After her sister’s engagement to the crown prince is broken off suddenly, tragedy strikes, and Lady Francette and her family lose all of their wealth and status. Left with nothing but her name and determination, Francette moves to the slums and ekes out a living selling homemade pastries. That’s when she meets an unlikely new friend named Wibble, a talking slime who introduces her to the one and only slime duke himself: Gabriel! To her surprise, the unusually stoic Gabriel soon asks for Francette’s hand in marriage–and she accepts. Now she must adapt to Triste and its eccentric people, and she soon finds herself breathing life into the strange but endearing backwater. What was once a marriage of convenience becomes something much more in time…and—of course—expect lots of slime! (Source: J-Novel Club)
A Land of Slimes, Slimes and More Slimes!
Written by Mashimesa Emoto and illustrated by Kasumi Nagi, J-Novel Club’s latest series involves a surprise proposal and plenty of friendly slimes.
A Surprisingly Happy Engagement for the Slime Duke is another series that adds to the ever-growing roster of fallen nobility given cute, happy endings. Typical of the genre, the story centres around Francette, a perfect mild-mannered young lady whose situation has become fraught after her ducal family was disgraced.
With her father too busy having affairs, Francette is forced to make ends meet by baking cakes, that is, until a knight in shining (or should I say slimy) armour shows up in her hour of need.
If everything I’ve written about the series so far seems generic, then you’d be right on the money. Everything about this series could be summed up by any number of reviews that I’ve already written on the genre already. From the perfect young lady, the strong yet demure love interest, to the threats that they face together, it’s all been done before and you’ll know the conclusion to the story before it’s even begun.
Whilst there’s nothing inherently wrong with being generic, in fact, there’s a nice comfort factor to the series, I do find myself wishing that there was something more on offer, especially with the series’ strongest aspect, the slimes.
The veritable twist in the fallen noble tale, the slimes take the form of both man-eating monsters and miracle helpers, once tamed. The main window into the actions of these creatures is through Wibble, Gabriel’s first slime and Fran’s faithful helper. Wibble acts as a great piece of comic relief. His tumultuous relationship with Gabriel serves as a way to bridge the gap between the fantasy’s two lovebirds.
Unfortunately, Wibble is the only slime we get to know throughout the volume, and as a result, the series’ main twist ends up lacking a certain level of depth. By the end of the first volume, both slime culture and why slimes act the way they do once tamed remain a mystery.
Despite a generic setting, Slime Duke’s first volume makes for a good spare afternoon’s comfort read. As mentioned previously, there’s nothing wrong with generic and Wibble’s antics about Triste can make up for almost any fault in the series.
Regrettably, a comfort read this series must remain. With little to no depth beyond the usual paint-by-numbers plot, it hardly makes an impact in an already saturated market.
Slime Duke Vol. 1
My Rating: 6/10
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You can read the first volume of this series digitally on the J-Novel Club website.
Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life
Sub-Tags: OP, Strong Lead, Family, Heartwarming
Cover Illustration for Volume 3
Synopsis:
It’s summer on the grassy plains. With war behind him, Dias has his hands full with everything daily life can throw at him. There’s the new but strangely familiar merchant, the dogkin refusing to spend their hard earned coin, and the appearance of some of Dias’s old friends and family, each of whom has their own reasons for searching him out. On top of it all, Dias is about to meet Alna’s brother, who is convinced he has to rescue his sister from the evil new lord of the plains! (Source: J-Novel Club)
A Family Affair Out on the Frontier!
Fresh from defeating Diane and her evil machinations, the latest volume out on the plains turns out to be a family affair.
Scaling back the action and the scheming of royalty, the third volume of The Frontier Lord focuses more on the slice-of-life aspects of the story. As Dias’ territory has grown over the past three volumes, news of his lordship has started to travel far and wide, reaching the attention of those who want more than to settle in the frontier. This time around, each of the visitors to the frontier has personal connections to either Dias or Alna and provides interesting insight into their growth as characters.
A strong yet kind protector defines Dias’ character. Throughout the volume, revelations reveal that these foundations began with his parents and were honed through his time at the orphanage. The tough times that Dias and the others went through in the orphanage mean that even now that they’re adults, they all still refer to Dias lovingly as either a Dad or big brother.
As for Alna, her visitor to the plains reveals a time of family hardship. With her absentee brother returning on the news of Alna’s marriage, it becomes instantly clear why she would favour Dias as a partner. Dias is a dependable provider, unlike her brother. He’s gullible and too trusting, traits that saw him lose the family savings and leave them in dire straits. With his return to the tribe by the end of the volume, there’ll be plenty of opportunities for healing over the coming volumes.
The Baar Hierarchy
Beyond the main plot of the third volume, there are plenty of entertaining and hilarious side stories to enjoy. The most entertaining of which comes from another episode in the Baar’s nature documentary.
This time, the episode focuses on the Baar’s leadership and hierarchy. When two males arrive on the scene, these sheep-like creatures take a rather novel approach to settling who gets to become leader. Rather than fight it out, they take the more pacifist approach of choosing which male has the best song. This is a fitting solution, given that these creatures are said to have similar intelligence to humans.
Overall, The Frontier Lord’s third instalment keeps the series feeling fresh and entertaining. Key to the series’ longevity, this time around, comes from the development of its deuteragonists. Both get a part of their past revealed throughout the volume, offering interesting insights into how they became the people that they are.
The Frontier Lord Begins with Zero Subjects Vol. 3
My Rating: 9/10
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You can read the third volume of this series digitally on the J-Novel Club website.
Tags: Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Harem, Slice of Life, Isekai
Sub-Tags: Weak Lead, Episodic, Cute, Business
Cover Illustration for Volume 7
Synopsis:
Shiro’s first venture into a dungeon—albeit accompanied by the majority of the adventurers attached to the Fairy’s Blessing guild—turned out to be a resounding success. With the grimoire written by Nathew (the Father of Alchemy himself) in hand, he was able to perform the ritual that summoned lost loved ones without a hitch, allowing everyone to say one last goodbye to their dearly departed. Yet one much-missed soul was conspicuously absent at this gathering of spirits: Aina’s father. What could this mean? Is he still alive somewhere? And if he is, how can Aina and Stella find him after being parted for such a long time? Shiro has little time to ponder these weighty questions, however, because a familiar face is moving to Ninoritch, and Shiro is forced to rush around preparing lodgings for the imminent arrival of their entourage. But what could possibly bring such a distinguished person to this tiny little town out in the sticks? (Source: J-Novel Club)
A Peddler Prepares to Celebrate!
Fresh from the revelations put forth by a prize at the bottom of a labyrinth, the latest volume of Peddler follows Shiro as he prepares to celebrate a very special occasion.
A Birthday Fit for a Princess
The seventh volume of Peddler in Another World continues to provide a series of fresh and fun adventures. This time, the series chooses to focus on the fallout after discovering that Aina’s father might still be alive. As a result, the latest instalment is Aina and Stella heavy.
On the more fun side of their story, a major part of the volume focuses on Aina’s upcoming birthday. An understandably large occasion, it gives the author a good excuse to expand the story’s world-building. Throughout the segment, we’re given little tidbits that showcase the difference between birthdays in Japan and in the fantasy world.
Moreover, to coincide with Aina’s birthday, this storyline also sees the return of Shess. Having calmed down from her original appearance, this novel does a better job of showing Shess and Aina as best friends, and they end up doing a lot of normal kid stuff that they didn’t have time to do during the Capital arc. Luza also gets her time in the sun. Her scatterbrained personality is still plenty entertaining.
A Mother’s Choice
The more serious plot line this time around centres on Stella. Upon discovering that her husband is still alive, she comes across a difficult question; whether to search for him or not.
It’s a subject that the author treats with suitable delicacy, especially on the side of the protagonist, Shiro. Choosing to do the opposite of the normal protagonist moves, he questions himself on what would be the best way to help Stella rather than rushing in and making things worse.
Ultimately, the decision that Stella makes comes down to how Shiro has managed to integrate into the Ninoritch community. Since the very start of the series, he’s become an invaluable member of Stella and Aina’s family, and now, seven volumes in, Stella’s built-up trust in him will pay off as he’s put in charge of looking after Aina whilst she goes on her own quest.
Overall, Peddler in Another World’s seventh volume remains an entertaining read. Whilst the return of Shess provides some much-needed development for her friendship with Aina, the main highlight of the volume comes alongside Stella’s painful decision. It’s a segment that shows Shiro’s importance to the people of the fantasy world and how well he’s managed to integrate over seven volumes.
Peddler in Another World Vol. 7
My Rating: 8/10
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You can read the seventh volume of this series digitally on the J-Novel Club website.
Tags: Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life, Isekai
Sub-Tags: Cute, Heartwarming, Medicine, Pets
Cover Illustration for Volume 4
Synopsis:
A Slow Life Where There’s Always Someone To Welcome You Home!
Together, Takumi and Leo were successful in warding off the Orc attack on the village of Lange. A fake merchant they find there finally tells them what they need to know—the Yugard store in Ractos is selling diluted medicine to people. Takumi and company are outraged at the dark truths that come to light.
“All preparations have been made, milady.”
“We’re finally ready to take on the Yugard store now.”
Finally, the time has come for the vile merchants to pay for their crimes! (Source: Cross Infinite World)
Takumi Takes the Fight Straight to the Source!
Picking back up with Takumi and Leo in the middle of a pursuit, the latest instalment of Even Dogs sees the Libert family representatives embroiled in a fight between the Duke and their neighbour, Count Bastler. With those under the Count’s employ causing mischief and mayhem throughout Ractos and the surrounding villages, Takumi and the Libert family must be clever to catch them in the act and make them pay.
A Count’s Dirty Deals
The fourth volume of Ryuuou’s fluffy fantasy follows Takumi and the rest of the gang as they move to resolve the series’ latest arc surrounding Count Bastler’s schemes. Causing an outbreak and profiteering off the resulting suffering has led the cast of Even Dogs to decide that justice must be served.
This plot leads to a surprising change to the usual stance of passivity set across by light novel protagonists as Takumi is well and truly in favour of seeing the Count and his cronies pay. Whilst the scheme is nothing over the top, it does successfully land eggs on the perpetrators’ faces in a way that doesn’t detract from the series’ usual cute style. Moreover, it shows that Takumi has thoroughly integrated himself into the fantasy world and its people by viewing their suffering as his own.
As well as bringing the perpetrator to justice, the resolution to the series’ latest arc also brings some new characters into the fold. Chief among them is Anrinnelesse. Count Bastler’s daughter and whistleblower, her character holds much promise for the future of the series. Otome villainess adjacent and completely uncompromising, she’s sure to keep Claire on her toes about her feelings for Takumi.
As an aside, whilst most of the volume’s runtime is dedicated to finishing off the arc, there are still plenty of the fun, slice-of-life moments this series is known for. There are Leo antics galore, with the Duke’s riding lessons being a particular highlight.
Overall, the latest volume of Even Dogs Go to Other Worlds continues this series’ fun-loving spirit. Successfully managing to resolve its newest arc, the fourth volume introduces interesting new characters that positively add to the fantasy world. Additionally, the volume develops Takumi, showcasing his resolve to those around him and how far he’s managed to integrate into his new surroundings.
Even Dogs Vol. 4
My Rating: 8/10
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You can read the sixth volume of this series digitally through the distributors listed on the Cross Infinite World website.
Tags: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Slice of Life, School Life, Villainess, Shoujo
Sub-Tags: Spirits, Cute, Personal Growth, Weak to Strong
Cover Illustration for Volume 2
Synopsis:
The Smallest Spark Can Grow into a Fire
When Prince Joseph broke off his engagement to Brigitte, her life was shattered—but meeting Yuri helped her start putting it together again. The two may have started off as rivals, yet the more she learns about him, the more she’s come to appreciate him…Unfortunately, Joseph is ready to turn everything upside down again, suddenly attempting to reinstate their engagement. Brigitte is far from eager to go back, but her relationship with Yuri is getting complicated. Not only that, but it seems her weak, no-name spirit might be something else entirely…! (Source: Yen Press)
A Villainess’ Spirit Awakens!
After picking herself back up from a broken engagement, the second instalment of If the Villainess and Villain Met follows Brigitte as her whole world is about to change.
It Peeped!
Unwilling to address the cliffhanger left over from volume one, the series’ sequel begins with new developments regarding Brigitte’s spirit. Above all other aspects of the story, segments surrounding spirits inject the most of Brigitte’s personality within them, hence why it continues to be the story’s strongest aspect in this volume.
Developments appear thick and fast as Brigitte’s magical powers transform, eventually inviting a spirit. As a result, the novel’s first half finds the series’ protagonist searching for personal growth as Brigitte is forced to confront her past and future.
The future offers a lighter side to her development. It is signified by her blossoming romance with Yuri, which has no shortage of cute moments. Confronting her past takes a more serious approach. These scenes find Brigitte forced to overcome her traumas, which remain raw and vivid. Her memories describing when her hand is put in the flame are especially poignant.
As for the spirit awakening itself, it adds some entertaining moments of comedy to the series. Brigitte’s spirit takes the form of a small chick that likes to peep away and cause all sorts of chaos.
Prince (Not so) Charming
The Prince Joseph question is eventually answered in the latter half of the volume. Determined to get Brigitte back, this plot line follows a similar path to others in its genre, as Joseph’s motives turn out to be less than pure. Joseph is obsessed with Brigitte due to his perceived notion that she’s the only person who’s more of a failure than he is.
For as cutesy as this series portrays itself, this segment turns out to be a rather unpleasant read. Prince Joseph’s cruel and vindictive behaviour feels out of place in a series as light-hearted as this one. It does, however, provide the series with some necessary developments for the future. Firstly, the romance between Yuri and Brigitte is solidified, and secondly, the event serves as the final key to unlocking Brigitte’s true spirit power.
Overall, If the Villainess and Villain Met and Fell in Love’s second volume builds on the solid foundations laid in its opening act.
In addition to further exploring the world’s spirit magic system, the second volume finally gives the boot to Prince Joseph, allowing for the romance between Brigitte and Yuri to take centre stage.
If the Villainess and Villain Vol. 2
My Rating: 8/10
If you like what you read and what I do, why not consider supporting me through Ko-Fi. Any donation helps keep this site up and keep me writing.
You can read the second volume of this series physically and digitally through the distributors listed on the Yen Press website.
Tags: Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life
Sub-Tags: Cute, Heartwarming, Personal Growth, Family
Cover Illustration for Volume 3
Synopsis:
Ever since the misanthropic Dark Overlord Allen rescued runaway Charlotte, his secluded mansion has grown more and more lively. One day, he is shocked to discover by chance that it’s Charlotte’s birthday tomorrow. Everyone else brings her gifts, but he hasn’t prepared anything to celebrate! With his dignity as a boyfriend on the line, he racks his brains for the best present ever—but something strange befalls Charlotte… What secrets lie hidden in her past and identity? Will the lovebirds finally muster up the courage to share their first kiss? What awaits them on their family trip to Ryugukyo, the mysterious snowy resort? Things come to a head with the schemers behind Charlotte’s plight in this adventurous climax! (Source: J-Novel Club)
A Naughty Final Confrontation!
After reuniting with her sister, the climactic volume in the Crash Course in Naughtiness series sees Allen and Charlotte enact their naughtiest pleasure yet – revenge!
In the latest chapter of this sweet rom-com, the action begins as the date nears Charlotte’s birthday. A supposedly momentous occasion, it’s an event that has Allen all up in trepidation. To kiss or not to kiss? And that’s not all that waiting for the blossoming couple. A surprise visitor from the past and an unfortunate meeting in the present will test this cute couple to their absolute limits.
A Birthday to Remember
As Allen and Charlotte’s relationship begins to blossom, an Evans family affair proves to be a final stumbling block to their happily ever after. All starting on Charlotte’s birthday, Allen’s wholesome anxieties about the right time to take the next step is interrupted by his significant others reincarnation syndrome.
With the first saint, Lydillia, stuck in Charlotte’s body, it quickly becomes apparent that Charlotte isn’t the first to get the short end of the stick in the Evans family. A tragic tale of duty and disease reveals that the saint may not be as ready to move on as she makes out.
Struggling to come to a solution, Allen’s magic turns out to be the key. Able to separate the two, the series goes into cuteness overload as Allen and Charlotte welcome Lydia into their ever-growing family as their adoptive daughter.
This isn’t the only family drama for Charlotte to deal with in the volume. Acting as the grande finale, the series finally tackles the confrontation between Charlotte, her parents and her fiancé.
Taking the form of a naughty revenge plot, the climax of Charlotte’s arc is handled adeptly by the author. It takes in Charlotte’s personality, her development over the three volumes, and the style of the series to provide a conclusion that gives the antagonists their just desserts, as well as not going too far to where it feels off-putting.
Overall, A Crash Course in Naughtiness provides everything and more as it ties up loose ends and prepares for a happy ending. For the third volume, the story goes into cuteness overdrive as it builds on creating the perfect family for Allen and Charlotte. Moreover, the story provides a satisfying conclusion to the betrayal arc that’s been ongoing since the series’ inception.
A Crash Course in Naughtiness Vol. 3
My Rating: 9/10
If you like what you read and what I do, why not consider supporting me through Ko-Fi. Any donation helps keep this site up and keep me writing.
You can read the third volume of this series digitally on the J-Novel Club website.
Tags: Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Harem, Slice of Life, Isekai
Sub-Tags: Weak Lead, Episodic, Cute, Business
Cover Illustration for Volume 6
Synopsis:
On his return from the royal capital, Shiro learns that all is not well in Ninoritch. An encounter with the spirit of a loved one in the depths of some ruins has caused disquiet to spread among the adventurers of the Fairy’s Blessing guild, and unsurprisingly, all sorts of theories have been bandied about on the true nature of the apparition. This naturally piques Shiro’s curiosity, but he has little time to ponder the real meaning of this paranormal encounter before the town’s beautiful mayor, Karen, asks for his help with something urgent. Due to a variety of reasons—including Shiro’s burgeoning fame as a peddler—there is a major influx of people turning up in Ninoritch, and there isn’t anywhere near enough food, jobs, or houses in the little town to accommodate everyone. Between them, can Shiro and Karen find a solution to the problems caused by this sudden population explosion? And are people really able to meet loved ones who have passed on in these mysterious ruins? (Source: J-Novel Club)
A Peddler’s First Dungeon Dive!
Continuing on from Shiro’s royalty debacle at the nation’s capital, Peddler in Another World’s sixth instalment sees the series’ titular businessman out of sorts as a strange set of developments have been taking place in Ninoritch in his absence.
In the latest release from Hiiro Shimotsuki, Shiro discovers that it’s all things go in his home base of Ninoritch. Ever since he journeyed to the royal capital, the once-sleepy village has seen an influx of visitors. From adventurers hoping to discover ancient treasures to merchants looking to take advantage of Shiro’s exotic wears, the village’s resources are barely enough to cope, and that’s only part of it. The discovery of a dungeon that brings the dead back to life is about to cause a stir, not only with Shiro and his friends but the entire village.
Casinos and Lost Loved Ones
For Peddler in Another World, the sixth outing in the series sees a short return to normality. With no siblings and royal plots to send him astray, the latest volume gives us a good old-fashioned Ninoritch adventure. In this case, Shiro’s acumen is tested by helping to solve a population crisis that includes an influx of pesky businessmen.
A problem easily solved, what’s worth reading here are the moments between Shiro and Karen. Criminally underutilised over the past couple volumes, this novel showed that the magic between them is still there and why they could be considered one of the better ships of the series.
Whilst this volume may send the Shiro x Karen shippers over the moon, those hoping for positive developments between Shiro and Stella are about to have their hearts dashed. In the second and stronger main plot of the volume, any chance that romance will blossom between the two are completely crushed as all signs point to Stella’s husband being alive.
The fountain plot explores several avenues of grief. Stella and Aina’s journey is the best explored, showcasing the unshakable bond that developed between them after their husband/father supposedly died. It’s one of the few instances where the happy ending for them feels truly deserved.
By focusing on and developing fan-favourite characters and by creating opportunities for emotional growth, the sixth volume of Peddler in Another World keeps the series on solid ground.
Refocusing the series back on Ninoritch has done it the world of good. Picking up dangling plot threads and developing members of the already-established cast leave plenty of potential for the series’ future.
Peddler in Another World Vol. 6
My Rating: 8/10
If you like what you read and what I do, why not consider supporting me through Ko-Fi. Any donation helps keep this site up and keep me writing.
You can read the sixth volume of this series digitally on the J-Novel Club website.
Following on from the celebration of all things that continued throughout 2023, with the second and final blogpost, I’ll be looking back at all my favourite new light novel series that were released throughout the year.
10) If the Villainess and Villain Met and Fell in Love
Cover Illustration for Volume 1
With the light novel market quickly becoming saturated by the villainess and Otome genres, you’d expect a level of exhaustion or quality drop to come into play. Thankfully, 2023 still managed to keep the high level of quality we’ve come to expect from the genre ever since they started coming to the West.
Marking the first of many from the genre to make my top 10 list of 2023, If the Villainess and Villain Met and Fell in Love takes the genre back to basics with a love story between two originally ill-fated characters.
Whilst a series of this calibre wouldn’t normally make the list, I was surprised by the story’s overall solid writing and in-depth spirit system, placing it well above average and well worth a read.
9) Lovestruck Prince! I’ll Fight the Heroine for My Villainess Finacée
Continuing with the villainess theme, this next title, released at the start of 2023, saw the genre come full circle.
Managing to make it to ninth on the list, Cross Infinite Worlds’ Lovestruck Prince follows the misadventures of Prince Vincent as he fights anything and everything that gets in the way of the romance between him and his supposed villainess fiancée.
Besides the promise of a cute, fluffy rom-com, which is right up my alley, the series combines a fresh twist to the genre alongside some interesting mystery elements. These positives also continue into the novel’s sequel, which gives the villainess of the story the spotlight.
8) Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss but I’m Not the Demon Lord
Completing the list of villainess light novels, for now, Villainess Level 99 makes it to eighth place on the list and the first to have had an anime on the series air or airing.
The story follows the tumultuous tales of Yumiella. Born as an Otome game’s hidden boss, she’s determined to keep out of the main game’s events, but this turns out to be a harder task than expected after discovering she’s at level 99 – one of the strongest humans on the planet.
Unlike the two previous Otome entries on this list, Villainess Level 99’s strength is drawn from its comedy. This series is filled with hilarious, memorable moments as Yumiella is drawn into increasingly crazy events and situations. Moreover, this series also features a cute romantic subplot, which serves as a nice bit of icing on the cake to this villainess kerfuffle.
Approaching the list’s halfway point and the next entry marks a change of genre.
Written by Fuurou, The Frontier Lord Begins with Zero Subjects falls into the category of a cutesy, slice-of-life story. Taking place on seemingly barren plains, the story sees Dias, the protagonist, learn to adapt to life after the war and attempt to grow his newly acquired territory.
Being one of several fish-out-of-water fluffy episodic adventure series, The Frontier Lord manages to stand out from the crowd and earn a place on this list through strong writing with a comedic undertone, a natural-flowing family dynamic between the main cast, and a well-developed tribal setting.
6) I Guess This Dragon Who Lost Her Egg to Disaster is My Mom Now
Earning its place at sixth and just missing out on a top-five spot, the next series on the list features a unique family dynamic.
I Guess This Dragon Who Lost Her Egg is a heartfelt story filled with betrayal and mystery. Following Lushera’s recent reincarnation, the story depicts the protagonist’s new life of danger and discovery as she learns to grasp what it means to be the child of a dragon.
Whilst this series is filled with interesting scenes of action and mystery, its interactions between the human child and dragon mother earned it a place on this list. From their early moments filled with miscommunication as two different species come to terms with one another to their eventual understanding and mutual fight on the mountain, their relationship is depicted with wonderful clarity.
Making it to the top five is a late arrival on the scene. Released at the end of December, Finding Avalon marks the first alternative Japan title to make the list.
Mixing a plethora of dungeon-crawler and mystery aspects, the story follows an avid gamer as he’s reincarnated into the game’s most hated character, Piggy. Faced with a world filled with unfortunate game events and an all too real in-game conspiracy, he’ll have to level grind like never before if he’s to protect both himself and his family.
Of all the new series I’ve read this year, this one shocked me the most. On paper, this series would have me running for the hills, but I was pleasantly surprised at how all the aspects of the series came together. A detail-orientated author, complex character dynamics and motivations beyond the usual harem antics make for one of the most engaging reads of the year.
Just missing out on a spot in the top three, The Crown of Rutile Quartz represents another late arrival onto the 2023 light novel scene – also premiering in late December.
A real culture shock affair, it’s a novel that focuses on a bastard son’s journey from everyday commoner to a nation’s prince regent. Half political drama and half war story, the first instalment of the series details Slaine’s troubled ascendancy to the throne as he soon discovers the true depths necessary to become a successful royal.
What makes this series one of the year’s highlights and deserving of a place on this list is how clear the author’s vision for the series was right from the word go. It’s a masterclass of balancing the themes of love, war and politics with the end product, creating a story where all the characters feel naturally human.
Reaching the top three, and finally, we’ve arrived at the brass tax section of the 2023 light novel celebration. Winning the bronze award is The Ephemeral Scenes of Setsuna’s Journey. A new title from Yen Press, it’s a story that mixes adventure alongside human drama.
Gaining a third chance in life, the story’s premise revolves around the newly summoned Setsuna. Having spent most of his life in a hospital bed, Setsuna is offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the world after another hero offers up their lifeforce to him. What follows is a journey of self-discovery, of meeting new people, and experiencing new places.
What made this series worthy of a spot in the top three – the author’s innate talent for writing characters. Complex, flawed, and always engaging, they make the fantasy world of Setsuna’s Journey come to life as a vivid spectrum of lived experiences.
2) Butareba – The Story of a Man Turned Into a Pig
My silver award winner and series narrowly missing out on the top spot, Butareba, is one that many may dismiss simply through seeing its title.
What at first seems like another gimmicky, weird reincarnation story soon unfolds into an interesting mix of dark fantasy and mystery. Following the story of a man unfortunate enough to eat a raw pig’s liver, it sees him reincarnate into the body of a pig under the care of a Yethma named Jess. Any illusions that this may be a comfortable second life for him are soon shattered, however, when he discovers that this world is hiding a cornucopia of dark secrets.
Beyond its slightly raunchy style of comedy, the series reveals an ever-twisting mystery that I couldn’t help but place high on the list. Dark, powerful and emotional, it fits alongside the developmental journey of Jess and Mister Pig completely, leaving you raw from the tragic decisions they must make by the volume’s end. It’s a series that perfectly encapsulates dark fantasy without making it too edgy.
1) Fake Saint of the Year: You Wanted a Perfect Saint? Too Bad!
Cover Illustration for Volume 1
Reaching the crème de la crème, the apex of the new series in 2023, and for me, there could only be one series that wins the coveted gold award – Fake Saint of the Year!
The general premise of the series follows the hijinks of a man reincarnated into the body of his least favourite character from an Otome game, the villainess Ellize. Given this unique opportunity, Niito decides to use this twist of fate to enact some of the wrongs of the game and enact a happy ending between his favourite characters, Verner and Eterna. Unfortunately, even as the strongest fake saint in history, he can’t predict the strange mysteries that lie within this fantasy world.
Comedy, mystery, romance, tragedy; this series has it all. Honestly, this series has no business being as good as it is. Cooking up deep philosophical questions alongside raunchy comedy and deranged otaku fantasy creates a story of pure magic that all light novel enthusiasts should check out.
Tags: Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life, School Life, Josei
Sub-Tags: Misunderstandings, Second Chances, Cute
Cover Illustration for Volume 2
Synopsis:
After Viola faked amnesia and Phillip tried to trick her into a romance, they’re finally in a real relationship. Now, in order to become a suitable duchess once they marry, Viola must learn to fight her discomfort of socializing with the other nobles. Phillip also takes up an appointment as a guide for a foreign princess. Viola knows it’s just a job, but she can’t help suspecting her fiancé of infidelity when she sees just how close they’re getting…and Little Vio repeating Phillip’s confession about Luna serves as the final nail in the coffin! Follow the needy heir and the oblivious heiress as they tangle with yet more misunderstandings in pursuit of their happily ever after! (Source: J-Novel Club)
A Disturbance in the Happily Ever After!
Following the clear up of a host of misunderstandings, Fake It to Break It’s sequel finds that Viola’s amnesiac adventures aren’t quite over yet.
Kicking off exactly where we left the blossoming lovebirds last time, the series continues, this time with the misunderstanding of mixed-up feelings resolved. Now, the two of them are free to enjoy each other’s company and get to know one another properly, that is, until a new problem reaches their door. With a party of foreign princesses visiting and Phillip in charge of their care, new rumours start to swirl that Phillip’s conduct towards them could be considered more than just friendly.
In an unsurprising change-up to proceedings, the sequel of this misunderstandings fantasy rom-com sees Viola in the firing line, attempting to fight for her engagement. With the possibility of Phillip’s fidelity in question, this arc brings Viola’s feelings into the spotlight.
It seems that ever since her little amnesiac stunt, her feelings for Phillip have been quietly growing, making the rumour reveal a rather heavy-hitting event for the series protagonist. Thankfully, these feelings are also what saves their relationship, as she’s able to look beyond the circumstantial evidence and believe the truth of Phillip’s words.
In addition, the latest volume provides more than just misunderstandings. Adding to their more settled relationship at this point in the series, this volume provides ample downtime from the misunderstandings plot. Several cute dates take place throughout volume two’s story. Moreover, the author gives ample time to the wedding and to their happy life afterwards.
Fake It to Break It’s second volume makes for a fine albeit superfluous addition to the series. Tying loose ends and showing that Viola’s love for Phillip equals his for hers provides all the necessary ingredients for the epilogue’s happy end, even if this was already satisfied by the previous volume’s ending.
Fake It to Break It Vol. 2
My Rating: 6/10
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You can read the second volume of this series digitally on the J-Novel Club website.
Van, fourth son of a marquis, is just a toddler when he realizes he’s been reincarnated. Thanks to his literal lifetime of knowledge, he’s raised as a child prodigy—until his production magic manifests, and it’s the last thing his snooty mage family wants to see! His disappointed father banishes him to a podunk town on the verge of collapse, yet Van can only see the place’s potential. Can our hero’s bastion of battlements build a better life than battle magic ever could?! (Source: Seven Seas Entertainment)
Production Creates the Strongest Village!
The Village of a Lord Worth Following
Written by Sou Akaike and illustrated by Kururi, the latest review on my blog focuses on a series about creating the strongest village.
Reincarnated as the fourth son of a prominent Marquis, the story of Easygoing Territory Defense starts when Van is given the less-than-welcome news that he’s discovered to possess production magic. Drawing ire from his father, the assessment results lead him to be put into exile in a village at the end of the world. Determined to make his new life in the boonies a success, Van decides to put his skills and clever thinking to good use to start creating an economic powerhouse the continent will always remember.
For the series’ first volume, the story’s plot is split into three sections – Van’s life before exile, Van’s first days in the village, and Van’s first steps to creating the strongest village.
To start with, showcasing Van’s life before he’s carted off to the edge of the territory provides much-needed context in these types of stories. As a child prodigy, Van never lets these compliments get to his head. Remaining grounded due to his age at time of reincarnation, he’s considered a kind and inquisitive child whose down-to-earth nature quickly gains the admiration of the servants under the Marquis’ employ. It is no wonder that when Van is asked to leave the estate, several servants leave to join him. These include his maid, Till, and his tutors, Diss and Espada.
This welcoming personality of Van’s continues as he first sets foot inside the new village he’s been told to manage. His nature helps to start their relationship on the right foot, which is then solidified as both Van and his gang help to defend the village from several overwhelming threats.
Bargains, Deals and Treaties
The true meat of this volume, however, comes as Van settles down and finally decides to put his plan into action to make a success of the village.
After one of the attacks on the village, Van and the gang are left with a lot of materials from lizardmen. This sets about their success by flooding the settlement with capital. As a result, merchants, demi-humans and even foreign nobility end up paying the little village a visit.
With more visitors to the village, it’s plain to see that the author can let go in these parts and start to have fun. With almost all the arrivals in complete shock at the growth of the village, Van has his work cut out dealing with noble intentions and more than one marriage proposal. In the end, however, he’s always able to convince them onside.
To conclude, Easygoing Territory Defense’s first volume makes for a wonderful start to the series. Filled with fun adventures and an ever-curious protagonist, it makes the experience of watching his new village grow all the more enjoyable.
As his village grows further, I shall wait in anticipation of what’s in store for the little lord next.
Easygoing Territory Defense Vol. 1
My Rating: 8.5/10
If you like what you read and what I do, why not consider supporting me through Ko-Fi. Any donation helps keep this site up and keep me writing.
You can read the first volume of this series digitally from the list of distributors found on the Seven Seas website.
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