple — Google Play — Kobo — Bookwalker eBook Releasing November 19, 2020 — ASIN: B08LR8NVBS
J-Novel Club Announces the Acquisition of Five New Light Novel Series and Two New Manga Series at November Livestream!
Five new light novel titles and two new manga titles are coming to J-Novel Club!
(SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – November 13, 2020) – J-Novel Club LLC is excited to announce the acquisition of five new light novel titles and two new manga titles following their latest announcement livestream held on November 13, 2020, on Twitch. Two brand-new light novel series were announced to have digital launches immediately, and the two manga series will debut the following week.
Maomao lives happily with her apothecary father—until she’s kidnapped and sold into service in the palace. Can she find a quiet life, or will her powers of deduction and insatiable curiosity bring her ever more adventures, and ever more dangers? The period mystery series The Apothecary Diaries by Natsu Hyuuga will be launching today on J-Novel Club with two parts to read.
When an office worker finds himself in a tropical world where dinosaurs roam, the last thing he expects is a marriage proposal from a beautiful queen. Her offer? A life of carefree luxury in exchange for an heir. But is everything really as it seems? Tsunehiko Watanabe’s The Ideal Sponger Life magical and political light novel series will be starting today with two parts at launch!
In My Friend’s Little Sister Has It In for Me!, Akiteru thinks that “teasing equals love” is all nonsense. Doesn’t it make more sense to be nice? Unfortunately for Akiteru, if he’s right, it just means every girl he interacts with absolutely hates him. And if he’s wrong…? This high school romantic comedy series by Ghost Mikawa will be coming to J-Novel Club!
15-year-old Momota Kaoru falls in love at first sight when he meets a girl in a high school uniform on the train. They start dating, but it turns out she’s actually 27! Can
Momota navigate the 12-year age gap and date the girl who captured his heart? We’re ecstatic to bring Kota Nozomi’s Are You Okay With a Slightly Older Girlfriend? to J-Novel Club readers!
High schooler Kai Nakamura gives his all to otaku hobbies, and his best friend in the whole world is his super-hot classmate, Jun Miyakawa. Love is fleeting, but friendship is forever in this “just friends” rom-com filled with flirty fun! She’s the Cutest… But We’re Just Friends! by Akamitsu Awamura will be joining J-Novel Club’s catalog!
Another popular manga adaptation comes to J-Novel Club with Der Werwolf: The Annals of Veight ~Origins~! Veight was reincarnated as a werewolf mage, and is now the Vice-Commander of the Demon Lord’s third regiment. His task to capture and hold a remote commercial city causes him endless hardship as he tries to keep the peace between human and demonkind! Chapter 1 will be ready to read on J-Novel Club next week!
Our final new series is a familiar one! We’re elated to announce that the manga adaptation of Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf! will be heading to J-Novel Club! On an evening like any other, Kazuhiro dreams that he is exploring an ancient ruin with an elf friend of his. Except their investigation comes to a halt with a dragon’s fiery breath! Waking up from his dream, he finds those dreams may not be as imaginary as he thought! Join Kazuhiro and his elf friend on new adventures, this time in Japan! Readers can enjoy the series next week when Chapter 1 is released.
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:
The Apothecary Diaries
by Natsu Hyuuga with Illustrations by Touko Shino
薬屋のひとりごと
In the East is a land ruled by an emperor, whose consorts and serving women live in a sprawling complex known as the hougong, the rear palace. Maomao, an unassuming girl raised in an unassuming town by her apothecary father, never imagined the rear palace would have anything to do with her—until she was kidnapped and sold into service there.
Though she looks ordinary, Maomao has a quick wit, a sharp mind, and an extensive knowledge of medicine. That’s her secret, until she encounters a resident of the palace at least as perceptive as she is: the head eunuch, Jinshi. He sees through Maomao’s façade and makes her a lady-in-waiting to none other than the Emperor’s favorite consort… so she can taste the lady’s food for poison!
Launching today with Parts 1 and 2!
The Ideal Sponger Life
by Tsunehiko Watanabe with Illustrations by Jyuu Ayakura
理想のヒモ生活
Yamai Zenjirou is your everyday office worker in modern Japan. One morning, he suddenly finds himself summoned to a tropical world where dinosaurs roam the land. He is told that this is the kingdom of Capua and the person who summoned him – its monarch, Queen Aura – wants him to marry her and leave his old life behind for a life of carefree extravagance as her prince consort. The reasons for her offer are many and varied, but she needs an heir, and she wants him to be the one to provide it! If he accepts, he’ll never have to work again, lazing around in luxury with no worries other than securing the kingdom its next monarch. Certainly, sleeping with the buxom beauty is far from a hardship, but is everything really as it seems? He’ll also need to give up everything he knows on Earth. Is he ready to drop it all at a moment’s notice for her sake? And how well will he be able to navigate the politics, people and culture of this new world if he does?
Launching today with Parts 1 and 2!
My Friend’s Little Sister Has It In for Me!
by Ghost Mikawa with Illustrations by tomari
友達の妹が俺にだけウザい
If a girl teases you, that means she likes you!
Unfortunately, Akiteru knows from experience that isn’t the case. Because every girl he interacts with shows him nothing but scorn, and he’s not scored a single date from it! Luckily, he’s more concerned with securing a spot for him and his game-development buddies at his uncle’s business. But when his uncle throws him a condition that involves playing the part of his daughter’s boyfriend, Akiteru has no choice but to take it.
What will his best friend’s sister Iroha, who bullies him relentlessly, think of the news? Find out in My Friend’s Little Sister Has It in for Me!
Are You Okay With a Slightly Older Girlfriend?
by Kota Nozomi with Illustrations by Meruchi Nanase
ちょっぴり年上でも彼女にしてくれますか?
First-year highschool student Momota Kaoru just saved a beautiful highschool girl, Orihara Hime, from a train molester. One thing leads to another, and they end up going on a date! They have a lot in common: they both love video games, they both jam to their favorite songs on mixtapes, they were even both born in the Year of the Snake.
Except… Orihara’s first game console used cartridges… and her old mixtapes are all on MiniDisc… and, oh, her birthday is actually 12 years before Momota’s!
When her secret comes out, she thinks it must all be over… but will Momota really let something like a little age gap get in the way of his love for Orihara? Find out if love really can transcend generations in this sugar-sweet romantic comedy!
She’s the Cutest… But We’re Just Friends!
by Akamitsu Awamura with Illustrations by mmu
俺の女友達が最高に可愛い。
Kai Nakamura has the average range of otaku hobbies for a high school boy, but the buddy he shares them with is far from ordinary… Kai’s best friend in the whole world is Jun Miyakawa, his classmate known as a super hottie.
Though Kai and Jun just met when they enrolled in high school, they hit it off with passion for all the same hobbies! When they’re together, the pair never have enough hours in the day. Kai and Jun can’t get enough of each other’s company as they chat about video games and manga or sing anime songs at karaoke.
Love is fleeting, but friendship is forever in this “just friends” rom-com filled with flirty fun!
Der Werwolf: The Annals of Veight ~Origins~ (Manga)
by Yuuchi Kosumi Original Novel by Hyougetsu
人狼への転生、魔王の副官 ~はじまりの章~
Veight was reincarnated as a werewolf mage, and is now the Vice-Commander of the Demon Lord’s third regiment. His task seemed simple: capture and hold a remote commercial city. But the tension caused by mankind and demonfolk coexisting is the source of endless conflict. As a former human himself, he’ll need to leverage his ability to understand both sides in order to work with the human viceroy and maintain order!
Launching next week!
Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf! (Manga)
by Shimo Aono Original Novel by Makishima Suzuki
日本へようこそエルフさん。
Kazuhiro has one hobby, sleeping. His career and social life come second. Since his youth, he’s spent his nights dreaming of adventures in a wondrous world. On an evening like any other, he heads out to explore an ancient ruin with an elf friend of his. Their investigations soon get put to an end when they are doused with a dragon’s fiery breath. Waking up from his dream, he finds those dreams may not be as imaginary as he thought! Join Kazuhiro and his elf friend on new adventures, this time in Japan!
Launching next week!
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 500 volumes of light novels and manga since 2016.
The above is the official J-Novel Club Press Release
(LOS ANGELES, November 13, 2020) – Seven Seas Entertainment is pleased to announce “Airship,” a new imprint dedicated to Seven Seas’ ever-growing library of light novels and Japanese prose novels. The Airship imprint, like the existing Seven Seas Ghost Ship imprint that targets mature readers, will be aimed at a specific audience–in this case, light novel fans. Light novels, a popular format of prose novels with intermittent manga-style illustrations, have increasingly inspired manga and anime adaptations in Japan. The category has enjoyed a surge of popularity among teen and adult readers globally over the last decade, including Seven Seas light novel hits Classroom of the Elite, I’m in Love with the Villainess, and Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?!
“We’ve been publishing light novels from Japan since 2006, when there were only a handful in the North American market,” says Seven Seas publisher Jason DeAngelis. “But in the last several years, we’ve dramatically expanded, so that light novels now comprise about twenty-five percent of our yearly title list. We’ve also developed a successful digital-early program for our light novel titles. With all this growth, we’re happy to give light novels the special attention they deserve in their own Airship imprint.”
Seven Seas will begin using its new Airship logo on novels and light novels debuting in January 2021, with backlist titles to be integrated over time. Fans can expect targeted initiatives and marketing for the imprint moving forward.
About Seven Seas Entertainment Established in 2004, Seven Seas Entertainment specializes in bringing the best of Japanese manga and light novels to North American audiences, and producing original comics, graphic novels, and youth literature. For more information, visit sevenseasentertainment.com
“There was no mistaking it. The bandit was dead. […] I felt something flow into my body, followed by the echo of a metallic voice in my head. […] Then the most wonderful, glorious sensation – that of an eternally empty stomach truly filling for the first time. I’d never felt so satisfied in my life.” – Fate, on his first ‘meal’. In this world of ‘Levels’, ‘Skills’, and ‘Stats’, our protagonist finds himself cursed(?) with Gluttony – a Skill that leaves its holder eternally hungry. While food merely tided him over up to this point, it turns out souls taste far better (and are more nutritious!)
Berserk of Gluttony, Vol. 1 is the first entry to an action-fantasy light novel series with corrupt holy knights, talking blades, and an insatiable thirst for souls! All his life, Fate has been put down for his ‘garbage’ skill, Gluttony, until a fateful encounter with Roxy – the holy knight – and death changes everything. As it turns out, he can consume the stats and skills of anyone slain by his hand. Following this revelation and opportunity to join Roxy’s household, Fate’s life finally takes a turn for the better. However, with his first taste of souls, the desire to consume grows evermore. Will he be able to lead a normal life by holding back the monster within? And if so, what will it cost him to keep it shackled? In this story of growth, revenge, and love(?), Isshiki Ichika treats us to exciting battles of all types, an internal conflict, and an exploration of the corrupted kingdom of Seifort. Illustrations by fame then further reinforce the ‘cool’ and fantastical aspects of this world.
Berserk of Gluttony, Vol. 1
So, how was my intro? Does this series sound familiar? There are many similarities Berserk of Gluttony shares with the other Seven Seas titles I’ve reviewed: Reincarnated as a Sword and ROLL OVER AND DIE. (You can find their respective Vol. 1 reviews here and here!) And we’ll talk all about it and more in this (unfortunately) lengthy review. But before that, I would like to say a few more things. Reading Berserk of Gluttony was a whimsical choice by me; what caught my attention was the Japanese and English publishers. GC Novels and Seven Seas Entertainment brought over ROLL OVER AND DIE, a series I took a great liking to, and I thought to give this a try. I’m happy I did as it does action (and romance) well! With that, I hope to inform you on whether this light novel is a good choice for you. For this spoiler-free review, we’ll take a look at the premise, plot structure, characters, world-building, action, and more. And now, let’s jump into this review!
To start, let’s go through the first impressions. The cover is strikingly contrasted. The white and blue vs. the black and red evokes alertness in the curious book-shopper. Furthermore, the fantastical outfits, imposing sword-stance, and castle in the background tells you all you need to know: it’s an action-fantasy aiming for an edgier ‘cool’. Additionally, the colours will be a nice addition to any bookshelf (when its paperback is released). Moving on, the next notable aspect is the length. According to Kobo, Berserk of Gluttony is 59,000 words, which makes it shorter than both Reincarnated as a Sword and ROLL OVER AND DIE, but more than the average light novel. So, if you’re looking for a slightly smaller Seven Seas release, this is for you. Finally, after opening the e-book, you’re greeted by three coloured-inserts: (1) a clean cover, (2) the featured banner, uncropped, and (3) the cute scene below. The latter two are a good combination given the two sides of the story (which we’ll talk about later). And (3) is super sweet, isn’t it? Well, with that, let’s dive into the text!
Now, we’ll talk about the hook and premise. Fate Graphite is a normal human gifted(?) with a Skill that is, by all means, detrimental; Gluttony makes its holder “eternally hungry.” Because of this, Fate was bullied mercilessly growing up and unable to find proper work as an adult. The story then starts during his job as a gatekeeper for Seifort – the main kingdom of this story. Unfortunately, he’s employed by the (not-so) holy family of Vlerick, who continues to treat him like trash – low pay, lots of abuse. This is also where we meet Roxy Hart, another holy knight, who saves him from his shift and abusers. After a fatal scuffle with some bandits, two changes to Fate’s life occur: (1) Roxy offers Fate a position under the (much nicer) Hart family and (2) it turns out Gluttony allows for Fate to consume Stats and Skills. It is with these opportunities that Fate takes the path to a better life. To start, I want to say that the ‘useless’ Skill premise is well-traversed by light novels, but it’s not the Skills that interests me (see Reincarnated as a Sword for a weaker implementation) but rather how Berserk of Gluttony innovates – we’ll talk more in Greed’s section. Moving on, as Berserk of Gluttony shares many similarities to ROLL OVER AND DIE‘s setup, this one is decently strong given the low start and obvious upward trajectory. Motivations for Fate and the reader include revenge on the Vlerics, hope for a better future, and love/admiration for Roxy. My only issues are (1) there is no explicit goal in mind and (2) the holy knights being evil is unconvincing. For (1), like in Reincarnated as a Sword, this creates a sense of freedom but risks feeling aimless over time. However, we’ll talk about how this is fixed in a later discussion on Roxy. And (2) undermines the revenge motivations and world-building – we’ll discuss more in their respective sections. Overall, the start is acceptably interesting but has some flaws that could’ve been improved.
From this low start with an upward trajectory, how does Berserk of Gluttony continue? Vol. 1 takes us on an adventure filled with exploring the surrounding area, battling monsters, and gathering more power. And its progression has a similar feel to many RPGs with a class-based system, particularly MMOs. Past the setup phase, the two main sources of development are (1) Fate’s need to sate Gluttony and Greed, his Skill and sword, respectively, and (2) working under the Hart household. At first, this feels like Fate is being dragged along, but he gains a sense of agency by the end. Then those two threads are weaved together to create a daytime-Fate and a nighttime-Fate (the figure on the cover). Although very different in tone, these two stories are inextricably linked by Fate (whoa!). Isshiki Ichika uses this to focus on particular aspects – daytime for exploration/work and nighttime for battles. Unfortunately, despite the contrasting Fates, there is little self-conflict (which is disappointing). And on a related note, there are a lot of conveniences for our protagonist. These include finding Greed, acquiring the iconic mask, and gaining certain abilities at critical times. In these instances, it feels like Berserk of Gluttony is just giving Fate what he needs to continue unhindered. Fortunately, these don’t take away from the excitement of its action but rather from the believability during the setup. In short, the plot structure allows for much exploration within and outside to walls of Seifort. However, its initially undirected nature and endless conveniences can be frustrating to read. This improves later (for reasons we’ll explain), but requires some investment.
With the setup and structure discussed, we’ll jump into the characters. First, let’s take a look at Fate. He’s a downtrodden, young man looking to survive despite his dealt cards. There isn’t much more to say beyond playing the standard shounen protagonist, and this adds to the ‘aimlessness’ of the plot. What does Fate want? And if you know, how does he plan on getting there? Other than petty revenge and getting stronger, it’s not very clear. He does good things (saving children, defeating monsters, etc.) but he’s also morally grey (extrajudicial killing of bandits and other humans). He meanders, happens on many helpful coincidences, and never has to make a difficult choice. All in all, Fate’s not a very interesting protagonist; this is most troublesome because of the first-person perspective, which we’ll talk about later. In short, Fate feels more like a vehicle (for the reader) rather than a fully fleshed-out character. I hope that, in the future, he’ll have to face the consequences of his actions and see something change in him.
After Fate, the most prominent character(?) is Greed: a telepathic, black sword somehow related to Gluttony (with a cool design). Like Teacher does for Fran in Reincarnated as a Sword, Greed plays mentor and enabler of Fate’s battle capabilities. And honestly, I’m on the fence as to how I feel about them. They’re snarky, temperamental, and experienced. The best things they contribute are (1) their dialogue with Fate, (2) their information, and (3) their stat-consuming abilities. But on the other hand, they are overpowered, conveniently withdraw information, and act as Fate’s driver. These risk destroying the stakes of any battle and removes any sense of agency from the protagonist. However, this is (mostly) solved by (3). Without going into the details, Gluttony is clearly overpowered and allows for growth that is too fast. But to continue using Greed, Fate must sacrifice significant portions of his accumulated stats. This gives Fate choices to make during a battle and severely limits stat growth. The duality of Greed as an overwhelming force and stat sink is a good idea – and their cool abilities add to their usefulness. I just wish they weren’t reality-warping-ly strong (see slicing a club in half). For now, we’ll just have to see how Fate and Greed’s relationship grows down the road.
Third on the list is Roxy Hart, the better example of a holy knight. Roxy is Fate’s new master after she snatches him from the Vlericks. She’s kind-hearted, hard-working, and dutiful – which puts her at odds with Fate’s former masters. And she also acts as a beacon of hope and admiration for our protagonist. However, her role as a Hart and holy knights leaves her with many responsibilities and choices. Without going too far, Roxy and her troubles are what drives Fate to do things (beyond mindlessly killing monsters). A small arc that develops their relationship further reinforces this fact. This becomes the main motivation and direction for our protagonist but takes away even more agency from him. At least, there’s a sense of brewing conflict between Roxy’s expectations of Fate and his real form (as “the Lich”). This difficult choice beyond the horizon will surely be critical to their relationship. In short, like with Greed, she provides some good for the story, but we’ll have to see how she develops alongside Fate to reach a verdict.
Finally, let’s discuss the other minor characters. There is a collection of children, shopkeepers, servants, adventurers, and more that populate the kingdom of Seifort and interact with Fate. Though many are nameless, I can remember them all due to their unique characteristics, dialogue, and role in the story; this is a mark of great design. And though they only fill one part in Fate’s tale, they act like inhabitants in a world beyond what we see. This helps in the overall immersion, and I do not doubt Isshiki Ichika’s ability to create more memorable faces(?) further on.
Now, after our dive into the characters, let’s talk about the world. The fantastical setting of Berserk of Gluttony starts with many standard LitRPG (new word!) tropes such as monsters, Levels, Stats, Skills, and Techs. Each of these elements acts exactly as you would expect: Levels increase with experience (Spheres), Stats increase with Levels, Skills are inherent and acquired, and Techs are battle arts. There is nothing too interesting here, and I was worried about their introduction (memories of Reincarnated as a Sword go here). However, Berserk of Gluttony manages to reel in the numbers of skills and relevant numbers to make it manageable; there are maybe 13 to keep track of and their effects are obvious. The important numbers to understand are the stat totals, which tend to decide the flow of battle. In short, nothing ground-breaking comes from the use of LitRPG elements. Similarly, the fantastical world offers very little in the realm of innovation. Instead, Berserk of Gluttony tries to create a cohesive, realistic-feeling world using the LitRPG tropes as a foundation. And, in its favour, it does decently well. People make a living off their Skills? Easy. Discrimination against Skill-less humans? Understandable. Gain money and clout from defeating monsters? Sure. Corrupt holy knights are revered and never questioned? Eh… And with that, we start to unravel the flaws. The world of Berserk of Gluttony first tries to go for a darker atmosphere with the encroaching monsters, kidnappings, murders, and heavy discrimination. But this all falls flat in Fate’s new everyday experience. With his new life as part of Harts, the dark realities are quickly overshadowed by their status and luxuries. While the initial jump from Fate’s start is refreshing, it quickly breaks down any semblance of a heavy atmosphere it originally had. And the central pillar of society, the knights, being corrupt is hardly felt in the society beyond some isolated incidents. This is despite the persistent reminders that this is the case. If the merchants, barkeepers, low-ranking adventurers, etc. were clearly oppressed, this would be remedied. Finally, I want to mention the most interesting parts of the world: Gluttony and Greed. As hinted in the respective character sections, they are related and provide the greatest mysteries for our story. The latter is furthered by the introduction of a mysterious girl, one who seems to have connections to them. Their ability to consume and evolve creates an interesting new dynamic that allows them to defeat large threats at the cost of many lives. And with their influence slowly coming to light, it’s only a matter of time before we see the full extent of their power (and subsequent sacrifices). For the future, I hope we’ll see more of their effects on the world and what role they play in a seemingly greater plot.
With all the foundations discussed, it’s time to talk about the action: something of which Berserk of Gluttony has no shortage of. Fate and Greed find themselves bound to continue killing monsters as a way to feed. And as discussed about Greed, it’s usually an overwhelming slaughter. Now, with that, how does Berserk of Gluttony stay exciting? There are a few contributors to this. The first is the descriptions. Like ROLL OVER AND DIE, fights are visceral (not to the same extent but that’s okay). Feeling every slash, breath, and drop of blood adds to the overall experience. The second is the scale and spectacle of Fate’s abilities (and his later opponents). One way to run with great power is to have fun with it. With trees, boulders, and whole ravines being destroyed in a battle, you can be sure to gain some childish glee from the wreckage. This is further heightened by the first point. The third is the incorporation of different types of battles. In Berserk of Gluttony, Fate battles hordes of monsters, boss-like creatures, and humans. Each requires a different strategy, and many require more than overpowering them to defeat. By implementing clever strategies, we are treated to an upward struggle rather than a simple spectacle. Lastly, we have the motivations. Especially later in the story, battles have an underlying context above feeding Gluttony. The buildup and subsequent conclusion to a conflict during the fight create a respective sense of worry and relief. This further adds to the quality of the action in this series. Overall, Berserk of Gluttony offers some of the best fights I’ve seen from a light novel. Despite my worries of simply overpowered spectacle, its descriptions, fun, interesting strategies, and motivating action demonstrate Isshiki Ichika’s skill.
And lastly, let’s talk about some additional details. Firstly, the story is told entirely from Fate’s 1st-person perspective. While this is not uncommon in light novels, its implementation in Berserk of Gluttony is debatably weak. This is particularly felt in the action scenes (which are great overall), where the description is limited to what Fate can perceive. And as a personal gripe, having ‘I’, ‘my’, and ‘me’ so frequently is annoying to read. Next, I would like to talk a little about the writing/translation. Normally, I don’t mind a few mistakes or complications, but Berserk of Gluttony has some notable ones. For a book-style typically written simply, there are unusual words like ‘mien’ and ‘vaunted’ sprinkled in. If you knew what those meant already, you have an impressive vocabulary. And for a person on the lower end of the status-spectrum, Fate is quite well-spoken, huh? The other type of oddity I would like to note is the occasionally broken sentence. For example, please examine the 2nd-to-last sentence of the quote at the top. Then the sensation… what? It doesn’t make sense, and this is in the first two chapters. This isn’t horrendous but, if you’re expecting flawlessness, this book isn’t for you. Finally, let us talk about the art. There are no less than 10 black-and-white illustrations in Vol. 1, and they’re usually used to punctuate a cool scene or a character introduction. Additionally, fame shows much skill in the weapon design (see below), characters (see above), and action shots (not pictured). The only things missing are monster designs and background art. Overall, I’m impressed by the style, placement, and quantity of the illustrations. But a small shift in focus from Fate (who has 5 illustrations) to the setting (monsters and background) would be much appreciated.
Overall, Berserk of Gluttony, Vol. 1 is a decent action-fantasy founded in LitRPG tropes with an interesting addition. The premise and setup aren’t unique and have been done better by ROLL OVER AND DIE; this is due to the lack of an explicit goal. The plot then starts as an aimless exploration of Fate’s dual life as a Hart servant and monster-consuming Lich, one riddled with many plot conveniences. However, in the later parts of the story, Roxy’s presence and Greed’s abilities take hold and create motivations and direction for Fate. An improvement here would be more conflict between the two lives he leads. The world-building doesn’t try to innovate too much with its LitRPG tropes and fails at maintaining a consistent atmosphere – likely due to Fate’s dual life. Instead, the best elements are Gluttony and Greed’s interplay and the mysteries they hold. On top of all is the action, and Berserk of Gluttony surely delivers. The descriptive, fun, spectacular, and context-filled battles are by far the best parts of the story. It is clear this is the focus of Isshiki Ichika’s efforts and (mostly) makes up for the other shortcomings. Some translation/writing issues are present, and the book is full of character and weapon illustrations. Improvements here would include more monsters and background art. In short, I had fun reading it. I would recommend Berserk of Gluttony to fantasy light novel readers looking for a good example of exciting action (despite the overpowered protagonist). In the future, I hope that we’ll see more of Gluttony/Greed’s potential and that we meet more directed characters (like Roxy). And with that, see you next week!
Rating: 4.3 / 5 – Moderately Recommended
Recommendation: To readers of fantasy and LitRPGs looking for an extra splash of action and an interesting progression system. To lovers of red-eyed Liches, beautiful Knights, black swords, and the taste of souls.
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.
As per tradition, let me give you something extra! If the action, LitRPG elements, or fantasy aren’t for you… then why are you here? Hah! Just kidding. An interesting girl is donning exotic clothing and wielding a giant axe. She has no name yet but seems connected to Fate. And she has that ‘cool’ aura! What role will she play in the future…?
I’m 春華 or Haruka, aspiring novelist, light novel reviewer, and the recently titled “Effortlessly Effervescent Embodiment of Eloquence.” 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!
I’m a Behemoth, an S-Ranked Monster, but Mistaken for a Cat, I Live as an Elf Girl’s PetVolume 2 (paperback/ebook) Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Book Depository — Rightstuf — BAM! — Indigo Releasing November 17, 2020 — ISBN-13: 9781975308407
The Master of Ragnarok & Blesser of Einherjar Volume 13 (ebook) Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker Released November 17, 2020 — ASIN: B08GK9BZRB
Sorcerous Stabber Orphen: The Wayward Journey Volume 9 (ebook) Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker Released November 18, 2020 — ASIN: B08HM6KWSL
Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles Volume 12 (ebook) Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker Released November 18, 2020 — ASIN: B08GKY5N19
Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for MobsVolume 1 (eBook)(Print releases February 9, 2021) Amazon — Apple — Google Play — Kobo — Bookwalker Releasing November 19, 2020 — ASIN: B08LR8NVBS
Volume 9
The Combat Baker and Automaton Waitress Volume 9 (ebook) Amazon — iBook — Kobo — Google Play — Bookwalker Released November 21, 2020 — ASIN: B08KFLHJ7G
English Title: I Surrendered My Sword for a New Life as a Mage Japanese Title: 元最強の剣士は、異世界魔法に憧れる — “Moto Saikyou no Kenshi wa, Isekai Mahou ni Akogareru” Author: Shin Kouduki – Japanese Text Illustrator: necömi – Japanese Text Translator: Alexandra Owen-Burns Genre: Isekai, Fantasy Original Run: September 2017 – ongoing English Run: December 2020 – ongoing Japanese Publisher: GC Novels English Publisher: Sol Press Volumes in Japanese: 5 (In Progress) Volumes in English: 1 (In Progress)
Synopsis: One day, Soma learns that he was reincarnated from a powerful swordsman. In this life, however, all he wants is to master magic! When he learns that he has no skills at all in this life, he gets left behind by his family. With no magic spells, most would assume he’ll never be able to cast even a single spell, but Soma isn’t ready to take “no” for an answer…
Volume 1 Amazon — Apple — Google — Kobo — Bookwalker eBook Released December 28, 2020 — ISBN-13: 978-1506701998
Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Book Depository — RightStuf Paperback Released TBA — ISBN-13:
Volume 2 Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Book Depository — RightStuf Releasing TBA — ISBN-13: ###-##########
Volume 3 Amazon — Barnes and Noble — Book Depository — RightStuf Releasing TBA — ISBN-13: ###-##########
Reviews of I Surrendered My Sword for a New Life as a Mage
(forthcoming)
Illustrations Sampler
Anime Adaptation
None
Manga Adaptation
MAL Entry — (Japan) — Published November 2018 – ongoing (English release) Not Licensed
If you liked I Surrendered My Sword for a New Life as a Mage, you might also want to try…
New York, NY (November 20, 2020) – Penguin Random House Publisher Services (PRHPS) today announced a multi-year sales and distribution agreement with Seven Seas Entertainment, the largest independently owned manga publisher in North America. Beginning July 1, 2021, PRHPS will sell and distribute the entire frontlist and backlist across all sales channels worldwide.
Founded in 2004 by Jason DeAngelis, the award-winning Seven Seas Entertainment publishes hundreds of manga, light novels, original comics and more annually across the company’s four distinct imprints—Seven Seas, Ghost Ship, Waves of Color, and Airship. From bestselling titles like Monster Musume and The Ancient Magus’ Bride, to the Harvey Award-winning manga My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness and the Eisner-nominated sci-fi romance orange, to hardcover editions of revered classics like Devilman, Captain Harlock, Cutie Honey, and Space Battleship Yamato, the breadth of Seven Seas’ catalogue has legions of fans around the world.
“The growth of Seven Seas and the growth of the manga industry have been meteoric,” said Seven Seas publisher Jason DeAngelis. “We are thrilled to partner with PRHPS as the next stage in our growth, and with their support, look forward to bringing our ever-expanding catalog to an even broader audience.”
Jeff Abraham, President of Penguin Random House Publisher Services, said, “Jason and the entire Seven Seas team have done a remarkable job of discovering unique manga properties with incredible potential and publishing and marketing them successfully. We’ve all been admirers of the program for years and we are invigorated to bring the full complement of PRHPS and Penguin Random House resources to bring their books to even more readers throughout the world.”
ABOUT SEVEN SEAS ENTERTAINMENT Established in 2004, Seven Seas Entertainment specializes in bringing the best of Japanese manga and light novels to North American audiences, and producing original comics, graphic novels, and youth literature. www.sevenseasentertainment.com
ABOUT PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHER SERVICES Penguin Random House Publisher Services, a Penguin Random House company, is the book industry’s leading provider of sales and distribution services to premium third-party publishers. Its wide range of service offerings includes sales, warehousing, physical and digital distribution, credit and collection, marketing, and information technology. Its portfolio of clients includes Beacon Press, DC Comics, Rizzoli, Kodansha Comics, New York Review Books, Shambhala, and many others.www.prhpublisherservices.com
The latest edition of the annual Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi light novel ranking has been released and results are starting to find their way to English audiences.
If you’re unfamiliar with Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi, it’s a yearly publication which asks a selection of fans, industry people (publishers, editors, etc.), and professional reviewers to rate their favorite light novel titles of the past year. From the results, several top lists are created. In this article we’re covering the Top 10 Female and Male characters, as well as the Top 10 Illustrators.
Here are the results for the Top 10 Female Characters.
Hello everyone! Welcome to another article in our ongoing coverage of Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi 2021.
In this article, we’re taking a look at the Top 10 Bunkobon light novels. There are a lot of new titles on the list this year, with only 3 of them being already licensed for English release. That said, given how often light novels that place in the Top 10 get licensed, check out the unlicensed titles as they could be future announcements!
Another interesting fact, there isn’t a single isekai title on this list!
1
Chitose-kun wa Ramune Bin no Naka / Chitose-kun is in a ramune bottle / 千歳くんはラムネ瓶のなか
“Chitose Saku from Class 5 is a playboy scumbag.” —Even with such rumors about him circulating around the school’s underground board, Chitose Saku is a member of the ruling caste of Fuji Highschool. The people who gathers him were all of dignified appearance and wholesome personalities. The girl closest to him with the aura of a princess, Hiiragi Yuuko. A diligent girl who’s popular amongst boys, Uchida Yua. The bubbly ace of the basketball club, Aomi Haru… etc. While enjoying the new school term with his group of friends, Saku was requested to reform a certain social-withdrawn student. Is the start of his fulfilling harem story, or what is it—?
A world where wars are fought with spies. With a mission success rate of 100%, the remarkable, yet rather difficult to deal with, spy Klaus is being tasked with an almost impossible mission by the agency, harboring an insane 90% chance of failure and death…which for some reason involves seven inexperienced girls?!
Source: Novel Updates
3
Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e / Classroom of the Elite / ようこそ実力至上主義の教室へ
The cutthroat school drama light novels that inspired an anime!
Students of the prestigious Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School are given remarkable freedom―if they can win, barter, or save enough points to work their way up the ranks! Ayanokouji Kiyotaka has landed at the bottom in the scorned Class D, where he meets Horikita Suzune, who’s determined to rise up the ladder to Class A. Can they beat the system in a school where cutthroat competition is the name of the game?
I, an ordinary high school student, Kimizuka Kimihiko, who easily gets involved in things, was appointed to take care of mysterious attache cases by mysterious men in black suits. After meeting a beautiful angel-like detective girl, named Siesta in a hijacked plane, I became her assistant.
And from there– [You deal with the beehive, and I’ll restrain the enemy.] [Don’t make plans that make me the victim.]
We had those kinds of foolish conversations, all while being completely broke every day and fought against . Even when there were hurricanes, the weather-beaten duo sleep past it. Sometimes when we saved money at a casino, we would jump around on the beds at a resort hotel, only to be broke again the next day. We would walk through deserts, traverse through jungles, conquer mountains, cross oceans– The great detective and her assistant would go through these dazzling adventures–
Until she died.
And this story starts from 1 year after that incident. I’m the only one who’s left, but I carry on her remained wishes. This story is far from over..
Source: Novel Updates
5
Mamahaha no Tsurego ga Motokano datta / My Stepsister is My Ex-Girlfriend / 継母の連れ子が元カノだった
A certain boy and girl in middle school became a couple, flirted with each other, disagreed on trivial things, became more frequently irritated with each other… and eventually broke up upon graduation.
And so, the two of them, Irido Mizuto and Ayai Yume, wound up meeting each other in the most unexpected fashion.
“Isn’t it obvious that I’m the older brother.” “Isn’t it obvious that I’m the older sister.”
The children of the other party of their parent’s remarriage was their ex-partner!?
The former couple, mindful of their parent’s feelings, decided on a ‘sibling rule’ where the one takes conscious of the other as the opposite s*x loses, but—
When they encounter each other in the bathroom, commute to and from school together… along with the memories of the past and living under the same roof, just how do they disregard each other!?
Source: Novel Updates
6
Rakuen Noise / Paradise Noise / 楽園ノイズ
Written by: Hikaru Sugii / Illustrated by: Yuu Akinashi
I dressed up as a woman and posted a performance video on the net, and I suddenly became famous as a mysterious high school girl (although a man) net musician. I thought it was okay because I didn’t show my face, but my high school music teacher, Misao Hanazono, lost my identity, and I was forced to use my weaknesses …
My high school life, which should have been tasteless and odorless , Three girls who meet through Mr. Hanazono-Rinko, a twisted genius pianist, Shigetsu, a drummer of a flower road princess, and Akane, a vocalist of a school refusal Zashiki-warashi, are colored noisily and annoyingly.
Boy meets girls who spend all their time in love, youth and the band!
Tomozaki is one of the best gamers in Japan, and in his opinion, the game of real life is one of the worst. No clear-cut rules for success, horribly balanced, and nothing makes sense. But then he meets a gamer who’s just as good as him, and she offers to teach him a few exploits…
Hiromichi Sato has been dating Haruka for a month, and their relationship is quickly heading in a good direction.
But one day Hiromichi’s parent announces they’re remarrying and he’ll be getting a new step-sister. When he meets her, he’s shocked to see that she looks exactly like Haruka. No worries, though — they’re totally different people. They’re just twins, each one living with a different parent since the divorce.
Certainly nothing to worry about. It’s not like there can be any wacky misunderstandings brought about by living with your girlfriend’s identical twin, right…?
The archipelagic nation of the Far East, Hinoo. First Imperial princess, Ibuya was the captain of the heavy aerial destroyer “Ibuki”. Naturally, all of the airship’s crew were her fan! Out of the blue came a new crew member of the ship, the protagonist Kuroto. Kuroto was the scion of the Kuronomiya house which was a subsidiary of the Imperial house and also Ibuya’s childhood friend. But, he committed an unforgivable crime that led to his expulsion from the Imperial house, which was desertion to their enemy country, the United States of Gameria. “How dare you show your face!?” But Kuroto interrupted her, “I came back to save Honoo from the monsters commanded by Gameria!”
Source: Anime-Planet
10
Otonari no Tenshi-sama ni Itsu no Ma ni ka Dame Ningen ni Sareteita Ken / The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten / お隣の天使様にいつの間にか駄目人間にされていた件
Amane lives alone in an apartment, and the most beautiful girl in school, Mahiru, lives just next door. They’ve almost never spoken-until the day he sees her in distress on a rainy day and lends her his umbrella. To return the favor, she offers him help around the house, and a relationship slowly begins to blossom as the distance between them closes…
Welcome to another article in our ongoing coverage of Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi 2021!
These are the Top 10 Tankobon books as ranked in the newest edition. Interestingly, the top spot goes to a new title. However, last year’s top 2 books still remain in the top 3.
This list has far more fantasy/isekai titles than the Bunkobon list. Half the list is already licensed for English release.
Also, I had to rely a little more on Google Translate for some of the book blurbs. I apologize in advance if they sound a little…off.
In a world after the defeat of the Demon Lord. All that are left are the Asura who have even slain the Demon Lord. A master fencer who can see the way to carve up his enemy with one glance, a lancer so fast he leaves sound behind, a raven-black adventurer who handles a legendary in each three arms, a spellbinder that can materialize his words into reality, a cruel angel that bestows instant death… The Asura of any and every conceivable race and species standing at the pinnacle of strength seeks an even stronger enemy, in order to receive the honor of being the “true hero”. All of them are the strongest, all of them a hero, but only one is worthy. The battle to determine the “True One” starts now.
A certain college girl who’s loved books ever since she was a little girl dies in an accident and is reborn in another world she knows nothing about. She is now Myne, the sickly five-year-old daughter of a poor soldier. To make things worse, the world she’s been reborn in has a very low literacy rate and books mostly don’t exist. She’d have to pay an enormous amount of money to buy one. Myne resolves herself: If there aren’t any books, she’ll just have to make them! Her goal is to become a librarian. This story begins with her quest to make books so she can live surrounded by them! Dive into this biblio-fantasy written for book lovers and bookworms!
Love can bloom in the strangest places…and people! A cursed king and the world’s strongest witch are about to cross paths, forever changing their future and the fate of the world!
The civilization of the past, now called “Old World”, has produced many “Relics” with its advanced technology. Many rubble of unknown material, high-rise buildings floating in the air, strange medications and a group of weapons that are too powerful to be used by people. After the collapse of science and civilization, people gathered these “Relics”, and over time they were rebuilding human society. In this way the “Hunters” were created, the warriors who face the various dangers of the Old World. Akira, a new hunter boy who wants to go up from the slums, entering the ruins of the Old World he meets a mysterious girl who can only be seen by him as a ghost, in a world where hunters are trying to overcome the legacy of the old civilization.
Shizuku Minase, a female college student who suddenly got lost in a different world from modern Japan. She is at a loss when her sword and magic land on the frontier of the world of common sense, but she happens to meet a strange magician, Erik, who studies magic characters. “-Please, please help me.” “Okay, but I have one request instead. Please tell me the character of your country.” To find a way to return to Japan, the magical power of Pharsal Two people who go on a journey aiming for. The journey is full of absurd and mysterious mysteries. -Then, fate began to turn. This is a story about words. A story of hope and change in the world, which has just begun to move as a result of their departure.
Surrounded by the hate-filled gazes of her people, the selfish princess of the fallen Tearmoon Empire, Mia, takes one last look at the bleeding sun before the guillotine blade falls… Only to wake back up as a twelve-year-old! With time rewound and a second chance at life dropped into her lap, she sets out to right the countless wrongs that plague the ailing Empire. Corrupt governance? Check. Border troubles? Check. Natural calamities and economic strife? Check. My, seems like a lot of work. Hard work and Mia don’t mix, so she seeks out the aid of others, starting with her loyal maid, Anne, and the brilliant minister, Ludwig. Together, they strive day and night to restore the Empire. Little by little, their tireless efforts begin to change the course of history, pushing the whole of the continent toward a new future. And why did the selfish princess have a change of heart, you ask? Simple—she didn’t. She’s just terrified of the guillotine. They hurt like hell, and Mia hates pain more than work.
The golden age has dawned for treasure hunters, who raid treasure vaults all over the world in search of glory, despite the dangers. Immeasurable wealth, fame, and power await those who prevail. “Let’s be treasure hunters!” This promise between Krai Andrey and his friends came to a sad conclusion when young Krai realized he didn’t have a treasure-hunting bone in his body. Yet for some reason, people’s expectations of Krai continued to grow—as did the danger to his life. While his friends became greater, greedier beasts, Krai mastered the art of begging and pleading! Witness the weal and woe of a man who just wants to retire.
1550 years. The historic year when the Ashikaga Shogunate was banished by the Miyoshi clan and the Muromachi Shogunate began to collapse. There was a boy who became the head of the family at the age of only two in Kuchiki, a small territory in Omi. Its name is Kutsuki Mototsuna. In fact, the rebirth of modern Japanese who love history. In front of him, who has a feeling for Tenkafubu, many trials such as financial difficulties, shortage of human resources, and cunning strategies of other territories are attacked. However, the foundation for knowing history does not yield. With overwhelming knowledge, bargaining skills, and boldness, he ran through a turbulent world. A rare tactician buried in historical facts rewrites Japanese history! A big river drama that boldly depicts the life of the only Sengoku warlord, Mototsuna Kuchiki, who saved Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu’s Sanei-Ketsu!
“I’m sorry, Dahlia. I want to break off our engagement.”
That was what Dahlia’s fiance said in front of her.
In Dahlia’s former life, she endured hard work, and she died from heart attack as she hung her head down.
In this new world, when she wanted to be a good wife and quietly hang her head down, her engagement was cancelled.
Dahlia swore she will stop hanging her head down.
Work hard, go where you want to go, eat what you want to eat, drink what you want to drink.
Live as I want to live as much as possible.
Such a Dahlia met a knight from the demon subjugation unit. Dahlia who liked magical tools and Wolf who liked magic swords.
Everyday they were involved in drinking and eating while passionately making magical devices and magic swords.
If it was for a convenient life, the magical devices craftswoman who wouldn’t hesitate no matter the difficulty was, and the fearless knight of the demon subjugation unit who single mindedly cut his way forward.
The two people who wanted to turn their back from love, will they one day fall in love?
What’s your favorite story? Does it have a hero who slays a dragon and saves a princess? Or a child of prophecy destined for greatness? Well, my favorite story is a little different. It’s the tale of a witch who travels the world, seeking nothing in particular. With no quest of her own, she’s free to wander wherever the wind takes her, adding a few pages to the story of whomever she meets before setting off on her next adventure. At the end of her travels, the witch takes on an apprentice who will one day begin her own journey. And so the cycle continues, or so the story goes. Now, the witch who starts the story anew…who could she be?
