If you’ve never heard of light novels, you’re not alone; I didn’t really know what they were until a couple of years ago. Light novels are characterized as short, quick books, often featuring a handful of manga-like illustrations. Light novels originated in Japan and have grown in popularity all over the world. While they are easy to read, many are well-written, engaging, and unintimidating. The genres are quite varied as well, so there really is a light novel out there for everyone!
If you are a fan of manga or anime, it is more than likely that you have consumed some content that originated as a light novel. Some extremely popular anime were adapted from light novels including Free!, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and Sword Art Online. One of my personal favorite anime comes from a light novel: The Apothecary Diaries by Natsu Hyūga. This is the story of a young apothecary named Maomao who is kidnapped and sold to the imperial palace. At first, she is forced to serve the king’s concubines in the rear palace, but she eventually meets Jinshi, the palace’s head eunuch, and he disrupts her careful peace. He discovers her knowledge of flora, and her passion for poisons, and soon Maomao finds herself as poison taster to the rich and powerful. Maomao is a sharp, witty character who many will fall in love with immediately. Her tenacity as she navigates the strange world of royalty is charming, and it’s impossible not to get sucked into all the mysteries and corruption plaguing the rear palace.
While light novels originated in Japan, plenty of authors from other countries have jumped into the picture. Such is the case of Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (known as MXTX by fans).
MXTX is an internationally recognized author from China and writes in the subgenre known as danmei. Novels in this genre are often historical fiction and/or fantasy and feature LGBTQ+ romances as a main crux of the story. My favorite series from MXTX is also one of her most well-known: Heaven Official’s Blessing. The main character Xie Lian is a god, and his life is cursed and chronically unlucky. He has fallen from heaven twice, and yet he always manages to find his way back, albeit with a sullied reputation. When he meets a mysterious young man called San Lang, Xie Lian suspects that there is something strange about him, and that there is something sinister going on in the heavens. If you like stories that deal with complicated moral struggles, tragedy, and the concept of soul mates, all with a good hint of comedy, then this series will have you in its thrall.
Another stand-out in danmei is known simply as Priest. My favorite series from this author is Guardian, which is set in 2013 and follows a group of oddball paranormal investigators as they try to stop the very foundation of the world from crashing down. There are ghosts, monsters, and demons galore, as well as a romance for the ages. No one is as they seem in this gripping three-book-long tale, and each page will leave you wanting more.
Even with the steady increase in popularity, light novels are still an underrecognized format in the United States. If you’re interested in seeing what they’re all about, I highly recommend checking out the ones I mentioned, or even doing some research for yourself! You might be surprised about what you find.
~posted by Avery A.
Leave a Comment