The Winter 2026 Light Novel Guide

Welcome to Anime News Network's Winter 2026 Light Novel Guide, the companion to our manga guide! Every included novel was published in December or January or is an upcoming February release. This guide focuses exclusively on series premieres, i.e., only the first volume–we're not reviewing the whole thing or the digital chapters beyond volume one.

If you've read ahead, please try not to spoil things for people in the forums. All reviews use the same rating scale: 1-5, with one being the lowest.

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DECEMBER

Betrothed to My Sister's Ex Rebecca Silverman	Breaking Up Was the Plan, the Duke Falling For the Villainess Was Not! Lauren Orsini, Rebecca Silverman	If the Heroine Wants My Fiancé, I'll Marry a Yandere Villain Instead! Rebecca Silverman, Lauren Orsini
Buying You on the Day You Were to Die Rebecca Silverman	I Got Married to the Girl I Hate Most in Class Erica Friedman	Divine Incursions Rebecca Silverman, Erica Friedman
The Azure Dragon's Devotion: An Offering of Three Centuries to You Rebecca Silverman	A Wicked Husband Rebecca Silverman

January

Chronicles of an Aristocrat Reborn in Another World Erica Friedman	Disney Twisted-Wonderland: Usurper from the Wilds: The Novel Rebecca Silverman, Lauren Orsini	About a Place in the Kinki Region Erica Friedman, Rebecca Silverman
Semantic Error Rebecca Silverman	So Dearly Reckless Rebecca Silverman	Reforming an Icy Final Boss: Getting Back at the Self-Proclaimed Villainess with the Power of Friendship Rebecca Silverman
Scooped Up by an S-Rank Adventurer! This White Mage Is One Heck of a Healer Erica Friedman	Even Exiled, She's Still the Beloved Saint! Rebecca Silverman, Erica Friedman	Sowing Vengeance: The Eldest Son's Disgraceful Green Thumb Erica Friedman, Lauren Orsini

February

A Good Day Starts with Cats and Books Rebecca Silverman, Erica Friedman	The Tale of a Little Alchemist's Blessed Life Erica Friedman	Magical Buffs: The Support Caster is Stronger Than He Realized! Erica Friedman
Thou, as My Knight Rebecca Silverman	The Petty Villain Plays by the Rules: Rewriting This Otome Game with Honest Work! Erica Friedman