What Light Novel are you reading right now?

[Abyssal Monkey]

2 hours ago, Rilarion said:

I just checked magika no kenshi on BT and I'm really suprised, the last time I checked only the first volume was translated . As for Xianxia I'm the type of guy who enjoys reading a novel he likes more than once, so doing the same thing with different settings actually appeals to me. By the way I forgot to mention that I also follow Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut as well.

This licencing and DMCA streak really kills my passion though. It's not like I'm against it. I know its actually a good thing especially in the long run, but I can't help it. I've started to learn japanese I expect this will solve my problems :D, though sadly I'm at the really early stages.

Yeah, I was the same, I use the BT app on android to make automatic backups of everything, and I bookmarked it like 8 months ago.  I checked like 2 months ago and BAM, 9 novels translated and I'm shocked.  I read the manga first so I kind of knew what to expect, except that manga is manga and tends to cut things, and the novel turned out pretty good.  

[FinalChaos]

Read till volume 5 of Hataraku Maou-sama.

Got pretty interested in it after watching the anime so I went to the source.
It is pretty good, enjoyed it a lot. And after reading the source I have to say that the adaption is a really good one being nearly as good as the source. 
I'd say that volume 4 was the best one. Also I didn't like what Chiho got in the 5th vol hopefully it's a one-time thing, getting that really breaks what her character is about.

        

[Rilarion]

On 31.01.2016 at 3:28 AM, Abyssal Monkey said:

That actually doesn't happen very often.  So far, the only two that got DMCA'd like that were Campione and Papa Kiki, both by the same publisher Shueisha.  If you are referring to the Kadokawa takedown, people have been throwing rumors around that Kadokawa is going to revive those series with Bookwalker International, which means we will see a translation if that happens.  Other than that, all the series' that were abandoned have been licensed.

I stay away from Xianxia because it is even more monotropic than shonen is.  It's like the Hallmark of storytelling: if you have read one, you've basically read them all.  They all tell the same exact story but with a different coat of paint, so they become incessantly more predictable as they progress.

Since you liked Campione!, I would point you to Leviathan of the Covenant which is also written by the same author, but I don't understand light novel publishing well, so I can't tell you it's chances of surviving either.  But Magika no Kenshi plays on similar principles as Campione!, but I suspect within 18 months it will probably get an anime and YP license too.

I've read Magika no Kenshi and Leviathan of the Covenant after you've recommended them to me, and I really enjoyed Magika, but Leviathan was a bit dissapointing (no, not because they weren't making out in every volume).

I'm not sure that Magika will get an adaptation, there are some scenes that are pretty much over the clothes hentai...

over the clothes hand job etc

. Story and the action part were pretty good and interesting though.

As for Leviathan It was like pokemon battles with dragons. Characters were uninteresting and out of character actions were too common. Well the author admitted that he was pretty much forced to write it...

[Abyssal Monkey]

50 minutes ago, Rilarion said:

I've read Magika no Kenshi and Leviathan of the Covenant after you've recommended them to me, and I really enjoyed Magika, but Leviathan was a bit dissapointing (no, not because they weren't making out in every volume).

I'm not sure that Magika will get an adaptation, there are some scenes that are pretty much over the clothes hentai...

Hidden Content

. Story and the action part were pretty good and interesting though.

As for Leviathan It was like pokemon battles with dragons. Characters were uninteresting and out of character actions were too common. Well the author admitted that he was pretty much forced to write it...

Later volumes include mutual masturbation while naked.  Its getting quite humorous actually. 

[Riku]

Well, DanMachi just got licenced in France. Seriously, after SAO and Log Horizon, they couldn't licence anything else? The only different thing is Spice & Wolf...

Anyway, LNs are coming in France, so it isn't that bad. The next title will be announced in april, I hope it will be something with a different theme.

 

[Rilarion]

On 10.02.2016 at 7:24 PM, Abyssal Monkey said:

Later volumes include mutual masturbation while naked.  Its getting quite humorous actually. 

All the existing volumes are already translated... I doubt it'll ever come to naked handjobs, I'm not very informed about the subject but I believe the authors have some age restrictions. Though the restrictions are similar to using mosaics in porn.. I mean describing over the clothes handjobs are way more erotic than telling you the chars had sex but without describing how they did it. They never have sex... If the characters in Magica reach max affection points without having sex I'll be seriously pissed...

[FinalChaos]

It's been a while.

I read The Lazy King a month back and it was great, like it's in my top 3 along with Overlord and Mushoku Tensei.
Definitely a must-read.

More recently I read Rakuin no Monshou (till vol 3) which was very good, though it's sad that series is completed but translation's come to a halt.

Also I read Re:Monster till day 100, it's style is a bit different and takes getting used but I still miss them dialogues. Well I realized that reading it too fast is probably reducing my enjoyment of it, so I've stopped for now and plan to read it at a leisurely pace later.

[FinalChaos]

Read Re: Monster till Day 160.
I'm really disappointed with it. At first I thought it was simply me not being used to it's writing style, but the writing was just lacking in various aspects. The characters are excessively bland and character development is literally nonexistent.   
Not worth it imo.

[Arcadeotic]

Reading Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan

Now in the end of Vol. 4

It's really good, worth it

Then I'll finiah Date A Live's final three volumes

The Hataraku Maou-sama will begin

[Fred the Barber]

Just noticed that the last Spice and Wolf light novel, volume 17, will be arriving at my doorstep on its release day, Tuesday. The last one I finished was volume 11, so it might be time to just sit down for a while and read through them all.

I'm pretty excited - it's very rare for me to pick up an incomplete series (though this one was only incomplete in translation, of course), especially for as long as I've been following this one. Can't wait to read through the remainder and see how it wraps up. The tension I feel from this series is an itch that nothing else scratches.

[FinalChaos]

A week back I went and finished Mushoku Tensei.              

It was absolutely amazing till the very end.  9/10

One of my favourites and a must watch.

[Polycentric]

Currently reading Owari no Chronicle. It's interesting, especially with all of the super eccentric characters. I feel like even though I'm almost finished with the series I still haven't gotten used to how many gags (am I using that word correctly?) there are. Sometimes the plot is a little hard to follow, but usually not too bad. Excited to see how it ends.

Reading lately has been pretty slow, but after I finish Owari no Chronicle, I'm hoping to start what's translated of either Hyouka or Oda Nobuna no Yabou.

[Seth]

Finished reading Index New Testament vol. 15 right now. I'm more than relieved that after the only average volumes 11-13 it redeemed itself with the last two volumes which were pure enjoyment. My favourite moments are without a question the interactions between Touma and Othinus. It is not only nice to see such a relationship between a former god and a "normal" highschool student, we finally see other sides from Touma because now finally a character exists who actually understands his actions and the ideals behind them. Another point I especially like about the latest volume are the great number of plot twists which are partly impossible to predict 

Spoiler

For example: While it was obvious that Misaka is going to get some character developement soon after the events from vol. 13 I never expected that she would actually snap and may actually become a mature threat in the future.

Overall one of my favourite volumes so far, maybe even on the level of vol. 9 of NT.

[Nosebleed]

Started reading th No Game No Life novels I just received this week. They're super fun and I almost finished volume 1 in a day. I'm going to be super depressed when I finish all 4 currently released volumes and have to wait for the 5th to be out in October.

[Maxel]

@Nosebleed I heard a lot of shittalk about Yenpress NGNL translation.

Anyway, started Hataraku maou-sama, bought first volume on amazon, anyone read couple volumes of it? Would like to hear some opinions.

[Nosebleed]

4 minutes ago, Maxel said:

@Nosebleed I heard a lot of shittalk about Yenpress NGNL translation.

Compared to fan translation levels I personally think it's better. I've been enjoying reading it and haven't seen any issues with the English, which leads me to believe the  localization process was properly done.
Perhaps people are salty over the fact a lot of the typical Japanese stuff you see in fan translations has been left out (e.g Shiro calls Sora "brother" instead of "Nii"), but as far as I can see it's been accurately translated for an English audience.

I'd need to see some actual examples people point out as bad translations to properly comment, though, but so far I don't see any reason to complain honestly.

[Fred the Barber]

Your endorsement is useful. Maybe I'll pick up the NGNL LNs when I get back to reading LNs. I avoided the anime since all the reviews I saw basically said "like Mondaiji, but not as good," which wasn't all that appealing, but I actually do prefer consuming my entertainment through reading more than through watching, so I'll put up with a lot more in an LN than I will in an anime.

[Jibril]

19 minutes ago, Fred the Barber said:

Your endorsement is useful. Maybe I'll pick up the NGNL LNs when I get back to reading LNs. I avoided the anime since all the reviews I saw basically said "like Mondaiji, but not as good," which wasn't all that appealing, but I actually do prefer consuming my entertainment through reading more than through watching, so I'll put up with a lot more in an LN than I will in an anime.

As someone who have read and watch both NGNL and Mondaiji LN and anime, those reviewers has no idea what they're talking about. In LN terms, NGNL story is much better paced and developed while Mondaiji is stuck with the cliches one dimensional villain (at least until volume 6). Both series has the "OP MCs so they' always win" but NGNL is at least smarter in delivering those wins while Mondaiji is just pure overwhelming strength most of the time (and again, those smart wins in Mondaiji is rather predictable). In terms of anime, NGNL production quality far outshines Mondaiji AND has more story to it simply because Mondaiji only adapted 2 books in 10 episodes while NGNL adapted 3 books in 12 eps. You could say however considering Mondaiji's huge cast of characters, it can be argued that Mondaiji has a better character designs overall and has multiple male characters compared to NGNL female ecchi casts to attract people in.

People are only complaining because NGNL gets way waaay WAAAAYYY more attention than it deserves which I would very agree on, but speaking it's worse than Mondaiji (in terms of of both anime and LN) is far too ridiculous. At best one could argue both are standing on the same grounds with each series having their own advantages and drawbacks. Oh and also because there are more ecchi elements in NGNL too so I guess that's also a minus for some people.

The only thing I can see Mondaiji has an advantage of NGNL would be the world building which is a pretty unique one and probably the much more content (NGNL has 7 volumes while Mondaiji has 12 + 3 books from the sequel; Last Embryo).

 

[Riku]

I think it's wrong to compare NGNL and Mondaiji. Even if the premise is similar, from the start you know that one is a battle of wits while the other is a battle of strength with a little thinking about legends.

One offer you mind blowing strategies while the other offer you cool fights.

Also, Sora and Izayoi are both badass, so just for them the novels are a must read! x)

[Nosebleed]

@Fred the Barberother people have pretty much explained it, but the way I see it, Mondaiji and NGNL are two completely separate things.

The former is primarily a battle of strength and the latter is a battle of wits.

The reason I enjoy NGNL more is because the characters aren't OP in a traditional sense. They are SUPER smart with games, but fail pretty much everywhere else.

Also NGNL has more interesting "battles" because it's set in a world where physical harm is forbidden, something that really makes conflicts feel fresh because the way to dispute something is always some form of game that involves tons of strategy and not a physical battle.

Let me ask you this: do you want to read a story where a game of chess can define who the next God is? If so, read NGNL.

I agree with Jibril, the reason a lot of people bash it is often the fact it's SO popular. I agree it is quite over hyped as well, but that doesn't diminish the fact it is a fun series to read.

[Jade]

Reading 'My Death Flag shows no sign of Ending"

Finally we get a Male MC in Otome game environment. All those Otome Heroine Villain reincarnation starting to get boring after the 10th time

[Riku]

No.....

It's an RPG, not an Otome Game. It's quite good, and the "tsundereness" from Harold (even if forced) is really great. Also,  he's not a "I'm japanase so I'm really gentle and want to help everyone" type, he just want to survive and help people while he is at it.

[Jade]

Huh, you're right. Somehow i confused it with another WN.

Could have sworn i read a decent Male Otome WN but can't for the life of me recall the title

[Riku]

Botsuraku Youtei Nanode, Kajishokunin wo Mezasu perhaps ?

But it got novelized, so the author doesn't regulary update the WN anymore.

[Tenkuru]

On 5/12/2016 at 3:35 AM, Nosebleed said:

Compared to fan translation levels I personally think it's better. I've been enjoying reading it and haven't seen any issues with the English, which leads me to believe the  localization process was properly done.
Perhaps people are salty over the fact a lot of the typical Japanese stuff you see in fan translations has been left out (e.g Shiro calls Sora "brother" instead of "Nii"), but as far as I can see it's been accurately translated for an English audience.

I'd need to see some actual examples people point out as bad translations to properly comment, though, but so far I don't see any reason to complain honestly.

Huh, I didn't buy the books because people were saying that the translations were horrible. I remember reading a post that compared the fan translation to YenPress' release. I can't seem to find the particular post, but I do have a screenshot saved:

 

YenPress:

Fan translators:

I guess I shouldn't judge the entire translation just based on that alone, but YP messed up pretty bad there. If the rest of the novel isn't as butchered as that, I might pick it up and give it a shot when I drop by the bookstore to get the sweet Overlord hardcover release next week.