Another month has come to an end. And with the arrival of a new month comes a slew of new light novel series making their debut! Overall, there are EIGHT debuts this month with light novels coming from J-Novel Club, Yen On, and Cross Infinite World.
If you follow Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi and wish to check out the number 1 tankobon and bunkobon series from their top 10 lists, this is your month as both top ranked titles make their debut in English!
The new series begin with the November 7th debut of this title from J-Novel Club. It’s an isekai title where the main character decides to use ancient knowledge to make the world he now lives in more modern–better transportation and flushing toilets! If you’ve been enjoying kingdom building light novels, this might be one to check out.
Fushi no Kami: Rebuilding Civilization Starts With a Village
Ash is a young boy with apparent past-life memories who lives in a remote, deserted village. As he remembers leading a bountiful life, he can't bear living in a world akin to the Dark Ages, where not even the internal combustion engine exists. Ash envisions the rebirth of a civilization where housing with proper sanitation is the norm and the world is connected via a means of transportation faster than horses. For that reason, he is eager to consult books containing knowledge from a highly-developed ancient culture that is rumored to have existed far in the past. Ash makes use of the church's resources, learning how to read and obtaining the knowledge that he seeks. In addition, he enlists the help of the people around him, including Maika, the village chief's daughter. Together, they aim to develop their own village. This is only the beginning of the story about a young boy who sets out to revolutionize the world in order to rebuild civilization and create his ideal life!
Fushi no Kami: Rebuilding Civilization Starts With a Village Volume 1 (ebook)
Amazon -- iBook -- Kobo -- Google Play -- Bookwalker
Released November 07, 2020 -- ASIN: B08HFHFHJ7
On November 10th, we have another J-Novel Club title. This one has a distinctly Cinderella sounding feel to it! It’s part of J-Novel’s Heart line of books.
I'll Never Set Foot in That House Again!
Chelsea may be the eldest daughter of a Baron, but her days are spent enduring both verbal and physical abuse from her mother and younger twin sister. However, upon skill appraisal on her 12th birthday, it's discovered that she has a never before seen skill--[Seed Creation]! Brought to the Royal Research Institute for the investigation of her new skill by the Appraiser Glen, Chelsea's life does a 180. A big room with personal maids, a warm, soft bed to sleep in, and delicious food to increase her mana pool… She's treated like a princess! But of course, her younger sister Margaret won't sit by quietly as Chelsea is pampered…
I'll Never Set Foot in That House Again! Volume Volume 1 (ebook)
Amazon -- iBook -- Kobo -- Google Play -- Bookwalker
Released November 10, 2020 -- ASIN: B08HFHVBYW
On November 17th, we get the first of Yen On‘s series debuts. And this is one a lot of people have been looking forward to. Probably because Anime News Network’s Frog-kun has been pumping this one up since it premiered in Japan. It also doesn’t hurt that it took the top spot on the Tankobon list in the most recent Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi. A tale of the unlikely pairing of a king and witch!
Unnamed Memory
Love can bloom in the strangest places…and people! A cursed king and the world's strongest witch are about to cross paths, forever changing their future and the fate of the world!
Unnamed Memory Volume 1 (paperback/ebook)
Amazon -- Barnes and Noble -- Book Depository -- Rightstuf -- BAM! -- Indigo
Releasing November 17, 2020 -- ISBN-13: 9781975317096
Also on November 17th, and also from Yen On, we get the first volume of the Index Short Stories. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure if I should include this as a “series debut” since it isn’t even a spin-off, but with an entire sequel series (New Testament) still waiting to be licensed, this one getting picked up by Yen has people hoping NT will be next!
A Certain Magical Index SS
Kamijou Touma faces his roughest challenge yet-a classroom hot pot party! Meanwhile in London, the women's dorm in a base of magicians may never see another day as wild as this one. And in the underbelly of Academy City, Accelerator stumbles upon someone who has been waiting for him all this time…? Here begins the supplementary SS series of A Certain Magical Index!
Originally published in Japan during the serialization of A Certain Magical Index, A Certain Magical Index SS was the first spin-off of the popular light novel series. The side stories featured in A Certain Magical Index SS are led by fan favorite characters such as Touma, Hamazura and Accelerator.
A Certain Magical Index SS Volume 1 (paperback/ebook)
Amazon -- Barnes and Noble -- Book Depository -- Rightstuf -- BAM! -- Indigo
Releasing November 17, 2020 -- ISBN-13: 9781975317973
The final light novel debut of November 17th is also another Yen On title. And it’s an adaptation of one of Mikoto Shinkai’s earlier films. This is the official novelization of the film, as opposed to other books based on Shinkai’s films which are a re-envisioning.
The Place Promised in Our Early Days
In the Soviet-occupied Japan of an alternate history, two childhood friends who have grown apart find each other again and begin a search for a missing third friend–and possibly save the world in the process.
The Place Promised in Our Early Days (hardcover/ebook)
Amazon -- Barnes and Noble -- Book Depository -- Rightstuf -- BAM! -- Indigo
Releasing November 17, 2020 -- ISBN-13: 9781975318697
The next title is slated for a November 24th release. However, I have heard rumor it might be delayed until December. But, let’s keep it here out of wishful thinking ;) ** Update: Yup, it’s now slated for December 1st**
This too the top place on Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi’s most recent Bunkobon list. It sounds like magical high school stories taken to the nth degree! And it’s from the accomplished author of Alderamin on the Sky.
Reign of the Seven Spellblades
Springtime at Kimberly Magic Academy, when new students begin their first year. One boy, clad in black robes with a white cane and sword strapped to his hip, approaches the prestigious school. This young man-Oliver-must form a bond with a katana wielding girl named Nanao if he's to survive the dangers he's to face at this school that is anything but what it seems!
Reign of the Seven Spellblades Volume 1 (paperback/ebook)
Amazon -- Barnes and Noble -- Book Depository -- Rightstuf -- BAM! -- Indigo
Releasing November 24, 2020 -- ISBN-13: 9781975317195
On November 25th, J-Novel Club is releasing a title that looks at class and racism framed in a Romeo and Juliet-type story. You know, assuming Juliet was a vampire! Interestingly enough, this title has yet to be published in Japan. It sounds as though this was arranged directly via the editor and author and they hope a successful English release will help it gain more traction in Japan. The author has numerous other published works, so this isn’t a straight from Narou unknown author type of license.
The Bloodline
After the fall of civilization, a hierarchical society was born where blood determines everything. The rich steal both the blood and lifespans of the poor, rejoicing in their now-eternal lives.
Nagi is a commoner fated to die, while Saya is royalty, gifted with eternal youth. When fate brings their unlikely paths together, their innocent love set the gears in motion to tear down the walls of a society built upon tremendous inequality and racial discrimination.
The Bloodline Volume 1 (ebook)
Amazon -- iBook -- Kobo -- Google Play -- Bookwalker
Released November 25, 2020 -- ASIN: B08HM98V8H
Our final new series of November also makes its debut on the last day of the month, November 30th. This one is coming from Cross Infinite World and sounds like a heart-warming isekai tale of a girl trying to repay the kindness of her adoptive family.
Reincarnated as the Last of My Kind
A bicycle crashes into me one night, and the next thing I know, I'm a baby?!
Getting reincarnated in another world populated by humans, demi-humans, and mythical beasts is certainly not the turn I thought my life was going to take. I especially didn't expect to be carried off by a wolf and given into the care of a one-armed former knight! Now I'm trying to repay him by rebuilding the family inn and healing his arm with alchemy. But the more time passes, the more it becomes clear to me that I'm not actually human…
Reincarnated as the Last of My Kind Volume 1 (eBook)
Amazon -- Apple -- Google Play -- Kobo -- Bookwalker
Releasing November 30, 2020 -- ASIN: B08KFSHMPV
So those are all the light novel series making their debut during the month of November, 2020! Which ones are you interested in? Let us know in the comments.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Justus R. Stone has been running a light novel dedicated YouTube channel since 2014. He’s also the founder of the Light Novel Podcast, one of the first English language podcasts dedicated to Light Novels. In addition to his love of Japanese light novels, he is also the author of his own light novel-inspired series, The Bleeding Worlds.
