Usually a pretty good criteria is that light novels tend to have artwork. From the previews, this does not appear to have any. Also, the Wikipedia page for the publisher makes no mention of light novels. It seems like they are just a publisher with a focus on sci-fi and mystery novels.
3 Likes
They have quite a bit more than that on their website (JP Wikipedia also shows many more imprints), including a few titles with pretty light novel-esque covers, for example in their fantasy section. Ex:
That said those do have pictures, and seem to be in the minority. This seems to be a short story collection (something which Natively could really use a separate category for, imo) rather than a novel. So it does seem off-category. (I’m neutral wrt whether to make an exception for it)
3 Likes
That’s a spinoff series of 転生令嬢と数奇な人生を, which is also a light novel series.
I assume she isn’t a 令嬢 anymore by the end of the original series?
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These are both good points, and have me leaning towards not accepting it as a light novel. 
It’s a shame, though; I don’t know if this meets any other club criteria at the moment.
4 Likes
Yes, I also think that the problem is not that the proposed book is Sci-Fi, as this club once started with a Sci-Fi-ish light novel, Sci-Fi as there were hyper space gates to the other world. The problem is that it is no light novel, as it is no novel, “just“ a collection of short stories.
6 Likes
Hey all, we’ve only got a few weeks left now for 幻獣調査員, so it’s time to get in any nominations you have. We have 7 open slots!
5 Likes
In light of the low participation for our current club, I’m going to speed up the schedule. I will open voting for the next book April 25. Feel free to submit noms until then!
6 Likes
Nomination:
Is there an ebook available?: yes
Is there an audiobook available?: yes
Is there an all-furigana version available?: don‘t know
Summary - Japanese
第1巻の内容紹介: 犬の姿を借り、地上のホスピスに左遷……もとい派遣された死神のレオ。戦時中の悲恋。洋館で起きた殺人事件。色彩を失った画家。死に直面する人間を未練から救うため、患者たちの過去の謎を解き明かしていくレオ。しかし、彼の行動は、現在のホスピスに思わぬ危機を引き起こしていた――。天然キャラの死神の奮闘と人間との交流に、心温まるハートフルミステリー。
Summary - English
Leo, the Grim Reaper, borrows the form of a dog and is sent left … to a hospice on earth. A tragic love during the war. A murder in a Western-style house. A painter who lost his color. Leo unravels the mysteries of his patients’ pasts in order to save those facing death from unresolved grief. However, his actions cause an unexpected crisis in the hospice in the present–. A heartwarming heartwarming mystery about the struggles of a natural character, the Grim Reaper, and his interactions with humans. (Translator: DeepL)
Content warnings if known
Obviously, people will die.
Why are you nominating this book: I was always interested in a fantasy setting about death. I recently I bought the book. Warning: this book is episodic as it seems.
7 Likes
Quick reminder; I will be putting up the next poll later this week.
2 Likes
Edit: please disregard this. I had nominated Friends | L28?? but upon further consideration, it seems more appropriate to nominate 雨のティアラ | L30?? instead (since this would seemingly spoil a major plot point in that). So I guess I’ll nominate that in a separate comment instead
Is there an ebook available?: yes
Is there an audiobook available?: no
Is there an all-furigana version available?: no
(Optional) Is this book available in another Natively language?: no
Summary - Japanese
「花咲じじいが出るらしいよ」。葉月の親友・真帆が、弓道部の安城先輩から聞いた話は、あまりにばかげていた。先輩のクラスの生徒が、花咲じじいにつかまり、魂を抜かれて花びらにされてしまったというのだ。真帆は真剣だが、葉月は当然、まじめにとりあわない――。しかしその後すぐ、真帆が家で倒れ、そのまま昏睡状態に陥ってしまった！ 桜の古木をめぐる学園ファンタジー！
Summary - English
[DeepL Translation - needs review] I heard that Hanasaki Jijijiji is going to appear. Hazuki’s best friend Maho heard this story from a senior member of the Japanese archery club, Anjo, which was so absurd. A student in the senior’s class was caught by Hanasaki Jijijiji and his soul was pulled out and turned into flower petals. Maho was serious, but Hazuki naturally did not take the story seriously. Soon after, however, Maho collapses at home and falls into a coma! A school fantasy about an old cherry tree!
Content warnings if known
No idea
Why are you nominating this book: Look at that cover!! Also the main character seems to be in 弓道部 (Japanese archery club). I found out about the book via a bookmark that came with one of my マリア様がみてる | L30 volumes (same publishing imprint, different author), and I’ve been wondering about it since! Seems to have some sort of fantasy and/or folk tale element? So I’m curious, and thought it would be cool to read together
1 Like
I have read Friends but not 雨のティアラ, and:
- you can read this book first and it won’t be confusing: it doesn’t require any knowledge from the other book
- this book does (I’m pretty sure) entirely spoil one of the major plot items in 雨のティアラ, so if you do want to read them both, the other way round would probably be better
3 Likes
Book: 86―エイティシックス― | L38
Is there an ebook available?: yes
Is there an audiobook available?: yes (Audible JP, apparently, though I can’t verify)
Is there an all-furigana version available?: No
(Optional) Is this book available in another Natively language?: Korean
Summary - Japanese
第1巻の内容紹介: サンマグノリア共和国。そこは日々、隣国である「帝国」の無人兵器《レギオン》による侵略を受けていた。しかしその攻撃に対して、共和国側も同型兵器の開発に成功し、辛うじて犠牲を出すことなく、その脅威を退けていたのだった。 そう――表向きは。 本当は誰も死んでいないわけではなかった。共和国全85区画の外。《存在しない“第86区”》。そこでは「エイティシックス」の烙印を押された少年少女たちが日夜《有人の無人機として》戦い続けていた――。死地へ向かう若者たちを率いる少年・シンと、遥か後方から、特殊通信で彼らの指揮を執る“指揮管制官（ハンドラー）”となった少女・レーナ。二人の激しくも悲しい戦いと、別れの物語が始まる――！
Summary - English
Called “Juggernaut,” these are the unmanned combat drones developed by the Republic of San Magnolia in answer to the attacks by the autonomous unmanned drones of the neighboring Empire of Giad, the “Legion”. But they’re only unmanned in name. In reality, they are piloted by the Eighty-sixers—those considered to be less than human and treated as mere tools.
Determined to achieve his own mysterious ends, Shin, the captain of Spearhead Squadron, which is comprised of Eighty-sixers, continues to fight a hopeless war on a battlefield where only death awaits him.
Content warnings if known
- War
- Fantasy racism
Why are you nominating this book: Nominating this because I watched the anime adaptation and really enjoyed it. The anime ends at a decent ending point, but I am aware the LN continues past that point.
At level 38 it’s probably going to kick my ass if I try it solo
6 Likes
My friend told me the anime was incredible, but I’ve never watched, cuz of the level… So I might vote to torture challenge myself with this one, now that you’ve nominated it 
5 Likes
It’s that time again! 
View the Nominations List here or here; be sure to scroll to the right; there’s a lot of information there! You’ve got 5 votes, so vote wisely!
This poll should close automatically on 2025-05-04T16:00:00Z
What shall we read next?
0
voters
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Seems something went wrong with the poll formatting - the last four all have the same title
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Oh well. Seems like you didn’t make it in time. I would have voted for it, too.
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Bah, sorry about that, let me fix.
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