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You Were Experienced, I Was Not: Our Dating Story, Vol. 1

By Makiko Nagaoka and magako. Released in Japan as “Keiken Zumi na Kimi to, Keiken Zero na Ore ga, Otsukiai Suru Hanashi” by Fujimi Fantasia Bunko. Released in North America by J-Novel Club. Translated by Adam. Other folks have said this besides me, but I will join in: the least interesting part of this series so far is the relationship between the two leads. He’s a nice guy. She’s a sweet girl. They’re really cute together. Which is fine, but you can read more interesting versions of that in 8-10 other stories from J-Novel Club or Yen On. Where it holds up better is the “gimmick”, so to speak, where it tries to walk a fine line between telling a teenage girl she doesn’t have to have sex to be…

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The Saint’s Magic Power Is Omnipotent, Vol. 9

By Yuka Tachibana and Yasuyuki Syuri. Released in Japan as “Seijo no Maryoku wa Bannou desu” by Kadokawa Books. Released in North America by Airship. Translated by Julie Goniwich. Adapted by E.M. Candon. This ninth volume in the series comes out just in time, as the second season of the anime is currently airing and looks like it will adapt till the end of Book 8. So if you want to continue onward, you can pick right up where it leaves off. Of course, I will warn you in advance that you’re only getting 3/4 of a book. The manga version of this title runs in Flos Comic, but it would fit right at home in LaLa, because, like many LaLa manga, it’s packed with filler to pad out the…

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Taking My Reincarnation One Step at a Time: No One Told Me There Would Be Monsters!, Vol. 3

By KAYA and Naru. Released in Japan as “Tensei Shōjo wa Mazu Ippo kara Hajimetai: Mamono ga Iru toka Kiitenai!” by MF Books. Released in North America by J-Novel Club. Translated by Amy Osteraas. It can sometimes be difficult, when a series is told entirely from one person’s point of view, to remind ourselves that they may not necessarily be the best narrator for the job. Sara tells the entire story in these books, and for the most part that’s fine, but there is a good deal of snark, apathy and general grouchiness to her entire character that makes the narration fun but also reminds us that everyone else doesn’t necessarily adore her. That said, the people she’s grouchiest to (Ted, the knights) generally deserve it. As the series goes…

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A Young Lady Finds Her True Calling Living with the Enemy, Vol. 1

By Syuu and Fujigasaki. Released in Japan as “Oguni no Kōshaku Reijō wa Tekikoku nite Kakusei Suru” by PASH! Books. Released in North America by Cross Infinite World. Translated by Kashi Kamitoma. As we have advanced into the 21st century, we have thankfully moved on from one of the more egregious fan terms (and one I used myself back when I was younger), the “Mary Sue”. Originally used as an example of a character created by a writer purely to be the “perfect” love interest for her favorite character, it then morphed into, supposedly, any woman who lacked flaws and was seen as too perfect. Which, naturally, meant any woman protagonist, if you’re a guy reading it. Meanwhile, male protagonists who kill all the monster, gets all the babes, and…

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How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom, Vol. 18

By Dojyomaru and Fuyuyuki. Released in Japan as “Genjitsu Shugi Yuusha no Oukoku Saikenki” by Overlap Bunko. Released in North America by J-Novel Club. Translated by Sean McCann. The Realist Hero books have struggled since the start with having to deal with two types of audiences. The first one has been well-served by all of the Machiavelli stuff, the political worldbuilding and military strategy, and they’re really looking forward to the upcoming major war against Fuuga Haan. And then there’s the regular old light novel audience, who are delighted with Souma having eight wives and seemingly everyone in the entire cast of well over 200 people all having weddings. It can be hard to reconcile the first and second groups, especially since the second group does not really want the…

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Manga the Week of 12/13/23

SEAN: It’s a bit early, but this is Yen Press week, because of the holidays. That said, they’re at the end this time around. Two print books from Airship: Disciple of the Lich: Or How I Was Cursed by the Gods and Dropped Into the Abyss! 6 and Free Life Fantasy Online: Immortal Princess 5. And for early digital we see The Haunted Bookstore – Gateway to a Parallel Universe 7 (the final volume) and She Professed Herself Pupil of the Wise Man 9. ASH: At the very least, I still love the basic concept of The Haunted Bookstore. SEAN: Ghost Ship has Peter Grill and the Philosopher’s Time 11 and World’s End Harem 16 – After World. J-Novel Club has some print titles. We get Infinite Dendrogram 19 and…

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Private Tutor to the Duke’s Daughter: The Millennial Capital

By Riku Nanano and cura. Released in Japan as “Koujo Denka no Kateikyoushi” by Fujimi Fantasia Bunko. Released in North America by J-Novel Club. Translated by William Varteresian. Imagine a horse race, with a lot of impressive participants. The race starts, everyone is going flat out… except one horse who just stands there, staring, and perhaps snorting with amusement. What’s going on? Is she just going to let the other horses win? Then, when everyone else is about 3/4 of the way into the race, the remaining horse starts to run. She ends up winning by 10 furlongs. That’s sort of how this book feels for those who are wondering who Allen will end up with in this series. It’s Lydia’s world and we just live in it. There are…

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Agents of the Four Seasons, Vol. 1

By Kana Akatsuki and Suoh. Released in Japan as “Shunka Shūtō Daikōsha” by Dengeki Bunko. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Sergio Avila. This one took me completely by surprise. For one thing, I’ve never seen Violet Evergarden, the other series this author is noted for, which I know has a large cult fanbase. But even then, the cover art and plot description were sort of obfuscating things. I was expecting a soft little romance, with star-crossed lovers reuniting after ten long years and lots of crying and apologies. Actually, technically, I got all that except for the “soft” part, but that also does not describe the book at all. This is a dark and brutal story about recovering from severe trauma after years of torture, the…

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Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss but I’m Not the Demon Lord, Vol. 3

By Satori Tanabata and Tea. Released in Japan as “Akuyaku Reijō Level 99: Watashi wa Ura Boss Desu ga Maō dewa Arimasen” by Kadokawa Books. Released in North America by J-Novel Club. Translated by Satori Tanabata. I’ve said this before, but I will say it here again: these books are just too long. Normally I don’t carp too much about the length of a book, but it’s relevant in this vase because Villainess Level 99 is a comedy. The bulk of the humor comes from Yumiella being ridiculous, and everyone’s reaction to this. And she’s very funny here, but the trouble is, about 50-60% into the book, you just flag a bit, and want it to be over faster. Luckily, by around 80% or so complete, the actual serious plot…

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