Light Novel Recommendations

[shinta|hikari]

I know that I could have posted light novel threads by title, but I doubt many people read them here so I judged that just one would suffice. I tried the search function first and it yielded no results so I made this one.

I have been reading a ton of light novels lately. Most of them are not finished yet. I have been getting them from baka-tsuki.org. A lot of the light novels I read are continuations of anime that I really liked, some of which are:

Baccano! - A decent amount of stuff not in the anime already translated. More Ennis!
Durarara!!! - 3 volumes translated, all a sequel to the anime, with tons of Celty in the 4th volume
Bakemonogatari - Kizumonogatari is almost complete, and it is awesome
Dai Densetsu no Yuusha no Densetsu - The entire Dai series is a sequel to the anime. 2 volumes and a bit of the 3rd translated. Pretty good, although way too much talk about dango.
Chrome Shelled Regios - Some parts near the end of the anime are different in the novel. The novel feels much more serious and dark.
Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu - This is no longer in baka-tsuki. The latest volumes came out recently, and I can't wait for them to be translated somewhere.

But there are also really good ones that deserve to be animated:

Utsuro no Hako, Zero no Maria - My personal favorite. Supernatural mystery with lots of detective work.
Sword Art Online - Great take on the MMORPG concept
Mimizuku to Yoru no Ou - Feels like a Miyazaki film in text

What light novels are you guys reading?

[RyougaZell]

I read a bit of Suzumiya on that site a few years ago. Recently I've wanted to return to read To Aru Majutsu no Index. I wasn't aware Dai Densetsu no Yuusha no Densetsu was there, so I'll check it.

Physically speaking (bought volumes) I was reading .hack//GU Novel version... but f-Tokyopop went bankrupt and didn't publish the last volume =/

[Xelbair]

so Dai series is sequel to the anime? and its translated? grabbing it now.
I've heard about SOA(i've had those nice .hack// vibes when i read summary), but i couldn't find full translation, or at least one that starts from 1 volume.
I've had also started reading durarara, but same problem - i've only found 1st chapter of 1st volume translated.

[shinta|hikari]

Dai - Yes, 1st volume continues exactly where the anime left off.
SAO - Main story jumps around novels. Read volume 1, 3, then 4. That covers the entire main story. Volume 2 has filler stories, but it is not fully translated yet. If you like .Hack, you will love this.
Durarara - Read from volume 4. It continues from the anime.

All of these are in baka-tsuki.

[shinta|hikari]

I am just going to necro this thread instead of making a new one for LN recommendations. LNs seem to have a much smaller audience in GW than VNs, so this should be fine.

I just read Huey volumes of the Baccano manga. They are quite unlike the usual Baccano novels in terms of writing style and overall theme, but they were still excellent.

For those who like mecha and military action, read Heavy Object. It can be a bit hard to believe at times, but David and Goliath theme is certainly entertaining.

[Dark Dragon]

I'm reading SAO and Highschool DxD right now. I'll probably start on Chrome Shell Regios after these two.

[shinta|hikari]

If you like Highschool DxD, you may want to try Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance, and of course Campione. I think the novel does much better than the anime in portraying the action scenes.

[Ryllharu]

Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai. Quite a different flavor from the anime with Kodaka's narration, and it goes quite a bit farther (anime material stops at volume 3, and never got into much of the details). There's that little tug at your heart that you feel when reading about the two main girls and how remarkably...pathetic the two of them are at times. The narration completely changes the overall feel of the series, and puts a great deal more insight into the girls and Kodaka himself. Completely different portrayal of Maria that the anime never got into, Rika is far more nuanced, but Kobato is still Kobato.

I'd also like to second Regios.

Campione was very dull. I would not recommend it.

[shinta|hikari]

If you like Highschool DxD, you would like Campione. It isn't the best among light novels though, for sure.

Great info about Haganai. I was wondering if it was worth picking up. I will read it after finishing off all the SAO side stories.

[Dark Dragon]

I really like DxD not so much for the harem element (i don't hate it as much as some of the people on this forum though). I think it's enjoyable because of how much fun the author is having with it (Norse diety, Christian, Chinese myth and so on) he's just throwing all kind of story into the mix and it's becoming rather epic.

[shinta|hikari]

You will probably like Campione for the same reason. It is about gods from all religions all over the world after all. The world is a bit more complex in the novel than the anime because they actually explain what is going on.

And it is a harem.

Erica Blandelli is also a great female lead.

[Xelbair]

Sword Art Online, Regios, Baccano and Fate zero are obvious choices for recommendation.
I've tried to read Horizon.. but it is as insane(or even more) as anime.

[shinta|hikari]

WAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

Utsuro no Hako, Zero no Maria volume 5 is out!!!

The prologue has been translated, and it looks like it will continue to be translated.

I have been waiting years for this. This is my favorite light novel. If you haven't read it, read it.

[Xelbair]

Do not bother with Mushi to Medama - cliche as ..., not interesting, with deus ex machina ending of vol1.

[Dark Dragon]

I started reading Campione, it's not bad. A bit heavy handed on stuffing in as much mythology as the author could find, but not bad.

[shinta|hikari]

I knew you would like it.

Now put that on hold and read Utsuro no Hako.

[shinta|hikari]

I just finished volume 5 of Utsuro no Hako, Zero no Maria.

I have never been so confused by a work of fiction in my life.

I am not confused intellectually, but my emotions are raging, battling on who I wish to prevail in the end, and who I hate or like (or both) among the characters.

[Xrlderek]

Thanks a bunch.. I've read all translated VNs I've found interesting(might have to get desperate enough to try learning japanese soon) and am running out of detailed story stuff, this could fill that role for a while. I'm at volume 4-5 in SAO I think, sort of getting slower and a bit worse but still pretty good.. Just finished volume 1 of Utsuro no Hako, I am confused but very intrigued.. reminds me of Umineko but I'm liking it more so far. Without spoiling, can you say if there is deep foreshadowing or if you are supposed to be able to think up further answers? Might be worth enabling my brain and trying to think about each chapter carefully if it really is that good.. Lol.. reminds me of an important theme from Umineko: "You are only able to look for answers if it is confirmed to you that there absolutely is an answer? So weak" or something like that.(nonspoiler, just a frequent topic when Ryuukishi decides to bash the laziest of his readers(probably me)) Well I just finished volume 1 and from looking at chapter structure it looks like the other ones might be different so I guess I'll see. Great recommendation though.

Interested in Baccano too, might rewatch the anime before trying that one(good/bad idea?).

[shinta|hikari]

Utsuro has a ton of clues to allow you to figure out what is happening and all twists have proper background and foreshadowing. There is also good character development, particularly for the protagonist, in the next volumes. The mystery about boxes and whatnot are gradually revealed as the story continues.

Thank you for reading it. I hope it encourages the other LN readers here to give it a try. Let's discuss after you have caught up to the last translated volume.

Rewatching Baccano may be a good idea. It will help you put a face and voice to the numerous characters, which can be a bit tough to keep track of at first without the anime details helping you out. All characters are awesome and well fleshed out though, with some of them being absolutely lovable (Chane!!! Claire!!! Ennis!!! Huey!!!) and some absolutely despicable. The 16th century chapters I particularly liked, but that is mostly because I can relate to the protagonist of the novels.

[Munsu]

Doing a 7 year necro here.

So, I've "recently" dipped my toes on reading Light Novels, mostly because we're now seemingly getting a lot more official translations and also epub versions of fan translations, and now with my trusty Kindle Fire I can delve a bit more into this industry.

So curious if you guys can (whomever is still around) do an updated list of what they've have read and more importantly recommend?

I think the only series I've been reading have been Overlord, Goblin Slayer, DaiMachi (and Oratoria). Just now I began reading The Magic in this Other World is Too Far Behind! and also plan on reading the Slime one soon. Also got that Utsuro no Hako, Zero no Maria, though it seems like official translations will be finished with the series at a later date this year, so going to wait for that.

But will give a look when I can to others mentioned in this thread so far, but wondering what new ones you guys can suggest.

Kinda want to read the sequels to Legend of Legendary Heroes, but always heard complaints about the translations. Crossing fingers someone licenses them (though I know even if they do, it'll be a while for them to get done).