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Light Novels

I have read a number of light novels, but most of them have already been adapted into anime/manga. There are a few that haven’t. Since there’s so many entries in this document, you might have forgotten them. Might as well do a repeat here with my thoughts on them. There aren’t many translated yuri light novels at the moment, so expect a short list. I don’t have the time or energy to learn Japanese either, and I doubt you’re here to look at interesting novels that you won’t be able to read.

Total count: 6

Adachi to Shimamura

Has an anime adaptation.


Description from the anime section:

Adachi meets Shimamura while skipping class. They quickly become friends, spending their high school days together. However, they gradually grow closer than friends.


I thought about picking up the raws to learn to read, but I uh… can’t find it (too lazy to spend a lot of effort for even more effort).


I’m still halfway through volume 1, it’s a bit of a drag because it’s a slow burn story. I don’t have anything against that, but right now as of volume 1 there isn’t as much going on.


Although, I like how each chapter swaps POVs between Adachi and Shimamura.

I’m in Love with the Villainess

Has an anime adaptation.


Description from the anime section:

Ordinary office worker Rei Oohashi wakes up in the body of the protagonist of her favourite otome game, Revolution. To her delight, the first person to greet her is also her favourite character, Claire Francois–the main antagonist of the story. Now, Rei is determined to romance Claire instead of the game's male leads.


I’ve only read volume 1 and 2 and am on the start of volume 3. It was a pretty fun read watching Claire fall for Rei. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the politics and all that, so I tended to glaze over those parts.


However, they get together by the end of the volume. And in volume 3 they have (adopted) children with each other. There’s more conflict but I haven’t gotten into that part yet. I hope to see more of them exploring their relationship together.

I’m in Love with the Villainess: She’s so Cheeky for a Commoner

This is the spinoff of I’m in Love with the Villainess except this time it’s told from Claire’s point of view. There are two volumes, the first one is translated.


I’m still reading it, I’m at the second chapter-ish. So far, I’m quite enjoying Claire’s thoughts, they’re actually pretty funny. It’s also not a complete retelling of the first novel word by word. It is told in (kind of) retrospective. I think there is some added dialogue that wasn’t in the original either.


I’ll finish reading this and continue my thoughts later. The only thing annoying me is that since this Claire’s POV, we have to deal with her crush on some dude.

Bloom Into You: Regarding Saeki Sayaka

This is a light novel spin off of Bloom Into You. As the title says, it’s regarding Saeki Sayaka. And no, that is not Yuu on the cover (LOL).


There are 3 volumes in total for this and they are all translated. I was uh… Skimming through the first two volumes of it pretty hard. Because the first two volumes talk about Sayaka’s previous unrequited loves or her failed relationship with her senpai.


The third volume is where she meets Haru in college. This was where it got pretty fun. They got together in the end and I’m a little sad that I didn’t get to see more of them. Sayaka’s chemistry with Yuu was pretty funny to watch too.


This was written by the author of Adachi to Shimamura, so I guess this is… official fanfiction? Which might explain why Yuu and Sayaka get along better than expected. There were some pretty golden lines in this too.

The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady
AKA Tensei Oujo to Tensai Reijou no Mahou Kakumei

This has an anime adaptation. The anime stopped at volume 3 by the way, if you’re looking to continue, start at volume 4.


Description from the anime section:

Princess Anisphia is born unable to use normal magic and develops "magicology" as a way around it; Anisphia watches Euphilia get stripped of her engagement and offers to help her regain her reputation.


But as for my thoughts about the first three novels, it was a pain in the ass to get through some parts because of how much the author just keeps going on and on and on and on about world building and all sorts of politics that I didn’t care about. Properly weaving world building into their writing does not seem to be their strong suit.


I also appreciate the anime changing some things from the LN. Like when Anis and Euphy had an argument, instead of Anis going to that blacksmith guy in the LN, she goes to Tilty for comfort in the anime.


I’m so excited to see more dominant Euphy. Ever since she became a spirit, her horny meter has skyrocketed. There are web novel entries of H scenes by the author. But I’m not going to tell you where to find it or read it though. (They’re not translated anyway)

Omae Gotoki ga Maou ni Kateru to Omouna
AKA Do You Think Someone Like You Can Defeat the Demon King?

I haven’t read this one yet. It’s just here so that I can fill it in later. Feel free to read it before I do though. It doesn’t have an anime adaptation. It does have a manga adaptation though.


Description:

Flum Apricot was never meant to be a hero. Despite her zero stats across the board and a power she can’t even use, she’s included in a party of heroes. Her life hits rock bottom when they decide to ditch her. Sold to slavery and tossed to monsters to be eaten for entertainment, she reaches for a cursed weapon and something new awakens in her.


This is a dark fantasy yuri and romance is not at the core of it. I can’t remember if people said that development was slow and it was a slow burn.

There are Two Gods in Heaven
https://www.scribblehub.com/series/504872/there-are-two-gods-in-heaven/

This isn't a light novel actually, it's a (free) webnovel. I suggest you give it a read if you found this website and my sense of humor funny.


Description:

Two women (codenames DIANA and ARTEMIS) try to escape poverty thanks to a mysterious criminal organization. With the help of the IT expert and surgeon genius Abhi, the two do their best to find their place in a world that has erased their names from all records.


This is a lot more fun to read than I expected. This is a little closer to a comedy slice of life with 'pop culture' references (they come across as a pretty intense /u/ser, to be honest...) with an overarching plot. The novel has constantly changing narrators that can be hard to follow, but it's obvious who is talking when you read 4-5 lines in. Just note that when there is a line break, that signals a POV change.


Despite coming across as a light hearted gag work, it's not the case. The backstory for ARTEMIS was very well written, and they also portrayed abuse and a personality disorder well. This is better written than most yuri works out there, although it's a little shaky at the start (I'm guessing because the author is ESL), it gets better rather quickly. It is also painfully obvious that the author isn't a guy. No straight man would love women in suits this much lmao


My only issues with it right now is that there are... A LOT of characters, it's a bit hard to follow at times.