Japanese Light Novel Book Club discussion

Currently listening to the Tantor audiobooks for the By the Grace of the Gods: Volume 1 by Roy. I am on volume 7. I much enjoyed the LNs and it is fun to listen to audiobooks now.

Currently Read, 7th Time Loop Vol 2

Aki wrote: "Currently Read, 7th Time Loop Vol 2"

I enjoyed what I read of this series. I think I read vol1-3 of the LN. I liked it a lot so I then read a number of the mangas in the series.
there was an anime series in the Winter 2024 season of 12 episodes. I liked that too, a solid story all around. I see that there are more LNs that I haven't read soooo, even more to look forward to.

I am working through a few light novel audiobooks
Series: reincarnated as the last of my kind. I am on v4
And
I had that same dream again
Just started this.

I truly adore I Had That Same Dream Again: The Complete Manga Collection (manga). It is thoughtful and allowed me to grow along with Nanoka without rushing. I am thankful for the recommendation from the School Library Journal. I have also purchased this for our local rural library and hope that our young readers find the enjoyment in the story as I did.

Now I am ready to read I Will Forget This Feeling Someday. I will often read both the light novels and their manga visualizations of authors that I appreciate. It is that way with Yoru Sumino.

Sometimes (well maybe often) I just need to read something silly and diverting so after I had that same dream again(*****) I am (re)reading Chillin’ in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers (Light Novel) Volume 1 Miya Kinojo, English translation by Meteora. It is just as good as the first read was. There was an anime series of this fairly recently - delightful

I am on volume 9 now of Chillin’ in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers (Light Novel)…. Still pretty funny.
… I wore out as of volume 12. It was fun but needed to be wrapped up…

I took a break from "Chillin'" to read The Greatest Magician's Ultimate Quest: I Woke from a 300 Year Slumber to a World of Disappointment Volume 1 and volume 2 by Matsue Fukuyama.

This was better than I originally thought. The storyline is fairly straightforward but the author adds additional interest as it proceeds.
I will continue on to volume two.

Volume 10 of My Quiet Blacksmith Life in Another World comes out as a whole book in late March 2025, so I am finishing up Volume 9 now. It is a series I really like, 4*s. (Finished it…I don’t want March to be a rush ‘cause I have lots to read but I am looking forward the Volume 10 release.)

My current audiobook is the LN Black Summoner Vol 7. It will be a nice change from my last one which was a new release by H. Murakami.

Just finished rereading
I'm a Noble on the Brink of Ruin, So I Might as Well Try Mastering Magic: Volume 1 by Nazuna Miki, eng trans by Joey Antonio

I really enjoyed the series and just reread for fun.

(Re) reading A Certain Magical Index, Vol. 1 by Kazuma Kamachi. This came out in translation about 10 years ago. There were 25! Volumes in the original series and 2 sequel series after that.

The LN series were huge hits and there were 3 anime series and a movie based upon them.

Moved on to:
I Surrendered My Sword for a New Life as a Mage Vol. 1, by Shin Kouduki, necömi (Illustrator), Chris Melchin (Editor), Alexandra Owen-Burns (Translator)

About a third through the 1st vol. It looks like that first volume is mostly setup of the new life for the reincarnated boy, Soma. Still, it is an interesting story so far.

I just finished Yashiro-kun's Guide to Going Solo by Dojyomaru.
This was really fine on many levels. A group of HS kids that interact and support each other. Discussions about life and getting along.
A really, really good and respectful love relationship between Nue and Hachijo (their nicknames for each other).
The authors mid book notes to the readers.
Dojyomaru writes,
“…there were two questions I had that inspired me to write this.
1: What would a school romcom look like in a world where cool kids and loners were no longer pitted against each other?
2: Could I write a story without showing the female lead?”

I think the authors mid book was successful on both counts. I am looking forward to the follow on set of stories: Yashiro-kun's Guide to Going Solo: After Story!

Just finished Your Forma, Vol. 1: Electronic Investigator Echika and Her Amicus Ex Machina by Mareho Kikuishi.
It was great. I felt it continued with the philosophical exploration of Isaac Asimov and his work I, Robot. I also felt echos of Masamune Shirow explorations in Ghost in the Shell.
I look forward to the anime produced from this in the Spring 2025 season.

One of the spring 2025 shows is The Too-Perfect Saint. I am reading the second volume of the light novels which are source for the series, The Too-Perfect Saint: Tossed Aside by My Fiancé and Sold to Another Kingdom (Light Novel) Vol. 2 by Fuyutsuki Koki. It was published 10 April 2025 by Airship (Seven Seas).
Genre(s): Comedy, Fantasy, Light Novels, Romance

I finished out the very end of May by reading _I'm the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire!_ light novels 1-8 (i want more more) and the manga series 1-5. the anime version is in this season "Ore wa Seikan Kokka no Akutoku Ryoushu" and on episode 9 this week. It is funny (well silly), has AI maids, Mecha, lots of mecha, "The Way of the Flash", evil gods... and well, i like it (a lot). Now on to more serious fare (and #ReadingThe Meow2025 ha!).

Currently reading through The Great Cleric (Light Novel): Volume 1 By Broccoli Lion (who says that they really used to be a broccoli farmer…)

It is a great series with manga and anime spun off from the LN series.

Currently reading light novel Private Tutor to the Duke’s Daughter: Volume 1. There is also a manga series based up the LN. An anime television series adaptation produced by Studio Blanc is set to premiere in July 2025. I am looking forward to that also.

Btw, I do read more mmm serious works sometimes. I think it is good for my something or other…
Just finished Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson. It was really good.

I finished the first 7 volumes of Private Tutor to the Duke’s Daughter and taking a break. So my next LN is Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord: Production Magic Turns a Nameless Village into the Strongest Fortified City (Light Novel) Vol. 1 by Sou Akaike. There are 4 volumes of the LN translated.

I used to consume comic books when I was little. LNs have taken that place in my reading.

I am enjoying out July 2025 group read. In addition, I am listening to the audiobook of Reincarnated as the Last of my Kind, Vol. 6 on daily walks.

Since i recently finished the first vol of Raven, our July group read, I went back to finished the last translated volume of the light novel Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra: World Conquest Starts with the Civilization of Ruin, Volume 6 by Fehu Kazuno. It is based upon the rules for a 4x Empire management strategy game where 4x stands for “ explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate”. This has been a fun series to read. Volume 7 was published in Japan June 2024 so maybe a translation is not too far ahead.

Just read the first two LN volumes of Overlord, Vol. 1: The Undead King by Kugane Maruyama.
I would like to read the whole series. It is interesting, strange and funny. There are 16 LN novels and 19 translated manga volumes.
There were for seasons of anime. The first in 2015, I think, plus one or two compilation movies.

This is my second time through Vol. 1 and 2 of Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear (Light Novel) Vol. 1 by Kumanano. This time with the excellent audiobooks, narrated by Marissa Lenti and published through Seven Seas Siren. We have shelved the light novel series through our local rural library and I want to see if we can get the new audiobooks into circulation.

If you like this series then an anime television series adaptation by EMT Squared aired from October to December 2020. A second season aired from April to June 2023. They were lots of fun to watch.

I'm blasting through The White Cat's Revenge as Plotted from the Dragon King's Lap: Volume 2 and loving every minute of it. :D

I'm not sure that it counts as it went from manga to book! But I finished the first volume of Kazumi Yamashita's 11-volume series ランド 1 Land I loved the eerie, atmospheric style and the allusions to myth, folklore and elements of popular culture. But I found the pacing incredibly slow. There's a twist ending that makes me want to find out what happens next but I'm not sure I can easily get through ten more instalments if they're equally leisurely!

It's due to be published in an English-language translation later this year. The first volume is called Land, Vol. 1 (Volume 1) but apparently contains the first three volumes of the original.

I am listening to the audiobook of The Condemned Villainess Goes Back in Time and Aims to Become the Ultimate Villain (Light Novel) Vol. 1 by Bakufu Narayama. It is good and well narrated by Emily Bauer.

I'm currently reading Holy Blue Bullet: 86--EIGHTY-SIX, Vol. 12. I really love this series, Asato Asato-sensei is doing a great job with this story. One of my all time favourites so far. I wonder how the whole story will end.

And I just finished My Happy Marriage (Light Novel), Vol. 5. I already watched the anime, but the light-novel is still awesome!