Asking for recommendations
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Hi y'all. I'm currently looking for recommendations for a second series to read beside Ascendance of a Bookworm.
I like how Ascendace paces it's progress where pretty much walking feels like an achivement (and Myne has still problems with her physical dissabilities even in current volumes) and Miya Kazuki slowly raises the stakes at somewhat steady pace.
I have tried Her Majesty's Swarm, but I'm that much into powerfantasies as the first part felt like. I also wish it would've doubled down on the evil theme instead of justifying the swarms action
I have seen a recommendation for Grimgar, which is supposed to be harder on protag, what is it like? -
@Maxmilián-Kocourek-jfnhws8-0 well it's hard to recommend without having some more details about what particularly you're looking for (subgenre? Tone? Other story elements?) But my two standard recommendations for those who like Bookworm are Tearmoon Empire and Dahlia in Bloom
Tearmoon Empire is a great and well-crafted comedy of misunderstandings and failing upwards; and it is one of the few series on JNC that is on Kazuki-sensei's level of writing.
Dahlia in Bloom shares some similar vibes to Bookworm and has a similar sedate-but-steady pace.
Given your thoughts on Her Majesty's Swarm you may want to check out Yen Press's catalog; I have not read either of them but I've heard that Overlord and The Saga of Tanya the Evil are among the best light novels with an "evil" protagonist.
Let me know if there is anything else you are looking for in a book recommendation and if you enjoy any of the ones mentioned above
I'm always happy to help provide further recommendations 😊You might also want to check out the General Reading Recommendations Thread
“There’s always a story. It’s all stories, really. The sun coming up every day is a story. Everything’s got a story in it. Change the story, change the world.” ― Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky
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@Lily-Garden said in Asking for recommendations:
Dahlia in Bloom shares some similar vibes to Bookworm and has a similar sedate-but-steady pace.
Which also has its own spinoff available on JNC, Lucia and the Loom, that doesn't require knowledge of the main series, but obviously deepens the world building if you're reading both.
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JNC’s Rebuild World is the closest match to Ascendence of a Bookworm’s pacing in the terms you used to describe it, that I can think of from the series I’m familiar with. It’s not an isekai and it’s sci-fi instead of fantasy. But if that’s still within the scope of the kind of story you are hoping to find…
The protagonist isn’t as physically challenged as Myne. But he’s a homeless illiterate teenager living on the street in the slums - with all the challenges that implies - when the story opens. And while his circumstances have improved somewhat over the volumes we’ve had so far, he’s still struggling financially and socially, residing in the poorest neighborhoods of the city and living inconsistent paycheck to paycheck.
His story has been a generally upward trend, but not without various setbacks, including a few harsh ones. The story has also slowly but consistently expanded the scope of the setting and the variety of the cast of characters, even as all the direct events of the narrative remain tied to a single city-state and its environs.
It doesn’t have nearly as many volumes in english as AoB does at the moment, and am not sure how lengthy the series is overall. So it wouldn’t be all that difficult to get caught up with the latest release, for better or worse.
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@Maxmilián-Kocourek-jfnhws8-0
I second Tearmoon Empire and Rebuild World. My nicknames for them are Guillotine Girl and An AI And Her Boy.
Holmes of Kyoto has a different pacing than many light novels. There are short stories of non-murder mysteries, amidst local lore of Kyoto. The main characters get to know each other slowly over time.
What reminds me most of Bookworm are the Vorkosigan series of novels by Lois McMaster Bujold. Disabled protagonist, memorable characters, and intricate worldbuilding. There are sample chapters on the publisher Baen's website. They are not light novels, but they are some of my favourite books.
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@Maxmilián-Kocourek-jfnhws8-0 said in Asking for recommendations:
Hi y'all. I'm currently looking for recommendations for a second series to read beside Ascendance of a Bookworm.
I like how Ascendace paces it's progress where pretty much walking feels like an achivement (and Myne has still problems with her physical dissabilities even in current volumes) and Miya Kazuki slowly raises the stakes at somewhat steady pace.Too many stories that start with a low-powered character often jump from zero to hero, with them suddenly being OP and not really having to try for anything and/or start off strong but then seem to run out of good ideas after a few volumes and then seem to just meander. As such, I really appreciate how Ascendance tells its stories.
In terms of the feeling of achievement and tales of discovery with a good balance of sweet and sour I haven't found any light novel on par with Bookworm. In terms of western literature, while quite different I do think the works of Brandon Sanderson is perhaps the closest I've gotten (Mistborn, Stormlight Archive, and etc.).
In terms of J-Novel Clubs LNs: The Economics of Prophecy started off strong but got cancelled. Fushi no Kami has it moments and does feature quite a bit of invention, but doesn't have a proper ending. Altina the Sword Princess is quite fun and does keep raising the stakes, and is ongoing (with another volume apparently on its way, just taking a while). I can see why people recommend Tearmoon Empire - it has a young female protagonist working hard to shape the world to go her way and is one of the more comedic series on JNC.
Not quite the same, but in terms of non-JNC LNs I do quite like Spice and Wolf. It has a fun dynamic between the main characters, fun world building, and the protagonist keeps building connections and knowledge to make progress.
In terms of anime, one series that come to mind is Erin (Kemono no Souja Erin - Beast Player Erin), which follows a girl over many years in her non-isekai fantasy journey. She isn't some super OP girl, but she is earnest and works hard and makes progress and discoveries and it's a lovely story. The anime is based on a YA novel series (rather than light novel) by Nahoko Uehashi which was now which has been translated into an English in two omnibus releases under the titles The Beast Player (volumes 1-2) and The Beast Warrior (volumes 3-4). The reviews for the novel are very positive, so I might check it out some day. There was also a manga adaptation, but I don't think it has had a licensed English release yet.
I have seen a recommendation for Grimgar, which is supposed to be harder on protag, what is it like?
I loved the start of Grimgar but it ended up getting a bit too weird and dreary so I gave up on it after Volume 10, but some say it did improve after the point where I dropped it. I'd say the period covered by the anime is probably the best stuff - it's worth checking out the series or just watching the well made anime, but it's only Bookworm connection is how the main gang have to really slog it due to starting out at the bottom of the food chain with low levels in a tough world. They improve primarily through training rather than invention or discovery, and it doesn't just skip to them being OP so yeah it has that going for it.
Stay shiny, y'all.
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@Lily-Garden
Thank you for your recommendations, I'll check out Tearmoon Empire and keep Dahlia in mind.
As for non JNC books: I have Overlord on my list but will get into it after some time as I'm tired of the OP protags atm and it takes a while untill overlord gets fair challenge. Tanya setting is a simple no from me.You might also want to check out the General Reading Recommendations Thread
I haven't a clue how I missed the main forum, I must've missclicked here on the subforum :P
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@Shiny
Thank you ever so much for your recommendationsIn terms of J-Novel Clubs LNs: The Economics of Prophecy started off strong but got cancelled. Fushi no Kami has it moments and does feature quite a bit of invention, but doesn't have a proper ending.
Kinda sad they don't have proper endings, I will bookmark them and keep them in mind for the future
Altina the Sword Princess is quite fun and does keep raising the stakes, and is ongoing (with another volume apparently on its way, just taking a while). I can see why people recommend Tearmoon Empire - it has a young female protagonist working hard to shape the world to go her way and is one of the more comedic series on JNC.
Tearmoon is recommended a lot, it'll be the first one I try but i will follow Altina as well.
Not quite the same, but in terms of non-JNC LNs I do quite like Spice and Wolf. It has a fun dynamic between the main characters, fun world building, and the protagonist keeps building connections and knowledge to make progress.
I have heard a bunch of recommendations for Spice and wolf, but the fandom, or at least the part I see on the internet, scares me. Ppl are super horny for Holo(is that her name?)
I loved the start of Grimgar but it ended up getting a bit too weird and dreary so I gave up on it after Volume 10, but some say it did improve after the point where I dropped it. I'd say the period covered by the anime is probably the best stuff - it's worth checking out the series or just watching the well made anime, but it's only Bookworm connection is how the main gang have to really slog it due to starting out at the bottom of the food chain with low levels in a tough world. They improve primarily through training rather than invention or discovery, and it doesn't just skip to them being OP so yeah it has that going for it.
I might check it out if it doesn't go full grimdark around the 10th Vol
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@Aedwin27 said in Asking for recommendations:
Kinda sad they don't have proper endings, I will bookmark them and keep them in mind for the future
Fushi No Kami has the author's intended ending, it's just...not great. So I think it's worth a read if you like the looks of the synopsis, I definitely enjoyed the journey with that series.
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@Aedwin27 I will second the recommendations of Fushi no Kami and Altina
Both are among some of my favorite series on JNCAltina is great if you like strategic battles & tactics and political intrigue
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@Aedwin27 I might recommend To Another World with Land Mines. It’s a slower paced fantasy much like bookworm (actually it’s even slower paced than Bookworm). The best thing is this series is on catchup for the month of June, so you can read the entire series this month.
