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J-Novel Club Reveals New Manga, Light Novel Licenses; 3 Print Releases; Upcoming Audiobooks
posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
J-Novel Club revealed licenses for 11 light novel series and two manga series at its panel at New York Comic Con on Saturday. In addition, the company announced licenses for three works in print, and two audiobook licenses.
J-Novel Club will release the following novels in print, which are winners of the 2024 "JNC Original Light Novel Contest":
- Author Hunter and illustrator LLO's The Adorable Dungeon Master novel series, the BOOK☆WALKER Prize Winner. Print release coming in April 2026.
- Author Cathfach and illustrator Kurodeko's An Unruly Summon, a First Prize Winner. Print release coming in April 2026.
- Author John Rohman and illustrator ttl's ATLAS: Her, the Combatant, and Him, the Hero, the Grand Prize Winner. Print release coming in April 2026.
J-Novel Club's audiobook licenses include:
- Ren Eguchi's Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill, narrated by Jason Vu. J-Novel Club and Dreamscape will release volume 1 on October 14.
- Ryuyu's Now I'm a Demon Lord! Happily Ever After with Monster Girls in My Dungeon, narrated by David Lee Huynh. J-Novel Club and Dreamscape will release volume 1 on November 4.
J-Novel Club's new novel and manga licenses include:
Author(s): Harunadon with illustrations by Kurodeko
Release: Volume 1 Part 1 available now (A J-Novel Heart title)
Summary: She lost her fiancé, her sister, and her position as saint in one breath. Is nothing sacred anymore?!
Evelyn has spent most of her life dutifully performing her role as the saint and keeping the country safe with prayers and healing magic. But everything comes crashing down when her ex-fiancé, the crown prince, exiles her and names her incompetent sister as the new saint. With no money and no practical skills to speak of, she has her work cut out for her if she wants to find her place in the world.
Things start to look up after a mysterious young boy offers to help her make a living.
Her experience with healing nets her a quick paycheck, and the people aren't shy
about sharing their devotion for her—she even gets proposed to! As discontent
spreads over the prince's folly and adoring fans flock to her side, Evelyn must
navigate political intrigue, her newly realized fame, and unexpected romance in the
air. Is there any problem that the greatest heroes of their age can't solve?
Author(s): Shiki Narito with illustrations by Yamimaru Enjin
Release: Volume 1, Part 1 out now (a J-Novel Knight title)
Summary: “I'd like to buy your time—for two hundred thousand yen a month.”
For Sakata, the winter of his junior year brings nothing but loss.
His mother is dead, his useless father is gone, and each day
nearly costs him everything he has left. Then a young man
named Nishikawa approaches him with an offer—and generous
pay that could give his mother a proper funeral. However, the
deal comes with several bizarre conditions that Sakata must
meet: go to school every day, get into the same university as
Nishikawa, and lastly, act like his friend until the end of their
contract. As their bond deepens, the two boys starved for love
must face the question neither dared to ask: Can a friendship built entirely on money
turn into something real?
Author(s): Tenma Asahi with illustrations by Tsutsuji Takahashi
Release: Volume 1, Part 1 out now (a J-Novel Knight title)
Summary: Louis spent his childhood doing whatever he could to get by in the little village he calls home. He must leave the orphanage now that he's come of age, and there's one thing he wants above all else: freedom from poverty. His best shot at making a stable life for himself lies in graduating from Arneval Academy. If only the tuition weren't so expensive.
In need of work, Louis registers with the Adventurer's Guild where he meets Bolt, a seasoned adventurer who insists they form a party together and even helps Louis save up for his school fees. But life at the academy still comes at a price, and Louis finds staying in the party with Bolt might not be so bad, especially as feelings begin to bloom with every new adventure.
However, all is not as it seems. Bolt may not be who he claims, and the mysteries of
Louis's own past might very well upend everything he thought he knew about
himself. Will the truth break their bond, or will it draw them closer than ever?
Author(s): Haru Sakura with illustrations by Ciel
Release: Volume 1, Part 1 out now (a J-Novel Knight title)
Summary: Kohaku, outcast of the White Tiger Clan, once shared an unbreakable bond with Seiryu, chieftain of the Dragon Clan and lord of the beastfolk. As children, Seiryu was the only one who made Kohaku feel like he belonged. But the centuries have driven them apart—Seiryu now hides behind the facade of a constant smile, and Kohaku can no longer trust his heart to the whims of another. On the rare occasions that the two met, Seiryu would casually propose marriage, only for Kohaku to refuse, unwilling to believe in his cavalier promises.
However, things change when Kohaku finds himself next in
Seiryu's long line of matchmaking partners. Despite everything,
nothing could have prepared Kohaku for the secret Seiryu has been hiding for all
these years. As the truth begins to unravel, can Kohaku finally understand his old
friend's feelings? Or have time and trauma already doomed their chance at
happiness?
Author(s): Sora Suigetsu with illustrations by DeeCHA
Release: Volume 1, Part 1 out now
Summary: Lloyd is a member of the most illustrious Hero's party—wait, what do you mean “not anymore”?!
Kicked out for being too weak, no one seems to realize that
Lloyd is actually an absurdly powerful white mage trained by
Lady Merlin herself! Manipulating magic is practically second
nature to him, regularly leaving even S-rank adventurers
stunned speechless. Not that Lloyd has any idea just how
strong he really is.
Luck is finally on his side when a seasoned adventurer
recognizes his worth and scoops him right up into her party.
But their first quest to hunt a pack of high wolves quickly takes an unexpected turn
when the city comes under attack. Now Lloyd must navigate new social dynamics
and a quest far more dangerous than it first appeared—and maybe, just maybe,
prove his worth along the way.
Author(s): Hitsugi Kurokawa with illustrations by Kuki Kushiro
Release: Volume 1, Part 1 out now
Summary: A dream of death was the wake-up call he needed. Lofus Ray Lightless is far from a paragon of virtue. In fact, he revels in his villainy. But a vivid dream of the many ways he's fated to die convinces him that he must change his ways—or at least pretend like he will.
With his trusty butler at his side, Lofus sets forth to turn the tides of fate in his favor so that he can enjoy a long and selfish life. But the future isn't quite what he's seen, and he might have bitten off far more than he can chew...
Author(s): Okamoto Takeya with illustrations by Sumihei
Release: Volume 1, Part 1 out now
Summary: Disowned, disgraced, and doomed to be a farmer. Being “blessed” with a farmer affinity is practically a death sentence for Chris Sparring. It's nothing close to the sword-wielding class he'd been raised to inherit, that's for sure. To make matters worse, his twin brother receives the affinity of a sword god instead, and wastes no time funneling years of jealousy into an attempt on Chris's life.
With nothing left to lose, Chris must find a way to make it on his
own and avenge his name. And this “useless” poison resistance
of his may be just what he needs to turn the tables!
Author(s): Rei Yayoi with illustrations by Kyōzip
Release: Volume 1, Part 1 out on October 22
Summary: Arrogant, charismatic, and untouchable—what more could you possibly ask for from a villain? Zil was the epitome of a final boss, reigning supreme throughout part one of the anime Ragnarök: Twilight of the Gods. However, in a cruel yet hackneyed twist, he was reduced to fodder and insta-killed to make way for the next big baddie's grand entrance.
It's far from the type of fictional character you'd want to randomly wake up as, but that's the sad reality our protagonist finds himself in after falling asleep in front of his TV. Not one to throw in the towel so easily, he swears to defy his fate even if it means facing the gods!
But breaking canon is easier said than done. First, he must build up his strength and
his forces while perfectly maintaining Zil's imposing facade and . Uh, hang on. Why is
everyone suddenly worshipping him as a god? Oh well, as long as it boosts his
chances of survival!
Author(s): Kei Yose with illustrations by Ruria Miyuki
Release: Volume 1, Part 1 out now
Summary: They tried to silence her, but she doesn't need a voice to twist the odds in her favor.
When Liliana wakes up in the body of an otome game villainess, she knows it's do or die. As the daughter of a duke and a candidate to marry the crown prince, she faces constant threats from assassins and her father's political enemies. Worse still, a fever has left her mute, unable to call for help or use magic to defend herself.
Or so they all think!
One quick attempt is all it takes for Liliana to shatter the
common sense of her world, which dictates that incantations are mandatory for
spellcasting. Now, all she needs to do is escape the grim destiny that awaits her.
Though her foresight can only take her so far—the game doesn't start for another
seven years—nothing can stop a six-year-old armed with erudition and cheat-level
magic.
Author(s): Takamedou with illustrations by Nemusuke
Release: Volume 1, Part 1 out now (a J-Novel Heart title)
Summary: Known to some as the “final boss,” Milly is an ice queen with a noble background and little interest in others. That chapter in her life comes to a close when she is callously murdered by Angelina Grey—the self-proclaimed villainess convinced this world is an otome game—and awakens three years in the past with all her memories intact.
Determined to escape the humiliating fate that once claimed her life, Milly sets out to rewrite the future by gathering information, choosing allies, and reevaluating the world around her. Unfortunately, her rival won't stop until she gets her happy ending with Prince Gilbert, and she's willing to kill for it.
Poisoned teacups, political rivalries, and hidden reincarnators turn everyday life at
the academy into a battlefield. But for Milly, surviving this second chance means
more than revenge—it's about carving out a life where she can truly belong!
Author(s): MIZUNA with illustrations by RUKI
Release: Volume 1, Part 1 out now
Summary: The Valdias are a seemingly normal family of nobles that no one would expect to face a future full of death and condemnation—a fate which is about to be rewritten. After a mysterious accident, former salaryman and avid gamer Hajime Kanda wakes up as their eldest child, Reid, in the world of an otome game he once fully cleared. And he knows the terrible future that awaits them all.
Reid may have been a petty villain in the main story, but he's got exceptional stats that will help him grow into a total beast.
The hard part will be avoiding the conflict to come, and doing that means bringing
the family together again. He's just got to be sweet to his younger sister, get in his
father's good graces, and cure his mother's terminal illness, of course. Should be
simple enough, right? Well, Reid's determined to save his family from a dark fate, and
he's going to do it by playing by the rules!
Author(s): Pochi Edoya, original work by Abyss Enoshima
Release: Volume 1, Chapter 1 out now
Summary: On Namito Kominato's first day of high school, he fantasizes about making friends and walking home with a girl. Luckily, he's seated behind a gorgeous girl in class! She's tall, strong...constantly dripping with sweat...and...she wears a paper bag over her head?!
Meet Samidare Kamiyama, a kind but shy student with severe social anxiety. Though Kamiyama couldn't talk her way out of a wet paper bag (literally—it's hard to breathe under there), Namito gets her to open up. The pair become fast friends, and soon enough, the outgoing, uniform-obsessed class representative is joining in. Together, they decide to found the “Conversation Club” to help Kamiyama participate in high school life. The club needs four members to become official, and there just so happens to be the perfect addition: a student who can only talk to a cardboard cutout of a magical girl!
When given a welcoming space to be themselves, even social outcasts can flourish.
Let the first meeting of the Conversation Club commence!
Author(s): Momotips, original work by Iota Aiue
Release: Volume 1, Chapter 1 out now (a J-Novel Heart title)
Summary: Saved from a lonely life as a poor orphan, Lune was taken in by House Renard. Yet try as she might to repay them, she was always treated coldly and kept at a distance, especially by her older brother Liam. When faced with financial ruin, the Renards sold her off as a bride to the crown prince, only for a revolutionary army to seize control of the kingdom and condemn her family to death.
At the moment of her execution, Lune makes one final wish for
a chance to save them all. The Great Fox Spirit Reineke hears
her prayer, sending her back in time and granting her fox ears
that let her hear the voices of spirits. If she wants to change the future, Lune must
win over her adoptive family—including Liam, who suddenly seems to be...doting on
her?! With her spirit friends and Liam's affections, Lune sets out on a journey to avert
her family's unjust fate and find happiness at long last!
Source: Press release
Disclosure: Kadokawa World Entertainment (KWE), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation, is the majority owner of Anime News Network, LLC. Yen Press, BookWalker Global, and J-Novel Club are subsidiaries of KWE.
