LightNovel.org

From MangaCast comes the translation of the Gamers weekly light novel rankings (May 24, 2008).

Though it was reported in a previos news tidbit, but it is now confirmed that Gentosha's new label "Genrou Fantasia Novels" is a new light novel label that will center on science fiction and fantasy novels. The label is scheduled to start in August 2008, and the novels release pace will be on a monthly basis.

Novels info:

* Price: 855 yen (expected price)
* Format: shinshoban (181*112)
* Page number: between 240-320 pages
* Genre: sci-fi, fantasy, romance, etc...

An official site for "Genrou Fantasia Novels" has opened.

Source: Ki ga Muitara no Light Novel Shuuhou

The bi-monthly shoujo light novel magazine Cobalt will be renewed. It's format will be changed to A5, and its release date will be changed from the 18th of every odd month to the 1st of every even month.

This renewal will start from the September's issue of the magazine, which will be released on August 1st, 2008.

Source: Ultimatum Tidbits

From MangaCast comes the translation of the Gamers weekly light novel rankings (May 16, 2008).

Anime Yokoso, a new website for anime and light novel news and reviews has opened recently.

The site currently features three reviews of 3 light novel series:

"GOSICK" light novel series
"SHI-NO" light novel series
"Gakkou no Kaidan" light novel series

Ichijinsha will be publishing the Ichijinsha Bunko's girl's light novels under their own light novel label that's titled Ichijinsha Bunko Iris (一迅社文庫アイリス). An official site for Ichijinsha Bunko Iris has opened. The first light novels will be published under this label on July 19th, 2008.

Ichijinsha Bunko is the light novel label for boys, and the first light novels will be published under this label on May 20th, 2008. It's official site is currently this website.

The sci-fi love comedy anime CODE-E by Studio Deen will be adapted to a light novel. The light novel will be authored by Sakaki Ichirou (author of the Strait Jacket light novel series) and illustrated by Ogata Kouji (the illustrator of the Boogiepop Series light novels).

Hiroe Rei's action manga Black Lagoon will be adapted to a light novel. The light novel will be authored by Urobuchi Gen (author of the Fate/Zero light novel series) and illustrated by Hiroe Rei himself. The light novel is temporarily titled Black Lagoon.

CODE-E's and Black Lagoon's light novels are scheduled to be released in July 2008 by Shogakukan under their shounen label Gagaga Bunko.

Source: Ranobe no Mori, Muhyojo

According to the July 2008 issue of the light novel magazine Dragon Magazine, the fantasy light novel series Densetsu no Yuusha no Densetsu by Takaya Kagami (author) and Saori Toyota (illustrator) will be getting a manga adaptation by Chouzou Hiroko. The manga will start serialization from the August 2008 issue of the shounen manga magazine Dragon Age (on sale July 9th). Also an announcement of the adaptation will appear in the July 2008 issue of Dragon Age.

Source: MoonPhase diary

Gentosha's BL novel label Rutile Bunko will become a monthly publication. BL novels will be published under the Rutile Bunko label on the 15th of every month starting from May 2008.

The light novel series "Young Gun Carnaval" by Fukami Makoto will be getting an online manga adaptation in the seinen web comic magazine "FlexComix Next". The manga will start serialization online on June 3rd, 2008 and will be drawn by Satou Yuko.

FlexComix Next is Flex Comix's newest web comic magazine for young men that will start on June 3rd, 2008. The web comic will be available free of charge on Yahoo! Comic's free magazine corner.

Source: Ultimatum

The light novel series Bungaku Shoujo by Nomura Mizuki (author) and Takeoka Miho (illustrator) will be getting a manga adaptation. The manga titled: "Bungaku Shoujo" to Shinitagari no Piero will start serialization in the shounen magazine GanGan Powered from the August issue (on sale June 21st, 2008). Kousaka Rito will draw the manga.

Bungaku Shoujo won Kadokawa Shoten's 2007 light novel award for light novels under the mystery category.

Source: Ultimatum

Title: Ballad of a Shinigami momo: the god girl of death
Author: K-Ske Hasegawa
Illustrator: Nanakusa
Licensed by: Seven Seas Entertainment
Price: $7.95

Reviewed by: Matt122004

This past March, Seven Sea's joined the new number of publishers putting out light novels. However, unlike all others before, they are coming out with lines of light novel series and are not editing them in the slightest. In fact, their light novels are even the same size as they are in Japan!

Out of the first three releases to launch their new LIGHT NOVEL imprint, Ballad of a Shinigami (Shinigami no Ballad) stuck out to me as being the best choice. So when the day came, I had already pre-ordered the book and picked it up. However, I only now had time to read and finish it.

Ballad of a Shinigami is Seven Sea's equivalent to Kino no Tabi. In fact, I wouldnt be a bit surprised if Ballad copied somewhat off of Kino. Ballad of a Shingami follows a young 12 year old looking shinigami named Momo who has white hair and is dressed in white and wears red shoes. She also carries a nice looking scythe and has a servant cat named Daniel that can talk and fly. Ballad of a Shinigami follows her travels in the human world and how she enteracts with different humans who may or may not be on her list of people ready to leave this world.

One word to describe this series: BRILLIANT! This is by far Seven Sea's best release yet! The translation was seemless! The art was magnificent! The writing style was gallant! And lastly, the storys were stupendous!

Yes, there are alot of big words up there, but its true. Balld of a Shinigami is a masterpiece of a story, with every chapters being a different story with different characters, similarly to Kino no Tabi.

The first chapter was my favorite, the third was my second favorite, the fourth was my third favoirte. The book is an amazing read and you just simply should get the book.

The book is printed in its original japanese size with all the colored pics and afterwords and even translation notes included. Seven Sea's has definitely become my favorite light novel publisher.

On one note, the back of the book rates it 16+ because of the subject matter regarding a boy thinking of commiting suicide and his encounter with Momo. I'd say you should be between 14-15 and depending on your maturity, the book will be fine.

So dont waste a single minute, go and get Ballad of a Shinigami right now! If you liked Kino no Tabi, you'll probably find this series very enjoyable, and if you haven't read Kino or didn't like it (which I find impossible), I still believe you'll find Ballad of a Shinigami an enjoyable read that was well worth your time to read.

My Grade for this light novel: A

Title: Shakugan no Shana: The Girl With Fire In Her Eyes
Author: Yashichiro Takahashi
Illustrator: Noizi Ito
Licensed by: VIZ Media
Price: $9.99

Reviewed by: Matt122004

Besides TokyoPop, Viz has also gotten on the scene with light novel publishing. One of their projects, Shakugan no Shana, is the subject of this review.

For what seems like awhile, I have been told by various people about the anime of Shakugan no Shana being great. Since I like to read the original novels instead of an adaptation, I finally decided to buy a copy of the first book and see what all the buzz about this series was about. I had no idea what I was getting into.

The story centers around Yuji who on a normal day has his life brutally interupted when his existence is taken out of him and he is told by a beautiful girl with flaming red hair named Shana that he will eventually dissapear and nobody will remember him. However, circumstance and fate are weaving a different scenario and Shana along with Alastor ends up having to protect Yuji from power hungry other worldly threats seeking the unknown treasure that he possesses in him. What follows is both action packed and comical as we follow Yuji and Shana's growing releationship.

Shakugan no Shana is a mix of action, adventure, comedy, and hints of romance. It'll keep you locked in a suspense of reading from beginning till end, and leave you craving for the next installment. The author does an amazingly good job at keeping the story flowing, and on that note, the story itself is great too! The characters are vivid, and the action is plenty. But when it comes down to it, the best part of the book is watching Shana's and Yuji's relationship develop.

This book surpassed all my expectations and more. The artwork is cute, the translation was good, and the writing style of the author is splendid.

On one note, I was angry at Viz for editing the novel. One of the opeing color pictures of Shana and Yuji in bed by accident was cropped. This is very maddening, I have seen the original and it's much longer. Viz censored something that didn't need to be, and I don't approve of them doing such a thing, especially since they publish the manga and it had a much more risque picture. Thankfully I heard they didn't edit anything in the second volume.

Dont wait like I did, go and get the first volume of Shakugan no Shana as soon as possible. It'll be an enjoyable read that you soon won't forget!

Till volume two, sayonara!

My grade for this light novel: A