Forum - View topicThe Spring 2024 Light Novel Guide
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invalidname
 Contributor Posts: 2487 Location: Grand Rapids, MI |
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Yikes. A lot of 2.5-star mediocrities out there for day 1 of the guide, but The God of Nishi-Yuigahama Station sounds interesting at least.
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Blanchimont
 Posts: 3586 Location: Finland |
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I'm actually enjoying Dungeon Diver. Usually I just wait for the compiled volumes, but I've found myself reading the parts for this when they drop on Saturdays on the J-novel site, like today.
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Andrew Cunningham
 Posts: 527 Location: Seattle |
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I thought Brunhild was hands down one of the best light novels I'd read in years.
The content alone does make it 'not for everyone', so in no way am I begrudging Rebecca her opinion, but it sure would have been nice to see some contrasting opinions on it. Last edited by Andrew Cunningham on Sat Apr 27, 2024 11:17 am; edited 1 time in total |
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FireChick
 Subscriber Posts: 2499 Location: United States |
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I read You Can't See The Snow recently, and I'll admit, I didn't like it. Partly because Yuki's sister is way too hostile for her own good and partly because it just felt emotionally manipulative to me for some reason. Also, the main guy finds out the girl's address in a way that would very much be considered a crime.
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Princess_Irene
ANN Associate Editor
 Posts: 2659 Location: The castle beyond the Goblin City |
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I agree with you - and I'm glad that you said that you liked it, because this really was one where I would have liked to know what other people thought. I worried that I got stuck on the very mixed mythologies. But I'm just grateful that it wasn't only me covering the light novels this time! |
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Saeryen
 Posts: 1010 |
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I was interested in The Otome Heroine’s Fight for Survival. Is there anyone besides the reviewers who has read it? I want to know if it’s worth checking out despite the negative reviews.
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Blanchimont
Posts: 3586 Location: Finland |
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It's quite popular, at least going by the forum posts on j-novel and the ratings/posts for the manga adaptation on various sites. I myself have this on my reading list, but there's so much else that I haven't had time to read it yet, but at least the manga has been an enjoyable read so far. |
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Eilavel
Posts: 136 |
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Light novels must be a tricky spot to do a preview guide for; an even greater oversupply of isekai/rpg fantasy, and most series become monstrously long if succesful, or get suddenly cancelled if they're not. Nobody needs a review of Ascendance of a Bookworm volume 30; you are in or out at this point.
For exactly those reasons Amalgam Hound sounds interesting, in that I expect it can essentially be enjoyed episodically as mystery novels without requiring that sort of commitment to a many many volume plot arc. Will probably pick up. The Dungeon Diver review is my favorite from any preview guide so far. |
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Princess_Irene
ANN Associate Editor
Posts: 2659 Location: The castle beyond the Goblin City |
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I would read a sample first, which I think you can do on J-Novel Club's site. It's much more of a shounen than a shoujo feel, if that helps. |
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Saeryen
Posts: 1010 |
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Thanks! |
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FireChick
Subscriber Posts: 2499 Location: United States |
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Once Upon a Witch's Death is a comedy? The summary made it seem like it'd be a Natsume's Book of Friends-style drama.
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RenimLS
Posts: 136 Location: North America |
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I've read the fan translation of the LN, though planning on reading the official translation when I have the opportunity (already purchased volume 1). It's been a fun series for me, but I'm probably also more tolerant of some of the issues the reviewers had. The fan translations used Aria for the protagonist's name, which is not as awkward sounding as Alia, but I'm guessing they went with that because Aria is more obviously a girl's name spoiler[she was confused for a boy initially in the story after she strikes out on her own]. The story has done some things that I've liked. The protagonist frequently uses deception and planning to weaken or put into bad positions her opponents, especially since major fights are usually opponents stronger than herself. Alia as a character also generally creates a rather large wake in her path, which means that as the story progresses the number of her allies and the number of her enemies is consistently growing. Combined with the fact the story doesn't necessarily use or completely use up it's hand of opponents lets issues, that in some cases the reader is aware of but not the protagonist, grow and become more of a problem down the road. The story has also allowed the various antagonist factions to interact and influence each, especially as their goals and motivations tend to all vary considerable, but they sometimes find common ground in specific objectives. The only main constant tends to be that Alia is someone they want dead, whether it's because she's in their way or simply as revenge. Here is an example how some of the antagonist factions may interact. I'll try and be as nonspecific as possible, but will still be spoilers. spoiler[At one point of the story an outside force from the Kingdom infiltrated it and targets the Princess. This outside force was given shelter by another antagonist faction because they want to remove the Princess. A third faction though was also involved and was responsible for inviting the outsiders and leading them to the second faction, knowing those two factions had goals that would align and so would aid each other. The third faction's objective was to remove Alia, acting as the Princess' bodyguard. ]
I've only read the fan translation of I think the webnovel, but I don't think the job specifically combined it beyond the basics. The primary role for alchemists was healer and crafter, and the most important skills were possessing magic and magic control. Combat was not essential for the job, but as alchemists might have to go out into the field to harvest ingredients, they did receive combat training for self-defense. Sarasa though being an orphan also took extra emphasis learning sword combat because she could earn additional money beyond the stipend given to her by the government by performing well in assessments, and her Alchemist mentor was highly proficient in combat so also drilled combat training into her. Offensive magic also wasn't necessary, as it required possessing strong magic power. Sarasa possesses both strong magic and control, so she could have either been a mage or an alchemist, but alchemists have a higher earning potential and Sarasa wanted a store as her parents had been merchants. Crafting also was necessary, but their training was for basic crafting and alchemists would just as readily be dependent on apprentices or normal crafters like blacksmiths or carpenters for producing parts, especially if the item was to be decorative. As for the healer aspect, the most important job of alchemists was creating potions for treating wounds and illness as they commonly were the only healer in rural communities. This of course required knowledge to be able to prescribe the right potion for the job, especially as the more amazing the potion was at healing the more expensive it'd be to produce and buy. Part of the reason that only the most hardworking, talented, and determined people become alchemists is also the process to become an alchemist in their country. Their kingdom heavily regulates the profession and all certified alchemists have to be graduates from the only alchemist school that exists in the capital. The rewards of being an alchemist are pretty high with a good amount of government support and pretty guaranteed to have a decent earning potential for the rest of your life. The risks though are also very high and the responsibility alchemists can have in a community is also very high, so the requirements the government puts on them is very heavy more so because they're helping to cover their costs in school. Alchemy ingredients can be extremely expensive, so the cost of the school's operations aren't cheap. Sarasa's opinions though also have to be taken with a grain of salt, because she doesn't really realize just how exceptional she is spoiler[which is why when she reveals who her mentor is, everyone is like "oh that make senses then on why you're so amazing."] |
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TarsTarkas
 Posts: 5958 Location: Virginia, United States |
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The Otome Heroine's Fight for Survival
I found this light novel to be one of the best gems out there this year. Interesting story and characters that keep me reading weekly chapters as soon as they come out on J-Novel. The Banished Former Hero Lives as He Pleases I agree with Rebecca on this one. it is just fine. But it hasn't grabbed me, like some of the others. The Water Magician I like this one, even if it is an overpowered fantasy. A Livid Lady's Guide to Getting Even This is a favorite of mine, I love good revenge stories. And I understand dark revenge and vengeance filled stories are not everyone's cup of tea. But I think the issue with our livid lady herself, is that the reasons for revenge were personified to select individuals on the Haldoria side. Haldoria forced a vassal state of theirs to invade the empire, all to give their prince some achievements. Uncounted atrocities were committed by the invading side inside the empire. I see this as nothing more than payback. War is hell, and our livid lady made sure that Haldoria felt the pain. Which brings us to real life, the war in Ukraine will end sometime, but does anybody really believe that Russia will pay for this at the end. I certainly don't. Russia will get off practically scot-free. Sanctions obviously haven't worked at all. And this is the way I see Haldoria. The prince didn't pay for his escapades in the Empire, and Haldoria didn't pay for all the pain and suffering they purposefully caused. So I see the livid lady's actions as bringing home the war to roost in Haldoria. Zilbagias the Demon Prince I find this one interesting, and yes it is dark. But would a sanitized hell on earth be interesting to read? I'm a Noble on the Brink of Ruin I am reading this one, but for me, of the ones I read, this is the most overpowered fantasy of them all. So I don't know if it will keep my interest. Thanks for the reviews of the Guillotine Bride and Brunhild the Dragonslayer. |
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Lily Garden
 Posts: 73 |
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I will say that as someone who normally doesn't like grittier fiction, I found The Otome Heroine's Fight for Survival to be a well-crafted story with a compelling protagonist. Plus I love the art.
Similarly, I initially checked out Zilbagias the Demon Prince because it shares the same illustrator as So I'm a Spider, So What? and though it is a bit darker than I'm normally comfortable with, I found the protagonist and his journey so compelling that I had to continue reading |
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Cloudywind
Posts: 55 |
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Somebody seems to have deleted my last post so perhaps I shall rephrase.
I hope that the reviewer isn't implying that the practice of slavery, abhorrent and evil as it is, I'm and of itself makes one group inherently less of a people than another. I think that would miss the point entirely, when we learn in that very volume that even something as terrible as the night elves' fanatical hatred towards and love of torturing the forest elves is a learned behavior taught to their children, not a natural characteristic making them not "another race". |
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