J-Novel Club had a cavalcade of licenses to announce at its New York Comic Con panel today, including 11 light novels, two manga, three print releases from the the first-ever J-Novel Club Original LN Contest and a pair of audiobooks. Check out what’s on the way to the service and, in print cases, to shelves below. The first parts of the first volumes of the light novels should all be available on JNC at the time this article is published. The first volume of the Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill audiobook is due out on October 14, and the first volume of the Now I’m a Demon Lord! Happily Ever After with Monster Girls in My Dungeon audiobook is due out on November 4. Light Novels Even Exiled, She’s Still the Beloved Saint! St. Evelyn’s Weird and Wonderful Friends by Harunadon with illustrations by Kurodeko Synopsis: She lost her fiancé, her sister, and her position as saint in one breath. Is nothing sacred anymore?! Evelyn has spent most of her life dutifully performing her role as the saint and keeping the country safe with prayers and healing magic. But everything comes crashing down when her ex-fiancé, the crown prince, exiles her and names her incompetent sister as the new saint. With no money and no practical skills to speak of, she has her work cut out for her if she wants to find her place in the world. Things start to look up after a mysterious young boy offers to help her make a living. Her experience with healing nets her a quick paycheck, and the people aren’t shy about sharing their devotion for her—she even gets proposed to! As discontent spreads over the prince’s folly and adoring fans flock to her side, Evelyn must navigate political intrigue, her newly realized fame, and unexpected romance in the air. Is there any problem that the greatest heroes of their age can’t solve? Buying You on the Day You Were to Die by Shiki Narito with illustrations by Yamimaru Enjin Synopsis: “I’d like to buy your time—for two hundred thousand yen a month.” For Sakata, the winter of his junior year brings nothing but loss. His mother is dead, his useless father is gone, and each day nearly costs him everything he has left. Then a young man named Nishikawa approaches him with an offer—and generous pay that could give his mother a proper funeral. However, the deal comes with several bizarre conditions that Sakata must meet: go to school every day, get into the same university as Nishikawa, and lastly, act like his friend until the end of their contract. As their bond deepens, the two boys starved for love must face the question neither dared to ask: Can a friendship built entirely on money turn into something real? So Dearly Reckless by Tenma Asahi with illustrations by Tsutsuji Takahashi Synopsis: Louis spent his childhood doing whatever he could to get by in the little village he calls home. He must leave the orphanage now that he’s come of age, and there’s one thing he wants above all else: freedom from poverty. His best shot at making a stable life for himself lies in graduating from Arneval Academy. If only the tuition weren’t so expensive. In need of work, Louis registers with the Adventurer’s Guild where he meets Bolt, a seasoned adventurer who insists they form a party together and even helps Louis save up for his school fees. But life at the academy still comes at a price, and Louis finds staying in the party with Bolt might not be so bad, especially as feelings begin to bloom with every new adventure. However, all is not as it seems. Bolt may not be who he claims, and the mysteries of Louis’s own past might very well upend everything he thought he knew about himself. Will the truth break their bond, or will it draw them closer than ever? The Azure Dragon’s Devotion: An Offering of Three Centuries to You by Haru Sakura with illustrations by Ciel Synopsis: Kohaku, outcast of the White Tiger Clan, once shared an unbreakable bond with Seiryu, chieftain of the Dragon Clan and lord of the beastfolk. As children, Seiryu was the only one who made Kohaku feel like he belonged. But the centuries have driven them apart—Seiryu now hides behind the facade of a constant smile, and Kohaku can no longer trust his heart to the whims of another. On the rare occasions that the two met, Seiryu would casually propose marriage, only for Kohaku to refuse, unwilling to believe in his cavalier promises. However, things change when Kohaku finds himself next in Seiryu’s long line of matchmaking partners. Despite everything, nothing could have prepared Kohaku for the secret Seiryu has been hiding for all these years. As the truth begins to unravel, can Kohaku finally understand his old friend’s feelings? Or have time and trauma already doomed their chance at happiness? Scooped Up by an S-Rank Adventurer! This White Mage Is One Heck of a Healer by Sora Suigetsu with illustrations by DeeCHA Synopsis: Lloyd is a member of the most illustrious Hero’s party—wait, what do you mean “not anymore”?! Kicked out for being too weak, no one seems to realize that Lloyd is actually an absurdly powerful white mage trained by Lady Merlin herself! Manipulating magic is practically second nature to him, regularly leaving even S-rank adventurers stunned speechless. Not that Lloyd has any idea just how strong he really is. Luck is finally on his side when a seasoned adventurer recognizes his worth and scoops him right up into her party. But their first quest to hunt a pack of high wolves quickly takes an unexpected turn when the city comes under attack. Now Lloyd must navigate new social dynamics and a quest far more dangerous than it first appeared—and maybe, just maybe, prove his worth along the way. Repeated Vice: I Refuse to Be Important Enough to Die by Hitsugi Kurokawa with illustrations by Kuki Kushiro Synopsis: A dream of death was the wake-up call he needed. Lofus Ray Lightless is far from a paragon of virtue. In fact, he revels in his villainy. But a vivid dream of the many ways he’s fated to die convinces him that he must change his ways—or at least pretend like he will. With his trusty butler at his side, Lofus sets forth to turn the tides of fate in his favor so that he can enjoy a long and selfish life. But the future isn’t quite what he’s seen, and he might have bitten off far more than he can chew… Sowing Vengeance: The Eldest Son’s Disgraceful Green Thumb by Okamoto Takeya with illustrations by Sumihei Synopsis: Disowned, disgraced, and doomed to be a farmer. Being “blessed” with a farmer affinity is practically a death sentence for Chris Sparring. It’s nothing close to the sword-wielding class he’d been raised to inherit, that’s for sure. To make matters worse, his twin brother receives the affinity of a sword god instead, and wastes no time funneling years of jealousy into an attempt on Chris’s life. With nothing left to lose, Chris must find a way to make it on his own and avenge his name. And this “useless” poison resistance of his may be just what he needs to turn the tables! RELATED: Witch Hat Atelier Wins Harvey Award for Best Manga The Canon Fodder’s Ascension from Pawn to World Unifi er by Rei Yayoi with illustrations by Kyozip Synopsis: Arrogant, charismatic, and untouchable—what more could you possibly ask for from a villain? Zil was the epitome of a final boss, reigning supreme throughout part one of the anime Ragnarök: Twilight of the Gods. However, in a cruel yet hackneyed twist, he was reduced to fodder and insta-killed to make way for the next big baddie’s grand entrance. It’s far from the type of fictional character you’d want to randomly wake up as, but that’s the sad reality our protagonist finds himself in after falling asleep in front of his TV. Not one to throw in the towel so easily, he swears to defy his fate even if it means facing the gods! But breaking canon is easier said than done. First, he must build up his strength and his forces while perfectly maintaining Zil’s imposing facade and… Uh, hang on. Why is everyone suddenly worshipping him as a god? Oh well, as long as it boosts his chances of survival! The Villainess Speaks Not by Kei Yose with illustrations by Ruria Miyuki Synopsis: They tried to silence her, but she doesn’t need a voice to twist the odds in her favor. When Liliana wakes up in the body of an otome game villainess, she knows it’s do or die. As the daughter of a duke and a candidate to marry the crown prince, she faces constant threats from assassins and her father’s political enemies. Worse still, a fever has left her mute, unable to call for help or use magic to defend herself. Or so they all think! One quick attempt is all it takes for Liliana to shatter the common sense of her world, which dictates that incantations are mandatory for spellcasting. Now, all she needs to do is escape the grim destiny that awaits her. Though her foresight can only take her so far—the game doesn’t start for another seven years—nothing can stop a six-year-old armed with erudition and cheat-level magic. Reforming an Icy Final Boss: Getting Back at the Self-Proclaimed Villainess with the Power of Friendship by Takamedou with illustrations by Nemusuke Synopsis: Known to some as the “final boss,” Milly is an ice queen with a noble background and little interest in others. That chapter in her life comes to a close when she is callously murdered by Angelina Grey—the self-proclaimed villainess convinced this world is an otome game—and awakens three years in the past with all her memories intact. Determined to escape the humiliating fate that once claimed her life, Milly sets out to rewrite the future by gathering information, choosing allies, and reevaluating the world around her. Unfortunately, her rival won’t stop until she gets her happy ending with Prince Gilbert, and she’s willing to kill for it. Poisoned teacups, political rivalries, and hidden reincarnators turn everyday life at the academy into a battlefield. But for Milly, surviving this second chance means more than revenge—it’s about carving out a life where she can truly belong! The Petty Villain Plays by the Rules: Rewriting This Otome Game with Honest Work! by MIZUNA with illustrations by Ruki Synopsis: The Valdias are a seemingly normal family of nobles that no one would expect to face a future full of death and condemnation—a fate which is about to be rewritten. After a mysterious accident, former salaryman and avid gamer Hajime Kanda wakes up as their eldest child, Reid, in the world of an otome game he once fully cleared. And he knows the terrible future that awaits them all. Reid may have been a petty villain in the main story, but he’s got exceptional stats that will help him grow into a total beast. The hard part will be avoiding the conflict to come, and doing that means bringing the family together again. He’s just got to be sweet to his younger sister, get in his father’s good graces, and cure his mother’s terminal illness, of course. Should be simple enough, right? Well, Reid’s determined to save his family from a dark fate, and he’s going to do it by playing by the rules! Manga What's with the Bag, Kamiyama-san? by Pochi Edoya, Original Work by Abyss Enoshima Synopsis: On Namito Kominato’s first day of high school, he fantasizes about making friends and walking home with a girl. Luckily, he’s seated behind a gorgeous girl in class! She’s tall, strong…constantly dripping with sweat…and…she wears a paper bag over her head?! Meet Samidare Kamiyama, a kind but shy student with severe social anxiety. Though Kamiyama couldn’t talk her way out of a wet paper bag (literally—it’s hard to breathe under there), Namito gets her to open up. The pair become fast friends, and soon enough, the outgoing, uniform-obsessed class representative is joining in. Together, they decide to found the “Conversation Club” to help Kamiyama participate in high school life. The club needs four members to become official, and there just so happens to be the perfect addition: a student who can only talk to a cardboard cutout of a magical girl! When given a welcoming space to be themselves, even social outcasts can fl ourish. Let the fi rst meeting of the Conversation Club commence! Fluffy-Eared Realm Restoration: Taking It Slow with My Cool Big Brother by Momotips Original Work by Iota Aiue Synopsis: Saved from a lonely life as a poor orphan, Lune was taken in by House Renard. Yet try as she might to repay them, she was always treated coldly and kept at a distance, especially by her older brother Liam. When faced with fi nancial ruin, the Renards sold her off as a bride to the crown prince, only for a revolutionary army to seize control of the kingdom and condemn her family to death. At the moment of her execution, Lune makes one fi nal wish for a chance to save them all. The Great Fox Spirit Reineke hears her prayer, sending her back in time and granting her fox ears that let her hear the voices of spirits. If she wants to change the future, Lune must win over her adoptive family—including Liam, who suddenly seems to be…doting on her?! With her spirit friends and Liam’s affections, Lune sets out on a journey to avert her family’s unjust fate and fi nd happiness at long last! Based on the light novel series of the same name! Print The print titles include the winners of the JNC Original Light Novel Contest that was held last year. They're due out on shelves in April 2026. The Adorable Dungeon Master by Hunger with Illustrations by Llo Synopsis: After Lucia died, she was reborn as Lilac, her avatar in her favorite game! However, she fi nds herself in a dark forest full of danger. With the power to create dungeon towers and summon allies, Lilac will show everyone what the Queen of Cute can do! The Bookwalker Prize winner in the first-ever J-Novel Club Original LN Contest! RELATED: Crunchyroll Manga: Full List of Every Series You Can Read Right Now An Unruly Summon by Cathfach with Illustrations by Kurodeko Synopsis: With demons overrunning his starving kingdom, King Edward summons a hero: Thomas Smith. To manipulate his perception of the war he’s drafted into, he’s gifted a harem of beautiful, deadly women. But Thomas is shockingly equipped to cut through lies! A First Prize winner in the first-ever J-Novel Club Original LN Contest! ATLAS: Her, the Combatant, and Him, the Hero by John Rohman with Illustrations by ttl Synopsis: In the futuristic city of NOAH, a corporate hero and a revolutionary combatant battle on opposite sides of justice. But when their clash sparks something far deeper, they must fi ght to escape the power structures that trap them—or die trying. The Grand Prize winner in the first-ever J-Novel Club Original LN Contest! Audiobooks Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill by Ren Eguchi and Narrated by Jason Vu Synopsis: Mukouda Tsuyoshi was nothing special in modern Japan, so when he was summoned to a world of swordplay and sorcery, he thought he was ready for the adventure of a lifetime. Too bad the kingdom that summoned him only got him by mistake! Not only was he not one of the three summoned heroes, but his stats were laughable compared to theirs. On top of that, there's something really sketchy about this kingdom… "Ah, these people are the kind to try and use the Hero," he realized, and immediately left to make his own way in this other world. Now I’m a Demon Lord! Happily Ever After with Monster Girls in My Dungeon by Ryuyu and Narrated by David Lee Huynh Synopsis: Yuki finds himself reincarnated as a demon lord in another world, and he's been put in charge of a dungeon! His fate hinges upon gathering allies to ensure the dungeon's survival in a world where powerful monsters roam free and danger lurks at every corner. Within a few days, he takes on a legendary dragon, an adorable pet slime, and a vampire girl, but despite all his precautions, life as a demon lord in a dungeon constantly under threat…is surprisingly mellow? Source: Press release
