Japanese Light Novel Book Club discussion

Anime series in spring 2025 based upon Light Novels. I think I got everything. This season start in a few days.
I still need to check on if all the LNs are translated to English although some (fortunate) people on the forum can read in Japanese.

Once Upon a Witch's Death (ある魔女が死ぬまで, Aru Majo ga Shinu Made) Once Upon a Witch's Death, Vol. 1: The Tale of the One Thousand Tears of Joy. There is both a LN and a manga. The first volume was published in English last year.

Your Forma (Japanese: ユア・フォルマ, Hepburn: Yua Foruma) Your Forma, Vol. 1: Electronic Investigator Echika and Her Amicus Ex Machina - Mystery, Science Fiction, reminiscent of Ghost in a Shell. I hope the anime is as good as the LN.

The Brilliant Healer's New Life in the Shadows (Japanese: 一瞬で治療していたのに役立たずと追放された天才治癒師、闇ヒーラーとして楽しく生きる, Hepburn: Isshun de Chiryou shiteita no ni Yakudatazu to Tsuihousareta Tensai Chiyushi, Yami Healer to shite Tanoshiku Ikiru) The Brilliant Healer's New Life in the Shadows: Volume 1

Can a Boy-Girl Friendship Survive? (Japanese: 男女の友情は成立する？（いや、しないっ!!）, Hepburn: Danjo no Yūjō wa Seiritsu Suru? Iya, Shinai!!, lit. 'Can a Boy–Girl Friendship Hold Up? No, It Can't!!)

The Dinner Table Detective (謎解きはディナーのあとで, Nazotoki wa Dinā no Ato de, lit. "The After-Dinner Mysteries") - this is based upon a mystery novel series...

Anne Shirley This is a new adaptation of Akage no Anne (Anne of Green Gables).

I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level (Japanese: スライム倒して300年、知らないうちにレベルMAXになってました, Hepburn: Suraimu Taoshite Sanbyaku-nen, Shiranai Uchi ni Reberu Makkusu ni Nattemashita). This is a second season.

From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman: My Hotshot Discples Are All Grown Up Now and They Won't Leave Me Alone (片田舎のおっさん、剣聖になる ～ただの田舎の剣術師範だったのに、大成した弟子たちが俺を放ってくれない件～, Katainaka no Ossan, Kensei ni Naru: Tada no Inaka no Kenjutsu Shihan Datta noni, Taisei Shita Deshitachi ga Ore o Hōttekurenai Ken)

I'm the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire!, Volume 1 (俺は星間国家の悪徳領主！, Ore wa Seikan Kokka no Akutoku Ryōshu!) from the LN by Yomu Mishima

The Unaware Atelier Master (勘違いの工房主～英雄パーティの元雑用係が、実は戦闘以外がSSSランクだったというよくある話～, Kanchigai no Atorie Maisutā: Eiyū Pāti no Moto Zatsuyōgakari ga, Jitsu wa Sentō Igai ga SSS Ranku Datta to Iu Yoku Aru Hanashi). No official light novel translation to English. There are three volumes of manga from the LNs so far.

The Too-Perfect Saint: Tossed Aside by My Fiancé and Sold to Another Kingdom (Light Novel) Vol. 1 (完璧すぎて可愛げがないと婚約破棄された聖女は隣国に売られる, Kanpeki Sugite Kawaige ga Nai to Konyaku Haki Sareta Seijo wa Ringoku ni Urareru)
Teogonia (神統記テオゴニア)

The Apothecary Diaries (Japanese: 薬屋のひとりごと, Hepburn: Kusuriya no Hitorigoto, "Apothecary's Soliloquy"). The second season of this series continues. (Note: this is our group read for April 2025) The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel): Volume 1

I Left My A-Rank Party to Help My Former Students Reach the Dungeon Depths! ( Japanese: Aランクパーティを離脱した俺は、元教え子たちと迷宮深部を目指す。, Hepburn: A-Rank Party o Ridatsu Shita Ore wa, Moto Oshiego-tachi to Meikyū Shinbu o Mezasu) Second Season

The Beginning After the End is an American web novel series written by TurtleMe and illustrated by the Indonesian artist Fuyuki23. It began serialization on Tapas in January 2017. The Beginning after the End: Publisher's Pack #1-2

I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level started a second season. The LNs were fun reading. I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level, Vol. 1 by Kisetsu Morita

The season starts in a little over a week. There looks to be a lot of good LN derived series... I will write up the ones I like. Usually, I will find new LNs I want to read.
Jack

I'm the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire!, Volume 1 (俺は星間国家の悪徳領主！, Ore wa Seikan Kokka no Akutoku Ryōshu!) from the LN by Yomu Mishima

In his last life, Liam lived as a moral, responsible person...but died deep in debt and betrayed by his wife. Reborn into the ruling family of a vast interstellar empire, Liam knows that life is divided between the downtrodden and the ones who do the stomping, so this time he's going to take what he wants and live for himself. But somehow, things refuse to work out that way. Despite doing his best to become a tyrant, Liam's decisions lead to nothing but peace and prosperity for the empire under his rule, and he just gets more and more popular!

A Science Fiction series. I had forgot about the back story of the MC and … (but no spoilers!). 8 of 10 volumes have been translated to English so far.
I saw that the first volume has recently been released in audiobook format. I hope to listen to this soon. There is also a manga series that is derived from the light novels.

There is also a spin off LN series, I'm the Hero Knight of an Intergalactic Empire! Two volumes are available in English.

The Too-Perfect Saint: Tossed Aside by My Fiancé and Sold to Another Kingdom (Light Novel) Vol. 1The Too-Perfect Saint: Tossed Aside by My Fiancé and Sold to Another Kingdom (Light Novel) Vol. 1 (完璧すぎて可愛げがないと婚約破棄された聖女は隣国に売られる, Kanpeki Sugite Kawaige ga Nai to Konyaku Haki Sareta Seijo wa Ringoku ni Urareru) Teogonia (神統記テオゴニア)

Philia the Saint of her kingdom Ziltonia and engaged to the second prince. However, he sold her to the neighboring kingdom of Parnacorta, who lost their own Saint recently. To her shock, Philia finds she has been overworking herself and that a saint truly doesn't need to take care of all of the kingdom's problems; unless consulted. (credit Wikipedia)

This just started. The anime version of the LN is good. The first episode establishes the background and sets the story up. I wish more volumes of the LN were translated.

For those that follow the music used in anime, the opening theme song is "Ai toka." (愛とか。, Something Like Love.), performed by Riria, while the ending theme song is "Sister", performed by Won. I really like the opening theme song.

The Beginning after the End: Publisher's Pack #1-2 is an American web novel series written by TurtleMe and illustrated by the Indonesian artist Fuyuki23. It began serialization on Tapas in January 2017.

This may be a standout series this season.

It follows the life of the late King Grey after his untimely and mysterious death. Reborn as Arthur Leywin, he seeks to correct his past mistakes in the vibrant new continent of Dicathen, a world of magic and fantastical creatures. Equipped with the knowledge of a powerful king in his mid-thirties, Arthur navigates his new life as the magic-wielding child of two retired adventurers and gains purpose through each of his new experiences—something he lacked in his previous life. (Credit Wikipedia)

No more for the summary since I don't want to spoil the good story for those that haven't read the light novel or listened to the audiobook series. I will add to this after I check out the audiobook version. I have high hopes!

update 7 June 2025 - TurtleMe is the pen name of Tae Ha Lee (aka Brandon Lee).
See:
https://www.turtleme.com/about )

Your Forma, Vol. 1: Electronic Investigator Echika and Her Amicus Ex Machina (Japanese: ユア・フォルマ, Hepburn: Yua Foruma) - Mystery, Science Fiction, reminiscent of Ghost in a Shell. I hope the anime is as good as the LN.

I like the first episode of Your Forma but I am not sure that someone who hasn't read the first volume of the LN would keep up with the pace of the anime.

The brain suture, commonly known as Your Forma. This medical technology, which saved people during the viral encephalitis pandemic that occurred in 1992, has evolved into a brain-invasive information terminal that is now indispensable in everyday life. The things one sees, the things one hears, even one's emotions--in this world, where everything is recorded, the investigation of serious crimes have become the job of "Electronic Investigators," special investigators who can dive into "Mnemosynes," which are aggregations of memories.

Echika Hieda, the world's youngest electronic investigator. The new partner who is assigned to this girl, who is isolated because of her talent, is a blond-haired and blue-eyed human-shaped robot named Harold. All secrets will be exposed in front of this strongest duo--! (credit Fandom wiki)

You will see the echoes of Ghost in the Shell and I, Robot in the story and visuals.

The Brilliant Healer's New Life in the Shadows (Japanese: 一瞬で治療していたのに役立たずと追放された天才治癒師、闇ヒーラーとして楽しく生きる, Hepburn: Isshun de Chiryou shiteita no ni Yakudatazu to Tsuihousareta Tensai Chiyushi, Yami Healer to shite Tanoshiku Ikiru) The Brilliant Healer's New Life in the Shadows: Volume 1

The show is entertaining. Zeno’s obliviousness to, well you will see pretty quickly, is a well worn trope but it is funny nevertheless.
The LN is an easy read and entertaining also. 5 volumes of the LN are translated into ENglish. The 6th volume is due out in June.

I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level, Vol. 1 by Kisetsu Morita is on its second season as an anime. The LNs were fun reading. 16 of the 27 LNs have been translated to English (a/o April 2025). I remember reading a few of LN series and they were fun and a relaxing read. The first anime season was in Spring 2021. I am glad that there is a second season this year.

After living a painful life as an office worker, Azusa ended her short life by dying from overworking. So when she found herself reincarnated as an undying, unaging witch in a new world, she vows to spend her days stress free and as pleasantly as possible. She ekes out a living by hunting down the easiest targets - the slimes! But after centuries of doing this simple job, she's ended up with insane powers...how will she maintain her low key life now?!

The Too-Perfect Saint: Tossed Aside by My Fiancé and Sold to Another Kingdom continues to follow the LN series. It is a great companion to the light novel as we get to see how the novel is visualized and development of Philia , the MC. Only 2 volumes of the LN have been translated and I yearn for more of the great series.
(07 June 2025)
Volume 3 of the LN is due in English on 5 August 2025
Volume 3 of the Manga is due in English on 19 August 2025
the anime is pretty good. It is a 12 episode series.

I am really enjoying The Gorilla God's Go-To Girl (Gorilla no Kami) and it is grrr awful that the web novel is not translated yet!

I am also impressed with the anime implementation of The Beginning After the End, Vol. 1, especially after reading the LN.