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    General Reading Recommendation Thread (Not Series License Requests)

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Light Novel Discussion
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    • myskarosM
      myskaros Staff @AlexUsman
      last edited by

      @AlexUsman It's on Webnovel, which is for all intents and purposes a legitimate platform. It's owned by Tencent, though, so you may have personal reservations about them.

      https://www.webnovel.com/book/7931338406001705/Release-That-Witch

      Whoever said nothing's impossible never tried slamming a revolving door.

      AlexUsmanA 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
      • AlexUsmanA
        AlexUsman @myskaros
        last edited by

        @myskaros thanks. It was just their site doesn't really look like an official licensor site and more like some FanTL aggregator.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • SventS
          Svent
          last edited by

          I was just reading Unwanted Undead Adventurer. It is pretty good (although there are some moments where it repeats itself in different ways for 3 to 5 paragraphs, but when you notice it you can gloss over that part). I would give it an 8/10. It is Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery, Weak to Strong.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
          • Silver Sugar DuchessS
            Silver Sugar Duchess
            last edited by Silver Sugar Duchess

            Not related to any topic now, but is it alright to recommend fan translations too?

            💖Always be yourself, unless you can be a unicorn - then be a unicorn!💖

            Rahul BalagganR 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • Rahul BalagganR
              Rahul Balaggan Staff @Silver Sugar Duchess
              last edited by

              @Liber-Monstrorum

              You could recommend any story, just don’t link to the fan TL or mention the group handling.

              Sorry but J-Novel Club does not publicly comment on any potential licensing decision or acquisitions.
              J-Novel Club, Future Volume Release Schedule
              Manga FAQ
              Premium Content List

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
              • db0ssmanD
                db0ssman Member
                last edited by

                I just finished up Lazy Dungeon Master and now I'm looking to start a new series. Like the last 6 series have been fantasy and 4 or so have been isekai, so I'd like to avoid either of those genres. Is there anyone of the ones listed below that people could recommend? This is basically the order in which I have an interest, but if Infinite Stratos is as on the nose as Sexiled, I don't think I would want that one.

                Infinite Stratos
                The Combat Baker and Automaton Waitress
                Beatless
                Full Metal Panic!

                Shift World Web Novel

                piisfunP H 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • piisfunP
                  piisfun Member @db0ssman
                  last edited by piisfun

                  @db0ssman
                  Combat baker is an interesting alternate history/sci fi mix.I only read the first two volumes (wasn't quite to my liking, personally), but it does pack a decent amount of action and intruige intspersed with a bit of slice-of-life to break things up.

                  Infinite Stratos is one of those "boy in an all girls school" stories. Really not my style, not going to comment further because I can't give it a fair trial.

                  Likewise, I can't give Beatless a fair trial, as I dropped it halfway through the first volume. If I had to list similar stories, only Clockwork Planet comes to mind, but this is less steampunk and more cyber than that.

                  Full Metal Panic! is a classic. I haven't actually read the books, but if the anime is anything to go by, it is a well-written story with plenty of millitary sci-fi action, mixed with a bit of fluff, usually involving the main character getting in trouble for handling everyday problems with military agressiveness. Includes plenty of overdeveloped giant humanoid battle mechs.

                  Green's Theorem

                  Jon MitchellJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                  • Jon MitchellJ
                    Jon Mitchell Premium Member @piisfun
                    last edited by

                    @piisfun @db0ssman
                    Infinite Stratos has hilarious moments, and I liked the Anime, but I am not a fan of the last couple of volumes...I'm looking forward to next one being the last (does that make sense?)

                    First 4 volumes of Combat Baker were good - I'm not caught up on most recent volume

                    I read banned books

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • H
                      HarmlessDave Premium Member @db0ssman
                      last edited by HarmlessDave

                      @db0ssman I'm not aware of much good science fiction in translated LNs, but most of my SF reading is from western novelists. It feels like 90% of translated LNs are fantasy and most of them are isekai.

                      For anyone not burned out on fantasy, a couple of non-JNC series:

                      Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear - 2 volumes released + volume 3 out July 30 - cute, light, bear-y fluffy isekai about a girl in another world in her bear onesie. Infinite Dendro fans might enjoy reading the adventures of "sister bear".

                      Woof Woof Story - 3 + volume 4 out next week - another fluffy isekai, crossing Abilities Average with Fel from Campfire Cooking. An overworked salaryman asked to be reincarnated as a pampered pet dog to live the lazy life, but the goddess decides on her own definition of "dog", a Fenrir.

                      JNC SF:

                      I enjoyed the 3 volumes of "Me, a Genius?" but the series was not finished in Japan so the plot threads in volume 3 will never be resolved.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • Tiko424T
                        Tiko424 Premium Member @Tube
                        last edited by

                        @Tube said in Bookworm Part 3 Vol. 2 Discussion!:

                        Damn I'm hooked on this series. Just thinking how many more days until Monday and whole Monday is waiting for the new chapters to arrive. I just re-read all the published books and p3v1 pre-pubs too, so it might be too early to do it again. I don't know how the people who read only published light novels manage to do it. How do they survive?

                        I'll have to try to find other things to be hooked on, so I can think about something else too.

                        Potion Loli is another good one to read if you need a distraction 😂

                        BEWARE of the Pimpin Purple Pineapple! Because one day he will take over the world and rule us all with his rusty wooden spoon!

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                        • Melting SkyM
                          Melting Sky Premium Member @Tube
                          last edited by Melting Sky

                          @Tube said in Bookworm Part 3 Vol. 2 Discussion!:

                          Damn I'm hooked on this series. Just thinking how many more days until Monday and whole Monday is waiting for the new chapters to arrive. I just re-read all the published books and p3v1 pre-pubs too, so it might be too early to do it again. I don't know how the people who read only published light novels manage to do it. How do they survive?

                          I'll have to try to find other things to be hooked on, so I can think about something else too.

                          Bookworm is well written for an isekai LN and its not afraid to do it's own thing. Most isakai give us a young male protagonist that wakes up being able to 1 hit an elder dragon while it rains waifu, where as Bookworm gives us sick little idealist girl who loves books and takes on the unfair dogma of a medieval classist society.

                          If you are looking for another interesting isekai on here that marches to the beat of its own drum, I recommend Otherside Picnic. I have read a lot of LNs and it stands out as one of the most unique isekai I've come across.

                          If you are looking for excellent Japanese novels in general which have been properly translated then I Had That Same Dream again and At Night, I Become a Monster are both pretty amazing.

                          db0ssmanD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • db0ssmanD
                            db0ssman Member @Melting Sky
                            last edited by

                            @Melting-Sky said in General Recommendation Thread (Not Series License Requests):

                            Bookworm is well written for an isekai LN and its not afraid to do it's own thing. Most isakai give us a young male protagonist that wakes up being able to 1 hit an elder dragon while it rains waifu, where as Bookworm gives us sick little idealist girl who loves books and takes on the unfair dogma of a medieval classist society.

                            Since Bookworm is only the second LN I ever read, I think it gave me a really unfair standard to hold other LN to. That also holds true with the quality of the writing itself too, not just how well structured and deep the story is.

                            Shift World Web Novel

                            Melting SkyM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • Melting SkyM
                              Melting Sky Premium Member @db0ssman
                              last edited by

                              @db0ssman said in General Recommendation Thread (Not Series License Requests):

                              @Melting-Sky said in General Recommendation Thread (Not Series License Requests):

                              Bookworm is well written for an isekai LN and its not afraid to do it's own thing. Most isakai give us a young male protagonist that wakes up being able to 1 hit an elder dragon while it rains waifu, where as Bookworm gives us sick little idealist girl who loves books and takes on the unfair dogma of a medieval classist society.

                              Since Bookworm is only the second LN I ever read, I think it gave me a really unfair standard to hold other LN to. That also holds true with the quality of the writing itself too, not just how well structured and deep the story is.

                              That's always the problem with going strait for the top shelf stuff your first time. Setting the bar so high leads to a lot of disappointment. Although there are a lot of really trashy LNs out there, don't be afraid to sift through the chaff to find the rarer gems. They are there, just burried.

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • B
                                Bromit
                                last edited by

                                I dont know where to ask so asking hear

                                I enjoyed potion loli vol 3 and 4 very much. Biggest point for me was mc seem so alive as all her choice, her reasoning, learning form past mistake seem so real to me.

                                So i wanted to ask does make my ability average also have such great alive character as its also by funa. I know best answer is to try myself but then also just wanted to ask.

                                Jon MitchellJ RaitoiroR piisfunP 3 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • Jon MitchellJ
                                  Jon Mitchell Premium Member @Bromit
                                  last edited by

                                  @Bromit said in General Recommendation Thread (Not Series License Requests):

                                  I dont know where to ask so asking hear

                                  I enjoyed potion loli vol 3 and 4 very much. Biggest point for me was mc seem so alive as all her choice, her reasoning, learning form past mistake seem so real to me.

                                  So i wanted to ask does make my ability average also have such great alive character as its also by funa. I know best answer is to try myself but then also just wanted to ask.

                                  I believe so (in my opinion). The MC's in both have much in common and similar personalities

                                  I read banned books

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • RaitoiroR
                                    Raitoiro Premium Member @Bromit
                                    last edited by

                                    @Bromit All 3 of FUMA's Work (Potionn Loli, 80000 gold, and Ability average) are really similar, the MC especially so.

                                    Do you like death, war and misery ?
                                    Do you like badass op loli who let nobody got in their way ?
                                    Do you like vengeance story?
                                    If so then then vote for The girl who ate a death god

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • B
                                      Bromit
                                      last edited by

                                      @Raitoiro agree, i read manga of 80k gold alongside potion loli. It feel like i am reading same manga with slightly different power of mc, as almost same plot was going. But sadly there is only 1vol out of 80k gold in English that too 15month ago (vol 2 when sol press? Well thats a discussion for sol press thread)

                                      Was just wondering if average ability was similar because its settings seems different. Thx for response, will read vol 1 soon now.

                                      H RaitoiroR 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • H
                                        HarmlessDave Premium Member @Bromit
                                        last edited by HarmlessDave

                                        @Bromit Abilities Average is my favorite of the three, because of the great characters (not just the MC) and because it has more amusing and outright funny moments that match my sense of humor.

                                        You should give Seriously Seeking Sister a try while it's on catch-up until Sunday night. It has a FUNA feel to me.

                                        Another one with a good female MC is I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years, though it's more about warm slice of life and lacks FUNA's snark and silliness.

                                        For extra silliness, try Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear, it's bear-riffic.

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • RaitoiroR
                                          Raitoiro Premium Member @Bromit
                                          last edited by Raitoiro

                                          @Bromit Ability average is the one I read the most out of the 3 and yeah it's really similar to the other. The cast and the world may be different but it's kind of the same story with similar characters doing kind of similar thing.

                                          It's not a bad series but it's not a good one either, it's funny and light hearted like you would expect from FUMA but it loses its drive in later volumes and become kinda boring and repetitive (around vol 4 or 5 IRC).

                                          IMO a better version of that kind of story is "Reincarnated as a sword", the start of vol1 isn't that good but once the true main character (Fran) appears the story become really entertaining.

                                          Do you like death, war and misery ?
                                          Do you like badass op loli who let nobody got in their way ?
                                          Do you like vengeance story?
                                          If so then then vote for The girl who ate a death god

                                          H 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                          • H
                                            HarmlessDave Premium Member @Raitoiro
                                            last edited by

                                            @Raitoiro said in General Recommendation Thread (Not Series License Requests):

                                            IMO a better version of that kind of story is "Reincarnated as a sword", the start of vol1 isn't that good but once the true main character (Fran) appears the story become really entertaining.

                                            That's a good series, especially if you want something a little more serious than FUNA while still being mostly lighthearted instead of grimdark.

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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